Lets look at our guitars thread

Lets look at our guitars thread

Author
Discussion

smn159

13,609 posts

227 months

Saturday 7th December 2024
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Chubbyross said:
Just wanted somewhere to vent my annoyance and frustration, so apologies.

In the last year I've bought two hand-wired Fender reissue amps: a Tweed Deluxe back in February, and a Deluxe Reverb a couple of weeks ago. On Tuesday I was playing through the Tweed Deluxe and it started popping and crackling. I quickly turned it off, waited a couple of minutes and switched it back on. No sound, apart from a loud hum. So, amp number one gives up the ghost.

Earlier this evening I was playing through the Deluxe Reverb. Same thing happens: popping and crackling, followed by zero sound. Tried the other inputs. Nothing. Power is on as the power light is lit up. It blew a main fuse on Monday, which I replaced with the correct one, so something weird clearly going on. Bear in mind this is the second Deluxe Reverb that was sent out. The first was dead on arrival and was kindly swapped out immediately by Andertons.

Both amps are allowed to warm up. I power my amps up for a minute or two before turning on the standby switch.

Am I cursed? Are Fender's high-end hand-wired amps a load of crap? Has anyone else experienced this before? To lose one amp in a week is unlucky, but two! Extremely poor quality issues? Also bear in mind both amps have been used for no more than four or five hours since I bough them.

Ok, and breathe...
Worth having a look at this - shows the common issues and what can be done to fix them... although I'd expect an amp priced as high end to have addressed them already...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJjNHrm4eo0&t=...

OldSkoolRS

6,904 posts

189 months

Saturday 7th December 2024
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Wow, sounds like you've had really bad luck with those amps ChubbyRoss. frown I guess no choice but to send them back, other than checking for loose valves and the speaker cable connection. I certainly wouldn't start opening it up like the video (very interesting BTW).

I'd had mine 6 years and played a number of gigs with it, but have never opened it up. I have book marked the video though in case I need it. yikes

The main reason I bought my handwired model was because I was sick of modern amps that fail and then can't be repaired. In the past I've built amps, so I felt like I'd have some chance of being able to repair this one should it need it. The dressing of the wires doesn't look good in this example, perhaps mine is similar too, though unless they've changed production since mine was made (unlikely I guess).

Quite disappointing given what it's sold as, but at the time I tried to find a genuine 60s amp, but they were pretty high priced and then I'd have expected to have to replace caps, etc to get it up to gigging standards, so it didn't seem good value to do that. Of course a new amp has warranty (I think I paid extra for an extension, but of course it's expired now).


I'm using my non handwired Marshall SV20h tonight, though I always take a back up, in this case an Orange Stamp...just about loud enough to get through a gig if I have an amp problem (or can go direct into the PA).

The whole throw away attitude of a lot of gear annoys me though: I'm still trying to decide what to replace my Mooer PreAmp with, though it's currently still working and I could use my Orange Stamp into my Tascam for home practice. Guitars are generally much easier and can replace all the electrics (other than pickups) for very little cost if you can solder, anything full of surface mount and/or digital parts is beyond what I can do which I find frustrating. At least I still have a couple of reels of the old solder with actual lead in it. smile

Hope you get it sorted out.

Chubbyross

4,649 posts

95 months

Saturday 7th December 2024
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Thanks for the responses. I’ve just had a rehearsal and used my £350 secondhand Hot Rod Deluxe. Performed perfectly. I’ll sort out the faulty ones this afternoon. Thankfully they’re both under warranty so let’s see if they can be swiftly sorted out.

Chubbyross

4,649 posts

95 months

Saturday 7th December 2024
quotequote all
As a quick update, Andertons prove once again why they’re one of the best retailers around (zero affiliation, I can assure you!). Quick phone call and they’re swapping the Deluxe Reverb out early next week. No quibbles or probing questions, just instant solution.

OldSkoolRS

6,904 posts

189 months

Saturday 7th December 2024
quotequote all
That's great ChubbyRoss. I regret buying a studio mic elsewhere and when it went wrong it was such a faff to send it back (to Germany) that I just live with the fault. Had I bought it from Andertons for a small amount more then it would have been much easier to deal with.

Thanks for the reminder; I'd nearly forgotten to pack my Orange Stamp back up pedal for tonight's gig. yikes

ScotHill

3,563 posts

119 months

Sunday 8th December 2024
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I received a little bit of money from somewhere, not enough to do anything massive with but too big just to drop it into the Friday night takeaway account, so I'm getting a guitar custom built - oversized SG body with a 25.5" scale length neck and a really flexible set of pickups, likely the last guitar I'll ever buy. It's still early days so I don't want to share the builder just yet but it's exciting being part of the process rather than just picking up a guitar off the rack on the wall. Will post a few updates along the way but it's going to be spring before it's finished.

chemistry

2,548 posts

119 months

Sunday 29th December 2024
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Been away so only just opened this…

Very light, well balanced and easy to play. Especially comfortable seated. The Endurneck profile is definitely rather different.




Robertb

2,286 posts

248 months

Sunday 29th December 2024
quotequote all
ScotHill said:
I received a little bit of money from somewhere, not enough to do anything massive with but too big just to drop it into the Friday night takeaway account, so I'm getting a guitar custom built - oversized SG body with a 25.5" scale length neck and a really flexible set of pickups, likely the last guitar I'll ever buy. It's still early days so I don't want to share the builder just yet but it's exciting being part of the process rather than just picking up a guitar off the rack on the wall. Will post a few updates along the way but it's going to be spring before it's finished.
How exciting! Will be interesting to hear more about it as and when.

Are you getting a centre pickup too? Would be a real Swiss army knife then, like my PRS 513.

Skii

1,712 posts

201 months

Thursday 2nd January
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Here's my new toy, only needed a few tweaks out of the box but very impressed with it so far

Epiphone Les Paul Special




chemistry

2,548 posts

119 months

Thursday 2nd January
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Skii said:
Here's my new toy, only needed a few tweaks out of the box but very impressed with it so far

Epiphone Les Paul Special

Love that. Very classy look to it too.

Skii

1,712 posts

201 months

Friday 3rd January
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chemistry said:
Love that. Very classy look to it too.
thanks smile

Yes for a budget Les Paul special copy it looks and feels much more expensive, it's also very light.

ScotHill

3,563 posts

119 months

Friday 3rd January
quotequote all
Robertb said:
How exciting! Will be interesting to hear more about it as and when.

Are you getting a centre pickup too? Would be a real Swiss army knife then, like my PRS 513.
No, the bridge and neck pickups will have about six different switching options each, plus combinations of those on the middle switch position, so I think my head would explode if I had a third pickup as well! Plus I find that the middle pickup on my Ibanez gets in the way of my picking sometimes, would rather just have an empty space there,

Worked out something with a 'ghost' pickguard too, as the pickguard shape is really part of the SG design but I don't want a piece of plastic covering up the woodgrain, I'll see if I can post up the design image once they've tarted it up a bit.

Mastodon2

13,939 posts

175 months

Monday 13th January
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chemistry said:
Been away so only just opened this…

Very light, well balanced and easy to play. Especially comfortable seated. The Endurneck profile is definitely rather different.



Nice. Back when Guitar Guitar started stocking Strandberg I bought one of the first Boden OS7s they got, it was a great guitar. The way they feel to play really is like nothing else, especially when you play them standing with a strap, they just disappear and as clichéd as it sounds, it's just you and the notes.

I did like the Endurneck profile and I do think it works to keep the hand relaxed and comfortable, it's probably tough at first for people with bad fretting hand technique but anyone else will find it to actually be very intuitive - the flat spot on the neck is where your thumb will probably be anyway.

I recently played a Boden Plini 6 in a shootout when choosing my latest guitar, I did really like it but I must admit that on a 6 string I just don't feel like the multiscale is worth it and £2200 for an Indonesian guitar is just too much, even if the build quality was solid. Still, great guitars that meet a particular need and so very much a good thing to have on the market.

Anyway, after a bit of deliberation, I was either going to get a Music Man Majesty 7, a Music Man Axis or a Charvel Guthrie Govan in flamed maple. I looked at some Majesty guitars but the colours on offer didn't amaze me (the cheaper Sterling line has nicer finishes than the main EBMM line ffs) and I worried I'd end up leaving it in the case in favour of my Music Man JP7 which I love.

The Axis were ruled out on the basis of two new ones that I looked at appearing to have neck pocket issues. If you can slide a pick down the gap between the neck and the body on a £3500 guitar, walk away. I'd like to own one in the future though, if I can find a good one.

The Charvel was looking odds-on to buy when a last minute challenger appeared, an Ibanez J Custom RG8870. These are pretty much the best of the best Ibanez do (outside of the limited run small volume stuff and the LA Custom Shop which is only open to endorsers). I've always loved Ibanez, I loved the look and spec of this one so it seemed a shame to pass up on it. The pic is my personal guitar from the Guitar Guitar website, for the high-end stuff they tend to give each guitar a unique page showing the particular guitars off by serial number, which is a great jdea. Mine was the lightest of the 8870s by a good few ounces so I ended up buying it.

I'll probably get a Charvel Guthrie Govan model one day but for now, this thing has me hooked.


franki68

10,764 posts

231 months

Monday 13th January
quotequote all
Mastodon2 said:
Nice. Back when Guitar Guitar started stocking Strandberg I bought one of the first Boden OS7s they got, it was a great guitar. The way they feel to play really is like nothing else, especially when you play them standing with a strap, they just disappear and as clichéd as it sounds, it's just you and the notes.

I did like the Endurneck profile and I do think it works to keep the hand relaxed and comfortable, it's probably tough at first for people with bad fretting hand technique but anyone else will find it to actually be very intuitive - the flat spot on the neck is where your thumb will probably be anyway.

I recently played a Boden Plini 6 in a shootout when choosing my latest guitar, I did really like it but I must admit that on a 6 string I just don't feel like the multiscale is worth it and £2200 for an Indonesian guitar is just too much, even if the build quality was solid. Still, great guitars that meet a particular need and so very much a good thing to have on the market.

Anyway, after a bit of deliberation, I was either going to get a Music Man Majesty 7, a Music Man Axis or a Charvel Guthrie Govan in flamed maple. I looked at some Majesty guitars but the colours on offer didn't amaze me (the cheaper Sterling line has nicer finishes than the main EBMM line ffs) and I worried I'd end up leaving it in the case in favour of my Music Man JP7 which I love.

The Axis were ruled out on the basis of two new ones that I looked at appearing to have neck pocket issues. If you can slide a pick down the gap between the neck and the body on a £3500 guitar, walk away. I'd like to own one in the future though, if I can find a good one.

The Charvel was looking odds-on to buy when a last minute challenger appeared, an Ibanez J Custom RG8870. These are pretty much the best of the best Ibanez do (outside of the limited run small volume stuff and the LA Custom Shop which is only open to endorsers). I've always loved Ibanez, I loved the look and spec of this one so it seemed a shame to pass up on it. The pic is my personal guitar from the Guitar Guitar website, for the high-end stuff they tend to give each guitar a unique page showing the particular guitars off by serial number, which is a great jdea. Mine was the lightest of the 8870s by a good few ounces so I ended up buying it.

I'll probably get a Charvel Guthrie Govan model one day but for now, this thing has me hooked.

I have the charvel mij GG it’s fantastic ..tremendous pick ups , credibly versatile it’s a guitar much better than my playing unfortunately but it’s an absolute keeper .

chemistry

2,548 posts

119 months

Monday 13th January
quotequote all
Mastodon2 said:
Nice. Back when Guitar Guitar started stocking Strandberg I bought one of the first Boden OS7s they got, it was a great guitar. The way they feel to play really is like nothing else, especially when you play them standing with a strap, they just disappear and as clichéd as it sounds, it's just you and the notes.

I did like the Endurneck profile and I do think it works to keep the hand relaxed and comfortable, it's probably tough at first for people with bad fretting hand technique but anyone else will find it to actually be very intuitive - the flat spot on the neck is where your thumb will probably be anyway.

I recently played a Boden Plini 6 in a shootout when choosing my latest guitar, I did really like it but I must admit that on a 6 string I just don't feel like the multiscale is worth it and £2200 for an Indonesian guitar is just too much, even if the build quality was solid. Still, great guitars that meet a particular need and so very much a good thing to have on the market.

Anyway, after a bit of deliberation, I was either going to get a Music Man Majesty 7, a Music Man Axis or a Charvel Guthrie Govan in flamed maple. I looked at some Majesty guitars but the colours on offer didn't amaze me (the cheaper Sterling line has nicer finishes than the main EBMM line ffs) and I worried I'd end up leaving it in the case in favour of my Music Man JP7 which I love.

The Axis were ruled out on the basis of two new ones that I looked at appearing to have neck pocket issues. If you can slide a pick down the gap between the neck and the body on a £3500 guitar, walk away. I'd like to own one in the future though, if I can find a good one.

The Charvel was looking odds-on to buy when a last minute challenger appeared, an Ibanez J Custom RG8870. These are pretty much the best of the best Ibanez do (outside of the limited run small volume stuff and the LA Custom Shop which is only open to endorsers). I've always loved Ibanez, I loved the look and spec of this one so it seemed a shame to pass up on it. The pic is my personal guitar from the Guitar Guitar website, for the high-end stuff they tend to give each guitar a unique page showing the particular guitars off by serial number, which is a great jdea. Mine was the lightest of the 8870s by a good few ounces so I ended up buying it.

I'll probably get a Charvel Guthrie Govan model one day but for now, this thing has me hooked.

That's a fabulous Ibanez!

For what it's worth, my Strandberg is the cheapest one they do, so £1,000 new (and less used, obviously); no fan frets, no zero fret, hardtail bridge (with new hardware), basic colours and woods, etc. - still overpriced for what it is, but not as crazy as the rest of the Stranbdberg line. I specifically didn't want fanned frets or a zero fret so this works for me and it still gets the Endurneck, stainless frets (but not Jescar ones), normal OEM Strandberg pickups, decent gigbag...

chemistry

2,548 posts

119 months

Monday 13th January
quotequote all
franki68 said:
I have the charvel mij GG it’s fantastic ..tremendous pick ups , credibly versatile it’s a guitar much better than my playing unfortunately but it’s an absolute keeper .
Pictures...

franki68

10,764 posts

231 months

Monday 13th January
quotequote all
chemistry said:
Pictures...
Much Earlier in the thread , will post up when I’m back from hols anyway as it’s a lovely thing anyway .

AndrewGP

2,031 posts

172 months

Monday 13th January
quotequote all
I have a desire to get another Gibson Les Paul, most likely a Standard or equivalent....but would value some advice from the PH hive mind.

I used to have a Gibson Les Paul Studio in 2006 ish, it was my second guitar (I was 27 when I started learning!) and whilst it was a lovely thing, the 50s neck was a bit chunky for me and the tuning stability was awful. I sold it and gravitated towards Fender; my go-to guitars nowadays are Fender Teles although I have a PRS Zack Myers SE single cut Les Paul style as well. The PRS plays really nicely, it has a satin neck which feels great and it stays in tune. The pickups are ok, but nothing special. It's worth about £800 at a guess.

First question, is a £2300 Gibson LP worth the step up in terms of quality, playing feel and sound? Has the tuning stability got better or was I just unlucky?

If so, how do I narrow down what I want in terms of model and year? The choice is vast especially when you factor in the used market and what may or may not be a 'good' year. I know I need to go and play some (especially to try the 60s neck) but if I go used I can't easily do that. Would value the PH opinions!

franki68

10,764 posts

231 months

Tuesday 14th January
quotequote all
AndrewGP said:
I have a desire to get another Gibson Les Paul, most likely a Standard or equivalent....but would value some advice from the PH hive mind.

I used to have a Gibson Les Paul Studio in 2006 ish, it was my second guitar (I was 27 when I started learning!) and whilst it was a lovely thing, the 50s neck was a bit chunky for me and the tuning stability was awful. I sold it and gravitated towards Fender; my go-to guitars nowadays are Fender Teles although I have a PRS Zack Myers SE single cut Les Paul style as well. The PRS plays really nicely, it has a satin neck which feels great and it stays in tune. The pickups are ok, but nothing special. It's worth about £800 at a guess.

First question, is a £2300 Gibson LP worth the step up in terms of quality, playing feel and sound? Has the tuning stability got better or was I just unlucky?

If so, how do I narrow down what I want in terms of model and year? The choice is vast especially when you factor in the used market and what may or may not be a 'good' year. I know I need to go and play some (especially to try the 60s neck) but if I go used I can't easily do that. Would value the PH opinions!
I just watched an intersting Gutherie govan interview where he talks about this stuff , basically he says experiment with what you have to get the tone you want , if the se is nice to play but the issue is the pickups change the pickups ,much cheaper option then the alternative of buying another guitar .
If you’re on the other hand you are obsessed with having a Gibson then go to a store try the different types and then leave and search for that model used .

angusfaldo

2,805 posts

284 months

Tuesday 14th January
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I popped my name on the Analogman waiting list for a King of Tone on 12 November 2018 and promptly forgot all about it. Dec 15th just gone the invite to buy one finally arrived and this week the pedal landed from the USA. Over 6 years to get one. I don't suppose that getting on the wait list now will ever yield a pedal. Here it is:



Anyone else a fan?