1 Topic by shaunm

(2 replies, posted in Guitars and accessories)

Hello everyone

Does anyone have any experience with noise gates?

I recently bought one to deal with some noise issues I was having at high volumes and I've found that the best place for me was to put it in the loop straight after the preamp as this deals with all the noise before the modulation and delay.  Other forums I've read suggest putting it first in the chain before the amp to clean up the noise before its altered.

I know it's all personal preference in the end but I always value the advice from you all

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2 Reply by shaunm

(13 replies, posted in Electric)

hello phill.

When I used  to use the ME-50 live I almost always used batteries rather than an adaptor mainly because it saved on stage power (we tend to play places where sockets are limited).  You can get a good 6-8 hours out of batteries and for £1.99 from Aldi for eight it's worth changing them every couple of gigs.

I agree about putting your own stamp on stuff.  Unless its an essential sound that's integral to the song (thinking U2 delay or the wah in Voodoo Chile) then it's good to experiment with different sounds in songs

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3 Reply by shaunm

(13 replies, posted in Electric)

hello Beamer.

We're you playing live when the A/B Y box died?  There's nothing like the sinking feeling you get when you strum a chord and no sound comes out in front of a bunch of people

I used a Boss ME-50 for years which was great. Like you said, nice and rugged, one power input (or even 6 aa batteries).  I noticed I wasn't using that much on it though as I'd got myself a nice tube amp and used the drive and reverb on that instead to save me lugging it around to practice and gigs.  So I decided to just use a wah pedal (which I already had).  Then I realised I needed a tuner (of course) so I got one of those.  Then I missed the delay so I bought one of those too (you see where I'm going with this). Before I knew it I had a pedal board that takes up more room than the multi effects I'd stopped using to save room.  They are so addictive once you start buying them. 

I'm in a covers band so I need a wide range of sounds.  The individual pedals do sound better than the multi effects to my ear (but I'm certainly no expert) but I do think that it might be time to give the ME-50 another go or maybe trade in some stuff for a Digitech like yours.  A friend of mine uses one and loves it.

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4 Reply by shaunm

(13 replies, posted in Electric)

Thanks guys. I've used the same set up twice since and not had a problem. I think it could have been a power issue. When i thought about it a few days later after reading some of your advice I had a powered monitor and an electric fan (it was a hot night) as well as the effects running off a 4 gang extension. I am running a lot of pedals at once. Maybe time to thin them out a bit. Thanks again guys

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5 Topic by shaunm

(13 replies, posted in Electric)

I've just got home from playing a gig where I had a couple of technical issues that I hope one of you nice people may be able to help me with.
Towards the end of the set I started to gradually loose volume.  It wasn't a sudden drop off, it was quite subtle at first but became worse over the course of a couple of songs (I thought it was my imagination at first).  I use a wireless pack so the first thing I did was drop that and use a cable instead (as I guessed it could be due to interference).  That didn't help and so eventually, when it became so bad I was hardly audible, I disconnected the effects and ran the guitar straight in to the amp which worked a treat and I played the rest of the night without effects.
The pedal board was going straight in to the front end of a solid state Fender amp (it doesn't have an effects loop).  It seems likely that it was something on the pedal board that was causing the problem but I can't think of anything that would make the sound reduce gradually rather than just cutting out suddenly.  I use eight pedals powered on a daisy chain and have never had this problem before.
Any ideas?

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6 Reply by shaunm

(5 replies, posted in Guitars and accessories)

Thanks for the suggestions guys.  I asked a guy at work who suggested the pickups could be out of phase.  I did a bit of research and then, by chance, checked the wiring sheet that GFS pack with the pups.  Lo and behold the first sentence reads

"When wiring to existing pickups - if in-between position is too thin you are out-of-phase.  Just reverse the + and ground leads on the GFS pickup without disturbing the silver shield."

So I swapped the hot and ground leads around on the P90 and it worked a treat.  It sounds much better, rich without being muddy, just what I was after.

So the moral of the this tale is always read the instructions, especially if you're an idiot like me.

Thanks again guys

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7 Topic by shaunm

(5 replies, posted in Guitars and accessories)

I recently bought myself a second hand Tokai SG.  I've owned one before and I really got on with it.  The stock pickups on the cheaper Tokai's are pretty good but I fancied something a little different so I've just fitted it with a GFS Alnico 2 Humbucker in the bridge and a GFS Mean 90 in the neck.  I also replaced all the internal components.

Here's the issue

The P90 and the humbucker sound great on their own however when I switch to the middle position and have both volumes up full there is a noticeable drop in volume.  If I ease back the volume on either pickup the overall volume comes back up.  It's as though when both pickups are on full volume they partially cancel each other out.

It's not really a problem as I'm more than happy with sounds I'm getting but I was wondering if anyone had come across this before?

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8 Reply by shaunm

(4 replies, posted in Electric)

Bought two sets of pickups from these guys (set of tele pickups and a set of humbuckers for the les paul) and both were excellent.  Give it a go, you can always sell them on if they're not for you.

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9 Reply by shaunm

(31 replies, posted in Guitars and accessories)

Got one nearly the same.  It says it's made by Sunn Mustang ST-15 but when you look near the on switch it has the letters F.M.I.C (fender musical instrument company) and it says Fender on the carry handle.  Sounds great at low volumes and has a nice warm sound.

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10 Reply by shaunm

(5 replies, posted in Electric)

Hello again

I've put the pups in the right place (the bridge pickup is higher output) but I was wondering is it mattered which way around they went in.  From what Doug said it doesn't really matter that much.  I'm trying them out with the band tonight so I'll get a chance to play them at volume so I'll get a better idea.
Thanks once again guys, it's nice to read stuff on an internet forum that's actually helpful rather than just people bragging about how hot their gear is.
Cheers

Go to forum: Electric

11 Topic by shaunm

(5 replies, posted in Electric)

Hello again

I've just fitted a pair of Guitar Fetish Humbuckers in my Tokai LP.  Been wanting to do it for a while and, when they finally arrived yesterday, I popped 'em in today, restrung the guitar, worked the strings in for about 20 minutes and then gave 'em a blast through an amp.  Now, I've not had  chance to test them properly but they sound pretty good to me.

But here's the thing..

I've fitted them with the screws on the pickups near the neck at one end and away from the bridge at the other.  I only did that because the plastic case around the pickups is slanted to take the shape of the body that way and that was how they came out of the box.

So here's the question..

1. Is there a 'correct' way to do it?
2. Does it make a difference to the sound?
3. Does it really matter?

Now, as I said earlier I'm happy with the sound I'm getting so I don't give a rodents rear end if they're not Gibson standard correct but when I've trawled the internet for advice I've just come up with more questions.

I've not tried switching them around as I've only just got them in so does anyone have an answer?

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12 Reply by shaunm

(35 replies, posted in Electric)

I've done songs at gigs before when I've not been 100% sure of the lyrics and put a song sheet on the floor in front of me, especially for a new one we might only have practiced a few times.  The problem these days is that the eyes are going and I can't read the damn thing unless it's in large font.
Had a bit of an incident a couple of years ago when I was about to start singing from a sheet on the floor and a guy from the audience strolled over, picked it up and started reading it.  I've also had beer spilled over lyric sheets before which doesn't help.
Maybe a music stand would be a good idea?

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13 Reply by shaunm

(10 replies, posted in Electric)

A bit of an update.

After reading all the advice from you guys I decided to buy a set of GF humbucker pickups for my LP.  I sat down with a beer and a credit card and started to browse.  Next thing I knew I'd bought a set of '63 Tele overwound pickups (7.8k bridge and neck) for my Mexican Tele.

Now, this was not what I had in mind but an impulse is an impulse so....

A week and a half later they arrived (not bad delivery across the Atlantic).  I'd never soldered anything properly before let alone changed a pickup so, after watching a couple of YouTube tutorials, I settled down with a mug of tea and set to work.  An hour and a half and quite a bit of foul language later they were fitted and working.

What a difference.  All I can say is thanks for suggesting GF.  They're powerful but you can still hear everything.  They push the amp beautifully without  sounding shrill, even on the bridge with the tone wide open.  I've played them live a couple of times and, at volume, they really growl.

So, after I've got January out of the way, I think I'm going for a set of GF Alnico V Humbuckers (in the zebra case).

Unless I get another impulse..

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14 Reply by shaunm

(7 replies, posted in Electric)

'A Forest' by The Cure.  Flange on flange on flange. mmm...

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15 Reply by shaunm

(10 replies, posted in Electric)

I'm liking the look of those GF's.  Reading the review they're as good as Seymour Duncan's (some say better) and, even allowing for shipping and import duty, I'd still be about

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16 Topic by shaunm

(10 replies, posted in Electric)

hello everyone

I recently bought myself a Tokai LP.  The guitar feels (and looks) great but the pickups are a bit 'muddy'. They don't sound awful and I've gigged with her just fine but I think she could do with a bit of a boost.

Can anyone suggest a good set of Humbuckers to upgrade this fine looking young lady.

I play in a covers band so she needs to be versatile.  We don't play metal, country or jazz but we do pretty much everything else.

Any suggestions?

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17 Reply by shaunm

(18 replies, posted in Electric)

like the art idea as well beamer, thanks.

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18 Reply by shaunm

(18 replies, posted in Electric)

Once saw a musician/standup who had a resonator that he called his 'Barnsley fighting guitar' but that was made of steel.

Thanks guys.  The neck is set rather than 'bolt on' so a replacement or repair will be too expensive relative to the value.  It will be more practical to buy another.  And another guitar stand so I don't do it again!!

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19 Topic by shaunm

(18 replies, posted in Electric)

Before anyone gets too upset it wasn't a Gibson.  It was a Tokai (UG35 I think) made in 2008 in China.  It cost me £185 almost new about three and a half years ago. 

I'd always liked the look of the SG but I was (and still am) a Fender man so it was a bit like a guilty secret. I bought it on a whim (which isn't like me at all) and I've loved it ever since.  For the price, it rocks (rocked).  I've played it live at numerous gigs and I've never been disappointed with the tone.  It was well made and easy to play with a beautiful neck.  If you get the chance to get hold of one at a good price, do it.

I wish it had died in a rock and roll accident like falling off the back of a Rolls Royce or being used in a hotel bar fight after a stadium gig.  Instead I leaned it against a chair for a moment whilst I logged on the laptop and it slid to its death due to my carelessness.

I'm not too sure how I feel right now.  I've never broken a guitar before.  It would be far too expensive to fix (the neck has snapped just below the head) so I'll probably strip it down for parts and sell the bits on Ebay.  Not the best way to say goodbye to somthing I've spent so much time with.  I think it probably deserves better.

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20 Reply by shaunm

(5 replies, posted in Electric)

Good grief, I'd forgotten I'd posted this.

I took the advice and kept the neck.

I kept playing it for about two more years with the same neck.  I tried out a couple of other tele's and realised I was being over critical of what I'd got.  The frets were still ok and the fretboard edges were not really a problem.

Then, one day, I saw a bargain tele on ebay and bought it.  I fell in love with it and found I played the squier less and less.  I finally gave it to a friend who I still play in a band with (he'd given me a bass a couple of years before and he was in need of a guitar for a project we were working on at the time).  He still plays it and hasn't had any issues as far as I know.

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21 Reply by shaunm

(14 replies, posted in Electric)

I use 9's on my telecaster and 10's on my sg as the sg scale is slightly shorter and so the tension is reduced and the 9's would just be floppy.  To be honest, it's better to go with what feels most comfortable.  The very slight difference in tone from string thickness isn't worth loosing the ends of your fingers.  As long as you fit your strings properly and don't go mental with your bends there shouldn't be a massive difference in the life of your strings.  Don't think that buying thicker strings will save you money because they won't, they'll just hurt more.

To answer your original question, yes, lots of people play with 8's.  However they are very light strings and, I would say, more suited to shredding and wild bending (of the metal variety) then other types of guitar playing.  It all depends what you're in to I suppose.

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22 Reply by shaunm

(6 replies, posted in Acoustic)

thanks guys.

I only use a slide for one song at the moment and, if I'm honest, it does feel like it drags a little although I put that down to me.

At least I know I'm not actually damaging anything (apart from everyones ears)

Thanks again

Shaun

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23 Topic by shaunm

(6 replies, posted in Acoustic)

Hello everyone, I hope you can help.

I wouldn't normally post a question on this section of the forum as I don't tend to play very much acoustic guitar.  However, I thought that for this query, you acoustic guys may be a bit more knowledgeable.

I needed a bottle neck for one song I play and, rather than buying one, I cut a piece of 22mm copper pipe (which I had knocking around in the garage) to the right length with a pipe cutter, rubbed the ends with wire wool to remove any sharp edges, and used that.  Looking around the internet (not that hard I must admit) I couldn't find anyone selling copper bottlenecks.  Lots of chrome, brass and glass but no copper.

Is there a reason why no one sells copper bottleneck/slides?  Do they react with the strings badly and cause them to corode?  Do they effect the magnets in the pickups?  Is it a tone thing?  Does everyone secretly do this and I've just missed it?

Just wondered really as I've cut three (in case I loose one which I tend to do a lot) and they've cost me nothing.  2 meters of copper pipe at B&Q is about £18 so how many bottlenecks can you get out of that?(yes I know it depends on how long your fingers are but you get my drift).

Just curious

Thanks

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24 Reply by shaunm

(16 replies, posted in Electric)

I'm also in a three piece covers band  and I understand your problem.  Unfortunately as well as having to play lead and rhythm guitar I'm also the lead singer so I'm a little bit busy.  The trick I've found is not to worry too much about missing riffs.  I think audiences notice silence more than they notice missing riffs (they often mentally fill them in themselves).  We work best by filling out the sound as much as possible and having backing vocals (courtesy of our bass player).  Distortion, flange, chorus and delay are all friends of the three piece.

Loop pedals are great and have endless possibilties however they will only work if you're all spot on time and don't make any errors after the loop is set.  Once you've got an imoveable digital signal in the mix, all room for covering up errors natuarally are gone.  Don't know about you but I like a bit of room to manouver, especially when playing live.

Good luck with then band man, hope you knock em dead.

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25 Reply by shaunm

(6 replies, posted in Electric)

Unfortunately no.  I've seen some guitar tab with strum patterns indicating when to make up and down strums or palm muting but I've never found them very helpful.

The only way to pick up a strum pattern for a tune is to listen to it a few times.  Then relax and try and feel the music and the beat. Start off slow and let your arm and hand do what feels natural and it will come of its own accord.  With a complex tune, break it down into sections.  I know it doesn't sound very technical but the more you do it the easier it gets.

I also don't think it helps to be too slavish to the original.  Add your own embelishments or, if you're struggling, simplify.

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