The Bassist and Guitarist thread

[CanucksTraveller]

I've got an Epiphone. It's a Casino, in scarlet, I really love it but scared to play it because all the neighbours will hear just how bad I am! As it's semi-acoustic, I play it quietly so really haven't heard what it can actually do yet. Haven't really put it through its paces.

What year is it, is it a new one or older? Pics please!

I do like a Casino, I think all Epiphone archtops sound nice especially with the twin humbuckers. Plug it in!
I run my Sheraton through a Boss BD2 blues driver pedal and it just sounds fantastic when the tone is just cracking that tiny bit. I was just playing my two most recent favourites last night, "Pride and Joy" by Stevie Ray Vaughan and "Sweet Home Chicago". Bags of fun.

 

[PaulB]

What year is it, is it a new one or older? Pics please!

I do like a Casino, I think all Epiphone archtops sound nice especially with the twin humbuckers. Plug it in!
I run my Sheraton through a Boss BD2 blues driver pedal and it just sounds fantastic when the tone is just cracking that tiny bit. I was just playing my two most recent favourites last night, "Pride and Joy" by Stevie Ray Vaughan and "Sweet Home Chicago". Bags of fun.

This is me holding it the day I got it (Via Thomann) last August. I have done a few songs on it but I'm mainly playing acoustic now.

 

[ColinJ]

Another booking for Platinum Jubilee weekend.

Is Prince Andrew on the guest list...?

 

[Badger_Boom]

Is Prince Andrew on the guest list...?

That’s Mr Windsor to you. 😐

 

[ColinJ]

That’s Mr Windsor to you. 😐

I think that he is still 'Prince' but not HRH?

 

[PaulB]

I think that he is still 'Prince' but not HRH?

The r-sole formerly known as Prince.

 

[CanucksTraveller]

Question about amps, for the knowledgeable! I've got a Marshall MG30 that's been stored in an outdoor garage for ten years, great little amp but I just didn't have a use for it since I was using a smaller 20 amp Fender practice amp indoors. Anyway my daughter has now nicked the Fender so I've brought the Marshall in and tried it. It does work still, but intermittently with quite a broken signal at times. I suspect mice might have been at the wires as there is mice damage on the trim. Possibly it's just damp, I'm not sure.
Are these worth being looked at by someone? I sort of doubt the economics of it as they're only 150 retail new, and I'm guessing a repair might be getting on for that.

If all else fails I have my eye on an Orange Crush 20 as my new practice amp, and I have a suspicion that might be the cheapest way ahead anyway at 100 notes.
Thoughts?

 

[DCBassman]

Unless it 'dries out' a bit, probably the Orange. Have you given all the controls some vigorous back-and-forth treatment? If that improves things, invest in a can of Servisol contact cleaner and squirt into the pots with more vigorous turning, assuming that you can access them without too much trouble.

 

[Drago]

I use the Orange Crush 50 live for small venues where there isn't room for the PA. Brilliant bit of kit.

The Otange amps are old school, all wiring snd transistors. Without microprocessors the sound is much more authentic.

Anyway, mine is faily new but theres a place over in Wolverton that does amp and instrument repairs and servicing so ill take it there every few years for a service. Theres probably somewhere similar local to you that could give you Marshall a seeing too.

 

[CanucksTraveller]

Thanks both!

 

[Drago]

Just bought a cherished plate, BA55 XXX (the XXX being my initials - my real initials, im not Xander Cage).

I've been offered a nice wedge of cash for G16OLO, so that'll pay for the new one and a nice tasty sum left over.

 

[ColinJ]

I'm starting to wonder what a typical action height is for a bass guitar?

I had a quick hunt around online and it seems to be a personal thing. Some players said that they like it (what seems to me) crazy low - around 2 mm. Others suggested 3 - 4 mm. Some even said 6+ mm.

My cheapo bass is about 5 mm from the top of the 12th fret to the bottom of the E string, down to 4 mm for the G string.

I don't know any better at this point, but so far that seems ok. Maybe I will experiment with the action when I know what I am doing!

 

[DRM]

I’ve just started on learning an acoustic guitar, having borrowed a Tanglewood Crossroads, just getting to grips with the A & D chords, and changing between the two, so far so good progress wise, but blimey it makes your fingertips hurt!

 

[CanucksTraveller]

I’ve just started on learning an acoustic guitar, having borrowed a Tanglewood Crossroads, just getting to grips with the A & D chords, and changing between the two, so far so good progress wise, but blimey it makes your fingertips hurt!

It does hurt for a bit to start with, but after a couple of weeks your fingertips will develop little thick callouses which will protect them and give you a little badge of honour. Guitarist fingertips!
Well done on your learning so far! Stick at it.

Stevie Ray Vaughan's fingertip callouses apparently used to split regularly on tour because of the strain of his extra heavy gauge strings, but he just squeezed a bit of superglue in the cracks, and carried on.
We suffer for our art I think is the message there.

Bon courage!

 

[raleighnut]

I’ve just started on learning an acoustic guitar, having borrowed a Tanglewood Crossroads, just getting to grips with the A & D chords, and changing between the two, so far so good progress wise, but blimey it makes your fingertips hurt!

Try going for a lighter guage stringset, a lot of acoustic guitars have very heavy strings on them (for volume) you probably can't go really light without running into intonation problems but most acoustics can tolerate 10's* without issues.It will also lower the 'action' as they don't need to be as tight to come up to pitch as heavier strings do. Have a word with your mate as to what strings are on it now but i'd bet it's 12's*

* the number refers to top or high E, the thinnest string which is conversly at the bottom of the neck, you can get all kinds of string gauges, Billy Gibbons and Frank Zappa famously used 7's on their (electric) Guitars whilst SRV used 13's on his Oh and BTW don't worry about breaking a string, they're not meant to last forever (despite what Bass players think)
I use 9's on my Telecaster and in 17 years of ownership have yet to break one although I do put a fresh set on every 2-3 months.