NGAAD!!

Codex7

New Guitar And Amp Day!!

OK, been playing an acoustic since December and finally got my first electric guitar!!! Very excited!! ?

Look, it's no Fender or Gibson, but she is beautiful! She plays OK (for now) - the strings are tarnished\old and the action is a bit higher than I like, but I am taking her into a guitar tech tomorrow to do a proper setup. I'm sure after the setup she will be STUPENDOUS!!! ? I'll check with him what he suggests wrt possibly a new nut. The existing one looks a bit plasticky. Would rather do it now than have to do it later.

She is a Vintage Icon Series V6 - Distressed Sunburst.

Here are a few pics (apologies for the quality of the pics, they are cellphone pics. Also for the quality of the writing - I quickly cobbled this post together):

Also got a VOX Pathfinder 15R amp. Solid State, unfortunately no valve-y goodness, but sounds pretty good so far. Just the basics; Tremolo and Reverb, no fancy effects etc.

I got both the V6 and the Pathfinder 2nd hand, but they are still brand new. The previous owner purchased them new in November (I got the slips) and only played a few times.

Initially the amp was VERY much buzzing and humming - I was pretty concerned. Got it sorted though. It comes with a 2-point "shuck to" plug. It has the 2 contacts, and then earth contacts, which are metal parts flush with the power plug body. I think in the US and Europe they have the proper plugs for this. Anyway - bottom line is that it was NOT EARTHED!!! ?. That's what was causing the humming and buzzing. So last night I chopped off the 2-point plug and replaced with a good old SA 3-point plug with a proper earth. Now no more issues ?

Some pics of my VOXey:

Can't wait to get her back after the setup!

AlanRatcliffe

Congrats! Not a bad first Strat and those Pathfinders are decent. The plug thing is one I regularly warn/bang on about - it's potentially dangerous and makes for a lot of noise with some amps and guitars.

Reinhard

Nice rig man, you should be able to get some sweet tones out of that. It is amazing what a good setup can do to a guitar.

Enjoy ?

Shibbibilybob

Alan Ratcliffe wrote: Congrats! Not a bad first Strat and those Pathfinders are decent. The plug thing is one I regularly warn/bang on about - it's potentially dangerous and makes for a lot of noise with some amps and guitars.

A very nice strat indeed ?
As for the plug, I am honestly of the opinion that that sort of this should be illegal. To me, it feels like a crime against the consumer. 3 terminal, earthed terminals should be the only ones allowed to be sold on/with products. To skimp on a cheap terminal is unacceptable.
Also, I feel that the lack of universal laptop power supplies and phone chargers is also a crime against the consumer. Making our lives hard and limiting product compatibility.
rant over.

StefStoep

Congrats, that is a nice combo you got there. Good time to get new gear, just before the weekend! Enjoy!!!

chris77

Congrats man :goodtimes: Happy Playing!

Nevermind the fact that she's no Gibson or Fender, she's yours and she makes you happy, that's all that matters. Anyway, the best part of a not too expensive first electric (the more expensive ones will come later, guaranteed ?), is that you can experiment on her a bit at a later stage without feeling to guilty about it. Nothing major, but small things like doing your own set-ups, fiddling with the truss-rod, fitting replacement pups and electronics etc. are great skills well worth learning that you don't really want to try out for the first time on a valuable instrument.

AlanRatcliffe

Shibbibilybob wrote: As for the plug, I am honestly of the opinion that that sort of this should be illegal.

IINM it is illegal to sell an electrical device without a viable earth. But I think Euro certification means it gets past customs here without check (because Euro regulations are the strictest in the world). But Euro plugs need proper Euro sockets...

As with all things, it's actually going to take someone being seriously injured or killed and a lawsuit to actually get conformity from the industry.

Also, I feel that the lack of universal laptop power supplies and phone chargers is also a crime against the consumer.

Trying to lock you in to buying their crappy, overpriced replacement, yes. >☹ Don't get me started. ? With musical gear I take it a step further - where I will avoid buying anything that does not have an IEC (kettle) plug built in. AFAIC, it's not a pro piece of gear if it has a wall wart (are you listening Roland?).

Shibbibilybob

Unless you're talking individual stomp boxes, which obviously can not house their own power supply circuitry.
BUT, in that case, I feel some kind of agreement on polarity is required, I see no reason why pedals can not all be designed with the same polarity.
I can understand the need for 12V and 18V power supplies occasionally. But the centre pin on those should be the same as on all the 9V units.

RJN

Congrats on your Rig dude, Looks like stacks of fun. enjoy

scotty

Nice going, I have never tried one of the VOX amps - always been curious, if I can make a suggestion based on the picture: the volume knob needle is pointing to the wrong side, need to turn that up ?

Codex7

Thanks for all the kind words everybody!

Regarding the power plugs for the VOX amp - I am also pretty horrified that they allow them to be sold like that. It is a potential electrocution just waiting to happen.

They should sell them with either an adapter, or just do it like a kettle/PC power plug, where you could then plug in the relevant lead (they are cheap and easily available) of your choice. That should make it easier to sell in a number of different countries, as you just separately pakage the correct lead with the correct wall plug for said country.

Without being grounded, the amp sounds terrible - surely they can't expect everybody to have the same type of wall plugs. Never mind the damage to their brand if people send back "defective" amps and tell all their friends - or post it on the 'net.

I wonder if they ship the 2-point plugs locally for the more expensive valve amps as well...

Codex7

scotty wrote: Nice going, I have never tried one of the VOX amps - always been curious, if I can make a suggestion based on the picture: the volume knob needle is pointing to the wrong side, need to turn that up ?

LOL! ?

Was set for "late night practice" last night - wasn't in the mood for earphones 8)

wirt

Congrats, man! Looks like a decent bit of kit you got there, especially for a first-time buyer!

Codex7

Thanks wirt ?

How's your journey towards awesomeness coming along? 8)

wirt

Codex7 wrote: Thanks wirt ?

How's your journey towards awesomeness coming along? 8)

Limping along, man, limping along... Ask me again next year ?

TomCat

Those little pathfinder 15's are surprisingly good for the dosh paid for them. OD channel sucks....but clean they work quite well with OD/drive pedals.

We have one we use with guitar students and for fun we slap the SD Twin Tube pedal on the front... ? ? ? ?.....tone is not half bad actually......

Codex7

Took her in for the setup on Saturday morning - now she looks great and plays like a dream. Nice low action. Had some Schaller strap-locks put on as well.

Wow, and I can really vouch for the guitar tech, what a friendly and helpful chap. You can see he loves guitars and working on them. I will gladly recommend their work to anybody. The guy there on weekends is Dale - the shop's owner is Andries. I have NO affiliation whatsoever, just a very happy customer!! ?

http://www.thefretshop.co.za/services.html

StefStoep

Codex7 wrote:
Wow, and I can really vouch for the guitar tech, what a friendly and helpful chap. You can see he loves guitars and working on them. I will gladly recommend their work to anybody. The guy there on weekends is Dale - the shop's owner is Andries. I have NO affiliation whatsoever, just a very happy customer!! ?

http://www.thefretshop.co.za/services.html

+1

I had my SG there earlier this year and it has never been as good as it has been after Andries sorted it. And it was previously setup by another tech.

I had good, fast, friendly service there!!!