Guitar Tech Talk

[Doc Sprocket]

I never wanted to get a wamay bar for my guitar,to me its just a device for thowing my strings outa tune.

and i feel your pain on the string change,ive got 5 guitars that all needa string change and im really dreeding that for two reasons
1.im not going to buy cheapo string so all in all it;ll cost upwards of 150 for good martain,ddario strings
2.i have to decide weither to blow it all on strings,a 4gen ipod touch,or a new mab.

Okay- now we're legitimately off-topic!

Seriously- $150 for 5 set of decent strings? Holy crap- what does your local music store charge- $30/set? That's insane!

I quit the band around 2000, maybe 2001. At the time, I was buying Dean Markely, Ernie Ball, Wyres, GHS and a few other brands. For the longest time, my favourites were the Dean Markely Blue Steel. I don't think I ever paid more than about $12.

As far as the whole whammy bar (Tremolo system) goes- as long as it's a good system and properly set up, you'll stay tuned. I wasn't kidding about picking up a guitar by the bar, shaking the whole thing around, and staying in tune.

As much as stringing and setting up a Floyd Rose Or Kahler is a serious pain in the cojones, it's well worth the aggravation. Believe me!

Got a pic of the axe you built?

 

[matman55]

not really 150,i was just guessin but it is very expensive. i buy 16.00 acoustic strings for my alvarez regent 5209 and the same goes on my 1977 dean acoustic. and then i slap a pair or ernies on the double axe. and then i got the dean vendetta,i used to just put ernie ball on it but then i switched to fender brand strings. so "truely" itll all cost around 100.00 + s&h.



I dont have i camera!

 

[dave1701]

I play acoustic guitar and use these, because I like mine quieter and they sound good with my fender acoustic. They cost me 6 bucks and I change them maybe 4 times a year max. So it doesn't cost much for me to run my guitar.

http://www.amazon.com/Martin-M130-Steel-Guitar-Strings/dp/B0002CZT0M

 

[Doc Sprocket]

Matman- Shipping and handling? Don't you have a music store in your area?

 

[matman55]

Matman- Shipping and handling? Don't you have a music store in your area?

please, call me matthew

and yes i do,but there endorsed with ernie ball and they dont have ANY other brands. so i just go to sites like guitarfetish.com or guitarcenter.com(personaly i think guitar center charges to much) for my strings.

 

[Doc Sprocket]

Oh, wow... A music store that carries only one brand of strings. That's just wrong! I wonder how they stay in business? When I had the band thing going on, there were five of us (two guitarists, bassist, drummer, vocalist) and we all went to the same retailer(s). If it wasn't good enough for one of us, we took our business elsewhere. And believe me- with two guitarists and a bass player, that's a lot of strings. As you may imagine, we had different strings for different instruments, for different reasons. Amongst the three of us, we had about 14 stringed instruments. Absolutely no way one brand would cut it.

 

[bighead]

Oh, wow... A music store that carries only one brand of strings. That's just wrong! I wonder how they stay in business? When I had the band thing going on, there were five of us (two guitarists, bassist, drummer, vocalist) and we all went to the same retailer(s). If it wasn't good enough for one of us, we took our business elsewhere. And believe me- with two guitarists and a bass player, that's a lot of strings. As you may imagine, we had different strings for different instruments, for different reasons. Amongst the three of us, we had about 14 stringed instruments. Absolutely no way one brand would cut it.

I was thinking the same thing.

https://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&...le,+FL&ei=f3PZT7GQOKLM2AWJvJzBBg&ved=0CBcQtgM

 

[matman55]

gold tone ? what happend to noteworthy music shop?

And i know theres other music shop out of town but i dont feel like drive 30 miles just for strings,i will just get them online.

 

[Doc Sprocket]

That's a drag. I know that online ordering makes everything you could possibly need readily available- (a left-nostril inhaler if you need one) but there are just some things I'd rather physically shop for....

So listen, you made some negative comments about tremolo (whammy bar) systems. Have you had some negative experiences with one? The first one I had was brutal. Dang guitar wouldn't stay in tune for a complete song. Back then, I knew nothing about them and if I hadn't learned, it would have put me off tremolos forever.

That guitar met an ugly demise. I brought it outside and plugged it into my amp, standing it against a brick wall. I "played" the last tune with my collection of pellet rifles and pistols. Finally, I smashed it off the wall. I think I was 17.

 

[matman55]

That's a drag. I know that online ordering makes everything you could possibly need readily available- (a left-nostril inhaler if you need one) but there are just some things I'd rather physically shop for....

So listen, you made some negative comments about tremolo (whammy bar) systems. Have you had some negative experiences with one? The first one I had was brutal. Dang guitar wouldn't stay in tune for a complete song. Back then, I knew nothing about them and if I hadn't learned, it would have put me off tremolos forever.

That guitar met an ugly demise. I brought it outside and plugged it into my amp, standing it against a brick wall. I "played" the last tune with my collection of pellet rifles and pistols. Finally, I smashed it off the wall. I think I was 17.

i had a washburn x-something(fender strat copy) and the tremlo sucked! so did the tuners,and the hardware,and electronics,come to think about it.that whole guitar was a peice of ****. and i understand the pysicaly being there part to shoping,and what do you use a left nostril inhahler for?

And that is a epic way to kill a guitar,I killed my firstact childrens guitar with a oxy/acetline toarch.

 

[bighead]

I was Yard selling on the way home from work today. I found a Jackson Concert EX Professional bass guitar. And Degitech RP21d intergrated Tube Guitar processor. (multi effects) Both were pretty nice condition. The Jackson also had hard case. I paid $100 for both.

I see only one guitar like it on ebay asking $355. (mine is dark blue/purple that looks black)
http://www.ebay.com/itm/320916526360?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649

I see only one other Digitech rp21d asking $699 (no power supply and manual) (mine is in the box with manual and supply)
http://www.ebay.com/itm/270997965157?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649

I know these are asking prices with zero bids. But if I can do half this I will be a happy ebay flipper.

Will take pics if you guys want to see them. You can always make offer as well. I am thinking about $250 for the degitech and about $175 for the Jackson. Or this is what I think ebay will bring. I do not start my items high like the above sellers. I will roll the dice and start at $100 each.

 

[bighead]

Here are the pics of the gear I bought today. The blue is much darker than pics show under flash. Unless you hold it in the light it looks black.

A few nicks and scratches but fair condition over all. Needs good cleaning though.

I did a fast google on the degitech. They are selling for about $200 to $300 in the forums. Years2005 and 2007 range though. I could do well on this but hard to say for no only one other is listed on ebay. Nothing in completed items as well. In cases like this I find this to be a good thing. The other listed for $699 only helps IMO. More so when I start it at $100. I may jump it up to $200 start the more I think about it.

Lots of other degitech effects but none like this one.

When I spotted these at the yard sale I called my wife at work. I had her ebay the makes and models. She came back with the $699 and $355 prices. I had no problem giving him his asking price at $50 each.

 

[matman55]

holy crap dude!thats one helluva deal! keep me posted on if you have sold them or not, i might scrape up the money for that jackson guitar.

 

[Doc Sprocket]

So... when do I get to see pics of the guitar you built? (hinty, hint, hint!)

 

[matman55]

So... when do I get to see pics of the guitar you built? (hinty, hint, hint!)

what are you tryin ta say???oh i get it....wait....no i dont!...TELL MEH!!!PM MEH!!!!

 

[Doc Sprocket]

What's to tell? I got an interest in DIY stuff, even outside karts! So... do I get to see???

I always planned on building one for myself, but never got to it. For the longest time, I didn't have the right tools. Now that I have the tools, I don't really have the desire.

 

[matman55]

What's to tell? I got an interest in DIY stuff, even outside karts! So... do I get to see???

I always planned on building one for myself, but never got to it. For the longest time, I didn't have the right tools. Now that I have the tools, I don't really have the desire.

i know what my new user title will be
matman55
I dont have a camera!



and i would make another guitar if i could in a Heart beat!!i consider it to be one of three of the greatest acomplishments in my life

1. Makeing a motorized bicycle for 0$
2. gettin l**d
3. building a some what decent double axe.

so if you have the tools(and the unesembled guitar) go for it!

 

[Doc Sprocket]

I figured you'd have pics stashed somewhere, I guess not.

#2 on your list actually did make me laugh out loud. Dog looked at me funny. I forgot what it's like to be that young!

I don't have an unassembled guitar, and never did. I sketched several body designs and even cut a template out of plywood. The plan was to buy a hardwood blank and cut and shape my own design, "Warhawk". The only thing I was NOT going to attempt to make was the neck. It HAS to be perfect, or it's unplayable.

Two things held me back in those days-

1) Warmoth was pretty much the only source for new aftermarket necks, and they were expensive. I could have bought a guitar for what they wanted for a neck.

2) In order to make the neck pocket, pickup, bridge, and electronics cavities, and to profile all the edges, I would need a router.

NOW-

You can get half-decent necks out of China for a decent price- In fact, I have bought TWO.

I now have a router (two actually) but I quit the band over 10 years ago, so I kind of lost the desire to build my own. Would have been nice though- I was planning on using active EMG pickups, Sperzel locking tuners, a classic-style tremolo, Schaller straplocks, and all gold hardware over a jet black body. Looked gorgeous in my head!

 

[matman55]

Im sure i could dig through my moms fb and find that picture she posted with her phone but that would require too much energy.

 

[Doc Sprocket]

You have GOT to get a camera! Seriously- every kid's got a phone these days- no camera on yours? I'm starting to think it should be a membership requirement! LOL

Yeah- things sure have changed. I think those necks cost me about $30 each, and they really aren't bad! I bought them for two project builds. One was a beaten old Yamaha (project: YamaHell). My thrash-metal buddy beat the living crap out of it for about 15 years. It was horrible when I got it. The neck had a twist (hence the new neck) the body wood was indescribably molested, there was fake blood all in the cavities (from his stage act) the wiring was a rat's nest... Ecch! Anyhow, I started rebuilding it for kicks- just to see if I could. I got all the bodywork done and primed, ready for paint.

The other project was for my buddy. It's an imported knockoff of a Gibson Explorer. I can't imagine why he wanted me to restomod it, but he has some sort of attachment to it. I got all the bodywork done on that one, and actually cut down the new neck. The new neck shipped as a 24-fret, and the guitar body is scaled for a 22. I must have checked my saw alignment 15 times before cutting the neck- I was so paranoid of screwing up a brand new neck. That project is in mothballs, I can't even look at it, too freaky. Last September, at the tender age of 41, he had a very serious stroke. He's alive, but cannot really speak and is completely paralyzed on the right side of his body. Obviously, guitar playing is not in his near future- probably never again.

At first I thought it would make a nice gift to finish the project ahead of schedule for him, but I am WAAAAAY too afraid of his reaction if I were to present him with it. Think about it- he'll VERY likely never play again- and I'm going to present him with a special guitar? I'm not that brave...