|
Post by ux4484 on Feb 22, 2014 2:42:32 GMT -5
I have that same laptop, and the conjoined mic/headphone jack does generate some significant latency processing through the built in sound card. There are any number of 1/4 to USB adapters that can do what you want at Amazon on the cheap, often packaged with software that don't require an ASIO compatible DI and software package to make work. I saw one of those first act ones in clearance at Target for $5 and while it doesn't sound as good as my line 6 ux1, it's much easier and faster to hook up and use (seen by the computer as USB line in (mic) audio as well as by ASIO software packages), this means you can use audacity with it (audacity requires hacking to use most ASIO DI devices). You may have to go into your windows audio settings and enable the USB audio device (usually seen as a USB microphone) once connected to get it to work.
|
|
|
Post by ux4484 on Feb 22, 2014 2:27:48 GMT -5
Debated here before: Maybe it's imagination, but for me at least, there is a "snappiness" to a Maple fretboard that I like. It is the one thing I miss from the '51. It's more noticeable (to me) on a bass, but there is IMO something to it. I don't know if I'd want to change out to another to get that snappiness in my two electrics. Mike Campbell (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers) brings out his original blond Tele w/maple neck to play the songs from their first few albums (the dirt/wear marks on the fretboard are freaky), having often said he can only reproduce that sound on that maple fretboard/neck. On a bass, this is furthered by an ebonol fretboard (usually on fretless, but making it on fretted more all the time). For snapping and slapping, you can't do better than a Cort Curbow bass (it even has a "slap" switch), though I don't know if a bass that is easier to slap on is really a good thing (because if you find yourself with a regular bass, you will have to work harder to get the same result).
Back OT: Some players just like the looks of a maple neck. They do look less crowded IMO (some rosewood boards look very busy from color variations and texture). It is fairly hard to find in-store much of a selection of Fenders with maple fretboards, especially on high end models (excluding Tele blondes and thinlines). When they do have them, they are usually more than I would be willng to pay.
|
|
|
Post by ux4484 on Feb 21, 2014 8:35:45 GMT -5
When I am able to find a spare minute to play, I do so for my own mental health, for stress relief, really. AND sg's right, though, there's no real purpose to having multiple guitars. It's simply a bit of frivolity that I allow myself to have in a life where little else is frivolous. To use a social media-ism: THIS ^^^ I was at first a bit put off at the Gai's post as well, but I think the rolling pin was flying towards his head and he actually wanted to say more. That said, almost every bass and guitar I've ever owned allowed me to get in the zone to where I could just play for a couple hours and feel like 15 minutes had passed (exceptions being the washburn Rover that was merely a device by comparison to other instruments). Some better than others. The Dot nailed that early Beatles sound perfectly, but once done playing those songs was put down. The marauder was great for punk and surf, but had a wider neck than my other Fenders that can do the same work well. I was going for a "mood" thing, until it just became too much choice. I miss all the guitars... Because I like guitars. I'm still looking on CL eBay and clearly many of us cruise shops and website clearance sections. I'm just not buying anymore. I'm with you on the tuning thing, the Tele is my go-to for Stones stuff (I really never wanted to play them, but the Mrs's loves them). Being a jack of all trades in most thing in life, I am a master of none... I'll never be a Rory or Jimi, nor do I strive to be. I also can't possibly lock myself down to one style of music to try to excel at. I don't love John Mellencamp, but he has one great line: "Forget about all that macho crap, and learn how to play guitar"
|
|
|
Post by ux4484 on Feb 21, 2014 2:51:46 GMT -5
On the "one" guitar, After my travel guitar odyssey sampling/testing of gobs of acoustic guitars (even playing some Martin, Breedlove, and PRS models) the acoustic that felt the best to me was an updated version of my Yamaha APX 5. When I'm figuring something out, or making up something new, it's always what gets picked up first (there is something magical about it) It seems silly to have two, just to have one to drag around. So I didn't go that way. I think it's because it was the guitar that got me back into playing... it actually needs a fret recrowning (though it has many flat spots on the frets, it has no buzzing) from extreme use after nine years. The only electric that was close to that amount of wear was the '51 and that's in greener pastures now. Some of this GAS for me the last few years has been my manifestation of middle age, there are three I'll never part with: The Yamaha, the Strat, and my Fender bass. All three given to me by the real driving force of my existence; my wife, whose patience, encouragement, (and sometimes griping) of my playing again for the last 10 years allowed this part of me to live again.
Oh and Gai: +1 for the Rory reference. I use that JH quote about him when hipsters go all "Hendrix" on me.
|
|
|
Post by ux4484 on Feb 20, 2014 11:34:35 GMT -5
Almost all the peaveys have some kind of undercut along the bottom. I think this is one someone fashioned from some SX or Jay Turser neck, is there a name in the neck pocket?
|
|
|
Post by ux4484 on Feb 20, 2014 11:14:07 GMT -5
As I'm looking at the charts, I keep going back to the Single coil one, it's a nice representation of the ice pick to the head effect of a Stratocaster bridge pup.
|
|
|
Post by ux4484 on Feb 20, 2014 3:42:23 GMT -5
I've found the precut tusq Strat nut from StewMac to be an amazingly versitile and easy install. I've only had to shave/sand the bottom on them.
|
|
|
Post by ux4484 on Feb 20, 2014 3:37:19 GMT -5
Well... there are the "other" instruments... The Rogue mandolin, the Mrs' guitars (Cortez Tele and Maderia/Guild acoustic). The Baldwin upright (concert upright, was my Mom's), and the full size Yamaha keyboard (daughter #2). We didn't even touch on gear yet... That may put me over the top...
|
|
|
Post by ux4484 on Feb 19, 2014 19:13:46 GMT -5
I'm mostly in tweak mode now. I ebay'd a Duncan SL59-1B for the Strat bridge. When I put it in I'll set the toneshaper for S/P for that pup. After looking at JohnH's charts, I may be tweaking the pot values as well. This will give me typical Strat and my '51 switching options. I'm still enjoying the Tele too much to order the parts as of yet, but it's coming. I sold the Celebrity (due to hand cramps), so I'm down to 4 (that are mine).
|
|
|
Post by ux4484 on Feb 19, 2014 13:09:13 GMT -5
I saw a Parker Dragonfly on craigslist for $250 ( 2K+ guitar) Even if it isn't hot or a scam... My playing ain't worth a Parker.
|
|
|
Post by ux4484 on Feb 19, 2014 10:19:24 GMT -5
I've read this one, as well as a few others. I prefer Walter Becker's article from GP as it covers the Mod bug as well. Both of these articles (and MOST of the others) are not really GNuts style GAS. They mostly deal with those 'who have to have it at any price even if it cleans out the bank account' type GAS. That is not us. We are both less and more simultaneously. Here at GNuts2, we "mostly" know our budget and partners limits (that's the less part). For the most part , it's about the value for price on the body and neck, because everything else can be tinkered with. We are definitely more OCD than regular people with GAS, because we're planners (for the more part). How many times have we said: "It's good now... BUT it will be better when I ..." Some here are at a point where experimentation is a way of musical life (i.e. JohnH's excellent new series on tone, and anything 4Real does). Some have found their toolbox and are just here to watch the wheels turn and chime in socially (guilty). But we ALL love guitars and the associated gear at a level more than the collector who has to have seven identical Strat's in different colors. We play, we tinker, we build. We are more than GAS heads. We are GuitarNuts
|
|
|
Post by ux4484 on Feb 17, 2014 11:11:11 GMT -5
lol, seems like a gathering of the aged die-hard rockers anonymous! Careful there GD, you just described half the membership and most of the staff here...
|
|
|
Post by ux4484 on Feb 17, 2014 0:07:14 GMT -5
Spoken like someone who's been there! Heh, not myself Gai, but I have been in meetings where peoples calendar alerts pop up on the projector... It's embarrassing in a meeting, it would be catastrophic at a gig. I had one guy who's entire prescription schedule and names for each drug flipped to the top of his Gmail schedule every time he scheduled future meetings on the projector. Frightening! I explained to him about maintaining separate calendars... He still does it.
|
|
|
Post by ux4484 on Feb 16, 2014 14:54:33 GMT -5
I was a bit concerned all the videos and pics were of a 30 pin dock. They are claiming lightning is coming as well as modular docks. Honestly, if you had one, you probably wouldn't want to put your iPhone in it, rather and iPod touch and leave it dedicated to the purpose. Can you imagine a call, text, or notification for your urologist appointment coming through during a gig?
|
|
|
Post by ux4484 on Feb 14, 2014 12:10:11 GMT -5
Kind of a combination of a fretlight guitar, a guitar hero controller, and a You Rock guitar.Kick Starter funded, and a $450 price tag... Plus $200 (with a contract) for the smartphone...
|
|
|
Post by ux4484 on Feb 14, 2014 4:29:43 GMT -5
I think you got the last one ash, they're out of stock now.
|
|
|
Post by ux4484 on Feb 13, 2014 7:43:30 GMT -5
Then that begs the question: Are they in the pulled position?
I went through a couple supposed "short" shafted p/p on my Cortez Tele project before getting the right one that would look stock height when pushed down. Of course it was a drag waiting on one part to finish a mod when I had one that would work... But again with the OCD.
|
|
|
Post by ux4484 on Feb 13, 2014 4:22:51 GMT -5
I'm just so OCD about that stuff. If my guitar knobs looked like that, I'd be washing my hands after playing it as well as before. It goes back to high school, I was playing someone else's bass viol for orchestra who was out sick, I went to lunch without washing my hands first, and was puking my guts out the next morning. A few minutes soaking in Dow bathroom cleaner and a quick swipe with a toothbrush will clean those right up. Are the shafts too long, or are the knobs not fully seated?
|
|
|
Post by ux4484 on Feb 13, 2014 2:45:00 GMT -5
That's not relic, it looks like you rebuilt the transmission from your car and then played guitar!
|
|
|
Post by ux4484 on Feb 12, 2014 15:53:10 GMT -5
GD...
Clean those knobs, will ya!
|
|
|
Post by ux4484 on Feb 12, 2014 10:16:05 GMT -5
I think these three songs are more cohesive than your August release. I really liked the beat, opening and ending of 'greatbigmine/drink this'. The opening rythym riff into the vocals is reminiscint of "The Kills" (one of my current favs). I laughed out loud at the Monkey truth, as I had a boss years ago in a mindless job who said: "I could replace you guys with monkeys" to which a torrent of replies lashed out, the main two I recall were "Monkey's throw s t at their handlers" and "Monkeys Die". I love when a song connects with me personally, this one did. Of the mix of interlude voices, the woman laughing and the guy swearing just hit me as sitting in a crowded bar trying to listen to every one. There is a droning tone around minute 19 that did go on a bit too long for my liking, it took away from the voices (sounded like feedback from a bass amp). 'What I think I am' is more driving, and again I really liked the driving beat and the slight hesitation to very dramatic effect in the vocals. I was listening at work (with earbuds) and the web player started playing 'Nothing/Not a mirror' right after 'What I think I am', I had to look at my phone to see it was not a segue. I need to revisit 'Nothing' as service calls started coming in steady for the rest of the night. I do have some questions: How do you do the overlapping voices live? Are they tracked? Are SOME of them tracked, and you do some live? Do you deviate much, or do the tracks keep you on task? Given your style I would imagine improvisation is a regular thing for your performances, but if you're using tracks does that limit you? While I'd have a hard time selling the wife or kids on it (my eldest might bite), I do like it. Just knowing it's by someone I 'Know' does make me more interested. The important thing of course is that you like it, and like doing it. Clearly you are driven to do so.
|
|
|
Post by ux4484 on Feb 11, 2014 21:07:10 GMT -5
Had both models in my hands today, bass & guitar. One word: HEAVEY!
So center HEAVEY as to be uncomfortable to stand with a strap as a bass, and too easy to flop out of you lap sitting as a guitar. Pups are nice, lots of sustain, lots of jangle from the guitar bridge pups, and warm reverberating tone from the neck pups. Both basses had their strong points, the Coronado was more guild/hofner sounding, the Starcaster was very grumbly at the neck , and could actually be used for thumping on the bridge pup. While much more solid seeming then their predacessors, just too dang uncomfortable to play. They are surprisingly quiet acousticly (it's a BIG center block), that was disappointing as well.
Now that Epi Jack Casady signature... Feels and sounds like my old Aria... and is hundreds less than either of these behemoths.
|
|
|
Post by ux4484 on Feb 11, 2014 9:45:56 GMT -5
I'd be very interested to hear your insights ash. It doesn't look to have the lock button like some Fenders have on the vibrato plate. There seems to be equal love/hate for both versions of the vibrato. The adjustment though looks pretty straight forward from what I've looked up.
Just a side note on his hardshell cases: my SX 5 string fretless had such a nice case, that when I sold it, I gave up my 30+ year old bass hardshell case for my Fender with it because his was so much better.
|
|
|
Post by ux4484 on Feb 10, 2014 21:16:11 GMT -5
I think we need a new sub topic under "Coffee Shop"' called: "Stop me, I'm having a GAS attack" so we can talk each other down (or into it). Thank heavens I can't actually play any of these guitars, I fear if I did I would succomb, probably to the baritone. There is a baritone emulation on my Mustang III that with a bit of tweaking sounds pretty good. With my bass hands often being squeezed on a 25.5 scale, a baritone could be just right.
|
|
|
Post by ux4484 on Feb 7, 2014 3:18:54 GMT -5
Douglas Corvus Baritone with a hard shell case $139 USD Interesting deal for a baritone, the controls are nicely placed to not block strumming anywhere. I've had an SX bass, it was Squier quality. The Douglas models are typically a step up in setup if not quality. SX LEO NA $125 USD This seems worth it for the finished one piece finished swamp ash body alone, though the neck is a remove-it to set relief type. The $109 USD Hawk MN Fat Ash has a modern near the nut adjustable neck. I've had one SX and worked on a couple others, they are lacking mainly in the poor quality nut and average tuners (easily remedied). The single coil pickups are Affinity-Squieresque, I haven't had my hands (or ears) on the humbuckers. I've yet to see a Squier Bass VI in person yet, I'm surprised Fender put so many of the original Bass VI's features in it (especially when the similarly equipped pawn shop model is more than twice the price) I realize these are two different animals ... but with a more accessible scale for chords, and less than half the price (with a case), not to mention less expensive strings... it seems Rondo has something I'd like. Baritone experience/stories to share anyone?
|
|
|
Post by ux4484 on Jan 31, 2014 3:18:10 GMT -5
I can't really say for placement, there are many here more qualified to help on that, but with all the wood you already have to dig out, it doesn't seem prudent to reduce the body size.
|
|
|
Post by ux4484 on Jan 28, 2014 21:53:24 GMT -5
In my youth, I spent 4 years 35 miles north west of you ash, I remember many school snow days, though never any cold days. We've had 4 cold days for school here in Chiberia as well this year. There hasn't been this many days off here since January 1979 (that was for cold AND snow).
|
|
|
Post by ux4484 on Jan 28, 2014 2:23:46 GMT -5
I find this interesting with Acme guitar works closing shop and relaunching as a new sales-only toneshapers.com site in the last two weeks. This is basically an outboarded toneshaper (which on a Strat makes it more useful as it can be tweaked on the fly).
|
|
|
Post by ux4484 on Jan 28, 2014 2:03:21 GMT -5
My girls have often commented that the multi-colored candy on cosmic brownies does not justify the name. They both got a kick out of this ash.
|
|
|
Post by ux4484 on Jan 27, 2014 9:36:29 GMT -5
Danny, That looks better, if you're going to keep it, and you're happy... you're done. There are some guys that would eat away at their souls knowing it was there against their leg even though no one could see it. At least you didn't do what this guy did...
|
|