Guitar Talk

[Sheep]

I have more then this. Tomorrow I'll show you my other guitars and equipment.

SheepStar

 

[davo]

FYI--Peter Frampton, icon of mid-seventies arena rock, greatest selling live album of all time. I really don't know the mechanics of how the talk box works, but it's connected to your guitar, then a plastic tube is taped next to your mike and as you play and mouth (I know, it sounds weird, but it's cool sounding) the tube you can make your guitar "talk", Joe Perry of Aerosmith uses it in the opening of "Sweet Emotion".

Richie Sambora of Bon Jovi used one for intro to 'livin' on a prayer'. He deserves a mention just for rebounding from Heather Locklear onto Dennis Richards. *******!!

 

[stratman]

That's right forgot about ol' Rich, he uses it too.

 

[stratman]

Richie Sambora of Bon Jovi used one for intro to 'livin' on a prayer'. He deserves a mention just for rebounding from Heather Locklear onto Dennis Richards. *******!!

I wonder if he used it on Cher

 

[stratman]

Hey guys check this out! HD Net ( channel 79 hi-def, Direct TV) is playing from 5:00 to 7:30 The Stratpack celebrates fifty years of the Stratocaster, Gilmour,Walsh. Brian May. It's on right now.

 

[Sheep]

Stratmen,

I finally rewired my cab, and it works again!!!

Awwwwwww, sounds WAAAAAY better. I was jamming at like half volume (every note hurt my ears) the other day. I wish I was still playing in front of audiences.

SheepStar

 

[stratman]

Stratmen,

I finally rewired my cab, and it works again!!!

Awwwwwww, sounds WAAAAAY better. I was jamming at like half volume (every note hurt my ears) the other day. I wish I was still playing in front of audiences.

SheepStar

Hey joking aside man be careful with your hearing, remember what your career is going to be. I'm 44, have horrible tinitus like Jeff Beck, due to excessive noise. I can't play at the volumes I used to and when I do, I wear ear plugs.

 

[AndrewLyles]

...Washburn Acoustic Electric (cutaway) 6-String
...Alverez Acoustic 6 string (brothers, but seeing as he doesn't play any more it was annexed into my room)
...Takamine Acoustic 12-string
...Deering Goodtime II 5-string banjo

I've been eyeballing a Godin electric now for a couple months. Anybody have any experience with them? I thought it would be fun to get one with a roland port and runt it into the computer for recording, and to mess around with the synth effects.

 

[stratman]

Godin and Taylor both extremely nice, but I think Taylor is getting a little more commercial. I've been eyeballing a Taylor concert, but it's a little pricey and I'm not so convinced to pull the trigger on it.

 

[WmAx]

Godin and Taylor both extremely nice, but I think Taylor is getting a little more commercial. I've been eyeballing a Taylor concert, but it's a little pricey and I'm not so convinced to pull the trigger on it.

If you like the sound signature of higher end Martins(but not the price) such as the D-35 and D-45 dreadnoughts, and if you can find it locally to try, try Blueridge BR-180 and above model acoustic guitars. This is a Chinese built guitar line. The unit has been found to be comparable in sound quality by many users, subjectively, as compared up to $7,000.00 USD Martins. It is usually this comparison drawn, as the BR-180 is a close *copy of the structure/bracing/materials of pre-war Martin D-45. The Harmony Central reviews are very useful, as nearly half of the reviewers owned or own the higher end Martins, making their comparisons very interesting. Of course, there are always people that feel one extreme or another(love or hate), but with the overall consensus, most of these users find it to be of extraordinary value. I also believe that bias also plays a part -- just like in the home audio realm -- I suspect that reputation or peer hype can affect perception of sound quality. I would expect, that if theoretically, the BR-180 sounded identical to it's D-45 counter part, that it would still be percieved as worse by most users in a sighted scenario. The BR-180 has a street price of about $1,200.00 USD.

-Chris

*Note: while the same woods, and precise structure shape and braces are used on the body of the copy, the finish is of a different type(poly vs. lacquer?), and I do not know how aged polymers in the wood may change due to age, which might cause a 70 year old guitar to differ to an otherwise identical new guitar. While this is not likely an issue otherwise, the wood on an acoustic guitars is extremely thin, and thus different thick finish coatings might be substantial in mass ratio as compared to the wood itself. I have not made a solid conclusion, however, as I have not subjected this to objective measurement of resonance properties in a properly controlled scenario. But what we have here is a physical copy of an early 1940's D-45, with new wood, and different finish. So you probably can not expect it to sound like a new D-45(slight design modifications? and different finish type) or an old D-45(different finish type and possible factor of age?). But considering these things, this should result in a guitar of very similar type of sound quality and signature.

 

[stratman]

Hey W,

Thanks for the info, I'll see if anyone here in Miami carries the line. To be frank it sounds to good to be true, but I'll give it a try. Thanks!

 

[WmAx]

Hey W,

Thanks for the info, I'll see if anyone here in Miami carries the line. To be frank it sounds to good to be true, but I'll give it a try. Thanks!

Well, I am just reporting on a unit that seems to have recieved extremely high marks from many users of Martin HD-28, HD-35 and HD-45 guitars.

Here are the Harmony Central reviews for you to scan through:

http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Acoustic+Guitar/product/Blueridge/BR-180/10/1

Subjectively, I find the BR-180 to have an extremely smooth response from low to high tones without major flaws in the sound. A type of sound I have only found in US made guitars that sell for much more. Also, the build quality and finish appears to be of very high quality, overall. At least on the specific example unit that I compared.

-Chris

 

[stratman]

Well, judging by the reviews it's a must try, this weekend I'll check around to see who has it in town, luckily we have a Sam Ash and a couple of smaller but very nice music stores. I'll post as soon as I play.

 

[AndrewLyles]

Well, judging by the reviews it's a must try, this weekend I'll check around to see who has it in town, luckily we have a Sam Ash and a couple of smaller but very nice music stores. I'll post as soon as I play.

Strat, definately let us know what you think of that when you get a chance. I'm a sucker for the Martin sound, but they're way over priced. In this industry sometimes you get what you pay for, though I hate paying for only the name.

 

[WmAx]

Strat, definately let us know what you think of that when you get a chance. I'm a sucker for the Martin sound, but they're way over priced. In this industry sometimes you get what you pay for, though I hate paying for only the name.

I'll offer my newest impression, and just for fun. Do not associate my replies in this thread with those I provide in relation to serious matters. I am posting here with purely subjective experiences.

I ended up buying the Blueridge BR-180, I did not mention this, as I did not have the opportunity to try one of the more expensive Martins after using the BR-180 for a period of time. After using the BR-180 for several days, I went and tried a Martin HD-28 to see how I felt. Subjectively, I was disappointed with the Martin. It is a $2500(street price) guitar, and I did not perceive it as being as balanced/smooth in tone as the BR-180($1200 average street price), and in addition, the BR-180 appeared to have superior overall finished details, especially looking at the fingerboard and overall finish impression. I wanted to try a D-45 Martin after using the BR-180 for a few days, but none of the local shops currently have one in stock. The BR-180 is much more enjoyable to me to use as compared to the HD-28, after using a BR-180. I got the impression that the Martin HD-28 was slightly lower quality build and substantially lower quality sound. At this point, it seems I would consider the HD-28 a downgrade.

-Chris

 

[stratman]

Well it's a little depressing, neither Sam Ash nor The Guitar Center carry Blueridge, so I have some friends looking for it in Broward and Palm, hopefully they'll find something.

 

[AndrewLyles]

I'll offer my newest impression, and just for fun. Do not associate my replies in this thread with those I provide in relation to serious matters. I am posting here with purely subjective experiences.

I ended up buying the Blueridge BR-180, I did not mention this, as I did not have the opportunity to try one of the more expensive Martins after using the BR-180 for a period of time. After using the BR-180 for several days, I went and tried a Martin HD-28 to see how I felt. Subjectively, I was disappointed with the Martin. It is a $2500(street price) guitar, and I did not perceive it as being as balanced/smooth in tone as the BR-180($1200 average street price), and in addition, the BR-180 appeared to have superior overall finished details, especially looking at the fingerboard and overall finish impression. I wanted to try a D-45 Martin after using the BR-180 for a few days, but none of the local shops currently have one in stock. The BR-180 is much more enjoyable to me to use as compared to the HD-28, after using a BR-180. I got the impression that the Martin HD-28 was slightly lower quality build and substantially lower quality sound. At this point, it seems I would consider the HD-28 a downgrade.

-Chris

This is definately good to hear. I'll definately have to find some time so sit down with one and give it a try.

 

[Sheep]

Bit of an update. This might get Strat to start posting again.

I finally fixed my old Hiwatt head, and picked up a Boss DS-2 turbo distortion pedal to go with it. My god, this is pure tonal heaven. Use the Bril channel and experience pure tube overdrive that is still being made 35 years later. Switch to normal and have the cleanest sounding electric in town. I cannot believe I waited this long to fix this amp.

Pictures.

My amp next to my friends SWR red head bass amp, plus his Fender US jazz bass.

SheepStar

 

[jamie2112]

Very nice Sheep. I love the Hiwatt sound. Very warm and creamy on sessions I have been a part of.

 

[jinjuku]

For all us guitar types... I just saw this software for figuring out guitar licks.

Pretty cool...