I’ve been after an Epiphone EJ200 for a while and spotted this one locally for £150 for going to see it tonight with the view to buying it.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Question (sorry I’m very new to guitars)
I bought a squire strat and it was very dirty so set about a deep clean, removed the strings etc. When I refitted them I did the one over rest under trick but it seems like it doesn’t want to stay in tune! Obviously there’s going to be some stretch and retuning I’d assume when fitting strings but while I ‘played’ I kept checking and it just needed more tightening over a couple of hours.
Is this normal or do I need new strings?
If you were to fit new strings, how much tuning and retuning would they take?
I didn’t play it before but I did notice when I got it the strings were very out of tune (loose)
Did you stretch the strings when you fitted them? Presume you fitted new strings and didn't re-use the old ones? When I've changed strings (which hasn't been very often so I'm no expert), a bit of stretching while fitting worked a treat and they stayed in tune well. But there is a lot more than that to keeping them in tune - you might need to check neck relief etc. as well. I was recommended to buy a book - Guitar Player Repair Guide by Dan Erlewine - well worth it.
If the guitar was that dirty that it needed a deep clean, chances are the strings are past their best. Definitely worth trying a new set. Look at some of the videos on YouTube about how to do it so that you get the stretch and winds correct. And take a look to see how bowed (either way) or not the neck is, how high the strings are from the frets and the intonation. It can be a bit three-dimensional to be honest. Hopefully a new set of strings will see you right.
There should be others along in a while that have much more experience.
Finally got around to buying a headshell to convert my combo to a head and cab. Looks grand! I'm officially back in the mid 90's
Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk
Nice work on the Soldano Tekbow!
Cheers,
Neil.
Cheers Neil, Despite the fact that it was a head chassis used to produce the combo, I was always yearning for the full on head and cab again. Will certainly make getting it serviced more convenient, and heads are less prone to microphonics than combos at high gain.
Someday i'll have a full fat SLO 100... will see what's left from the sales of my watches once the priorities are taken care of.
Last edited by tekbow; 11th October 2018 at 10:59.
Tekbow,
Sorry if this is an obvious question but why have you got the amp up off the floor on a wee stand?
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
@hotbaws,
If you have an speaker cab flat on the ground the floor can soak up some of the bass and weaken the response. It can also transmit sound thru to the neighbours.
The stand angles the speakers so that they're pointing more at your head, as well. If you want to see the difference that makes, get your amp up on a table or crate, play and stand in different positions in the room, it'll sound different in different places.
Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk
Thanks for the info.
I’ve only just recently bought a Blackstar amp to go with a LP but I’ve only had it plugged in a couple of times as I’m struggling for somewhere to keep set up on a permanent basis so it’s been sittin up on a footstool since I got it.
I’ll have a play about with it next time I’ve got the house to myself and see how it sounds in different locations.
Cheers
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
@hotbaws,
Another way you can check the effect out is on YouTube. If you search something like Mic positions for a guitar cab, it'll sound different as they move the position of the mic relative to the speaker cab, which is basically the same as your head
Nice choice, Blackstar are great amps, you'll have fun with that!
Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk
Got a few guitars but need to make more of an effort, I always wanted to play but it is a steep learning curve..
This might be of interest to some guitarists, I hope it’s genuine and need to get it checked out but he didn’t sign much before his untimely death..
Hi folks, I used to strum a few chords as a young lad but never got very far with it. At the ripe old age of 43 I've decided to have another crack at it. I just picked up my Squier vm 70 strat and Vox pathfinder today, she's a beaut for the money. I've quickly realised that I've forgotten everything I thought I knew. There's a wealth of online knowledge out there now compared to the tab sheets I used to stumble through as a young lad. I'm just wondering where to start? Any recommendations for online learning resources would be much appreciated.
Cheers 😀
www.justinguitar.com is a good place to start.
Rockschool is a slightly more formal route, well supported with YouTube videos. https://cloud.rslawards.com
Cheers, Ill take a look at those.
I was just looking at the Fender play courses, there's a free trail for a month, has anyone any experience of these.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_E6mIYNO3So
Dave Gilmour guitars - expect the big money for these.
I'm going to have to stop buying geetars or move to a bigger house!
Went and bought this first series Faith Mercury parlour guitar!, Strings are actually rusty but it still sounds nice!! I'll restring it tomorrow!
John
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ulEugtz0FY4
Jimmy Page's Yardbirds tele remade.
Don't care for the tele, but I might be tempted by the amp.
Last edited by Bonesey; 25th January 2019 at 04:59.
I found my Grail Amp this week, lovely 2008 Soldano SLO100 :)
Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk
Some very cool guitars and set-ups in this thread!
Thinking of buying a cheap electro-acoustic for me and the kids to mess about with. Anyone got any tips or opinions on ones to look out for second hand? Only looking to spend around £100 ideally. Or is it worth getting a standard acoustic and getting the electric side fitted afterwards if it warrants it / gets used?
Cheers
Although me and the boy only play at home, we’ve accumulated a few pedals which were starting to look messy on the sideboard so this week I purchased a pedalboard. I went for the Temple Audio Duo 24 and it’s really simple to get a neat looking board due to the unique mounting system. Not ideal if you buy and sell a lot of pedals but definitely good otherwise.
DIY solderless patch cables work best as you can pass them through the smaller holes in the board as well as the larger dedicated ones. I also included the 4 way patch cable terminal and completely unnecessary LED lighting. Looks funky though IMHO.
https://templeboards.co.uk
Collecting pedals is more addictive than watches but at least they’re cheaper! I want to get rid of the ME-25 and replace it with a few more pedals but my boy likes some of the more extreme sounds it can produce.
I like things pretty simple so it’s mainly the Tube Screamer for a bit of gain/crunch, the Satellite for heavier overdrive and the Double Feature for fuzz. Most of the other pedals are actually more functional than effects anyway really. I don’t tend to use the ME-25 as it sounds a little artificial to my ears so I bypass that with the Lehle pedal - The ME-25 can’t really be bypassed any other way as it doesn’t have an on/off switch like most traditional pedals.
Last edited by benny.c; 6th January 2019 at 20:59.
Some of you may have seen my WTB for a cheapish rosewood board Telecaster. This was to be a basis for a pair of Custom Shop Texas Special pickups I have lying about, while at the same time giving me an alternative feel and tone to complement my existing maple neck, blonde Baja Telecaster.
Unfortunately, my WTB didn’t prove fruitful but I did find this beauty on EBay at a fantastic price. She is a mid to late 80’s Made in Japan TL52. She was advertised as an 85, but these A serial number MIJ Telecasters cannot accurately be dated from the serial number on the bridge plate. As is fairly common of that period, I can’t see a date on the neck but the other aspects of the guitar date it as pre 89.
Buying a guitar unseen is a risk and on eBay even more so. In this case, this was a risk worth taking. The guitar is in stunning condition and plays beautifully.
While it seems that another maple neck Telecaster was not what I was looking for, there is a surprising difference in feel and sound. She is quickly becoming my favourite guitar.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Last edited by weedram; 14th January 2019 at 23:19.
^^^
Looks a cracker!
Daring of you to buy unseen from ebay but it looks to have paid off.
Cheers,
Neil.
That's a beautiful looking Tele. Always fancied one. But never found one that I liked.... yet.
In other news, new pedal on the way. I saw it on a TPS pick and mix show about 6 months ago but couldn't get a hold of one. Found a few on Reverb but quite high prices + shipping due to being overseas. But discovered that Chase Tone had a limited run going so managed to snag one for $125 including shipping. Really looking forward to this one.
https://chasetone.com/chase-tone-68-red-velvet-fuzz/
If nothing else, that pedal looks the business.
Long shot but anyone here bid (successfully?) on Gilmours guitars?
Made some noises with my Taylor GS Mini Koa earlier . . .
F.T.F.A.
I put a late night opening bid on this Hudson Bluenote studio semi acoustic (£50) and had forgotten the next day!
When I finally remembered, I was amazed to have won it!!
The seller was even kind enough to drop it at mine as i'm not allowed to drive yet after a knee replacement!!
I gave him an extra tenner for being so kind!
Grover machines too!!
The guitar has flatwound strings, I think they're Dadd Stainless but quite heavy 12's, Have to say I love the flatwound so i'm going to get some 10's and replace them!
The action is quite high so I dropped it to the max on the adjustable bridge but still too high, Also, The nut needs cutting deeper, I'm not sure if the heavy guage strings have pulled the neck forwards causing this but looking down it, If anything it seems too far back!
I may have to take it in for a setup!!
Who can spot the mistake??
EDIT- Forgot to say, I did some research before bidding on it, It seems the consensus of opinion is that these instruments came out of the same factory as Tanglewood guitars
John
^^^
For £50 got to be OK John!
Cheers,
Neil.
Thanks, this will be my first electric. I've found two local options (2nd hand), an Epiphone Les Paul standard traditional pro and the sheraton. £50 difference so now i'm torn between the two, i think the sheraton would be the better quality guitar as the original, new price would have been higher, is that good reasoning?
I'm guessing size wouldn't be too much of an issue as i'm used to my acoustic
I prefer the look of the les paul, budget wise I dont really want to go above £350. There is a Sheraton 2 I've seen advertised second hand in our town but I think that would be too weighted towards jazz style.?I'm looking for an all rounder, blues,finger picking and general strumming.
You could do all of that on a Sheraton.
The bodies are quite large if you are used to solid body electrics but they are good quality guitars.
Regarding your earlier query about Harley Benton, a couple of experienced chaps on a forum I inhabit have bought their own make Juniors and Specials and are very complimentary plus you can't go wrong with Thomann.
Most electrics do a similar thing, just pick the one you like the look of best.
Cheers,
Neil.
I have loved archtops for 50 years. Here's a 19" built by Jim Triggs with more than a nod to the old Elmer Stromberg instruments from the 1940s and 1950s. Perfect for swing big band rhythm playing and set up for that.
Had a walk in to a local Barnardo's charity shop yesterday and found a Stagg hardcase with keys for £15!
After a walk around the wife pointed to a small guitar that was propped up in a corner, Turned out that it came in the Stagg hardcase!!, I bought the parlour guitar for a tenner being as it was hand made and presented to a couple on their wedding day back in '06!!
I found the luthier on facebook too!!
The action is quite high and there's a small gap under the fretboard, I reckon that removing and resetting the neck correctly would cure the high action but I think shaving the surface of the bridge will also have the same effect then recut the slot for the saddle!
Quality materials were used, Rosewood for the back, Mahogany for the sides and neck, What appears to be flame maple for the bindings, There's a veneer on the face of the headstock which looks like yew or something similar and no idea what the bridge is!
I have two Vintage V300's, The natural one fits the Stagg case almost perfectly yet the Baby blue on (Same V300) won't go in.... Strange!!
Size comparison with the V300 which is a smaller bodied guitar!
John
^^^
Lovely charity shop finds John!
I love a bargain.
BTW The Faith looked really nice too.
Cheers,
Neil.
So... been playing for nearly 30 years but not at all in the last 10. Sold off almost all my guitars and amps a while back (Suhr, Anderson, an ESP, various Fenders etc) but now I’m getting a hankering to start playing again. Just acquired a new amp (a Budda SD18) and I really fancy a new strat-type guitar to go with it.
When did US strats get so expensive? £1800 for a US and over £3k for a custom shop! It got me thinking about other options... so what do you recommend? The PRS John Mayer one looks interesting? John Suhr s-type? LSL, Lentz, Musicman?
Anyway, what Strat type guitars are you playing and what do you suggest looking at?
Cheers Neil!
Had a li'l accident with the Faith, One of my rifles fell over and whacked it, Didn't think any more about it as it was in it's padded softcase, Got it out a few days ago and there's two large cracks in the top!
I think a competant luthier could work some of the thin cyano glue in to make it solid again, Maybe capilliary action will draw the glue in (Hopefully)!
John