Hello, Strangers!

[FrankenFretter]

It's been a while since I've stopped in here (shame on me). How has everyone been?

The band is still together, and still not gigging (and I'm still okay with that at the moment). The good news on the band front is that after nagging them for about a year, we're finally delving into doing some original work. It's off to a slow start, due in part to our mismatched summer schedules, but we do have one song in the works. It's rough at the moment, but it's something. I hope to add more in the next few months, so wish me luck!

On the equipment front, I now have a "Big Boy Amph": A Bugera 333XLi. It's an all-tube, 120-watt, three-channel monster. I've been extremely pleased with what I can get out of the three channels: The Clean channel is good, and seems to have enough headroom for me, the Crunch channel is very Marshall-like, and the Lead channel has a more modern flavor, akin to a Mesa-Boogie. With that kind of variety on tap, I've done away with all my dirt pedals (for the band stuff, but not for home). Here's a pic of the cosmetically modified amp and cab that I use for band practice:

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-0XNnYeZXagA/U31a1c0-FwI/AAAAAAAACAo/2HZV29UdoRM/w1113-h835-no/DSCN3052.JPG

My guitar stable has rotated a bit, and I now have a few "super-Strats" in the stable. They work well for the band stuff, and I guess I have returned slightly (or more than slightly) to my Metal roots. Here's my current favorite player, a Schecter Blood Moon. I have changed the pickups out for some EMG Hetfields, as seen in the second photo. I love this guitar and these pickups!

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3709/10216113956_080784a9c4_b.jpg
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3681/11635945515_549c8f39ba_b.jpg

I'm glad to see that there are still names here I recognize! What's up with you folks?

[Tig]

Welcome back FrankenFretter! Nice bit of gear there. That happens to be my favorite Schecter (not sure why, but I've always liked them), especially with the new pickups you put in.

The only big item I got since you were here last is an SG Standard Natural Burst. It plays and sounds great!
http://www.thefret.net/showthread.php/21754-Incoming-NGD!-%28Gibson-SG-content%29

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7455/11120881205_cdb5c3a0e0_o.jpg

[FrankenFretter]

Hey Doug! That is one sweet SG! An SG is still on my GAS list. Ultimately, I'd like a red one with a full pickguard, but that natural of yours is gorgeous!

[marnold]

Good to hear from you, FF! Seeing your gear reminds me that you are a man after my own heart. I make my ears ring with my 20 watter. Your amp would probably kill me. The Schecter is seriously hawt too.

[Robert]

Hey man, good to see ya! Nice rig! :dude

It's been quiet here, we need you and your great posts, and often! :)

[FrankenFretter]

Thanks, Robert and Matt!

Matt, that amph sounds good at low volumes too. I do tend to get loud at band practice, but I always wear my PPE (earplugs). I have something a little pointier than the Schecter around here somewhere...in fact I just finished swapping the pickups in it. I'll have to snap some pics soon.

Moar new equipments: I got myself a Fender Mustang I (v2) on the local Craig's List for $50. It's been a great little practice amph. I also scored a Vox Pathfinder 15R for the same price a month or so later. After all I'd heard about the Pathfinder 15R, I figured I'd probably be disappointed due to over hype, but I love that amph. It's amazing how warm and tube-like it sounds, and the extension speaker out is pretty rad as well. For my birthday this March, my better half bought me an Orange Micro Terror. That's been a fun one to play with, especially swapping out different 12AX7s to see what tonal differences they make. I honestly thought it would be a bit more...Metal. But it is a great rock/blues/hard rock amph.

There's probably more, too. I did sell my Aria DM380, the Mosrite look-alike. And I sold my Agile Gold Top LP, my Blackstar HT5, my Roland Cube 60 and I took apart the Fender Princeton 65 and parted it out. I kept the cabinet to use for a...cabinet.

I'll post some more guitar pr0n later. I just got off of a 10-hour shift, and I'm HUNGRY!

:dude

[piebaldpython]

FF..........dude, nice to see you back. I figured you were still celebratin' the Seahawks victory in the SB. Of course, you know that you won't repeat as SB champs. Why? Simple, your QB is divorcing his wife of 2 yrs and there's all of that "hot model" dating that he'll be doing. lol

Nice gear too. I scored a Yamaha THR10c (the bluesy amp) and just love that thing. The ultimate bedroom amp for sure. Thinkin' of a Mustang III and then maybe a Frenzel or Trinity tube amp to finish that off.

Jonesing for another custom lap steel......this one with Lollar Supro and Lollar Gold Foil pups........for that Coodercaster sound.

[FrankenFretter]

FF..........dude, nice to see you back. I figured you were still celebratin' the Seahawks victory in the SB. Of course, you know that you won't repeat as SB champs. Why? Simple, your QB is divorcing his wife of 2 yrs and there's all of that "hot model" dating that he'll be doing. lol

Nice gear too. I scored a Yamaha THR10c (the bluesy amp) and just love that thing. The ultimate bedroom amp for sure. Thinkin' of a Mustang III and then maybe a Frenzel or Trinity tube amp to finish that off.

Jonesing for another custom lap steel......this one with Lollar Supro and Lollar Gold Foil pups........for that Coodercaster sound.

It figures that it would take me moving away from Washington for the 'Hawks to finally get what they deserved.

One of those Yamaha desktop modelers, eh? I'll have to check one out one of these days. A Frenzel or Trinity, that would be pretty sweet! I think my best hope of a boutique amph is one from Hovercraft up in Portland. I'm thinking about talking to them about a possible KT88 powered amp.

Great to hear from all you guys!

[Eric]

Hi, FF. Cool of you to stop by -- things have been dead around here, as you have probably noticed. It's weird to hear updates from people. I now own zero electric guitars or guitar amphs and play mostly bass and drums, and I can't really see myself playing much other than bass going forward, but you never know where things will go.

Original music is a completely different beast from covers. I think they (covers and originals) are both extremely useful in teaching you stuff, but it's weird how they are so different in terms of mindset. It would be fun to hear some of your band's music if you get a decent recording; even just a well-placed mic or recorder in the middle of the room can give you pretty good results.

BTW, that's a very pretty guitar. And very red...

[Duffy]

Super nice Schecter. I'm sure that is a great guitar.

Was that you that bought that red DBZ guitar? I saw a post on that and it was an awesome guitar at a great sale price. I think it was you that posted it. I'm not sure if it looks as nice as your Schecter but it definitely is a super great looking guitar.

That big amp head looks like a lot of fun.

[FrankenFretter]

Super nice Schecter. I'm sure that is a great guitar.

Was that you that bought that red DBZ guitar? I saw a post on that and it was an awesome guitar at a great sale price. I think it was you that posted it. I'm not sure if it looks as nice as your Schecter but it definitely is a super great looking guitar.

That big amp head looks like a lot of fun.

Yes, the DBZ is mine as well. I'll get some pics up here soon. I may end up sending that one back, as there may be a low-cut nut or high fret. It's not worth it to me to have to fix that when it's a brand new guitar. I need to have somebody "professional" check it out for me. It is also a beauty, and Eric will be happy to hear that it's also red.