Kelvin's Guitar/drums stuff and JV Squier refurbishment thread.

KelvinS1965

They supply the amps, etc, all we bring is our guitar/bass/voice as appropriate. Last time we played through a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe which wasn't that bad. I'd prefer my own amps, but there are two classes playing at the gig, so about 10 guitar players swapping around on stage.

KungFuPro

Understandable, if the guitarists started changing amps then the drummers would want to set up their own gear too, then you'd be there all night.

KelvinS1965

TBH I'd happily let the others use my amps, but it just adds extra hassle for the guys who run it all, so best just to use their gear. I might take a spare lead though as they never seem to have a fully 100% one between them...

KelvinS1965

I probably posted elsewhere, but the fret lowering job worked out nicely on the LP Studio. Much less of a 'speed bump' feel to running up and down the neck now. One thing it has taught me is that I'm more wary of buying more guitars as I've realised how long it takes me to 'settle' into a guitar. I've had the 50s Tele for 18 months and that now feels like 'my' guitar, the LP Studio still feels a little like I've borrowed someone elses, but definitely warming to it and I love the raspy sound (especially through my JMP1-H).

Speaking of my Marshall; I've just ordered a custom made 1 x 12 cab that should look like a mini version of the 2061CX cab. I struck lucky with a deal on a Celestion G12M Heritage 'Greenback'  speaker to fit in it. The speaker is on it's way, so I'll fit it into my Line 6 'cab' for now as the cab won't be ready until early May. Should work well with my Vox head too as the AC15 uses the same speaker and I liked the sound when I demo'd the AC15 last year.

Something a bit like this, but in miniature:

                                                                                 

Got our next gig in 4 weeks time; guitar on two songs, TBA and drumming on our little Bowie tribute (I hope it doesn't turn out to be a Bowie insult ). Not sure I'll have the time to go next term due to work and holidays, so might have to push the open mic stuff a bit more.

hyperfish

That cab sounds interesting, perfect for the JMP-1.

KelvinS1965

Should get the Greenback tomorrow, so I'll get busy swapping it over into my Line 6 'cab' (old combo).

I happened to be passing Absolute Music today, so I went in and had a chat about boosters. I'd seen an Andertons video about sounding like Jimmy Page and they used one, which got me interested. Not that I'm trying to sound like Jimmy, but it intrigued me enough to do some research. It seems it's what I need to push my JMP-1 into a bit more distortion when using my low output Strat (or Tele).

Not really much point trying it in the store as they don't have the Marshall head I have, so I took home an Xotic EP booster to try on the understanding I could use the 7 day returns policy. Have to say that within 30 seconds of plugging it in I saw what the fuss was about. It just adds clean gain, but that allows me to really overdrive the input even using the Strat and I get some gorgeous creamy tones out of it. I haven't even opened it up to try the other dip switch settings, but default seems great anyway.

I'll have to get my Tele out later and try that with it, not to mention my LP guitars which can drive the JMP1 quite hard anyway (maybe too much of a good thing with those guitars, but who knows. ).

I'll have to work out how to record something into my iPad so I can post up on here to demo the effect it has (and the new cab when it comes). Hopefully on here the replies might be slightly less viscous than the comments I might see on Youtube...

KelvinS1965

Greenback arrived and is already in my Line 6 temporary 'cab'. Hard to tell on a very quick listen, but seems a little more mellow, yet sounded good when I turned the 1 watt up full for natural distortion. I don't think it's quite as efficient as the original Line 6 speaker, but that's no problem as it's still plenty loud enough for home use/recording.

I'll have to try it later with my Vox driving it, but I'm supposed to be catching up on some admin...

EDIT: Sounds really good with the Vox as well, nice rich but clear clean tone for Knopfler style playing or a bit of Hank Marvin. Can't remember what the difference is with the Heritage version, but I was expecting it to be a little harsh until broken in. No sign of that and should only improve with time and the proper (closed back) cab once it's built.

KelvinS1965

Just had an email to say my cab is on it's way...about 3 weeks earlier than I expected. Fingers crossed it'll arrive on Friday so I can swap my Heritage Greenback from it's temporary home and into the new cab...can't wait.

KelvinS1965

I was going to have a look at the new Fender Bassbreaker 7 watt head (to go with my Marshall and Vox heads) tomorrow as I'm working near Epsom. I was just checking stock at the Epsom branch of Guitar Guitar and noticed that the prices have gone up from £201 to £244 now they actually have them in stock. Also the combo has gone up a similar percentage, thought the more expensive 15 watt models are still the same price as everywhere else.

Then I looked at my route home via Andertons in Guildford...not much in it and they haven't ramped up the prices (yet). I just wonder how different the Bass breaker is from the traditional Fender 'clean' sound as I can't justify the near £900 '65 Deluxe Reverb head.

I also want a close look at the 2016 Traditional Standard Les Pauls for future reference as they have some that don't have a pick guard fitted (so no holes that you get removing one). They have the slim taper 60s neck that I seem to prefer, so I might trade my Epiphone against one rather than spend £sss fitting upgraded pickups and having some set up work done.

It depends on how much money we have left after the big living room project this summer...

hyperfish

Don't walk past the ones with pickguards fitted. From 2015 onwards the pickguard slots into two holes in the pickup rings and so no holes in the actual wood and is detachable if that's your thing.