Christmas treats to ourselves (we've been good)

Oink

It's that time of the year again. If we must have our ears stabbed with Christmas music, we might as well get something out of it I say.

What's on your shopping list (for yourself or someone else) ? I'm going to get me a set of fancy flatwound Labella strings for my bass. Yessirree. 50 yoyos' worth of goodness.

Also:
- an Ampeg B15 bass amp
- a P bass
- a kazoo
- a American standard strat

Mr. CooL ICE

I'm already broke for christmas because I have already bought a McMillen 12-Step and a Moog Minitaur. Shipping now and can't wait to get my hands on them.

Dord

Try the Labella tapewounds. I've had a set for a few years (yes!!!!). Really nice!

I'd like a 35" scale 5 string Sandberg California but I don't think Santa's budget would stretch that far.

Maybe a Digitech Supernatural Reverb instead. :pac:

slavetothegrind

just odered a jet city jca22h got some geetarin' to do in the new year!

roast

Gonna pick up a nice Markbass 2x10 Cab as a post-xmas present.
I feel I deserve it after all my weightlifting carting around my Peavey 4x10

slavetothegrind

wonder will you get the same oomph from it though? will it be enough?

roast

slavetothegrind wrote: »

wonder will you get the same oomph from it though? will it be enough?

Plenty, I'd say!
It's 400w so more than enough for stage use. Normally in the venues I'd play in I'd be running to the FOH from my DI anyway, so really the cab is just for stage monitoring.

Dord

roast wrote: »

Plenty, I'd say!
It's 400w so more than enough for stage use. Normally in the venues I'd play in I'd be running to the FOH from my DI anyway, so really the cab is just for stage monitoring.

Slightly OT, what DI are you using?

roast

Dord wrote: »

Slightly OT, what DI are you using?

One of these bad boys!
I like it a lot. My only criticism would be that the midrange is a little too scooped with the Color function. It's by design though.

http://www.thomann.de/ie/mxr_m80_bass_di_plus.htm



There's an Xmas present ye should all get! ;D

Schwiiing

Bought myself a Yamaha Pacifica to learn on a while back. So probably a small amp to go with it and some proper lessons.

wild turkey

Ive ordered this
http://www.guitaramplifierpcbs.com/liteiib.html

Plan on building a new cab for the valve junior to accommodate a 12" speaker

Im also putting the finishing touches to a tele / lp hybrid im building so a good set of pickups wouldn't go amiss

slavetothegrind

cheers for that! was looking at some of the other amp kits but they were quite expensive , might just spring for that as a first build!

the telepaul is interesting! can't say i've seen one before.....

wild turkey

The amp might not work out as cheap as you think, I recon it will cost me around €200 in total but thats nothing for a 1974x

Fano guitars make the guitar I based my one on,

http://www.fanoguitars.com/models/alt-de-facto-sp6/#colors
<img src="http://i44.tinypic.com/magcn4.jpg&quot; alt="magcn4.jpg (1024×682)"/>


I made the body from a mahogany bar table I got from my familys pub so its at least 50 years old Its been in my shed for a few years now but as soon as I saw the fano I knew I had to build it
The body is a one piece 36 mm so its more of a melody maker tele
And the best bit is the table is big enough for another body so I plan on building a tele shaped les paul junior

themountainman

zvex fuzz factory if I can scrape the money together, but it's xmas, so time to go the extra mile for giving, to myself.

Ravelleman

themountainman wrote: »

but it's xmas, so time to go the extra mile for giving, to myself.

I like your style.

I've been thinking of picking something new up for a long while but my inability to decide has really held me back. When this happens, though, it's probably a sign that I don't really need anything.

Dord

Ravelleman wrote:

I've been thinking of picking something new up for a long while but my inability to decide has really held me back. When this happens, though, it's probably a sign that I don't really need anything.

There's a really nice Yamaha SGV on adverts that needs a new home. *cough* *cough*

Gaspode

Broke! No goodies for Gaspode, he's been a naughty boy

cena

I wish is was getting a les Paul 2015. I seen them while in the states. Lovely looking guitars

afterglow

cena wrote: »

I wish is was getting a les Paul 2015. I seen them while in the states. Lovely looking guitars

My one wish is a Trevor James student model flute and some lessons. Being on stupid social welfare though, means all it will ever be is a wish.

MetalDog

I'm getting a 7 string at last. Between that now and AC/DC tickets I'll be skint for a while :P

ATG

I spent the guts of €500 on parts. Big plans for the new year, but I'm building some pedals that I've been itching for for the last few years. Parts wise though, lots of tubes, reverb tanks, and some fancy white jacks!

groovie

No gear, just some true fire courses. Rocks greatest hits 1 & 2.

Ol' Donie

I'm giving myself several hours a day to play the stuff I've been accumulating all year.

And I can't wait.

il gatto

Was looking at an American Special Strat special run but they sold out the day before I was going to order so I went with a Classic Player 50s in Shoreline Gold. Probably a better guitar parts wise as they cost the same and it's Mexican. It's also a maple fretboard which the Special i was eying up didn't have. It came with a high action and a small ding which looks like it was before it was painted. Apart from that, the fit and finish is perfect. I dropped the saddles and set the intonation. Could be a smidge lower so I might tweak it later. The ding is small and I'm fussy but not enough you send it back. Barely notice it.
It looks class, the soft v profile neck is comfortable and it sounds fantastic. The neck pickup is exactly like I always wanted. Better even. Epic.
I'm not the brand snob I once was but I kind of wanted a USA made Fender but the regular American Specials were nearly €200 more and had Texas Specials which I didn't want. This thing looks, sounds and feels like quality so I'm not bothered about where it's made.

Ravelleman

The Classic Player Series are great guitars all round. The price has steadily crept up over the years but when they first came out they were quite the bargain in Europe, compared to America. Shoreline Gold is also one of the great Fender colours.

Oink

il gatto wrote: »

Was looking at an American Special Strat special run but they sold out the day before I was going to order so I went with a Classic Player 50s in Shoreline Gold. Probably a better guitar parts wise as they cost the same and it's Mexican. It's also a maple fretboard which the Special i was eying up didn't have. It came with a high action and a small ding which looks like it was before it was painted. Apart from that, the fit and finish is perfect. I dropped the saddles and set the intonation. Could be a smidge lower so I might tweak it later. The ding is small and I'm fussy but not enough you send it back. Barely notice it.
It looks class, the soft v profile neck is comfortable and it sounds fantastic. The neck pickup is exactly like I always wanted. Better even. Epic.
I'm not the brand snob I once was but I kind of wanted a USA made Fender but the regular American Specials were nearly €200 more and had Texas Specials which I didn't want. This thing looks, sounds and feels like quality so I'm not bothered about where it's made.

Suh-weeet... Do you have any pics?

I tried an american special with a fender blues junior. It brought tears to my eyes... I can't afford it though.

il gatto

Ravelleman wrote: »

The Classic Player Series are great guitars all round. The price has steadily crept up over the years but when they first came out they were quite the bargain in Europe, compared to America. Shoreline Gold is also one of the great Fender colours.

Friend has an American Special and the Classic Player is just as good and more to my liking overall. In fact I prefer to the American Standards I've played because I don't like the modern flat C neck. Shoulders put me off.
Shoreline gold is lovely. A Lake Placid Blue double bound Tele would compliment it though...........

il gatto

Oink wrote: »

Suh-weeet... Do you have any pics?

I tried an american special with a fender blues junior. It brought tears to my eyes... I can't afford it though.

Haven't taken a photo but it's very pretty.
The American Special is very nice but the Texas Specials are a bit hot for my liking. They do gain stuff brilliantly but cleans are a not as nice (to me). Too pokey or modern or something. I prefer pickups with lower output as a rule. The 57/62 pickups in the Classic Player sound great to me. Plus the bridge pickup is wired to the bottom tone knob. A great mod.

Ravelleman

Fender Mexico makes a lot of nice guitars these days. I had a Robert Cray Strat for a couple of years and it was lightweight, well-made and sounded great.

I've hears good stuff about the Road Worn models as well.

il gatto

The days of the Mexican stuff not been seen as "real" Fenders is nearly gone. Only few older heads and gear snobs still regard them as not kosher Fenders. It's 5 hours from Corona to Ensenada by road. I'm sure the top end stuff is better than a basic Mexican but a high end Mexican more than holds it's own with American production stuff. Heard nothing but good things about the Robert Cray and the Jimmy Vaughan Strats.

Ravelleman

It was a toss-up between a Jimmie Vaughan and a Robert Cray for me way back in 2006. In the end I realised that the JV in the shop (Manny's in New York; now closed) had a slightly misaligned bridge so that basically decided that. I also strongly considered a Muddy Waters Tele then as well but I didn't like the taper on the pots. The old Mexican Artist models were terrific value then as well - lots of bonus features like CS or AVRI pickups and upgraded hardware. They've phased some of the models in and out of production over the years, which is a pity.

I feel a certain nostalgia for my old RC but there's no way I'd spend €850 on it now.

il gatto

Ravelleman wrote: »

It was a toss-up between a Jimmie Vaughan and a Robert Cray for me way back in 2006. In the end I realised that the JV in the shop (Manny's in New York; now closed) had a slightly misaligned bridge so that basically decided that. I also strongly considered a Muddy Waters Tele then as well but I didn't like the taper on the pots. The old Mexican Artist models were terrific value then as well - lots of bonus features like CS or AVRI pickups and upgraded hardware. They've phased some of the models in and out of production over the years, which is a pity.

I feel a certain nostalgia for my old RC but there's no way I'd spend €850 on it now.

Always thought I'd buy something in Manny's one day and never got there. Pity such an institution is gone. I suppose Guitar Centre, Sam Ash etc. have had the same effect that Thomann, Musicstore etc. have had here.
I'll go to Norm's Rare Guitars or Fretted Americana when I win the Lotto instead I suppose.

Ravelleman

Interesting that you didn't like the Texas Specials in the American Specials. Apparently they aren't the same as the pickups in the likes of the SRV signature model - those being made in the Custom Shop, at least nominally. The American Special incarnations are hotter and have a different resistance level.

Fender Japan also seems to use Texas Specials in a lot of models, though I can't see them being the same. I could be wrong on that though.

feylya

I picked up an early Christmas present to myself in November. Somewhat different to every other guitar I own

slavetothegrind

id say that sounds amazing! very nice!

might we be so bold as to enquire as to the cost?

love the shape of it!

il gatto

Ravelleman wrote: »

Interesting that you didn't like the Texas Specials in the American Specials. Apparently they aren't the same as the pickups in the likes of the SRV signature model - those being made in the Custom Shop, at least nominally. The American Special incarnations are hotter and have a different resistance level.

Fender Japan also seems to use Texas Specials in a lot of models, though I can't see them being the same. I could be wrong on that though.

I prefer lower output pickups. They seem to have a clarity that comes through in the background of an overdriven tone. And the clean sounds have nicer highs.
I like some pickups in spite of being hotter but usually go with lower is better as a rule. You can always add more gain to a low output pickup but go can't really take away the extra poke of a high output pickup (well, turn the volume down but then you seem to lose even more high end definition).

Ol' Donie

Yeah, that 12 stringer is beatiful. So coool.

Ravelleman

Does it do jangle???

feylya

It does jangle. It does jingle. It does sparkle! It also left a large dent on my credit card. About $1000 IIRC. First Indonesian LTD I've had, few finishing issues on it, but it has a lovely neck, sounds fantastic unplugged and amped.

il gatto

feylya wrote: »

It does jangle. It does jingle. It does sparkle! It also left a large dent on my credit card. About $1000 IIRC. First Indonesian LTD I've had, few finishing issues on it, but it has a lovely neck, sounds fantastic unplugged and amped.

Very cool. Like an offset ES335.

Rented Mule

I didn't need to do this, but that never stopped me before. It's even more beautiful in person. I haven't been able to put it down. I feel ZERO shame for giving into my god given right to indulge my GAS fantasies.

Ol' Donie

Rented Mule wrote: »

I didn't need to do this, but that never stopped me before. It's even more beautiful in person. I haven't been able to put it down. I feel ZERO shame for giving into my god given right to indulge my GAS fantasies.

Ow! That's magic! Dare I ask how much & where that came from?

Eesh, lot of good taste on this thread.

Stop making me want new stuff!

Rented Mule

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/guitars/jackson-dk2m-pro-series-dinky-electric-guitar/j13165?cntry=us&source=3WWRWXGP&gclid=CjwKEAiAt4mlBRDXwt_m9ICU4DcSJAAS_X0WiC8Xib3RQAiho2zoW2L4sA9C2BGq18eGZ81K0ZL5OBoCnLjw_wcB&kwid=productads-plaid^80557974747-sku^J13165000001000@ADL4MF-adType^PLA-device^c-adid^51870555867#productDetail


I'm in the States so Musician's Friend is my friend. It is such a beautiful guitar (and I have a ton of them). It feels amazing as well. The only thing I haven't done yet is plug it it. That happens after work this evening (if all goes well).

Ol' Donie

I have a feeling it'll sound coooooool!

slavetothegrind

got to get your 80's metal on!!!!!

\\m//

wild turkey

So much for Christmas presents, My Plexi se Pcb only landed yesterday and then realised I ordered the wrong tube sockets for it
It will be a week before they land
I suppose if nothing else it will ease post Christmas blues

I did get to build a nice new cabinet for it though made from the finest birch ply and fitted with an Eminence Ramrod I had lying around

Going Forward

Treated myself to a little Blackstar Fly 3 practice amp, 3 watts with built in delay, not bad overall, gain could be a bit higher for my liking.

http://www.blackstaramps.com/products/fly-3/

Got it from Andertons in uk, cheaper than thoman, and delivery in 3 days for around E5 euro instead of thomann's 19,99.

slavetothegrind

nice cabinet there MR Turkey! skills on display.

i have an idea to build a http://billfitzmaurice.net/XFCabs.html

but my woodworking skills are not all they could be.....

wild turkey

slavetothegrind wrote: »

nice cabinet there MR Turkey! skills on display.

i have an idea to build a http://billfitzmaurice.net/XFCabs.html

but my woodworking skills are not all they could be.....

Luckily for me theres a workshop at my place of work, so I precision cut everything there and routed & assembled it at home

There are plenty of places that cut timber for about 80 cent a cut
I ordered the grille cloth from tubetown.de for €10 for 1m x 1.5m
works out very cheap compared to buying a built one

http://www.tube-town.net/ttstore/index.php?cat=120&MODsid=ff50qpct6r28q7qp32kff3rc25&sort=3

Dord

Lovely cab WT! post up pics when she's all done.

I never did get that 'verb as I shelled a few grand on flights over xmas instead. I've got a few pieces of gear in the works but not really xmas presents.

Ravelleman

Dord wrote: »

I've got a few pieces of gear in the works but not really xmas presents.

Do share when the time comes.