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Ziggy Played Guitar ....

Very interesting - I'll have a good look at that. The Sonicake Digital Reverb that I have does it's work nicely enough but this M-Vave is being compared to the Strymon.

Tempted, very.


Meanwhile I'm having an initial struggle to get my head around Cubase and Midi-controllers. Causing me headaches so I'll back off for a bit and approach the whole thing in an organised way when there's time to really focus on it.

But I am having loads of fun with the Donner B1 synth/sequencer. Really! This thing is a pleasure to use and mess about with - for a non-keyboard idiot like me.

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The M-VAVE has its downsides, I should add, although they're pointed out in some of the videos on YouTube. It's said that the knobs feel a bit flimsy, although I don't think so, and some of them *THUMP* when they're switched on. The footswitch itself is, apparently, a bit heavy-duty too; somebody said it sounded like "crushing a rock" when stomped on, mine doesn't. Most of the downsides I could find, though, would affect the pedal more in a live setting, as opposed to playing at home. I really will have to try running mine when I've finished sorting the room out. That could be a while, though, as I'm not exactly fit and well, hale and hearty, etc., and too much bending and lifting (who am I kidding? Walking will do it. 🤣) currently slaughters me. It must be done, though, I've got three-and-a-half grand's worth of PC to install, and I was sort of stupid enough to almost build in the current one.

With Cubase (or any software, really), try and get it to do one very simple thing, and do it well. Once you've achieved that, you'll instantly be in "but now I need..." mode, and building on an initial success is easier than trying to incorporate everything into your timeline in one fell swoop.
 
Following the wise advice given here I fired up the Midi keyboard and hooked it into a synth preset that gives huge atmospheric washes of sound. Coupled that to a basic sequencer riff, drum machine on and some U2-style phaser-guitar over the top.

Maybe I'll get the hang of this after all. Kept me amused this evening.

The little Cube3's are terrific for monitoring with their spacious presence and tightly controlled bass. Needed a couple of extra cables to get everything hooked up to the mini-mixer but my confidence is growing.

IMG_20250522_221006.jpg
 
Er ....

I'm buying more guitars!

A little voice in my head whispered "you really need a Telecaster". That got me thinking that whilst looking at the hollowbody Thinline a while ago, I had come across several reviews praising the Harley Benton Tele models and so I went to have a look at what Thomann was offering.

They do Telecasters in several price categories and it was fun to compare the varying specs but then something caught my attention - an oddball design, a bit weird but those are the things I tend to like.

IMG_20250526_230103.jpg

This is the HB TE-90FLT VW Deluxe, their version of a Fender Cabronita ('Little Bastard'). Chambered body, reversed headstock and unusual FilterTron pickups.

Checked out a number of video reviews and was really impressed by the look and sound of this guitar. Thomann had a heavily reduced B-stock example on offer so I've hit 'buy'. Should be in to try by the weekend. They do no-quibble 30-day returns, so it isn't a risk.

Some other bits & bobs also on the way via AliExpress (half the price of Amazon but delivery can take an eternity).

And the headless axe is somewhere in a customs depot.
 
Fretless said:
Er ....

I'm buying more guitars!

A little voice in my head whispered "you really need a Telecaster". That got me thinking that whilst looking at the hollowbody Thinline a while ago, I had come across several reviews praising the Harley Benton Tele models and so I went to have a look at what Thomann was offering.

They do Telecasters in several price categories and it was fun to compare the varying specs but then something caught my attention - an oddball design, a bit weird but those are the things I tend to like.

View attachment 235

This is the HB TE-90FLT VW Deluxe, their version of a Fender Cabronita ('Little Bastard'). Chambered body, reversed headstock and unusual FilterTron pickups.

Checked out a number of video reviews and was really impressed by the look and sound of this guitar. Thomann had a heavily reduced B-stock example on offer so I've hit 'buy'. Should be in to try by the weekend. They do no-quibble 30-day returns, so it isn't a risk.

Some other bits & bobs also on the way via AliExpress (half the price of Amazon but delivery can take an eternity).

And the headless axe is somewhere in a customs depot.
Click to expand...
Those Harley Benton teles have a fabulous reputation. I’m a huge fan of Filtertrons, so I think you’re gonna love the tone.
Quick tip on filtertrons- they need to be as close to the strings as you can get without fouling while playing. Way closer than other pickups.
They’re low output, and highly articulate pickups, and set up properly, the have attitude!. If they’re too far away from the strings, they’ll sound dull and boring.

I have my amp set on edge of breakup, and have a lot of control over the tone just with pick dynamics.
Pick light, it’s clean, picks touch harder and a touch of breakup, and dig-in for dirt.

A lot of people think filtertrons (and Gretch) are just for country/rockabilly. But they don’t usually realise the Filtertron tone is the backbone of The Beatles, AC/DC, The Who, and Billy Gibbons to name just a few. Fullerton’s sound fabulous with a bit of dirt!

Looking forward to your review!
 
Maybe a daft question, and while I agree with everything The Marlin says above, if you wanted a Telecaster, why didn't you just buy a Telecaster? Teles do not have Filtertron pickups, and they (can) sound like this...

 
Yep. Telecaster. Great!

It was an idle bit of curiosity. I'm enjoying enormously the 2 guitars I have and the differences between them. The neutral solidity of the LP Junior and the resonant expressiveness of the Thinline both inspire me.

This gets me listening in a new way to different guitars, what is the character? What makes them unique? Then the idea of where I would sonically like to go next kind of pointed me at the Telecaster.

Then this HB guitar just grabbed my attention and I'm very curious about it. Maybe it's something, maybe not, maybe a 'proper' 'Telecaster is next on the list.

That film is quite funny. A pro-guitarist who wouldn't be seen on stage with a Harley Benton and cannot believe the quality of a low-price guitar.
 
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@Slinger is right, the telecaster in its standard form is the perfect guitar.

I personally like mine with a Bigsby on (almost all of my guitars have a Bigsby) , but even without one, they’re just about perfect.

I hated them for years, didn’t get on with the ice pick sharp tone, but when I hit 40 (quite some time ago….) it all started to make sense. Pair it with the right amp and a few choice pedals, and a good tele will cover all the ground you need.

I have quite a few guitars, but could happily live out the rest of my days with just a tele.
I’d miss a big lumbering Gretsch hollowbody, as that’s my go-to….. but would get by.
 
Thomann don't have the Tele I would like in stock at the moment (or Mr Obsessive here would already have ordered one).

Other new toys are on the way to keep my GAS attack sated.
 

Gear vid that I ran across when I was investigating the Harley Benton TE90QM hollowbody.

This film has quick reviews of the 'classic' Telecaster TE52 model, the TE90FLT that I've just ordered and the TE90QM which I've been happily playing for a while now.

Interesting to hear all three back-to-back.
 
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It's going to be New Toy Day here.

First up; someone in the nearby town of Leerdam had put this up for sale - an Arturia MiniFreak - and I've just picked it up. There is a definite age-gap as he is more comfortable with virtual synths and DAWs, whereas I prefer something with knobs on that I can fiddle with.

The MiniFeak is a bizarre little device loaded with presets and gizmos. It is intended as a starter unit with potential for learning. Should be all the synthesizer I will be needing for a while, along with the Donner sequencer which is very basic but fun.

And the postman is due - could be an interesting day ....
 
I know how much fun musical retail therapy is, and I also know I probably sound like a grumpy old man, but be careful. You're buying all these bits and bobs without learning how they work, and suddenly you've got a dozen things to learn all at once, and the worst case scenario there is that you get overwhelmed, and shove it all in a cupboard somewhere because you get sick of getting nowhere. The alternative could be merely scratching the surface of what your toys are capable of, rather than their full potential, and never elevating them beyond being toys, instead of tools.

Grump over. :ROFLMAO:
 
Advice noted and it's something I'm aware of.

Already frustrated by Cubase and have consciously put that aside for now.

The synth is an 'accldental' purchase that just happened to be down the road. It reminds me of a little Electro Harmonix thingy that I had in the 80's - only 5000 times more powerful.

A bit of deliberate slowing down is certainly a sensible idea.
 
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