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Post by ux4484 on Dec 7, 2013 9:58:07 GMT -5
WhatEVER YOU DO, put that axe in some kind of clamp when you do it! I have a Black & Decker-like workbench/vice/holder with plastic clamps that I cover with rags to keep the body stable. You might never be at this point if you had something clamping that body. Routing that edge out for a new cover is an opportunity for more damage. I would make a guide and clamp IT to the body to get the shape you want.
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Post by ux4484 on Dec 7, 2013 3:26:40 GMT -5
So I'm all happy and dedicated to the gear I've whittled down to... and then a bud goes and offers me a perfect PRS SE 24 custom for $275 (he needs the cash). I'm trying REALLY hard here to stick to my guns here...
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Post by ux4484 on Dec 6, 2013 15:52:48 GMT -5
Rush and Yes have also done full on harmonic solo's.
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Post by ux4484 on Dec 6, 2013 10:32:52 GMT -5
I suspect it's unique to the guitar. My Maderia (Guild) has a couple sympathetic vibrations like that.
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Post by ux4484 on Dec 5, 2013 2:18:55 GMT -5
I've yet to have any real amp remorse... But I would if I gave up a Bassman! My high school band teacher had a nice Wilder bass head and 4x10 cab (Locally made), I loved that amp, but it was never mine. I've had a few I've fixed for others I'd wish I'd kept
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Post by ux4484 on Nov 30, 2013 8:11:52 GMT -5
Then, It sounds like that was your body central grounding point ala Fender. Your bridge ground sounds ok, If all else is good, you should only need one of those redundant leads now (just in case your foil does NOT touch) As Ash and newey said, you'll need to button it up tight and string it to REALLY test it.
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Post by ux4484 on Nov 30, 2013 3:34:36 GMT -5
You KNOW he's losing money. Seeing it's from Rockford, maybe it's Rick Neilsen's? rockford.craigslist.org/msg/4211228147.htmlBuyers remorse, sellers remorse, we've all had it. What's your worst case? Mine is still giving up my early '70's Aria Diamonds single pup hollowbody bass in 1981. Stupid.
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Post by ux4484 on Nov 30, 2013 2:50:11 GMT -5
Mini-update: Added a small bit of foam behind each pup to prevent rocking (ironically from my Fender EXP-1 footswitch box). Took a bit of trimming, but no more klunking if I bump a pup. Still out on switching, enjoying it very much as is for now.
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Post by ux4484 on Nov 30, 2013 2:32:25 GMT -5
Welcome! I would suspect Fender has extended it's "shielding paint" to the squier line. Was the cavity black with a grainy texture to the paint? If so, it was their shielding. The electrical connection to this is spotty at best, but now, with the foil inside, at least one of those leads will ensure the guard is connected to the cavity shielding when buttoned up. Or you can make a couple of nice lips of foil over the edge of the cavity where there is clearly room for it under the guard. Also, which bridge do you have? (Those two bridge holes could be for either the trapezoid or the TOM/Jaguar Trem). Is there a ground lead from the bridge? if it's the two piece, Is there a lead from either? Both? Some of the Fender badged Blacktop and Modern Player models have been missing these leads, and it can cause all kinds of fun. In my case, the pickguard made a "whooshing" noise when my pinky would brush against it after a strum. After drilling/feeding a ground lead from the bridge, my problem was solved (Blacktop Telecaster).
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Post by ux4484 on Nov 29, 2013 8:29:20 GMT -5
PS about strings, most people would normally tell you this is the no1 thing to check. But, at least with my ibby, the 12th fret is almost worn, and i still have stock strings !!! if it does not break, don't touch it Ummmmm... If you DON'T change strings, you could be chasing ghosts. Especially if you prefer a different brand/gauge then is currently on it.
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Post by ux4484 on Nov 28, 2013 2:04:23 GMT -5
Tempting thinlines w/maple necks...
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Post by ux4484 on Nov 28, 2013 1:46:40 GMT -5
Looks like it would fit in the Rover's case. String through body is a nice touch... The tension bar... Not so much. I know that a tension bar doesn't scream "cheap" nowadays as it did in the Teisco/Kingston days, but you know with that short scale and the bar you're going to have fun tuning (though the string path looks pretty straight from the pics).
Nice bag for $20 too.
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Post by ux4484 on Nov 25, 2013 15:09:05 GMT -5
Or possibly, the "Dr Who" theme.
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Post by ux4484 on Nov 25, 2013 15:08:21 GMT -5
I kept on waiting for "Magic Carpet Ride " or "2112 Overture" to start.
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Post by ux4484 on Nov 22, 2013 22:51:29 GMT -5
That thinline Strat is cool, but not far off from the pawn shop thinline offset model they just discontinued... Which was much cheaper and made in the same plant! Sometimes, things seem cooler just because it's different than what's directly available to you. This is not too far off standard fare from Fender.
Too MUCH choice can be just as bad as not enough, and sometimes creates baffled and unhappy shoppers who are always second guessing their purchases instead of enjoying them. YMMV
(Said the guy who just went through 3 "travel" guitars in the last couple months).
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Post by ux4484 on Nov 22, 2013 2:43:39 GMT -5
I'm pretty sure what 4real is talking about is the soapy cooling oil used for machining parts, It has almost the same ingredients as fingerease.
The biggest problem using cutting oil IMO, is it does promote rust if left to sit too long... but I'm thinking Pete checks his guitars pretty often.
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Post by ux4484 on Nov 22, 2013 2:37:05 GMT -5
My comics dillema has been solved by a new shop opening up not a mile from my house... they need stock... I've got stock... now THEY have stock. The Marauder is gone as well. While technically it was a swap for a b o u t what I paid for it, I lost the cost of the case I included ($50). On a lighter note: Now fully dedicated to the gear I have...I just recently was playing my BT strat, and tweaking my Mustang III... I'm now able to duplicate almost perfectly the sound of Hives tunes I like. Whether my neighbors like them as well is a whole other issue.
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Post by ux4484 on Nov 22, 2013 2:16:10 GMT -5
Dear of dear, you have not been having too much luck with these gutiars, other than you can take them back ~ always amazed about that... The design of teh offest soundholes maximises 'top space' and provides more strength where it's needed in the 'top' y ommiting that huge traditional sound hole. The player also gets to hear a bit more sound as well... It's always a problem forthe acoustic that the player is in the worst place to actually hear it! Hence, now working on so much 'gear' to make that happen lately!! There are other features of the ovation to like, the headstock, like my seagull' is pretty much a straight string pull over the nut for instance. Understand that the 'locking tuner' thing is not that that actual tuners 'lock', they work as normal, so it is not as if they move (if so, once can generally tighten tuners up with the screw at the end of the button to provide more friction, something I almost always ahve to do when ever I look at someones guitar), nor so much that the string is held in by the pressure from the winds (I've always tended to 'tie' the string on as a rule by going through the hole twice and ahvingthe wind go over the end (PITA for string changes though)) but that Locking tuners, eliminate the winds completely. The playing length of a string will soon stretch out and be stable, but these winds never do and so tend not to be 'stable'. I'm not finding tuning problems, even after changing strings, bending strings, retuning strings and stays in tune without drift' for days if now weeks and a fair amount of playing. That's not to say the original 'shaller-like' seagull tuners weren't very good, but the benefits are so great to me, I'm not sure why they aren't used and seen more. The JDL, so simple and cheap really, amazed that that has not been exploited more as well and perhaps designed around it. Certaily something to consider (though, clearly not possible on the 'applause' design. Amazed that they'll take them back? Most everyone offers you 30-45 days return on guitars here in the states on new gear. Even on used gear, most shops will give you a refund period of 14 days unless marked "as is". Sam Ash gives you 45 days refund, and 90 day exchange or store credit. This shop is a local shop, they offer 30 days on new and 14 days on used, but they have a gauranteed trade in value, after that period; they'll give you 70% of you original price paid (if in "like new" condition) for two years if you "trade up", and pro-rated after that. In most things, I am not a "buyers remorse" kind of guy, after spending time and selecting something, It drives me nuts to have to go through the process again, but I'm not going to hold on to and fix something broken when I have an option. Locking tuners: Yes on my electrics... not so much on my acoustics. The Yamaha and Maderia (Guild) have such stable tuners it seems a shame to replace them. It would make string changes lightning fast on the Ovation, but on the other two, since they have pegs... not so much. I don't tie a knot, I just do an inch of slack and get one over and one under wind past the string end, I've never had a problem on the acoustics using that method. When I got the strings off, four of the Celebrity's tuners were loose and flopping due to the end screws being loose (always one of my first checks as well). I may consider locking tuners on the Ovation though, as since it will be traveling, a quick string change could come in handy. The headstock is very cramped with the (fairly small) Ovation tuners on it, and they have a mounting screw as well. I don't care for the gold (it's the only hardware that IS gold). If I go locking, I think I'll try to find something that would fit with no drilling required The bowl on the Celebrity is their "mid-depth" bowl, about 1 inch thicker at the middle than my Yamaha. It's strangely comfortable to play standing up with a strap a bit higher than I'm used to (though it gives me a Mariachi playing stance). On the lap, it's a bit worse for slippage than the Applause, but there will be a strap on it all the time in the bag. The strap is a must for lap playing with this one. I did take some pics of the inside and bracing when I put new strings on, also cleaned it, adjusted the relief a tad, and found one of the bridge mount screws slightly loose (the bridge is glued and bolted to the top with bracing shims spanning a few inches in each direction on the inside of the guitar). This guitar is about 6 years old, and the top is very stable, I'll keep an eye on it to see if needs something like the JDL brace. I'm already thinking it needs a strap peg jack installed. Lastly... it did have a cigarette smoke smell to it (inside, not out) As my used gear protocol is to clean with baby wipes first, I did the inside of the bowl as well. The smell still lingered in the wood, so a fresh coffee filter sealed shut with some fresh ground beans is now working it's magic on the inside of the guitar. A few days of leaving it in the stand (and playing it often to move the air in the bowl) should do it.
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Post by ux4484 on Nov 21, 2013 10:16:46 GMT -5
Was it always that high, or has it "popped", because that's a whole other issue.
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Post by ux4484 on Nov 21, 2013 8:15:34 GMT -5
My string changes usually involve some fret polishing with some 0000 steel wool, even on stainless frets, it wouldn't take too much work to bring one down that much, though, you might change the shape of the crown if your not careful.
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Post by ux4484 on Nov 21, 2013 4:43:12 GMT -5
3rd times a charm... hopefully. The Applause WOULD have been an excellent candidate for a JDL brace, as after just over two weeks, it started losing tuning every morning, almost a half step across the board. I looked and tuners. I took a string off and verified it wasn't slipping, then took a pic of the tuners one night to see if they moved overnight, they didn't. I looked at the top, there was already a hump behind the bridge! Back to the shop I went. They were amazed as I was, while the tech was looking in the sound hole with an inspection mirror, the trim ring of the sound holle POPPED OFF! He commented on how messy the joints of the bracing were, and said: "Go pick something else out" I had to add some cash, but decided my previous price point ($200 USD) wasn't going to get me something duralble enough. I really liked the Applause, so I decided to stay in the Ovation family and get a used CC44 Celebrity medium depth bowl. I liked that the top was more than twice as thick, and had formed- fiber cross bracing as opposed to the messy wood ones on the Applause. It is a much better made guitar, and has a handy round access panel in the back of the bowl. It's much richer sounding acoustically than the Applause (though not as good as my Yamaha or Maderia). Amplified, it sounds BETTER than my Yamaha. The solid top with the multiple sound holes tends to highlight the midrange as opposed to the very high's and very low's the Applause did. With the deeper bowl it does broadcast better as well. When you play sitting down, the volume is much lounder that a conventional sound hole (probably because they're closer to your ear) The strings are fairly new (D'Addario's), but I imagine a string change will bring some changes. It is China made, but has many more REAL Ovation parts in it than the Applause (The bowl, and the internal bracing are marked "Made in USA"). It's a few years old, and the top is very flat, so I think it'll be more durable than the Applause.
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Post by ux4484 on Nov 16, 2013 13:13:52 GMT -5
Have you ever tried any of the software available to slow down a song and maintain the pitch? I use one on my phone (Slow Down Music Player (free) or trainer ($3.99) iTunes Store) that fits the bill, and can grab songs from my phone OR PC's music library. There are a number of free/cheap ones for most any O/S. I'd also look for a performance video of Elliot (preferably) playing it to point you in the right direction.
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Post by ux4484 on Nov 15, 2013 16:38:07 GMT -5
Seen at GC TODAY: I seem to recall you wanting just this option out of the box from Fender.
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Post by ux4484 on Nov 13, 2013 10:43:28 GMT -5
In zone 2, it's actually controlling the string tension, so no matter what you do it's not changing pitch. It's the mechanical equivalent of the Roland V or Anteres (synth) autotune Peavey is using (http://www.autotuneforguitar.com). I thought it would sound sterile (like the Roland and Peavey does), but on a Tele, it was chimey, and very piano sounding. Zone 3 sounded great as well, but some of the Stones riffs he was playing sounded a tad late (IMO)... But he had JUST got it, just like dealing with latency in digital effects or recording, I imagine you learn to compensate. My initial feeling was the same as yours... Gotta have, I'll never waste time tuning again. But reality creeps in and unless you are a session player, you realize there's little "need" for the hobbyist to own one. Supposedly there is a Trem version due in a year or so. Being so expensive/invasive this is truly one of those "wait and see" technologies. I hate to cut 1/3 out of the guts of a guitar and have no support a year later.
On a related note. I took my 8 year old Yamaha APX 5 out of the case yesterday after not being played for weeks... And it was perfectly in tune... Even after playing it for 20 minutes... With OLD strings.
A good setup goes a long way.
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Post by ux4484 on Nov 12, 2013 17:44:43 GMT -5
IMO, it's a rythym players tuning system.
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Post by ux4484 on Nov 12, 2013 11:23:27 GMT -5
Heh... Hypocrite me.
Well... I didn't trade it...
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Post by ux4484 on Nov 11, 2013 15:18:52 GMT -5
Its some kind of epidemic! But its good to get rid of gear we no longer like. Not a question of "like" GD, a question of emotion VS. practicality. If this was my Aria Diamonds hollobody bass from back in the day... sentiment would win, I would keep it, even if it was falling apart. My '51 is an excellent guitar for what it was, and other than making it into a string through body, I don't think it cold have been improved much more. Back in the day, I had done a couple guitar projects for friends and bandmates (electronic tech being my trade since high school), I installed some pups, repaired and rebuilt some tube amps (one was a Vox AC30 that caught on fire at my first live show, it became my Jr year class project), and replaced more than a few oil filled multi-wound capacitors with discrete ones. I even effectively "start grounded" a few guitars without even realizing it. Once I got out of school, I stopped working on musical equipment because I wasn't playing anymore (and it's hard to make much $ doing it solo)... but I wasn't a Guitar Nut, just a tech. Decades later when I started playing again, I had now years of mechanical and electro-mechanical experience in other fields, so when I started looking at guitars again, my attitude had changed. I would overcome this magical befuddlement known as "intonation", and I would eventually learn to properly set up a trem-leo (Chris K), and dare to adjust a truss rod (successfully)! The dangerous day for me was the day I found John A's site, here's a guy just like me going through the same thing. A Squier Strat shielding and hardtail conversion followed, as did My Mrs Cortez Tele shielding, pup replace/rewire/6 saddle bridge/tuning gear project (also included some refinishing). I was hooked (a NUT). The '51 was the first guitar I bought with the intention to mod, even then, it underwent incremental updates up until a year ago. I've had a few offers on the '51, but they were usually from guys I was in adult guitar classes in, or from kids (BTW, anyone under 25 is a kid ). I'm happy to know it went to a player who will consider it his Fender "Arsenal", and I can visit it whenever. I have to move on, my skills are at a level I'm content I can keep my "real" guitars in working order and improve my playing to their level of quality.
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Post by ux4484 on Nov 11, 2013 11:02:23 GMT -5
Depending on what's in there, it could be your retirement fund! Nope... No golden or silver age stuff in my collection. There WAS some good JLA and Marvel Silver age in my original collection that I foolishly discarded at age 19, but even those were well-read and creased... I doubt they'd have been rated any better than "fair". Everything I have now is "mint" and except for about one box (the one I'll keep) is worth little more than cover price (due to the late 80's early 90's comic glut). The "one" box is worth more than the other 10 boxes combined. Fortunately there's no junk in it (like image or the like), so at least it's worth that.
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Post by ux4484 on Nov 11, 2013 9:54:24 GMT -5
Can't speak much for Earvana, but the the few I've picked up with them have not had that open A issue. I spent much time on my Cortez Tele on that exact problem, I did finally put a six saddle bridge on it to correct the problem. I had a Robot SG for a week... couldn't stay in tune. It was "close" but I always ended up tuning manually (what's the point, right?), it went back. Turns out Gibson had oodles of problems with the system. I can say, I've seen an Evertune in action on a US Tele at the Chicago Music Exchange, it wasn't for sale, it was a managers personal guitar. As it works via string tension, once set up it's freaky stable. he was playing open chords above the 12 fret... it sounded like a Piano (playing the "open" notes an octave down). He had it installed (They supply all the router drawings to do so, it's not for the weak of heart). It's probably cheaper to buy (or rent if possible) one of the LTD models ($1000usd) than to hack into a beloved axe on your own to try it. Too bad LTD chose to only appeal to shredders with EMG's in both models. There's two ways to set it up, just stable tuning, or stable tuning with bending available, but the "bending" setup seems to have a limit on the bend from some reviewers. I can imagine a few years from now, most studios will have at least one of these for recording... as they often tune lead players guitars to be in tune for the solo (when there is one nowadays) with the already recorded rhythm track.
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Post by ux4484 on Nov 9, 2013 5:09:34 GMT -5
Got a pleasant surprise today, a call from the shop telling me they registered my Applause with Ovation... it IS new (someone had put it in the "used" row). It's an AE128. Best feature on an Acoustic? string through bridge. The composite material on the back is quite grainy and textured (kind of like die cast material when broken), while not tactile enough to grab at fibers of shirts/pants, it's definitely more grippy than "real" Ovations I've played in the past. As long as I've got a little knee out, it's not slipping. If my knee is close to 90 degree's it's perfect.it's actually a tad weird standing with a strap, as the bowl of the guitar is against the bowl of myself and puts it pretty far out there, but a little hike on the strap up or down fixes that (up=Johnny Cash, down=Billy Gibbons). My Yamaha still wins for most comfortable to play standing up. The Bracing inside, looks... a little rough. There's some splinters at the cross joints (overhang from sloppy cuts). I'm kind of surprised at that as the Maderia(Guild) and Yamaha look almost as nice inside as out. They put new strings on it, so I can't get my phone or camera in there right now, I'll do it when I change strings next (or If i decide to start a project on it). Amplified, it sounds better than acoustically, the piezo and EQ, is richer than my Yamaha, alas that the acoustic tone is not as rich as the Yamaha. I can see how people get addicted to Ovations. A bigger one with a deeper bowl could easily go up against almost any dreadnought amplified. The acoustic volume is louder than the Washburn was(though not as smooth sounding or as easy to play) For finger picking, it sounds VERY rich, though strumming is best done lightly... as harder doesn't equate to louder the same as a regular acoustic (unless amplified). This is a very livable acoustic, and I think a better candidate for travel guitar than the Washburn. Amplified is the biggest surprise. I'm thinking I may have to hunt down and Ovation bridge element and EQ to put in the Yamaha (currently Yamaha/Fishman).
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