Gear Lust

[Pedro]

At this point the facilitator looked momentarily panicked. "Oh crap", he thought to himself, "this one knows it's a virus. How long 'til they realise that sitting in this group can't actually help them and that their subs are really paying for my gear lust? Better distract them...."
"Ok, erm, let's take a break for coffee....help yourselves to biscuits....."

[EVP]

Not liking 98% of existing strats out there I embarked on building my own.
That was a month ago now I've got parts showing up every few days and boxes
are stacking up throughout my house. My local Lowes hardware store(s) know me
by name for coming in and buying tools.

Somehow I've ended up with a candy apple red and a black strat body
and EMG David Gilmour pickup set and now have parts for TWO guitars.
And thats this month. March and April will come a custom self made
12 string telecaster with a neck on special order from Warmouth.
It's becoming a mad mad obsession.

[Pedro]

Whoa! This is impressive stuff.
What sort of start point are we talking about here? Blocks of wood or ready shaped/drilled/routed/fretted/etc. parts?
Also, not being a guitarist, what was it about the 49 Strats that you didn't like and what made the 50th one right?

On a slightly different note(!), I just noodle about on my guitar, not being able to play properly but I love picking out tunes and playing with chord shapes and different sounds (via a Variax/Pod combo).
Every guitar I've ever owned (all 3 of them!) seems to have had problems with the tuning of the G string (comedy gold, I know!); tuned perfectly when open it's sharp when fretted near the nut or when tuned perfectly when fretted it's flat when open.
Is this a problem with the nut alone? I read about compensation in the bridge for such things too. Do I need to pay Lex Luthier to fix it or is there anything else to try?

Ok, I just asked a serious question on the Frost* forum that included the words "nut", "fret" and "G-string". I think I need to go back to bed!

[Mouse]

Do I need to pay Lex Luthier to fix it or is there anything else to try?

Nah, he'll just turn it into a weapon to use against Superman.

EMG David Gilmour pickup set

Drool...  

[Gman]

Every guitar I've ever owned (all 3 of them!) seems to have had problems with the tuning of the G string (comedy gold, I know!); tuned perfectly when open it's sharp when fretted near the nut or when tuned perfectly when fretted it's flat when open.
Is this a problem with the nut alone? I read about compensation in the bridge for such things too. Do I need to pay Lex Luthier to fix it or is there anything else to try?

I'd say if a single string is fretting sharp then it sounds like the nut slot (or nut) is cut too high, so when you fret the string it's pulling slightly sharp.

The bridge tweak you mention is 'intonation' and you can fix this easily by tuning the open string and then fretting the 12th fret, depending on whether it's sharp or flat you move the bridge saddle backwards or forwards. It's easiest if you do this with a tuner.

If the nut is too high, I'd suggest taking it to your local guitar tech (doesn't need to be a Lex Luthier), they'll have the tools to be able to sort that little problem out.

Weird that it's happened on all 3 guitars though...that's either bad luck or maybe your technique is pulling the string slightly sharp?

A decent setup can make a massive difference to how much you enjoy playing your instrument - so if you can afford it, take it somewhere and have it properly setup with a fret dress if required.

Apologies for the seriousness of this post.

[Pedro]

Thanks GMan, pretty much what I thought.
It's always been a very slight effect. I'm trying to fret lighter but I'm not technically that good really.
I'll save up.

[DannySoisSage]

If I even start to write all the gear I want I will cry lol...

[Big Black Shed]

Stands up. Looks around the group, runs off to cry uncontrollably in the toilets. Only emerges after much convincing and "we all understand your pain" from other members and promises of tea and biscuits............

[EVP]

Pedro look no more! Earvana compensating nuts for guitars.

http://www.earvana.com/



I have them on all of my electric and acoustic 6 strings. And YES they really do work!!
You can get the retro-fit model which does not require altering your instrument.
They come in all the popular sizes and widths for practically every guitar.....except 12 strings.

They do require a bit of filing of the string slots so if you're not handy with and don't
own a set of nut files then you'd want to take it to yer local repair man. Not sure if
they have a U.K. distributor or not yet. You can email them. Rik, the inventor and main tech
is great and willing to help anyone out.

You can play chords in any position and not have to retune, and it's dead on all the way
up the neck. Your saddles have to be re-adjusted but thats no big deal

[MarkOneMusic]

MarkOneMusic mumbles to the room, barely audible...

I really need a Moog Little Phatty

And an Akai MPK88  controller

And I just got a quote for mastering from Abbey Road... How can I resist  :shock:

[CraigSteen]

Hi,

I'd  like a Roland TD20KX V-Drum kit....
Does that make me bad or shallow ?

I like drums more than keyboards... I can't seem to hit those tiny black notes with my Vic Firth sticks.
Also... I'm embarrassed to go to dinner parties and out for drinks with my friends as I have a really bad case of..... Latency.

I need help.

[Pedro]

Welcome Craig,
That's a Class A lust you've got there...it doesn't make you bad or shallow...it makes you a drummer (and I don't mean that makes you BOTH!) The latency might also be a clue but that could just be because the drummer is often behind the bass player.
Welcome aboard.  

[RacingHippo]

I'd  like a Roland TD20KX V-Drum kit....
Does that make me bad or shallow ?

If it does then I'm bad AND shallow.

*drools*
Honestly I'd kill for something that was a) electronic, b) better than and c) bigger than the cheap Traps kit I practice on at the mo.
OK, so I wouldn't kill a person. Maybe a slug. Or a small mammal. Or Jon Prescott... oh, I already said slug didn't I...

[Geetar]

OK, so I wouldn't kill a person. Maybe.... a small mammal.

Where's Mouse? Anyone seen him?





Mouse?






You there, Mouse?







OK, Hippo, fess-up time- what did you do with the rodent?



-UPDATE-

I may have located him. Problems with the LHC electrical systems point to wiring damage made by small sharp teeth. The pointy-heads think 12.30pm is still potentially a go, however.

[RacingHippo]

I may have located him. Problems with the LHC electrical systems point to wiring damage made by small sharp teeth.

Ah no.
I believe the clue to the culprit there is in your very own sig, Mr Geetar...