Jump to content

FaintingGoat

Member
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Content Count

    89

  • Joined

  • Last visited

 Content Type 

Posts posted by FaintingGoat

    Wilco's Favorite Venue 6/27/2009 Berkeley, CA

    in After The Show

    Posted

    We had a lot of fun at this show and the band played great! I especially appreciated them doing "Box Full of Letters." The guitar duel at the end between Nels and Pat was hugely entertaining.

     

    My only rant for the show were the three young women next to me who insisted on talking LOUDLY over the music most of the night. They only shut up long enough to frequently check their cell phones for text messages. Of course, they have to hold them up high for everyone to see. The glow of a cell phone is so annoying. What a distraction, why go to the show in the first place? Sorry, had to get that off my chest.

    new Les Paul for Jeff?

    in Solid State Technology

    Posted

    He played the Lester tonight at the Mountain Winery in Saratoga, CA. Soapbar pickups, no Bigsby. Only played it during the opening tune, "Wilco (the song)". Other guitars: Les Paul/SG's, Telecaster, Jazzmaster, the Gibson Howard Roberts, Gibson acoustic, and the OO Martin.

    What gear are you using

    in Solid State Technology

    Posted

    I just added this guitar to the collection. It's a Gibson Custom Shop Les Paul VOS. It's interesting that they branded it as a Les Paul, because I don't think that style of Maestro was used until a few years after '61, after it had been rebranded as the SG. The '61 Maestro was different. Either way, cool guitar and a lot of fun.

     

     

    LPSGfront.jpg

    Thoughts on a stock jazzmaster's pickups?

    in Solid State Technology

    Posted

    A few months ago I bought an American Vintage Reissue Jazzmaster. I think the pickups sound great. They have a much stronger mid-range than my Strats and Teles. Jason Lollar makes amazing pickups, but I don't think I'm going to swap the ones in my Jazzmaster. However, I do have Jason Lollar pickups in my Bill Nash guitar (second picture).

     

    Jazzmaster1.jpg

     

    AAFull.jpg

    Tuners -- that important?

    in Solid State Technology

    Posted

    VOODOO ALERT! Some people think that the mass of the tuners has some great effect on tone. Of course, because this is voodoo, the opinions go both ways: more massive tuners take more vibration from the string, reducing sustain; more massive tuners transfer vibration to the neck better, making better tone. I don't believe any of it. If you can hear a difference, more power to you. Of course, adding/subtracting really massive tuners will shift the balance of a guitar towards or away from the neck, especially on really light guitars like Casinos, which you may or may not like; that's probably not voodoo.

     

    Another $0.02: Swapping tuners is usually an expensive proposition. If you're having problems staying in tune, I'd try a locking wrap first and see if that improves your tuning.

     

    I agree with this post, particularly with regard to the weight at the headstock. I prefer lighter hardware like tulip-type Klusons for a vintage look or the mini Schallers that PRS puts on most of their guitars. One of my Rickenbackers came with the larger Grovers and completely threw off the guitar's balance. But my 335 also has Grovers and because it's a heavier guitar there are no balance issues.

     

    In my opinion, if you're going for a vintage look you need to use era-correct hardware. But, if the guitar is a player just stick with what works. Most of us have checked out used gear in a store only to be disappointed at a hack job the prior owner did when changing the keys. Unless they don't keep you in tune, I wouldn't change 'em.

    What gear are you using

    in Solid State Technology

    Posted

    Wow, this thread is back from the dead. It was interesting to see what I wrote back in 2005, and how much my humble collection has changed. So, here's the update:

     

     

    Electric Guitars:

    2007 Gibson ES-335 in two-tone sunburst

    2006 Gibson Les Paul Standard in honeyburst (60's neck)

    2007 Bill Nash Stratocaster in Fiesta Red

    2005 Rickenbacker 360/12 in Fireglow

    1980 Rickenbacker 360WB in Fireglow

    1993 Paul Reed Smith Custom 24, 10 Top in Emerald Green

    2005 Paul Reed Smith Custom 22 Artist, 10 Top in Orange

    2003 Paul Reed Smith Hollowbody II, with spruce top in Vintage Natural

    2002 Fender Stratocaster Deluxe in Chrome Red

    1991 Fender Stratocaster, '57 reissue in sunburst

    1983 Aria Pro II Straycat (my first electric guitar)

    198? Yamaha SBG2000 in pearl white

    2005 Fender Precision Bass

     

    Acoustic Guitars:

    2007 Martin D-18

    2005 Blueridge D type

     

    Pedals:

    Boss CU-2 tuner

    Fulltone Clyde Deluxe

    Fulltone Fulldrive Mosfet/Anniversary Edition

    Fulltone OCD

    Fulltone '69

    Janglebox (for the Rics)

    Crowther Hot Cake

    Crowther Prunes & Custard

    Boss Loop Station

    Danelectro Cool Cat

    MXR P90

    Ibanez Compressor

    Ibanez Flanger

    Ernie Ball volume pedal

     

    Amps:

    Fender 212 DeVille

    Fender 112 Princeton Chorus

    Peavey 212 Classic Chorus

    Vox 112 Cambridge

    Marshall 212 combo

     

    Want list:

    Grows each day....

    Question for performing Lead guitarists

    in Solid State Technology

    Posted

    I use an Ernie Ball volume pedal and have come to rely on it. To my ears, I sacrifice some tone when I turn down the volume knob on my guitar, but this isn't the case with the pedal.

     

    If you're interested in looking at boost pedals, there are lots of good ones listed here. I'd also add the Fulltone Fat Boost to the list of suggestions.

    Fulltone Fulldrive II

    in Solid State Technology

    Posted

    Here's a pedal question -- what would you guys suggest for simply boosting your volume level?

     

    There are several options. You should take a look at the Fulltone Fat Boost. It does exactly what you're looking for. My preference is the Crowther Hot Cake. It can give you the boost you're looking for, but can also give you great Fender-type overdrive if you choose to use it. I used to use a Boss EQ pedal as a volume boost for guitars that weren't as loud as others.

     

    Do you have any spare pedals that offer a gain or volume knob? If so, you can boost the level on those but turn down the effects. You'll get a similar result.

    Fulltone Fulldrive II

    in Solid State Technology

    Posted

    I have the anniversary edition Fulldrive II Mosfet and it's an incredible pedal. I like to rotate through my guitars and this pedal sounds great with all of them. Hit the "boost" and your guitar sounds like it's crying. I also have the Fulltone '69 and OCD pedals. They're great too, but if I could only gig with one it would be the Fulldrive II Mosfet.

    people in bands

    in Solid State Technology

    Posted

    WHAT???

     

    WHY ARE YOU MUMBLING???

     

     

    Sorry. It's solid advice to wear earplugs but for all of us listening carefully for tones and nuances in the music it's tough to actually put the things in. I'm sure I'll regret it later, but for now I want the full experience.

     

    Oh, and speak up next time.

    Surf Green or Sunburst??

    in Solid State Technology

    Posted

    The good news is that you can't make a bad choice here. I'd encourage you to check the specs. Generally, when Fender does a sunburst guitar they use an ash body. A color like surf green typically is put on an alder body. Both are great tone woods, but ash is generally considered to be better.

     

    For me, the general rule of thumb is that I want to be excited to see a guitar when I open the case. You know what I'm talking about, that split second where you suck in air really fast when you lay eyes on your guitar. Which is more likely to do that for you, the burst or surf green? Only you know the answer because it will be your guitar.

    Your Favorite Distortion Unit

    in Solid State Technology

    Posted

    I keep several distortion-type pedals on my board. I'd rank them in this order:

     

    1. Crowther Hot Cake. I can't imagine playing a gig without this pedal. It's great as a volume boost, mild overdrive, warm tweed Fender overdrive, to screaming overdrive. Extremely versatile.

     

    2. Fulltone Fulldrive II Mosfet Edition. This one is like having two pedals in one. I keep the toggle switches on "Vintage" and "Mosfet". It's easy to get rich Marshall-like tones when you turn this on. Then, kick on the "boost" and you can make your guitar sound like it's crying while on the verge of feedback.

     

    3. Fulltone '69. This is basically a fuzzface. Much different texture than a straight distortion or overdrive pedal. I don't use this a whole lot, but when you want a fuzz tone nothing else will do.

     

    4. Fulltone OCD. I was so excited to get this pedal. Frankly, it's almost obsolete now that I have the Fulldrive Mosfet. However, I keep it on my board and set to a different tone than the Fulldrive just so I have some other colors to paint with.

     

    5. Crowther Prunes & Custard. This is one f'ed up pedal. The other guys in the band get nervous and start to sweat when they see me turn this pedal on. It's difficult to describe the sound because it can do so many things. All at once it can sound like your amp is dying a tortured death to the shrill of dropping razor blades into a garbage disposal. Probably best used in a controlled setting, such as recording, than in a live situation.

     

    There are lots of great pedals on the market to choose from. I've done the Boss and Ibanez route but have moved on. They are great pedals, but tend to give you tone that's predictable and comfortable. It's been a lot of fun to experiment with other brands. Speaking of, I hope to add a ZVexx and a Klon in the near future.

×
×
  • Create New...