[muso] geetars

[Hypnotoad.]

I have no idea what "Muso" means, but it seems to appear at the start of all discussions on equipment

After starting casual strumming a couple of years ago on a Stagg Electro Acoustic, I kindof gave up, for a few reasons.

I'm in a flat, and very conscious of noise, even the acoustic on its own feels a bit loud sometimes, I find I can't confidently strike down as it makes a bit too much racket. Acoustics seem very unforgiving for a novice

I've always fancied an electric, but I can't really justify forking out for one plus an amp, so when I came across this, I thought it would be perfect for a casual beginner who just likes to learn parts of my favourite songs in my spare room with the headphones on, just as a bit of an outlet more than anything, no serious intentions about playing to any decent level. Plus electrics are a lot quieter (un-amped), and the distortion covers up some appalling playing by me

http://www.iwantoneofthose.com/i-axe-guitar/index.html


It's brilliant, with a cable going from the Guitars line out into the PC, the headphones into the PC, the sound is absolutely fantastic, so loud it makes my ears ring

The supplied amp-simulation software (although you only get to keep one of the 3 programs they teasingly supply) does a great job of adding various effects. Apparently, it sounds much like a fender strat, you can add lots of effects to re-create whatever genre your into, from blues to Cobain levels of distortion

I fucking love it. It looks a bit gimicky at first, but its full size and, according to a video review by a serious guitarist, a pretty accurate rendition of a fender strat

[Cardinal Tit Storm]

There are a lot of options when it comes to playing a guitar over headphones or through a computer, but if it plays well, cool.

If we're talking guitar porn, I'd go for one of these:



It's an old neck-through Ibanez Artist Custom. Even a picture of it was pretty hard to find. They were only made for a couple of years and I think they go for over $2000 second hand. I like plain wooden guitars anyway, and I just think this is a well proportioned and sensible design. Understated and beautiful. The only person I've ever seen use one is the guitarist in Ozric Tentacles:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWAUd_5cfhQ

[Dusty Gozongas]

There are a lot of options when it comes to playing a guitar over headphones or through a computer, but if it plays well, cool.

@Homer J: This is good advice from  Cardinal Tit Storm :-)  As long as it isn't instantly annoying (and you'll probably feel it as soon as you pick it up) it should be a good guitar for a 'casual beginner'. It might even surprise you.  I'd be tempted to try it through an amp if possible if you're planning on making live music sometime soon mind.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWAUd_5cfhQ

Nice one! Always nice to see them Ozrics. That could've been a soapbox bass for all I care :-)  

[Spiteface]

There are a lot of options when it comes to playing a guitar over headphones or through a computer, but if it plays well, cool.

If we're talking guitar porn, I'd go for one of these:

(picture)

It's an old neck-through Ibanez Artist Custom. Even a picture of it was pretty hard to find. They were only made for a couple of years and I think they go for over $2000 second hand. I like plain wooden guitars anyway, and I just think this is a well proportioned and sensible design. Understated and beautiful. The only person I've ever seen use one is the guitarist in Ozric Tentacles:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWAUd_5cfhQ

I almost own my dream guitar now - My Fender Jazzmaster arrived earlier in the week, and I fucking love it.  I'll post a picture of it If I can be bothered taking one

This site is guitar porn for me:

http://www.sonicyouth.com/mustang/eq/gear.html

Every single guitar/bass used by Sonic Youth over the years, incl. who used it, tunings, modifications etc, if it was nicked in 1999 (There was an incident on tour and all of their gear was stolen).  Obscenely detailed.

[Bingo Fury]

The Ozrics bloke isn't the only pro musician to use one of those Ibanez guitars. I remember photos of Andy Summers playing one in the early days of The Police.

[Spiteface]

Quick question - I am considering replacing the stock bridge on my newly-acquired Jazzmaster.  I am faced with two options - the Fender Mustang Bridge, which is like the Jag/Jazzmaster Bridge, but the saddles are single-grooved as opposed to those threaded-looking saddles on the stock bridge.  This seems to be the most popular modification - Lee Ranaldo from Sonic Youth does this with most of his cuurent touring arsenal of Jazzmasters/Jazzblasters.  The other option is a Gibson-style Tune-O-Matic, which Ive seen J Mascis use on most of his Jazzmasters.  I don't know how much more difficult to install this wopuld be, but they seem to be a bit cheaper than the mustang bridges in the shop I usually get my stuff from.

Anyone have any advice on this?  The first option is a mod I can do my self, the second one I'm not so sure about.

[Marty McFly]

here's a nice little site written by a man who loves his lesser-known Fenders..



the aptly-named Confessions of a Guitar Junkie

while I'm here.. I got this one from eBum late last year. It's my latest instrument. I got it for £75 and the RRP is about double that. I think this model is discontinued now..







stock pickups replaced with a couple from www.guitarfetish.com .. may replace them again with a set of "lipstick" pickups.

[micanio]

The luthier in my shop is going to make me one of these when I get my bank charges back form the bank:



I've fallen in love with Django Rheinhart and all that 20's-30-s Gypsy Jazz. I've been learning Minor Swing over the last couple of weeks and it's really grabbed me. He was going to make me an acoustic anyway but I thought I may as well go for something a lttle bit different....

[Cardinal Tit Storm]

Quick question - I am considering replacing the stock bridge on my newly-acquired Jazzmaster.  I am faced with two options - the Fender Mustang Bridge, which is like the Jag/Jazzmaster Bridge, but the saddles are single-grooved as opposed to those threaded-looking saddles on the stock bridge.  This seems to be the most popular modification - Lee Ranaldo from Sonic Youth does this with most of his cuurent touring arsenal of Jazzmasters/Jazzblasters.  The other option is a Gibson-style Tune-O-Matic, which Ive seen J Mascis use on most of his Jazzmasters.  I don't know how much more difficult to install this wopuld be, but they seem to be a bit cheaper than the mustang bridges in the shop I usually get my stuff from.

Anyone have any advice on this?  The first option is a mod I can do my self, the second one I'm not so sure about.

I'm no expert, but I did learn a bit about this sort of thing when I made my own guitar. Going by this site, it looks like people are making Mustang bridges fit in Jazzmaster post holes by wrapping tape around the posts to increase the diameter. That's never going to result in the most rigid connection between the strings and the body that you ideally need for good sustain. At least it's non-invasive though, and if it's commonly done it must work alright. Another option would be to fill in the existing post holes with dowel rod and re-drill smaller holes into the dowel for the Mustang bridge. That could get messy and complicated.

If you went down the tune-o-matic route you'd have to be very careful, and find out all the relevant dimensions first. Gibson bridges are radiused and spaced to match their necks, which will almost certainly not match your Fender. Fitting one properly might involve filling of holes, drilling new ones, filing the bridge down to get the strings at the same radius as the neck, and re-finishing the guitar. It's certainly possible but I wouldn't want to risk it on a guitar I was particularly fond of, or an expensive one (drilling into a decent Fender will devalue it too). All in all it doesn't seem worth the hassle really.

By the way, have you looked at http://www.axesrus.com/ for parts? Their website is amateurish but I found the service and prices very good.

[micanio]

By the way, have you looked at http://www.axesrus.com/ for parts? Their website is amateurish but I found the service and prices very good.

Also try Allparts - thats where we get all our spares from in the shop.....

[micanio]

dp

[Spiteface]

Quick question - I am considering replacing the stock bridge on my newly-acquired Jazzmaster.  I am faced with two options - the Fender Mustang Bridge, which is like the Jag/Jazzmaster Bridge, but the saddles are single-grooved as opposed to those threaded-looking saddles on the stock bridge.  This seems to be the most popular modification - Lee Ranaldo from Sonic Youth does this with most of his cuurent touring arsenal of Jazzmasters/Jazzblasters.  The other option is a Gibson-style Tune-O-Matic, which Ive seen J Mascis use on most of his Jazzmasters.  I don't know how much more difficult to install this wopuld be, but they seem to be a bit cheaper than the mustang bridges in the shop I usually get my stuff from.

Anyone have any advice on this?  The first option is a mod I can do my self, the second one I'm not so sure about.

I'm no expert, but I did learn a bit about this sort of thing when I made my own guitar. Going by this site, it looks like people are making Mustang bridges fit in Jazzmaster post holes by wrapping tape around the posts to increase the diameter. That's never going to result in the most rigid connection between the strings and the body that you ideally need for good sustain. At least it's non-invasive though, and if it's commonly done it must work alright. Another option would be to fill in the existing post holes with dowel rod and re-drill smaller holes into the dowel for the Mustang bridge. That could get messy and complicated.

If you went down the tune-o-matic route you'd have to be very careful, and find out all the relevant dimensions first. Gibson bridges are radiused and spaced to match their necks, which will almost certainly not match your Fender. Fitting one properly might involve filling of holes, drilling new ones, filing the bridge down to get the strings at the same radius as the neck, and re-finishing the guitar. It's certainly possible but I wouldn't want to risk it on a guitar I was particularly fond of, or an expensive one (drilling into a decent Fender will devalue it too). All in all it doesn't seem worth the hassle really.

By the way, have you looked at http://www.axesrus.com/ for parts? Their website is amateurish but I found the service and prices very good.

Cheers for the advice.  I have done a bit of reading and the taping of the bridge isn't just so it fits, the stock bridge goes in like that too, the idea being that it rocks back and forth with the trem, but most people prefer no movement at all, so they widen the posts for a titghter fit.  

RE: Tune o Matics, i've heard some designs of these can be fitted in a similar fashion by taping it up, but I'm less sure about this because of string spacing differences between Gibson and Fender guitar designs, with the right spacing, I think it might work as I've read, but I'd need to be totally sure about this.

[Cardinal Tit Storm]

I have done a bit of reading and the taping of the bridge isn't just so it fits, the stock bridge goes in like that too, the idea being that it rocks back and forth with the trem, but most people prefer no movement at all, so they widen the posts for a titghter fit.

Oh right, I see. I wonder why Fender still makes it that way if people complain about it. Anyway I probably should have kept my mouth shut as I don't know much about those floating bridges. There's a bit about installing tune-o-matics on this site (which you've probably seen) and it does seem to be the more difficult option. Not so bad if you can get one the right size, but drilling into the guitar seems a bit drastic.

[Spiteface]

I wonder why Fender still makes it that way if people complain about it.

Probably for the sake of vintage accuracy - it is supposed to be a '62 reissue.  Maybe if they were to ever introduce modern "standard" models alongside the US and Mexican Strats and Teles this would be sorted out.  Having said that, is it not true that some reissue Strats come with a 5-way switch as opposed to the 3-way that was standard at the time?


I've decided on getting a mustang bridge now, just because it's easier, and non-permanent (in the event I want to restore it to original spec to sell it, whioch is unlikely).

[Go With The Flow]

I have a Fender Gemini II acoustic. Does anybody know if this is any good, or a load of rubbish?

[Marty McFly]

fender.com sez..

GEMINI - SERIES
Acoustic guitars, imported from Korea. Distributed in the US by MIDCO.

Gemini II
1984-1987
$165 to $189 MSRP
Spruce top, Nato back and sides

Gemini IIE (Electric)
1987-1990
$240 to $260 MSRP
Spruce top, Nato back and sides

$165 in the mid-80s was quite a bit.

wasn't it?

[easytarget]

It's my latest instrument.

Until now I only liked Gibson SGs - now I want one of those!
That's a fine looking geetar.

[micanio]

I have a Fender Gemini II acoustic. Does anybody know if this is any good, or a load of rubbish?

General consesus here seems to be that its quite a good bit of kit. More importantly, what do you think of it?

[The Region Legion]

Come on, lets have a bit more imagination in dream guitars shall we?

Probably the best guitar I've ever had the pleasure to play was Frank Gambale's signature Yamaha, the AESFG:


Also available in black.

The reason for this, as well as having a truly beautiful tone, is the "FretWave" system - this puts a "stepped-back curve" into the first 2 frets, which makes all those first position chords and the like perfectly in tune unlike any other guitar in the world, which just has frets straight because it was easier. FretWave doesn't seem to have been picked up on, which is quite the shame.

The other dream guitar is one of Ulrich Teuffel's masterpieces, the Tesla.



First of all, it glows in the dark...



Secondly, it has all these pressure points for bizarre noisemaking possibilities. Unfortunately he makes them all to order, so you've got be damn sure you want one - I believe his asking price is around £3000. If I had it, I'd order one tomorrow.

[Spiteface]

Is that the same Ulrich Teuffel that came up with the "birdfish"? - I remember that being reviewed in Guitarist magazine (I had only been plaing for a couple of months then), and just thinking it was one of the most insane designs I'd seen.

Anyway, another question - is this amp any good?




Harley Benton GA5

a 5-watt Class A valve guitar amp for under 70 quid?  I'm no expert, but that sounds good to me...

[Marty McFly]

Anyway, another question - is this amp any good?

Harley Benton GA5

a 5-watt Class A valve guitar amp for under 70 quid?  I'm no expert, but that sounds good to me...

never heard of Harley Benton, thomann.de seems to stock a lot of products by them so maybe it's an own-brand thing?

if you're after a valve amp you may be better served by this Epiphone model..

http://www.imuso.co.uk/ProductDetail.asp?StockCode=EG00869

this amp (and its little speakerless brother) I've seen countless times on various guitar sites as of late, and they all seem to be singing their praises..

[Labian Quest]

I've played a couple of valve juniors, they are nice little amps, and given that it uses the same preamp and power tubes as the Harley Benton, I wouldn't have thought it would sound much different from the Valve junior, most of those low watt tube amps do sound a bit samey, nice smooth cleans and slightly muddy, but nice distortion, don't expect to be able to get a particularly bright sound out of it, a lot of people use OD pedals with those kind of amps to tighten them up a bit, another thing to bear in mind with the Thomann gear is that it will have a two pin Euro plug on it.