Guitar Nerds Anonymous

Get a Vox, go on. A hand wired AC15, completely impractical but who cares? 😋

So that amp is a VASE Bassman 100, two channel 100 watt head made in Brisbane in '66, only cost me $200, doesn't work. Yet. It's the actual amp in this blog post, same nicks and wear. I'm hoping my mate Nick can get it working. I don't need another amp but there you are. 🤷‍♂️

EDIT: Turns out I know the guy who sold that amp to the guy I bought it off. He makes very nice pedals as Balmoral Electric, I sent him a message and he says it turns on and all voltages are correct so maybe it only needs tubes. KT88s tho'! 💸

Anyone know if Chinese KT88s are any good? Or if they're even legit? Any recommendations?

Apols if asked before, but anyone used one of those fender mustang micro plus things? I'm trying to keep the noise down when practising etc to stop annoying my partner, and this looks like a nice easy solution that also doesn't tie me to a room with amps etc in it!

Or is there a better alternative?

haven't used any of these type of products, but i gather the boss waza air is considered the best of the bunch. serveral times the price of the mustang plus though

Not sure if I asked this already, but any experience with wireless setups?
So I can pop the guitar on the wall and have the amp in some shelving, and I can noodle away with out a lead tripping up/getting tangled/getting chewed up by a child and keep everything neat and tidy?

Yes the preamp should be pretty much verbatim Top Boost style and the eq certainly works that way though it shows how the PI and EL84 PP PA is a key part of the Vox sound. the C1 certainly has a Voxy vibe but an AC15 would definitely get you closer.

/for people who play at home I can't recommend a Torpedo Captor or equivalent enough - pair it with a head if space is an issue and you have a real sounding/feeling amp which you can also take to a practice room or gig and records effortlessly.

I have a nux mighty plug pro which I think is the same idea. Basically match box size, plug into the guitar, and then headphones in to it.

It’s totally fine. Cleans and massive metal sounds are good, anything between less so, but fine for noodle and practice. Can stream backing tracks or video off the phone at the same time which is great.

Don’t know how it compares to it’s competition though.

thanks all for the various recommendations.

we went to Guitar Guitar in Camden and the staff were really nice.

The s/h Gretsch Streamliner that I'd wanted KidA to check out was sold by the time we got there, but the sales guy rounded up some other stuff for him to check out, set up a lead and an amp and left us to it.

the tone of the Gretsch hollow bodies is really lovely, and KidA enjoyed playing them, he tried a fully hollow Electromatic and a (different) centre block Streamliner. In the end though he decided that the larger hollow bodies weren't ideal for his indie rock gigging and chose a Gretsch G5220 Electromatic Jet instead - s/h at a fair price so everyone's happy.

like this one:

i can almost guarantee the time spent trying out all those guitars will have been as good as getting the final instrument. I remember going round all the denmark st shops with my dad for my 18th, playing all sorts of different things as i didnt know what I wanted at all, one of the best days ever

Used to have one of those. It was lovely.

Sold it on ebay to a gentleman in Greece. He liked it so much he sent me a load of Greek sweets and some pornographic postcards as a thankyou.

Great guitars, my old bandmate Tony played one, he used it more than his trusty vintage Thinline in this band.

https://youtu.be/trFklH1gLmI?feature=shared

lovely stories :)

Lovely that!

Guitar shops are dangerous! I went in to try one of those mini amp things, ended up leaving with a small Taylor BT1 on offer. Sounded so nice, and I think I actually prefer the smaller size feels realllll nice to play.

Conversely I popped into the Guitar Guitar near me yesterday for a set of strings and ended up having a go on a nice s/h Rickenbacker 330 12 Mapleglo through a Blackstar HTR5 MkIII and ended up leaving with neither! 😜

Very nice, always had a thing for the Sparkle Jets too!

Question for the amp gurus. Can I substitute KT88s with EL34s?

Great stuff - that sounds like a very memorable trip, and a really handsome guitar.

in the spirit of the season of giving, I gave someone 400£ and now I have this weird guitar to start modding. Can't wait.

Might put Creamery Bass VI pickups in it ,since i'm going to downtune it to C standard

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Nice!
I had a dream last night where I bought a short scale six string bass so now I must make it happen.

I've played a double cut electromatic a bit recently and I think they're excellent. Great value for money and very versatile. Straight into Angus Young territory if you want.

Nope, different pinouts!

I have a birthday coming up and as per, there's nothing I need, but I'd fancy a new guitar strap to replace my naff rotosound polyester thing. Any recommendations?

Bear leather guitar straps are fab, I absolutely love mine, @rickster! 🥰

Morning all and happy festive period all round.

I'm on the lookout for a Fender offset with single coils if anyone's offloading? Something Japan / USA rather than Mex.

For leather, Pinegrove is the one IMO, Rod is a nice guy and his straps are proper top quality (the Bear recommendation is well valid but they are all trad buckle designs with no padded options).
Heistercamp are ok but not full grain and, cough, possibly a bit dentist.
Leathergraft from Liverpool are good value but noticeably more budget.

For non-leather adjustables, Air are supposed to be good and they're UK-made but they're seatbelt based, thus slippy (as are the US made Souldiers).
I really really love Couch especially their vintage auto vinyl and recycled luggage straps but shipping/import duties means $$.

I've ended up settling on the Levy's Right Height cotton straps for three out of four of my guitars (including my bass):

https://levysleathers.com/collections/right-height™/products/cotton-right-height-series?variant=47870214013244

You pull on the handle to adjust the height, it's very convenient, and I like the comfort of the woven cotton (that's personal preference obvs).

The other guitar is my SG which is light and therefore quite neck-divey and that has one of these on:

https://www.jaykco.com/red-burgundy-and-blue-woven/

It has suede on the inner side which stops it slipping, plus it looks suitably 1960s on a cherry red SG.