Music Gear Discussion

[Fe 26]

First of all what in the fuck happened to cheeks' post that was in between my last two.

Also arjue, that's the next project after I fix the big Orange. I'm going to build myself a Soldano Supercharger GTO on their board with their parts at their place. Who knows what happens after that?

I'm just being a weird ass

man, those guys at Soldano sure are nicer than a certain someone that has his own amp company.

[PaCrappa]

I know it. I so badly want to ask what they think of HP (Bill and Mike definitely know him) but it would be hard to veil my disdain for the man and what if they're like total buddies?

Orange is doing amps with girl names now? LOL, that's Ken Fischer's (Trainwreck) schtick.

I'll pick this thing up for you if you want it Josh: http://seattle.craigslist.org/est/msg/1031359876.html

Also, in addition to free bullets, maxi-pads and crankpipe I just found a nifty ticket stub.

[Fe 26]

just say what everyone else says

"oh, I had a pe-ve whatever back in the 90s and thought it was shit. I guess the 51 50 is great, but I don't play a lot of metal lead. More of a marshall man, or an Orange guy myself."

god if I had a dollor for every time I heard that.

[PaCrappa]

I am both of those things. But I still dig the 5150 and you can bet that if I see one on the cheap I'll be picking it up. I've never been terribly excited about his actual playing but I'm gathering new respect for EVH all the time.

[Fe 26]

let me know if you find one. I used to know how to convert it over to EL34s

[PaCrappa]

Fuckin A, will do. The cheapest I ever see them is about $500. If I was rich I'd pay it but I have had priorities up til now. It's funny but the moment I started jamming with a band I no longer had the gear fever. I'm glad I accumulated all what I did but now I'm really focusing on learning about how to deal with every bit of it. I've even thought of following in your footsteps and enrolling in an EE program but I just know I couldn't hack it. Not the brainiac shit, just the being at school when I could be doing something else part. Luckily I stay pretty motivated by anything that stays interesting (ie: BJJ) so I should be able to reach a reasonable level of competency through my own efforts and a little ALOT help from Bill and Mike

[Fe 26]

yeah, the EE route is pretty time consuming. I don't really have time for anything other than the work they give me. And a ton of it is crap you don't care about. Much of it is taught poorly. And it is taught in a way that doesn't help you design much.

If you just want to build amps you'd be better off teaching yourself. Otherwise you're going to have to wade through a lot of bullshit for four/five years.

Actually, I don't have a lot positive to say about engineering school.

[PaCrappa]

My answer man is Bill Sundt at Soldano. He dropped out of EE about six months before he was to graduate. He has gone on to design and co-design with Mike some killer shit, alot of which will cost you like four grand for a head. He told me not to go to school if I just want to fiddle with guitar stuff. Between you (currently in a program) and him (old timer who dropped out) I am taking it to heart. He says between that military book you linked me to and the Radio Amateur's Handbook I should be able to learn just about everything I need and of course he'll be there if I have questions.

Also I found a cool ancientass speaker switch in one of those boxes. It has the pimpest knob and mounting plate but the switch itself is so corroded I'm just throwing it out. Have a look:

Click for full size


Click for full size


Field coil speakers? Was this made by Thomas Edison himself?

Anyhow, I just tracked my shit on UPS and the parts for the big Orange should be in today. YES! I also tested the power tubes out of the thing and only one of them tested good on the Heathkit. So it looks like I need some new tubes. I hope Soldano has some EL34's around. I really don't want to go anywhere and I certainly don't want to pay any kind of guitar shop pricing for the things.

[Fe 26]

Yeah, between me and that guy, you should be set. If you really wanted it, I could make you a list of books, in order, to read that would teach you the bulk of what you need to know.


Going to college to be an EE for designing tube amps is the longest and dumbest way you can go about it. You'll have to take 2.5 years of material you will never use and it will most likely be taught to you in a vague way that helps you little (when compared to an actual design book). Also, the key thing is, they will not teach you about tubes or how to build anything with them. You'll still have to self teach yourself all of that material. And while you do it, the same books will recover much of the college material that is actually useful.

The big thing that will see you through it is getting some good books and making yourself go through them and learn the material. I mean serious business studying. Set aside an hour a day, keep notes, do what you have to do to focus, etc. If you were to do this starting tomorrow, you'd know more than me by the time I graduate because you were focused and dedicated in what you are learning. But if you can't study you'll never get through it. The really good books are very heavy reading, regardless of how much you love the topic.

[Fe 26]

I've either lost or had my box of guitar chords boosted. So I went in today and got me a new one.

Some guy was in there to get his multi chorus fixed. They couldn't fix it and he told them they could keep it. As I was checking out I asked them if I could have it, and the guy at the cash register gave it to me for free.

So I now have a burned up chorus. Real turd of one too, stupid Digitech x series. I looked inside and the guy burnt one of the diodes at the power supply up. Disentigrated. And one of the surface mount (yuck) 20 something pinned chips has a bubble in it (this is very bad).

OH WELL, FREE ENCLOSURE! =D

EDIT:

Oh yeah. Any of you guys know of a good place online to get guitar chords and straps? I'd like a guitar strap made of that really soft nylon material that they make flat bed 18 wheeler trailer straps out of.