Search results for:

I tried taking off the sheath on the original cables with a little knife, but it was such a pain to get it off that I just bought another cable after doing a bit (I nibbled with a little knife and peeled).

Having a good seal definitely helps a lot, and I found that I couldn't get a good seal with the included ear hooks - they pulled them straight out of my ears.

This is what I have (and it does the job), but it was the only one available at the time: Amazon link

I also got a cheapo pack of foam ear tips in different sizes from there, but could do with finding something that's a better fit on the stems.

That actually looks a lot like one I nearly 'just went for' - not sure I want to stick with an annoying volume knob and tremolo though:

https://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/212051/fs-trade-for-telecaster-fender-classic-player-50s-2tsb-nitro-fsr-750-including-uk-shipping/p1

When I tried the American Tele it was in a PMT (which was really grim) - they had some of the Japanese ones in and they looked nice, but there's just not enough of a price difference between those and the US-made ones.

Ha, that depends on what the old one is worth, doesn't it?

I used to be really into Strats (hence having this PRS - it was the closest I could get in the local music shop back then). Now I'm old, I like the idea of a Telecaster - tried some kind of American one once, but I don't think I can justify that cost. Probably a vintera or one of those Mexican roasted neck + custom shop pickup jobbies? I'd probably have to go and try some, though. I've not really played much to know.

So since buying a 'nice' acoustic guitar that really does it all for me, I've been thinking about the electric. I've got a PRS SE EG from 2004 which I bought new, and it's the only one I've ever owned. It's 'fine', and was nicer than the equivalent Squiers etc at the time, but I could definitely be tempted to change to something that feels a bit more 'me' if I can get enough for it.

Any ideas what it's worth? Generally good condition, very little wear. I've checked Reverb/eBay but there don't seem to be many around/they don't seem very trustworthy prices.

Cheers all. Really not what I expected to like (I almost ordered a 00-18 a while back after reading the whole internet/watching all of YouTube and learning that that was best for me), but when it came to actually playing them? Yeah, D28. No contest.

I also didn't really believe the 'cannon' thing, but I was wrong about that, too. I'm more of a mellow player but this thing's a monster if the mood takes me.

@Fatberg get well soon.

...so I bought a D28.

A while coming. I'd been thinking about it for ages and then a sprained ankle means I can't run/swim/hike for a bit, and I had a day off work that needed using. I booked an appointment at Peach Guitars (who had two of them, and a D18) and tried them out, and this one was the winner. The other two were better (easier) players, but this one just sounded loads better. Surprisingly so, in fact.

Pictured next to my Epiphone as I was A/B testing them the next day to make sure it actually did sound better (yes, loads). It's an excellent smell, too.

Thanks. It's definitely an adjustment not having the subjects briefed that you'll be hanging around!

@IzMota love the form of the silhouette and the lighting in general there.

Took the DSLR instead of the RX100 out today for more attempts. Where do people put photos online in 2021? I've never liked the crappy small pictures on instagram, and Flickr has changed hasn't it?

Love the one of the skateboarder - was watching a similar scene out of the window last night but the lights were in the wrong place

Moved to a city and got the camera out for a walk. Still trying to work out which of my shots are 'street photography' and which are 'a photo of some bloke':

Seriously, when I think about the (to my teenage self) crazy dream fulfilment of buying a flagship acoustic guitar and then it's like... CAAD13 with 105 money.

The first big 'wow' was my former dream electric from my youth, an American Strat (not bought).

£1000. AKA a cheap Boardman.

So I took a little trip to the guitar shop today to try out some acoustics...

I had a go on:

Gibson J-45
Martin D18, D28, HD28, 000-42 (the only smaller bodied standard series they had)

I was really lucky that the shop was empty and the sales guy was happy for me to have a go, even after saying I definitely wasn't going to buy a guitar today. I'd still like to try out a 00-18 and 000-18, but I think my favourite was the D-28. Honestly, though, while they were all definitely 'different', I would really struggle to actually have any preference between them at all. The electronics spoiled the J-45 for me a bit (personal taste) and I was a bit cold on the HD-28 (but that one also had electronics in it, so maybe it was throwing me off). I really expected to prefer the smaller body 000 - I almost ordered a 00-18 blind a while back when I was a bit tired of being locked down - but the dreadnoughts were 'fine'. I guess anything feels small after my EJ-200.

Prior to this, I'd only played my Epiphone EJ-200 that I've owned since about 2007, a battered old Talman, and my brother's Guild GAD-125 dreadnought. It was really cool to actually get hands on with a few different models, but I reckon I was about £2000 north of the 'diminishing returns' line. That said, I'm totally OK with buying into a guitar that brings most of its value in the history the model evokes for me. If I do upgrade from the Epiphone, it'll be for something at that level, I think.

I went onto Sigma Sports to see what the price of a D28 would get me. Not sure if it's helping to justify the guitar or just making me ashamed of past bike purchases.

To add to all the others - I'm left handed and play right handed (and do lots of other things right handed). It's definitely what I'd choose, since it would be a pain to get a left handed instrument/much less choice. As far as I know I'm my playing isn't any worse off for it.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Surface-jwl-000­02-USB-C-Adaptor-USB-Ethernet/dp/B07FJS8­19V/ref=psdc_430581031_t1_B07FFTM5BZ

It should work fine, but it's quite expensive for what it is...

I've used one of these for about 18 months:
Amazon Basics Dongle

I've been addicted to this guy's videos for a little while now

Back in Feb I bought a Keeley Caverns V2 second hand. I'm a big fan of it, but annoyingly the delay side stopped working after a couple of weeks for reasons unknown.

I emailed them expecting to have to pay the repair fee plus postage both ways (pretty much most of what the pedal cost me), but it turns out they honour their warranty even if you're not the original owner. I only had pay outgoing postage to the US, and they fixed it and got it back to me super quickly.

Credit where credit's due, quite impressed with Keeley, I'd probably buy more of their stuff again (assuming the Caverns doesn't break again...)

I'd definitely check the battery first. I have an active bass, and no sound comes out when the battery is dead. I think that on basses where you can switch the 'active' bit off, everything works normally with a dead battery in passive mode.

Have you been leaving it plugged in when you're not playing? Usually plugging in a cable switches the bass on, so leaving the cable in drains the battery.

Thanks - I'll send you a PM, but I think I want the newer one with the wider nut. Also I'm in Birmingham at the moment, which makes things difficult!

Update on the little acoustic:

I tried to buy the Guild last week - I rang on Weds and asked if there was any chance of movement on price. The guy seemed nice enough, and said he'd see what they could do and ring me back. I chased again before closing on Weds, then Fri morning, and got 'ah, you spoke to my colleague - I'll leave a not for him to ring you back', but never did. Then I tried one last time on Friday afternoon, and they told me it had sold on Thursday. Not sure why it still shows as 'in stock' on the site.

Thanks for the advice all - I think I'd like to have something that small with a short scale, but I'm also pretty happy to wait until I come across something else that appeals. All the suggestions I got were pretty helpful in illustrating that when it comes to guitars I like (I like them all, but one I'd buy, since I have to choose), I'll pretty much know it when I see it.

Hmm, definitely something to think about, even if it wasn't the answer I wanted! Thanks for replying.

I must admit that Sigma as a brand don't really appeal, even though I know they're really well regarded - it's one of those things where I know I'm being a prima donna. Their smaller/cheaper guitars also seem to only have solid tops, rather than the all-solid Guild (probably not a big difference, but I like the idea of an all-solid acoustic as an object).

The Martin I had in mind was a D-28, so I could imagine there'd be plenty of situations where something small/quiet would be a bit more appropriate than that. I'm pretty sure it would also not really fit in the car, where the little guy would be fine. My parents have a beach hut that I sometimes stay at when it's empty, and I had visions of being able to take a little guitar down with me there when I go - usually in the cold and grim weather so I have the place to myself - but I'm already pushing the limits of my silly little car! I figured a nice big acoustic and a nice (but less valuable) small acoustic would be a good pair to have, in general.

I've been eyeing this up for a while, and was hoping someone could talk me into/out of it...

I've currently got an all-laminate Epiphone EJ200, which is 'fine' but huge, and liked the idea of a 'nice' small all-solid guitar with a short scale. Especially the Guild, since it appeals to the brand tart in me and I like the look. However, it's online (so I won't get to try it) and seems a bit pricey for the model? There aren't really many around, so it's hard to tell. I get the impression the shop would do a setup for me, so that would cover a bit of the cost vs. a normal second hand one. Someone's added a strap button to the heel, which I'm not really into but in reality probably wouldn't notice/would be useful. I've thought about things like a Faith or a Taylor GS Mini, but they just don't really appeal the same way.

As a complicating factor, I've had the idea of treating myself to a Standard series Martin for my 30th in the autumn. Something like the Guild would be a nice thing I can take with me and not have to be so worried about when I don't want to crack out the expensive Martin (if I get one). Also, I drive an old MX-5 with 2 seats and a tiny boot, and the Epiphone (in a hard case) has to go into the passenger seat headstock-down to be transported, basically filling the entire cabin. The Epiphone is also not really compatible with sitting back on the sofa, which the small guitar would be.

Edit: For added context on the above essay, I've had the EJ200 for about 13 years, and it's the only acoustic I've owned. Same goes for my electric, that I got at about the same time.

The button is 'fine' - took a little bit of getting used to, but not much. I think just about all loopers work the same way. Like you, I reasoned that I could pick up another footswitch, but I just don't see a need now.

I'm mostly using it to give me some different 'practice' options, really. Either simple drums + chords + scale to help with timing and learning my chords/scales/whatever in a way that's a bit more fun/creative/musical, or just to play with as a toy on days when I'm feeling lazy. I haven't yet connected it to the computer, but i do have a few loops saved that either I liked or I just like coming back to to play around with/play over. Part of the idea of getting it was that I'd 'have to' play all the parts and be creative, so I deliberately haven't put backing tracks on it.

I like it. I bought it mostly for the drum loops and because I knew/trusted the brand, but it is nice to be able to save things as well. It's the only looper I've owned, but I'd probably get the same one again given the choice.

I wish the menu was quicker/easier to navigate for setting up the drums, but I don't know how I'd actually do it better myself. I also looked at the RC-10R, and that one doesn't seem to really 'fix' it so there was no reason to trade up for me.

As much as I hate digital things that can only talk to me through a tiny LCD, at least the one on the Boss is bright and clear etc. I've got similar feelings about multi-function knob things, but again at least it works well and is clicky. As above, I think it's the nature of the thing, and can't suggest any ways to improve it. Definitely happy with it for what it is, even if it felt like it was a bit more expensive than I thought it should be. The fact that I've only pointed out a load of negatives is because other than those, it 'just works', which is great.

@>>>>>>

Thanks - after I got the Caverns I was actually looking at the Keeley Aria to have a compressor as well, but managed to be strict with myself and restrain the budget. It's going into a Vox MV50 'Boutique' and BC108 cab:

It's 'alright'. Allegedly meant to sound like a Dumble, as if I'd have any frame of reference for that, but I hoped it'd be more Fender-y than Vox-y. Originally bought because it was small, had a headphone jack and could be used without a cab, in the hope of it being nicer than an Amplug or something. Picked up the cab after moving, and that seems 'alright' as well, although I never turn it up. The head was on sale at £89, and I'm happy with it for that much.

@Fatberg Yeah - I think at the moment I'm just stuck thinking that the amp on its own being pushed by the guitar's volume knob sounded better, although I've had moments of it starting to work. More messing around required. I think my guitar is quite mid-heavy too, but I liked the Tube Screamer setting on the multi-FX more than anything else.

I thought the same about the signal path! It just doesn't seem intuitive to have it go 'backwards'.