RetiredUnit1
Well-known member
Well it's hard to see some of them, they're behind the others. I have 20 in this room.......
Do I have GAS? Help me out!
- Thread starter BuddytheReow
- Start date
I stained it with Saman stain.
- 1 coat of black
- light sanding the inner part, black gets in the grain and make it pop.
- 1 coat of navy blue
- again, sanding a little in the center.
- 1 coat of turquoise.
Then "Tried and True" oil... it gives the worn finish.
I had a lot of trouble with the oil... it's yellowish, the stain turned more greenish than I would have wanted, but still like the finished look.hada bad spot in the stain also... never try to correct while still wet, it makes it worse... at least for me.
Then it toom a lot, lot, lot of time curing, like almost a month wiping excess oil
jimilee
Well-known member
Ah, gotcha. I really would like to not have so many, but how do you decide what to sell and there are a few more I want. It’s never ending, is it?
RetiredUnit1
Well-known member
Sell? What does this word mean? ;-)
I don't really get collecting. Either I play it or I don't. If I don't it goes to help me buy something I play. I can't afford to collect guitars - I don't have the room or the $$. Having said that I have about a 1/2 dozen amazing guitars. I have cupboard that they fit into and frequently play all of them. Just not at the same time. If I can't fit them all into the cupboard then something goes.
By doing this I have ended up with the "guitars of my dreams" pretty much. On other websites I see guys with dozens of cheaper Strats (for example) and they complain that they can't afford a CS Strat. I have one Strat and it's a doozey! I have bought and sold a LOT of guitars! But only keep the great ones. I don't modify a lot - most of my guitars have the original pickups, etc. It's only my most played guitars - my two Gretsches - which have been modified, and the mods are fairly minor. I used to mod a lot but generally the mods don't do a lot to dramatically change how I like the guitars.
The guitar which has been my absolute fave for the last year or two is a Gretsch VS '53 Duo Jet. I swapped the stock T-Armond pickups to TV Jones' Filter'tron Classics in a Dearmond style mount, and changed the bridge to a Tru-Arc Serpentune. It is an incredible guitar now (well it was from stock too!) but now it is "my" sound. I had a '59 VS Duo Jet but because the '53 suits me just that bit more I sold the '59 to a friend and it has become his favourite guitar now.
The Gibsons, the Casino and the Strat all have great pickups in them so I don't need to do anything other than tweak. To me they're all exceptional guitars, the best of their type for my needs. I feel incredibly lucky.
By doing this I have ended up with the "guitars of my dreams" pretty much. On other websites I see guys with dozens of cheaper Strats (for example) and they complain that they can't afford a CS Strat. I have one Strat and it's a doozey! I have bought and sold a LOT of guitars! But only keep the great ones. I don't modify a lot - most of my guitars have the original pickups, etc. It's only my most played guitars - my two Gretsches - which have been modified, and the mods are fairly minor. I used to mod a lot but generally the mods don't do a lot to dramatically change how I like the guitars.
The guitar which has been my absolute fave for the last year or two is a Gretsch VS '53 Duo Jet. I swapped the stock T-Armond pickups to TV Jones' Filter'tron Classics in a Dearmond style mount, and changed the bridge to a Tru-Arc Serpentune. It is an incredible guitar now (well it was from stock too!) but now it is "my" sound. I had a '59 VS Duo Jet but because the '53 suits me just that bit more I sold the '59 to a friend and it has become his favourite guitar now.
The Gibsons, the Casino and the Strat all have great pickups in them so I don't need to do anything other than tweak. To me they're all exceptional guitars, the best of their type for my needs. I feel incredibly lucky.
owlexifry
Well-known member
my advice based on having built both tube amps and a few guitars from a kit.
- if you want another bass, specifically to try out the P-bass thing or J-bass thing, I recommend getting hold of a good squier.
I previously had a MIM P-bass and I now have a CV squier P-bass.
I cannot tell any difference in quality or playability between the two. maybe i got lucky.
- instrument kits are fun to build, but they're a bitch to setup, especially if you're like me and aren't very good at fret levelling / crowning etc. - i gave that all a red hot go and just about ruined a couple fretboards before i threw in the towel and paid someone to finish that shit off.
going the warmoth route would probably be far better than a kit. but would you really learn anything from that? probably better to save some dollars and get a squier.
- if you want to build an amp, just for the sake of it, and can maintain a healthy caution/respect for high voltage hazards, i say absolutely go for it. it's fun.
honestly, IME, building an amp isn't any more difficult than a modulation pedal circuit. it's just on a larger scale with more hazards and expense.
jump on mojotone and pick a circuit that suits your tastes.
or if you can wait, ceriatone has some awesome options.
szukalski
Well-known member
+1 on the Squier CV. That is some quality for price.
Or go FGN and get a Mighty Jazz! All the workmanship for a great price.
If building will make you happy, even if you mess up some things, then build. Sometimes it's more of a chore than a pleasure though.
Or go FGN and get a Mighty Jazz! All the workmanship for a great price.
If building will make you happy, even if you mess up some things, then build. Sometimes it's more of a chore than a pleasure though.
RetiredUnit1
Well-known member
Programming computers was VERY good for my bank account, but 85 hour weeks were very bad for my mind. I bought a lot of guitars for stress relief. Then I got arthritis, in my hands, from programming. Now I can't program and it's hard to play guitar. Then covid killed my wife of 45 years. I have a large paid for house, four cars, a squat load of guitars, a lot of money in the bank, and an empty heart.
Sucks to be me!!!
But you have to roll with the punches.......!!!
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jimilee
Well-known member
Oh man, I’m sorry to hear that. Sounds like you have everything and nothing at the same time. I’m glad to hear you’re making the best of it. Not much more you can do. You can’t take it with you, though. Maybe a large wall size TV or follow the dead for a while.
Passinwind
Well-known member
That time machine to see the actual Dead will put a dent in that fat account!
RetiredUnit1
Well-known member
Yeah, got that large screen with JBL studio monitors for the sound. Eff it, I'm going to try my hardest to die with an empty back account. I saved all that money for HER 'cuz I thought I'd be the first to go. So I got no reason to save it now.
To quote Bart Simpson: ¡Aye Carumba!
RetiredUnit1
Well-known member
Yeah, back in the 1950's time machines were only a few hundred..... Now they're million$!!!!!
BuddytheReow
Moderator
The CV is a good price in my quick search. I'm really torn between the J and P. They both do different things and are iconic for a reason. That JB kit I found earlier, I thought I could kill 2 birds. A little research and it seems like it can get close, but not quite to either sonically. It's kind of its own thing. So much for my quest for a swiss army bass. The kit plus upgraded parts and ill probably be more in line with the squier CV.
RetiredUnit1
Well-known member
I have a really nice HP laptop I bought for her, and never even had a chance to setup. It's about 12 seconds from power button to login screen. This thing screams! I'm saving it from my friend when she comes back from Bosnia. She and her husband spend about 18 months in the EU then come to the USA for 18 months on a regular basis. I'd use it myself but I bought all the parts to put a new one together about 4 months ago. It will probably be about 3 seconds from power button to logon. It's on the to do list, right after I finish refurbishing this 1975 Bassman Ten...I'm sorry to hear that, Mr Unit. My brother lives alone (his wife died tragically young) and buy cameras and computers for fun. I have benefitted from this several times - he opens a cupboard, finds a near-new mac in there he doesn't need so sends it to me.
But I know what you mean, sometimes I'll open a box saying WTF is this and say "Oh, that's nice, too bad I bought one last week"
cwsquared
Well-known member
I think building my bass kit, despite the amount of hand sanding, staining, and hand-rubbed oil finish work involved, was some of the most fun I've ever had. It does not have a professional level pristine finish job or come out quite as planned but it's mine. I learned quite a bit on that one and have another kit (TL Tele) in the pipeline, with at least 2 more planned (6 string bass and ES-335). Solo is gonna continue to make money off me.
cwsquared
Well-known member
I feel you on this. Mine was Rit dye (only 1 color) and Tru-oil. The oil has to go on real thin each time or you gotta sand a lot to even it out (ask me how I know). It took days at 1 coat a day, but it worked. After the final coat I let it go for a week, I think. No issues.I stained it with Saman stain.
- 1 coat of black
- light sanding the inner part, black gets in the grain and make it pop.
- 1 coat of navy blue
- again, sanding a little in the center.
- 1 coat of turquoise.
Then "Tried and True" oil... it gives the worn finish.
I had a lot of trouble with the oil... it's yellowish, the stain turned more greenish than I would have wanted, but still like the finished look.hada bad spot in the stain also... never try to correct while still wet, it makes it worse... at least for me.
Then it toom a lot, lot, lot of time curing, like almost a month wiping excess oil
Up close, I see my failure to achieve my original vision. But from a bit of distance, it's my favorite by a long shot, so far.
andare
Well-known member
Really sorry to hear that. I'm sure playing music still provides relief, albeit not as much as you'd like. On a positive note you are here in one of the best places on the internet. We're always up for banter and support. Also a bit of pedal building, which is a great distraction.
RetiredUnit1
Well-known member
cwsquared
Well-known member
Kinda reminds me of the search results I get all too often. "No, <Insert Internet search provider>, I don't care about fishing, 'a musical instrument', not that hard. Aren't you supposed to know me better than I know myself?"