In the beginning

FatBoy · 2008-06-10T09:34:44+00:00

Ok, I dont have uber gear yet, but I thought I'd post what I have so far. I am really pleased with the guitar, the harps are cool too, but I will upgrade the...

In the beginning

Riaan-Combrink

I thoroughly enjoyed it. I was lucky enough to pick up an imported box set containing Meaning of Life, Life of Brian, Holy Grail and Now for Something Completely Different, so for me it held up as I'd been watching it regularly over the years. BUT I watched it on TV simply for the absolute mindblow of watching Python (and indeed a somewhat risque one at that) on local TV. Surreal. We've certainly come a long way.

A cool topic (although not guitar related) would be favourite Python sketches?? And, what contemporary Britcom comes close to matching Python? There's been a flood of late (The Office, Green Wing, etc).

I do remember, as a student at Stellenbosch, driving to the Three Arts in approx 1987 cause they were screening Meaning of Life on the big screen. Bottle of Tas and something green in the car on the way just to set the mood! Those were the days .... Don't things get a bit blase in this age of everything at your fingertips via youtube & the net? Man, we had to work hard and go far to access cool stuff back then. Probably a bit more rewarding that way??

Cheers
Riaan C

AlanRatcliffe

I'm more of a Goons fan, but the usual Python suspects: Dead Parrot, Lumberjack, Every Sperm is Sacred, Chocolate factory, etc..

Yeah, we used to travel to Mini Cine in JHB when I was there and go see shows like Rocky Horror, Heavy Metal, The Wall and others. I actually saw Meaning of life in a big cinema - one of the funniest things was from the few hundred people in the cinema when it started, there were few left after Live Liver Donor and even less after Mr. Creosote.

Mr-M

Alan Ratcliffe wrote: I've been using mine for a while now and the intonation is really impressive. It's one of those things you wonder how you ever managed without it. On the downside, the material is a little softer than I like, which I think may be dulling the tone slightly. I'm going to ask Dave Dunwoodie at Graph Tech if they can make me some LSR sized OEM versions out of Black Tusq (boron polytrinate with Teflon - previously called Trem Nut material ?). Otherwise, I'll get some LSR sized blanks and an OEM Earvana as a template and make a few myself.

I've also read some revies that say the nut material is a bit soft. Do you think I should go for it or wait for you to make some of your Graph-Vana nuts?

AlanRatcliffe

I'll email Dave now and should have an answer tonight.

To call it soft is perhaps a bit nitpicky. It's softer than Tusq, micarta or bone - maybe about the same as Delrin.

I'd say it might be a good idea to get a retrofit and try it as a "proof of concept" thing that needs no permanent mod to your guitar. If you're happy with it, you can consider getting the harder one from me, which is LSR size, so will require widening the nut slot 3/32 towards the first fret.

Mr-M

Thanks for the advice.

I think I'm going to get one to try out like you suggested and make my judgment from there. Where do you recommend I purchase from?

BTW, do you think there's any chance of damaging/ excessively wearing the Earvana by raucous string bending or am I just nitpicking again? ?

AlanRatcliffe

Get it direct from www.earvana.com. Even if it does wear relatively quickly, there is probably five years of use out of it before you have to replace - it's a guess admittedly, but judging from the wear I am seeing in mine, which is minimal, I wouldn't worry.

Mr-M

Thanks, I'll give it a try!

FatBoy

It's starting to take shape, slowly!

Alan the one below is for you, a better shot of the saddles on my tele, wrt the intonation questions I have.

I still don't understand the steps in setting intonation all that well, I think I'll need someone to show me how it's done, or a post explaining it in full detail (some mentioned I should play a "harmonic", I have no idea what that is.

Anywhoo, my "studio" is coming along. Had lots of fun in there this weekend!!!

AlanRatcliffe

Not bad at all! So, since joining this forum a few short months ago, you have added a Tele, a Vox amp and an audio interface - not bad going. Keep it up and your studio will outdo my modest effort by the end of the year. ?

Harmonics:
If you touch the string over the 12th fret - don't push the string down to the fret, just touch it right above the fret itself. Now strike a note with your other hand and remove your "fretting" finger immediately. The note will ring out with a very pure tone at exactly an octave higher than the open string... that's a 12th fret harmonic. You have introduced an artificial node point in the string. You'll find harmonics all over the fretboard if you look - particularly above 12th, 7th and 5th frets. There are ways to make any note a harmonic, but I'm not going to go into that now.

Intonation:
(I must update the article on my site, it's not very clear)
Tune the guitar to pitch and check the intonation of each string separately. First play the note on the 12th fret (one octave above the open string). then play the 12th fret harmonic (the same note). A digital tuner is likely more accurate than your ear, so use one if you have it.

If both notes have exactly the same pitch, the intonation of the string is correct.
If the pitch of the fretted note is sharper of the two notes, the saddle should be moved away from the nut - tighten the screw clockwise.
If the pitch of the fretted note is the flatter of the two notes, the saddle must be moved towards the nut - loosen the screw anticlockwise.
Retune between each and every single adjustment, as by moving the saddle you change the pitch and tension of the entire string - and this will affect the intonation readings.

Shout if that's not clear.

Riaan

Hey Fritz that's a nice setup! I've briefly connected my new stuff, but had to pack it all up again due to a lack of space and a three year old that was hugely impressed with the keyboard... One of these days my studio space will be ready to be moved into.

I like the drums! Looks like you already have some good quality mikes also. You happy with the Edirol so far?

FatBoy

since joining this forum a few short months ago, you have added a Tele, a Vox amp and an audio interface

Plus a mic, mic stand, bongo's and monitoring headphones! This is turning into an expensive exercise, but it's way more fun than beer and it lasts longer! I am on leave on thursday and friday, I don' expect to move out of my corner for the whole weekend, well except if I decide to clear up the store room and move the studio in there.

Thanks for the explanation on intonation Alan, I will try it out this evening and let you know if I have any questions.

Thanks Riaan! Hahaha yea kids like thing with shiny lights and thingies they can moer with their tiny little hands. Best to keep them locked up I'd say (the kids that is)

Yea the drums was not planned, I walked into the music store to get a R10 convertor thingy so I can connect the crappy desktop speakers (mini-jack) to the FA 66's output (1/4 inch) and I just felt it is just not right to spend just R10 in a music store, so I looked around, saw these lil bongo's asked the price and said SOLD. Was a good buy though, lots of fun to fiddle around with.

Nah the mic is a cheap knockoff, not the real deal. Bought it from a friend, but ya tis good enough for now!

Yea I am very happy with the Edirol. Setup was a breeze, after fiddling with audio settings on the software I use for about 5 minutes everything went smoothly, I just love it!!

FatBoy

A new addition! One should never go into a music store with cash ?

Walked in looking for a music stand, got that, and a bass!

Says Ashland by Crafter on the headstock, I can't seem to find a website for them though. Anybody heard of them before? Got it for R1300

LMinnie

Me likey Fritz...we are gonna have to setup another jam evening to test out that bass of yours!

Riaan

Nice bass Fritz!

Squonk

Just read the whole thread, You've got stuff!!
Are you happy with the Cort?
Bass looks lekker

FatBoy

Thanks dudes! Very happy with the Cort Squonk, one of the body braces came loose a while ago but they fixed her up nicely. I still love her sound!

Mr-M

I do believe this is the guitar that you have and here is the website you seek: http://www.crafterguitars.com/gallery_cruiser/jb_450_bk.php

A friend of mine has a very nice Crafter Dreadnaught Acoustic (De-12) and I have been lusting after the Crafter CE-15 Nylon for a long time, so I know Crafters acoustic guitars fairly well.

"Ashland by Crafter" would imply it's a cheaper range than regular Crafters IMO. Can't speak for the Crafter electrics or basses, but I'd bet it'll be decent based on the acoustic guitars. Hope you enjoy it!

FatBoy

Yea that does look like my new baby. Probably the same sort of thing like Squier and Fender. I had a friend over tonight that plays bass and he sure can make her sing. I think it was a pretty good deal, but ya only time will tell. Thanks man!

FatBoy

Realised that adding another floor stand for the bass is going to take up too much space, so I put up some wall hooks.

Some closeups of the bass

FatBoy

Finally got round to getting a bigger desk in here, and organising things a tad better. A holesaw to the back of the desk helped lots with cable management ?