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Ziggy Played Guitar ....

So, a few days with the HB Cabronita. There are a few minor issues, the pickguard isn’t sitting flush to the surface (easy fix), the bridge is all over the place, needs height and intonation sorting, and there must be some debris or paint buildup in the neck pocket, as the neck is slightly tilted along its axis (tilted in relation to the top of the guitar). It also needs s slight shim to get the neck angle perfect
(which explains weird bridge setup).
It sounds a lot, but it’s usual mass produced guitar issues.

It’s gone to my luthier for a pro setup, tidy the neck pocket, nut fettle, and level and polish the frets. He’s also going to look at the pots, and if they look cheap, replace with CTS or Alpha pots.
So, minor niggles, but I had WAY worse issues on brand new Gibsons…..and I’m a fussy bugger, it was perfectly playable, but I like a perfectly setup guitar.

I know when it comes back (with a nice set of 11’s) the action will be silky low, and it’ll practically play itself.

These guitars are made in the same factory, and by the same team that build Vintage guitars. If this guitar carried the Vintage brand, it’s be double the price!

Amazing value for money.
 
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These guitars are made in the same factory, and by the same team that build Vintage guitars. If this guitar carried the Vintage brand, it’s be double the price!

Amazing value for money.
I've always rated Vintage guitars. I've got their 6 and 12-string Gordon Giltrap signature models, plus a random 12-string and a cracking little Startesboro Paul Brett Parlour guitar. On the electric front, I've got a 'V62AB (Vintage 1962 Ash Blonde) Reissue Telecaster.
 
I've always rated Vintage guitars. I've got their 6 and 12-string Gordon Giltrap signature models, plus a random 12-string and a cracking little Startesboro Paul Brett Parlour guitar. On the electric front, I've got a 'V62AB (Vintage 1962 Ash Blonde) Reissue Telecaster.
I’m also a huge fan of Vintage. I’ve had several over the years. I’ve got expensive guitars, mid price, and cheap models. But, should my house burn down tonight, and I could only grab one guitar, it would be my Vintage SG.

It’s a prototype from the Vintage Custom Shop. A friend bought it from Vintage, and it eventually ended up with me.

It’s got a Mestro Style trem that actually works brilliantly (unlike the Gibson original), the pickups has a raspiness in their tone that I love, no neck dive. it’s got an excellent neck (bit like a chunkier Ibanez wizard neck), and there is just something magical about it. It the one guitar got that everyone seems to want to buy when they play it.

I bought my daughter a matching model, hers is the standard production model with has a thicker neck, different pickups, and more of a blue colour. A fine guitar, but mine is a bit more special ;)

E685027E-E8ED-468F-8889-9DC9EF3CE245.jpeg
 
Nice. Although I can take or leave trems, I did rather fancy one of these at one time, the Vintage Midge Ure signature....

V100MU_f_fb406294-db9c-4dda-9e0f-b41fadda17eb.jpg
 
Nice. Although I can take or leave trems, I did rather fancy one of these at one time, the Vintage Midge Ure signature....

V100MU_f_fb406294-db9c-4dda-9e0f-b41fadda17eb.jpg

I’m a complete trem nerd. Not Floyd Rose style, but basic trems like a Bigsby. I like a gentle wobble.

The Midge Ure model is great, but has an oversized body, and weighs about as much as the moon.

I’ve almost bought one about a half dozen times.
 
Synth time;

I saw a YouTube film where someone fired up the simple Donner B1 bass sequencer, turning it into a huge Ambient soundscaping machine with the use of some extra effects.

And I thought: 'I can do that too!....'

My trawl through the bargain basement of AliExpress has left me with an excess of pedals (if I ever make an album that would be a great title 'An Excess of Pedals'). So, after a bit of trial and error (2 pedals died, one of which was useless anyway) this is the result:

1000013082.jpg

The MicroFreak and B1 can now be run through:
Phaser
Flanger
Delay 1
Delay 2
Reverb
Looper / Drum

The B1 is very basic but has a rich, powerful sound, slamming it through the extra effects and delays creates a vast, organic, pulsating mass!

Get a groovy drum pattern going with some space-guitar on top and you're flying through the Stratosfear (TD fans will know!).

Now just an ABY switch needed to merge the input from the 2 synths ...
 
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