Guitar Nerds Anonymous

Yamaha THR5? Vox Mini5?

The Vox Adio is supposed to be great, although it looks like an AC30 cushion.

Blackstar HT-1R?

I am going to buy this soon as my first amp - valve, digital (but good) reverb, only 1W.

Should work under your circumstances.

That's the kind of recommendation I was after - thanks. I think the tailpiece might be a bit lairy, but the birdge looks a strong contender.

In my case, I've not 100% decided on the fretboard radius (or to be more honest, my fretboard radius is likely to be less accurate than Gibson's ;)), so this could work well.

AC4, the black one... Do it...

Yeah the Babicz logo is a bit unnecessary but the quality of their kit is so good I'd live with it or else have the bridge refinished.

I also know a guy in Ireland who will make you any bridge and tailpiece you wanted to your own design, his workmanship is flawless and his prices are a little bit hard to believe they're so good! PM if you want his details.

Absolutely loving the Danelectro so much! I've already taken the scratchplate off and painted the back white (so the logo is still visible) for starters.

I'm thinking about taking the finish off the front of the headstock and getting a brown Danelectro decal for it.
Tuners need to go in the sea. They're not grear at all to be honest but at the price they're as to be expected so need to make up my mind what to replace them with...

It's such a great guitar to play though!

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Re the AC3. Think i’ve Just got a new job. Might be time for a little present to myself. Kinda like the effects in the Yamaha but my valve snobbery runs deep....

I watched a YouTube video where a very bad guitar player does an ABC with the blue and the tweed one and it won hands down... IMVHO, obvs... I'm tempted just because I missed out on a cream one for $90... Still kicking myself, it was there on a really shitty Sunday market stall in the craphole I call home, I hesitated, went back an hour later and it was gone...

I've got a little orange micro terror with a little 8" mini cabinet in the living room. It actually sounds brilliantly plinky for surf stuff and it's ideal for just faffing about. Has a headphone out too - doesn't sound great but it's usable and its nice to have something always set up.

Gah! You fool! Just been to look in my local shitty guitar shop. Nothing worth trying. Might nip into town this week.

I have a Yamaha thr10c. It’s amazing as a desktop amp! You can preset effects so switch from one sound to another at a touch of a button. As a mess around amp I couldn’t recommend it enough.

In other news, I took my acoustic for a free health check before going in for the set up. I thought it would be something simple as the action had become a little high. Found out my guitar is ‘bellying’. To fix it properly would cost far more than the price of the guitar. It’s only a £300 guitar new but I’m upset as the guitar used to be so fun to play.

Bummer. Turn it into a slide guitar and buy a new picker!

Ordered a secondhand Yamaha THR5 for £130 . Didn't want the bells and whistles on the tiny Vox and it didn't sound that good in the demos I watched. The cushiony Vox one sounded ok but seemed a bit more beefy than I need and it looks like a cushion so no sale there. Much as i'd like another little valve amp, i'm not sure the AC4 is what i need for whisper quiet evening noodlings right now. I know it does 1/4 of a watt but i'm not convinced it'll sound much cop throttled back to conversational levels. Plus i'd want a bit of reverb or slapback which means pedals down here and... nope. Yamaha it is. Shall report back.

In proper amp news, had a bit of time to plug in this morning and have been playing with my electrical guitar and pedal board into the SF Champ (5w of window rattling welly even with the volume on 3 or 4). Basic sound is good but some things have to change. The following are getting benched:

1. Dan-Echo. (seems to have developed an issue with the delays being distorted, plus it takes up a lot of board space and the little tape-machine does most of what I need right now).
   
2. Holy Grail mini. Was only ever a stop-gap and it's just sat there for years now. Sounds fine in its one useable setting as a bog standard spring but need more tweakability.
   
3. Z-Vex Fuzz Factory. It's just too fucking bananas for me. Even with the gain all the way to the left and every control set to minimum it's fucking insane. Not in a good way. Cannot find a setting I like.
   
   

Tuner, T-Rex Trem, Arc Klone and Tape Machine are staying for now. The shopping list is therefore:

Overdrive
Classic Fuzz
Reverb
Compressor

Gonna start with OD. I like the Klone with the gain flat out but I love it even more as a clean boost or even "on on-all-the-time box". That means I need a new straight up-overdrive. Given that I'm a fender amp and tele guy I'm looking for a TS9 type overdrive to add back that scooped mid. I used to love my old the TS9 and been hankering after a replacement for ages. Turns out you get a Re-issue TS9 for £100 these days so. TS9 it is!

*ordered

recommendations for classic chewy fuzz, reverb and compression welcome.

One or two of the Dunlop mini Fuzzfaces are supposed to sound quite good; compression is the devil's toothpaste and I'll have no part of it.

Re. OD and verb… if you hadn't ordered the TS9 you could have tried my Mojo Hand Mule (nice Red Llama-style thing). Care to sample a Dr Scientist Reverberator?

Sell me back my klone, you uncaring bastard.

Ha! Never! I love the Klone. I just want another basic OD and I miss my old TS9. Figure I'll use the Klone as a clean(ish) boost on it's own or cascade into the TS9 for double gain fun.

Yeah I was really close to ordering one of the mini Fuzzfaces the other day. Been looking at Analogman Sunfaces as well but that's a bit of a mindfuck with the myriad different transistor choices.

I'd love to try the Reverberator. Cause for a pint? Let's get it arranged! Thanks man.

Compression is a funny thing. I always like the idea and like what it does on the demos I watch. I play clean so much that the idea of using it as a kind of clean boost for solo sections really appeals and yet... every time I try a compressor I find I really hate what it does to the attack. I really miss that transient attack thing and end up getting rid of it. I haven't yet reached the point where I've decided once and for all that I don't like compression though because I like the sound of it when other people play...

Moose Custom Electronics

AnalogMan's pretty overpriced at the mo... look at this, though... I had his Vox Tonebender and it was fab, TS will attest. https://reverb.com/item/14925827-super-electric-blooming-rose-germanium-fuzz-face-vintage

Yep, it's wonderful... What kind of fuzz do you want, fuzz or FUZZ?

I'm hooked on the Reuss Goo Goo Fuzz, vicious, gnarly and spitty... Absolutely beautiful... Companion/SuperFuzz clone...

Analogman comes across to me as offering too much choice...

Which Sun Face do you choose? That said a pal of mine has just ordered one.

Z-Vex Fuzz Factory. It's just too fucking bananas for me. Even with the gain all the way to the left and every control set to minimum it's fucking insane. Not in a good way. Cannot find a setting I like.

I'm kindof surprised by this, mine turns into quite a handy OD/crunch if you back the guitar volume off a bit. Admittedly most other settings are just FUZZ

could try do it yourself - doesn't look too tricky

http://sfguitarworks.com/fixing-a-guitar-with-a-belly/

Thanks for the tips dudes. Going to see what the new job offers before making any more purchases. Like the look of that Irish fuzz face thing tho.

Re: Fuzz Factory, I suppose it could be tamed by rolling back vol. (and tone -it’s insanely bright) but I want a basic tone that’s a bit less gainy and darker (without loads of big muff style low end). I Think fuzz face style is what I really want.

I'm trying to curb my buyer enthusiasm (supposed to be saving) but there's an Ibanez RGT220A, the biggest after sale regret I've ever had of selling any instrument I've ever owned, for sale locally and the seller is asking €750.

I bought mine new for €2,100 and sold it for €1,400.

I've offered him €650 :|

Will report back.