Ian F (Forum Supporter) said:
In reply to Antihero :
Some of the Epiphones are really good. A number of years ago, I found a Epi Custom Silverburst at a Guitar Center. I was so close to buying it, but I really need another Les Paul like a hole in the head, no matter how good it plays.
A couple of years later the Adam Jones models came out and the values of all Silverbursts shot up overnight. Doh...
Apparently if they don't have enough supply they start using more and more factories to keep up with demand, so mine was made in the Edwards factory instead of whatever they were using that year. It's a great guitar that I should play more, I've been leaving it alone specifically so I.S doesn't have the same sound as bands before......but maybe I should take it out more.
Silverbursts were ridiculous at one point, that sucks!
As much as I want to change it up right now, my Epi Les Paul has been my most solid guitar in my lineup for years and years. I actually own three Epiphones, all Korean made models. They have been used and abused, and still do guitar and bass things well. Most of the Epi stuff is on par with a Mexican Fender, if that makes sense. Gibsons are awesome, of course, but Epiphones are pretty great, too.
And yeah, those silverburst Les Pauls were cool as hell. Played one a few years back at GC and I really wanted to take it home.
I'm a big fan of epiphone. I've had several models over the years and currently own two lifers, my jumbo and my goth explorer. Both just feel like they were tailor made for me. I've played a few duds too, but that goes for any brand.
See how badly I needed another black guitar?
barefootcyborg5000 said:
I'm a big fan of epiphone.
I bought an early 10s Epi LP Classic so I didn't have to play my heavy af 80's LP live. Was a really great guitar for the money.
Antihero said:
Ian F (Forum Supporter) said:
In reply to Antihero :
Some of the Epiphones are really good. A number of years ago, I found a Epi Custom Silverburst at a Guitar Center. I was so close to buying it, but I really need another Les Paul like a hole in the head, no matter how good it plays.
A couple of years later the Adam Jones models came out and the values of all Silverbursts shot up overnight. Doh...
Apparently if they don't have enough supply they start using more and more factories to keep up with demand, so mine was made in the Edwards factory instead of whatever they were using that year. It's a great guitar that I should play more, I've been leaving it alone specifically so I.S doesn't have the same sound as bands before......but maybe I should take it out more.
Silverbursts were ridiculous at one point, that sucks!
I think they wanted around $350 or $400 for it, which wasn't a stellar price at the time, but not bad. Now it would be nearly double that. But I already have 5 Les Pauls and really only play two of them with any sort of frequency (I mostly play my Strat), so...
Granted, none of that stopped me from buying that Lowden single-cut a few weeks ago that was considerably more expensive...
You guys know about Chibson USA, right? I have decided that I need this tone selector ring for mine:
I want ALL THE PAUL!!!!
They also have this one:
This little trusty Gretsch I have is causing heartache.
it was a pawn shop whim. Love at first sight. I jammed some full size pickups in and gigged it for years. Sold, bought back, it's been an interesting ride. Couple months ago it started showing signs of warp. Messed with the truss rod and got it to behave with slightly higher action. Some days it's fine, some days it won't hold a tune. It's to the point now where the intonation (which isn't very adjustable) is just not even close to usable.
It isn't worth anything unless I remove the pickups and sell them. I already bought a much nicer replacement, but the eyes still wander. Local CL shows a low end hollow Gretsch for very reasonable money and my inner tinkerer says to just put the pickups I already have... but I don't need another guitar. Trying to buy a house.
In reply to barefootcyborg5000 :
Sounds like that one is ready to be wall art.
Picked up some lightly used mesh heads for my drums today. Also spent my "fancy cymbal" money on a set of L80 low volume jobs I found on sale.
The heads feel sort of springy compared to normal, bouncier. They're way less stale than cheap electric drums or practice pads for that matter.
Maybe I should start a separate drum thread? Y'all weigh in if the drum stuff gets irritating in the guitar thread.
Anyway. The heads seem less tune-stable than standard ones. At least, they're taking longer to settle. Not a problem, just a slight complaint. The bass drum is too quiet. I need to take the pillow out and unmuffle the res and see how it acts.
Found a set of L80s on sale and they arrived today. I have a wuhan ORA 16" that is actually not terrible at any price, but it was $30 so that's even better. I may try to hammer it into a china for giggles and halftime shenanigans.
The zildjian are fine. This is the 468 set, 14hh, 16cr, 18cr. The 16 is actually amazing. The 18 is ok with the stand nut a little over tightened. It's a decent ride. The hats are not as good. But definitely usable for now.
everything is transparent. It's odd.
Played middle man for a drum kit a friend of my mother was selling. Barely used Pearl Export XR with some upgraded hardware for $100. They didn't include much for cymbals - just one small ride and some thin hi-hats, but did include a stool and mesh heads, which I'd never heard of before. My friend who I bought them for said the mesh heads alone probably cost more than $100. He set up the kit yesterday and said the standard heads were probably original to the kit, but never used. That said, he feels they probably need replacing. For a guy who doesn't play drums, he has a lot of them. Granted, he has developed a bit of a local reputation for being very good at recording live drums, which is becoming something of a lost art.
For myself, I bought a Boss Waza Air wireless guitar headphone amp system, which should help me with practicing more in my hotel room.
I think drums should stay in this thread. I know I've been posting about them for years in here! I'm definitely missing mine, which are in storage until my house renovations are done sometime next year. Speaking of which, I may have a dedicated space for them and most of my music gear when it's done, which is going to rule.
Live recording of drums gives me flashbacks of being in the studio for weeks and weeks trying to nail down something that sounded "good". Luckily, it was OUR studio, so it wasn't expensive, but what a pain. Definitely a lost art with how much people use triggers these days.
Live drum recording/mic-ing is voodoo. Having spent considerable time doing the best I could manage before my old band could afford professional studio time, I'm glad I've never had to try to do live drum mixing. I am actually looking forward to recording drums for my stuff, which should be soon-ish, but that's just for the experiment and won't cost anything. Actually that is the main reason I didn't get mesh heads long ago, they're fine, actually excellent for practice, but not anything I want to even demo with.
I did order a 10" head for that little tom with the shirts piled on it. So that'll be cool.
But for now, I rearranged my kit for better closet use (wife isn't thrilled with the drums taking the space, but is very accommodating) and am really enjoying the quietness. Ear fatigue is real.
Speaking of drum recording. The time is extremely nigh. Ive been asked to engineer a project and play bass (and likely drums) on it. I have a desire to run a couple overhead condenser mics but I don't own any. Anyone have suggestions for a matched pair of small diaphragm condensers in the $2-300 range? I've heard good things about the Rode M5s as well as the Lewitt LCTs. Open to other suggestions.
* edit because fortuitous timing
And then a buddy sends me a link from FBMP for a pair of audiotechnica PRO 37s for less than the cost of one new. Hopefully the seller responds.
I have some sort-of exciting news:
We're deep into a teardown/rebuild of our house, and the framing was just completed, so we got a tour of the "new" house recently. In my old house, I had taken up both my office and second spare bedroom for my music stuff. It was not ideal. At all. This was the bedroom:
And this was the office:
Our old house was about 800 sq ft of actually useable space, including the basement. The new house, however, is over 2000 sq ft including the basement and new attic loft space. And that attic loft space:
That's where I'm setting up shop for a rehearsal space/music room. It has full staircase access, and half of it is "mine" for my music stuff. It will be partially finished, with walls and an open ceiling, and will have some form of HVAC as well. No idea what the acoustics will be like up here, but this is something I've dreamed of for a very, very long time!
barefootcyborg5000 said:
Speaking of drum recording. The time is extremely nigh. Ive been asked to engineer a project and play bass (and likely drums) on it. I have a desire to run a couple overhead condenser mics but I don't own any. Anyone have suggestions for a matched pair of small diaphragm condensers in the $2-300 range? I've heard good things about the Rode M5s as well as the Lewitt LCTs. Open to other suggestions.
* edit because fortuitous timing
And then a buddy sends me a link from FBMP for a pair of audiotechnica PRO 37s for less than the cost of one new. Hopefully the seller responds.
Snagged that deal right up. It was meant to be. I pulled up to guys house and he was in the middle of yanking the 2.8 out of his fiero. Talked briefly about cars, nice guy.
In reply to barefootcyborg5000 :
Was the guy's last name Hall or Oates?
Somehow after all these years Ive never had a "normal" tele. Set neck carved top, Deluxe style, p90s and a thin line , definitely but never a normal tele. That changed today. Not Fender but quite a steal at what I paid, tried it out with a Dual Rec and it even does metal better than it should.
In reply to Tony Sestito :
Congratulations!
New thing inbound
Tama SLP G-hickory elm. 12 ply, 11mm hickory shell but the outer layer is elm. 10 lug, 6.5x14. The folks over at sweetwater are doing a killer deal while supplies last, SLP series drum for $280! My complaints with my current lower-end tama artwood are just some sour overtones at lower tunings. Hoping the much thicker shell and extra lugs help that. Also hoping hickory has a bit darker tone than maple... My favorite records all seem to be brass snares, but I like the idea of wood more and this is a killer deal. Should land early next week, just in time for the studio.
I freely admit I can suffer from nostalgia when looking at guitar gear. The first effects pedal I bought sometime in the late 80's was a Boss ME-5. I still have it, although it's currently inoperable (and with a friend in the hope he'll figure out how to fix it).
A few weeks ago, a few reviews for the latest version started hitting YouTube and... well... nostalgia struck:
Bearing in mind, with the number of normal pedals and rack units I have, I need this like a hole in the head... but again... it makes me feel nostalgic.
The drum arrived. It looks better than the stock photos.
it has the same throwoff as my "Artwood" series maple Tama. Also same dimensions, 6.5x14. This is a much warmer and fuller sound. And shockingly loud. The shell is 11mm thick, that has something to do with it. And the hoops are what Tama calls Sound Arc. They bow inwards at the top. I'm not sure of the science, but the marketing claims more sensitivity and "voice". The stock Evans G1 head is thin, but the overtones are musical and controlled. Setting my wallet on the thing really mutes those tones and emphasizes the punch. And it punches. I plan to swap the CS dot head from my other drum.
Color me impressed. Very pleased with the purchase.
That thing looks great! I can almost hear it through the photos.
Are those hoops stamped steel or full diecast? A lot of older manufacturers used diecast hoops, and they had a much more substantial, solid tone as a result. These ones sort of look like a hybrid of both, which is cool.
