General Music Chat

purchased my Fender Hot Rod Deluxe amp in 1996.. where did the 20 years go? got an audition this Sunday and figured since I ain't fired it up for probably 3 years ( my little VOX MINI-3 has been plenty of amp) I figured today I will start checking all the cords, are good, enough 9 volt batteries on hand, ploenty of strings, and my amp sounds like it is now wavering in sound? kinda like cutting out and real intermittent? could not get a sound I know I have dialed up before, everything on clean channel was "dry" sounding could hear the pick hitting the string pinging dry sound.. tin can in an alley getting beat kinda sterile sound.. took the back off and checked the tubes for microphonics..one of the pre-amp tubes does not look to be glowing just right, looks kinda dark..guitar center when I called them about their groove tubes said might want to check it out first for $25.00 before buying replacement tubes.. they have a tube tester.. I have a tube tester but no booklet telling me the parameters to set grid voltage and such, not for a 12AX7 and my tube tester does not have a big enough socket to test a 6L6.. well, since Sunday is fast approaching, and audition is at 1:30 PM, I spent time researching amps and would prefer a boutique amp but can't afford one right now, so I settled on the Roland CUBE 40 gx .. great reviews, and might need a touch of slap delay Sunday on some of the tunes I was given to work up for Sunday.. couple tunes sound like they have a tad of compression too.. this CUBE 40gx will be well rounded and wont need to buy MORE PEDALS.. already have too many pedals laying around BOSS chorus digitech Bad Monkey, etc.. hope I was right with my choice and it had better be here by Friday..hard to beat a Roland Jazz Chorus but they are pretty bulky and heavy too.. the Cube 40gx weighs around 21 LBS.

for got to mention that was the first thing I did..sorry

think most musicians suggest changing the whole set of tubes with a matched set of replacements every 8-10 years.. and you have caps that dry out and go bad.. I will get back at this problem but I need a decent sounding amp for Sunday and I know a new one should be good to go.. tube tone is nice but technology has advanced so much it is hard to tell the difference anymore..

maybe Tung-Sol? LOL.. yeah, 12AX7 and softer hues of acoustic whith different 12AX7 family members and stugfff..

the way I looked at it was economics Jook, $25.00 to test the tubes, gas money wear and tear driving to extreme southside of Springfield from Half Way.. say they are going to try and convince me to replace ALL THE TUBES whether they test good or not saying it is 20 years old tubes and amp.. the groove tubes are 20.95 each there is 42 bucks + 25 to test there is 67 bucks another 15 for gas time wear and tear we are at 82 and still might be labor intensive capacitor replacement especially the thought of it..electrolytic capacitors can kill you too..it sure aint because of dirty pots, I knew it was acting up three years ago rehearsing with Morris and Pat etc.

and the 6L6's are what$$$$$$$$$$!! 35 ea. there is $152.00 in cost and I am still lugging a amp that can throw my wrist/back out of place.. LLOOOLOLOLn

and we don't even know if that cost will fix it? wonder what Slacker charges as a bench tech? bet he don't give it away.. $45.00 an hour????????????

with a mail-in rebate that lasts till July 31 on Roland products with some rebates as high as 25% off.. my cost will be $209.00 delivered to my door..can't beat it, read the reviews..

I oughta figure out this new Ableton Live 9 Lite version I downloaded and record the amp and see if you agree the tone is pure crap just a little clip, but too busy learning Mama Tried, and Live 9 Lite is not very similar looking to the Line 6 edition Live Lite 5.1

the original version by The Hag .. the 1968 release with him wearing an engineer's hat.. I see James Burton was playing on it along with 4 more guitarists.. James Burton was Elvis's guitarist and he was on that recent chicken pickin' album by Brad Paisley.. I have got it down now, time to move on to "She's A Miracle" by Exile.. Jesse did not give me any charts..( a jab at displaced pianist LOL)

all I was told to do was play the lead guitar parts.. sometimes it is hard to figure out what the rhythm guitarist will be playing as Keith Richards is well aware of..LOL.. on Mama Tried I will be playing the fingerpicking parts too just to be on the safe side.. love that ghost bend intro licks on electric guitar with no efx.. sounds clean to me but maybe a little reverb? twin deluxe sounding probably a telecaster??