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Messages - Hinfrance

#1
Ah, well, you see, it's like this.

Schecter Bansee with Floyd Rose. B string clamp thread strips - what to do? Replacement genuine Floyd Rose €200 plus. I am not paying that. So eBay, Chinese 'genuine licenced' Floyd Rose kit, bridge, whammy bar, posts, nut, springs, the lot. £17. Worth a punt.

Arrived in less than 2 weeks. Not quite the same dimensions as the model of bridge fitted by Schecter, so carving chisels came out and small increase in the guitar void made. Whammy bar is a bizarre shape and angle so need a bit of persuasion in a vice to be useable. I used the original FR posts and nut, obviously - no need for major surgery.

Don't know why, but instead of 3 springs I had to fit all 5 to balance the string tension. Anyway, upshot is it holds tune now better than the OEM bridge and so I am quite pleased with myself. Oh, and the intonation is perfect, just copied the positions of the saddles from the Floyd Rose.  :tup:

Later - went back to three springs by adjusting the tension bar a bit. Much happier now, although I was pretty happy with it before.
#2
Technically neither cassette nor vinyl can match the dynamic range and clarity of CDs or high bit rate mp3s.

Subjectively they can sound better, especially vinyl as the frequencies blend in together and mechanical harmonics are generated. The first time I made a deliberate comparison was with the album Once Around The World by It Bites. The title track sounds wonderfully engaging on vinyl, but clinical on CD. Even though in the latter format it is possible to hear detail that simply could not be reproduced from the LP.

What you hear, of course, is dictated not so much by the source material as the last bit in the chain - the loudspeakers or headphones which are where all the input gets changed into moving air. Speakers are the most important part in all sound reproduction.

Just my 2 cents.
#3
Just a quick heads up that BIAS FX and other BIAS software is currently on sale, 50% off with an extra 10% or 20% if you tag a friend (depending on the amount of the purchase). There is no mention of how long the sale lasts for, just says ending soon - classic marketing trick.

Note for UK and EU shoppers, Positive Grid do not charge VAT on software sales (at least they didn't charge me).

HERE
#4
Mick,

I have been using Amplitube 4, some of the time. when I'm running PreSonus Studio One or Reaper that's what I usually use, although Studio One has it's own amp modelling called Ampire and I do use that too.

In Cubase I usually use the built in VST Amp Rack, especially as being a bass player I find their emulations of bass amps to be better.

I'm having a look at Amplitube 5 now, review to follow. Unfortunately first impressions, which let's face it are very important with software, are not good. It's flaky, slow, the UI has areas of dark grey labelling on a black ground, and worst of all I cannot get some of my previous gear, including the Engl Powerball amp which was my favourite guitar model.*

As they patch it (one release has already gone live) things may improve. We shall see!


*LATER: I've found the Engl Powerball, purely by accident. In Amplitube 4 it is called 'Engl Powerball', which given that's what it is makes sense. In Amplitube 5 it is called 'Powerball', which doesn't make sense because if one searches for 'Engl', which is what I did, the search returns no results. I bet this sort of pointless renaming of gear is what is causing a lot of the reported problems.

#5
Electric Guitar / Harley Benton Victory Plus BK Vintage
November 21, 2019, 11:12:19 AM
Greetings all, after a longish absence.

Harley Benton Victory Plus BK Vintage

I have just invested in a B stock example of one of the above. At the exchange rate when I bought it it cost me just over £120 shipped. What's not to like about that price? And, once again Thomann have exceeded expectations. To be honest I bought it because I thought I could use it as a photography prop if nothing else, as it is very pretty and shiny.

Imagine my surprise then when it arrive looking not only amazingly blingy, but also with only the slightest traces of any previous handling. There is a very small, and I mean pinhead sized, indent on the edge of the headstock behind the D string machine head, and the same headstock edge is slightly less glossy that the rest of the guitar which has a black mirror finish. The only other defect I have found is a manufacturing one affect two of the bridge block pieces - on one side there is no gold plating, but again a minute flaw and only noticeable if one does a forensic examination.

The next surprise was the neck. Having been the unlucky recipient of a few earlier HB guitars with C necks I was expecting a mega chunky plank, but no, it's actually quite slim, and being C shaped to boot is very comfortable to play, even for a begintermediary like myself. The frets could do with dressing, but this is not unusual in cheap guitars and there is no fret buzz anywhere even after I lowered the action quite a lot. The neck is bound, and so very smooth an no sharp fret ends. The intonation was perfect out of the box. The neck inlays are well set.

Then there are the Roswell pickups. This is the truly amazing surprise. Roswell are a relatively new pickup supplier for Thomann, my Fusion Pro has a pair too (those are perfectly OK ceramic humbuckers, nothing mind blowing about them). The Alnico humbuckers fitted to this V copy are astonishing IMO. Their output is huge and the dynamic range exceeds that of any of my other guitars, even the Gibson loaded Epi Prophesy.

There is, of course, the fact that this is a V copy and V is not the most accommodating of guitar body shapes. That said the balance on a strap is good, no nose diving despite the lightweight body, and it is comfortable to play seated as the notch of the V sits very well on (in my case) my right thigh.

So all in all, what a serendipitous purchase. I'm feeling quite pleased with myself  :tup:

Next, when I have time, I shall give a brief opinion on the Fender Champion 100 I bought at the same time, also B stock. Spoiler alert - it's an amp I wish I had bought years ago . . .

#6
The package arrived. Replacement pot inside.

Three quick bits of soldering later and the Prophesy is back to full operational status.

Three cheers for Gibson.  :tup:
#7
Pretty much Mick - The alkaline batteries last a really long time in the guitars because of their long shelf life and because the active circuits draw a very small current. The radio system and pedals, on the other hand, are much more power hungry. A PP3 only lasts about 6 hours in my NuX Loop Core, and maybe a little more in the radio. Also, of course, the batteries in the radio and pedals are less fiddly to get at. One of my basses needs the back cover taken off to change the battery, not something I want to be doing regularly.

I use Lidl rechargeables  :tup:
#8
I use rechargeable batteries in my wireless system and some pedals, but alkaline ones in my guitars. I'd almost run out of the Duracell ones ;)
#9
Interesting Mick - maybe that's what's happening, a warranty replacement. I hadn't even considered that possibility  ;)
#10
Quote from: Mick on June 08, 2019, 12:14:17 PM
H, nice one.  Yes hopefully it's a replacement pot.  Did you get it under their warranty?

Maybe they're sending you a new Gibson.  :idea:

A new Gibson you say . . that would be a strange and wonderful thing to behold.

Changing the pot if it is a new plug-in one will only take couple of minutes, and warranty, not likely, I bought it in July 2014.  :legit:

Ooh, and I lied, it's not DHL, it's TNT.  :doh:
#11
7 Day Shop are out of stock of their Duracell PP3 9V multipacks, but I have just ordered 12 Energisers for £10.99 including delivery.

https://www.7dayshop.com/products/energizer-industrial-9v-pp3-6lr61-mn1604-batteries-money-saving-box-of-12-batteries-e000191203
#12
Some of you may recall that I have a broken Prophesy, and I was having no luck trying to find a replacement for the broken push/pull pot. In the end I went to Gibson's support page and sent them an email, asking simply where I might be able to get a new pot. I had a holding reply a day later asking for some time to answer the question. That was bout two weeks ago. What with being busy and having no DSL for most of the intervening time due to our land line having snapped somewhere between us and the local router, I hadn't given it any further thought.

Yesterday evening, however, still without hearing any more from Gibson's support team, I got an email from DHL telling me that Gibson were sending me a parcel - I'm hoping that it is a new pot - I'll keep you posted :)
#13
Electric Guitar / Re: Prophecy GX Pickup question
March 23, 2019, 10:13:44 AM
Thanks Mick . If not I can get a decent after market all solder joint pot from Thomann.

I've put the plate back on for the time being, so I don't have a photo at the moment.
#14
Electric Guitar / Re: Prophecy GX Pickup question
March 22, 2019, 01:00:22 PM
Mick,

As you are another Prophesy owner here's one for you - and possibly any other Gibson/Epi owners.

A couple of days ago I pulled on the bridge pickup pot to split the coil. The shaft came straight out. So I need a new 500k split coil pot. Having taken the back off of the guitar I find A) that there is only a smattering of anti static paint, and B) that the pot is a bespoke plug in type - so unless I rewire I shall need a genuine pot.

So here is a plea - does anyone know where I can acquire such a thing? My local music shop lost it's Gibson franchise in the great cull of shops not selling shed loads of the darned things - like rural France was ever going to be one of the best selling regions . .

Cheers, H
#15
General Discussion / Re: What made you feel good today?
January 09, 2019, 01:30:28 PM
It plays fine, it's just a bit not immaculate any more. I'm feeling better about it today. I do, after all, have chips and dinks on all of my basses apart from the relatively new Ibanez.