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Post by antares on Nov 30, 2023 15:03:27 GMT -6
There is always "Tapatalk" which is what Proboards would like users of their orphaned Android app to transition to. That is just a cynical way to gouge users like me who had paid for the "Pro" version of their app to provide a renewed revenue stream. Even worse- the new model is subscription based (the gift that keeps on giving.) I've tried the "free" Tapatalk twice and both times I've trashed it within 24 hours. I put up with the problems of the Proboards app for many years until the specimens changed it so that their servers would not accept connections via the original Proboards app. As I always remind myself- there's always going to be so many folk who are so much worse off than myself, but I sure can hold a grudge against Proboards. Not even a stoke of communication from them. Pffft.
Ignoring some genuinely dinosaur PCs up in the attic, I have two laptops and one desktop, all running Windoze 10, but PCs just feel antiquated after going with "Smart" 'phones. Moreover, M$ classifies Windows 10 as a Service as opposed to the traditional Operating System, and you have to be surfing the roller-coasters of never-ending bloated updates to plug the virtually uncountable security holes in their flaky code. It starts to take over your life waiting for endless substantial updates to become embodied. Let it go for a while and updates cease altogether. I do need Bill's Bilge for some things though- banking for one. I maintain one lappy dedicated solely for connecting to my bank's servers. I (we) never go to any other websites on that box. It's the only reasonable assurance of any semblance of security in these scrote infested modern times. Security software? (virus checkers) forget it.
Celsius, Farenheit, miles, kilometres, whatever. I grew up with them all and unlike foreign languages I'm conversant in all of them. At work I was well accustomed to reading an imperial fractional tape measure in decimal inches because the nature of the work decreed the latter, but decimal inch tapes were unavailable (until we imported a batch of Starret tape measures from over your side, but they were rubbish because all the formed metal sliding "hooked" ends had greatly extended length riveted to the tapes and they all broke where the penultimate rivet was located.)
Whatever- cold is cold right?
Here's one for the Wabbit; your resident silly hippie has FINALLY managed to stop biting his fingernails. I didn't set out to break the habit- I just decided one day that I didn't want to do it any more, and it was so easy I didn't find it remarkable. I wish I'd figured out that gambit out sixty years ago! At least I don't have to embark upon a pointless new year's resolution! Right now I'm having a ball a-pickin' 'n' a-grinnin'!
Laters guys ...
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Post by Deleted on Nov 30, 2023 17:12:47 GMT -6
Steve, I use Windows 10 on my laptop. Since I signed out of MS and deleted a lot of things attached to MS, I have no problems with my laptop, other than it is a lot slower than my Mini Mack M2. I will never again sign back into MS. They don't have anything I need. I use open office for a lot of things. It's free!
As far as proboards go, I only use what Guitar Attack has. I don't use apps for proboard. I didn't know there was a proboard app. I do use Fire Fox for everything. Even on my phone. So if I am out and about, and I want to see Guitar Attack, I go through Fire Fox. But there are still some things that just don't work or can't view.
I am sure at some point it will get all figured out. For me these days, I just want things to work. I get so tired of having to tweak things to get them to work. I have an old game on my laptop, I had to go in and make it work on Windows 10. I bet it won't work at all with the new windows coming out soon.
Funny, I remember when 10 came out the thing that, MS was saying it would be the last OP system anyone would ever need. LOL! Boy was that ever a lie! It won't be long, there won't be an OP system to worry about. It will all be done online and through apps. It's getting to where now you don't even have to type anymore. In a short time, I bet that will be the norm. I hardly type a text anymore. I speak into my phone and there it is. So simple, a monkey could do it. LOL!
I have been looking at getting a new laptop. Thinking of the Mac Pros. But they are so expensive. I am at the point in my life I have to ask myself, "is it worth it?" MS is only going to support 10 until 2025. I have two other old laptops running 10 that I don't use. They are older than the one I am using. So they are much slower. But hey, how fast do I need it to be? LOL!
I am about done with videos. Another couple of years, I know I will be done with making videos and guitars. So the mac I have right now should last me until then. After that, the only thing I need my computer for is paying bills. Some of them I use my phone for that. I don't use windows for anything but getting on here and looking up stuff for sale. That is a bout it.
In Dec of this year, I will be making an announcement of my up-and-coming plans for next year. One of them plans is me getting out of or stopping guitar making. I'll leave that where it is for now. More to fallow on that at a later date.
Right now, I have been trying to learn how to use my phone more when I can. But like I said, there are only a few things that are better to use my computers for. I was just sowing my wife some things she can do on her phone that she has never done before. She has a come a long way in using her phone more and her iPad. A few years ago, she hardly did anything when it came to using her phone or iPad. But now she is getting to a pro at it. LOL!
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Post by dnic on Dec 1, 2023 9:57:02 GMT -6
I'm pretty sure nail biting has something to do with brilliance. I stopped automatically when I decided to retire. It just stopped I hadn't made a decision to try to stop. But it was stress related cause just the other night I was watching something tense and I nibbled down three nails. I'm very angry about that.
I use TapaTalk on my phone. I think at some point proiboards just turned into tapatalk. I don't remember I prolly had to load the app. I do prefer my laptop for this stuff.
I think I've said this before but every time I decide I'm about done with making YT videos I get an email from Google telling me they sent me money. It has to be up to at least a hundred $ before they cut a check. So it's very sporadic. But it pushes me through to the next slump. Not saying that I don't get some enjoyment out of the process. I've made a lot of friends over the years and it kinda of feels like I'm sharing with them as I ramble on with the camera on. It definitely slows me down from camera set up and so on.
I'm not a fan of MS computers either. But I use the systems for 11 years at the hardware store. Funny thing is I kinda of became the go to guy for comp problems but we did have a real IT guy if it got too tricky.
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Post by GuitarAttack Forum on Dec 1, 2023 14:33:14 GMT -6
I was talking this over with Admin. We have been getting slammed with denial of service and spam attacks from the Far East.
Admin said that might be causing the changes we are seeing at ProBoard HQ.
More to follow; ProBoards has been pretty consistent for us and there is certainly a lot of info archived on this board!
Thank you all for sharing. John
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Post by Deleted on Dec 2, 2023 10:39:52 GMT -6
OK, here is a Rabbit Trail for ya all!
Today, my wife and are making cookies for this weekend. Lotsoof family coming by so we wanted to something fun. I or we made some chocolate chip cookies with cyan in the mix. We also added some cinnamon. WOW! They taste awesome! I use cyan in a lot of my cooking. First time I made chocolate chip cookies this way. I used a teaspoon of cyan. Some out there may want to use less or even more. My next batch will have more. LOL!
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Post by dnic on Jan 1, 2024 11:20:10 GMT -6
Let's pick up the acoustic questions from the "poplar wood" thread.
I have also thought a lot about building acoustic guitars in a more stable way. Which to me means less stress on the top. Won't go into the way I've thought about but I have discussed it with another builder and the way was tried by the guy I was taking to. He had no success with it so I've shelved the idea for about 15 years so far. But I will do my own experiments at some point.
There are acoustic guitars out there with bolt on necks. The Big baby Taylor instantly came to mind. And then of course Taylor's "normal" neck joint is bolt on and adjustable with their tapper matched sets of shims. I'm thinking Epiphone or another import did a bolt on more in line with what you are thinking Justin. Just a big block in the front of the guitar with a pocket like an electric and long bolts that come in from the back. It could be shimmed just like a bolt on electric. Fender did it as well on a Full size acoustic body with a Strat neck bolted to it.
The two acoustics I'm currently building will have bolt on necks. But the neck heel will look just like any other acoustic. The tongue will be glued down but not the mortise and tenon part. I was planning on using a dovetail joint and really struggled with the idea of going bolt on. But more and more I was seeing very high end boutique guitars using bolt in joints. Since standard built acoustics will most likely need a neck reset at some point in their lives I opted for the easier joint to take apart. I have seen two bolt on necks in the last month (on video) with no tenon at all. Just a flat neck heel with bolts into it. Again high end boutique guitars. David Russell didn't even use bolts. Just epoxied that flat neck heeled sucker right to the body.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 1, 2024 12:42:24 GMT -6
Let's pick up the acoustic questions from the "poplar wood" thread. I have also thought a lot about building acoustic guitars in a more stable way. Which to me means less stress on the top. Won't go into the way I've thought about but I have discussed it with another builder and the way was tried by the guy I was taking to. He had no success with it so I've shelved the idea for about 15 years so far. But I will do my own experiments at some point. There are acoustic guitars out there with bolt on necks. The Big baby Taylor instantly came to mind. And then of course Taylor's "normal" neck joint is bolt on and adjustable with their tapper matched sets of shims. I'm thinking Epiphone or another import did a bolt on more in line with what you are thinking Justin. Just a big block in the front of the guitar with a pocket like an electric and long bolts that come in from the back. It could be shimmed just like a bolt on electric. Fender did it as well on a Full size acoustic body with a Strat neck bolted to it. The two acoustics I'm currently building will have bolt on necks. But the neck heel will look just like any other acoustic. The tongue will be glued down but not the mortise and tenon part. I was planning on using a dovetail joint and really struggled with the idea of going bolt on. But more and more I was seeing very high end boutique guitars using bolt in joints. Since standard built acoustics will most likely need a neck reset at some point in their lives I opted for the easier joint to take apart. I have seen two bolt on necks in the last month (on video) with no tenon at all. Just a flat neck heel with bolts into it. Again high end boutique guitars. David Russell didn't even use bolts. Just epoxied that flat neck heeled sucker right to the body. Yes, EPI has a bold on neck that is like an electric guitar bolt on. I used to own one. In fact, you can use and electric guitar neck on them.
I figure If I am going to make an acoustic, why not at least try and make it the way I see it in my head? But at the same time, I don't want to spend hundreds of dollars for my project to fail. I may end up buying some clear poplar from one of the box stores and trying out my ideas. If it works out, then I'll invest in some of the better woods.
I know I am not the only one that thinks like this. For me, I am just tired of seeing the same thing over and over.
Someone oh here once said to me on making necks... One piece necks are boring, if you are going to make a custom neck, then do something interesting. I have fallowed that advice ever since. This is one reason I am not afraid to use all kind of woods in my guitars. It's "Kustom or Nothing!"
I had this conversation with a car guy;
He was all into keeping things "all original" me I was into 50s Kustoms! He was mad at me for messing up cars. At least in his eyes! I said to him, take an all original car and park it next to a full on 50s Kustom. Stand back and see how many people look at what car. You will see that more people will stop and take a picture of the 50s Kustom over the all original. Been there, done it! My Kustoms would always draw a crowd!
Anyone can bolt on a part, but it takes an artist to build a Kustom!
Now I have also built all original cars. But the Kustoms were so much more fun! Same in my guitars I have made. I have done them to be cookie cutter guitars, and I have done my Kustom guitars. The ones that I get the most attention on are my Kustoms.
So now at some point I have got to do the same with an acoustic guitar. I don't care if someone has tried it a failed, because I may be the one to pull it off. Acoustic to me are just like all manufactured guitars. They are made to cookie cutter ways of doing things. The way anyone fails is in not trying out new ways of doing things. You keep at it until it works. Do you think the very first guitar ever made worked? I am willing to bet it didn't.
Well, do you think a set neck like a set neck on an electric guitar would also work on an acoustic guitar?
Now I too have seen online where more and more makers of acoustic guitars are getting away from the old school of setting necks. A lot of makers are going over to the bolt on necks. I think that is a good thing to happen with acoustic guitars.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 1, 2024 13:02:28 GMT -6
Here is that is different!
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Post by dnic on Jan 2, 2024 10:54:27 GMT -6
That is indeed very different while being very much the same. The thing here that might save a neck reset is the long neck joint. Can't say I'm excited about the tonal properties. Not bad but lacking some depth. Not sure how to explain it. I'd like to here through the pipe organ on top.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 2, 2024 12:32:28 GMT -6
That is indeed very different while being very much the same. The thing here that might save a neck reset is the long neck joint. Can't say I'm excited about the tonal properties. Not bad but lacking some depth. Not sure how to explain it. I'd like to here through the pipe organ on top. I wonder what it sounds like live? I don't think his recording of it did it Justice. I did see another one a guy made that was done on the lines, I am thinking. Seems I can't come up with anything that someone has not done before. LOL
This video show one of the other ways I was thinking with the long brace going across the back of the guitar. For me, I think I would not have done the pipe thing. But I bet it sounds good.
After looking at a lot of videos on acoustic guitars, I am beginning to think that most of them sound pretty much the same. One thing that most do not talk about is the X bracing. I do know that depending on how the X is placed in an acoustic can change the sound of an acoustic. You can make it have more bass or more treble from how wide the X is. Seen a few videos that do show that. I think there is or was a video from Alvarez guitars that talks about that. Could have been one from EPI.
But all in all, most of the video's on acoustic guitars sound pretty close to the same. I have owned countless acoustic in my time. They all sound and played pretty well. The only ones that I can hear a big sound change in are when you play a Jumbo sized acoustic, or you play a nylon stringed one.
But I have owned them all at one point or another. Right now I love my littler Paramount Acoustic made by Fender. I like its small size and big sound. One of the best all around acoustics I have ever had. Easy to play, I didn't to do any set work to the guitar. All I did was put on some new strings and play it.
But here is what I think I am going to do. Going to buy some cheap woods and test out some of my ideas. If they work out, then I might start looking at some better woods. Not for their sound as much as being stable. I'll never make one out of the high-end woods that are being sold. I can't see spending $500 to $1200 on thin wood. Even the kit acoustic guitars are over the top expensive! Why would anyone spend so much on a kit guitar? Might as well buy one already built! LOL!
This is on my bucket list of things I want to do before my health get much worse. So, This spring, I hope to get started on it. I will need to make up some jigs first. So that is where I'll start. I will also have to do a lot of planing. Need to put onto paper my ideas and go from there.
I am going to do some experimenting with my idea on a set neck. Make a neck pocket like an electric guitar with a set neck but on an acoustic. I don't see why it won't work. I am also going to make a longer neck block with the long brace. If I feel like I may do what you are doing, Dane, and make 2 guitars at the same time. Try out two of my ideas. One has to work out. LOL!
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Post by dnic on Jan 2, 2024 14:20:45 GMT -6
I'm not a fan of the inevitable neck reset but I am a fan of the tried and true. Sure with some variations. I think "we" don't stray much from convention because it works. And I have reset enough necks to know it has its short comings. All production built acoustics are over built which kills the tone to some degree. But if they don't over build they get to many repair problems.
Not sure if Breedlove still use the bridge doctor on their guitars. But they did at one point. I don't think it's a bad way to go to thin the top and braces and then keep the top from rotating with BD. I've installed it on a couple guitars and I think they sounded good if not better. Top rotation is the reason guitars need neck resets. So stop the rotation some how and neck reset problems are gone.
I think it's great for you to experiment. I hope you make some great discoveries.
I still plan to do some experimenting but I wanted to get some guitars built the standard way so I can have a keener insight as to how to make it better. Plus there are some guitars I've heard that I wouldn't want to change a thing about them.
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Post by GuitarAttack Forum on Jan 3, 2024 12:04:12 GMT -6
Dane - when I worked at the "Big Box" music store I had the chance to play a lot of guitars. It was interesting -- new guitars of the same brand/model came out of the boxes with the same gauges/brands of strings but somehow, they always sounded different to me.
I've posted a number of articles on my Opinion page concerning the same phenomena. I can't help but think we could make a more consistent-sounding guitar using cheaper, more abundant wood. I would like to see you make some guitars with wood readily available near your base in California. I would also like to see you experiment with different glues and find a good water-based lacquer.
John
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Post by dnic on Jan 3, 2024 19:37:52 GMT -6
Dane - when I worked at the "Big Box" music store I had the chance to play a lot of guitars. It was interesting -- new guitars of the same brand/model came out of the boxes with the same gauges/brands of strings but somehow, they always sounded different to me. I've posted a number of articles on my Opinion page concerning the same phenomena. I can't help but think we could make a more consistent-sounding guitar using cheaper, more abundant wood. I would like to see you make some guitars with wood readily available near your base in California. I would also like to see you experiment with different glues and find a good water-based lacquer. John John, I sat down at a big box music store and played every acoustic guitar on the wall. At the time I was very surprised to have two identical Taylors sound totally different. One was a log, no tone whatsoever and the other was chimey and clear sounding. As usual I start at the high end price range in the Martins and Gibbys and Taylors. Then work my way down to the 400 or 500 dollar range like Fender acoustics. And I always surmised to find better sounding guitars in the bottom price tear. Maybe my ear was trained to the low dollar sound so I like them more. IDK is that possible? I think one could get more consistent sound quality from laminated wood materials. Other wise know as plywood. It certainly couldn't get more sustainable or consistent than that. I am strongly opposed to the HPL that Martin uses. That's just a thicker grade of the same stuff Formica counter tops are made of. If you remember I made a Formica guitar several years ago. It sounded pretty good. My main objection with Martin is that they still charge to much $ for what is a plastic guitar with a plywood neck. Lots of boutique builders are using laminate backs and sides but are making their own laminate. This doesn't necessarily make the wood they use more abundant or sustainable. Not sure if we are strictly talking acoustic here. There are lots of local woods in northern Ca. that would be great for electric guitars. As for acoustic we are back to what tradition demands more than what's available. If sales are a consideration. I have a great piece of Doug fir that is perfectly Q sawn that I won't hesitate to make tops from. Backs and sides aren't nearly as important tone wise so I'm sure I could find something that would work well for that. Again it's the wood snobs that ruin it. There is a guy, Kevin LaDue, on YT that is very into building with local timbers. You should check him out. I have crossed and burned the water based lacquer bridge. I experimented with several different brands and even UV cure. I was not happy with the results. My main reason for using these products was to save brain cells. But they are still dangerous without the proper ventilation. So I use nitro lacquer or 2k auto urethane with good ventilation. Wish I was satisfied with oil type finishes. They're very easy and look very nice on the right wood. Then again preconceived ideas in the market place make them hard to sell. Just had a conversation with one of my good guitar repair customers. He's wanting a single pup Tele. I told him he should play my LPJ with the single P-90. Cause it roars. He asked me how much, I told him, he said it's too much money because he couldn't get that if he resold it. And he does trade a lot of guitars so resale is a legit concern for him. Back to the expectation of the market place. I did tell him if he really loved and wanted to keep it resale wouldn't be a factor. I will get him him to take it home at some point.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 4, 2024 8:38:37 GMT -6
I have done the same thing. Playing every acoustic in a music store.
I, too, have played the high end or way overpriced ones. Out of all of them I did play, I did find one $6,000 Taylor that I did like a lot. It was set up right and sounded amazing. But still that $6,000 tag? Hum... Not so much.
But my all-time favorite one is the EPI master built. And I do like the Alvarez guitars.
As far as acoustic guitars that sound different? I have watched and read a lot on this subject. So many things happen in making an acoustic guitar. Seems to me that one of the biggest factors in sound is the bracing or sound bars. All acoustic in the way they are made in the same way when it comes to the bracing. They are all cut by hand and not always made from the same woods. Then again there is the X bracing. It really does change the way a guitar will sound by how far apart the X is.
Now, I find it funny no one ever talks about the blocks that are used for the neck and at the butt of a guitar. That too will have something to do with the way the guitar will sound. All of the woods in an acoustic will affect it in one way or another.
I used to have my own home recording studio. Back then, I made a lot of demo soundtracks for a lot of people. My one thing I was always after was for an acoustic to sound like an acoustic when recording.
I met this guy who was a sound tech at capital records. He told me to use 3 to 4 mics in front of an acoustic about 3' from the guitar, and to but a box of kitty litter in front of the player. He told be that the sound of an acoustic is not what you hear out of the sound hole, but rather you hear the whole acoustic.
I did as instructed and Bam!!! The Acoustic guitars now sounded like an acoustic when recording. He also told me not to use the electronics in an electric acoustic. He told me you will never get that true acoustic sound in recordings by using it.
But really, for me, it always comes down to this. Buy what you like, what sounds and plays good to you.
As far as custom-made guitars and resale goes. People do not have a clue on the word custom or Kustom is! But I now know that if someone wants a guitar with the resale in mind, they will never be happy with a real custom guitar. Why? Because it does not have a big name on it.
But I will also say this. I made a Kustom neck through LP for a friend of mine some years ago. He has now passed. But his wife sold that guitar for more money than what I charged him for the guitar. The guitar when built was $2,000. She sold it for a lot more than that. I wish people would stop putting down a guitar as far as price goes only because it does not have a name brand on it. If a guitar has all the right things going for it, then it should not matter if it is a none name brand or not.
But getting your brand out there is a hard thing to do. I cannot tell you how many people wanted me to make them a guitar for free, under that they would tell people abut who made the guitar. Now would have done that if had been some well known? Yep! But not to someone who does not have a name. All they were wanting was free guitar. I did do that one time. I gave one of my Kustom guitars to a guy that was on his way up in the music world. He did show that guitar and played the guitar in a lot of concerts. Nothing ever came of it. He is still records with that guitar. He just emailed me not too long ago, was telling me he was using it in a recording. He is supposed to send me the sound recording of it.
My guitars will be here long after I am gone. I only hope that they will keep making music and being enjoyed by payers for many years to come. I hope they don't become fire wood. I bet at some point in time that even a non name custom guitar will become a collectable thing. Too many are being built, it not to happen.
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Post by antares on Jan 4, 2024 9:14:05 GMT -6
"My one thing I was always after was for an acoustic to sound like an acoustic when recording.
I met this guy who was a sound tech at capital records. He told me to use 3 to 4 mics in front of an acoustic about 3' from the guitar, and to but a box of kitty litter in front of the player."
There is a small time Pro with whom I'm acquainted who claims that piezo driven acoustic amplification is a dead end. He cites the Highlander pickups as being the cream of a meagre crop, but the folks who ran Highlander retired and the company was not passed on so they're pretty much unobtanium. He was referring to resonators which are a whole other enchilada, but his maxim is that the best solution (at least for resos) is an SM57 and crucially, knowing how to work it. Remember those old time country bands where each would take it in turn to step up to the mic. for their "turn"? Well that's kind of what he meant and you can see skilled singers doing that all the time. I think that a normal acoustic still presents many of the same challenges regarding amplification as a resonator, and yes, microphones are the way to go, the arrangement depending upon the specific instrument, and there's where the engineer's skill weighs in. That said, I have read that my own acoustic is beloved of engineers because generally speaking all they need to do is put one mic. in front of it because the sound is so balanced right across the fretboard.
This is a wide open subject and due to my dearth of experience I am inclined to run with the hard won knowledge of my acquaintance.
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