To bid or not to bid - that is the question

Started by Welshman-fgn, March 05, 2010, 12:04:26 PM

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Welshman-fgn

If you find a cure for GAS let me know!!!!!

Elantric-fgn

#1
Very Nice

Although i'm a stickler for the Brian Setzer models - simply because the Brian Setzers have many many invisible "tweaks"  - which a re NOT on most of the other models.

The updated Gretsch Brian Setzer Nashville® models have been redesigned and built to Brian's rockin' and exacting specifications. Upon reviewing his killer vintage guitar collection, we rebuilt the trestle bracing to match his favorite '59, giving it a more solid feel with tons of sustain. Available in either Orange Tiger Flame Laquer (SSL) or Vintage Orange Lacquer (SSLVO), each guitar comes factory equipped with TV Jones® Classic pickups, Sperzel® locking tuners, pinned Adjusto-matic™ bridge, and Bigsby® B6CB Vibrato tailpiece.

http://www.gretschguitars.com/briansetzer/

1) Locking Sperzel tuners

2) "pinned" rosewood bridge - that always stays in the correct position on the guitar - even with strings removed.

3) a VERY carefully setup gibson ABR-1 Bridge, than micropivots with the Bigsby - to stay in tune!


4) Self lubricating Delrin nut  - 

5) A 1959 style internal Trestle Bridge bracing - this is key to allow you to play at Ramones Volume levels - with only Good controlled feedback -  most other Gretsch 6120s do NOT get along well when played at high Volume. the Brian Setzer thrives at high volume - like having a sustainiac when you turn towards the speaker cabs

6)) TV Jones Filtertrons - the best sounding mag pickups on the planet IMHO


I paid $2600 for my 2005 Brian Setzer model- used on Ebay!

=====

http://www.gretschguitars.com/gear/index.php?product=G6120SSLVO&cat1=&cat2=&q=&st=1


http://www.gretschguitars.com/gear/index.php?a=3&product=G6120SSLVO


But if you do go for this one you posted here - then get this book
The Dan Erlewine Book i always recommend

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0879306017/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=0879309210&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0RJ3E6TEYMNX52KC2HVW

How to Make Your Electric Guitar Play Great (Softcover) (Guitar Player Book) (Paperback)



It has a chapter on how to do all these Brian Setzer mods - except the 1959 style Trestle Bridge!
. . . the future ain't what it used to be . . .

Welshman-fgn

What are the major differences between the Brian Setzer Nashville model and the Brian Setzer Hotrod?
There seems to be quite a difference in cost - and colours!
This one seems to be a good price
http://www.richtonemusic.co.uk/guitars-1/electric-guitars-2/gretsch-g6120shbtv-brian-setzer-hot-rod-regal-blue-425.html
If you find a cure for GAS let me know!!!!!

Elantric-fgn

#3
No Tone Toggle switch, no separate PU Vol knobs  and No Lacquer finish.


I leave both my  PU Vol knobs  on "10",

Could always add the 3-way Gretsch tone switch - I work that all the time mid song.


Gretsch Tone Switch functions:
======================

Up = Darkest tone - similar to les paul tone pot on "3"

Middle = Brightest tone - similar to les paul tone pot on "10" - but closer to telecaster (the bright gretsch sound) - (Hot Rod stock sound)

Down =  High frequency Roll off - the guitar sounds very much like a throaty Les Paul with PAFs in this position.
. . . the future ain't what it used to be . . .

Welshman-fgn

I decided to let the Gretsch go - it went for about £970 in the end.

I've decided against getting a new guitar at all. My current collection gives me about 99% of what I want, so I'm going to leave the line up as it is for the moment and concentrate on amps / effects.

I'm VERY happy with my Mk V for gigs and even playing at home - plus I have GR4 as a backup.
What I'm looking to do is buy a nice practice amp for use in school during my lunchbreaks that can double up for a performance at a small venue should I need it. Something that has caught my eye is the Blackstar range something like the club 40 or even, at a push, the HT5 Stack. I know that 5W is pushing it for even a small gig but it does give the option of either miking it or even feeding the emulated output straight in to the desk.

Both amps have an effects loop which brings me to my next thought. I've been checking out a lot of effects and my quest for a decent tuner led me to the TC Electronics site where I discovered the G system - it's basically a rack effects unit built in to a pedal (you can even take it out and rack mount it, connecting it to the pedal with a CAT5). This unit has built in relays that can switch amp channels and is also midi controllable, so I can also use my new found midi programming skills!

Now, for the cost of a new Gretsch, I can have BOTH a new Blackstar amp AND a new effects system - whether I go for the TC or something else - I'm going to have some fun deciding over this one!

PS I have also decided against the Hiwatt as the MkV has more than enough head room on the clean channel for my needs and I've managed to get some pretty good Townshend-esque tones from it (he used a Boogie MkI for a while himself). The MkV is a DEFINITE keeper!
If you find a cure for GAS let me know!!!!!

MCK-fgn

Blackstar HT5 is getting some rave reviews overall. Somewhere in that camp is a new player called Reason Bambino (2 / 8W switchable). Check it out if you have the time.

http://www.thegearpage.net/board/showthread.php?t=576470

All the best
Dark Fire Initial Check Out  - Q/A
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Johnnyurq-fgn

I owned a Blackstar HT5-S for a while and even through a bigger cab the clean channel couldn't cut it at rehearsal.

If your drummer is not too loud you could hold your own on the dirty channel but that was about it.

But mic'd up or using the emulated out through the PA it would be fine as it did sound very good.

I ended up selling it and getting the Blackstar S1 45 2 X 12 combo which is excellent.

Elantric-fgn

#7
$1800 for a practice amp seems steep to me.

my 2 cents -

For a grab and go practice amp, I use a 2006 era Roland Cube 60 : 
60 watts RMS,  COSM Amp modeling from the VG-99, built in FX,  12" closed back. 


Paid $299

Video Demos





I have played it for outdoor festivals and worked very well, competes with "john bonham" type Drummers too.


Ironically the latest updated Roland Cube 80X is not as desirable (due to too much compression).as a 2006 Cube-60.
. . . the future ain't what it used to be . . .

MCK-fgn

Dark Fire Initial Check Out  - Q/A
https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=31267.0

Caig DeOxit - Buy now before you need it !!!
https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=31707.0

dirtypurple

Quote from:  Johnnyurq on March 07, 2010, 03:46:25 PM
I owned a Blackstar HT5-S for a while and even through a bigger cab the clean channel couldn't cut it at rehearsal.

If your drummer is not too loud you could hold your own on the dirty channel but that was about it.

But mic'd up or using the emulated out through the PA it would be fine as it did sound very good.

I ended up selling it and getting the Blackstar S1 45 2 X 12 combo which is excellent.

Same here. I gigged with the HT-5 for quite a while. Its a great sounding amp, but the clean channel is just not loud enough - it breaks up nicely, but too early to live with most drummers. It makes a great practice amp.

I nearly went with the S1 45 too, but went the Axe-FX route in the end.

Welshman-fgn

Quote from:  Elantric on March 07, 2010, 04:35:17 PM
$1800 for a practice amp seems steep to me.


The majority of the money is for the TC G system. The amp is just over 400.
as for the clean headroom issue, I had the same thoughts about the series 1 45 - the ability to dial down the power to 4.5W makes it very attractive.
If you find a cure for GAS let me know!!!!!

Johnnyurq-fgn

Quote from:  Welshman on March 08, 2010, 02:20:13 AM
Quote from:  Elantric on March 07, 2010, 04:35:17 PM
$1800 for a practice amp seems steep to me.


The majority of the money is for the TC G system. The amp is just over 400.
as for the clean headroom issue, I had the same thoughts about the series 1 45 - the ability to dial down the power to 4.5W makes it very attractive.

The DPR on the S1 45 works really well and I know it sounds weird but the clean channels seem to have more clean headroom in the 4.5 W mode than the HT5-S had.

I reckon it is down to the higher efficiency and higher SPL neodynium loaded Celestions in the S1 45.

At 30 Kg is it not a light amp though and thank goodness it has two chunky handles on the sides.

Elantric-fgn

#12
QuoteThe majority of the money is for the TC G system. The amp is just over 400.


Perhaps its higher over here due to exchange rates?

Guitar Center sells that Blackstar Series One 45 45W 2x12 Tube Guitar Combo amp here in the USA for $1,799:
http://www.guitarcenter.com/Blackstar-Series-One-45-45W-2x12-Tube-Guitar-Combo-Amp-583815-i1478176.gc?source=4WFRWXX&CAWELAID=444279728
. . . the future ain't what it used to be . . .

Johnnyurq-fgn

Wow I thought it was only us in the UK that got ripped off when buying imported kit. I guess UK amps and musical equipment get marked up heavy when exported to the US too.

But that would be almost £1200 in GBP where as the S1 45 is £899 ($1355) if old stock and £949 ($1430) if not.

The joys of import taxes etc.

Elantric-fgn

WELSHMAN wrote>
QuoteThe majority of the money is for the TC G system. The amp is just over 400.

I guess that makes the BlackStar Series One 45 45W  even cheaper in Wales?
. . . the future ain't what it used to be . . .

MCK-fgn

Quote from:  Johnnyurq on March 08, 2010, 01:45:44 PM
Wow I thought it was only us in the UK that got ripped off when buying imported kit. I guess UK amps and musical equipment get marked up heavy when exported to the US too.

But that would be almost £1200 in GBP where as the S1 45 is £899 ($1355) if old stock and £949 ($1430) if not.

The joys of import taxes etc.

I am the one who gets ripped off always! UK & US stuff imported here is so much more expensive. Even Japan stuff made is more expensive here than it is in US. Go figure...
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Johnnyurq-fgn

I had expected goods imported to Japan from the US etc to be costly and the same for the Aussies, but I would have thought stuff made and bought in Japan would be cheaper.

Every day is a learning day.

MCK-fgn

Its an interesting phenomenon. Its all got to do with the average earning power of the society and how products are priced to take advantage of that level. Service quality is generally so high which also is recouped through higher product costing. This type of differential is at the heart of things like region codes in DVDs etc. iTunes Japan store sells a song for about US$1.60 for example vs $.099 in the US store. All in relevance.
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Welshman-fgn

I wish Elantric ;)

Actually, the £400 quoted was for the HT5 Mini Stack which I was initially looking at.

The S1 45 is £949 but may have put itself out of the running due to its hefty weight (just over 30kg)

I've also found another possible fly in the ointment. The Blackstar S1 range either use their own footswitch or midi.
My Mark V uses either it's own switch or it can be run by the relays from the TC G system.
I was hoping to do away with both footswitches and to use the G system to switch the amps, but it looks like I'll either have to reprogram the g system every time I switch amps or by a midi switching box.
Why aren't things EVER simple?
If you find a cure for GAS let me know!!!!!

Welshman-fgn

Have ordered the Polytune and the G System - they'll be here middle / end of next week.
Now for the dilemma!
My quest for a practise / smaller gig amp seems to be getting more confusing the longer I look at it!
The Blackstar range has several contenders (S1 45 Combo or even the S1 100 head - can be turned down to 10W).

The Mesa range has also caught my imagination - the Transatlantic looks like an interesting contender and 20W should be capable of handling small gigs. I made a HUGE mistake in discussing this with a friend of mine who is a REAL gear head and he came up with the idea of getting a MkV head (I've already got the matching cab that I bought with the combo). That way, I would be able to dial in the exact tones wherever I play, wouldn't need to reprogram the G system and, should I ever decide to try out the G System in stereo, would give me one hell of a stage rig with TWO MkVs!!
The problem is that this seemingly daft (AND EXPENSIVE) idea is attracting me in a BIG way - I get great sounds at home and in work, get a great amp to practise on and to use at short notice in school AND end up with an INCREDIBLE rig for larger gigs.

There are only two downsides - the cost and the reaction of Mrs Welshman (again)
The Transatlantic isn't available over here until early May, so I have a bit of a wait before I can hear one in the flesh, but I need to make a decision soon after that because I've got a few gigs in June / July that I would need to fine tune my rig for as they could lead to a great deal more work and need to be right - Mk V in stereo WOULD make one hell of an impression!
If you find a cure for GAS let me know!!!!!

MCK-fgn

Hmmm, Mk V + Mk V = Mk X !!! How much cooler can you get! Then again... Weight, low volume practice amp & low-cost were all your expectations if I recall correctly. Just saying... Maybe you should look for something small still.
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vanceg-fgn

Hey Jonny - Is that your Les Paul Recording?  I'd love to see a larger picture of it!  I've got one too - and mine is the only one I've ever seen in person. I wish I had the Bass version too - there is a great video of Tina Wymouth from the Talking Heads playing one in 79 in italy.... Love those instruments...though they way FAR too much for me to actually use it now.....

Welshman-fgn

Hi MCK,
low volume is fine, the Mk V is very well behaved at 10W.
Weight is also not an issue as a head / cab is much better in two trips rather than a massively heavy combo in one trip.
Cost is the only issue - albeit a big one!
I'm not going to rush this one - will wait to try a Transatlantic before making any decisions.
If you find a cure for GAS let me know!!!!!

MCK-fgn

Hmm, now you're starting to hook me up into the Mark V thing... I've been resisting one so far but... That diversion aside... If you want the stereo sound & layering isn't it better to do it with a tonally different amp?
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Elantric-fgn

#24
My two cents

I understand in the UK several clubs have to follow a new law that live music can not exceed 85 decibels.

Bummer, as that will make it very tough to utilize Most old school Tube amps 50 watts or higher.
Rather odd because  here in the USA, THX Movie Cinema Surround Sound systems are calibrated at 85db, and must have 20db of useable headroom at that level. (=105db).

The typical Movie today, with more sound design than plot hits 105db  every minute.

It will be tough to play clubs at a lower decibel level than the typical garbage truck making its rounds.


More here
http://vancouver.ca/engsvcs/projects/soundsmart/soundAndNoise.htm


Its for these reasons that VG-99's and V-Drums and In Ear Monitors might be a better path to master.
. . . the future ain't what it used to be . . .