Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum
Forum Ringside => Guitars, Amps and Effects => Topic started by: _tom_ on March 08, 2006, 02:18:16 PM
-
I ordered new strings and a couple of new picks, and it arrived today - some D'addarios and some Dunlop Gator Grips. After playing for 1-2 hours today one of the picks is allready worn quite a bit. This is pretty annoying as I really like the chalky feel of these picks, feels alot nicer than the plasticcy tortex ones. Which picks tend to last the longest? I hate it when they round off, I cant play as well when it gets like this..
EDIT - Whilst I'm making a new thread I might aswell ask about attentuation. Had first band practise on Monday night, all went well but I cant get my amp loud enough to get a good tone, its almost there but too loud still. My Weber Minimass is pretty poor, so it looks like its a choice between a Hotplate, or something I found out about called "Power Scaling" http://www.londonpower.com/ have a Power Scaling box but I dunno if it'd require work inside the amp? In which case its probably best to get a hotplate but I thought I'd ask anyway!
Cheers!
-
Tortoise shell!
-
I use the Bareknuckle Celluloid picks and love em' :)
-
I use the Bareknuckle Celluloid picks and love em' :)
I found the two I have to be rough on the edges, they "stick" to the strings!
-
I found the two I have to be rough on the edges, they "stick" to the strings!
Yeah, they do wear down quite quickly on the sides, but the picking edge seems to last ok for me :)
-
Yeah, they do wear down quite quickly on the sides, but the picking edge seems to last ok for me :)
You need to play faster! PDT_008
-
i think the dunlop ultex ones last pretty well (got one free with a mag once), but i can't use them as they don't go up to 1.5mm- i'm stuck to the gator grip ones too.
What are the tortoiseshell ones, TO?
:D
-
Power Scaling needs work inside the amp. The amount depends on whether you get the normal kit, or the power scaling box. The box would require hardly any work inside the amp, just changing a few wires and adding a drive compensation control.
I'm planning on getting the scaling box for my plexi, it should be great when it's running. It's actually cheaper than an attenuator if you're buying it in the UK, and sounds a lot better.
-
At the price of one of the boxes I'm probably better off buying a Hotplate, but these seem like they'd get a better tone.. Too many options!
-
You think? I work out including all the shipping and taxes etc, it'd be £168. That's cheaper than I've seen Hotplate's retail in the UK.
-
You think? I work out including all the shipping and taxes etc, it'd be £168. That's cheaper than I've seen Hotplate's retail in the UK.
Oh yeah I didnt actually bother to work it all out, I just saw $200 and thought "hmm".. Installing it may be a bit of a bother though, I dont know any amp techs close to me.
-
With full instructions, the PS-Box should be a great introduction to working on your amp. There's only a few wires you need to move around, and I'd be able to help you with it. If worst comes to worst and you get totally stuck, send the amp to me and I'll fix it.
-
With full instructions, the PS-Box should be a great introduction to working on your amp. There's only a few wires you need to move around, and I'd be able to help you with it. If worst comes to worst and you get totally stuck, send the amp to me and I'll fix it.
Ah right thats cool. Is there a proper lead you recommend for discharging caps? I remember I found one ages ago but cant remember where I found it anymore. Do you think it'd cut off treble like my weber thing does or in theory should it not change the frequencies too much?
-
BIG STUBBYS!
*Sorry, I couldn't resist*
-
hahah I hate Big Stubbys. Too thick. I like the thickness of .92 Gator Grips, but probably will prefer the slightly thinner .70s...
-
Tortoise shell!
I have 2 real ones that are over 20 years old, and I use them on accoustic a lot - they never wear down!
-
So are tortoiseshell picks such as the Planet Waves ones not the real deal.. just plastic made to look like it I assume, which wont wear aswell.
-
So are tortoiseshell picks such as the Planet Waves ones not the real deal.. just plastic made to look like it I assume, which wont wear aswell.
Yes - it's illegal to sell real tortoise shell now I believe. Even when I got mine, there was a ban in some countries, but I was in the Bahamas and they had them there. Lots of people use celluloid picks, these look more like the tortoise shell ones, but eventually break.
Sometimes you can find real ones on eBay
-
I think power scaling has to be HT voltage reduction, so my guess is it'll have to be cathode bias??? Be interesting to find out!
On Webervst.com message boards there's a attenuator design, they work really well and the bits cost a few £££ plus a box. They reduce the volume by a fixed amount, and sound more natural than you'd expect. The ones I built hold up pretty well against my Hotplates.
As for picks.....they wear away! Choose them on tone and feel and get used to throwing them away when they're done. You can file the BKP picks back a bit.
celluloid sound great, I used to have half an old tortoise shell pick, it sounded great but alas no more. Celluloid tone is better than plastic, and D'Andrea are better than Dunlop IMHO...
Just remember, listen to the TONE and pick the one you like!
-
Well i use Dunlop Jazz III's. They've lasted longer than any pick i've used before. I still have the ones that i bought months and months ago.
-
I've found a couple of hotplates on Ebay, from Worldwide sellers in America and I'm thinkin about just going for one of them now, as the price seems to be right!
-
I've got a bag full of Dunlop Jazz III reds, anybody want 'em.....I went off them in favour of the BKP picks tone, plus they're easier to keep hold of so I use less tension in my picking hand....I've probably got about 10/20 some have light wear.
-
^ ill have em hayden... lol
-
PM me an address
-
If sam hasnt allready taken em, would you split the bag half each :lol:
-
I think power scaling has to be HT voltage reduction, so my guess is it'll have to be cathode bias??? Be interesting to find out!
It can be either fixed or cathode bias. The kits that are installed inside the chassis can be bought in either fixed or cathode bias version, and IIRC the power scaling box can cover either. The power scaling kits/box generate their own bias supply.
-
i think the dunlop ultex ones last pretty well (got one free with a mag once), but i can't use them as they don't go up to 1.5mm-
I use 1.14mm ultex and find them thick enough.
Before ultex I was using either 2mm stubbies, or sharp point Jazz III's. The ultex 1.14s are hard wearing, stiff enough, and have nicer tone than both of the above ^
IMO of course :)
-
I think power scaling has to be HT voltage reduction, so my guess is it'll have to be cathode bias??? Be interesting to find out!
It can be either fixed or cathode bias. The kits that are installed inside the chassis can be bought in either fixed or cathode bias version, and IIRC the power scaling box can cover either. The power scaling kits/box generate their own bias supply.
It's been years since I looked at all this, it'd be good to hear your opinion when you get it installed :wink:
-
You won't just get that - there'll be lots of VHII clips with it to follow too! With my new Rola G12M25! :D
-
You won't just get that - there'll be lots of VHII clips with it to follow too! With my new Rola G12M25! :D
Nice one :D
-
I think I'll be ordering the power scaling any time after the 20th - I'm getting paid £100 for a recording project I'm doing with a local band on the 19th. One I start work on it, I'll take pictures and document every stage so you guys can see how it works, sounds and how difficult it is to build etc.
-
Ah right cool. If I dont get a Hotplate off ebay I'll definately look into one of those so long as it doesnt seem too hard to do.
Ooh another thing whilst I'm here - locking castors for my amp! Where could I get some that are suitable from? B&Q or something I'm guessing, but HRDx's are bloody heavy so I'd want it to be strong!
-
I can add to this that a 8ohms Hotplate has served me well in the past 5 or so years. I use it regularly to be able to gig with my Budda 30W combo without upsetting my bandmembers or sound engineers, and still have that wonderful amp-wide-open sound. It has proved itself als a reliable tool, it's pretty much bombproof and it never let me down.
IMO the key with attenuators is to try to use them with some restraint. On my Hotplate I use the -4dB and -8dB settings most. With more attenuation I feel I lose some dynamics and the sound gets a bit dull. Might be lack of speaker colouration making it less realistic.
-
I am using an 8ohm hotplate in order to play with my Laney LC30 at home volumes. It is set at -12db and i got no loss of volume, but when it is set at -16db+ then it sounds a bit so-so. Having said that, the w/o hotplate sound at vol 1/10 in comparison with the hotplate -12db and vol 2.5/10 sound is TOO different with the clear winner the hotplated sound
-
Jumping in late ... but for picks, I've tended to go with fairly heavy picks. I seldom use less than the Dunlop 1.14s; I can find the purple tortex ones in any shop, finding either ultex picks or thicker picks on the street seems tougher.
I've used some Clayton Acetal picks and they seemed OK. Had a giant one that I used on bass for a good while.
I recently tracked down some of the Adamas 2mm graphite picks (possibly now being made by Dunlop). These are tough to find, but I quite like them. I ordered a big bag from some place in the States and hope it will last me a while. :)
-
I dont like any picks that are too thick. I used to like the Dunlop Nylon 1mm ones but they sound a bit dull to my ears now. I dont like the BK ones that came with my pickups, I dont know which thickness this was though!
As for the Hotplates, I'm so annoyed! Theres a Gibson Power Stealth 8ohm, perfect for what I want, but I only have £150 in the bank, and this one on ebay, including shipping would cost me around £160 :evil: I'm reluctant to bid on a cheaper one, as the seller said they couldnt mark the box as lower value, do you think I'll get charged LOADS at customs if I win this?
-
Customs (IF they check into it and pursue, often not worth their time and trouble) is VAT and import of about 8.2%.
Many factors are looked at though as "used", "shipping cost" etc.
Bit of a hard calculation really.
For somthing of that kinda value you may well get away with it.
-
Ah right, cheers, its just if I go over £150 then its gonna be a bit of a problem, I dont think my dad would ike paying the customs charge if I cant afford it :lol: I think I'll try that then! If not, I guess I'm back to square one :cry:
-
I only see one Gibson hotplate on Evilbay but see a few THD ones.
http://cgi.ebay.com/THD-Hotplate-8-Ohms_W0QQitemZ7396268447QQcategoryZ43375QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
If it would help the cause (and you wanna cover any extra postage) you can use my address if you like and I can send it on for you.
Just an offer.
Am NOT soliciting 100's of "can you ship this guitar,amp,bass" questions but will do all I can to help a fellow forumite if I can.
Nick
-
I only see one Gibson hotplate on Evilbay but see a few THD ones.
http://cgi.ebay.com/THD-Hotplate-8-Ohms_W0QQitemZ7396268447QQcategoryZ43375QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
If it would help the cause (and you wanna cover any extra postage) you can use my address if you like and I can send it on for you.
Just an offer.
Am NOT soliciting 100's of "can you ship this guitar,amp,bass" questions but will do all I can to help a fellow forumite if I can.
Nick
Wow thats pretty cool of you, but I dont know if I'm gonna be able to afford 2 lots of postage, depends how much it'd cost to get it to you I guess.. is "Jefferson NC" anywhere near you?!
I've only found one or two Hotplate sellers that will ship to the UK from america, I wish I had a 16ohm amp as these seem to go for alot cheaper!
-
For somthing of that kinda value you may well get away with it.
Though I always live in fear of Murphy's Law on this issue.
Anyway, if you blow 150 quid on this, you'll just get another GAS attack later on without any cash to cure it! Go forth and acquire jobbage -- be it only weekend bar-tending or something. Then blow as much as you can on gigs and gear before you do something dangerous like getting married and suddenly find your money disappearing into other things associated with Real Life. I thank the gods regularly that I bought my guitars and bass right after uni! :)
-
I have an interview at Co Op on saturday, so hopefully that will all go well, maybe GAS wont be such a problem then!
I remember reading somewhere (I think on HC or something) that a 16ohm attentuator will actually work with an 8ohm amp, apparently doubling the ohmage isnt bad, but doing less (Ie getting a 4ohm) is bad...hmm
-
Well
the one I am looking at does not qoute postage but another (same model) say $17 or about a tenner. As for postage to UK I am unsure as am sure they are abit heavy. Try looking at UPS or Fedex (you prob. know more than me on weight).
Also, I know not much about Hotplates, so will the plug/voltage from a US one be OK in UK?
Just some thoughts.
-
Well
the one I am looking at does not qoute postage but another (same model) say $17 or about a tenner. As for postage to UK I am unsure as am sure they are abit heavy. Try looking at UPS or Fedex (you prob. know more than me on weight).
Also, I know not much about Hotplates, so will the plug/voltage from a US one be OK in UK?
Just some thoughts.
Yeah apparently they dont use power atall, as they are a passive device. Apparently it wont actually be too dificult to mod my MiniMass for a treble boost, according to people on the HC forums, so I'm still looking into that before I spend a load on a hotplate.
edit - Ted just emailed me, saying:
"Oh...
Tha's an easy one.
Just find the bottom two terminals of the Normal/bypass switch, and put a 10uF/50V non polarized capacitor in series with a switch across those two terminals. "
Anyone know where to get myself that value cap from? I can only seem to fine ones for tone pots, all being /100v ones instead of the 50v I need.. Maplins seems to be good but theres bloody loads there! Cheers for any help
-
see if http://www.hificollective.co.uk sell them
-
Any voltage over 50v will work!
-
Any voltage over 50v will work!
Well my 50V one popped.. Dunno if a 100v of the same will be any good. Ted said I should get something like this (as did Bainzy)-
http://www.maplin.co.uk/module.aspx?TabID=1&criteria=10uf&ModuleNo=393&doy=11m3
Seems like a bit overkill though but I'm no expert.. If possible, I'd like something a bit higher than 10uF, because it still sounded a BIT less trebly than I'd like with the 10uF. Something like 20uF maybe?