More "Forty" stuff!
I was put onto these by a fellow "Forty" owner and someone who
now has one of my Sunburst Blades.
Very informative, well thought out and very well demonstrated.
The demo is on one of the early "Toaster" models.
Enjoy!
Cheers. :)
Wednesday, 31 July 2013
Friday, 19 July 2013
Ibanez RB-650, Hot Marquee and Davy Knowles. . . . .
Ibanez RB-650, in White!
I have two of these - a red one and this one.
These basses, like the Blazer, punch way about their weight - ask
anyone who has played a Blazer or a 650!
I gigged the red one quite a bit, a couple of years ago and it went
out with another Ibanez, as a matched pair, for the night.
Lots of punch, plenty of bottom and enough brightness to cut
through the mix, without sounding too brittle.
Perfect!
This one has done 3 gigs, in the last 8 weeks - rotating it, with
another favourite of mine.
The last gig was a week ago, during this spell of hot weather we
are currently having - in a 4000 square foot marquee, with two
small entrances and a rear access point, the size of a normal door.
HOT! You bet!
I don't think I have ever drunk so much water, in such a short
space of time!
Anyway, the RB performed faultlessly - as you would expect.
Something a bit unusual on these, and it must be on all of them,
as the other one is the same - the blend between the two pick-ups,
is very gradual, not like many other 2 pick-up basses.
You can take the blend down to around 7 on one of the pots and
hear a subtle difference, all the way to that point.
A neck that is just about right, for almost anyone - a little bit
slimmer than an average Precision - great balance and weight,
all add up to something that is really nice to play.
Here it is, in it's starring role - not the best of pictures but good
enough to show that it is "at work".
On the way back home, slightly cooler at 1.00am, I popped
a CD into the player - Davy Knowles "Sessions" - turned it
up loud, rolled down the windows and "Headed out on the
Highway!
Brilliant!
Cheers, :)
If you have landed on this page and you want to go to the
latest post, go here:
Latest post.
I have two of these - a red one and this one.
These basses, like the Blazer, punch way about their weight - ask
anyone who has played a Blazer or a 650!
I gigged the red one quite a bit, a couple of years ago and it went
out with another Ibanez, as a matched pair, for the night.
Lots of punch, plenty of bottom and enough brightness to cut
through the mix, without sounding too brittle.
Perfect!
This one has done 3 gigs, in the last 8 weeks - rotating it, with
another favourite of mine.
The last gig was a week ago, during this spell of hot weather we
are currently having - in a 4000 square foot marquee, with two
small entrances and a rear access point, the size of a normal door.
HOT! You bet!
I don't think I have ever drunk so much water, in such a short
space of time!
Anyway, the RB performed faultlessly - as you would expect.
Something a bit unusual on these, and it must be on all of them,
as the other one is the same - the blend between the two pick-ups,
is very gradual, not like many other 2 pick-up basses.
You can take the blend down to around 7 on one of the pots and
hear a subtle difference, all the way to that point.
A neck that is just about right, for almost anyone - a little bit
slimmer than an average Precision - great balance and weight,
all add up to something that is really nice to play.
Here it is, in it's starring role - not the best of pictures but good
enough to show that it is "at work".
On the way back home, slightly cooler at 1.00am, I popped
a CD into the player - Davy Knowles "Sessions" - turned it
up loud, rolled down the windows and "Headed out on the
Highway!
Brilliant!
Cheers, :)
If you have landed on this page and you want to go to the
latest post, go here:
Latest post.
Wednesday, 3 July 2013
Antoria 12 String. . . . . . .
Antoria twelve string acoustic guitar.
As I am on a run, with some of the guitars - I thought now would
be a good time to feature this one.
This is the only acoustic guitar that I have and I have had this
old fella for a very long time - since the 70's!
This was the only the second twelve that I had played - the first
go was on one that a friend of the family had and I fell in love
with the sound of it.
In the old days. . . . . pre internet/mobile phone/tablet. . . . .
the only way you could put things up for sale, was a card in the
local shops or in the local newspapers.
I used to read the musical column, every night - drums for sale,
violins, trumpets and. . . . the odd guitar.
After looking for a 12 string for only a few weeks, this one came up
and it was in the village that I lived in - bonus!
Tried it, liked it, bought it!
I think it was either £24 or £34 - it was a very long time ago.
The short journey home was full of excitement and when I got
there, that was it for the night.
Woke up in the morning with VERY sore fingers - I can still
remember it, as I couldn't play it again, for a couple of days. :(
So, what is it like to play?
Since I bought it, I have played loads of 12 strings but to date,
I have never found one as sweet.
The action is so low and up until around ten years ago, no fret
buzz - there is just a little fret wear, now but you can hardly
notice it at all.
From what I understand, from when I bought it, I think is was
made in 1973 or 1974, just at the time when Japanese instruments
started to be be taken seriously - some, very seriously!
The top, around the bridge, has bowed very slightly, as a lot of
acoustics do, as they get older and as legend has it, this improves
the tone.
I can't say that it sounds any different to me but I don't suppose
it would, as it would be a very gradual process.
It also has a beautiful Rosewood Fingerboard, that looks very
nice, indeed.
There you have it - Antoria Model 628 - 12.
Next time, another bass - in fact another Ibanez, that I have gigged
a couple of times in the last few weeks.
Cheers. :)
If you have landed on this page and you want to go to the
latest post, go here:
Latest post.
As I am on a run, with some of the guitars - I thought now would
be a good time to feature this one.
This is the only acoustic guitar that I have and I have had this
old fella for a very long time - since the 70's!
This was the only the second twelve that I had played - the first
go was on one that a friend of the family had and I fell in love
with the sound of it.
In the old days. . . . . pre internet/mobile phone/tablet. . . . .
the only way you could put things up for sale, was a card in the
local shops or in the local newspapers.
I used to read the musical column, every night - drums for sale,
violins, trumpets and. . . . the odd guitar.
After looking for a 12 string for only a few weeks, this one came up
and it was in the village that I lived in - bonus!
Tried it, liked it, bought it!
I think it was either £24 or £34 - it was a very long time ago.
The short journey home was full of excitement and when I got
there, that was it for the night.
Woke up in the morning with VERY sore fingers - I can still
remember it, as I couldn't play it again, for a couple of days. :(
So, what is it like to play?
Since I bought it, I have played loads of 12 strings but to date,
I have never found one as sweet.
The action is so low and up until around ten years ago, no fret
buzz - there is just a little fret wear, now but you can hardly
notice it at all.
From what I understand, from when I bought it, I think is was
made in 1973 or 1974, just at the time when Japanese instruments
started to be be taken seriously - some, very seriously!
The top, around the bridge, has bowed very slightly, as a lot of
acoustics do, as they get older and as legend has it, this improves
the tone.
I can't say that it sounds any different to me but I don't suppose
it would, as it would be a very gradual process.
It also has a beautiful Rosewood Fingerboard, that looks very
nice, indeed.
There you have it - Antoria Model 628 - 12.
Next time, another bass - in fact another Ibanez, that I have gigged
a couple of times in the last few weeks.
Cheers. :)
If you have landed on this page and you want to go to the
latest post, go here:
Latest post.
Friday, 28 June 2013
Peavey T-60 . . . . The Black one!
This was my "go to" guitar, in the rehearsal room, for a good
couple of years.
This one is the later Blade, with Bat switches.
The all sound slightly different - this one is particularly powerful and
once you get it singing, it will hold a note for ages.
Not much else I can say about this old fella, that I haven't said already
about the Peavey T range.
Just a nice guitar!
Will put up some better shots, in the future - a bunch of the "T's",
all together.
I was having a bit of trouble with the camera/lighting on this one.
Must try harder!
Next time. . . . another guitar, that I have had for almost forty years!!
There's a bit more of a story, to that one!
Cheers. :)
couple of years.
This one is the later Blade, with Bat switches.
The all sound slightly different - this one is particularly powerful and
once you get it singing, it will hold a note for ages.
Not much else I can say about this old fella, that I haven't said already
about the Peavey T range.
Just a nice guitar!
Will put up some better shots, in the future - a bunch of the "T's",
all together.
I was having a bit of trouble with the camera/lighting on this one.
Must try harder!
Next time. . . . another guitar, that I have had for almost forty years!!
There's a bit more of a story, to that one!
Cheers. :)
Wednesday, 19 June 2013
Ibanez ST-55 Studio Series. . . . . .
Another Guitar!!
Yep!
I've only had this around four years - I was going through an Ibanez
Guitar thing and saw this.
I took a bit of a chance on this, as the guy who was selling it said that
it sounded great - he had upgraded the pick-ups, it had been gigged
and may need to be re-fretted!
Yet, to me, looking at the images he had got, it looked pretty good.
After several e.mails, I decided that it was worth adding to the Ibanez
collection.
When I went to collect it, I was very pleasantly surprised!
Yes, it could do with a gentle wipe down and the strings were looking a
little tired and tarnished but the frets looked great and there was barely
a mark on it, for something that was around 30 years old.
The deal was done.
Arriving back, I was able to give it a more detailed look over.
It was sweet!
There was, however, a bit of fret buzz, which seemed to relate to light
gauge strings and almost no relief on the neck!
There followed some cleaning and setting up, which took less than an
hour - a set of 10 to 42, tune up. . . . . Wow!
Singing like a bird!
I have bought quite a few basses, where the description has been
"hard to play, as the strings are a long way off the frets" - these
showing the opposite problem - too much relief.
Anyway, back to the ST - A very Gibson like feel, big sound, a lot
of sustain, nice balance and about the right weight.
Currently, this is now strung with Ernie Ball Power Slinky strings,
11 - 48 and is tuned to Eb - half a tone down.
Thunderous!
As I am on a roll, with Guitars - I'll throw in another one, next time.
Cheers. :)
If you have landed on this page and you want to go to the
latest post, go here:
Latest post.
Yep!
I've only had this around four years - I was going through an Ibanez
Guitar thing and saw this.
I took a bit of a chance on this, as the guy who was selling it said that
it sounded great - he had upgraded the pick-ups, it had been gigged
and may need to be re-fretted!
Yet, to me, looking at the images he had got, it looked pretty good.
After several e.mails, I decided that it was worth adding to the Ibanez
collection.
When I went to collect it, I was very pleasantly surprised!
Yes, it could do with a gentle wipe down and the strings were looking a
little tired and tarnished but the frets looked great and there was barely
a mark on it, for something that was around 30 years old.
The deal was done.
Arriving back, I was able to give it a more detailed look over.
It was sweet!
There was, however, a bit of fret buzz, which seemed to relate to light
gauge strings and almost no relief on the neck!
There followed some cleaning and setting up, which took less than an
hour - a set of 10 to 42, tune up. . . . . Wow!
Singing like a bird!
I have bought quite a few basses, where the description has been
"hard to play, as the strings are a long way off the frets" - these
showing the opposite problem - too much relief.
Anyway, back to the ST - A very Gibson like feel, big sound, a lot
of sustain, nice balance and about the right weight.
Currently, this is now strung with Ernie Ball Power Slinky strings,
11 - 48 and is tuned to Eb - half a tone down.
Thunderous!
As I am on a roll, with Guitars - I'll throw in another one, next time.
Cheers. :)
If you have landed on this page and you want to go to the
latest post, go here:
Latest post.
Thursday, 13 June 2013
Ibanez Flying Vee. . . . .
A true blast from the past!!
This picture was taken around 1980, I think - just before a serious
lack of funds, meant that I had to let it go.
I have no idea where it is now but it had a unique stainless steel
scratch-plate which had a machine turned design on it.
The shot is not very good, as it was taken on a Kodak Instamatic,
which was not the best bit of kit!!
I have managed to convert to digital, from some recently found
negatives, with a handy negative scanner.
I had it's original case and drew a lot of attention, when the case
was opened.
It was 33 years ago, so if I'm honest, I can't remember much about it.
I guess quite collectable, now.
Back soon with another Ibanez Guitar - thought I would do more of
the Six Strings.
Cheers. :)
This picture was taken around 1980, I think - just before a serious
lack of funds, meant that I had to let it go.
I have no idea where it is now but it had a unique stainless steel
scratch-plate which had a machine turned design on it.
The shot is not very good, as it was taken on a Kodak Instamatic,
which was not the best bit of kit!!
I have managed to convert to digital, from some recently found
negatives, with a handy negative scanner.
I had it's original case and drew a lot of attention, when the case
was opened.
It was 33 years ago, so if I'm honest, I can't remember much about it.
I guess quite collectable, now.
Back soon with another Ibanez Guitar - thought I would do more of
the Six Strings.
Cheers. :)
Wednesday, 29 May 2013
Ibanez RB920 Bass Guitar. . . . . .
Ibanez RB920 - What a cracking Bass!
You don't see that many of these around.
I am also lucky enough to have its cousin - two pick-ups, in Blue,
which I will do soon.
The RB920 has a single Super J6 pick-up, with volume and tone
but it also has Tri Sound, on the three way switch.
This give you Humbucker, Parallel Coils or Single coil, which colours
the tones you can get, very nicely.
The pick-up is in a sweet spot so there is plenty of "Bark" and just
the right amount of depth.
Very nice, indeed.
The head is a very nice design and keeps everything neatly in place.
The neck is very comfortable and I feel very at home with this one.
Balances very well and once you have dialled in the tone you want,
the whole feel of the bass, just wants to make you play it and play it
and. . . . . you know what I mean.
Beautiful top and binding, a joy to look at, as well as play.
I love it!
I am now getting back into the swing of things, so I hope to come
back to you a little more often, with more of the collection - Soon!
I was contacted by a well known guitar/bass journalist, recently,
who commented that he liked my photography!
He made my day!! :)
Thank you! :)
Hope you like these - not some of my best but I was keen to put
up my next post, so a quick series of shots on a lawn, did the job!
Back soon, Honest!
Cheers. :)
If you have landed on this page and you want to go to the
latest post, go here:
Latest post.
You don't see that many of these around.
I am also lucky enough to have its cousin - two pick-ups, in Blue,
which I will do soon.
The RB920 has a single Super J6 pick-up, with volume and tone
but it also has Tri Sound, on the three way switch.
This give you Humbucker, Parallel Coils or Single coil, which colours
the tones you can get, very nicely.
The pick-up is in a sweet spot so there is plenty of "Bark" and just
the right amount of depth.
Very nice, indeed.
The head is a very nice design and keeps everything neatly in place.
The neck is very comfortable and I feel very at home with this one.
Balances very well and once you have dialled in the tone you want,
the whole feel of the bass, just wants to make you play it and play it
and. . . . . you know what I mean.
Beautiful top and binding, a joy to look at, as well as play.
I love it!
I am now getting back into the swing of things, so I hope to come
back to you a little more often, with more of the collection - Soon!
I was contacted by a well known guitar/bass journalist, recently,
who commented that he liked my photography!
He made my day!! :)
Thank you! :)
Hope you like these - not some of my best but I was keen to put
up my next post, so a quick series of shots on a lawn, did the job!
Back soon, Honest!
Cheers. :)
If you have landed on this page and you want to go to the
latest post, go here:
Latest post.
Monday, 20 May 2013
Yamaha BX-1 Headless Bass. . . . .
Right, back to the job in hand!
Sorry there has been a lack of content, in recent weeks - a lot to do,
at the moment.
So, inside this case. . . . . . .
. . . .is quite an unusual bass!!
The Yamaha BX-1 Headless bass, I think the only one that Yamaha ever made.
There isn't a great deal of information about these rare birds.
Very well made and a delight to play - well balanced, with a lovely neck.
Two powerful pick-ups, with a std Jazz type set-up with the controls but. . . .
with a difference.
There is a switch on the tone control, which selects Humbucker or single coils,
on both pick-ups, at the same time.
So, you can go from a hard rocking thump to something a bit more funky.
I looked for one of these for ages - and I mean ages!
I have only had it for about 3 years and in that time, I haven't seen another
one up for sale, in the UK.
They are a little more common in the USA but still command a fair price, due
to their rarity.
Regular readers with know that I have had Westone Rails and still have a
Quantum, as well as a Hohner B2A (not done that one yet) but this is by far,
the better proposition.
It hangs a lot better, due to the design and therefore plays more like a
conventional bass.
The other good thing, like the Westone, you can use standard strings and not
the double ball end, which means you can string it up with your favourite
brand and away you go!
Lovely neck joint, that blends seamlessly into the body. Nice!
Yamaha BX-1. Very Nice!
Back with more, next time.
Cheers. :)
If you have landed on this page and you want to go to the
latest post, go here:
Latest post.
Sorry there has been a lack of content, in recent weeks - a lot to do,
at the moment.
So, inside this case. . . . . . .
. . . .is quite an unusual bass!!
The Yamaha BX-1 Headless bass, I think the only one that Yamaha ever made.
There isn't a great deal of information about these rare birds.
Very well made and a delight to play - well balanced, with a lovely neck.
Two powerful pick-ups, with a std Jazz type set-up with the controls but. . . .
with a difference.
There is a switch on the tone control, which selects Humbucker or single coils,
on both pick-ups, at the same time.
So, you can go from a hard rocking thump to something a bit more funky.
I looked for one of these for ages - and I mean ages!
I have only had it for about 3 years and in that time, I haven't seen another
one up for sale, in the UK.
They are a little more common in the USA but still command a fair price, due
to their rarity.
Regular readers with know that I have had Westone Rails and still have a
Quantum, as well as a Hohner B2A (not done that one yet) but this is by far,
the better proposition.
It hangs a lot better, due to the design and therefore plays more like a
conventional bass.
The other good thing, like the Westone, you can use standard strings and not
the double ball end, which means you can string it up with your favourite
brand and away you go!
Lovely neck joint, that blends seamlessly into the body. Nice!
Yamaha BX-1. Very Nice!
Back with more, next time.
Cheers. :)
If you have landed on this page and you want to go to the
latest post, go here:
Latest post.
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