Guitars

[Tweaky]

8 hours ago, Gregg Froman said:

Yes, plus Jim Olson has retired.

He hand built all his Olsons himself.

People like James Taylor swear by his creations....

 

I think this one will end up being your favorite out of all the guitars you have.

There is something about Brazilian Rosewood that can't be replicated with any other wood.

Many years ago I used to have a old Martin D28 with Brazilian Rosewood, boy that thing had the best dynamic contrasts of any acoustic I had, right up there with a 19" bodied 50's Levin acoustic archtop, both now long gone.

[FNQ Outcast]

1982 Fender MIJ P/J & Sterling by Music Man SubRay 4 into a Mark Bass Little Mark III & Mark Bass Traveller 2 x 10 Cab... tweaked with a Boss ME-50B Bass MultiFX Board... Not getting played anywhere near enough (read, not at all of late) & I recently added a Korg Keyboard... so, now I have to teach myself keyboards... or, maybe it's time for some lessons... LOL

 

[surprisetech]

On 04/03/2022 at 11:36 AM, FNQ Outcast said:

1982 Fender MIJ P/J & Sterling by Music Man SubRay 4 into a Mark Bass Little Mark III & Mark Bass Traveller 2 x 10 Cab... tweaked with a Boss ME-50B Bass MultiFX Board... Not getting played anywhere near enough (read, not at all of late) & I recently added a Korg Keyboard... so, now I have to teach myself keyboards... or, maybe it's time for some lessons... LOL

 

Picked up a used Sterling Sub Ray4 early last year to tide me over during the drawn out task of replacing the tuners on my Maton Baroque. (See my earlier post April 15 last year)

Needed something quick, so I wasn't being too fussy.  It was the best thing available locally at the right price at the time.  I'd been thinking about getting a solid body bass, but was going to take my time and do my homework.  But I've gotta say I'm really liking the Ray4 and given that the Maton is still my main instrument, I've decided to hang on to it.  I'm going to take it along to our longer gigs (when they re-emerge) and use it for our country-rock numbers.  Just have to remember to keep a spare battery in the case.

I plug them into a VOX Stomplab IB (sometimes) and a Fender Rumble 100.

 

The P/J looks nice.  Would you say you've got most of your bases covered with the sounds you can get from those two?

[FNQ Outcast]

2 hours ago, surprisetech said:

 

Picked up a used Sterling Sub Ray4 early last year to tide me over during the drawn out task of replacing the tuners on my Maton Baroque. (See my earlier post April 15 last year)

Needed something quick, so I wasn't being too fussy.  It was the best thing available locally at the right price at the time.  I'd been thinking about getting a solid body bass, but was going to take my time and do my homework.  But I've gotta say I'm really liking the Ray4 and given that the Maton is still my main instrument, I've decided to hang on to it.  I'm going to take it along to our longer gigs (when they re-emerge) and use it for our country-rock numbers.  Just have to remember to keep a spare battery in the case.

I plug them into a VOX Stomplab IB (sometimes) and a Fender Rumble 100.

 

The P/J looks nice.  Would you say you've got most of your bases covered with the sounds you can get from those two?

 

Indeed, the P/J covers the majority of tones I want but, the SubRay just has a nice dirty little growl to it that the P/J can't quite achieve... I like them both but, the P/J would definitely be my favourite..

[Gregg Froman]

Selling my Ryan Nightingale and getting this Olson SJ.

 

[awty]

A 1959-61 Silvertone 1425 

I've been working on this old beauty. 

Installed a new nut and neck binding, made a bridge and pick gaurd. Had to rewind the bridge pickup as it went open circuit when I pulled all the pots and pickups out to clean and inspect. All the rest works good so I left the rest original. 

Only thing to do now is learn to play the old girl.

 

 

[Tweaky]

On 04/03/2022 at 11:36 AM, FNQ Outcast said:

1982 Fender MIJ P/J & Sterling by Music Man SubRay 4 into a Mark Bass Little Mark III & Mark Bass Traveller 2 x 10 Cab... tweaked with a Boss ME-50B Bass MultiFX Board... Not getting played anywhere near enough (read, not at all of late) & I recently added a Korg Keyboard... so, now I have to teach myself keyboards... or, maybe it's time for some lessons... LOL

 

 

I've never played Bass [I've got heaps of Guitars] but recently its something I thought I might like to try.

After looking around at recommended basses [And a few YouTube videos where they have been demonstrated ], and wanting one that preferably can do both the Jazz and Precision sound, and didn't cost too much, I narrowed it down to either a Yamaha BB434 [$700] or for a few hundred bucks more, to what I presume is the active version of the same, the BB734 [$1100 ]

Absolutely NOBODY has any Yamaha Basses in stock ATM, and I'm loathed to preorder one form some place when I have no idea when stock would arrive.

I'd probably go the BB434 if given the choice, if only because I hate it when a battery goes on a active guitar, especially those 9v ones that you never can find when you need one.

 

Since you are a Bass player, am I making a good decision going with the Yamaha?

I'm also clueless of the difference in Bass guitar strings, I could do with some advice on this as well.

I know there is Roundwounds and Flatwounds and a type that is Roundwounds that have been flattened on the strings surface to feel like Flatwounds.

I think I'm after Flatwounds ?, as I want that sort of Paul MaCartney / Joe Dart sort of sound, not overly bright, is this the correct type of Bass strings for this sound?

[FNQ Outcast]

30 minutes ago, Tweaky said:

 

I've never played Bass [I've got heaps of Guitars] but recently its something I thought I might like to try.

After looking around at recommended basses [And a few YouTube videos where they have been demonstrated ], and wanting one that preferably can do both the Jazz and Precision sound, and didn't cost too much, I narrowed it down to either a Yamaha BB434 [$700] or for a few hundred bucks more, to what I presume is the active version of the same, the BB734 [$1100 ]

Absolutely NOBODY has any Yamaha Basses in stock ATM, and I'm loathed to preorder one form some place when I have no idea when stock would arrive.

I'd probably go the BB434 if given the choice, if only because I hate it when a battery goes on a active guitar, especially those 9v ones that you never can find when you need one.

 

Since you are a Bass player, am I making a good decision going with the Yamaha?

I'm also clueless of the difference in Bass guitar strings, I could do with some advice on this as well.

I know there is Roundwounds and Flatwounds and a type that is Roundwounds that have been flattened on the strings surface to feel like Flatwounds.

I think I'm after Flatwounds ?, as I want that sort of Paul MaCartney / Joe Dart sort of sound, not overly bright, is this the correct type of Bass strings for this sound?

Hey Tweaky,

 

Other than mucking around in guitar shops wherever I go, I've not really played a Yamaha bass but, nothing bad stood out when I've noodled on one & I've heard plenty of good things about their basses so, can't see why it would be a bad choice. A couple more to look at is the Squier (by Fender) Affinity P/J bass at around $499 or Squier Classic Vibe Jaguar (also P/J setup) & if a bit more cashed up a Fender Player Mustang P/J but, they run at around $1200 - $1500 depending where you buy. Not pushing Fender as a brand but, they do seem to have the biggest range of P/J options around as far as I can see.

 

Active Vs Passive... My Fender is passive, my Subray is Active... I like them both but, they are very different beasts so again, I would recommend 'auditioning' each type to see what you like... Actives require you to always have a 'good' spare battery on hand.. coz, murphy's law says the current one will die when you least expect it.. I always put a fresh battery in before going somewhere I might embarass myself..

 

To be honest, my advice would be much like hifi gear, find out who has stuff in stock & then go & play one to see which ones you like. Much like Hifi & guitars, what you like is very personal; For example, the Gibson Thunderbird bass produces some wonderful tones but, it weighs a frigging ton & is quite neck heavy... also neck profiles suit different folk... One of the reasons I love my MIJ Fender (other than the tones I can get from it) is that it has the narrower profile Jazz bass neck which suits my teeny weeny hands. My Subray is similar in profile but, very different animal in terms of tone. I auditioned an Epiphone Jack Casady bass a few years back; beautiful look & great tones but, rather neck heavy & more importantly for me, a very chunky neck profile that I found difficult to play but, again, that's because I have teeny weeny hands...

 

Strings... well, there's a can of worms to open...  again, I think this is very much a personal taste thing... my Sub has whatever strings it came with.. I think round wound from memory & I haven't changed them (I do clean them occasionally though). On my Fender I use Rotosound 'Swing Bass' strings; they are described as 'Bright, Hard-hitting tone although, I don't find them overly bright but, maybe that's just me... Again I think they are round wound...

 

I haven't tried flat wound so, likely I don't know what I'm missing..  but, I am very happy with the strings I'm using.. both sets manage drop tuning to D but, neither take well to dropping down another two steps to C.. just too floppy... fortunately, I don't really play anything that requires C tuning.. to be honest, if I did I'd probably stump for a 5 string rather than trying to experiment with heavier gauge strings, etc...

 

Obviously, from what you've said, auditioning a yamaha is somewhat impossible at present but, you might be able to audition some of the other ones I mentioned... might be worth ringing around some stores in Sydney (?) or wherever in NSW you are located to see what they have... Everyone will have straight Jazz or Precision but, yeah, locating a P/J to have a play with can be tricky...

 

Cheers

 

Carlton

Edited March 16, 2022 by FNQ Outcast

[FNQ Outcast]

@Tweaky

 

Probably should have added, if you go looking for an Fender MIJ P/J you will only find them secondhand as they aren't made anymore (as far as I'm aware). Again this makes finding one difficult & having a play with one almost impossible, unless you're lucky & it's in your area...

 

Having said that, I bought mine off gumtree, cost me about $1K... it had a small chip in the paintwork next to the strap pin at the bridge end but, my local luthier did a good job of patching this & unless you look very closely, you'd never know.. other than that it was in excellent condition.. Albeit, I took a risk because I couldn't check out important things like was the neck straight, etc... it was everything I hoped for & the mix of tones it can produce are brilliant...

 

Cheers

 

[Ooogh]

On 04/03/2022 at 11:06 AM, FNQ Outcast said:

1982 Fender MIJ P/J & Sterling by Music Man SubRay 4 into a Mark Bass Little Mark III & Mark Bass Traveller 2 x 10 Cab... tweaked with a Boss ME-50B Bass MultiFX Board... Not getting played anywhere near enough (read, not at all of late) & I recently added a Korg Keyboard... so, now I have to teach myself keyboards... or, maybe it's time for some lessons... LOL

 

I can understand the basses getting a bit of a rest with your new acquisition. My wife is also primarily a bass player but since she got her new Korg SV2 it has been getting quite the work out. Just a fabulous machine, does everything you could ever want and you not need to be a computer programmer to make it work!

[FNQ Outcast]

At the risk of hijacking a 'guitar' thread...

 

I opted for the Korg EK50 keyboard... a bit of fun really..  This is just a stock pic but, it's a relatively compact, 61 keys that probably does everything I'm ever gonna want... when I learn to play it...  LOL

 

[oztheatre]

wow this chap is phenomenal

 

 

[oztheatre]

He plays the jump keyboard solo on acoustic.. that's very impressive!

 

 

[Ooogh]

On 31/03/2022 at 3:33 PM, oztheatre said:

wow this chap is phenomenal

 

 

Phenomenal indeed!  My favourite part is right at the beginning when a little “i” pops up in the right hand corner of the screen stating ‘learn  this song’. Looks like I will have to live an extra hundred years to pull that one off

[LogicprObe]

On 16/03/2022 at 6:03 PM, FNQ Outcast said:

At the risk of hijacking a 'guitar' thread...

 

I opted for the Korg EK50 keyboard... a bit of fun really..  This is just a stock pic but, it's a relatively compact, 61 keys that probably does everything I'm ever gonna want... when I learn to play it...  LOL

 

 

You can teach yourself a lot if you already play an instrument.

I can't really read and am all self taught so if you stick three fingers down on the white keys leaving a key unplayed in between each finger you'll usually find you have a major or minor chord with the lowest key as the root key.

You'll hear the changes if you move the middle finger around to nearby black or white keys changing it to major/minor/sus 4 etc.

Even more options open up when you go to 4 and 5 finger chords/arpeggios.
Have fun!

[Tweaky]

I constantly get emails from Stewart mac in the USA about Guitar tools etc.

 

They have actually come up with a set of neat ones that anybody could use, and you would only need several varying grades of sandpaper to do it.

 

They are different templates for classic vintage guitar neck shapes, Electric / Acoustic / Bass / Mandolin and Banjo

https://www.stewmac.com/luthier-tools-and-supplies/tools-by-job/tools-for-necks-and-fingerboards/neck-shaping-templates-for-electric-guitar

https://www.stewmac.com/luthier-tools-and-supplies/tools-by-job/tools-for-necks-and-fingerboards/neck-shaping-templates-for-acoustic-guitar

 

If you have ever made a Frankenstrat or Tele using generic parts, or bought a cheap copy guitar and found the necks feel not to your liking, you could just get one of these cheap templates and reshape it to be the same as a classic model [The neck would obviously have to have more wood on it to shape down to the desired shape ]

You'd obviously would also need to know beforehand exactly which neck shape you are trying to replicate.

Would be a good addition for anybody considering making a kit or parts Guitar / Bass

[Jake]

Steve Vai and his new guitar.

 

 

[Tweaky]

 

[oztheatre]

On 05/04/2022 at 12:19 PM, Jake said:

Steve Vai and his new guitar.

 

 

 

That is quite the bit of music. Love the steampunk theme. seeing how he does all that makes you appreciate the song more. 

 

these bands in a pub is the best setting, they fall apart on the entertainment centre sized events I think. Vai played at the.. is it the brisbane convention centre with the music hall? the one with all the panels and great acoustics. 

 

Satch has a new album too, this is a great tune. 

 

 

[oztheatre]

Wow how to play blues in 2022.. This dude should join a band hehe. so he's got the whole album on YT, generous man.

 

He's actually a bit of a legend human being too, he played in remote cities in china that nobody had been to before.

 

He's one of those rare gems that didn't snort up half of peru over their careers.. It's a real shame that artists like Hendrix, Van Halen etc did what they did to get where they were and write what they wrote.. Not that the end result in music was terrible, just they ruined and shortened their lives and careers.. their choice..

 

Imagine Hendrix today with all the tech available. Jimi and korg haha.

 

 

 

[LogicprObe]

On 08/04/2022 at 2:22 AM, Tweaky said:

 

 

 

Love Nile..............

[Tweaky]

I just stumbled across this live stream by Fender Guitars on Nile Rodgers style of guitar.

 

 

[MusicOne]

Aussie classical guitar duo, Johnston Brothers, play Fool on the Hill, by you know who.

Here is a brief rundown on this duo by Bradford Werner, of 'This is classical Guitar' fame.....I have altered his text a bit to reflect the piece being performed.

 

' The Johnston Brothers with Ziggy and Miles Johnston perform "Fool on the Hill" for two guitars. This comes via their great YouTube channel. Excellent ensemble skills and articulations throughout with virtuosity to spare. I quite like the changes from angular articulate playing to sweet legato exchanges and phrasing between the parts. Pretty amazing, looking forward to more from them.

 

Here’s some recent info on their educational path: “The brothers are each recent graduates of The Juilliard School, where they completed their Master of Music degrees studying under Ms. Sharon Isbin. In Fall 2022, they will be continuing their studies at Juilliard, having been accepted into the school’s prestigious Artist Diploma program and becoming the second guitarists and first guitar duo in the program’s history to be accepted.”

 

 

 

[Tweaky]

On 05/05/2022 at 3:17 PM, MusicOne said:

Aussie classical guitar duo, Johnston Brothers, play Fool on the Hill, by you know who.

Here is a brief rundown on this duo by Bradford Werner, of 'This is classical Guitar' fame.....I have altered his text a bit to reflect the piece being performed.

 

' The Johnston Brothers with Ziggy and Miles Johnston perform "Fool on the Hill" for two guitars. This comes via their great YouTube channel. Excellent ensemble skills and articulations throughout with virtuosity to spare. I quite like the changes from angular articulate playing to sweet legato exchanges and phrasing between the parts. Pretty amazing, looking forward to more from them.

 

Here’s some recent info on their educational path: “The brothers are each recent graduates of The Juilliard School, where they completed their Master of Music degrees studying under Ms. Sharon Isbin. In Fall 2022, they will be continuing their studies at Juilliard, having been accepted into the school’s prestigious Artist Diploma program and becoming the second guitarists and first guitar duo in the program’s history to be accepted.”

 

 

 

 

MusicOne I think you will love this Classical Guitar player Alan Means YouTuber and Producer Rick Beato has just featured on his channel.

Some amazing stuff to hear, he does his own compositions as well as covers of some well known songs, also some tutorial videos.

https://www.youtube.com/user/alynmearns/featured

 

 

 

Here is one of his cover versions of Whisky Girl, great sensitivity and I love the way he can make it sound like there is a pedal steel guitar playing in parts of the song.

 

 

Edited June 7, 2022 by Tweaky

[Tweaky]