Conference napalm::heavy_metal

    KRAMER RULES

    
    	My younger brother (an avid guitar enthusiat) concurs...
    
    	Charvel Jackson's are top of the heap in his book.
    
    	-=[MOSAT]=-
    	(always never quite entirely unsure of what's going on)

    So Buck, what's wrong with the new Kramers?  Could you give some
    models to look for/avoid?
    
    gh

    Kramer, Kramer, and more Kramer.   Old Charvel/Jacksons are good
    too.  The new Charvel's are made by HONDO, even though the fiddles
    are made at the same place, by the same people, with the same
    components, there has to be a reason why the price came down.  You
    can buy a Charvel with 1 pick-up with a case for $300 now.  Coop
    has a new Charvel and it plays like a dream, but that's only when
    I play it !!!  Here's the ultimate set-up ..... A Sears Silvertone
    guitar (no wiggle stick ..), a small amp, preferably the kind with
    say 9 watts peak power and a 6" speaker (fuse protected of course),
    and hook the two together with a 10' red/white/blue curl-cord. You
    can close your eyes (and ears too if you're smart) and just iagine
    how this would sound.  I gotta go, I think I'm gonna be sick ....
    
    
    				Mr Scary II

    WHAT DO YOU MEAN "OLD" Kramers  1,2,3,4 years ago?

    It's what feels good in YOUR hands, and sounds good to YOUR ears...
    
    Most players will agree that every well made guitar has some features
    they like, and some that aren't as good as another make.
    
    Have you thought of a totally custom set-up?  Whatever you choose,
    it must be equipped with an afterburner and go at least Warp 7 around
    the tight spots...enjoy shopping!

    
    Is it my imagination or is the Les Paul becoming popular
    in metal again.I see lots of bands using them,personaly I
    couldn't live without mine,but I could live without the 
    weight.
    
    					M
    					 B
    

    Well, the Les Paul that Tom Keifer from Cinderella uses is one of
    those thin bodied custom jobs...  Check one out at Daddy's Junkie
    Music in Nashua.  The last time I was there, they had two (although
    that was a while ago...)

    JC

    
    Yea, i thought of checking out the Les Paul custom light
    but they wont hold anykind of resale value.besides my Les
    has a strange history it almost made it to the stage before
    I did.It was set up for Randy Jackson of Zebra and he went
    to Europe and ended up getting another one.
    
    					M
    					 B
    

    RE: -1
    
    Just a thought...

    Has anybody ever seen a Les Paul with a Floyd Rose whammy ??  That
    would be an awesome combination.  They are heavy, but thats's how
    they get that tone.
    
    					Mr Scary II

    
    Yes I have seen a Les with a Floyd on it Zakk Wylde uses them
    
    					M
    					 B
    

    Better yet... I used to have a LP Custom with a Kahler on it...
    I'm not just saying this 'cuz I like Kahler, but cuz you don't have
    to rout the body of the guitar, and wreck it's tone.
    
    cj

    Neil Schon used to have a LP w/Floyd Rose. I saw him play it on
    the Escape tour. Great sound out of it, too! (Of course, now he
    plays his own guitars.)
    
    cat

    re:-1
    Buck, I bet Coop wishes I never saw that.  Floyd vs. Kahler, Marshall
    vs. GK, Harley vs. Honda, you're right from a previous note, a marriage
    made in hell !!
    
    					Mr Scary II

    Yo Buck, Jerry...
    
    I might believe that Floyd Rose has more sustain than a Kahler.
    I have a BC Rich with a Kahler, and a C/J with a Jackson Trem (licenced
    by Floyd).  The BC Rich has FAR more sustain than the C/J, but I
    figure it's cuz the Jackson pickups are so heavily potted/waxed.
    I usedto be a die-hard Kahler fan, but now, I think they both have
    their merits...
    
    Now, as far as Honda's and Harleys are concerned... There is NO stock
    Harley on this planet that will come close to my stock Honda, top-end,
    1/4 mile, cruisin' to the beach, or scratchin' pavement with your
    foot-pegs (or squashing pipes if you ride a Harley!).  AND, if you
    wanna modify the motor, $ for $, the Honda still wins... Most people
    say "Yeah, but Harleys look so nice !"...I say, if you wanna LOOK good,
    you have no reason to be on a bike.  You should probably go to the
    beauty parlor... 

    One more thing, with a Harley, you'll never hear my Honda comin',
    you'll just see a blur of silver as I ride off into the sunset.

    JC

    Harleys have a lot more sustain than Kahlers too, no rollers.  They
    don't stay in tune quite as well though.
    
    gh

    Well, just to get this note back on track...
    
    I realize that buying a guitar is personal preference.  I guess
    I'm just wanting to get a feel for what brands I should check out
    in an effort to find that 'untimate' ax.
    
    The features that interest me (at present) are:
    
    1) fairly flat neck (not a lot of radius) with fairly tall frets
    2) precision tremelo (probably something like a Floyd, don't like
    Kahler as much), probably back routed so it can raise the tone too. 
    3) high output pickups (would prefer not to have to swap them out,
    but can)
    4) Probably a Strat style body (this is NOT a big priority), but
    would like something I can play sitting down without a strap, as
    this is how I practice most of the time.  EG: not looking for Flying
    Vs right now (they ARE cool guitars though...).
    
    Companies I currently know that make something along these lines (which
    I will be checking out) are Ibanez, C/J, and Kramer.  Can you help me
    with more options? 
                                                   
    For those of you that read CVG::GUITAR, I will probably cross post
    this in that conference too, for more input from a wider audience.
    I wanted to post it here, because a) some of you don't read GUITAR,
    and b) I thought I might get opinions less varied from those players
    who note here (or both).  
    
    Thanks,
    gh    

    C/J's JACKSON electronics are awesome.  Well potted (does away with
    the squeil...  Lot's of punch, and has a good active para-EQ...
    
    I love mine... It even has a name.  "Ralph"  My BC Rich is "Norton".
    
    I always loved my Norton, but now he sits in the corner...
    
    jc
    

    I'm not real knowledgable on guitar (Buck, this is more your topic!),
    but a guy in my band plays a Yamaha that he likes a lot, and was
    not too expensive (around $250). But I guess it depends on your
    budget. I'm sure for $1500 you can get the Steve Vai JEM guitar,
    but for less money you may still get what you need.
    
    cat 

    Westone makes a good econo-axe too.  Stay away from the cheap Kramer
    line.  You have to play a bunch to see what you want.  If you have
    an amp, take it with you when you buy.  That way you know EXACTLY
    how it will sound for you.
    
    
    
    					Mr Scary II

    RE: -.1

    Good point.  I also own a Kramer Striker, and it needs a pickup
    to Krank properly...

    jc
    

                            
    What about the Washburn line of guitars ??  Not too expensive but
    quite nice sounding.    
                            
    Why not go for a decent Strat ??     
                              
    Gimmie a puke-green Vai JEM 777 anyday !!

    RE: -.1
    
    Strat ?  I think this has been covered (or the can of worms opened)
    before!  My personal preference is NO Strats !  But, what ever floats
    your boat.  I have an older washburn force III, and it's okay, but
    it was before term units were the big item.  I had to replace the
    pickups.
 
    jc
    

    
    Oh c'mon Coop, yer C/J is basically a Strat!
    
    Buck

    I played thru a friends, and it wasn't too bad... Not bad at all!
    
    It was a smaller one, and I wouldn't put it up against a marshall
    of anything...
    
    jc

     
    Buck, my C/J is unlike any guitar I've ever played, including my
    strat (that I no longer own).  It's tuff...
    
    jc
    

    Gee buck, I dunno for sure but the first thing that came to mind
    is the finish (or lack thereof) on the neck.  It's kinda got a silky
    feel to the back of the neck as opposed to varnish...
    
    Maybe ?
    jc

    Hey Buck, Why not have my buddy Grover J. build you a couple...
    they'll do ANYTHING you want...
    
    jc

    
    I didn't know where to put this but I just read an interview with
    Ego J. Malmsteen and his said that Gibson came to him and said
    "we'll make you ANYTHING you want".  Yngwie replied "O.k, make me
    a Stratocaster" !!    
                          
    agagagagagagagagaga!!!

    Well, I'm still looking, but the one I liked the best so far was
    a Charval #4.  I still have many desirables to try, as the (2) stores
    that handle Kramer, BC Rich, and the high end Ibanezes here in Co
    Springs have both angered me to the degree that I won't go there
    anymore.  One is in a mall and the prices are just outrageous anyway.
    
    gh

    
    I havent heard much about B.C. Rich. Wassamatter noone like'em?
    I play on a B.C.Rich warlock nj series (4stringer) with OBL p-ups.
    I've got nothing but compliments on its sound.  And I love the way
    it plays,nice an easy.
    
    I also have a stienberg double ball 4stringer w/sberg lock and tune.
    The sounds on this are incredible and they are numerous.  Translation
    they can get ya a lot of diff but good sounds.
    
    a guitarist I jam with plays a Kramer Striker w/stock bottom of
    th' line Floyd Rose wammie,no tune lock and stock p-ups(3 h-buckers).
    He gets a great sound but when he dive-bombs on th' stick every
    string goes massively out of tune.
    
    Brian
    
    I Love My B.C. Rich
      

    I was reading this note to Stevie and had this to say:
    
    He heard that the Paul Reed Smith (PRS) guitars are real fine
    instruments, very well made.  He wonders why nobody's mentioned
    ESPs.  He's got an ESP base model and it feels and plays great.
    He says it's well made and really playable.  Of course, it sat in
    the case for months on end only because of his love affair with
    his custom Charvel (pre-Charvel takeover).  He's starting to play
    it a lot more--just like having a brand new guitar.  I couldn't
    believe it.  He actually came up to my house for the weekend with
    it AND LEFT THE CHARVEL AT HOME!!!!!
    
    His advice would be to look into custom Jacksons if you're willing to
    spend the money.  They do great custom paint jobs (you should see
    his!!) and you can specify all components (neck,tremolo, body shape).  
    You can make your own dream guitar.  You can try them out at Daddy's
    or something before you order to make sure it's what you want. 
    
    Good luck.  Let us know.
    
    Stacie

    Stacie,  Thanks for asking Stevie about this, really appreciate it!
    
    Funny you should mention ESP, as I just tried one out tonight. 
    
    I thought it was a nice ax, neck thru, modified Floyd type trem, HUGE
    frets, but...(there hadda be a but).  It didn't 'feel' right to me.
    Some guitars are kinda magical, when you pick 'em up, they feel RIGHT.
    This one wasn't like that.  On top of that, it was the absolutely
    UGLIEST shade of blue (kinda really light turchoise..).  That doesn't
    affect how it plays... it just made me ill to look at (when my eyes
    were open).  There was some white junk (wax?) all in the rosewood
    fretboard and I didn't care to the inlays or the binding on the neck,
    just looked cheap.  One of the inlays (12th fret) said "ESP"...
    They also wanted about $1000 for it too.  It was the only ESP they
    had, I would have liked to played other ones.
    
    Tell me though, what's a good price for a used Kramer Barretta?
    I saw one of these today too.  It looked pretty used.
    
    The Jackson would be great, but it'd have to be used since I set
    my budget at $1000, so I wouldn't get to crazy (Ah HA).  They're
    going for about $1500+ right?  That's a little too high.
    
    PRS are VERY nice.  I think I'd be afraid to play the thing... 
                                                 
    I also played a custom they'd done at this store.  Warmoth compound
    radius neck w/reverse headstock, Floyd, Chandler strat shaped (approx)
    body, Seymore Duncan 'Alan Holdsworth' model pickup (only the one)
    w/three wirings.  Well built, nice black finish (maple on back of neck.
    Black hardware.  Very nice.  Asking $750.  Still liked the Charvel
    #4 best...same asking price and it included a case! 
    
    Thanks for the tips & keep 'um coming! 
    
    gh (if I can't play good, at least I can LOOK good...)

    BC Rich ?  Didn't I mention mine ?
    
    I picked it up at a pawn shop for $175 !  The guy didn't realize
    what he was selling... It's a Mockingbird with the Kahler trem unit...
    
    My second fav axe...
    
    jc

    What shape are the Mockingbirds?
    
    gh

    You Buck,
    
    No offense taken, but the Bogus NJ series really is a pretty good
    axe... I really don't think my BC plays that much better than my
    Charvel !  I just like the tone, looks and feel of the C/J better.
    
    Jerry will atest to the nice-ness of the BC...Unless he feels like
    giving me some S**T !
    
    jc

    Gotta defend Coop's pearl Mockingbird.  Every time I break a string,
    that's what I grab for ('cause I know he won't part with his Hondel).
    It has a hard feeling neck and great action, can't say much for
    the Kahler trem though, I'm s Floyd Rose backer until death.
    
    
    				Mr Scary II

    I guess my last note was a little lengthy.  You musta missed the
    question in it.  What's a reasonable price for a used Barretta?
    
    gh

    I believe this one to be a little older.  It's got the 'Kramer'
    logo on the headstock 'painted' on, eg it looks hand painted...and
    kind of, like it was outlined with a felt marker?  I know that's
    not a good description and hope you understand it.  I don't know
    how their serial numbers run, but it's a 5 digit starting with a
    C on the bolt on neck plate.  The Floyd has all the chrome worn
    off the fine tuners (around the knurling) and the finish overall
    has a kind of aged look to it.  I think the sticker on it said $600,
    but I'm sure that's negotiable.  Sound good or one to be leary of?
    I haven't played it yet or dicussed it with the guy at the store.
    
    gh
      

         I'd be leary of the "Hand Painted" anything on a Kramer.  
         I wouldn't be concerned about the chrome stuff coming off the
         trem unit.  It's bound to happen due to the sweat from your
         hand... All mine trems look cruddy...
         
         I broke the headstock of my Kramer (I dropped it !)
         
         jc

    I've played the Beretta line a couple of times and I can't see the
    price difference between them and the Focus 3000 I own.  Mine listed
    for about $650 w/case, as opposed to $1000 for the Beretta.  Coop's
    right about how the chrome looks - that gives the axe that "used
    and abused" look.  The black chrome available now doesn't show the
    road grime as bad.  If you were going to invest $600 or so, go with
    the Charvel.  If the EconoVels were available when I bought my Kramer,
    I'm sure I'd have a black on right now.
    
    					Mr Scary II

    Thanks guys.  I went down on Friday afternoon and checked it a little
    closer & played it (and another Charvel #4).  The stuff on the headstock
    was not nearly as bad as I'd originally thought. It was just some ugly
    light blue paint outlining the original black Kramer logo.  It played
    really nice and the guy in the store offered it to me for $450.  Needs
    a little setup work, not enough springs in the Floyd, but that's not
    biggie.  This is a pretty old one, solid maple body (spell HEAVY).
    
    gh

    Well, I haven't updated this note in the past few days.  I can't
    find anyplace around here to try out a top-line Ibanez.  Tried a
    RG340 which was nice, but not in the running with the others.
    
    Played a Kramer Focus 1000 this weekend.  Nice ax, good price, but
    not flexible in tonality at all.  One pickup, a canted humbucker
    and one volume knob.  Floyd trem.  It's used, but doesn't have a
    single scratch on it, mint condition.  $400.
    
    I'm getting very anxious and will probably go ahead with a purchase
    (of something) this week.  I appreciate all the advice and opinion
    and will let you know of my decision.
    
    gh

    
    I know you're all holding your breath...
    
    
    I got a Charvel Model 4!  This is due in no small part to the adament
    complements presented by Mr. Cooper (Thanks, JC!).  It met my needs and
    my budget and I like it a lot.  Just picked it up this morning. 
      
    Thanks again for all the input, it really helped in fighting my way
    through the thousands of guitars out there and get something nice. 
    
    gh
                                                                      

    Wise choice Greg .... but DO NOT take anymore advice from Mr. Cooper.
    Next he'll try to talk you into buying a GK, go Marshall, you get
    a nice axe you want to be heard doncha ??  When we played the WORM
    we put his GK in glove compartment so my Marshall wouldn't eat it.
    
    
    
    				Mr Scary II

Agagagagagagagaga*gag*.....

Very funny.  Jerry, if you Marshall is ever loader than my GK, then your
too loud !  We both know we can play "out_of_the_mix"... Who cares if the
crowds ears bleed more with your marshall than with the GK, they still 
bleed !

Besides, my GK sounds more like a Marshall than your Marshall does !  Go
buy some groove tubes, boy !
 
jc

Oh, congrats and thanks for the cudos Greg.  I'm sure you'll love your C/J

jc


PS - How the HELL did you come to work without playing first ???!?!?!?!?!

    re: .73 
    
    It was supreme job dedication.  Probably my brain was addled by
    the new glasses I also got this morning (Yes, I know how fish
    in a bowl feel now...).                 
    
    gh

    re: .72
    
    Yo Coopster !!  I'll admit that your GeeK DOES sound very good (if
    you like a processed tone) I just can't see myself crankin' away
    with an amp the size of a box of Cheerios (NOT family size) and
    I don't see walls and walls of GeeKs at concerts either, even though
    the big boys have the bucks to have whatever they want, I guess
    they do .................
    
    
    					Mr Scary II

Well, I admit that you don't see walls of GK's in concert, but then again
you don't see walls of Marshalls anymore either.  Almost all the big name
axe-men are using racks, like Buck.  Who needs the pain in the a** you get
with mega-stax of marshalls (or GK's for that matter!).

BTW - Speaking of processed sound, Alex Lifeson from Rush has a wall of GK's.
I like Rush.  I think I'm gonna have to upgrade to a rack soon.  I'll get
a power amp like Bucks and a GP-8 effect processor and go midi.

Wanna buy a GK ?

Agagagagagagagaaaaa...
jc

    RE:.76  If you listen to fools, the mob rules
    
    This mentality makes up the top 40.  If it's popular, it must be
    good.
    
    re: however many back...  No GKs here.  I have a Hiwatt 100 which
    I just finished repairing that should kick some serious butt.  Just
    need a nice ECC83 (12AX7) to test and get it cooking again.  (Pretty
    "good" story on how it got broken...)
    
    I practice with a Crate CR160GT which sounds ok (60 watts, 1x12
    Celestion 80w).
    
    gh
                   

    RE: .73
    
    >PS - How the HELL did you come to work without playing first???!?!?!?!?! 

    If it's any consolation, I played it from the minute I got home (and a
    little before leaving work) until my wife insisted that I stop so she
    could sleep (about 11:00).  I even forgot to eat dinner... 
    
    It's definately my fav!  The Strat will be collecting dust for awhile. 
    
    gh
    

Greg,

If your like me, you'll sell the strat PDQ ~!~

jc

    re: Coop
    
    Naw, I'm gonna keep the Strat for awhile.   It has a set of EMG actives
    in it and has a killer tone.  It also has a really good action. There's
    no trem so it stays in tune very well.  Besides, you gotta have
    a backup and none of the others I have I trust as much as that one.
    
    I am selling a Aria Pro II "Knight Warrior" and an Austin Hatchet
    if anyone is interested...
    
    gh
                              

Well, if you've got pickups and no whammy to screw up, go for it !

Renee, he might not be like me, but ya gotta admit, he's got great taste
in guitars (of course I'm refering to the C/J)

jc

    Yo Pete !!  Sounds like a good set up but your drummer would say
    it was too loud.  I used to play drums and I did the same thing.
    Nothing puts a drummer in their place better than a Marshall (or
    any "other" fine amplification device) at max volume at say 1.4
    paces.  Drummer say "Huh" for 3 days ......
    
    
    				Mr Scary II

    
    re .88
    
    I used to jam with someone that had a Laney stack, it was hard on
    me and he couldn't go past 5 on the master.
    
    Besides, that's why I'm getting mics for my drums now.
    
    Shure here I come!
    
    
    /prc

    Sorry dudes/dudettes, but it's a little secret between me and a
    certain *someone* in this conference...;-| (tryin' to keep a
    straight face).  OK, this %#@#ing note has drifted FAR ENOUGH!!!
    
    	I'm looking for a new Guitar (those who read Guitar Notes 
    already know this).  So far, I'm torn between an Ibanez RG550
    (no sh!#!!) and a sexy ESP neck through model.  ESP = $300 more.
    Let's hear about some other axes out there!!!  What's hot right
    now??  The Ibnaez is wicked w/Vai super whammy, ultra flat finger-
    board, satin finish on neck, 2 humbuckers & 1 single coil.  Come
    on, someone just TRY to talk me out of it  ;^)
    
    joe

    Does anything come stock with Dimarzio SDs?  I don't know of any
    production models which do.  Nice pickups though.
    
    Joe already read my glowing Charvel review in GUITAR (and Bucks Charvel
    bash & Ibanez buildup).  I'm sure he'll get another from Mr. Cooper.
    Probably a Kramer endorcement from Mr. Scary. :-)
    
    I forgot to mention it there, Joe, but be sure to try out the PRS
    guitars.  Even if you don't intend to pay that much ($1000 up),
    they really are fine instruments!
                                     
    gh

Well, if it makes you feel any betterJoe, I've been looking at Ibanez lately
too...

NOT THAT I DON'T LOVE the hell outta my C/J...

I dunno.  I like owning lots of axes.  The only thing I'd consider at this
moment is the "Vai" Ibanez (777?).  It looks hot, and plays hot. 

I'd entertain an ESP, but don't figure it could hold pace with a BC
Rich/Charvel/Dean/Kramer line-up...  I'll try it.

jc

PS - If I bought an Ibanez, it'd be puke green.
 

    re: .-1
    
    Actually, I played an ESP neck-thru which I wasn't impressed at all
    with!  It was less flexable in the tone variety, and the fit & finish
    was not even close to the C/J model 6, which was going for $200 less!
    No flames on ESP, it was just one ax.  I'm sure they must have a
    typically higher standard than this.  Everyone makes a lemon once in
    awhile.
    
    Figure on the 5s & 6s that they're neck-thru which is not in the same
    class with the Ibanezes which you suggest Charvel pricing to compete
    with.  The model 3 would be the competing model and is priced well
    within this range.  The 4 has an (overpriced, but very nice) active
    electronic setup which is much more advanced than what's in any of the
    Ibanez models I know of, hense the higher price.  That
    pickup/electronic setup lists for $250 by itself (another Jackson
    rip-off).  I really don't know anything about Robin.
    
    I agree on the $1800 Jackson soloist!  You're just buying the name
    and a custom paint job.
    
    gh (no malice intended, just trying to justify my purchase)

    
    
                        I had the pleasure of laying my fingers on
                  Adrian V. flourescent green Yamaha RGX after the
                  Worscester Ma.(oct. 87) show.  Although I couldn't
                  really play the beast (I'm a lefty) I have to admit
                  it has to be one of the best made guitars around.
    
                       $800 to $1000 should get you one of low end
                  axes in the series.
    
                       Right now I'm playing a Kramer Americana w/floyd
                  It plays beautifully (really smooth) but I find the
                  floyd is a bit touchy.  You just can't do multiple
                  string bends without losing the integrity of your
                  tuning!!    It cost me $750!!                                
    
                       My other guit was made buy Robert Arnold from
                  Daddy's Boston. This guy does excellent work for a
                  more than reasonable price!!!!!!! The Kahler pro 
                  tremelo can handle just about any hacking/banging
                  I can come up with and ALWAYS stays in tune.
    
                       Another bit.....Don't let your strings get old
                  with a floyd or you'll spend more time tuning than
                  cranking**
    

    Sonds like a nice ax!  When will they be released?  Guess ol' Adrian
    gave up on PV huh?
    
    I have a Jackson trem on my Charvel, which is a modified Floyd and
    have never had one that stayed in tune better.  I have an Aria Pro
    II which has a Kahler and I like them both, but the Jackson seems
    to stay in tune a little better.   
    
    Speaking of that, anyone wanna buy a nice Aria Pro II Knight Warrior?
    (all black, two singles with a tappable humbucker in the bridge,
    Kahler).   It's in perfect condition, never been played outta my
    house.  Hardshell case included.
    
    gh                              

    Well I've played  various Guitars in my long, varyed, and very
    unimpressive career. Every thing from one I bought from a mail order
    catalogue to the one I use at present.
    
    For a start none of you Yanks are going to like this but, everyone
    has their own preferance. I am N*O*T a lead player by any stretch
    of the imagination, but I have been playing for going on 15 years.
    The list is as this:
    
    		Westbury Standard Mk II:- A very inexpensive little
    number and came stock with TWO DiMarzio Super Distortions. A great
    little churner that never let me down.
    
    		Kramer Striker 600ST :- A nice enough guitar if you
    can put up with the Floyd's nasty habit of breakin' strings every
    week.
    
    		Shecktar Strategy :- ( I use this at present ) Traded
    the Kramer to get this one and worth every penny. Good enough for
    the average HM megastar ( at least it is to a mate who is a Paul
    Gilbert/Yngwie clone ) it can churn out chords with the B*lls of
    a Buffolo. And I love it. (Even the colour is MEGA Shocking Pink)
    
    So before I start to get Slagged off. It is my opinion. Sorry if
    I've upset the Floyd Rose lovers amongst you, I really don't like
    them. Oh! before I forget anyone tried out the Ibenez Sabre yet.
    
    One more thing,,,,,. Damn I forgot what the question was.
    
     GIVE IT SH*T, DON'T SPARE THE GROOVE TUBEZ.
    
    			BONZO

    No problem with expressing negative Floyd opinions here, Bonzo. 
    The guy I take lessons from hates 'em too.  He's got Kahlers in
    most of his axes.  I personally like the Jackson (modified Floyd
    style) quite a lot.
        
    Good to see another guitar player with us, I was starting to think that
    the drummers were gonna take over. 
    
    So you like the Schecter, huh?  I've played a couple and thought they
    had a good feel.  It's been quite some time though.  I'm not familiar
    with the names, what does a Strategy look like, Strat shaped? 
                                                                  
    gh

    Yeah, no prob... I don't care for the Floyd Rose muc myself, but
    like Greg, I have a Jackson/Floyd that I like even more than my
    kahlers...
    
    Gee, I wonder how many other C/J owners are out there ?
    
    jc

    re.113
    
    Howz it hangin' gh,
    
    	Yeah it's Strat shaped but with a wicked looking head stock.
    
    	I'll be back with more info when I get the chance.
    
    		See Ya,
    			BONZO.

    
         Re: - .6
    
         HONDO???
    
         AAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!
    
         I JUST BOUGHT A MODEL 1!
    
         Oh well, it's only money...where did y'all hear/read all this
    nooz?
    
                                            Warren Young
    

    Don't worry - Hondo may have their hand in the pie BUT it's still
    a Charvel.  Coop's gotta #4, and I think it plays every bit as good
    as it's Jackson counterpart !
    
    
    				Scary

    Sorry dude, life is tough sometimes... :-)
    
    I've been wondering what some of the rest of you think of non-wood
    guitars and parts.  I'm talking about synthetic materials used for
    necks mostly, like Steinburger and Modulus, but am also interested in
    the aluminum, like Travis Bean. 
    
    Any thoughts on the subject?  Likes, dislikes, pitfalls?
    
    gh 

    
    	My friend HAD a Steinburger...w/the aluminum shaft in the neck.
     He said it warped on him.....???
    
    Bk
    

    Guitar notes happens to be down at the moment, so I'll pose the
    question here:
    
    	My maple-neck Ibanez RG550 is developing "stains" on some
    of the frets.  You know, that "well-worn" look like you might
    see on one of Clapton's old Strat's, etc.  Is there any way to
    remove them?
    
    	joe.

    Well, I used "scotch brite" pads and 409 on my rosewood finger board...
    
    Seems like my fingers shed dead skin along with the oil, and it
    tends to gather along the frets...  This stuff'll take right off.
    Be gentle though

    jc

    RE: Buck,
    	Yeah, I'm surprised at the location of some of the "wear marks".
    	I always thought I played in A too much, but the marks wouldn't
    	indicate that.
    
    	joe.

    RE: .136
    
    	>> My wear mark is over a D#...figure it out?!
    
    	Hmmm, what key is "Satch Boogie" in?  Of course a wear mark
    usually indicates stretching the string...up to an F perhaps?

    RE: .136
    
    	>> My wear mark is over a D#...figure it out?!
    
I think it's just because all these new metal bands tune to D#, but
Buck is too lazy to tune down every time he plays them!  8^)

cat

    2nd guess:
    
    	D# = A dim arpeggios ---> wjb's Bach/Yngwie/let's move vertically
    up and down the string quickly while picking 1/128th notes???

    
    Na you guys are way off.... The marks on Bucks git are where he
    tries to do the complex solos of Mr C.C. Deville...right Buck??
    
    Bk
    

    If I could *just* play like CC...
    
    gh

    My wear marks are all over my Floyd Rose from changing %$#@ "D"
    strings !
    
    
    				Scary

    Agagagagagagagagaaaa
    
    Thats good Scary.  I've been breaking my share lately...I blew away
    two d's on the CJ and the Yamaha the other night !
    
    Damn !
    
    jc -(who wears out Emaj!)

    re: .131
    
    Try using lemon oil every week or every time you change strings
    if you have a Floyd (I'm gonna break every "D" string you put on) 
    Rose. It will remove the grime but if the stain on the fret board
    has started to wear down. Tuff Sh*t. You're gonna have to either
    restain it or suffer it. Fast fret also helps.
    
    
    	Only being helpful,
    			BONZO.

    RE:.143
    
    I was tempted but I wont give my honest opinion regarding Floyd
    Rose's.
    
    (I don't want to get nicked for OBSCENE PUBLICATIONS)
    		
    
    			BONZO.

    Good for you Buck!
    
    	That's your opinon. And I'll respect that. I also wont say anymore
    about Floyd Roses. After all, if it works for you, thats what ya
    gotta do.
    
    
    		Cheers,
    
    	BONZO_he_who_promises_never_to_slag_off_FLOYDS_again.

    Bonzo, I had a hard time [read very, extremely, maddeningly hard
    time] getting used to the Floyd after playing Kahler's for a long
    time.  But now, as wjb has stated, it is way cool!  Keep new strings
    on it and it will serve you faithfully (totally clutch on the har-
    monic pulls, as stated in .147).
    
    What's with you boyz down in SC?  I've never broken a D string with
    my Floyd, only high E's...and my guit is routed behind the bridge
    for those mega-pulls.
    
    joe.

    I dunno...
    
    I broke two the other night, and I *NEVER* break strings.
    
    Floyds' break strings...face it.  I could use my BC Rich with the
    kahler for a year, and never break a string.  I like both.  I don't
    have a favorite.  Like Joe sez, once ya get used to the floyd, it's
    awesome.  Same with a Kahler.
    
    Yamaha makes a good unit too... It's like a floyd.
    
    jc

    What kinda strings are you guize using ?
    
    I use Super Slinky extra light RPS (Reinforced plain strings) on
    the Kahler, and SIT extra lights on the Floyd.

    jc

    I use D'Addario .009 - .042 on the Floyd and
    	  D'Addario .010 - .046 on the Kahler
    
    I just read someplace [an interview with Floyd Rose himself] that
    heavier guage strings tend to break easier on Floyd's.  In other
    words, .010's would break easier than .009's.  What do you 'uns
    think?
    
    joe.

Dean Markley's  .009-.046  with a Kahler = 1 broken string in the past year.

cat

    
    	When I used to play (now there's a gross misuse of the word
    play!!!) a git...before bass I used to love GHS Boomers .09..once
    in tune never went out...and they don't break either!!
    
    BK
    

    Cat,
    
    I usta use the same strings on my kahler...
    
    I never broke one either.
    
    Joe,
    
    I can dig the concept of fatter strings breakin' easier on the Floyd
    unit.  I wonder if a more "rubbery" steel for the string would be
    better ?
    
    jc

                Re: .155
                
                That's what  Paul Gilbert uses (.009's D'Addario.
                He uses .010's  live.   Just a piece of triva for
                those interested).
                
                - Rob
                
                

    With regard to choice of strings when using Floyds. I must admit
    that having read the latest comments it may be that I was using
    the wrong strings. I have been using Markley lites for the last
    four years. Perhaps it was me just being Pig Headed, that I would
    not change strings when I had the Krammer Striker/Floyd Rose.
    
    	I stand probably corrected on my previous comments.8^)
    
    		BONZO.
    

    I just got finished scanning the burial grounds and this one is
    for you Buck.
    
    So far I have used: Floyd Rose I
    			Floyd Rose II
    			Kahler
    			Whammy
    			Stock Strat (yuck)
    			& Stock Schectar Strategy.
    
    
    	At the moment I do prefer the stock Schectar one. But when you
    think on it I would be hard pushed to choose one as a fav.
    
    There is one that I liked less than the Floyd (now theres a suprise).
    That was the Bixby on a 1964 Gibson SG Custom.
    
    		See ya all when darkness comes.
    
    
    				BONZO.

    Guess What! (you'll like this one Buck)
    
    	After all these months bitchin' about Floyds. I broke two strings
    on the most tremndous pull up on the Schectar last night. I stand
    pi$$ed off!
    
    
    			BONZO.
    

    I just got back in after buying a set of Markley lites and it cost
    me �4.95 thats about $9 to you. Whats the going rate for strings
    over there at the moment?
    
    
    		BONZO.

    
    The string price (US $$$) usually is either $4.95 or $5.29.
    Some are higher.  In Boston you can get em for around $3.00.
    
    Bulk is the way to go.
    
    Buck

>    I just got back in after buying a set of Markley lites and it cost
>    me �4.95 thats about $9 to you. Whats the going rate for strings
>    over there at the moment?
    
    
WOW!  Last week I paid $10 for 3 sets of Dean Markley lites. That is
about the going price here. Maybe I could buy you a box lot and ship
them to you? It still might be cheaper for you (assuming you don't get 
hit with a customs tax....)

cat

    
    Thats not a bad idea Alan, not a bad idea at all....

RE:.166
    
    I'd love to take you up on the offer, but unfortunatly the way our
    taxing system works I'd probably end up paying more.
    
    Nice thought tho'.
    
    What says you Tony?
    
    (I'm gonna think of a nickname for you yet)
    
    			BONZO
    
    
    
    
    

    I just bought a box of GHS .009s for $36 (US).  That's $3.00 for
    each set.  The going price around here is $3.50-$5.00.  If stores
    sell them for much less, they're probably taking a loss on them.
        
    gh

    When the 5150's first came out I bought 6 sets, cuz I'm a real big
    Eddie fan - they were a disaster, never broke so many so fast in
    my life.  I talked the music store into trading me 2 sets of SIT's
    for my remaining 2 sets.  Just my luck .....
    
    
    				Scary

    
    RE:.178
       
    � fender heavy picks
    
    Yeah, I use them (the big 'uns), and I either end up roundng the
    edges off or getting big gauges taken out for doing scrapes up the
    neck.
         
    But I do like them, and have to buy my stock of them every week!
         
    -Tony                                                           

    re: strings
                       
    Never tried the 5150s, from the sound of it, I'm glad.  I never
    went much for gimicy stuff anyway, besides I didn't like the gauge
    range they came in. 
    
    re: picks 
    
    I like the Fender heavys, have never broken one.  I guess I don't play
    as agressively as some of the rest of you (I just bend tremelo arms on
    my Charvel...).  Scrapes on the pick sides don't bug my much, so I
    don't have to replace/get new ones too often. 
    
    It's kind of funny, cause I have this little jar full of picks at
    home, all different sizes, shapes, and thicknesses.  I was just
    going through them last night while watching TV to see if I liked
    any of them better than the Fender heavys I've been using.  Overall,
    I still liked the heavys best.  The extra-heavys were too thick
    and the mediums were too light.  Some that I havn't used in a long
    time are the teardrop shaped Fender heavys, I played with one of
    these a long time last night and really liked it!  I think I'll
    buy some more of them.
    
    (Kinda like deja-vu, huh Alan?  Where have I heard this before?)
   
    gh 

    
    Yo!! Greg, do you use the big white heavys ?
         
    -Tony

Hey - Greg and I were just having this conversation last week!

Unlike most of the guitarists out there, I use the Fender light picks.
Can't stand those heavy suckers. Only thing is - I break'em all the time!
Gotta buy them by the gross......

cat

    The sharks I use are a little heavier than a medium....
    
    jc

    I use fender Xtra-heavy or Dunlop Jazz III's
    
    Both are totally unbendable!

>    I use fender Xtra-heavy or Dunlop Jazz III's
    
Fender X-Heavys!!! Geez!!! Doesn't anyone else in the free world use light
picks? Or am I the sole survivor? 

I also don't understand how a thicker pick is faster - I tend to be faster
with the thins, not the heavy's (and Shawn, I don't want any obcene comments
from you!).

cat

    re: Tony
    
    You mean those big white triangular things, the ones that are about 1
    inch per side only gradually rounded?  Naw, I use the std Fender
    heavys, tortise shell colour mostly.  I also like the Jim Dunlops in
    blue tortex.  The ones I tried and liked recently are the smaller
    teardrop shaped picks.  They are about 1/2 inch wide and 3/4 inch wide. 
    
    I do have some of those beastly things I think you're talking about.
    They're just too big!  I bought them several years ago when I was
    having trouble with dropping picks a lot.  I thought that maybe the
    larger ones would be easier to hang onto. 
    
    (Forget the insults, ya dirty minded clowns...)
    
    gh
                                              

    I hear ya ! 
    
    You should see the shark fins he sent me !  I used them as throwing
    stars !  Also great (if sharpened) for cutting up commies !
    
    Just bustin' ya Buck !
    
    jc

                                        
    RE:Greg
    
    I dunno why, but I like the real big Fender picks, I don't often
    drop them.  I've got a stack of the smaller type that you're referring
    to, but I gave up using them.  I've never seen any Fender Xtra-Heavy,
    I'll have to ask my local store.  I also use Dunlop picks now and
    then.  I was given a pick by Chris De Gamo (Queensryche) and its 
    the smaller 'Fender' Shape, and quite thick.       
    
    
    What about methods of securing pix to your guitar ?? 
    
    Do most of you use tape ? I usta experiment with velcro.  Stick a
    strip on the bottom of the guit, and put a *tiny* piece of velcro
    on the back of each pick, It worked O.k for a while, but it got
    to be a pain in the a$$, so I know just slide four or five under
    the edge of my scratch plate.  I know that a lot of people use tape
    on there mike stand.
         
    BTW - Malmsteen went through loooooads of pix on Sunday.  He was
    just throwing them and kicking them everywhere.  his roadies were
    running around like blue a$$ flies to put new tape (with pix on)
    on his mike stand, about every three minutes.  mind you, he was
    mostly hammering on anyway, and wasn't that hot.
    
    -Tony                           

>    Do most of you use tape ? I usta experiment with velcro.  Stick a
>    strip on the bottom of the guit, and put a *tiny* piece of velcro
>    on the back of each pick, It worked O.k for a while, 

Hey Tony, here's an original idea......

Why don't you attach a small piece of velcro to your thumb, and then the
picks will stay in place (you'll never drop them!). I mean, just wrap 
something like a band-aid around your thumb, with a small piece of velcro
taped to it. Could be an interesting experiment, no?

cat

    Use double-sided sticky stuff along the bottom edge of your ax...
    Works for me !
    
    jc

    Boy, I wish I thought of sticking to my guitar years ago.  I used
    to stick my guitar picks to my mike stand but when I gave up singing,
    I was never near the stand unless I was using it as a slide during
    a lead.  My solution was to clean the picks real good, use one and
    stick two in my mouth.  Never swallowed one either.
    
    Chris D.
    

         
    Thing is though Alan, I change picks coz I bugger them, not coz I 
    drop them!
         
    If you do several knarly slides, you end up with gauges out of you
    pix, and if you catch a rough piece of your pick on your strings
    you could either risk snapping a string or playing a duff note.
         
    I think double sided sticky tape is my best bet.
         
    Or, I sometimes use my fingers (Much cheaper than pix :-) 
                                   
    -Tony

    I'm looking for some info.
    
    Anyone got any idea's on the best *pedal* grapgic eq. I was thinking
    about getting a BOSS Graphic and setting it up alongside my RAT
    mk 2. Any advise would be appreciated, and when I'm a Rock Star,
    I will definately remember you.8^).
    
    
    		Thanx BONZO.

    A mate of mine has a BOSS graphic, maybe you should chat to him,
    His name is Pete Evans and can be contacted on JANUS::EVANS
    
    OK
    
    See ya - Brynn.
    

    I have a Washburn pedal EQ and I swear by it !  Didn't cost but
    about $80.  I use it before the pre-amp stage of my Marshall with
    the level cranked all the way up so it really boosts the sustain
    and takes away some of the "bite".  I highly recommend it !
    
    
    				Scary

    Any ideas on creative methods of financing new toys? 
    
    gh

    Whilst we're not on any particular subject, I just read an interview
    in GUITARIST with Ron Wood.  They were talking about Mick Jagger
    learning to play the git, and Ron and Keith(Moon) had some picks
    with little 'L' plates on them!! :-)
                         
    Kinda cute I thought.

    What are 'L' plates?
    
    gh

    
    Well, in England we have this system where a learner vehicle driver
    has to display 'L' (Learner) plates, before they take a driving
    test, and therefore become a competant vehicle driver (Once a driver
    passes the relevant test they can discard the 'L' plates).
                                                              
    They are about six inches square, white, with a large red 'L' slap
    bang in the middle.                                       
                                                              
    I thought it was kinda cute to put (very small) 'L' plates on some
    picks for a 'learner' guitarist.                          
    
    -Tony

    Oh, I understand.  That is pretty funny.  
    
    We don't mark our learning drivers here in the US, aside from the cars
    that you drive while taking a driving course which typically have a big
    banner which reads "STUDENT DRIVER", but student drivers are allowed to
    drive other cars too when not in classes if a licensed driver is
    present.
    
    BTW - You got rid of your L picks yet?
    
    gh (who probably should have them...) 

    	So, how DO you finance your new toys???  I know that I get really
    frustrated when I see all these guitar players who have all this state
    of the art equipment (you know: racks with, signal processors, multifx
    units, power amps galore, eq, and everything, mega speaker cabs,
    etc.) and I can't afford sh*t.  I'm just a jealous guy I guess (hey,
    that'd make a great song title huh?).  I mean with a wife and two
    kids, two cars, and a mortgage that just went up $200 a month, I
    can't afford a damn six-pack half the time, never mind all the musical
    toys I lust for.
    
    One thing I've done in the past (and it ain't really that good of
    a thing to do unless you can control yourself) is to get a line
    of credit at a music store (through BenCharge or whatever).  Then
    you can simply do the American thing: Buy now pay later.
    
    joe.

    How can I afford new toys? I can't! What I invariably end up doing
    is selling my shares in the company, and when I get the money, spend
    it before the wife gets her hands on it. What you guyz seem to forget,
    is that on this side of the pond we pay anything up to 50% more
    for our toyz. It's a pain but what else can we do.
    
    				BONZO.

    I've just put on my first set of EB Super Slinkys. 
    
    And I must admit I am quite impressed. The only thing I dislike
    is They have changed the overall EQ from myGuit. I mean the whole
    thing has gone toppy for some reason. Anyone else come across this
    prob. I mean it can't be mmy amp as I never change the Eq on the
    pile of sh*t. But I would like to hear some intelligent replies.
    
    
    					BONZO.

I find (and I'm pretty sure that others will agree) that whenver I put
on new strings, they always wound real bright and tinny. After a few 
hours of playing them, they tend to mellow out just enough to make
them like the old strings sounded like. Then, as time wears on, the
strings gather dirt and grease from you fingers, and become less and
less "toppy", and more like a mellower, smoother sound (usually hated
by HM guitarists!).

cat

           
    Well, I've always used EB strings so I haven't noticed any 
    difference in EQ.  I'm now running the 'super slinkys' and 
    don't have any EQ problems. 
    
    I agree with Alan, the EB strings sound very tinny, and after a
    while once they hace stretched and worn in the 'brightness' in the
    tone disapears, maybe thats causeing you problems but it has never 
    mine.  Mind you, my amp is also a crock-a-sh*t !!
         
    -Tony

    My experience with EB strings is that they are fairly bright, must have
    something to do with the materials used in their construction.  Some of
    the other manufacturers claim that more nickel or stainless steel or
    whatever is brightest. 
    
    They also seem to stretch a lot and have a lot of internal
    inconsistancies, expecially on the unwound strings (this is why I hate
    them...), which could lead to a different sound for the first few
    hours, like Tony has experienced. 
    
    Personally I like the GHS Boomers.  They're pretty bright and seem to
    stay that way longer than some of the rest.  EBs were the worst I ever
    used.  I also liked D'Adderios and Dean Markleys.  I especially like
    the Dean Markleys for acoustics.  I almost always use them on mine. 
      
    I know what I like...now, if I could just *play*!
    
    gh 
                                                                       

    I think it is just a case of not being used to the EB's. I've always
    used Markley's 'till now and they seem to hold there tone forever,
    or untill I broke them with that damn Floyd (sorry Buck I had promised
    to stop slagging them). I am disappointed to read that they are
    gonna lose tone quite to quickly, but, WTH I'm getting them at 10
    sets for 30 quid.
    
    
    					BONZO.

    What's the exchange rate recently, if it's what I'm thinking, you
    guys must have MUCH higher string prices then we do!
    
    gh

    
    Last time I looked it was around $1.87. And yeah, it costs us around
    50% more for strings in real money. It's a bitch but what can we
    do. But there again it's not just strings. Any thing to do with
    guitars costs us more on this side of the pond. IE. It cost me 74
    notes for a RAT distortion (which I like), thats about $140.
    
    					BONZO.

    I suppose that's not too bad for the strings, all in all.  Figuring
    $1.87 US * 30 pounds/10 sets of strings, I get $3.19 (approx). per set,
    which isn't too bad.  I just bought a box (12) of GHS Boomers a few
    weeks ago for $36 US, which amounts to $3.00/set.  EBalls are a little
    cheaper, I believe. 
    
    gh

>    $1.87 US * 30 pounds/10 sets of strings, I get $3.19 (approx). per set,

Ummmm, Greg? You wanna check your math again please? 

30 pounds/10 sets of strings = 3 pounds/set 
3 pounds x $1.87/pound = $5.61/set

Now *that* is expensive!

cat

    Oops, right you are.  I musta pumped the wrong numbers into my
    calculator or there wasn't enough light for it (solar powered) or
    something.  
    
    You UK guys have it pretty rough, that kinda price is outrageous
    here!  Sorry to hear it...and for Ernie Balls too, major bummer.
    How much are good strings?
    
    gh

    
    .236 �  How much are good strings
           
    I'm still waiting for a loan to buy a set!!!!! ;-)
    
    Earnie Ball strings, if not bought in bulk, are about �5.00 !!

    Tony,
    You should go to the bank and get some U.S. funds (e.g. a check).
    Then mail the check to one of us over here.  We could buy you a
    case of strings (12 sets I think) and mail 'em to ya.
    
    joe.

    When your battery for the active electronics junk starts to wear
    thin, your notice a slight "pop" when you roll the volume all the
    way off.  Sounds like a dirty pot., but it's that your battery isn't
    pushing sufficient voltage thru the OPAMP to reach unity gain.
    
    Anyhow, when the battery starts to wear, it'll leave you standing
    on stage (per Mr. Murphy's law) with just enought output to sound
    like your playing thru a � watt sears roebuck amp...
    
    Serious bummer !
    
    jc

    Didn't GK build Sears Roebuck amps?
    
    gh (*not* GK)

    Hmmmm....
    
    I *STILL* think that GK sounds better pound per pound than any amp
    goin'... Including my new rig (with TWO marshalls...)
    
    Sheesh !  Is this Bash JC day or something ?  Should I start the
    topic up again ?
    
    ;^)

    Yabut the GK has speakers and a power amp...
    
    I've heard good things about this MP 1, but it's not an amp so:
    
    ;^*
    

    Yabut, pound for pound...$ for $...
    
    Come on, your an ex-owner... (probably still have one stashed some
    where too !)...You know what I mean...
    
    jc

    Yo! Buck (as tweeky would say)8^)
    
    How about givin' us GB's some info on this "MP-1".
    
    $$$, and what it do boy.
    
    
    					BONZO.

    Jomama should have the info on it, he jsut did a presentation on
    it!
    
    Basically, you can get the preamp (its a preamp, btw) for around
    $565 in the USA, and the MIDI foot controller goes for around $150.
    You can get it a sa package deal for like $720 or so.
    
    Basically, its three preamps in one.  A solid state preamp, a tube
    preamp w/tubes in parallel, and a series tube preamp.  Here are
    some examples of duplications you can do with it:
    
    SS preamp:
    Roland Jazz Chorus
    Rockman - clean settings
    GK - clean settings
    
    Series Tube:
    Old marshall's
    `new' marshall's
    HOt-rodded marshall's
    Mesa-boogie
    Peavey
    Seymour Duncan
    
    Parallel Tube:
    Fenders
    Ampeg
    `Clean' boogie channel
    `Clean' marshall channel

    From what I know, it has a bunch of pre-set midi-interfacable
    pre-amp/EQ algorhythms.  I've seen 'em for about $550.  From hat
    I've been told/what I've read, the sound is not to be beaten.
    
    Buck, mine only broke once in five years, and it was my fault. 
    You must beat the hell outta your stuff ;^)
    
    jc

    I guess we bumped noses... Yeah, what he said !
    jc

    Hey Buck,
    
    Do you realise that to buy the same set up here with footswitch
    and all it would cost appro �880. inc of Value Added Tax. That works
    out at over $1500.
    
    		Man we are getting ripped off at every turn.
    
    
    

    Just a thought,
    
    	How much are you guyz paying for a Marshall Head.
    
    				BONZO

    I guess the 50wt, non-switchable head will go for around $650 from
    a mail-order place...  About $750 for the reverb/switchable head.
    Tack an extra $1-200 for the 100wt versions...
    
    jc

    re: Bonzo
    
    ...so do they pay ya better to compensate?
    
    gh

    Oh, yeah.                          
    
    Has anyone else seen the new Ibanez Paul Gilbert and Frank Gamballe
    (sp) model guitars?  I believe they call one of them the "Contour"
    (?).  
    
    I saw both of these at a shop I used to go to when I was out in Las
    Vegas, but it was the day I was leaving and didn't have enough time to
    look closely (just to ask what they were) or play them. They looked
    really nice.  They were both rather, umm, 'festively' finished (spell:
    too bright to look directly at...). 
    
    gh

    Sign me up too...
    
    ;^)

    I don't remember them very clearly, but I believe the Gilbert one was
    very similar to a RG440.  The body is more rounded around the sides. 
    
    I don't remember the pickup configuration or trem setup, but I remember
    reading a magazine interview with P.G. not long ago where he said he
    like Kahlers, so I presume that's what it has. I've notice some of the
    newer Ibanez offerings with them.  It's a fine looking ax.
    
    The Gambale model (that's not it's 'official' Ibanez name) is very
    thin, but the edge is not completely round.  Also a fine looking
    instrument.                        
                                       
    I'd like to look at them closer... 8^)
                                       
    gh

    RE .256
    
    
    Pay us more ?  
    
    Fat chance  !
    
    "vat" as it's called is simply another way of indirect taxation.
    
    It sucks.
    
    					BONZO.

    Hey Buck,
    
    What kind of 4x10 cabs are you using?
    
    gh (who likes 4x10s too)

    Is that with an open or sealed back?  I noticed a nice GK (yeah, I
    *know*, they're just speakers, right?) sealed 2x10 cabinet for guitar
    (or was that a 2x12?) that looked really nice.  A lot easier to
    carry/store/transport than the 4x12 backbreakers. A pair of 2x10 (or
    even smaller 2x12) cabs with amp and everything will fit easily in my
    car, where I couldn't DREAM of putting a 4x12 in there! 
    
    You got Celestions in the Marshall 4x10 cabinet?  What are it's
    physical dimensions? 

    Does anyone like any other brands?  Marshalls cost too much (paying
    for that little script logo on the front!).  How about Carvin cabs?
    They use quality speakers and the prices are pretty good.  Anyone
    know how they sound?
    
    gh                  

    Greg,
    
    The GK cabs are HOT !  They have 2 12" pyles in them and they will
    blow ya thru the wall.  They are extremely efficient, and the DB
    difference is phenominal.
    
    It'd sound great with your new GK 250ML...
    
    ;^)

    Yeah, all Marshall amps use Celestions, which are nice speakers
    for rock (basically the std!).  All the marshall cabs are closed
    backs (except for their combos, but we're talking ext cabs here),
    which helps provide that tight bass repsonse (chunk) Marshall is
    known and loved for.  
    
    The 4x10 cabs I have are 2'x 2' x 11"  nice and small and LOUD.
    Their 4x12s are 3' x 3', they get smaller respectively.
    
    GK makes 4x12's, 2x12's, 4x8's, and 2x8's.  They use Celestion spks
    in their bigger cabs (2 & 4x12's), but they use Pile Drivers in
    their 2x8, 4x8, and ML amps.  Pile drivers are an imitation speaker
    of a celestion (I don't think they sound as good...different in
    any right).
    
    Carvin used to offer Celestion spks in their cabs, but they just
    dropped the line and will only be issuing their cabs with THEIR
    own speakers in them (bleck!).
    
    Mesa offers a chioce of celestion, ev, or their own black widow,
    but are $$$'s and I'd rather buy the Marshalls.
    
    ADA just came out with a 2x12 cab that is 3' x 1 1/2' and equipped
    with celestions.  check it out, don't know the price though.
    
    Buck

    The little GK cab I saw (must have the 2x12 version) had Celestions
    in it, so proclaimed the little label on the front.  I didn't hear
    it, but I'm pretty sure the store still has it and has a nice 2100
    SEL head which would be good to demo it thru.
    
    The Marshall 4x10 sounds very nice!
    
    gh

>    Mesa offers a chioce of celestion, ev, or their own black widow,
>    but are $$$'s and I'd rather buy the Marshalls.
    
I think the Mesa Black Widows are Celestions that are made to Mesa's
specs, and found only in Mesa amps......

cat

    1000sel good to demo thru ?
    
    Sheeesh !  For $1000, I hope they are better than just demo quality!
    
    Has anyone tried the new GK stuff ?
    
    jc

    
    	What about good old fashoned SILVER TONE amps.... ya know..
    SEARS best.... with the 12' 15w 8ohm speaker... Gotta love em!!!!
    
    
    BK
    

    Alright, alright !!!
    
    Gimme a break !  I'm stressed out to the max today !
    
    jc

    re: Coop 
    
    Yeah, 2000SEL costs $1000+, but is *is* JUST a GK...       ;^)
    
    re: Buck
    
    I had the first number first, that's better than usual (it was a
    typo...gimme a break I was just about ready for vacation)  :-)
    
    re: BK (I think)
    
    Didn't you know?  Silvertone changed their name recently to GK.
    
    gh  
        

    
    re Greg... Agagagagagaaaaaaa!!!
    
    	Actually his GK can kick out some serious db's..  I heard it
    at Butchka's bash/jam....
    
    BK
    

    Geez!  Three MONTHS???!!?
    
    I'd KILL!
    
    gh

    Buck, where are you!
    
    Is it true ya got a PINK Guit. 
    
    Thank God!  I thought I was the only Guitarist with enough taste
    in this conf. to play a PINK Guit.
    
    	See ya,
    
    					BONZO.

    re: last
    
    Isn't it chartruese?
    
    Kat

If it ain't sunburst or natural, it ain't worth ownin'.....

8^)

cat
ever_the_traditionalist_

    
    	I like black...this Pink and Yellow and ALL flourescent colors
    are too trendy.... besides I have nothing to go wth a nuclear green
    bass.
    
    BK
    

    Ain't you guyz got any taste.
    
    I mean a Shocking Pink Guitar is the coolest thing ever. It kinda
    makes the owner of the place wonder tho'.
    
    Still as long as I know the truth.
    
    					BONZO.

    
    I hate pink guitars.

    Hey Buck,
    
    That pink one you sold to CJ, isn't that the one that you told me
    you wouldn't sell to your worst enemy??
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    ;^)
    
    Chris D.

    wjb, you sold the neck-through to CJ?  If so, you is lucky girl!
    
    It's not a Floyd Rose problem...I think it's simply a case of poor
    intonation.  Personally, after using the Dr. Buckley method of tuning
    with the Floyd, I've never really had another problem ;^)
    
    Hasta Spumante,
    joe.

    Actually, I like red too.  Good guitar color.  I like to look at
    pink, but I seriously doubt that I would play one myself.  Now,
    nuclear green?  That's a hot color, wish I had one!
    
    I saw a bright yellow (which I normally don't like much) Chandler
    which looked very good, recently.
    
    Floyd is cool, but there's gotta be a way of stretching strings without
    all that vertical motion.  When you pull up on a Floyd, the strings go
    dooooown either whacking the frets or making some crazy harmonics
    (which sometimes sound good).  I know Kahlers don't do have the up and
    down string motion, but I don't like the rollers they used at the
    bridge end. Try a nice long bend in the high register and hear it cut
    up as the string hits the side of the roller...uck.  Does anyone
    know of a tremolo without these weird anomalies?
    
    gh

    FTR ('Fire Truck Red', or 'f*ck the russians' as the case may be) is the 
    gnads !  It'll always be my fave, but check out the JEM 777 series
    colors... The hot pink, green and yeller (oppsss, yellow) are way-cool
    too.
    
    Steinberger has a new trem system out...
    
    It's nifty cuz it locks into play, so if you blow a string you can
    'lock and rock'.  I played a with one a little, but was more concerned
    with the new toy I was checking out...

    jc (the king of toize and noize)
    

    Oh yeah...
    
    cj's guit is the gnads... Buck, you shoulda kept it ! 
    
    I told cj if she sold that axe, that I got first dibs...All it needs
    if paint.  That lipstick pink is gross !
    
    ;^)

    
    Call me a boring f*ck, but on the JEM, I like the black model with
    the vines on the fret board.

    As I said before, I ain't got no problems with Floyds. It's them.
    
     T H E Y   H A T E    M E !  !  !  !  
    
    Anyway, when I think about it. It was a Floyd II that was on me
    old Kramer.
    
    
    					BONZO.
    

    I don't think your boring TOny... The Vine is the gnads... Don't
    they call that RootBeer or something dumb like that ??

    jc
    

    Any one know of RAT make a graphic. (pedal variety)
    
    I've got the Distortion but I wanna refine it. This may appear to
    be a reiteration , (sp?) but I need to know.
    
    
    	Thanks Dudes,
    
    					BONZO.

    Don't know if ProCo (the co. that mfgs. the RAT) makes an Eq or
    not, but there's zillions of 'em on the market from a variety of
    manufacturers.  I know that all the major pedal makers offer Eq's
    and there are numerous rack mount Eq's available.
    
    joe.

    I don't think that Pro Co. does, but I have the latest catalog at
    home.  I'll check it out.
    
    jc

    
    Like a dream................sigh

    I just can't imagine playing a guitar painted like someones curtains...
    I really like the vine inlays on the fretboard though.
    
    gh

    RE: .300
    
    Agreeed.  I'd be happier with yeller or pink.

    TEHO though... (To Each His Own)
    jc

    This ain't fair! I haven't seen one yet. But I agree it would probably
    look magnificent in PINK.
    
    Coz every thing looks MAGNIFICENT in PINK.
    
    					BONZO.

    I've got some new toyz �
    
    
    There was a sale at my local guitar store on Sat and I managed to
    get a BOSS DD-3 Digital delay and a BOSS GE-7 Graphic for less than
    �100. That works out at about $170.
    
    I got my first chance to play a Krammer Night Swan on Sat also.
    Loverly feel to it but I could not stand the pale blue and white
    polka dots on it. Any one had a chance to play the Stage Master
    "Nude". I couldn't make up my mind if I wanted to play it or drool
    on it.
    
    Still no work and all play makes BONZO. very Hungover.
    
    Again !
    
    	Have fun but keep the noise down.
    
    
    					BONZO.

    Is the Night Swan the Vivian Campbell model ?

    Not to sure.
    
    It has a reversed head stock.
    
    Does that help ?�?�?�?
    
    
    					BONZO.

    
    
    Just about everything nowdays has a headstcok that looks
    like it can kill ! (including my SF8002 8-)
    
    -Tony

    NO.........
    
    What I meant was it's like a standard Krammer head stock, except
    it's been reversed and it looks slightly bigger than normal.
    
    
    					BONZO.

    
    Yeah, I've seen them - I *think* that it is the one.
   
    I dare say Buck will correct me.

    
    What $$$ do the Night Swans go for over there ?? I saw one here
    for 849 pounds (over $1200).
    
    -Tony

    Yo Tony-
    
    I can get one for as little as �759.
    
    Have Fun.
    
    
    					BONZO.

    great, I'll have two!

    Tony-
    
    If ya reaalllyyy want one. The shop is called R&B Music. the tel#
    
    0224 (if your dialling from outside Aberdeen) 646298. Ask for Andy
    Watson.
    
    
    					BONZO _who_hopes_to_get_some_of_
    the_commission_on_this_one_ ;')
    
    

    
    No, I don't want one 8-)

    My opinion:
    
    Jackson = Overrated & Overpriced
    
    Buy a Charvel...same electronics, same design, same trem.
    Substantially lower price.
    
    gh

    *Substantially* lower !!!
    
    I've played a soloist.  I thing my Charvel, after I set it up 
    plays better.  I think my BC  Rich plays better...
    
    ;^)

    I tried out an ART Multiverb today and this thing is the BALLZ!!!
    
    It has Delay, Reverb, Chorus, Flange, Phase shifting, pitch shifting,
    harmonizing,...and Eq (don't know if it's graphic, parametric, or
    both).  Comes with 100 factory presets with memory for 100 more.
    It's 20 bit technology to boot.  There's tape delays, digital delays,
    all kinds of reverb (from plate? to cathedral), reverse, gated...
    
    This thing absolutely blew me away, but wait...It's stereo!!  But
    wait, you can use four effects simultaneously!!  I'm considering
    NOT getting a Les Paul in order to buy this thing.  I was quoted
    a price (without any haggling) of $499.00.  Has anybody seen a better
    price than this??  Has anybody out there had any experience with
    this units??
    
    joe.

    
    	Three questions...
    
    	We've all heard the age old saying about boiling your strings.
    
    1: Does it really work and if so what does it do?
    
    2: Can you do it to Bass strings?
    
    3: If yes to bass strings then how long?
    
    BK
    

    
    oops... please excuse the EX as a subj in .324
    
    I guess I'm suffering from wendymatthewitis... (^8
    
    BK
    

    I'd say don't bother boiling your strings...you might get some
    additional life out of them, but I'd just spring for new ones.
    

    RE: Bk...
    
    So I was wrong ;^)  This topic was debated in Guitar Notes (don't
    know the topic number).
    
    RE: Buck...
    
    That number (Factory Music) is 617-871-0005.  They have the Multiverb
    on sale this week for $429!!!  Sounds like a deal to me.  Guess
    I'll be headin' up to Rockland this week!  Where is Rockland anyway?
    Anybody got directions to Factory Music?
    
    joe.
    

    ART is the ballz...
    
    I played with one of these toize before...
    
    I think Joe is getting a disease...See, he spends 4 billz on a new
    toy, but WAIT !  It's stereo, so 6 bills on another head, but wait,
    it's midi, so ya spend 3 bills on a midi-controller, but wait, now ya
    need another cab, so ya can experience the true wonder of stereo.
    But wait !  It's a little noizy now, so ya need to spring 4 more
    bills on a hush unit (or a DBX or something)...But wait...
    
    jc (who has had this disease for a long time, and still needs a
    midi-controller, hush, and a whole fleet of 4x12's !)

    Speaking of all this has got me excited !  
    
    Buck, tell me about your foot controller...Will it work with the
    DSP-128 ?  How many locations can it access ?  What model hush do
    you have ?
    
    jc

    RE: jc
    
    Yeah, I've had this sickness for a long time.  You're right about
    cabinet expansion -- I've just *GOT* to hear true stereo (with lots
    of seperation, I might add), but I'd settle for a couple of Marshall
    2X12's!!  Of course then I'll have to buy a stereo power amp, and
    then I'll definitely need an ADA MP-1 preamp.  So my little $400
    investment winds up costing me like $1500...how can I break this
    to Peggy??
    
    RE: Foot controllers...
    
    The Multiverb will work with any MIDI footpedal.  Perhaps the DSP-128
    is the same way?  Call 'em (801)-268-8400; that's Utah.
    
    joe.

    Does anyone know of a place (in Central Mass preferably) where I
    can get some [not normal] grillecloth for my amp?  I'm thinking
    along the lines of tiger stripe, leopard skin, patterns to replace
    my existing grille covering.
    
    joe.

    I'm sure that this midi stuff is all compatable.  Who is that number
    for ?  DigiTECH ?  How much do these controllers cost ?
    
    jc

    jc, that number is DigiTech.  Controllers range from $100 to $300+.
    
    joe.

    re: Joe/Grillcloth
    
    I've been wondering about this too.  Can you use any old loose weaved
    fabric or is there something special you need.
    
    I saw a Fender Bassman with a 6x10 cab done in camo (used) at a
    music store recently.  Looked pretty cool!
    
    gh

    RE: type of fabric...
    
    	I think it has to be a fabric that is very loosely weaved. 
    It would also have to be fairly rugged.  I went to a couple of fabric
    stores, but all I could find was cotton and polyester stuff with
    a close weave to it.  I know they make the stuff, I just don't know
    where to find it.  Camo sounds great!
    
    joe.

     Once again I am looking for info.....
    
    The Guitarist in the band I work with now has his ADA MP-1. And
    should be taking delivery of the ADA Graphic quite soon. The question
    is.... is the outs from the back of the ADA impedance matched. I.E.
    is it a low impedance o/p that I can use to DI him to the desk.
    
    Bonzo.

    
    
    Do any of the guitarists out there have the intro riff for Maidens
    "Phantom of the Opera" down ??
                        
    Its driving me nutz.

    Quite honestly (blush) I've never heard it.  Which album?
    
    gh

    Iron Maiden was the Album.
    
    And I've never tried it.
    
    Bonzo.

    
    Its the simpleist f!"#$%& riff in the world - but its still driving
    me nutz !!!
    
    I've got the rest of the intro down (the eight decending triplets and 
    the pulloffa at the 12/15th fret etc..) but NOT THE SOPPY RIFF !!!
                                                             
    AAAAAAAArrrrrrrrrgggggggghhhhhhhhh!!

    
    BTW - its the one thats is repeated about four times at the beginning
    - its literally the first few (guitar) bars to be played.
    
    I am going insane.

    
    
    The riff goes something like this
    
    -------------------------------------------------------------------
    ---------0--0--1--0----3--0----1--0--------------------------------
    --0--2--------------0-------0--------0-----0--2--------------------
    ----------------------------------------4--------------------------
    -------------------------------------------------2-----------------
    -------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                   
    
    	M
    	 B
    
     

    
    	Re Tony...
    
    	Ask Buck..he might know or know of someone who would know it.
    
    BK
    

    Well (expletive)!  Mike beat me to it...after I went out and BOUGHT the
    (&^*&^&* album and learned the thing and everything!  )-|
                                                             
    gh

    
    
    Yeah but it's a good album so you didn't lose anything.
    
    	M
    	 B

    
    
    I have seen a ticket for a guitar clinic in N.H. for
    	Michael Angelo the ambidextrous speed demon.
    
    Anyone know where and when.
    
    
    	B
    	 M

    
    Well thanks to you guys who worked it out for me.
         
    I actually got home from College early on Friday and figured it
    out for myself, before I read all this.
                  
    Thanks guyz,
    -Tony

    Sure.....
    
    We believe ya...
    
    ;^)

    
    I'll enter my (different to everyone elses) version if you like!

    So, what can I do to make my Mrashalls really scream ?  They seem
    to be lacking in the upper freqs...Like, good thing I have that
    GK to make those marshalls sound good !
    
    jc

    Oh yeah, and what can I get for a midi pedal to:
    
    a) Turn the DSP128 on/off
    b) Pull up certain banks/patches
    c) Mess with sweep rates etc...
    
    I know that Roland makes the FC100 for the GP-8, but it's $300(!)
    
    The DSP 128 has midi-in,midi-out, and midi thru

    Well, I thought Marshall was expensive...Laneys' just as bad !
    
    jc

    Wanna make those Marshalls scream?
    
    Take out that cheezy GK in front of 'em!   ;^) x8034FE20
    
    Seriously...
    
    Pete (et al), you really like those Laneys?  What are they comparable
    in sound to?  I've been seeing a few used heads for pretty good prices
    around here.  I've never heard one (turned up, I've played through one
    clean, sounded good that way). 
    
    gh
                                   

>    Wanna make those Marshalls scream?
>    Take out that cheezy GK in front of 'em!   ;^) x8034FE20
    
agagagagaga - I actually laughed out loud when I read that one! 8^)

>         -< People may wander, but they usually come back to Marshall >-

Then why did you sell yours? (Not that I'm complaining - I LOVE that amp!!!)

BTW - I've heard the Laney amps, and although they sounded OK, I thought 
that they were *way* overpriced. I mean, I recently saw a Laney 4x12 cab 
selling for $549, and it was *used*! That's outta control!

cat

    I played thru a Laney once... Like Buck said, it sounded like a
    hyper-marshall...And I thought it was too over priced.
    
    I need something to supply some high-end freq-response...
    
    And if I remember correctly Greg, you said you couldn't wait until
    the new 2100 GK came down in price...
    
    ;^)

    > But what do I know, I play drums...
    
    Point well taken !
    
    ;^)
    
    Your right about Marshalls knobs/pots they are cheap...And that
    "Legendary Marshall EQ" 
    ?
    
    Gimme a break !  The Marshall EQ is trash.  So what if it's got
    a presence knob...  I need a stereo EQ to make it work right !
    
    jc
    

    
    	Forget Marshall...forget Laney...forget Mesa's.... go buy your
    self a GORILLIA!!!!  YEA!!!  Good amp.... almost..and I STRESS ALMOST
    as good as the old SEARS Silver tone amps...!!1
    
    BK
    

    re: .378
    
    > And if I remember correctly Greg, you said you couldn't wait until the
    > new 2100 GK came down in price... 
      
    Funny, your memory must be better than mine.  I was just waiting
    for someone to give me one, just to practice through, of course...  
    
    You wanna talk about OVERPRICED!  That GK 2100SEL head costs a lot more
    than a Laney!  I can't see paying $1000+ for a HEAD, let alone the $500
    that a GK 2x12 CABINET costs.  Celestion speakers don't cost that
    much.
    
    Plus, it doesn't weigh enough...I'm telling ya, to SOUND heavy it
    has to *be* HEAVY!  ;^) 
    
    gh

    Forget 'em all .... check out my NEW personal name and you'll see
    what I found to be the ultimate Marshall fix !!!   As soon as Uncle
    Sam sends my tax refund back I'll be in business !!!!!
    
    
    
    				GP-Scary

    No Jer, YOUR Marshall fix is to get one with TUBES!
    
    gh

    Nope, Jeff's got 2 of 'em and even though they are light years ahead
    of my MOSFET, they still need some help.  He'd be in trouble without
    his DSP-128 thingamabob ...
    
    
    				GP-Scary

Anyone give me a hand? I've decided I wanna try and learn Led Zep's
"Hey, Hey What Can I Do", but there doesn't seem to be any sheet music 
available for it (not suprising, since the song was never released in
the US). 

Annybody out there know the song on the guitar, and can give me some
guidance?

thanx,
cat

    
    	I've got two probs here...
    
    	1. The opening riff on Winger's "Seventeen"...?????
    	   I'ts kinda Van Halenish, but I can't find it!
    
        2. I have a Charvel. Something I noticed on all Charvel/Jacksons
    is that the locking nut does not replace the 'real' nut...it's behind
    it, on the head. It seems, everytime I use the ol' whammy, the G
    goes out of tune! I've seen this on other such guitars, including
    a rather expensive Jackson. Any ideas of a solution (other than
    routing...that's the only one I see...)
    
    
    						Les
    

    Can't help ya on the Winger riff, but put some powdered graphite
    on your nut (no, the one on your axe, ding-dong!) and that should
    let the string slid over the nut better (ergo, no drag = in tune).
    
    Also, how many springs you got on it ?  I run with three, and don't
    have any trouble.
    
    jc
    
    (I trust we're talkin' about the Jackson trem ?)
     

    Oh yeah....
    
    Yo Greg, I would take a GK 2100sel over BOTH my marshalls any day
    of the week, and I haven't even heard it yet !  I'm about ready
    to can the Marshalls...Or at least re-tube and find some distortion...
    
    jc
    

    
    	RE .388...
    
    	It's a Kahler trem system. Thanks for the tip...i've heard about
    graphite, but never tried it. 
    	The one on your guitar...arararara
    		 		 agagagaga
    				   \8^)
    
    						Les
    

    RE: -.1
    
    Sorry...
    
    Oh, well Kahler is right up my alley...
    
    Electrical Contact cleaner then WD40 on the rollers...

    (Don't get that stuff on your paint !)
    
    Do ya like the GHS Boomer RPS (Reinforced Plain String) strings?
    
    I love 'em, and Ernie makes RPS strings too...
    
    jc

    
    	I use Diaddario's, at .009.  I've always liked 'em because they
    stay in tune (unless, of course, I hit the bar...whammy bar...).
    
    	Also, two springs for the whammy. I have it adjusted to float
    a bit. I thought that could be the tuning prob, but no other strings
    go out. So far, i've been living with...
    
    	1. Hit the bar.
    	2. Hit the volume pot, then bend the $#%@ out of the G to get
    	   back in tune.
    
    						Les
    

    re: Les
    
    If you don't have a graphite nut, you may want to have the nut replaced
    with one.  If so, check the string slots to be sure they aren't 1) too
    deep, 2) too narrow (string binds), or 3) aren't smooth. Also if it's
    that one string, check to be sure the lock nut is really locking it,
    some locknuts have problems with the G strings if you don't really wank
    them down because of the size difference between the G and the D which
    ususally share a lock.  You may have to replace the lock nut mechanism,
    esp if it's worn excessively (check inside locknut).  Some types lock
    better than others. Also be sure the strings are CLEAN where they lock.
    The manufacturing process leaves a little oily residue which could
    allow slippage.  You may want to clean them with rubbing alcohol before
    stringing up with new strings.  Also as Jeff said, lube up the nut (not
    the lock!!!). I got a little bottle of some stuff called "Magic Guitar
    Lube" a few years back (it lasts FOREVER), which is an oil based lube
    with teflon stuff in it.  It really helps on stubborn tuners, nuts,
    trems, etc.  Look for a hi-tech lube, maybe not just WD40. 
    
    I've never had major tuning problems with either my Jackson trem or
    Kahlers, both of which have peghead locks behind the nut (and I often
    perform severe tremelo abuse).  One trick with the Kahler was, if it
    went out on a dive bomb, often a short pull UP on the bar would put it
    back. 
    
    re: Alan
    
    Bring a tape with you and we'll work it out!
    
    re: Coop
    
    Don't give me any flack, jack!  It's still just a GK!  ;^)  Marshall
    Rules! (...just don't ask why I don't have one...) 
    
    Didja get your intonation set on the C/J? 
                                             
    gh
                                                      

    Oh yeah, Les, on the Winger riff.  I'll look at it sometime soon, as
    I've been wanting to learn it too!  (Not making any promises) 
    
    gh
                                                                 

    RE Greg: 
    
    Marshalls DO NOT RULE !
    
    RE Les:
    
    Replace the lock mechanism with one of those nifty CAM-LOC type
    deals...Then you don't even need a wrench.  Costs about $20.
    I betcha thats where your problem is.
    
    I had a strat with a kahler, and thats what I hadta do...Worked
    great...To bad I had it on a Fender...
    
    ;^)

    jc

    > RE Greg: 
    
    > Marshalls DO NOT RULE !
      
    You ready to give them up?  Seriously, that's the tone most rock/metal
    players want. 
    
    gh

    Not anymore...
    
    Racks rule...
    
    They might say Marshall on the outside, but I bet they aren't on
    the inside !  It's just a name...
    jc
    

    re: Buck
    
    That does sound like progress, complement it with a Hartke guitar
    cab!
    
    re: Andrew 
    
    You realize that the EV speakers will change the tone of the cabinet.
    I guess that's what your going for, they may clean it up more than
    you want.  I have a Hiwatt 100 combo with a single EV 12 in it.
    It's VERY clean
    
    What don't you like about the EMG pickup?  Most of the people I
    know that have them (myself included) have been really pleased.
    
    Gh

    re: .381
    
    I know I'm a week behind but WTF.
    
    Gorilla Amps ! I tried one.... I didn't like it.
    
    If your gonna buy cheap try the Ross Fame series.
    
    Bonzo.

    
    I'm considering buying a Yamaha digital delay pedal.
                                                        
    
    Any views on these beasts ??

    YUP.
    
    Don't do it. It may have a long range but for sheer quality ya gotta
    buy Boss. I recently got the DD-3 and it blows the balls off of
    the Yamaha. It should cost around �120.
    
    Bonzo.

    

    .407 �  It should cost around �120.
                
    Thats exactly why I'm considering the Yam.  Its only �95 (+/- $170)    

    Also, check out the new half-rack-mount Multiplex from Yamaha.
    
    It's half the normal 19", and got rave reviews in GP(FTPM) or some
    rag like that.  From what I understand, it's got DDL, Flange, Chorus,
    Reverb etc...Also midi.  
    
    JC 

    Oh yeah, they got for around $200-250...
    
    jc

    Anyone know if the Marshall Micro-Stack (3005) is a tube or solid
    state amp?
    
    Also, just a quick observance...Dimarzio now markets a stomp box
    distortion unit called "Very Metal".  The control knobs go to 11.
    
    gh

    
    gh,
    
    The Micro stack is Solid state.  One way to find out for yourself real
    quick if a Marshall is a tube or a solid state is look at the fron
    panel...if it only has the RED rocker switch (on/off), its solid
    state..its it has a RED one (on/off) and a BLACK one (standby), its a
    tube model.  The standby switch controls the voltage to the tube grids
    so you can kill the sound without shutting your amp off. Obviously not
    need for a solid state jobber.
    
    Might I add I recently recorded with a micro stack and gota killer
    sound!!!
    
    Buck 

    re: look for a standby switch
    
    Ah, right!  I should have thought of that.  But it probably wouldn't
    have helped anyway, then I would have had to go hunt one of the
    little beasts up to look at it.
    
    gh

    Buck is right.  It's S-S.  Jerry (MR Scary) has one.  Lot's of GOOD
    CLEAN POWER...  Midrange will cutcha in half.  They seem to lack
    on the OD though... Otherwise he wouldn't be looking for a GP8!
    
    ;^)

    I thot that Scary had a "mini" stack, not a "micro" stack.  The
    one (3005) that I was talking about is one of those tiny things
    that has 12 watts and two dinky little 1x10 cabs.
    
    My (perhaps incorrect) impression was that Jerrys was one of the
    3210 types (100 watts MOSFET).  Was I off?
    
    gh

    Well, I just went and made my decision on my FXpedal...
    
    I opted for the Yamaha DDS-20M Digital Delay Sampler.  I tried this
    again today and also the Boss digital delay and for my purposes
    this one got the thumbs up.                  
    
    Cost me �95.00  8-(
         
    -Tony

    Anyone ever played a "LAG" guitar ?
    
    I played one in my local music store last month and if it wern't
    for the price tag (a paltry �118 or $1900 �), it would have been
    home with me there and then. (There was also the small concideration
    of my SO standing behind me with her - don't even think about it
    - look).
    
    I can't remember the model but it was gold everything with a Khaler.
    I played the "LAG Laser Line" the same day, and was more impressed
    with it than I was with the Night Swan.
    
    Like to here any i/p.
    
    Bonzo.

    RE: .415
    
    Sorry.  I'm kinda new to this Marshall stuff.  Jerry does have the
    Mini-stack, not the �stack.  
    
    Set mood/mode=blush

            
    Sorry never heard of LAG guits.
            
    I have a real cool distortion which looks old (its about 5 inches
    square and metal) and has its brand name stamped on it in large
    (1.5 inches) friendly letters...
            
                             
    	    	B I G  M U F F
            
    Honest! 
         
    Anyway, other than the fact that it was made in USA by a company
    that went bankrupt in NYC - does anybody know about these beasts?
         
    It has a killer sound - superior to the new fangled ones.
                                                             
    -Tony

    I can dig it TTT !  I had a MUFF FUZZ !
    
    Electro-Harmonix right ?
    
    Agagagagagaga...
    
    jc

    
    
    Thats the sucker!!!!

    Yeah, they made Muff Fuzz, Little Fuzz, Tone-Clone, Big Fuzz,
    All finds of fuzz...
    
    jc

I was just looking through some old notes, and ran across this one. Coop,
you were so right - what the hell happened?  

8^)

cat

********************************************************************************

         <<< IRDEV::SYS$SYSDEVICE:[NOTES$LIBRARY]HEAVY_METAL.NOTE;2 >>>
            -< Heavy_Metal - Discussion, deliberation, and cereal. >-
================================================================================
Note 138.239                 The offical 2EZ note !                   239 of 302
ASAHI::COOPER "Marshall Rooolzzzz !"                 18 lines  22-NOV-1988 23:36
                  -< Coop is pumped up about his new toize. >-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Just have to go on record as saying:
    
    Marshall Rooolzzzzzz !
    
    

    Well see...
    
    I do won two...It's not like I'm talkin' out my posterior when I
    say GK still sounds better !

    ;^)

        
    >I do won two...It's not like I'm talkin' out my posterior when I
    >say GK still sounds better !

    Well, I'll be the first one to state up front that sound is a
    subjectivethings...from tones, to music, to bands, to whatever...
    people are going to like stuff in different ways.
    
    But, *I* think GK doesn't hold a freakin semi-flicking flame to
    Marshall as far as getting a beefy, warm, grunting, powerful chunk
    out of a rock n roll amp.  Old Fenders come in second!!
    
    GK...ha, they are the poor mans studio sound, sort of
    
    

    Well, your right it is a subjective thing.
    
    It just seems to me that my Marshalls have plenty of grunt, just
    no color.  I run both my Marshalls stereo out of my rack, and run
    the GK as a monitor from the dry output of the Multi-FX.  The GK
    supplies all the presence while the marshall supplies the "grunt",
    and warmth.
    
    All in all, I feel it is a very happy marriage, but wouldn't want
    to have either all alone....
    
    If you like the classic sound, buy a marshall.  If you like the
    processed sound, buy a GK.  If you like a mixture of both, buy both!
    
    ;^)

                
                My vote  for  GK  again!  I haven't seen anything
                that  comes  closer  to  the  Tom  Scholz  sound,
                including the Rockman!!
                
                - Rob -
                
                

    
    
    	GK vs. Marshall
    
    	Hmmmmmm, to be honest, now don't get me wrong Jeff, but I think
    	I'll have to go with Marshall. 
    
    	Reason being is that the Marshall seem to get me motivated when
    	I hear that gut-wrenching sound it produces. YEEEAAHHHHHH!
    
    	And GK is more suttle when it comes to gut-wrenching, it don't
    	sound bad but the raw feeling just ain't there. 
    
    	Either way I like 'em both turned up all the way, with me sittin'
    	in front of them playin my drums, right Coopster?
    
    	HOLLYWOOD...................oh noooooo! drums mentioned in
    				    a guitar topic! Go ahead I dare
    				    ya', FLOG Me!  ;')

    Flog nuthin' !  I'm a mod, I'll just set it unseen !
    
    ;^)
    
    I'll respect your opinion Hollywood...Besides, your just a drummer,
    and what do drummers know about how a guitar should sound ?
    ;^)
    
    Actually, I must agree with you 100%.  The GK doesn't have the wretched
    sound that the Marshalls do...The marshalls are almost a little
    mushy in comparison; especially in the lower EQ range (like the
    bass), but as far as midrange punch and raunch is concerned, the
    Marshalls win.  I think a marshall with a hopped up EQ section and
    hopped up pre-amp would provide the utimate sound !  GK has it stock.
    
    Rob has it right.  Sholz couldn't beat a GK with a Rockman...A lot
    of people consider the GK as a rockman with 50wt/ch. and speakers.
    
    GK = 	Processed distortion/metal crunch
    Marshall = 	Raw, unprocessed b*llz, tube overdrive, and big-name.

    How'd I do ?
    
    jc (Who_sez_my_GK_loves_a_pair_of_4x12's)

        
    >Marshalls win.  I think a marshall with a hopped up EQ section and
    >hopped up pre-amp would provide the utimate sound !  GK has it stock.

    Geee JC, guess cha haven't heard the Jubilee series yet???  Overblown
    overdrive section and beefed up EQ to boot!  Marshalls answer to
    all those who were modifying the original ones.

    Oh yeah, almost forgot...
    
    Set flame==mild simmer
    
    GK blows away Rockman....
    
    Geee  Rob and JC, guess you haven't heard the Rocktapuss by Scholtz R&D
    yet?!?  Its the twin stack 500WT stereo ampifier that's toatlly
    MIDIable.  The cabs have a 15", a 10", and a horn built specially for
    guit in each cab, but the cabs look like 4x12's.  Also, the cabs have a
    built in crossover in them.  This system makes a GK sound like a
    freakin microwave oven with a peice of lead in it!!!
    
    Get yer ears going there....
    
    Buck 

    Maybe 'dats what I need...I pre-amps from a jubilee....
    
    But wait ?  If technology has arrived, why the heck are talking
    about Marshalls ?  Kinda redundant ain't it ?  Legendary EQ my butt.
    ;^)
    
    Well, I'm about to hook up my stereo EQ with my 128 and see what
    I can explode out of the speaks...

    
    Oh boy oh boy oh boy!!!!
    
    I just bought my BOSS Digital Metalizer - can't wait to get that 
    sucker home!!                                         
         
    I can see it now...<1-2 3-4-5 cops-pulled-up-in-the-neighbours-drive>

OR JACKSON, GIBSON SG, GIBSON LES-PAUL for that lovley hum .

    Boss Digital Metalizer=Stomp-box distortion effect (by Boss, a division
    of Roland) which has a delay function (actually looks like a
    flange/chorus type thing). 
    
    re: Tony
    
    Howz it sound?  I've never heard one.
    
    gh

                      
    Its the gnads!!
                   
    Its has 6 basic sounds:
    		    	Straight 'ard and 'eavy distortion wiv no frills
    		    	Distortion with short digital delay             
    		    	Distortion with medium digital delay            
    		    	Distortion with long digital delay              
    		    	Distortion with digital chorus                  
    		    	Distortion with a "fatter" digital chorus       
    	 	  	                                                
    And of course by adjust the level, tone and distortion controls     
    you can get some killer sounds.  For example - if you turn the
    distortion to 0 and the mode onto chorus II you get a sweet distorted
    tone - very similar to that of John Sykes's on "Is this Love" and
    if you stick it on medium delay with distortion on about 5 you get
    a killer sound for "Phantom of the Opera" I love it! 
        
    They retail for about �99 (+/- $175)                                   
                                               
    -Tony

    
    	It's that time again...all is right in the world (and my
    checking account), spring is coming, and the fingers are happy.
    
    	So...anybody got any comments on the Kramer NightSwans?
    
    	Played one last weekend...real nice. This one, however, had
    all the $%1t on it...fancy paint job, reverse head, etc. They 
    wanted way too much for it. Found the locale of a used one with
    'normal' finish. Before I jump...any opinions?
    
    							Les
    

    If I had that kind of $$$ I'd be looking at an Ibanez 777 (Steve
    Vai model) or a Jackson Soloist.  I played the Kramer Night Swan
    a few weeks ago and then played the Ibanez and the Ibanez won hands
    down !  I'm a big Kramer fan (got one now ...)but if I had the big
    bucks I'd look over the Kramer.
    
    
    				Scary

         
    re.445
    
    I like Kramers - but I couldn't afford one  8^(
    
    How much was that one ??
    
    -Tony

    
    	$700 for the NightSwan. Haven't seen it, but it is supposedly
    in very good shape (used).
    
    	Too much? As I said, I saw a new one for $1100, so is this better?
    Am I insane? Am I evil?
    
    						Les
    

    
    I read about the best guitarist in Boston thing....all I can say is why
    bother entering, cuz Darren Housholder from Sudbury is going to
    win!!!!!!
    
    Housholder chews up Yngwie and Glbert and spits em out...I don't have a
    chance in hell! 
    
    sheeeesh
    Buck

    >There is always someone around the corner who is better...
    
    Ya know whats a real drag ?  When that someeone is a squirt of about
    13, and he owns a Hondo.
    
    ;^(

    YEAH!  Or someone that hasn't played in 15 years, never practices, has
    a hunk of junk guitar, and a disgusting amp, and comes around and blows
    your doors off when you practice a lot and have nice equipment and all. 
    
    I know the equipment doesn't make a lot of difference in how you play
    (it does help to have a guitar with an action lower than 1/2 inch
    though), but it's just depressing. 
    
    I'm not a great player and probably never will be (and I know that),
    but it would be nice to be able to play something tasty and sound hot
    once in awhile.
    
    gh (can you tell I'm not feeling too good about my playing?)

    I can relate...
    
    I have mood swings on my attitude re: playing... Right now, thankfully,
    I'm on an up swing.  Your comments on our demo helped.
    
    ;^) 

    
    You guys are lucky - my girlfriend won't let me pick the guitar
    up if she's about.  She gets pissed at me "You shouldn't devote
    all your time to that when I'm around" so the only remarks I get
    are from parents (or neigbours!) or the odd piss take from Mosh
    or Flipper!!  
     
    Right guys?

    Yeah, when I was 18, I told my *SO* (ex...very!) that I loved my
    guitar better than her.  I told her that my guitar didn't get jealous
    and b*tch all the time, and she did.
    
    jc (who was/is a di*k)

    
  JC  � Yeah, when I was 18, I told my *SO* (ex...very!) that I loved my
  JC  � guitar better than her.    
      
    Yeah, I know the feeling *very* well.

    I had a little incident in the home 2 weekends ago with my SO.
    I think he and his geetar were born Siamese twins.  He doesn't work,
    (you know how it is) and he plays all day every day.  It's a big
    deal to get the guy out into the light of day!
    
    Anyway, that particular night we were having a little talk about
    the issue, and discussing that maybe since I'm gone 8 hours a day,
    he could play then and spend a little time with me when I get home,
    just sit around and hang out for an hour or two, sans the guitar.
    (It is VERY annoying to talk to someone who is playing a guitar,
    or to watch tv with the person next to you playing scales)  I said
    "Dearie;^)I know how important your music is to you, and I know
    that's what makes you *you* so it's important to me too.  I am
    prepared to accept being *equal* in your life to your guitar,
    but can't be second best (this is a semi-serious relationship, we
    live together!!)  He sits there and plays for about 2 minutes and
    says "Well, I've had this guitar longer than you, and nobody could
    ever be as important to me as it."
    
    Lovely child.  Here I am thinking I am being "generous" by saying
    I can be equal to his piece of wood, and he says not even that.
    
    I refuse to let it become an object, though. 
    I have gone out with enough musicians (guit players are the worst!!)
    to know that it's a battle the girl will always lose, if the guy
    is passionate enough about his music.  I just grin and bear it
    ask polite questions (How is Sasha feeling today, darling--Sasha
    being his old, old, strat.  Aren't all guys' guits female?)
    
    Grrrr... I don't expect to ever understand, but my best tool lies
    in the fact that I am a good fake about the whole thing.
    
    Dilly
    

    Dilly,
    
    Well, I'm not 18 anymore, and if I were a girl and a guy made comments
    like that to me, I'd kill him...<dead!>.  EOF.
    
    I used to name all my axes after ex-girlfriends...Now I name them
    after things that make me laff instead.  My Charvel is Ralph, and
    my BC Rich is Norton.
    
    I love my guitars, but they don't have a heart, and they don't care
    how I feel either.  I choose women;  even when I usually get slammed
    by them.
    
    jc

    Oh yeah...
    
    And if he was playing his guitar, he didn't hear a word you
    said...trust me...
    
    jc

    
    I know!  I know!!!
    
    I can sit there and tell him all about something.  He get the
    'yeahs' 'ohs' and 'reallys' all in the right places, but I know
    for a fact he doesn't hear me.
    
    Musicians, can't live with /e, can't throw their guitars off the
    roof!
    
    Dilly

  
    I'd like to knwo why girlfrinds of guitar player's get so freakin
    jealous of their SO's guitars, always threatening them with
    destruction?  I mean, let me count the girlfriends in high school who
    said "you don't HAVE to go to practice...you don't HAVE to go to
    lessons...you don't HAVE to play at that gig...you don't HAVE to
    practice 4 hours/day...etc etc" 
    
    sheeesh
    
    SO's...can't live with em, can't throw them off the roof!
     
    Buck

    
    I used to get jealous.  It's hard if you aren't a musician to
    understand that someone would rather spend time with a piece of
    wood than *you* a real live person.  (No comments here, thank you)
    
    I still don't understand, but I am willing to accept that and realize
    that my SOs guitar is as much a part of him as an arm or a leg.
    I don't understand and never will, but I can accept it.  Just because
    I think about evil things to do to it doesn't mean I would!
    Well, that one time...but that had nothing to do with the issue
    at hand.  He had something of value of *mine* and I threatened
    his guitar (something of value to *him*).
    
    For awhile there it seemed like everytime I wanted to do something
    or go somewhere, he wanted to stay home and play.  Fine if he wants
    to spend his evenings that way, but it was always leaving *me* high
    and dry.  I finally figured that I'd try going out alone and leaving
    him at home as a "ploy" because he likes to play *and* have me there
    as a sound board to play things to and ask for my opinion.  I had
    such a good time and now I go out alone and with girlfriends all
    the time.  Sure, he gets a little jealous when I go out to clubs
    all the time, but hey, guitar practice is NOT a spectator sport
    and I'll be damned if I'm going to spend my Fridays sitting home.
    
    Dilly
        

    RE: Sorry, I had to get that out of my system...
    
    Yeah ! And onto mine !  Sheeesh !
    
    Just joshin'.  My emotions exactly, Pete.
    
    Dilly, if the guy doesn't work, and plays all day, don't you think
    it normal to wanna take a break...  I know I would with a pretty
    girl around...  I'd drop that sucker in a heartbeat !  "Hey babe,
    take a walk on the wild side ?"
    
    Of course as I was saying before, when I was 18 I may not have.
    Tell him to grow up and smell the coffee (or your perfume).  ;^)
    
    The above means to offense to 18 year olds at all.
    
    Again, very well put Pete.

    re DILLY,  and you coulda been mrs. Dilly DOG. ;^)~~
    
    the devil dog who does not play the git but IS willing to learn!!!

    Thanks for looking out for looking out for me, you guys.
    
    I used to take it, now I just go on with my life business as 
    usual.  He is always welcome to join me, actually not always, like
    when I have plans with "the girls."  Works out fine.  We get along
    a lot better that way.
    
    I have had serious doubts about the whole relationship, but I am
    making sure of what I want before I make a decision.  I'm not
    the jerk-around type.
    
    BTW- he has his own $$ so it's not like he's sponging off of me.
    
    Dilly

    
    
    I can understand a musicians love for his music/instrument.  Sometimes
    you feel like you are taking second place, but its not always so.
    I can understand it, and would put up with it, like you are Dilly.
    You need to do gigs, you need to practice, you want to work on a
    new tune - this is fine.  I pull the same crap with my cats!
    
    BUT on the other hand.  Your suggestion of how about when I come
    home you put it down for an hour or so and we talk (seeing as how
    you played with the thing all day or partial day) and him saying
    NO because I've known this guitar longer than you is AWFUL.
    
    I don't mean to put suggestions in your head, or say bad things,
    but it sounds just a might disrepectful for your feelings.  It doesn't
    sound very nice, know what I'm saying?
    
    But I don't mean to offend, its kinda your personal thing and I
    don't know the sordid details of your life!! 8*)
    
    Just think with your head *sometimes* not your heart..
    
    F.

                
                Hey Pete???
                
                NFW!!   My drums/music come before any female.  I
                like Stacys SO  attitude,  "I've  had  my  guitar
                longer than you".   SO true.  Lousy attitude, but
                very realistic.  If he gets anywhere in life, and
                she sticks it out, she can  go along for the ride
                when he's making the big $$$.   Kind  of a chance
                you got to take.
                
                - Rob's egotistical opinion -
                

    My ex used to b*tch about me practicing all the time ... I don't
    have to listen to *that* anymore.  The guy should put it down every
    now and then.  Maybe he doesn't practice all day ... just makes
    it look good when you get home, hey just a thought.  I have an idea,
    when he isn't looking take the guts out of his favorite guitar
    mag and replace it with a Fredrick's catalog.  Leave him a note
    in it something like ... "Forget arpeggio's for a while ... see
    page 17, item 4B (black ...).  You put the guitar down, I'll put
    this on !"  If that doesn't work then next time he gets amorous
    tell him to put baby oil on the neck of his guitar and have fun,
    but then again, that may be what he's doing all day anyway, which
    would be another topic all together.  
    
    My wife was afraid when we first got together that she'd have to
    play 2nd to my guitar and my music.  True, it's a big part of me
    and all work and no rockyrolly makes Scary an ill sumb*tch.  I figure
    if someone is THAT devoted to their music then they don't need to
    be in a semi-serious relationship - the two just won't mix.  What
    ever floats your respective boat I guess.  I'd never put my guitar
    above my wife, but then again my wife would never ask me to put
    it down either.  
    
    Throw the bum out !!    8^)
    
    
    
    			Dr. Scary

    
    The thing that pisses me off is that my girlfriend got me started
    playing guitar seriously.  I played in a band when I was 12, but
    I wasn't serious then.  Then I met her and she played classical
    and folk guitar so she taught me some stuff and even lent me her 
    guitar for a couple weeks (ever heard smoke on the water ((the 
    cliche!!)) on a nylon string acoustic 8^) sounds crap!!).  Then
    I was hooked.  I bought my first electric guitar and a handfull 
    of books to teach myself and I haven't looked back.  Then, my 
    girlfriend gave up playing the guitar and makes me feel guilty.
         
    Lifes a bitch and then you die,
         
    -Tony

    
    
    He's still aggravating, but it's getting better.  We have decided
    to ease up on this living together thing, now he spends half the
    week at his parents.  I can see all your points, you're all right,
    but I guess I am the type who likes to see if we can come to an
    amicable decision before throwing in the towel.  Like I said, I
    do have doubts on the longevity of the relationship at this point,
    but I'm not about to be a raving b*tch about the guitar thing,
    especially since I'm having so much fun gallivanting around town.
    
    Thanks for the support, guys.
    
    And YOU Rothberg, have *I* got a friend for you!
    
    Dilly

    
    	The last few replies remind me of Steve Morse, who was dragged
    to a movie by some college friends. Steve brought his guitar and
    played while watching the movie.
    
    In my experience, people who are dedicated to music, or figure skating,
    or being a med-student, aren't alway up-front with their SO as
    to where their priorities are. They wait a few months to say anything.
    
    RE: .468  Thanks for not mentioning my name Pete. Besides, I was       
    
    
              only unemployed for 36 weeks, so lighten up :-) :-) :-)
    
    Guy Novello

    
    -1 �  Steve brought his guitar and played while watching the movie.    
          
    Hmmmm.............I like that idea                              

    
    
    
                     If a person can't appreciate the dedication that
             a lot of musicians have for developing their skills, and
             doesn't WANT to be a part of the "search for the perfect
             note",  then I recommend that you move on.
    
                     I miss out on A LOT of things because of practice
             or whatever,  but (like someone said earlier) if I ever
             reap substantial benefits because of my efforts,  I won't
             be real quick about sharing them with someone who has 
             abandoned me because of it.
    
                                             
    
                     I wouldn't give it up for anything or anyone!
    
    

    This one is for the ADA MP-1 freaks out there in notes land.
    
    The lead guitarist with SATYR (Andy {Yngwie is not fat} Watson)
    has recently purchased the MP-1, Equalizer & Pitch Shift. He has
    also hooked a MicroVerb on it.
    
    	Q1. Whats the best P/Amp to go for ? (he is thinking of the
    Metaltronix)
    
    	Q2. Mean Time, is there any way to cut the Noize that his Marshall
    Split Ch Reverb Head is producing without effecting his on stage
    sound ?
    
    	Q3. Would it be best to D/I him from the ADA or from the Amp?
    
    	Q4. Why is it Guitarist are such a pain in the A$$ to please
    when it comes to getting them hooked to the P.A. ?
    
    	Q5. Why did I ever become a Sound Man ?
           
    
    I know these may seem trivial but it does make life easier for me,
    coz I used to D/I him from the Marshall, and the sound quality does
    break up on certain sounds he uses in solos.
    
    
    Bonzo.

    Let's see if I can't help out here...
    
    I trust the by P/amp you mean power and not PRE.
    
    Well ADA has two to choose from.  They are both 100wts/ch into a
    4 ohm load.  One is Solid State one is tube.  Personal fave in power
    amps would have to be Carver.  They just came out with a SINGLE space
    150wt (into 4ohms).

    D/I  You mean like line-out to the board ?  Are you nutty Bonzo?

    Take your typical SM58 and a boom stand and mic the he|| out of
    it !  You loose all your color if you run line-out.  Of course,
    if you don't have the xtra mics, then line out the ADA as opposed
    to the Marshall.
    
    Now, I'm gonna quote my pal Buck here.
    
    "Marshalls hum.  There is no way out of it, what do you think you
    have there a GK ?"    ;^)
    
    I have heard of some mods to reduce hum.  Take off the back of your
    amp and use tie-wraps to get all wiring away from those transformers.
    You can also use silicon to blob all over the play, but techs will
    hate ya.  Use electrical contact cleaner on your pots.  If none
    of this helps, then have him turn his pre-amp down to 6-7...
    
    These are some of the things I've done.
    
    Now, about guitarists being b�tches...  You'd be a little cranky
    too if you had to stand up in front of zillions (!) of people and
    sound like dog ca-ca...  The diff between dog ca-ca and awesome
    is a fine line.  Look at all the belly achin' that goes on here
    about Marshall, GK, Fender, Seymour Duncan etc...etc... There all
    good amps... They are all loud, all expnsive, look good, etc..etc..
    
    I dunno...Get my point ?  SOunds is a personal thing.  What sounds
    good to me isn't real good to the next guy ya know ?
    I guess to be a great sound man, you have to realize what each person
    idea of a killer sound is !
    
    Ciao !
    jc
    jc

    Whadisay ?

    ;^)  I just typed...
    
    

    If there is one thing I'm good at is spending other peoples 
    money !    Seriously though Bonzo, I hope that helped a little.
    
    jc

    Yeah, I'd have to agree with Jeff.  The best way to get a good guitar
    sound is to mike a speaker, because most people (HM wise) prefer the
    sound after it's been colored by the speaker.  Many speakers (most
    notably Celestions) add something to the sound. 
    
    I have gotten some good sounds from preamp outs on amps (or from a
    Power Soak) when playing with 4-tracks, but I generally prefer a miked
    speaker. 
    
    Metaltronix poweramp=BIG bux!  I think I'd just go with something that
    won't color the sound produced by the preamp (MP-1) much.  I'm sure
    he'll fill you in, but the last I heard, Buck was using a Peavey (not
    typically thought of as making wonderful amps) with his MP-1 and he
    gets some great sounds! 
    
    gh 

    I learned my lesson the hard way about miking vs. using the line-out
    fopr guitar amps.  I have a Marshall (mosfet, solid state) and I
    let the drummer use my guitar mike for his roto-toms one time and
    used the line out on my amp.  He was happy ... his toms were miked,
    the sound man was happy ... nice strong signal to play with, I thought
    I was happy 'cuz I couldn't really hear what was coming out of the
    mains, BUT, I taped that evenings gig using a tape deck and mic
    (as opposed to coming off the board ...) and listened to it on the
    way home.  I was sick !  My nice expensive rig sounded like a $30
    peice of sh*t .... I will never, never, NEVER line-out again.  Besides,
    do roto-toms need to be heard anyway ?   %^)
    
    As far as what makes guitar players so hard to work with I have
    no idea, but I do know that almost all of 'em are from a sound man's
    point of view.  I know I'm not that hard to work with, just give
    me my way and you have no problems from me !
    
    
    				Scary

    Thanx for all the i/p.  The main bitch is the fact that this guy
    uses so much effect on his solo's that the sound tends to break
    up.  This in turn leads to me having to go to the ends of the earth
    to try and get his sound under control.  I line-out for this reason
    and because it gives me a far stronger signal to work with.  The
    idea of useing the SM58 mite work but mean time I've got him through
    a SM57.  Another tip I picked up at the weekend is to go from the
    ADA to the FX return on the Marshall, in effect cutting out the
    Marshall preamp stage. This did cut a lot of the hum, and did give
    me a good signal.
    
    As for guitarists being a pain to work with.....
    
    I put my guit in to get set up with Boomers 8's, and ever since
    I have had nothin but trouble with my own sound, so I'll take back
    what I said.
    
    Head hung in shame,
    
    Bonzo.

    Please mike them speakers ... a guitar player will love ya 4 it.
    But if he's got effect overkill then maybe the way you're doing
    now may be best because of the patented "Marshall" hum.  By the
    way, my MOSFET Marshall is as quiet as a kitten ... the trade of
    is that it doesn't have that Marshall scream either ... the screaming
    you hear most is either me b*tching about a lack of sustain, Jeff
    b*tching about dead batteries in his wireless, or Steve b*tching
    'cuz he spilled his beer ...
    
    
    
    				Scary

    Funny you should say hat Jerry,
    
    A certain member of a certain band managed to spill beer all over
    his custom build guitar. I mean it was only:
    
    			Fernandez body
    			Esp neck (cut to look like the RG550)
    			Reflex pick up's
    
    I must admit that after the screaming match I had with this guy
    coz of the problems he was causing (pitiful signal due to the screaming
    from his stack + the break up of the overall sound), I laughed like
    a real b@s�$%d. It was sad really but there was no series damage
    done.
    
    Bonzo.

     .... guitar players .... sheeesh !
    
    
    				Scary

    
    Well, some major things were determined after this weekends gigs about
    my current equipment setup:
    
    1) I am sick of my RG550's and their floyd rose bulls**t!  The guitars
       play GREAT when you are tuned to A420 (Eb), but if you tune to A440,
       the action goes right out and the floyd screws up big time.  Usually 
       my yellow 550 gives me headaches, but this weekend both the pink and
       yellow were at it.  I am SERIOUSLY thinking of selling both guitars 
       and buying a simple Les Paul!!!   Les is more!
    
    2) The peavey power amp was no bargin.  Its on the blink and a new
       one looks immanent.
    
    3) The lead guitarist in the other band has a MIDI Roland set up.
       Paul Reed Smith guitars into a GP-8 into a power amp.  Also,
       a G-70 pitch-to-midi conferter and a Roland D-550 for synth
       sounds.  I have to admit the 3 patches he had from the GP-8 were
       really good.  He had a KILLER clean sound!!  The dirty sound
       was ok, but overall it sounded great.  I take back my GP-8
       predjudices...someone was able to get a great sound out of the
       thing, so it has won my confidence.
    
    Buck, who sez metal equipment sux.

    RE: Gibson
    
    <gag>(insert humble opinion here)
    
    Go for a Charvel.  Mine never goes out; sounds great etc...etc...
    Sounds more like a Strat than a Strat; Sounds more like a Gibson
    than a Gibson !

    Oh yeah, I'll say it again:  Carver Amps rule.  Single space too.
    I loved the one I played with.  Clean and gnads-y.  They run very
    cool too, which is the down fall of most amps.

    Bonzo, tell your axeman to cool it with his toys, or your take his
    rack away and EFFECT him from the board.  Simple.  Tell him that
    "good_audience_sound .nes. over_effected_stage_sound".
    
    jc (who did own a couple LP's)

>        1) I am sick of my RG550's and their floyd rose bulls**t!  The guitars
>       play GREAT when you are tuned to A420 (Eb), but if you tune to A440,
>       the action goes right out and the floyd screws up big time.  Usually 
 
    What do they do?  Can you reset the action?  I had to do that on
    my Charvel...
    
    gh

    Yeah, sounds like you need to set the axe up Buck.
    
    Remember, the floyds base plate should be parallel to the body of
    the axe.  Once you get it set it'll stay.  Don't change string
    brands/gauges...
    
    jc (who_sez_it's_a_bitch_but_worth_the_aggravation_once_it's_dialed_in)

    Oh, and just out of curiousity, were you tuned to 420 at Robs house
    that night ?
    
    jc

    
    The guitars have been setup.  I think the logistics of the floating
    floyds are to be tuned down to Eb...they really don't work at E. The
    higher you tune up, the more the floyd pulls forward and the higher the
    action gets.  The lower you tune the unit, the more the strings pull
    against the fretboard which causes buzzing and reduces the amnount of
    `action' in the tremolo bar.  It seems to me the guiars are to be set
    up one way and one way only...and if its not 100% right on, its kinda
    f**ked. 
    
    jc...no, at Rob's I had stumbled onto the perfect setup and was tuned
    to A440.
    
    I kind of dream of the days when I had a stop tailpiece and perfect
    action all the time...
    
    Buck, who can't afford a guitar tech to live at my house 

    RE: .497
    
    Buck, maybe I'm misinterpreting your note, but if the bridge is
    pulling up, you gotta take the cover off the back and tighten the
    spring anchor claw and reset the guit.  Like I said, it's a pain,
    but once your set (and if you don't chage your strings) your git
    to go !
    
    jc(who_has_to_reset_his_charvel_from_time_to_time)

    re: Buck
    
    I agree with Coop.  The base plate on the floyds is supposed to be
    parallel to the body.  If you detune or uptune, you have to adjust the
    spring tension in the rear cavity to compensate, otherwise it changes
    the string height (as you've noticed).  All you have to do is remove
    the spring cover plate on the back and there is a movable plate where
    the springs attach to the body.  If you increase the string tension,
    you have to also increase the spring tension by screwing this plate
    farther toward the body.  It's not that difficult to do, but because
    the string tension is working against the springs, you have to make a
    small adjustment, retune, check, then do it again.  Just repeat this
    until it's right. 
    
    My Charvel did that when I went to two springs w/o setting it up.  The
    action got about a mile high and the trem felt like crap. 
    
    "A pain" is a vast understatement for the crap that you have to go
    through to adjust this correctly.  Took me two hours when I did it
    last. 
    
    That's one of the problems I see with the Floyd type floating trem
    setups, you can't change string gauges or tuning on them without
    resetting the trem which is a royal pain.  Kahlers are easier...(but
    I don't like the way they feel as well).
    
    Yo Buck, fly me out, I'll be your guitar tech.   8^)
    
    gh
                                                        

    Yeah, what he said !

    I'm getting pretty good at it too !	

    Speaking of that, Coop.  Didja ever get your intonation set?
    
    gh

    
    RE -2, -3
    
    I've done all that...add/subtract springs...adjust claw...always
    the same strings gauge...etc etc etc THE TREM IS NEVER THE SAME
    WAY TWICE!!!!!  Oh yeah, it'll be great, I'll change strings, and
    poof, its off, then the springs n claw n stuff starts, and that
    is what I am sick of.  I want a les paul that I can break a string
    and change it on stage while I'm stil playinbg then thune the fu**er
    up and go back to playing.  Try THAT with a floyd...no way.
    
    Buck ,who loves to wham, but will give it up with the headaches

    Yessiree bub !
    
    I tore it all down and put it back together.  Spent *four* hours
    getting it all set up.  It's killer now.  Better than before.
    The best neck I've ever played.  I'm ecstatic.  AND, my midi controller
    arrived yesterday.
    
    Coop

    Mr. Scary is the best though...
    
    That boy'll blow out a g string and have it tuned back up before
    the tune is over.  I like this cuz I can hog all the leads while
    he's tuning !
    
    jc (who_likes_to_swipe_the_leads_from_scary)

    
    Ok, 
                Now I'v heard all the bitching about Floyd's, can anybody
    give me a lodown on kahler Trems "Cam" not "fulcrum".
    
    -Jon_who's_to_godam_lazy_to_work_it_out_him_self.

    Sure what do ya wanna know about 'em ?
    
    Kahlers are surface mounted so you don't have to rout (read:ruin)
    your guitar to have one.  The sustain is hampered a little when
    you wiggle the stick because of the little rollers that the strings
    are on.  This is only when you use the stick.  I feel (in my HO,
    of course) that the actual non-whammy sustain is better on the Kahler
    system because of the way it's mounted (surface as opposed knife
    edge).  But, use the bar, and you loose a little.

    I like mine.  Then again, I like my FLoyd and Jackson units too...
    They are all good.  It's preference I guess.  
    
    jc
    
    ps - The Kahler is easier to set up than the floyd/jackson units.

    Oh sure, now you want a Les Paul ;^)  Like, ya talked me out of
    one when I was pissed at my RG550.  Now I'm in lust with the 550
    again (minor adjustment to the trem) and you want to go out and
    by a LP.  Life is so, so...full of gusto...I just love it.
    
    Still Buck, if you trade in your 550's to buy a Tobacco Sunburst
    LP Std.  I think I'm gonna be seriously jealous.  Although, I know
    you like the customs better.  I do love the ebony fretboards...
    
    joe.

    As far as Gibson goes, my vote is with Joe.  Standards are the gnads.
    
    Even if there are ugly !   ;^)
    
    
    Gee, how about a hot pink LP Custom ?
    
    Agagagaga

    
    Naw, got my eye on a white LP custom meself
    

    
    Buck, I think Stevie is selling his awesome ESP snakeskin one.
    
    Of all the snakeskins, I have never seen one as nicely finished
    as that one.  It's gorgeous.

                               
    He likes it but he never touches it because he's in love with the
    Charvel...
    
    Dilly

Gawd - Buck has come full circle! After all that rack junk, he's back to
endorsing Les Pauls through Marshalls!  8^)

Been listening to too much Guns and Roses, eh Buck?

8^)

cat

    	You can never listen to too much Scums n' Posers, cat!
    

    That s Bunz and Poses
    
    RE: .511
    
    Of course he loves his Charvel more.   Know why ?
    
    CHARVEL ROOOOOOLZZZZ !
    Right Greg ?

    I must say that although I am not a Floyd lover (see earlier notes),
    I do have a "Knife edge" trem on my schecter and I love it. It has
    no similarity to the Floyd or the Kahlers but it's almost a
    combination. It has the strings fed through the Back Plate, through
    the trem, over the little rollers, & onwards up the neck.
    
    Maybe I have been lucky so far but I have had no problems with little
    rollers. I don't make a habit of divin' down on a false harmonic
    until the strings are hangin off, but, occasionally I do , but have
    never yet jumped off of the little rollers.
    
    Am I lucky or is it you that has been unlucky ?

    re: .515
    
    > The stupid cab I'm building looks like it'll be too heavy to get out
    > of my celler!
      
    I hear ya there!  I had a pair of PA cabinets like that for a little
    while.  What backbreakers!  Glad I sold 'em!  
    
    A lot of the new cabinets (GK and others) are being made of some sort
    of hi-tech composite materials (fiberglass with a little wood and
    such), making them really light.  The ones I've heard sounded good too.
    
    gh

    ADA has some new cabs that look cool.  They look like a Marshall
    4x12 cut down the middle.  Their 2x12's but you can put them side
    by side and the look like the marshall...kinda. You can get them
    straight of slant-front.  I don't know about the price.
    
    I have these VOT 15" JBL bins that are about 4�' square.  What a
    bunmmer to have to move them... Gads !
    jc

    Are you saying you did or didn't like the boiled strings?
    
    gh (who has never boiled strings)

    Boiled strings!!!  WTH Are you talking about???
    
    Chris D.

    
    	I've bolied strings and been happy with the results...these
    were old bass strings too..so I can imagine what it does for git
    strings...but the secret is to boil them till there is a film on
    top of the water (Right Buck?..(^8)
    
    	Coil them up like they were when ya first bought them...and
    leave them in till the film appears... it worked for me.
    
    BK
    
    	Oh miss.... I'd like fries and a beer with my boiled strings..
    

    Yo Coopster !
    
    Tell me, how many watts to you get from the line output of them
    Marshalls ?
    
    Agagagagagagagagagagagagagagagagagagagagagagagagagagaga !!!
    
    But then again I guess it all depends how many ohms your cab is
    wired for, right ?
    
    Wwwwaaaaaaaagggggggagagagagagagagagagagagagagagagagaga !!!!
    
    
    
    				Scary
    

    Yeah, yeah, yeah....
    
    jc

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Note 290.1165            "Don't You Hate When________!"             1165 of 1178
CHEFS::DALLISON "a slip of the tongue"                6 lines  22-MAR-1989 03:36
                                    -< 8^( >-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    
    DYHIW you realise that god do not put you on this fair earth for
    you to be a guitarist and you feel like throwing you f!"�$%& rig
    out of the window.   
    
    I'm gonna take up table tennis !! 

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Note 290.1166            "Don't You Hate When________!"             1166 of 1178
ROSBIF::PHILIPPA "Sssllluuuuuurrrrpppp! ;^P"          7 lines  22-MAR-1989 05:45
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Tony (this is you Mom speaking!), don't give up that easily, you've
    only been playing for what, 7 months!  Nobody expects an Ynwie
    whatshisname in that short period of time!!!
    
    Sheesh!
    
    Flip

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Note 290.1167            "Don't You Hate When________!"             1167 of 1178
RAVEN1::JERRYWHITE "The Cover KING !!!"              13 lines  22-MAR-1989 06:39
                 -< Never say quit - just say "CHARGE IT !!!" >-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Tony !!! Don't quit !!! When ya get feeling like that the ONLY cure
    is to go out and spend some money on a new toy ... it puts a little
    excitement back in the playing but more importantly, if someone
    hears you hacking around and says, "Gee Tony, you sound like sh*t
    today !", then you can say, "Well I got this new DBX-Aural-Equaflanger
    with 17,457 presets and I'm just trying to work some of the bugs
    out of it !".  9 times out of 10 they'll leave you alone - the other
    1 time will probably happen when you're talking with another guitar
    player, and he'll say "Yeah, mine does that too ...".
    
    
    
    				Scary

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Note 290.1169            "Don't You Hate When________!"             1169 of 1178
PARITY::STACIE "Don't start w/me-you know how I get!" 6 lines  22-MAR-1989 08:18
                     -< Take a lessons or change teachers >-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Tony-baby,
    
    Are you currently taking lessons?  That's very important at your
    stage of the game.
    
    Dilly

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Note 290.1170            "Don't You Hate When________!"             1170 of 1178
CHEFS::DALLISON "a slip of the tongue"                8 lines  22-MAR-1989 08:22
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    
    I took lessons when I first started out - and got the basic chords
    and stuff down, but the guy said I was obsessed with speed (utter
    crap) and kept showing me what HE could play - rather than teachng
    me, so I quit lessons and went it alone (well, me and 30,000 books)
    ever since.
    
    -Tony

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Note 290.1171            "Don't You Hate When________!"             1171 of 1178
32733::VACCHELLI "look what the Kat dragged in"       8 lines  22-MAR-1989 08:46
                          -< Come on you can do it. >-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    
    Awww Tony.  Looks like today is your turn for some reassurance.
     Go find yourself an instructor that you are comfortable with. 
    Ask around see who is the best then take lessons.  How do you know
    what to pratice exactly when you are only going at it alone?  I
    think you are in some definate need of guidance.
    
    Kat

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Note 290.1175            "Don't You Hate When________!"             1175 of 1178
PARITY::STACIE "Don't start w/me-you know how I get" 17 lines  22-MAR-1989 09:55
                                -< Do it, dood >-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    
    CJ- temping is lovely sometimes, huh?  It's go to work deathly
    ill and breathe all over everyone there, or starve in the dark
    on the streets.  (No food, no electricity, no rent)
    
    Tony, go for lessons, you had a bad experience, but lessons are
    of utmost importance until you really *know* how to play.
    It teaches you discipline, dexterity, gives you things to *do*
    with your playing (exercises) and the progress you make shows (like
    when you can't play something one week and the next you whip right
    through it)  If you have the right teacher, it will encourage you
    and improve your playing enormously.
                                        
    Kat-  you're so wierd (rubber tree plant) did anyone ever tell you
    that?  Well, now someone did.;^)
    
    Dilly

         <<< IRDEV::SYS$SYSDEVICE:[NOTES$LIBRARY]HEAVY_METAL.NOTE;1 >>>
                 -< Heavy_Metal - Discussion + deliberation. >-
================================================================================
Note 290.1176            "Don't You Hate When________!"             1176 of 1178
MARKER::BUCKLEY "I wish it was summertime all year!" 14 lines  22-MAR-1989 10:18
                  -< WINNERS  don't quit...stay with it dude >-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Tony,
    
    I know its a drag, but you GOTTA take lessons.  Even if you take ONE
    lesson a month, TAKE LESSONS!  You know, you need that input from a pro
    on direction, what to work on, correcting bad habits which form, and
    you learn from their playing and their general knowledge.  Every week
    is nice, but do every two weeks if you find you can't work the stuff
    out in time, or like I said oncea month if it takes you even longer.
    As you progress in ability it will get easier and mayby then you can
    step up your lessons. 
    
    Trying to learn on your own just has too many drawbacks.
    
    Buck

         <<< IRDEV::SYS$SYSDEVICE:[NOTES$LIBRARY]HEAVY_METAL.NOTE;1 >>>
                 -< Heavy_Metal - Discussion + deliberation. >-
================================================================================
Note 290.1177            "Don't You Hate When________!"             1177 of 1178
PARITY::STACIE "Don't start w/me-you know how I get!" 7 lines  22-MAR-1989 10:27
                 -< The time is now (like the Flesh song;^)) >-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Yeah, you can take lessons from Buck when you come here!!
    
    My KC is all filled up, not accepting any more students;^)
    Plus, I never mix my work friends with my SO.  He can be too much
    of a pain.
    
    Dilly

                                                                  
    A good teacher is VERY hard to find here.  If you do find one, you
    are looking at mega bucks to keep going.                       

    Too bad you can't have Buck for a teach Tony, he's great.
    
    CJ

         <<< IRDEV::SYS$SYSDEVICE:[NOTES$LIBRARY]HEAVY_METAL.NOTE;1 >>>
                 -< Heavy_Metal - Discussion + deliberation. >-
================================================================================
Note 290.1180            "Don't You Hate When________!"             1180 of 1180
CSC32::G_HOUSE "Caught in a mosh"                    18 lines  22-MAR-1989 13:33
                                   -< FWIW >-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    re: .1165
                     
    >DYHIW you realise that god do not put you on this fair earth for you to
    >be a guitarist and you feel like throwing you f!"�$%& rig out of the
    >window. 
    
    Yeah, I hate that.  Happens to me pretty often...
    
    For me I had to get to the point where I could say something like:
    
      "Look, Greg. It doesn't matter if you are never good enough to play in
      front of people (or if you never find a band), you love playing and it
      would be a shame to give it up when you enjoy it so much.  It doesn't
      matter if your good or not." 
      
    Incidentally, I also take lessons...
    
    gh                      
    

    
    I think I may have OD'd on it.
    
    I mean, if I'm not going out I play from 6:00pm -> 11:30pm each
    night.  On Saturday I play +/- 6 hours and about 5 on Sunday.
                
    I guess I am going through a bad patch.
                                 
    I will continue to play.  B'sides - I can't quit yet, I ain't got
    Crazy Train down properly yet 8^).                                

    That's the spirit !!!!
    
    
    
    	   Scary (who *might* be grabbing his GP-8 this weekend !)

    What Jerry said.  Go buy a new toy...
    
    I've been considering taking some lessons lately.  I've been playing
    for 6 years and haven't had a lesson yet.  Now I've started teaching,
    and figure I'd better learn some, before my students come to blow
    me away...  'Sides, I got some nasty stuff to learn...
    
    jc (who'll never be a highway star, but doesn't care, cuz it's fun)

    
    
    
    How did you do on that guitarist contest?
    
    F.

    re:  .541  Hey JC, if you never went to school, then have you been
    to the Crossroads?
    
    Chris D.

    Haven't been to sell my soul yet... that probably explains the way
    I play !!!
    
    Actually, I played Sax and drums sinceI was in the second grade,
    so I knew some about music already.  I just picked up the guitar
    and looked at chord charts and watched eMpTyV a lot.
    
    jc

    I "need" to take lessons but I wonder if the old expression is true,
    goes something like ...
    
    		You can teach a young dog many tricks ...
    		And you can teach an old dog a few tricks ... BUT
    
    		You can't teach a dumb dog SH!T ....
                                     
    I fall into all 3 of those categories to a degree .... ;^)
    I still say ya need some new toyz ... Scary has bought a ton of
    it this past week and I'm getting my GP-8 Tuesday morning ...
    
    $ SET SCARY/JACKED
    
    
    				Scary
    
                                                              

    Wanna try something really tuff on the ole muscles, do the same
    on all six strings THEN move up one fret.  Do that all the way up
    to the # twelve fret, and work your way down, lifting all your 
    fingers...  The trick is to do this with as little finger movement
    as possible.  It's a killer !  Your forearm will be glowing.
    
    Do the above with all down strokes, then repeat with all up strokes,
    then (if your not dead yet) do it again alternating up and down
    strokes on each note.
    
    *gasp*   
    *pant*

    I know MTV is a dirty word at times, but I've picked up quite a
    few tricks watching the videos, especially the Headgiver's Ball.
    I taped White Lion in concerty and I'm still weeding through that
    one picking out chops ... Vito Brata is a wizard !
    
    
    
    		Scary (who's a blizzard, or maybe a buzzard ...)

    I know I'm gonna get blasted for this, but...
    
    I watched this film on HBO last night called "Satisfaction" with
    Justine Bateman.  Well the film was really lame, the music was poor
    and the acting was worse.  However, the guitar which the girl that
    was supposedly playing lead was playing was pretty cool looking!
    But I couldn't figure out what make it was!  I even watched the
    credits thinking that they might say who donated instruments or
    something, but alas they didn't.
    
    Does anyone know what kind of guitar this is?
    
    Thanks,
    Greg

    I dunno, I'll watch the movie (just because I think JB is a fox!)
    and see if I can't figure it out.
    
    jc

    Yo Scary, how's the GP-8 goin' dude?  Fill us in...
    
    Mr. Buckley, have you purchased the white LP custom yet??
    
    joe.

You guys - check *this* out!!! Buck, I *know* you'll be there!

                 <<< CVG::WORK1:[NOTES$LIBRARY]GUITAR.NOTE;2 >>>
                              -<  Guitar Notes  >-
================================================================================
Note 1237.0                      Guitar Wurlygig                      No replies
SUBSYS::ORIN "Quid, me vexarius?"                    33 lines  30-MAR-1989 13:28
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I've been trying to get together a guitar Wurlygig for many months. This one
is sponsored by Ibanez, and even though it isn't free, it sounds like it's
worth the $5 bucks.

Announcing:  Ibanez guitar clinic

Where:  E.U. Wurlitzer Music
	582 Park Ave.
	Worcester, MA. 01603
	(508) 754-5271
	Eddie Fritz
Time:	Saturday  May 6,1989  7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Price:  $5.00

This is a guitar clinic by metal rocker Paul Gilbert, a well known LA
guitar instructor and performer at the Guitar Institute of Technology (GIT).
Tickets are going fast and are very limited. DECMS people can call Eddie to
have tickets reserved at the door. All DEC people, friends, and family are
invited. This is not a DECMS only function.

dave

ps. If you haven't checked out the new Alesis Quadraverb f/x unit, it's worth
    it. Just unbelievable for the guitar! Would someone please post this note
    in the heavy_metal conference?

    
    OK, every pay attention so we don't go freaking Mr. Fritz out.
    
    I called and he said I couldn't reseve tickets as they were NOT IN YET.
    I was advise to call back in two weeks...they should have them by then.
    
    Just a word of advise from
    Buck, who will DEFINITELY be there! 

    re .554
    
    Yo Joe !
    
    The Roland GP-8 may not be able to do "69", but it will do 6-8 in
    2 banks, and that's pretty close !!    ;^)
    
    Seriously, it's great !  It does make you think about exactly what
    kind of tone you're looking for.  I mean with my previous set-up
    (Marshall MOSFET ---> 4x12 Celestion Cab via various assorted stomp
    boxes) I was very limited, so I just made the best tone I could
    from what I had to work with.  NOW, I have a very large arange
    of tones, colors, whatever you wish to call it, and it's a little
    aggravating to nail a "favorite" down.  But I took it down to our
    practice room tonight and got real damn close to the soon to patented
    "Scary Tone".
    
    I also found that the Turbo Overdrive effect is very close to a
    tube sound when used in conjuction with the Compressor effect. 
    I could ramble on until the disk quota is used up, but overall I'm
    more than pleased, so put it mildly !
    
    
    
    				GP-VanScary
    

    RE: GP-VanScary
    
    Yep !  I'll attest that it sounds great !  Still almost as good
    as my Gee-K !  He *even* told me he's got that sound in there somewhere!

    Someday, he'll buy one, and sound like me.
    
    8v)

re: BonPoseCoopster ...

>    RE: GP-VanScary

Yes ....
    
>    Yep !  I'll attest that it sounds great !  Still almost as good
>    as my Gee-K !  He *even* told me he's got that sound in there somewhere!

Yeah, the "Metal Delay" with the chorus added sounds exactly like a GK.  
And I still have 127 patches to work with - a "slight" advantage over a GK.

>    Someday, he'll buy one, and sound like me.

If you've got a Lambourghini, why shop for Yugo's ?  Besides, if I wanted 
to sound like you - what would I do with my OTHER hand ! Agagagaga .....
After I untied it from behind my back, that is .... Agagaga's again ....
Now that I've had a taste of what the GP-8 can do, the only thing I can see 
that your GK would be good for his propping the door open when I wheel my 
effects rack in.  You're just jealous because ya can't rename your patches 
like I can ...(that's right folks, ya got your "Scary Lead 1", and "Scary 
Delay 1", and so on and Scary so forth ...)

>    8v)

     ;^}

But seriously folks ... it's a super unit, what can I say.

I got a book containing all of the Boss stomp boxes along with the GP-8 
literature and it has some "recomended" pedals and settings to use in order 
to duplicate tones by George Lynch, Jake E. Lee, Yngwie Malmsteen, Steve 
Vai, and a few others.  I took the values they recomend using on the stomp  
boxes and programmed them into the GP-8 .... VERY impressive !  The         
"Malmsteen" tone was just OK, but George and Jake's, I got them perfect.  The  
book is called "Boss Pocket Dictionary Volume 4".  


				Scary
			(the happy camper ...)

    re: "Boss Pocket Dictionary Volume 4"
    
    Is this something you have to buy, or a sales gimick they'll give ya in
    hopes of you buying more Boss stomps?  Sounds interesting!
     
    gh

    Hey Toenail!
    
    Did you ever finish your cabinet?  How did it work out?
    
    Gh

    RE: Scary...
    	Glad to hear you're having fun with the GP-8 (of course I'm
    sure it'd be hard NOT to have fun with one of those little babies).
    I've decided I need more of a processed sound on some tunes.  I
    like my multiverb (actually, I *love* it), but that's all I'm using
    for FX except for a ProCo Rat.  How can I get more of a "processed"
    sound???  Could I add compression?  I don't really know how to describe
    the sound I'm lookin' fer, but I'm sure you guit players out there
    do.
    
    joe (who wishes he could spend his $1XXX fed tax return on some
    hot new equipment, but has to spend it on "household improvements"
    -- that is if I ever plan to get la*d again ;^)

    Agagagagagagagaaa... Joe your crackin' me up !
    
    Try out one of those 1000sel's by GK.  They are supposed to be unreal
    (read; processed) on a rack.  I'd trade my Marshalls for one in
    a second !
    
    jc (who, as everyone knows, loves GK stuff)

    
    Joe,
    
    Forget the GeeK crap and get a real system.  Like a Seldano head or,
    maybe and MP-1! 
    
    :^)
    
    

    Roland is coming out with a new guitar preamp which (I'm told) is
    supposed to be really hot.  It's a single space rack unit, no Midi or
    anything though.  All solid state but they claim a 'tube-like' sound
    (don't they all).  I looked over the specs and it looks pretty good.
    The store I go to is supposed to be getting one sometime in the next
    couple of weeks. 
    
    I think they said it'll list for around $500.  Personally I don't see
    the advantage over a Chandler (or other) unit, for the money anyway.
    But then again, when has Roland been price competative? 
    
    gh                                                     

    GK may be for geeks but I get more of a metallica sound out of
    mine than out of my Marshalls... Strange as it may seem.  Metallica
    probably uses Marshall stuff, but after all the processing, it sounds
    like a GK to me.  Same with Lynch, DiMartini and the rest...  This
    is the age of high-tech !  Give it a chance !  You can use tubes
    and supplement the hell out them with midi this and that, or you
    can start off with the processed sound, and free up a few spaces
    on your rack !
    
    ;^)

> Metallica probably uses Marshall stuff 

Naw, they play through *real* amps - they use Boogies!

cat

    Boogie.  Ack.  Too much bux.
    
    They do sound okay though...'Cept they ain't loud enough !

    jc (who likes it LOUD !)

    Isn't EVH using the H&Hs now?  I don't know if it's because of them
    or not, but I don't like his guitar sound as much now, it's not
    as raunchy.
    
    gh

    
    EVH always used H&H power amps.  They were to make a good tone
    louder that the Straight marhsall could provide.  H&H are an
    english-made power amp....they have a weird voltage to them...I
    think they run at 220 or 240v.  scary stuff kids!
    
    EVH's sounds is not as raunchy now for a few reasons.  
    
    1) EVH switched to cleaner tubes
    2) isn't running his variac as high
    3) uses noise reduction units in his chain, which emilinate some
       b*lls
    
    I never liked his guitar sound...I was always more of a Randy Rhoads
    guitar sound person.
    
    Buck

                 <<< CVG::WORK1:[NOTES$LIBRARY]GUITAR.NOTE;2 >>>
                              -<  Guitar Notes  >-
================================================================================
Note 1255.0                 Gallien Krueger Recall ?                  No replies
ASAHI::COOPER "Billy-Joe Satriani - Raftin' With Th" 12 lines  13-APR-1989 14:38
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Went to Parker music at lunch wanting to try out the GK 2100sel
    and got some startling news !
    
    GK has recalled the complete 2100 line due to heat transfer problems.
    (VAXmate owners might be familiar with this problem...)  ;^)
    
    Anyone heard any more about this ?  I dunno if I should believe
    this guy or not, since he's a mega dweebie.
    
    ;^)
    
    jc (who's 250ml is still crankin'!)

    
    We've been tellin ya for months now that those things are crap!!
    
    Even when I had the 250ML's, I blew all of mine up and the repair
    dudes said these things blow transformers all the time...so looks
    like they've had power distribution problems for a while now.
    
    At least ya got two marshalls!!

    Yeah, but I still love my GeeK.
    
    I wanted to try one of those 2100sels out !
    
    Whaaaaaaaa !

    I'm not surprised that GK would recall the 2100s!  They smoked the one
    at my favorite place before it even left the store.  And these guys
    know what they're doing, so it wasn't run w/o speakers or anything.
    
    gh 

    re: Toenail/Mac+
    
    Check in Commusic for discussions of music related software.  You're
    right about it being pretty dry conversations, but the info is good.
    
    Press KP7 and all that...
    
    gh

    
    	Anyone have any input on a Carvin Five String bass ?  I've been
    looking  at  one  for a while now, but I wanted to know if anyone's 
    had any experience with Carvin products.
    
    METALord"

    You may want to look in GUITAR notes, Matt.  There have been a couple
    of discussions on Carvin stuff there.  <Press KP7 to add to your
    notebook>.
    
    I've never played a Carvin bass, but I tried a guys Carvin guitar and
    was pretty impressed.  The tonal variations were very good
    (electronics) it had good sustain, but I didn't like the way the neck
    felt.  It was very thick, kinda like grabbing a baseball bat with on
    side shaved flat.  Bear in mind that it was an older model and the
    current trend has been toward flatter, thinner necks.  Perhaps their
    newer models are more like this. 
    
    I have heard good things about most of the Carvin products.  I've also
    tried one of their 1x12 combo tube amps and was VERY impressed. (I
    think it was an X60).  I might consider them for my next amp. Anyone
    else have experience with their amps/cabinets? 
                                    
    gh

    I have the latest (89) Carvin catalog, and the dimensions on the 
    neck were, 1 7/16" at the nut and 2 5/16" at the heel. (The last
    one  is  as  close as I can remember since I left the catalog at 
    home.)  At least this was the dimensions on a regular six string.
    Can't quite remember what it was on the five string bass, but it
    couldn't be any worse than my Cortez cheapo. (Ten years old this
    June too ! :^))
    
    I found  some Carvin info in the Guitar notes file today.  Some-
    where around  notes  172  (or close to that) and note 1001. I'll
    definately  read all that info first.  The hardest part would be
    finding  someone  who  deals Carvin products in Vermont, where I 
    could try one out. (I'd still order direct from the factory if I
    did decide to buy one though.)  Thanks Greg !
    
    Yo  Buck !  Remember  that  �stack  Marshall  that we saw in the 
    Minor  Chord ?  Was that bass or lead ?  Seems to me it was bass,
    but  the  Marshall  catalog only lists it was a lead amp/speaker
    set.  Thanks !
    
    METALord"

    I've never seen a store that had Carvin stuff that wasn't used.
    My impression was that, outside their factory store, it was all
    mail order.
    
    The dimensions you mentioned weren't the critical dimension I was
    concerned with.  I was talking about the neck thickness, not the width
    of the fretboard. You know, front to rear?  I like 'em thin and wide,
    like a Charvel or Ibanez. 
                              
    gh

    Yo Toenail dude,
    
    Watch those shaved necks....the smaller they are the quicker they
    warp!

    
    Neck warpage (for me) has always been a tension issue.  Thin neck plus
    floyd rose units = warped necks eventually.  The floyd nut thing
    reduces the neck strength and the thin necks of the 80s doesn't help
    the issue.  Also, the floyd, if bent upwards, creates a lot of tension
    of the neck.  I know my neck is thin and I can bend it back and fourth
    with me left hand! 

    If you've never had warpage problems, come on down to SC where you
    need to wring out your curtains everytime you open the door.
    
    It's dry in the winder, and WET in the summer here.  Guitars hate
    that.
    
    ;^)

                
                Huh?  That made absolutely *NO* sense . . .
                
                At least to me . . .
                
                

    
    Yo Toenail,
    
    FYI, the guy who won the Best Guitarist wasn't `old'...he was 25.
    Also, he didn't okay a medly of Boston tunes....ONE TUNE does not
    constitute a mdley dude!  Yeah, so he closed with Foreplay from
    the first lp, Gilbert does that tune too, noone rags him for it.
    The thing the guy had going for him was the way he PUT his solo
    together...it was like a song in itself...very well constructed.
    While there were lotza string burners there, manyof them had no
    clue as to form in their solos.  When theyt stopped playing, it
    sounded like cuz their three minutes were up.  You know what I"m
    sayin??
    
    

    Yo !  I can relate to the "My Marshalls ain't distorted enough"
    syndrome.  Ever wanna send 'em off to Metaltronix (or someone)
    and have them hook them up with Lynchs setup or something ?  Beau
    Coup bux.  I hear the Jubilee series are smokin'.  Hmmmm....
    
    jc

    Scholtz wasn't a judge....SR&D was a sponsor, so he couldn't
    judge...he had to be impartial.
    
    

    Hmmmm... DOn't have much info on Metaltronix, but I think Buck knows
    a bit about them.  I know they are very well known for their
    outstanding work on custom Marshalls.  I should think changing the
    100wt version to 50 would be pretty easy for your basic tron-chaser.
    Although, I must say "Why would ya wanna do dat ?"  I've got two
    50 watters, and I'd LOVE to have two 100's !!!  50 watts ain't loud
    enough for me... (the bass player in our band thinks it's PLENTY
    loud but...)    ;^)
    
    You might want to check out guitar notes.  I got into some pretty
    serious discussions about Marshall mods in there.  Lots of good
    ideas floating around the company.
    
    There was also an excellent article in "Guitar" covering tube amps
    and modifications.
    
    Do you have a master volume on your 100wt ?  Alan Starr (who bought
    Bucks head) has my old power soak and the last time I talked to
    him he LOVED it.  Alan doesn't have a master volume.
    
    Alan ?

>    Do you have a master volume on your 100wt ?  Alan Starr (who bought
>    Bucks head) has my old power soak and the last time I talked to
>    him he LOVED it.  Alan doesn't have a master volume.
    
Yeah, its true! I *love* it! 

The problem I was having was that I couldn't get a good sound outta my 
Marshall, becasue it would be too loud by the time I got to distorted
volume levels. So I hook up the Power Soak, turn it up to 10, and adjust
the volume via the PS as needed. Bad point - I'll probably burn out the 
tubes rather quickly. Good points - I get the sound I want at a volume the
other guys like.

BTW - I've been using the Strat with EMG actives on it, straight into the 
Marshall, into a 4x12. I love the sound! Its sorta an 'American' rock guitar 
sound, similar to what you might find on a BoDeans or Long Ryders LP, or 
maybe a John Cougar Mellencamp album (for those of you unfamiliar with
the former).

Now, that sound (although I love it) may not be what HM guitarists want. Its
not *real* distorted (like Lynch's. etc.). But that may also have to do with
the fact that I have no signal processors (at all), and the Strat is not
really a HM guitar (at least not the way a Kramer or Charvel is).

cat

Oh yeah, I shoulda mentioned that...

My Marshall is a 100-watter with two of the four power tubes taken out,
so it effectively only a 50-watt head (still plenty loud enough). Since
this mod was done before I go it, maybe Buck can give further details?

BTW - it is not a 50/100 watt 'switch' or anything like that. The two tubes 
are totally removed from the amp head.

cat

    My understanding was that pulling the two tubes didn't make a 100 watt
    into a 50 watt, more like a 70 watt or so.  It doesn't really matter
    anyway. 
    
    I always thought that you had to preamp the signal into a Marshall (or
    have it modified) to get that mega gain distortion like Lynch and
    others use. 
    
    That's the big billing for amps like Kitty Hawk, Laney and such.
                 
    BTW Alan, those EMGs are as hot as anything in a "real heavy metal
    guitar" like a Charvel or a Kramer...  The EMGs in my Strat are hotter
    than the Jacksons in my Charvel. 
                
    Speaking of mega-gain and preamps and such, I saw an ad in the most
    recent issue of Guitar FTPM for the Kitty Hawk rack mount preamp
    module.  It looks HOT!  Four settings, Clean, Crunch Rhythm,
    Distortion, and Super Distortion.  Bound to be big bux though.
    
    gh 

    
    Pull two tubes in a 100WT amp and it becomes a 50WT!
    
    I pulled the outside two, cuz they have to be working on the same
    series.  All you need to do is pull the tubes and re-bias and thats it!
    
    It is 50wts, cuz you have two tubes producing the output wave...
    two more tubes doubles output.
    
     

>    cat, whatza power soak? Can it tame my beast? Where can I check it out?
    
The Power Soak is an invention from your old pal, Tom Scholtz. It is no 
longer marketed, but you can still find them used for anywhere from $25-$70.

The basic premise is that it allows you to turn the amp head all the way up,
in order to get a natural tube distortion. But the speaker volume can be 
kept under control - anywhere from headphone volume to full blast. The Power
Soak goes between the amp head and the cab, and dissipates the extra power
through heat, without changing the sound of the signal.

I hope that's a decent explanation - maybe someone else can discuss the 
details a little more.

cat

    
    I would noty seek out a power soak there Andrew.  They're really made
    for amps without master volumes.  Your amp has one.  I would REALLY
    suggest pulling two tubes and rebaising...it will sound much better.
    The power soak tends to make an amp sound bad when you turn it up too
    much (I think).  If I were you, I would make you're amp a 50WT by
    pulling the tubes (and rebiasing of course), then using hot pickups and
    a tube driver if more gain is needed. 

    Laneys are cool... Carvin are REAL cool !
    
    Tesla uses Randall.  I like Tesla's sound, so ergo, I like the Randall
    sound... But I've never tried one.
    
    Go 4-it !  Perhaps pre-amping with something like an MP-1 would
    do the job for ya ?  I couldn't seem to get enough (and I like A
    LOT) distortion out of the MP-1 I tried, but I didn't play with
    it all day.  Buck has an MP-1.  I'm sure he'll endorse it...Rick
    Buck ?  ;^)
    
    Perhaps the cleanest most warm distortion (albeit - porcessed as
    hell) I've ever heard is GK.  (Gee, how'd you know I'd say this!)
    My GK, for pure metal overdrive roolz.  Very punchy.  Specially
    considering it's size.

    But, scope out the posuer coverings the put on Randalls.
    
    ;^)

    
    RE: KMD ...crap..they break down real easy and don't sound that
    great.
    
    RE: Randall..they make two amps, a transistor one and an all tube
    one.  The all tube one sounds great, like a ballsy old marshall,
    the trans. ones stink, but I didn't need to tell ya that.
    
    Laney:  ok, nothing great.  Funny how everyone who USED Laneys
    (DiMartini, Lynch, Moore) has switched BACK to Marshalls!
    
    Boogies are nice too.
    
    

    Randalls are covered in tiger-stripped fur.  They look wicked glam...
    But nifty... Like not everyone has one, ya know ?
    
    jc

    FYI...the Randalls that are the glam-ones...tiger, zebra, fur, etc
    ectc are the TRANSISTOR ones...Aack!!
    
    The tube ones are all black and are not (or were not) available
    in weird colors.
    
    Buck

    Yeah, but those tiger striped ones look "bbbaaaaaaaddddd to the
    bone!!!
    
   
    jc

               
    Changing the subject to technique:
               
    Any players out there who find it easier/more comfortable to do
    neck tapping with there left hand OVER the neck.  I realise this
    could be classed as showing off or whatever - but is there anyone
    who does it coz they find it easier ?? especially if you are playing
    quite wide stretches ??
               
    Eg, if you are going to hold the first fret on the high E string
    (thats an F) with your first finger and then fret and seventh fret
    on the High E (thats a B) and tap at the tenth fret same string
    (thats a D).  Its much easier do the tap with both hands over
    the neck.                     
                                  
    Comments ??                   

    I find its real easy to play most stuff over the neck...it just
    seems logical....I mean, its the same notes....
    
    

    It's a posuer thing to do, IMHO..
    
    And coming from me, the ORIGINAL posuer, it must be, cuz I don't
    make this stuff up.
    
    ;^)

    I don't know about easier, I think it's all in what you become
    accustomed to doing.  If it works for you, GO FOR IT!  (WTheck,
    it looks cool too).
      
    Re: Funky covered cabinets
    
    I'd worry about how durable that type fabric would be.  I suppose
    if you were really intent on it, you could have any amp/cab recovered
    any way you wanted.
    
    Black's good enough for me...I don't need flashy equipment to draw
    attention to my bad playing.
    
    gh
                                

    I thought you'd say that Coop (re:posuer)!!
    
    Try playing it with both hands over the neck and the right hand
    behind the usual fretting hand - Jezuz, I get tied in knots !
    
    -oTyn

    I have a question - what is the best channel to go through for the  
    identification old of guitars ? I'll tell you the situation:   
                                                                   
    I was given a guitar which was found in a dustbin.  I took it home
    and combed every inch of the body looking for markings or a brand
    name.  All I found was a plate on the headstock with the word  
    "STARWAY" on it and a small silver sticker on the rear of the  
    headstock which says "MODEL:J**" (where ** = unreadable).  Thats it!
                                                                   
    I dismantled the whole thing and cleaned it up, and I still found no 
    markings which would lead to and identification.  I've never seen 
    anything like it before :-                                     
                                                                         
    Headstock     : Same shape as a strat , but its about 1.5 times the 
    		    size (length) of it.  Its looks really stretched and 
    		    long.                                          
    Machine heads : None (no strings either)                       
    Neck          : 4 x Bolt on (w/truss rod).  Can't figure out what
    		    wood it is.  Its deep red/brown in colour        
    		    (Rosewood?).  22 frets.  It has no inlays as such on
    		    the neck itself, but the neck binding has the usual 
                    dots on it except that at the octave marker there is
    		    only one dot, as apposed to the more usual markings
    		    of two.  At every point that there is a dot on the
    		    binding, the binding overlaps onto the neck itself by  
     		    about 4mm on the low E side, but when it reaches the 
    		    octave, the binding extends 4mm on *both* sides, so I 
    		    guess these are supposed to be the neck markings.
    Bridge        : Silver - it has a whammy but its real old a decreped.   
    		    the bar itself is missing but it looks like it would    
                    still function with a little work and a gallon of       
    		    WD40 !                                                  
    Body          : Black with Sunburst coloured centre.  Rather small in
    		    shape (smaller than a Strat or a LP) and is not
    		    dissimilar to an SG with less of a sharp contour on
    		    the "horns".  I don't know what the body is made of.
    Pickups       : It has two metal pickups (about .75 of an inch high,
    		    about 1.50 wide and about 3.50 inches long) with no
    		    visible markings.  These things actually still work
    		    fine.  What I did was rig up the guitar to my amp and
    		    held my other guitar about a half inch over the top
    		    of the other guitar and strummed my guitar - this was
    		    picked up by the pick-ups on the old guitar and
    		    sounded through my amp.  The two pickup selector   
    		    toggles are real interesting - they are plastic 
    		    switches about an inch long by about .5 inches wide 
    		    and are white plastic (similar to a UK light switch 
    		    button) and have a "MIC ON" label above each switch 
    		    (they didn't even call them pickups in them days!).  
    		    Its has two volume pots and two tone pots - all sat 
    		    on a metal (aluminium) scratch-plate.          
                                                                   
    So, if anybody has any ideas or suggestions please let me know.
    (Bearing in mind I'm in the UK!). 
                                                                   
    Cheers, 
    -Tony 

Well, I've decided to learn a Dokken song this weekend, since their tunes
have been in my head all day (note the conference title...). I figure the
first one I'll pick up is "Just Got Lucky".

Any of the HM guitarist know this song, and feel like giving me a head
start on this one? Or, failing that, maybe some help with "In My Dreams"?

as always, thanx

cat

>    			     | Master Volume = 6+  > HUMMMMMMMM
>    Why? Impedence? Magnetic emmision / feeedback? ( sounds like feedback )

Well, not that I'm an expert or anything (hardly!), but I'll ask a question. 
Does your Marshall have a reverb on it? I notice that on many amps, when you 
turn the reverb up, it makes a nasty humming/feedback sound at high volumes. 
If it does have a reverb, turn it down and see if the hum goes away.....

cat

> Note 103.19  PNO::HEISER "I hate it when it is 116�F!!!" 
> Cat, is the SGE all that it is cracked up to be?!

Well, I was describing this to Greg earlier today. First of all, let me say 
that it was not a thorough trial of the unit - I just played with it for 
20 minutes or so. Also, I am not really qualified to judge this stuff as
well as others may be, and all these things are subjective anyways.

Enough disclaimers.....

Basically, yes - I was very impressed by the unit. There were a few points 
about it I didn't like, but they are probably correctable:

a.) I liked very few of the preset tones that were available. Most of them I 
    would never use in a live/band situation. But some of them might be
    convenenient for studio sound effects.

b.) I believe this is a problem with the noise gate, but I didn't like the way
    the attack dropped off. As soon as the note started to quiet down on the
    guitar, the effect rack quickly cut it off - there was no natural decay, 
    just sort of a quick chop-off that I didn't like *at all*.

Things I did like - there were some pre-programmed effects that I thought were
just great! They are titled things like "Warm English Tube", or "Heavy Metal 
Concert Hall", or "Warm Blues", etc. Some of these are pretty accurate 
representations on the amps the duplicate. One notable one was the micro-
stack, which was almost *identical* to a Marshall microstack. 

Again, I didn't get that much time to play with it, and it was through their
equipment (a Kramer guitar with Sustainor, a preamp, and speakers, all in
stereo). I'll have to try it another time with my Strat and Marshall to 
get a real opinion. But for now, I am cautiously optimistic - there were a
hell of a lot of sounds, and a lot more possibilities!

BTW - sticker price was $569 at Daddy's (in Peabody, MA).

cat

    Hmmmm.... Sounds good...   I hope you can diddle the gating on it.
    
    My opinion:
    
    There is no such thing as a good preset... You can always make it
    better.  Factory presets are for marketing demos and such...
    The real world (us) is gonna diddle all the presets and come up
    with about 10-20 that we like, copy themall to our fave numbers
    (or banks, or program them into your pedal, or whatever).
    
    I need to try an SGE next to the ADA MP1 (with my DSP128) to see
    what would be better...  Seems that the SGE has a lot of nifty items
    that one would want in their racks (aural exciter, harmonizer etc..)
    
    jc (Who wishes SC had real music stores...)

    Okay, let's talk power amps...
    
    I mean we've always got the old standby:  Peavy CS800's and 400's...
    They seem awefully big and bulky for a guitarist rack.
    
    Perhaps y'all have heard about some other brands/models etc. that
    we can think about putting into our racks...  Carver has recently
    developed a single rack space power amp that is beau-coup bux, but
    is light (14lbs), powerful (225wpc into a four ohm load).
    
    To me, siz and weight are among the top considerations when buying.
    (This is course, in conjunction with $$$).
    
    Note 103.22 (By PNO::Heiser) queried Carver's reliability.  Certainly
    this is worth talking about.  Tell us all about it dude !

    Consuming minds wanna know !

    jc

>        Note 103.22 (By PNO::Heiser) queried Carver's reliability.  Certainly
>    this is worth talking about.  Tell us all about it dude !
    
    A have a few things worth mentioning that will at least make you
    think twice about Carver.  I'm not sure how familiar you are with
    circuitry but I'll give it a shot anyway.  Keep in mind that this
    applies to Carver hi-fi/audio amps.  It may not apply to their
    instrument amps but I tend to doubt it.
    
    First of all, it is impossible to obtain decent bass (low frequency)
    reproduction without a power transformer.  Bob Carver, in his quest
    for the almighty dollar, has spared quality for quantity in his
    amp circuit design.  Hence, the lightweight/high-power amps.  Where
    a power transformer should be in a good quality amp, Carver put
    a small flyback-transformer with an SCR (Silicon Control Rectifier)
    connected to it.  This configuration is supposed to sense a signal
    at the Driver Stage of the Amp and then go into saturation mode
    when the output voltage of the Driver Stage is sufficient to turn
    on the Power Stage.  The problem is that when the flyback/SCR goes
    into saturation, you get little or no bass reproduction.  Carver's
    basic circuit here is a rip-off of Dr. Onyoko's Class G Amp Circuit
    minus the power transformer and various necessary large capacitors
    to maintain the power levels required for bass reproduction.
    
    To cut manufacturing costs, Carver also has a bad habit of using
    cheaper parts in critical areas.  The heart of an amp is in the
    Op Amps.  Most companies use Op Amps with a 1mvs slew rate at a
    minimum.  Carver uses Op Amps with a .5mvs slew rate.  Most Power
    Amps use about 5 of these at about $1.30/each as opposed to Carver's
    .90�/each Op Amps.  There is a big difference in sound too.

    Most Carver customers I know, regret buying their equipment.  They
    are way over-priced.  
    
    For the common consumer, a rule of thumb for buying amps is the
    weight of the amp.  If it is heavy, you know if has a hefty power
    transformer in there for excellent bass reproduction.  You mentioned
    that the Carver unit was 14 lbs.  That doesn't surprise me!  I would
    expect it to be at least 30 lbs. with a power transformer.
    
    If you don't want to dish out $$$ for a Mesa Boogie, try looking
    into Crown.  They make excellent audio amps and are well regarded
    in the professional field (lots of studios use their stuff).  Their
    instrument amps are the Crown PB1 and Crown PB2 series.  Both are
    only 3�" high and range in weight from 35-45 lbs.  They are 200wpc/$600
    and 400wpc/$800 respectively.  
    
    Or you could go mail order with Carvin (not to be confused with
    Carver).  I'm not familiar with their designs but I do hear you
    get a lot of power per $1 from them.
    
    Hope this helps,
    Mike

     The info below came from the Synth conference.  You can find some
    interesting discussions in there as far as Carver vs. Crown (or
    anyone else) in there.  If you're serious about getting a Crown,
    contact me off line.  
    ----------------------------------------------------------------
                   <<< NOVA::DVD12:[NOTES$LIBRARY]COMMUSIC.NOTE;1 >>>
                        -<   **  Computer Music  **   >-
================================================================================
Note 5.28              Equipment Manufacturer Information               28 of 28
MAY32::DIORIO "Cellulite Heroes never really diet"    8 lines  20-JUN-1989 14:45
                          -< Main number for Crown. >-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Crown International

(The makers of power amps, etc.-- NOT Crown Japan)

Elkhart Indiana

(219) 294-8000

    Since Buck is still on vacation, I'll mention a power amp that he told
    me he really liked.  That's the new Metaltronix one.  100 wts/channel
    stereo, single rack slot (I think).  He said it sounds excellent.
    
    gh

    Whoa...  Sounds like Carver is gonan cause me problems... I wonder
    why the guy up at Express likes them so much...
    
    I appreciate the feedback from both you guize.  I'd like to hear
    more about this power amp from Metaltronix, since they have an
    established name in the guitarin' biz.
    
    I'd say the only trouble with Carvin and Crown is that they *do*
    weigh a ton...  See, us guit players (correct me if I'm wrong) want
    something potent in a small package.  I 40lb power amp is pretty
    hefty if you wanna carry your rack without a hand-truck.
    
    Then again, Carver is BIG bucks...  $8-900.
    
    ADA makes a two-rack-space power amp (one bipolar, one tube) that
    are designed to work with the MP1.  Anyone got a ruff guess-timent
    on what they go for ?
    
    jc (Who sez Peavy is lookin' better everyday...;^)

    Re- .635

    >First of all, it is impossible to obtain decent bass (low frequency)
    >reproduction without a power transformer.  Bob Carver, in his quest
    >for the almighty dollar, has spared quality for quantity in his

    >To cut manufacturing costs, Carver also has a bad habit of using
    >cheaper parts in critical areas.  The heart of an amp is in the


	Perfect example of believing everything you read, because you
	certainly aren't speaking from experience.

	
	I use Carver PM 1.5's on the low end of my sound system. If
	you really want to hear for yourself, come to DecJam on July
	23, at the Northboro Fish and Game in Northboro, MA. I think
	you'll be surprised. I know it's a long way from AZ, but hey.

	BTW, there are quite a few major sound contractors using
	the Carver 1.5 (21lbs), and the 2.0 MosFet (11 lbs).

	The harshest statement I've read, from a serious professional,
	in Pro Sound News, was that low end reproduction wasn't as
	"sweet", but they use them because they are inexpensive and
	they are light in weight, which is why I use them, also.
	
	If you used one for guitar, you'd hardly reach into the 
	low end region of the audio spectrum ~40Hz in order to
	notice a difference if there was one. With bass guitar
	you will, but whether there is a difference is up to your
	own ear and not a bunch of propaganda.

	
	Neal

    
    Yeow !
    
    So tell me about the two Carvers you use dude...  Like that MosFet
    deal...  How much $$ ?  How many rack spaces ?  How much power ?
    How are they cooled ? (Fans ?  Heat Sinks ?)
    
    As you pointed out also, the need for a bass response around 40hz
    is barely audible, let alone something I'm gonna need for a 
    guit-fiddle.  I just want a rip-your-gnads-off mid-high response.
    
    I shouldn't think that I'd need any more than 50wpc to do that.
    I'll be running (2) 4x12 (4 ohm) cabs.

    Keep it coming guys !  This is the best reading this conference
    has seen in a while...
    
    jc

    I have a Carver M-200t, and it works great!  I've had it for over
    five years now and I'd buy Carver again.
    
    By the way, I drive synths into the Carver and find that the Carver
    stays well controlled even down to .5 Hz or so; far lower a note
    than you'll ever make on a bass guitar.  No problem, plenty of 
    oomph, no fluttering, no clipping (and because it doesn't clip it
    doesn't blow drivers out either)
    
    	-Bill (happy Carver owner)

>    < Note 101.639 by LEDS::ORSI "Cuz I felt like it, OK?" >
>	Perfect example of believing everything you read, because you
>	certainly aren't speaking from experience.
    
    Hate to disappoint you but you're wrong.  Like I said in my last
    note, my experience is mainly with Carver's hi-fi/audio line.  Carver
    has come with some interesting principles (i.e. lightweight amps,
    sonic hologram) but his execution leaves something to be desired.
    I don't want to start an argument here.  JC asked my opinion and
    I told him what facts I knew, all of them documented in Stereophile.

>	I use Carver PM 1.5's on the low end of my sound system. If
>	you really want to hear for yourself, come to DecJam on July
>	23, at the Northboro Fish and Game in Northboro, MA. I think
>	you'll be surprised. I know it's a long way from AZ, but hey.
    
    I'd love to!  If they're so good though, I should be able to hear
    them anyway :-)

>	BTW, there are quite a few major sound contractors using
>	the Carver 1.5 (21lbs), and the 2.0 MosFet (11 lbs).
    
    Along with every other 'currently popular' brand.  "Give 'em what
    they want!" is what they'll say.  Everyone makes money that way.

    Mike

>>	I use Carver PM 1.5's on the low end of my sound system. If
>>	you really want to hear for yourself, come to DecJam on July
>>	23, at the Northboro Fish and Game in Northboro, MA. I think
>>	you'll be surprised. I know it's a long way from AZ, but hey.
>    
>    I'd love to!  If they're so good though, I should be able to hear
>    them anyway :-)

    Well, presuming that they tape the Jam, like they usually do, you can
    get a copy and hear it.  I got copies of the tapes from SpringJam last
    year and enjoyed them immensely.

    Greg

    >    Hate to disappoint you but you're wrong.  Like I said in my last
    >note, my experience is mainly with Carver's hi-fi/audio line.  Carver
    > has come with some interesting principles (i.e. lightweight amps,
    > sonic hologram) but his execution leaves something to be desired.
    > I don't want to start an argument here.  JC asked my opinion and
    > I told him what facts I knew, all of them documented in Stereophile.


	I don't believe that Stereophile is infallible. Or any other
	publication for that matter. Alot, and I emphasize *alot* of
	what they say is opinion, not fact. What they or anyone else
	prints is not necessarily gospel.

	I don't want to argue either. But, when I heard all this stuff
	about the Carvers, I, at least, used them first before making
	a decision. All the people I know who use them, like them and 
	own more than one. I belong to this group, but I don't need
	them to tell me what sounds good or what doesn't. 

	Technically, it is not imperative in some circuitry that com-
	ponents or even the design be state-of-the-art to do the job.
	I work in an engineering group and decisions are made freq-
	uently concerning these very issues. When we look at buyout
	units and see circuit designs with three times the components
	we would use to do the job, it makes us think" what's going on
	here?" But these are not esoteric units, and a Carver isn't
	either, not like Krell or Bryston. But maybe that is the pers-
	pective from which Stereophile views, which is fine with me,
	but don't tell us it's - and I quote " *impossible* to obtain
	decent bass (low frequency) reproduction without a power trans-
	former". That's just a load of Bu11$#1t.


    For a couple of notes back,
    
    	I use the Carver PM 1.5  450W per Ch @ 8 ohms, 600W @ 4
    	ohms. Retails for ~$1000. The 2.0 has about the same spec,
    	but weighs only 11 lbs. and retails ~$1200. Also, both
    	have a built in clipping eliminator as well as balanced
    	XLR and TRS inputs, and sequence on connector so that when
    	you turn on a rack of them, they power up one at a time.
    	The audiophile version of the 1.5t.
    
    	Neal Carver :')
    

>    	I don't believe that Stereophile is infallible. Or any other
>	publication for that matter. Alot, and I emphasize *alot* of
>	what they say is opinion, not fact. What they or anyone else
>	prints is not necessarily gospel.
    
    Neal, I agree.  That is why most people stay away from publications
    (especially Stereo Review).  One thing that should be mentioned
    is that the Stereophile folks (Holt and Co.) challenged Bob Carver
    on this and Carver is still trying to prove them wrong and save
    face.
    
>    	I don't want to argue either. But, when I heard all this stuff
>	about the Carvers, I, at least, used them first before making
>	a decision. All the people I know who use them, like them and 
>	own more than one. I belong to this group, but I don't need
>	them to tell me what sounds good or what doesn't. 
    
    I understand.  I catch the same flack from audio nuts because I
    own Bose 901s.  Most of them say that Bose loudspeakers are terrible
    hi-fi speakers.  Then I tell them about my friend that works for
    them and bought them for me at about 70% OFF list and they shut
    up!  I stand by them the way you stand by Carver.  When I finish
    my rack system, I'll probably by the Bose 801 professional speakers
    for the same reason, $$$.  Incidentally, the 801s and 901s are exactly
    the same outside of color and physical orientation.  I may just
    use my 901s!
    
>    	Technically, it is not imperative in some circuitry that com-
>	ponents or even the design be state-of-the-art to do the job.
>	I work in an engineering group and decisions are made freq-
>	uently concerning these very issues. When we look at buyout
>	units and see circuit designs with three times the components
>	we would use to do the job, it makes us think" what's going on
>	here?" But these are not esoteric units, and a Carver isn't
>	either, not like Krell or Bryston. But maybe that is the pers-
>	pective from which Stereophile views, which is fine with me,
>	but don't tell us it's - and I quote " *impossible* to obtain
>	decent bass (low frequency) reproduction without a power trans-
>	former". That's just a load of Bu11$#1t.
    
    I also work in an engineering group so I understand this too.  Since
    we work for DEC though, we have to be aware of price/performance
    issues.  Personally, I wouldn't buy something where designers cut
    corners and skimped on materials, would you?  Don't you want the
    best for your hard-earned cash?  That is my point of view.
    
    It may not be impossible to get adequate bass reproduction without
    a power transformer, but wouldn't you rather have that floor-vibrating,
    wall-shaking, teeth-rattling bass? :-)
    
    Mike

    Sheeeesh !!  Doesn't Carver make something a little *smaller* ?
    I mean,I mean 600wpc into a 4 ohm load is a little over kill for
    my application... How about something around 50-100wpc into 4 ?

    jc (who doesn't wanna repaint his walls everytime he plays)

    
    	jc,                                                      \/
    	Yeah, you're right. But it would be awesome clean, dude. 8'O
    	Carver makes lower wattage stuff, but I don't know       /\
    	whether they have a 1 rack space model. The amps I referred
    	to earlier are only 2 rack spaces high as well as the others
    	I've read about. I think Ashley, Ramsa, Crown, and Peavey make
    	rack mount amps around 50-100wpc, some are 2 spaces high. Some
    	have switching power supplies like the Carver, and Peaveys'
    	DECA series, others have the conventional supplies. Some are 
    	Mos-Fet, some are bi-polar transistor. They probably all sound
    	a little bit different.
    
    	Neal
    
    	
    	    

    Coop,
    
    Well, I'm behind in this discussion, but I think back about 20 notes
    you said you wanted a power amp for your guit system.  I don't think
    there is any better amp made today (for guitar) then the Metaltronix.
    Its 1 space, has 4 speaker outs, switchable spkr imp., 100WTS/side, and
    has a tube emulation system built in, so the amp reacts like a tube
    output stage, without the hassles of tubes (replacement, microphonics,
    hum, etc).  It was made to reproduce guitar and thats it...what
    more can you ask for? 

    Yep, thats what I want Buck... Okay, so whats the bad news ? ($$)
    Are they available ?  Is there a model number I may need to know...
    And, if ya know... Are they cooled by a fan or heat sink ?
    
    jc - Who is getting close to hooking up with a new rack...
    

    Oh yeah... Welcome back dude.  We was awaitin' to hear what you
    had to say about Metalltronix'z...
    
    ;^)

    The damage on the power amp is around $400. depending on where you
    shop.  It is cooled by a heat sink all the way around the unit.
    The sucker gets hot, but its pretty reliable.
    
    BUck

    $400 ??
    
    Yeee-haw !  Thats what I was lookin' for...
    
    BTW - If your Marshalls sound like ka-ka... Go buy some new tubes
    and plug them in.  Between that and my roomates Aural Exciter, my
    junk sounds pretty good...  (And it's all stacked in my bedroom...)
    What a nightmare to wake up staring at a couple of Marshalls !
    
 _    /|   
 \'o.O'    AcK!!
 =(___)=   
    U      
    

    Well Captain,
    
    I tend to agree with you; sorta...
    
    Marshall does rule.  I've got one though, and I need something more.
    I have considered looking into some of the new Marshall-Rack stuff
    too, but I betcha it's expensive, and I bet some other companies
    have some better stuff due to more experience in the MIDI field...

    Who knows...
    
    Anyhow, can I ask y'all a favor ?
    
    Can you call up some local places and post some prices for ADA's
    MP-1, ADA's 100wt tube power amp, ART's SGE and other things like
    this ?  I may coming up to Mass soon, and may wanna buy something 
    for my rack while I'm there...

    jc

    Sounds like the Metalltronix amp that Buck was plugging would be
    *the* deal to beat with the $400 price tag and single space size...
    
    Thanks for checking out those prices for me dude.  What I wanna
    hook up with next is a power amp and either an MP-1 or an SGE.
    I haven't played with the SGE yet, so I hadn't really decided.
    If it's as good as the mags say it is, I'm gonna go for it, especially
    since it's cheaper that the MP-1.
    
    Thanks again.

    Coop, for the sound you seem to like (GK), I think you'll go with
    the SGE....it gets that real processed, highly distorted, high-endy
    rock guitar sounds...like the GK with toys on it.  The MP-1 is a
    real warm-sounding thing that probably won't please you as far as
    highend response of amount of gain is concerned.
    
    JMHO
    Buck

    RE: Buck...
    
    Yeah, I have a feeling your right.
    
    RE: Toenail
    
    See, Buck knows me (or at least my taste) pretty well.  I've got two
    Marshalls and while they sound pretty good, I'm still apt to go for the
    super-processed GK type sound.  I dropped some new tubes in my
    Marshalls and now I *really* like the sound, but I'm in search of the
    ultimate, and I know it's out there... I'm hoping the boize at ART
    can do what GK did and make it MIDI !!
    
    jc

    re: .last

    >I'm hoping the boize at ART can do what GK did and make it MIDI !!

    ...and make it reliable.


    Just FYI for all you guitar heads;  I played with a new Boss Guitar
    Driver this weekend.  It's basically a two channel preamp type unit,
    one rack slot in size. It generates some really cool sounds.  Capable
    of quite a variety of tones.  

    Six (or was it 7) settings from drive to distortion, low & high
    controls and two ranges of midrange parametric EQ on Channel 1.  5
    selections from squeaky clean to distortion with low & high controls
    and one range of midrange parametric on channel 2. 

    Unfortunately, it's all manual (no MIDI) and is a bit pricey (list
    around $450 or so).

    I understand that their new MIDI unit (Roland GS-6) is basically the
    same circuitry for it's distortion stages, but is programmable, MIDI
    controllable, and has some other effects (and lists for a cool grand).
    
    As usual, Roland=good stuff,overpriced (IMO).

    gh

    Played a GSP-5 last night...  It was cool.  Typically DIGItech though.
    It was a real pain to program without a user guide.  There were
    some real nifty tones; One that really stuck out was a mild flange
    with a bassy distortion which had *THE* Metallica sound.
    
    I think they wanted $550 for it.  Not bad for a pre-amp/multi-effector.
    I'm tryin' to find an SGE to play with though.
    
    jc

         <<< IRDEV::SYS$SYSDEVICE:[NOTES$LIBRARY]HEAVY_METAL.NOTE;1 >>>
                       -< And get the priest as well... >-
================================================================================
Note 501.248                  Don'tcha love it when                   248 of 248
HAZEL::STARR "What do ya do when you get lonely...?" 21 lines  27-JUN-1989 09:39
                                 -< Chandler >-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

>    $99 !!!! ????

Yeah. Ain't it great???

> Howzit sound ?

It sounds incredible! My Marshall is in getting retubed and rebiased, so I 
couldn't try it on that. And it only sounded so-so through the Boogie (I don't 
need it on the Boogie anyways). But when I was in the store, I used it through
a small Roland amp (set to a real clean sound), and was amazed by the 
diversity of the unit! I could get all sortsa sounds, from slightly distorted
American rock sound (Bruce, JC Mellancamp, etc.) to raging wall-of-distortion,
ala Metallica. 

Just by changing any one of the controls, you can create a whole new sound. It 
has sooo many possibilties. I can't wait until I get the Marshall back, then 
I'll give it a real review.

Hmmm...maybe I'll move this to the HM Guitar note....

cat

    If you have a rack mount preamp you can use two individual power
    amps no problem.  Simply send each side of the preamp out to different
    power amps.  I'm not 100% sure, but I'd say the DI stands for Direct
    Input and would allow you to run a line level directly out of your
    amp/preamp to a mixer (PA system/studio board).  There's good and
    bad points to doing that.  I don't have one, but would never use
    it anyway.  It's much better to mic the speakers that way you get
    the full "effect" of the sound.
    
    Other guit players please correct me if I'm wrong.
    
    	joe.

    	Are you talking about "slaving"???  If so, there's a note in
    Guitar Notes about it.  I thought you were talking about going out
    of like an ADA MP-1 or something...
    
    	joe.

    There are pros & cons to both mikeing & using a DI.  THe probs with
    using a DI is that you don't get the "colour" of sound that you
    would from mikeing.  The advantage is the sound man has got a better
    chance of getting a balanced sound if the Guitarist concerned has
    a particularly "THIN" sound. (Satyr have this prob with Andy Watson,
    since he bought the MP-1 his sound thro the PA has gone Yuckie)
    
    When mikeing you do get the full "colour" of the speakers but you
    can experience probs when setting gains on the desk.  The main problem
    I found was with a thin sound, some mikes are not very good with
    a very "toppy" sound.  This causes probs that are almost impossible
    to cure on a *small* desk, especially when a guitarist won't listen
    to anybody other than people who tell him he is the greatest.
    
    Bonzo (Ex_sound_man_and_staying_that_way_for_the_mean_time)

        
    >So I take the preamp out ( say Channel A ) and can plug it into either
    >the low or high input plugs of my Master Volume...  
    >that makes sense, instead of an outboard or an in-guitar
    >preamp I could use a rack mount pre-amp, and my present head.

    Not really....most of the new high-tech preamps on the mkt today are
    made to run at line-level ( -4 db, ie - into other line level [studio
    quality] effects and into a regular, PA-style power amp). The high/low
    sensitivity inputs on a guitar amp are NOT line level!!! They are
    "instrument" level as they call it....if you plugged most preamps in
    you Marshall like you described, you'd get a LOT of noise and I don't
    think the resulting tone would be very musical! I had tried this before
    and it doesn't really work well.  Some units like the Chandler tube
    drive works well with guitar amps, but some don't.  The ADA MP-1 has a
    switch on it so you can run it between line and instrument level.  Most
    units will have a switch like this...look for it if you are making a
    rock-mountable purchase, as you'll need that instrument level feature
    with you Marshall amp providing the power. 
    
    Its better to do it like the big boys do....run a line out from your
    Marshall preamp stage...that way you acan go into all the effects and
    power amps you want cuz your singal had been converted to line level.
    Or, putting the stuff in an effects loop would work better than running
    the stuff at the front end of the preamp, but personally I think
    effects loops all kinda stink. 
    
    Good luck in your quest for the ultimate tone....just be smart when
    you go about searching for it...you'll save some time and hassles
    that way.

    I would suggest dumping the Marshall head and picking up one of
    the new Metalreonix M1000 heads....first off, its a stereo head!
    and it sounds AMAZING!!!  Like every Marshall SHOULD sound.  It
    even sounds better than Laneys!!  I believe it has a stereo FX loop
    in it too.  Get your buttover to Mr C's and plug into one of these
    babies!  You won't be sorry.
    
    

    	Yeah, toedude.  You won't be sorry.  I heard Rob demo'ing one
    at Mr. C's and the tone was absolutely "killer".  We're are talking
    a singing sustain, warm depth, (in fact every adjective you can
    think of).  Rob used one on his Sweet Surrender demo tape and the
    guit on it (the tape, that is) sounds wicked.  If I only had an
    extra $789 plus a few hundred for a 4X12 or two I'd do it and
    use it in conjunction with my Twin (one for clean, one for dist).
    
    joe.

    I was just down at Mr. C's and they're all out of the Metaltronix
    stuff.  Seems they can't keep 'em in stock (which testifies to the
    "goodness" of the product).  They have 8 of them on order, but I'm
    not sure if they're already sold (i.e. on deposit).
    
    They also just got in 4 (I think) of the ART SGE's.  They look
    identical to my Multiverb.  Now if I could only convince ART to
    give me an upgrade to the SGE from the Multiverb ;^)
    
    	joe.

    I'm looking for the addresses of the following companies:
    
    	1.  Marshall (the UK address and the US address)
    	2.  Gibson
    	3.  Fender
    
    joe.

      A lot of raving on the Metaltronix, eh.  I tried the Lee Jackson
    pre-amp and gave it a so-so. THe power amp seemed like a nice package
    for the price, I'll have to try it with my pre-amp. 
      I agree with one thing. I have a Marshall in the basement and
    I've never been that impressed with its versatility, or lack therof.
    I can't really knock Marshall , but most of the good ones you hear
    or see in a big-name concert have been worked over. I'm still hooked
    on the Kitty Hawk gear. The M1 100 watt tube head has some INCREDIBLE
    sounds and a great clean channel. The Kitty Hawk Quattro pre-amp
    front ends my rack w/ a Roland GP-8 and ART SGE (brand new). The
    rack is flawless for giving me any GTR sound I want. 
      I just got word that the ADA B200S tube power amp is available
    (moved from the vaporware category). I was quoted $399 for this
    unit. That seems cheap! I was expecting about $600. The Kitty Hawk
    tube power amp is in the vaporware section although Winger has them
    as well as some of the distributors. That will be more buxx than the
    ADA though. Guess around $700.
    
       

    re: .last  What does a Metaltronix amp look like?
    
    In the June '89 issue of GuitarFTPM on page 76 there is an
    advertisement for Metaltronix amps with a photo.  They are seperate
    heads and cabinets with bronze colored fronts on the heads with the
    Metaltronix logo in black.
    
    The also have a brief description and photo of the SP-1000 rack mount
    amp in the "New Products" section on page 160.  they sai it has 100
    watts/channel, sounds like a tube amp, and weighs less then 15 lbs. 
    Retails for $599.  One rack slot.
    
    The same section has the ADA B200s (looks like two rack slots).
    
    gh

      The ADA B200S isn't going for $399. That price seemed low for
    a tube power amp. The price of $399 will get you tha ADA solid state
    power amp (discounted, of course). Expect the B200S to be around
    $700 just like the Kitty Hawk KH-PWR1. Since the price is the same
    I might as well stick with with Kitty Hawk. 

    
    I saw an ad just DAYS ago for the ADA B200S listed at $386.00.
    
    Advertised by Factory Music in Rockland, MA.  I forget the phone
    # offhand...it's goota be for something?!?

    Factory Music (617)-871-0005.
    
    	joe.

      OK, so I was wrong!
    
    
     I was misled to believe the ADA B200S was a tube power amp.
    Not so, It's Bipolar (Solid State, transistor,non-valve,glowless)
    B for Bipolar, okay? 
     Anyone wanna guess what the T is for in the ADA T100S . It's not
    the same thing it stands for in Fort Lauderdale during Spring Break!
    The T100S tubular amp is out listing around a G.

    Played a wicked cool set up Saturday...
    
    It was an MP-1 with some tweeked presets powered by a Carver power
    amp with 170wpc into 4 (single rack space).  They only had one MP-1
    in the store so I couldn't buy it (cuz it was a demo model).  I
    offered the guy $1100 for the pair and he let me walk... I couldn't
    believe it.  What a SOUND !
    
    I was impressed far beyond the last time I tried an MP-1.
    
    jc

    re: .689
    
    Are you saying they wouldn't sell you the only unit they had?  Or that
    you really wanted a box fresh one and wouldn't buy the demo unit?
    
    If I wanted to buy something and the store wouldn't sell it to me, I
    wouldn't be buying it there for sure!
      
    gh

    RE: Greg
    
    Yeah, they wouldn't sell me the demo model because it's the only
    one they had... Isn't that insane ?  I mean I was ready...Check
    in hand !

    RE: Toenail
    

    >can the MP-1 go into a preamp ( like the Marshall racker )
    > then out to a power amp?
    >what about the SGE?
    
    The MP-1 *IS* a preamp...You might use it in conjunction with the
    Marshall rackable power amp...
    
    The SGE isn't called a preamp, but I've been toying with the idea
    of using it as one...
    
    >What do you mean tweeked presets ( do u mean programmed and stored? )
    >Can you save the settings somehow ( Midi to disk or Catridge ? )
    
    Yeah, like tweaked AND stored via midi.  If I understand MIDI right,
    you can write it to a PC, into standalone memory, sequencer or
    whatever...
    
    >What do u haveto do to call up a new sound, how long does it take?
    
    Well, you can use a sequencer or a midi controller to call up your
    patches.  I'm not sure how long it would take, but I would assume
    it's in nano seconds...  ;^)  I have a midi controller that I use
    with my DSP128 and  I can pre-program the buttons to call any of
    the 128 presets on the DSP128...In any order, or whatever.  Better
    than that, I can have the DSP128 "talk" to any of the other MIDI
    goodies I might have at the time (like a drum machine, light show,
    sequencer, keys, or an MP-1).  This is handy if I say patch 27 on
    the DSP128 and patch 66 on the MP-1.  I press a button, and waaa-
    laaaa!
    
    
    MIDI rooolz.  I was AMAZED by the MP-1.  I wished I'd gotten the
    same demo the last time I tried one...
    
    jc

    A guitarist was at a Jam Vac rehersal last night, and was AMAZED at the
    tones emitting from my marshall cabs.  Pretty freaked out when he found
    out it was the MP-1.  Quoted: "I hate my Boogie now...I gotta get one
    of those things" 
    
    Buck

    Buck,
    
    You should look into the Carver I tried Saturday... I haven't heard
    the Metaltronix amp yet, but at 170wpc, 1 rack space, and a $500 price
    tag, it's worth a try...  It fried my ears in a heart beat (and
    I LIKE it LOUD !!!), and was cleeeeeeeeean.
    
    Try and let me know whatcha think...
    jc

A comment/question that is aside from the onging conversation:

How much high end does the 'average' Marshall have? The reason I mention this 
is because I've heard Coop complain that he can't get enough of that scream
from his Marshall heads. But the one I picked up (from Buck - did you do any 
specials mods on it?) has *tons* of high end to it!

I've been running my Les Paul into the Chandler into the Marshall. I have to 
keep the highs on both the Chandler and the Marshall set at about 1, the mids 
at about 6, and the lows about 8, in order to get that nasty growl that I 
like. But that isn't to say that there isn't any high end at that point - it 
still screames without any problems! 

Also, while I'm in here - anyone have any favorite settings on the Chandler 
that I should try out? I haven't had much time to experiment with it yet, but 
so far I keep the EQ as listed above, with the drive at about 6, and the 
contour at about 6 or so (I forget where exactly it was). I liked this sound - 
nice and rockin' with bunches of crunch.

BTW - this sucker is LOUD, now that it is back to 100 watts and rebiased. I 
kept the Marshall volume at 1, and the Chandler master at 1�, and it was still 
louder than the rest of the band! Yowza!!!

cat

    The older Marshalls were midrange-city!  Although, my, um, Alan's
    Marshall does have high-end of death!  I used to play the amp full out
    for that rock n roll sound, and I COULD NOT put the presence up full,
    it would shred your ears, and feedback out of control!  I played
    
    pres  bass  mid  treb  vol1  vol2
    
    4      10    10   10   10    10
    
    The bass came from the amp being up, and fropm mixing the treble
    channel with the bass channel.  It sounded great (but LOUD)!
    
       

    re: Toenail
    
    Both the MP-1 and the SGE can be used at either line level (preamp) or
    instrument level.  This means you could use them either in conjunction
    with a preamp or as a preamp themselves.  I'm not sure on the MP-1, but
    I believe there is a switch to select this.  On the SGE, the output
    level slider has a mark about 1/3 of the way up which designates where
    the output gets to line level.  So, if you wanted to use them with the
    Marshall preamp, that should be no problem.
    
    I plan on eventually using my SGE as a preamp, because I like it's
    sounds and also like the idea of having the entire preamp/effects/amp
    all in one rack with just a couple of cables out to cabinets.  At this
    point however, having depleated my monitary resources on the purchase
    of the thing, I'll have to settle with running it through my combo
    amp(s).  
    
    I figure the minimum I'd need to run the way I want is a stereo power
    amp and a 2x12 cabinet wired for stereo (the way GK does them).
    
    MIDI is really nice.  The band I play in makes heavy use of synth
    equipment and sequencers, so it was pretty easy to add the program
    changes for the SGE into the existing sequences and now, a twelve dollar
    MIDI cable later, I'm all set.
    
    I find that the program changes coming from an Ensonic(sp) EPS to a
    MIDI merge box, possibly through something else, to the SGE seems to
    make the change just a little late.  It's like it's about one beat
    after when it was programmed to do it.  So we're having to compensate
    for that.  It's kind of interesting, because with it happening
    automatically like that, you have to change your playing style a
    little.  Especially when the change produces an increase in your
    volume, or makes a little digital glitch (Actually, I'm fairly
    impressed at how little of this the SGE does).  The SGE is nice in that
    it continues to pass your existing signal through the new effects
    chain.  Some of the units out there don't do that, so you get either a
    glaring silence after a change, or a big burp (or so I'm told).
    
    gh
      

    Yo, Tone...
    
    Although everything Greg said in -1 is true, you really wouldn't
    want to interface the MP-1 with the marshall preamp...it would be
    stupid.  The MP-1 is a preamp, as is the marshall.  I think both
    together would sound aweful, and your chioce of one or the other
    would be a better, wiser choice.  Both the MP-1 and the Marshall
    preamp, however, would work well with the SGE...I would rather 
    have the MP-1 and the SGE, cuz they're both MIDI units and could
    talk to each other.  
    
    have at it
    
    me

    re: Buck
    
    >I would rather  have the MP-1 and the SGE, cuz they're both MIDI units
    >and could talk to each other.  
    
    Now THERE'S a combination...  I can hear my bank balance breaking
    already.
    
    (Just kidding, the SGE is fine for me now)  8^)
    
    gh

    Yeah, somebody in Guitar notes was talking about having an SGE along
    with their GP-8, $$$$city !  And speaking of the GP-8 (GP stands
    for "Giant Payments", btw ...) I tried using the Distortion effect
    instead of the Turbo Overdrive this weekend at painful volumes and
    I *finally* got a handle on the tone without feedback. The OD was
    fairly easy to build a patch for without feedback problems.  Scary's
    a happier camper now too.   But I still haven't found a logical
    use for the Phaser on this thing ... wish it had Digital Reverb
    there instead ... oh well ...
    
    
    
    				Scary 

    Moonpie ?  I think thats a local thing Jerry...
    
    The pigmentation of your upper spine is showing.
    
    ;^)

    Wouldn't an MP-1 in conjunction with an SGE be overkill??  I mean
    the MP-1 is gonna give you everything but reverb, delay, pitch trans-
    posing, and flanging (i.e. it'll give you all the "tonal" variations
    you want).  I would think that if you had an MP-1, you'd only need
    a multiverb, or a MVII, or something??  Of course you wouldn't get
    a noise gate or compressor or aural exciter with any of the above,
    but it seems somewhat ludicrous to spend $500 for the SGE and then
    never use the distortion/overdrive...
    
    joe.

    I don't think so.
    
    I would set it up:
    
    MP-1	Heavy distortion with a mdoerate EQ curve
    
    SGE		More post-gain EQing, some stereo chorus and delay (just
                tad, a good amount of reverb, a touch of aural exciter,
                and the some noise reduction.
    
    there you have it!!

    re: .704 - Joe
    
    Overkill?  That's my middle name...  (hey, you've seen all the guitars
    8^)
    
    Actually, I haven't played with an MP-1 at this point, (except in that
    wierd dream.  BTW anyone ever played guitar at a car wash?), so I don't
    know how well it would work for me.  I like the sound that I've heard
    from Bucks on tape and from many of the folks that endorse them
    (Gilbert, Becker, etc).
    
    I like the idea, perhaps it would give a more flexable front end.
    
    It's totally unrealistic for me now anyway.  I couldn't even begin to
    seriously consider getting one, expecially considering that my band is
    just for fun right now and isn't making any money.  Besides, I like the
    distortion in the SGE (that was one of my primary considerations in the
    purchase).  
    
    Someday it might be cool to add an MP-1 (or something similar), but for
    now (as I've said before), it would be much more productive for me to
    get a stereo power amp and cabinet(s).
    
    gh

    local rag has this ad from the Guitar Shop of Scottsdale, AZ:
    
    "Crown Microtech 1200 - the most widely used professional touring
    amp in the world!  
    
    Stereo:  320 watts per channel - 8 ohms
             500   "    "     "      4  "
             600   "    "     "      2  "
    Mono:   1000   "    "     "      8  "*
            1200   "    "     "      4  "*
    
    * Bridged at ohm loads parallel mode to 1 ohm mono
    
    Fan cooled, 2 rack space profile, 3 year warranty.
    Clean, reliable Crown power for only $996!"
    
    BTW - It weighs 40 lbs.
    
    Mike
    

    
    Has anybody got any example settings for a Laney 100watt head to get
    a ballsy but not too bassy tone ? I've tried experimenting with
    it but when I find a good ballsy tone it has not top end to it
    and I lose all the harmonics - and if I ajust it so I can get the
    harmonics and the screaming top end - I lose out with the bass.
              
    Any help ?

    RE .708
    
     Welcome to the wonderful world of laney.
    
    
    
    
    
    
         DAVE_WHO_HAD_1
    

    One suggestion is to go outside the amp to change your tone.
    
    Before I got the SGE, I would set up my Hiwatt for a meaty tone, then
    use a stomp box EQ to boost my signal, especially the midrange, for
    solos.  It would give it a good scream.
    
    gh

                                                           
    Yup, I'm gonna invest in the Boss GE-7 seven band EQ. If that 
    doesn't  sort it out then I'm trading the darn thing in 8^).
                                                           
    In theory though, if I boost the mid and high frequencies when it 
    kicks in it should give me all the scream I need.       
                                                            
    Me thinks its time to invest a decent signal processor. 

                        
                        
    If I just whant a straight artificiak harmonic I just play the 
    note with the normal technique but the amp has troblue with this. 
    But when I want it to scream I play the harmonic and either bend 
    the note, pull up on the whammy or bend the guitar's neck (depends 
    which axe I'm playing). With a clean sound it (the amp) has trouble 
    with natural harmonics so I very much doubt its my technique coz
    I can get a guitar to sream like a baby on just about any amp other
    than a Laney !            
                        
    -Tony_the_screamless

    re: .701
    
      That was me with the GP-8/SGE combo. You're right, they could've
    trashed the phaser. I think I use it on one patch. #5 right? The
    nice thing about having them both is I can A/B them and decide which
    one to keep. If I sell the GP-8 I have to come up with a foot
    controller. I've used the GP-8 for over a year and the SGE for around
    a month. If my decision were being made right now ( starting from
    scratch) I would just get the SGE , that's it. I know overkill when
    I hear it. Even with all the crap I have, my BEST sound is the SGE
    and the Kitty Hawk M1 head w/ a Kitty Hawk MIDI Patch Bayette
    controlling the amp switching. 

    Okay gang...  Here's over kill for ya:
    
    My new rack (which I haven't even played with yet) is as follows:
    
    Sampson wireless rcvr
    BBE Sonic Maximizer
    DigiTech DSP128
    Ibanez Stereo EQ
    ART SGE
    Metaltronix SP1000 power amp (125 wpc into 4ohms)
    
    Peavy Remote Midi controller and (2) 4x12 cabs.
    
    Oh boy, pre and post Excitement here or what ?
    
    The SP1000 SCREAMS though...I cleared out Newbury Street with one
    power chord (no wise cracks guys)  ;^)  I can't wait to get back
    to SC so I can play for a week or two...

    Jeff, you are a sick, sick man.
    
    	joe.

    re: Andy
    
    I think that Joe is calling Jeff a sick man 'cause Jeff has tons of
    high dollar toys and is gloating about them.  8^)
    
    The difference between the DSP-128 and the SGE is in the number and
    selection of effects.  Yes, there is quite a bit of redundancy
    involved, as the SGE does everything that the DSP-128 does (pretty sure
    it does everything) and a lot more.  The DSP-128 does reverb and delay
    type effects mostly (does it have an EQ too?), where the SGE has
    distortion, pitch shift, an exciter and some other things too. 
    
    The "Sonic Maximizer" is another term for an exciter.  I believe that
    Aphex copyrighted the term "aural exciter", so other vendors of
    products that perform a similar function use a different word for it.
    
    Greg
                                                                         

    Greg's kinda right, but what I really meant is that Jeff has the
    (known only to musicians) dreaded "I must have these toys syndrome."
    Come on, we've all had it at one time, or another.  I get it about
    once every two months, unfortunately I can't afford anything.
    
    	joe.

    Hey Andy...  I guess everyone answered your question about the SGE/DSP
    overlap... But there are two points that nobody mentioned:
    
    The SGE is MIDI and so isn't the DSP.  I don't want the SGE to be
    lonely, so I kept the 128 for the SGE's MIDI ports to talk too.
    
    The DSP128 has lights.  Ya just GOTTA have cool lights.
    
    ;^)
    
    Seriously though, the DSP128 has got the sweetest chorus, and some
    really cool special FX.  It's also got a EQ.
    
    As far as tubes vs. solid state go... I've made my opinions know
    about this before, so I'll make it brief:
    
    Everyone screamed "TUBES!!!", so I picked up not one, but two
    Marshalls.  I almost immediately started looking for something else.
    
    My limited play sessions with the SGE/Metaltronix combo makes me
    a believer.  I've already "built" presets called "Fender Twin"
    and "Hyper Marshall".  All the sound, no hassle.
    
    The power amp "sounds" tube.  Buck used it in his rack; maybe 
    he'll put in his two cents.  Buck ?
    
    jc

    Yeah,
    
    The Metaltronix SP-1000 power amp kicks total and utter butt!!!
    I **have** to own one!!!  It is solid state, but you'd NEVER know.
    Yo, Coop!  Thanks for letting me borrow it for the recording...
    everyone whos heard the mix sez my guitar sounds awesome...just
    like a real record guitar sound!!  
    
    The SP-1000 is stereo, and has LEDs that light up on output/input.  The
    more output you have, the more lights go on.  Yo coop, put a stereo
    delay setting on and watch the power amp lights, they go back and forth
    with the input signal!!! 
    
    Way cool beyond words.
    
    Buck

    I was doin' that...  It's more fun than...Well, maybe not that fun,
    but it does look cool.
    
    jc

    Oh, and no problem on the borrow...  Thanks for letting me jam thru
    yuor rack while I was up there...  I was havin' big time DT's !!
    
    jc

    
    Re- .716
    
    	Basically, the exciter adds pleasant sounding even ordered
    	harmonics to the program above 5Khz in order to artificially 
    	restore some of the dynamics lost through all the electronics.
    	The Barcus-Berry 402 and the Aphex B do it this way, but the
    	BB Sonic Maximizer 422 adds these harmonics to the mid-range
    	as well, both BB models have a 50 Hz boost pot to balance the
    	low end with the mids and highs. I think the Aphex model C
    	works like the BB 422, but you'd have to read the literature
    	because I'm not sure. Or you could ask a sales person at
    	Daddy's or Wurly's. Yeah right. :^) :^) :^) :^) :^) :^) :^)
    
    	Neal-techno-dweeb
    

    re: Neal and others
    
    There is a note in COMMUSIC *somewhere* that gives the specs on both
    units, and why the BBE is very different in operation than the Aphex,
    and why it is better.  It was written by some engineer dude who helped
    design the Aphex units!!!  Recommended reading! 
    
    Dir/tit=excit should get you there.

    Metaltronix pi$$es me off.
    
    So I get down to the studio after I've had my rack done for two weeks 
    or so, plug it in and rock for a couple of hours and Poof !  First time
    I'd had the chance to run the thing opened up.
    
    Thats it.  Plenty of pretty lights, but the signal is history.  I
    shoulda got the Carver.
    
    jc (Who's bummin')

    Yeah, there is a warranty, but I'm bummin' none the less.
    I'll call Metaltronix and see what they say.  I have a feeling it's
    probably a opened thermo-fuseable link inside or something.  Lot's of
    lights, but no output.  Not a good day for the first day out with your
    new rack.
    
    ;^(

    Yeah, a backup rack... thats the ticket !
    
    ;^)
    
    Anyhow, good news.  It seems that during production, Metaltronix ran
    out of 5 Amp fuses and used 2 amp fuses for a while.  I was lucky, I
    got one with 2 amp fuses.  They both blew.  Anyhow, with permission
    from Metaltronix I opened the box and replaced the fuses with 5 amp
    types, and I'm back in business.
    
    All I have to do now is go over all my presets and remove the
    compressor effect, cuz it won't cut it loud.  Like feedback city !
    
    Other than that, it sounds GREAT !
    
    jc

    jc, you have the phone number and/or address for Metaltronix?
    I want to order their catalog because I can't find them around here.
    
    Thanks,
    Mike

    FYI JC,
    
    The problem with the Metaltronix not sounding "loud enuff" may be your
    speakers.  I mean, you run a 4x12 split to two 2x12 setups, no?  There
    is something to be said for the amount of air you're pushing with your
    amps.  I know I am twice as loud now that I have that additional Carvin
    4x12 along with the two Marshall 4x10 cabs!  More speakers = more air
    mass being moved = being louder. 
    
    Buck, who still ikes the sound of the SP-1000!

      Here I am, waiting for my SP1000 to come in (patiently) and I
    read about one croaking. I was starting to wonder with all the
    bad press the M1000 is getting on shipping damage. I'm glad I read
    on and didn't just exit out and gloat. I'll have to check my fuses
    when it comes in.

    Yes, funny as it may seem.
    
    I asked Metaltronix about the circuits being able to hack it, and they
    said "oh yeah we designed the circuit with 5 amps in mind!"
    
    Kinda a BOZO move, but WTF.  Anyhow, I love the sound of it also...
    
    RE: Buck, I rewired my 4x12's back to normal (4ohm).  The whole rig
    sounded louder with your Marshall 4x10's.  Maybe this amp doesn't like
    4 ohm (although it's rated at 125 per !).
    
    jc

    Oh !  I'll bring the address in tomorrow for Metaltronix.
    It's on my coffee table.
    
    cj

    Hey Jeff, Are you using a preamp, or just the SGE?
    
    The guy I talked to at ART said he didn't think the SGE would produce
    enough gain to fully driver a power amp.  Maybe the reason it's not
    getting very loud is because you're not providing it enough juice.
    
    Greg

                                                           
    Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah !!
    
    My amp is no more ! 8^(
    
    Last night I cranked it up to 10 and it the sound started fading
    out, then going back up, then fading out, just like a radio does
    if its trying to pick up a very faded signal.    
    
    Any suggestions before I take it to the nackers yard ? 

    RE: .739
    
    No, no pre-amp.  Perhaps I could use one.  It is LOUD, it's just not as
    loud as I'd (or Scary) like.  Ya gotta understand that we practice
    louder than we'd EVER play on stage...  In fact, we ought to turn down
    some, just so we can hear whats goin' on !
    
    RE: .740
    
    Tony, what kinda amp you got dude ?  Perhaps we here in metal-dome can
    lend a hand troubleshootin' it for ya.

    
    I'm not sure of the model number, but its an old Laney 100 Watt 
    head.
    
    Bwoken !

    It just fizzled out eh ?
    
    Re-seat and/or replace the tubes.  Have it re-biased and maybe even
    replace the filter caps (how old is it ?).
    
    jc

    
    >> (how old is it ?).
       
    I dunno, at a guess I'd say about 1982 ish.

    Aw, that ain't old !!
    
    Retube it.  It wasn't 'gurgling' before it went was it ?
    
    jc

    
    Nope, I don;t think so.
    
    the thing is, it plays fine at low volume, its just when you crank
    its starts to gurgle.

    Transformer.  What say ye Buck ?
    
    Didja ever forget to plug a cab into it ?

      re: .739 & .741 I agree somewhat. I'm assuming the LED's on the
    SGE are showing a strong signal. I have my pre-amp level out set
    up so the indicators are fine on all four channels with the SGE's
    input slider at center detent. With this setting I leave the output
    slider at center detent as well. I figure this must be close
    to unity gain as far as the SGE goes. 
      I can't say much more until my power amp arrives.
    
      re: .740 Hope it's not the transformer. If the output transformer
    was shorted it should blow a fuse when switched off standby (Don't
    ask me how I know). If it was open you wouldn't get any sound.
    Transformers can be expensive. If your tubes are old and you push
    it frequently that's where I'd place my bet.
                 

    Oh well.
    
    Time for a new amp !
    
    Where's that Metaltronix catalog gone ? 8^)

    How about a Metaltronix phone number or address?
    
    Mike

    Okay !!!  I finally remembered to bring it in...
    
    Here it is:
    
    Metaltronix/Perfect Connection
    7227 Canby Avenue
    Reseda, California 91335
    
    (818)705-7398
    
    Slow as hell aren't I ??
    
    I'll cross post this to guitar notes.
    
    jc

    Thanks JC!  I just called and ordered a catalog.
    
    Too bad their closest dealer is a 2 hour drive from me.
    
    Mike

    Seems like a lot of dealers won't carry Metaltronix because it's
    expensive stuff and they require the dealers to make a minimum order of
    six pieces.  I know my fav local store said they didn't think they'd
    have the demand necessary for that.
    
    Gh

    Hard to find !  No kiddin' !  I had to drive 1000 miles to get mine !
    
    ;^)

    Yo Coop, I had an ugly thought last night...
    
    	Wonder if the SP1000 and the SGE would have been less $$ in
    	either NYC or DC???
    
    	joe. (forever the pragmatist)
    

    The Metaltronix guy said that, "...you could tell your favorite
    guitar shop to call us and we can work something out!"
    
    Yeah right!  I have a job already! :-)
    
    Mike

    Last night I was dorking around with the pitch transposer on my
    Multiverb and decided to create a patch that would give me a harmony
    that was a major 3rd above the tone I played.  So, I get it all
    set up with just a 5ms delay in there and I played an E and a B
    together on my guitar.  Well, lo and behold it's a major 7th chord!!
    
    Obvious right, but I thought it was kinda cool.  The patch gives
    me a G# over the E and a D# over the B so ya end up with
    E-G#-B-D#, or Emaj7.  Wicked huh?
    
    joe.

    RE: Joe...
    
    Yeah, ye might be able to beat the deal I got on my power amp. Since
    it's so damn hard to find (Wurlies is about the only dealer on the east
    coast !), I bought the first one.  I got a pretty good deal on the SGE.
    $500 including a fist full of cables and pix (midi and patch).
    
    Hey !  Anyone ever use a steel pick ?  I tried one this weekend, and
    while it's gonna take some getting used to, I think I like it.
    
    jc

    Oh... SGE owners !  Make sure you get a preamp to use with the SGE.
    It makes it's distortion millions of times better.  Greg, you are a
    DAWG for scooping that MP1.
    
    ;^*

    Oh, Greg (I can't afford any more new toys for awhile) House has
    scooped the $450 MP-1 from guitar notes eh???  How'd ya convince
    Dawn on this one dude????  Good luck with it, how ya gonna run it?
    
    RE: Coop...Chain Reaction's lead guitar player (Tony Camuso) uses
    stainless steel picks and absolutely *loves* them and would NOT
    use anything else.  I've tried 'em and like 'em, but just can't
    commit to using them 100% of the time.
    
    	joe.

           
    Tony Camuso gave me a steel pick and it was neat, Get real good
    attack with it (and screeching pick slides 8^) ). Sound great for
    playing clean arpeggios with as open notes really sing.
                                                            
    I couldn't use them all the timer though. Just something about them
    makes me unable to use them properly and I go back to my Pro-Grip
    mediums.
           
    I bought an Applause electric-acoustic AE-38 a couple days ago. Its 
    great. It has the neck of an electric guitar and the body of a
    roundback  Ovation (w/cutaway - infact, these beasts are made under 
    license of Ovation). It cost me �274 ($400). 
                                                   
    Cheers,                              
    -Tony

      No doubt that a pre-amp adds a lot to the SGE. I finally played
    out using just my rack system and it sounded incredible. Before
    I was using my effects in the rack but not the pre-amp. I'm (still)
    really impressed with the Kitty Hawk Quattro Preamp. The friend
    of mine that has one on order came out to check out mine in a live
    situation and he had nothing but raves. I'm still usind my amp head
    as a power amp until my SP1000 comes. I just plug into the effects
    return jack from the SGE.   
    
     I agree with JC , GH is a DAWG for grabbing the MP-1 , I think
    it was just too hard to resist. Greg, are you using a power amp? 

    I'm just using MB's Tube Driver and it sounds great.  I need an MP1 now
    to be MIDI...
    
    Greg, your a dawg.

                                                                               
    I am thinking of returning to the states in January, and I want            
    to buy a new axe whilst I'm over there.                                    
                                                                               
    This is what I need :-                                                     
                                                                               
    The axe should have a maple fingerboard with a wide+flat fast neck         
    with 24 frets (al la BC Rich or Ibanez). It should have a good locking     
    tremolo system and at least two pickups (one must be a humbucker,          
    maybe active, the other I'm indifferent about - but they must scream       
    8^) ). It should look good but not OTT (ie, I don't want a pink or         
    bright green one!).                                                        
                                                                               
    If you know of a second hand axe similar to the above which will           
    be for sale around Febuary, I will consider.                               
                                                                               
    My budget is around $500.                                                   
                                                                               
    Any ideas as to what fits my needs ?                                       
                                                                               
    -Tony                                                                      

    re: .760  (Joe)  -< Oh my gawd, he didn't...? >-
    
    Oh my gawd...HE DID!  8^)      (lucked out!)
    
    Buck kept taunting me by reposting Les' ad around in places (here) that
    I'd see.  It kept showing up in my mail (I forward interesting dreams
    to myself) and all.  I just couldn't stand it any longer.  What can I
    say, I'm weak.  :^)
    
    re: .763  (Reaume...What *is* your name anyway?) ...am I running a power amp
    
    No, not right now.  That's my goal eventually.  I still don't have the
    MP-1 in my possession, but I don't have a power amp yet anyway.  I'm
    not sure what kind I want to get.  I'm considering the SP1000, the
    Carvin FET400, the Carver 100 wt one.  Looks like I will have plenty of
    time to decide, as I have no more money for toys.  So I'll probably
    keep running the setup through my Hiwatt 100wt combo for awhile.
    
    Anyone have any comments on these (or other) power amps?  I'd like to
    go with a stereo one if possible, but in the interum, I may pick up a
    cheap mono unit to get me by.
    
    gh
                                      

    Gee Greg,
    
    What WILL you do with that Crate amp of yours???
    
    :^)

    Greg,
    
    That Carver 100 watter is really a Carver 170 watter (into 8).
    
    FWIW,
    jc

    RE: Tony...
    
    	There are *lots* of guitars around that fit your requirements
    	I've seen new Ibanez RG550's for $469 without case (and they're
    	the "normal"-type colors not the outrageous ones).
    
    RE: Greg...
    
    	You and Coop have got GTS (Guitar Toy Sickness ;^)...Alan falls
   	into this category too!! wjb's a bit more conservative in his
    	consumer behavior.  toenail rolls his own.  Me, I don't have
    	any f*cking money :-(
    
    	Anyway Greg...
    		now that you've got the MP-1 on the way won't you need
    	cabinets in addition to the stereo power amp???
    
    	joe.

    Woe is you Joe...
    
    Sometimes I wish I had my ole Marlboro 1x12 60 watt combo back.
    
    ;^)
    
    WJB sez less is more.  Right Buck ?
    jc

    re: Joe

    Guitar Equipment Syndrome, huh?  Yeah, I guess so.  If it gets much
    worse, Dawn will probably make it fatal for me...  8^)

    Won't I need cabinets?  But of course...but, hey, I need cabinets now,
    right?   I'm hoping for something used/cheap in that area.  I can do
    the woodworking myself (Toenail style) if I can find some decent
    speakers cheap, but they're hard to come by 'round here.

    re: Buck

    I'm just trying to duplicate your awesome setup...   8^)

    I figured I'd keep the Crate for practice or informal things.  It does
    have a nasty snarl (at low volumes).  Why, wanna buy it?  ;^)

    re: Coop

    Hey, it's not often that I get to brag on getting new toys!  Let me
    have my turn.

    re: me

    I gotta settle down on the buying frenzy and do some real hard time
    *practicing*!  All this equipment don't mean beans without some playing
    skill in front of it.  Back to the woodshed, I need it BAD.

    gh 

    Re: Toy buying
    
    I don't see how you guys do it (credit up to your eyeballs?).  That
    is why I started the "Starter Rack System" note in GUITAR.  Forget
    the combos, etc.  I wanted to build a little rack system that will
    sport the current technologies without going overboard.
    
    Re: Greg
    
    Looks like you're well on your way to Rack city.  What else are
    you going to be selling? :-)
    
    Mike

    Once you get a rack started, you start looking at everything from
    a 19" perspective !  "My GP-8 sure looks lonely in a 8-high rack
    doesn't it honey ?"  She says, "But Coop's delay loks good in there."
    Then I say, "Yeah, but I need a Midiverb II."  And she says, "How
    much are they ?".  Then I tell her.  She says, "So ?".  So I say,
    "So, does anybody out there have a Midiverb II for sale ?".
    
    
    				Scary
    
          (who has a patch programmed that will cure cancer ...)
                   (( but now I can't find it ! ))      
    

    thank you for your suggestions

      I think we all fall prey to G.E.S. (Guitar Equipment Syndrome)
    to some degree, especially with everything on the market and the
    ease of finding another empty rack space in your rack. I've done
    it, and then you realize it's time to put the brakes on the bank
    account (or let the plastic cool down from the friction of running
    through the machine so many times, whatever the case may be). It becomes
    time to take what you got and experiment as much as possible. I've
    managed to get some incredible sounds out of just my KH Quattro and
    ART SGE. Then I think, what else could I want? 
      Then you go out and see a well known player and check out his
    electronics. In my case I saw Kim Simmonds ( Savoy Brown's founder)
    do a job in a bar with some local people as well as a few SB members.
    What did he play through? A Les Paul Standard, three stomp boxes on
    the floor (a chorus, a distortion, and a delay) and a Fender Twin. 
    And he had problems with the connecting cords. What an incredible
    guitar player! And I'm thinking how this guy's whole career is his
    guitar and how my equipment compares to his minimal set up. Seeing
    something like that tends to slow your buying and get back to just
    some serious practicing.

    re: Mike
    
    >Looks like you're well on your way to Rack city.  What else are
    >you going to be selling? :-)
    
    What do you want to buy?  ;^)  Seriously, I'm going to sell a couple of
    guitars and my old digital delay now.  Probably when I'm ready to get a
    power amp, I'll sell the Hiwatt too.
    
    >I don't see how you guys do it (credit up to your eyeballs?). 
    
    I often ask myself the same thing when I read about the stuff some
    people around here get!  For myself, I'm kind of on a frenzy right now. 
    Prior to getting the SGE, it had been over a year since I'd made any
    major purchases.  My last big one was the Charvel that I bought last
    summer.  It had actually been a couple of years since the last big
    guitar toy expense prior to that.
    
    ...and none of this was bought on credit!
    
    It's just that the new equipment coming out now is so exciting!  What
    can I say?  8^)
    
    I think that Reaume makes an excellent point about not needing all this
    stuff.  I was thinking the same thing awhile back after seeing a couple
    of really hot players with a couple of stomps playing to stadium crowds.
    
    And here I am playing my hacky chops with some of the best equipment on
    the market in my extra bedroom.  What does that one tell ya, huh?
    
    Greg

      I just posted a note in Guitar notes (topic 1103) on the Kitty
    Hawk line being discontinued. Interesting considering that the Quattro
    was the KH's success story, it's only been out six months, the
    distributor said he had backlogs for them. I now have eight collectors
    items (maybe). If anyone runs across deals on the KH gear I would
    consider it, especially the Quattro or Testarossa pre-amps. I have
    it from good sources that parts will be available and I will have
    schematics for most of the gear (M1,M3,Quattro, and MIDI patch bay)
    
    						Reaumer (rhymes w/)
    						Screamer
    						
    						John Reaume	

    Hmm...that kind of confirms something I've been thinking about.
    
    I've often wondered if it would be cost effective to build cabinets
    yourself.  Since new speakers are quite expensive, the price of wood is
    high, the hardwared is pretty expensive...
    
    I could see how buying a prefabricated cabinet might be a better way to
    go.
    
    ...of course, it would look cosmetically like every other cabinet the
    same manufacturer makes, if that's important to you.
    
    gh

    re: .-2
    
    I like the looks of the ADA 2x12s.  You're right, they seem about the
    right physical size.  A pair of them would be perfect.  
    
    Anyone know how much they're selling for?
    
    re: .-1
    
    >Although I still really can't wait to finish the suckers in Posuer
    >PinkPurple color, that's art
    
    "Posuer PinkPurple"?  Hahahahah... I love it!  8^)
    
    gh
                                      

    For those interested...I just found that one of the local stores here
    in Co. Springs *just* started carrying ADA stuff, so I called and asked
    about these cabinets.
    
    They list for $469 and they said they could probably order them for me
    for around $400 each.  More then I wanted to spend now, that's for
    sure.
    
    Gh

    I *was* considering building 2 cabs (2x12) and stealing the speakers
    from my Marshall 4x12 to run stereo when doing small clubs.  But
    after I drew up some plans and did some calling around for wood
    prices and hardware I decided  ....
    
    
    ... who runs stereo in small clubs anyway ?  After all, that Marshall
    cab isn't THAT heavy.
    
    
    
    				Scary

    The ADA Split-stack cabs are going for $365.00 a piece out here.
    Not bad for a 2x12 celestion-equipped cab. 

    Yo Toenail...
    
    	I need some wicked cool grille covering material.  Any ideas
    	as to where I can find some?
    
    	joe. (sick of the basic stuff)

    Not a clue, I bought some black Peavey grille cloth material which was
    plastic and don't like it enough to use it. Then I got some of the
    Peavey metal 12" grille things, they're OK. I'll glue them ( after
    smashing them flat ) in back of the wood I'm carving a design in.
    
    Now I'm wondering what the thing would sound like if I had a speaker
    mounted in the back as well as the front. 
    
    Good Luck, I wanted to use marshall type cloth but sick of looking.

>    < Note 101.783 by CSC32::G_HOUSE "No way out, No way out..." >
>                             -< The ADAs have it >-
>    I like the looks of the ADA 2x12s.  You're right, they seem about the
>    right physical size.  A pair of them would be perfect.  
>    
>    Anyone know how much they're selling for?

    Greg, I entered ADA's price list in one of the ADA notes over in
    GUITAR.  I think straight or slanted are around $470.
    
    Mike

    re: -1
    
    Mike, 
    
    look back about -5 or -6 notes in this note, there are cab prices
    I posted.
    
    Caio
    Buck

    re: Mike
    
    I also answered my own question in .784...

      Me thinks itza Ernie Ball Steve Morse model. There's been a few
    ads in the guitar mags for them. Do I win A prize?

Richards' guitar has six tuners on it? That's wasting one! (For those of you 
unfamiliar with Keith, he usually plays a guitar with only 5 strings on it. He 
drops off the low-E.)

cat

    
    	cat,
    	Keith plays slide on his 5 string Dan Armstrong with 
    	plexiglass body (circa 1971), and plays 6 string axes
    	for everything else.
    
    	Neal
    

                            Richie Sambora's Rack
    
Reprinted without permission from Guitar World:

There are three main racks in the workstation, each of which receives a
signal via a Nady wireless system and two whirlwind splitter boxes.  The
main rig consists of two 100watt MArshall heads bi-amped together.  The
top head muscles a direct signal; the lower Marshall powers a signal processed
by a Boss SD-1 delay pedal.  The direct head is set at: Presence 8; Bass:
8; Mid 10; Treble 9; Master 3; and Preamp 6.  The delay head is set at:
Presence 7; Bass 9; Mid 10; Treble 7, and preamp 6.

Another split is fed to a Bradshaw MIDI effects rig.  The Bradshaw is powered
by an H&H V-800 MOSFET power amp and contains a Juice Goose PD-2, Eventide
H3000 Harmonizer, Gallien Krueger 2000CPL rack-mounted preamp, Roland SDE-1000
Digital Delay, (2)SPX-90II's, Rane six-channel mixer, TC Electronics 1210
(for chorus settings), Rocktron 300A compressor/limiter, and a Korg DT-1
Pro Tuner.  The rig is preamped by yet another 100-watt Marshall head. 
the Eventide H3000 Harmonizer, split in stereo with a patch change program
split up 2000 cents and down 1000 cents, is used for the solo on "You Give
Love A Bad Name".  The Gallien Krueger 2000CPL is used for the clean sound
on "Wild In The Streets," "I'll Be There For You" and "Blood On Blood".

The third station houses the Marshall powered <homemade> voice box used 
on "Living On A Prayer".

The sum of the sound is sent to cabinetshung behind the stage and vented
through a thin slit of grating between the first and second levels of the
stage.  The cabs are four Celestion-loaded Marshall 4x10 JCM 800s, two for
the direct signal, two for the Bradshaw - and one KMD Combo2x12 with EV's
for the cleaner delay sound.  The housing for the cabinets represents a
compromise betweenthe audio and visual exigencies.  The cabs are all miked
with Shure SM57's with the exception of a single Sennheiser 421 on the one
direct cab.

<Editors notes>

The jist of the whole article is above.  they also go on to tlk about all
Sambora's guits are Kramers with the exception of a Les Paul, a Schoepfer
custom, and the triple necked Ovation.  He uses GHS Boomers (.010").

Pardon the typing.  I'm not gonna bother proofreading it.

jc