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Center Stage / Reborn
« on: March 07, 2021, 10:20:56 AM »
My tribute to the seasons and life...
"Each season ends for a new one to be reborn, just as a life story ends so a new one begins."
Gears used:
Ibanez RGIB6 "The Beast" with SD Trembucker bridge and Full Shred neck, Stringjoy strings
Switch Vibracell Stein III modified "Bluebird", Ernie Ball strings
Headrush Gigboard
Dragonsheart pics
I hope you will like it!
https://youtu.be/Tum572h5RPs
"Each season ends for a new one to be reborn, just as a life story ends so a new one begins."
Gears used:
Ibanez RGIB6 "The Beast" with SD Trembucker bridge and Full Shred neck, Stringjoy strings
Switch Vibracell Stein III modified "Bluebird", Ernie Ball strings
Headrush Gigboard
Dragonsheart pics
I hope you will like it!
https://youtu.be/Tum572h5RPs
3
Center Stage / Re: Deck the Halls with Metal!
« on: December 24, 2020, 11:15:28 AM »Reminds me of the Merry Axemas albums Steve Vai produced. I love that this was a family effort!
Merry Christmas!
I appreciate your time, sir.
4
Center Stage / Deck the Halls with Metal!
« on: December 12, 2020, 07:21:36 AM »
My rendition of a popular Christmas song, "Deck the Halls"... "Deck the Halls with Metal"! Enjoy!
https://youtu.be/G-KElDx7DO4
Thank you for the decorations, own footages, and help:
My wife, son, and daughter
Guitars Used:
"Darth Paul", PRS S2 Standard 22 (modified) with DiMarzio D Activator pickups set
"Bluebird", Switch Vibracell Stein III (modified) with Gibson Firebird V pickups set
Gear used:
Headrush Gigboard
Dragonheart picks
https://youtu.be/G-KElDx7DO4
Thank you for the decorations, own footages, and help:
My wife, son, and daughter
Guitars Used:
"Darth Paul", PRS S2 Standard 22 (modified) with DiMarzio D Activator pickups set
"Bluebird", Switch Vibracell Stein III (modified) with Gibson Firebird V pickups set
Gear used:
Headrush Gigboard
Dragonheart picks
5
Guitar Lounge / Re: Reborn as the Switch Bluebird
« on: October 24, 2020, 10:31:33 AM »
Thanks for the appreciation everyone!
It plays great! Although, it's my first experience with mini humbuckers. I am still in the process of finding the sound it wants that is amicable to what I want out of it.
Demo will eventually be up.
These are cool, kinda like a pre-Aristides Aristides. I really dig the idea of the thing, but never really bonded with the Switch(es? Switchs? Switchii?) I've played, partly neck shape and partly the way they sit with the crazy horns -- a bit pokey-in-the-ribcagey for my taste, like a Parker. How's she sound?
It plays great! Although, it's my first experience with mini humbuckers. I am still in the process of finding the sound it wants that is amicable to what I want out of it.
Demo will eventually be up.
6
Guitar Lounge / Reborn as the Switch Bluebird
« on: October 05, 2020, 05:39:12 PM »
My Switch Bluebird
Backstory…
I did not want another guitar because I thought I already had the ultimate guitar. But, one boring day... stuck at home back in July because of covid... I decided to check out Facebook Marketplace and then chanced on this...
The guitar has not been used for 15 years. The previous owner tried to learn to play the guitar on it. I got it for $100 which included an amp and a guitar stand. I sold both for $60 later on, so it was like I got the guitar for $40!
Information from the internet says that the guitar uses “Vibracell Technology”. Vibracell is a patented process of completely molding both electric and bass guitars including the neck and headstock, from the patented Switch Vibracell material creating an instrument with precise harmonic resonance and sound frequency. Vibracell allows the entire instrument to be created as a whole with complete control of neck, body weight, and density by controlling the internal cells. With the ability to control the cells we can effectively tune the body and neck to exceed the characteristics and response of those instruments made from the best available woods in the world. Additionally, Vibracell has the pure strength to withstand extreme temperature changes that affect traditional wooden bodies and necks.
Wits its unique look and make, I thought that this would be a great modification platform for a project. After an exchange of ideas with Dr.Fill (a friend from another forum), a plan was drawn! I am so grateful that the doc took on this project!
And so, I present… The Bluebird!
It now has Gibson Firebird V mini humbucker pickups loaded on a carbon fiber faux pickguard which Dr.Fill made from scratch. All the other covers were also turned into carbon fiber faux:
Details
Dr.Fill was very meticulous on this project! He used tiny stainless steel washers under the p/u height adjustment screws so that they were not riding directly on the carbon fiber faux cover.
Button stainless steel Allen screws were used to hold down the guard, both rear covers and the truss rod cover.
The guitar came with a tremolo bridge with roller saddles and the tuning stability of which is excellent. I preferred to turn this guitar to a hardtail. So, Dr.Fill wedged the tremolo block inside the cavity and used two large button head Allen screws to hold down the bridge flush to the body. As a result, it made the guitar sustain UNREAL. He said that this guitar has some of the best sustain he ever heard from a solid-body guitar! The string action is unbelievably low!
Electronics Wizardry - Modified Eldred Wiring with “Top Cut” ala Dr.Fill!
The 3 position rotary switch operates as follows:
Rear position: No tone control. Just the volume and 3 way Schaller switch
Middle position: Operates like any normal guitar: Volume, tone, and Schaller switch are working
Front position: Volume, Schaller, and a 39k resistor are engaged, the tone control is disengaged. This is doc’s “Top Cut” wizardry! It works excellent with the volume wide open with distortion, and with a clean amp setting when the volume is rolled back a bit.
As per Dr.Fill, the benefit of not having a cap is that when you roll the volume back even slightly, you get a gorgeous clean, sparkly tone that the traditional Eldred may not have. Even with the volume not rolled back, its almost like having 3 different guitars, one very bright with no tone circuit load, one with the tone circuit engaged, and one that’s just a bit darker, and sounds amazing with some distortion, and REALLY sounds amazing clean with the volume rolled off a touch. Doc used a really nice combination of a resistor and a vintage Aerofilm capacitor for a treble bleed on the volume pot, which you can see in the pic above. The tone circuit cap is a vintage "bumblebee" .027uF cap, same as would be used on a '50's Les Paul. The volume is a CTS 490k audio taper pot with a treble bleed kit, and the tone is a CTS 280k linear taper pot. The rotary is a VERY high-quality NOS switch, same as Gibson used in the late ‘’50s/early ‘60s for their VariTone circuits.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Specifications:
Hardware
• Vibracell® One Piece Body & Neck
• Roller-Saddle Tremolo Bridge
• Grover Tuners
• Rosewood Fingerboard w/ Pearl Dot Inlays
• Carbon Fiber Faux Pickguard
• Scale: 25 1/2"
• Neck Width @ Nut 1 21/32"
• 22 Frets
Electronics (Modified Eldred Wiring with “Top Cut” ala Dr.Fill)
• Gibson Firebird V Mini Humbucker Pickups
• 3-way Lever Switch, Schaller
• Volume pot: CTS 490k audio taper pot with a treble bleed kit
• Tone pot: CTS 280k linear taper pot
• NOS Rotary switch
Every detail that Doc did on the guitar is unbelievable! It is so pretty that I go to the guitar room to take a look at it before I sleep! (Don’t tell my wife!)
How does it sound? A demo is coming soon!
Backstory…
I did not want another guitar because I thought I already had the ultimate guitar. But, one boring day... stuck at home back in July because of covid... I decided to check out Facebook Marketplace and then chanced on this...
The guitar has not been used for 15 years. The previous owner tried to learn to play the guitar on it. I got it for $100 which included an amp and a guitar stand. I sold both for $60 later on, so it was like I got the guitar for $40!
Information from the internet says that the guitar uses “Vibracell Technology”. Vibracell is a patented process of completely molding both electric and bass guitars including the neck and headstock, from the patented Switch Vibracell material creating an instrument with precise harmonic resonance and sound frequency. Vibracell allows the entire instrument to be created as a whole with complete control of neck, body weight, and density by controlling the internal cells. With the ability to control the cells we can effectively tune the body and neck to exceed the characteristics and response of those instruments made from the best available woods in the world. Additionally, Vibracell has the pure strength to withstand extreme temperature changes that affect traditional wooden bodies and necks.
Wits its unique look and make, I thought that this would be a great modification platform for a project. After an exchange of ideas with Dr.Fill (a friend from another forum), a plan was drawn! I am so grateful that the doc took on this project!
And so, I present… The Bluebird!
It now has Gibson Firebird V mini humbucker pickups loaded on a carbon fiber faux pickguard which Dr.Fill made from scratch. All the other covers were also turned into carbon fiber faux:
Details
Dr.Fill was very meticulous on this project! He used tiny stainless steel washers under the p/u height adjustment screws so that they were not riding directly on the carbon fiber faux cover.
Button stainless steel Allen screws were used to hold down the guard, both rear covers and the truss rod cover.
The guitar came with a tremolo bridge with roller saddles and the tuning stability of which is excellent. I preferred to turn this guitar to a hardtail. So, Dr.Fill wedged the tremolo block inside the cavity and used two large button head Allen screws to hold down the bridge flush to the body. As a result, it made the guitar sustain UNREAL. He said that this guitar has some of the best sustain he ever heard from a solid-body guitar! The string action is unbelievably low!
Electronics Wizardry - Modified Eldred Wiring with “Top Cut” ala Dr.Fill!
The 3 position rotary switch operates as follows:
Rear position: No tone control. Just the volume and 3 way Schaller switch
Middle position: Operates like any normal guitar: Volume, tone, and Schaller switch are working
Front position: Volume, Schaller, and a 39k resistor are engaged, the tone control is disengaged. This is doc’s “Top Cut” wizardry! It works excellent with the volume wide open with distortion, and with a clean amp setting when the volume is rolled back a bit.
As per Dr.Fill, the benefit of not having a cap is that when you roll the volume back even slightly, you get a gorgeous clean, sparkly tone that the traditional Eldred may not have. Even with the volume not rolled back, its almost like having 3 different guitars, one very bright with no tone circuit load, one with the tone circuit engaged, and one that’s just a bit darker, and sounds amazing with some distortion, and REALLY sounds amazing clean with the volume rolled off a touch. Doc used a really nice combination of a resistor and a vintage Aerofilm capacitor for a treble bleed on the volume pot, which you can see in the pic above. The tone circuit cap is a vintage "bumblebee" .027uF cap, same as would be used on a '50's Les Paul. The volume is a CTS 490k audio taper pot with a treble bleed kit, and the tone is a CTS 280k linear taper pot. The rotary is a VERY high-quality NOS switch, same as Gibson used in the late ‘’50s/early ‘60s for their VariTone circuits.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Specifications:
Hardware
• Vibracell® One Piece Body & Neck
• Roller-Saddle Tremolo Bridge
• Grover Tuners
• Rosewood Fingerboard w/ Pearl Dot Inlays
• Carbon Fiber Faux Pickguard
• Scale: 25 1/2"
• Neck Width @ Nut 1 21/32"
• 22 Frets
Electronics (Modified Eldred Wiring with “Top Cut” ala Dr.Fill)
• Gibson Firebird V Mini Humbucker Pickups
• 3-way Lever Switch, Schaller
• Volume pot: CTS 490k audio taper pot with a treble bleed kit
• Tone pot: CTS 280k linear taper pot
• NOS Rotary switch
Every detail that Doc did on the guitar is unbelievable! It is so pretty that I go to the guitar room to take a look at it before I sleep! (Don’t tell my wife!)
How does it sound? A demo is coming soon!
7
Center Stage / Something positive and easy to listen/watch, "Summer End"
« on: August 06, 2020, 04:39:53 PM »
This is my composition tribute to summer as the season ends! Despite the situation we're in, let's take time to enjoy the season as a new one will start soon, just as how a life event ends and a new one starts. We will be okay with the help of our almighty!
I used my Ovation Celebrity and PRS S2 Standard 22 "Darth Paul" somewhere in the middle! Darth Paul is not always a fire-breathing chugging machine loaded with a DiMarzio D-Activator X set...
...nope, I'm kidding... of course, it is!
This is the first time I am recording an acoustic guitar as I don't play acoustics much! At another forum, we were discussing the best way to record an acoustic guitar. So, I experimented mic'ing. I tried to find out which sounded better... mic or piezo. I found out that doing both and mixing them together actually sounded good!
https://youtu.be/Sh4VSuj9geo
Thank you for watching and listening! Please subscribe to support my channel!
It's not the best, I am not a great player or anything close... but if you like the track, you may download it at the link below. Proceeds will be donated to the Pioneer Center for Human Services Homeless Shelter. Thank you!
https://soundclick.com/r/s8e155
I used my Ovation Celebrity and PRS S2 Standard 22 "Darth Paul" somewhere in the middle! Darth Paul is not always a fire-breathing chugging machine loaded with a DiMarzio D-Activator X set...
...nope, I'm kidding... of course, it is!
This is the first time I am recording an acoustic guitar as I don't play acoustics much! At another forum, we were discussing the best way to record an acoustic guitar. So, I experimented mic'ing. I tried to find out which sounded better... mic or piezo. I found out that doing both and mixing them together actually sounded good!
https://youtu.be/Sh4VSuj9geo
Thank you for watching and listening! Please subscribe to support my channel!
It's not the best, I am not a great player or anything close... but if you like the track, you may download it at the link below. Proceeds will be donated to the Pioneer Center for Human Services Homeless Shelter. Thank you!
https://soundclick.com/r/s8e155
8
The Pickup Place / Re: DiMarzio D Activator X set demo
« on: August 01, 2020, 11:20:33 PM »That's it! I am throwing down the gauntlet! The next video I do is either going to be with a Batman or Bane mask.
Eh... those are copyrighted.
Thanks for viewing!
9
The Pickup Place / DiMarzio D Activator X set demo
« on: March 27, 2020, 06:59:01 PM »
Enjoy!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyLHrihKWWM
A demo for the DiMarzio D-Activator X humbucker set
D Activator X Bridge DP222BK
D Activator X Neck DP221BK
If you like the track, "Epidemia", you may download it for $1 at:
https://soundclick.com/r/s8cdos
Proceeds will be donated to a Covid-19 cause or organization.
May God bless and protect our healthcare and essential workers!
Guitar used:
"Darth Paul" PRS S2 Standard 22
customized with the following,
DiMarzio D-Activator X bridge and neck
Schaller Megaswitch "T"
Emerson Pro CTS 1meg volume pot
C&K USA DPDT Mini Toggle Switches
Geesatis Open Black Humbucker Covers
CTS 250k SPST Split Shaft Push/Pull Pot
Pur Tone Jack (double contact)
PRS/Mann Vibrato Bridge (black nickel bridge with plain nickel saddles)
Ebony tuner buttons from StewMac
Effects used:
Headrush Gigboard
Drive
Left: Amp model of Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier
Right: Amp Model of Soldano SLO-100
Clean Swells
Fender Twin Reverb "Blackface"
Thank you to the following:
johnmannsguitarvault.com
Musicians Discount Store
"Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."
- 1 Peter 5:7
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyLHrihKWWM
A demo for the DiMarzio D-Activator X humbucker set
D Activator X Bridge DP222BK
D Activator X Neck DP221BK
If you like the track, "Epidemia", you may download it for $1 at:
https://soundclick.com/r/s8cdos
Proceeds will be donated to a Covid-19 cause or organization.
May God bless and protect our healthcare and essential workers!
Guitar used:
"Darth Paul" PRS S2 Standard 22
customized with the following,
DiMarzio D-Activator X bridge and neck
Schaller Megaswitch "T"
Emerson Pro CTS 1meg volume pot
C&K USA DPDT Mini Toggle Switches
Geesatis Open Black Humbucker Covers
CTS 250k SPST Split Shaft Push/Pull Pot
Pur Tone Jack (double contact)
PRS/Mann Vibrato Bridge (black nickel bridge with plain nickel saddles)
Ebony tuner buttons from StewMac
Effects used:
Headrush Gigboard
Drive
Left: Amp model of Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier
Right: Amp Model of Soldano SLO-100
Clean Swells
Fender Twin Reverb "Blackface"
Thank you to the following:
johnmannsguitarvault.com
Musicians Discount Store
"Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."
- 1 Peter 5:7
10
Guitar Lounge / Re: "The Nita Strauss Syndrome"
« on: February 28, 2020, 05:59:22 PM »
Isn't she hot when she does this?
11
Guitar Lounge / Re: Darth Paul, my modified PRS S2 Standard 22
« on: February 25, 2020, 06:33:49 AM »12
Guitar Lounge / Darth Paul, my modified PRS S2 Standard 22
« on: February 17, 2020, 02:28:21 PM »
My friend and I were working on this mod project. The goal was to spec it out to my liking. The PRS S2 series is a guitar line wherein the body was made alongside their core series stateside but outfitted with overseas electronics and other hardware.
Presenting "Darth Paul", a modified PRS S2 Standard 22 in satin black.
This was its stock form:
It now has the following:
DiMarzio D-Activator X bridge and neck
Schaller Megaswitch "T"
Emerson Pro CTS 1meg volume pot
C&K USA DPDT Mini Toggle Switches
Geesatis Open Black Humbucker Covers
CTS 250k SPST Split Shaft Push/Pull Pot
Pure Tone Jack (double contact)
PRS/Mann Vibrato Bridge (black nickel bridge with plain nickel saddles)
The Pure Tone jack has a different "feel" than a Switchcraft jack when putting the 1/4" cord plug into it. It has a very solid double "click" because of its design, as opposed to the normal single "click" of a Switchcraft jack.
The Schaller Megaswitch operates like a normal 3 way switch... rearward is the bridge p/u, middle position is both p/u's and frontwards is the neck pickup.
It has 2 mini toggles, the front switch is for the neck p/u, and the rear switch is for the bridge p/u. In the "downward" positions, the pickups are in series. In the upward positions, the pickups are in parallel. They give the guitar tremendous control over the guitars overall tone depending on what position the switches are set to, and what the Megaswitch is set to.
The tone control is normally out of the circuit. It is engaged when you pull the tone knob up. It is a 250k CTS pot with a .01uF CRL ceramic disc cap. It will give a clean tone, an overdriven "blues" tone, or a high gain tone. It will have the full potential of the p/u's output when the tone knob is "down" in its normal position, since the tone pot and cap are disengaged in that position.
The volume pot is a 1 meg . This will result in the most output the pickups are able to produce, short of wiring them directly to the jack! It also has a treble bleed circuit, with a 220k resistor and a .006uF cap wired in parallel.
It has PRS/Mann Vibrato Bridge in black nickel bridge, but I opted for the plain nickel saddles. The original Mann trem arm was also in black nickel but was too short for my liking. So, I used the original overseas trem arm in shiny chrome.
This is it! This should be the end of my GAS. Thank you so much, Dr.**** for designing and building my guitar circuit!
I got this guitar used. So, it has battle scars. I like guitars with a story than a brand new guitar.
Presenting "Darth Paul", a modified PRS S2 Standard 22 in satin black.
This was its stock form:
It now has the following:
DiMarzio D-Activator X bridge and neck
Schaller Megaswitch "T"
Emerson Pro CTS 1meg volume pot
C&K USA DPDT Mini Toggle Switches
Geesatis Open Black Humbucker Covers
CTS 250k SPST Split Shaft Push/Pull Pot
Pure Tone Jack (double contact)
PRS/Mann Vibrato Bridge (black nickel bridge with plain nickel saddles)
The Pure Tone jack has a different "feel" than a Switchcraft jack when putting the 1/4" cord plug into it. It has a very solid double "click" because of its design, as opposed to the normal single "click" of a Switchcraft jack.
The Schaller Megaswitch operates like a normal 3 way switch... rearward is the bridge p/u, middle position is both p/u's and frontwards is the neck pickup.
It has 2 mini toggles, the front switch is for the neck p/u, and the rear switch is for the bridge p/u. In the "downward" positions, the pickups are in series. In the upward positions, the pickups are in parallel. They give the guitar tremendous control over the guitars overall tone depending on what position the switches are set to, and what the Megaswitch is set to.
The tone control is normally out of the circuit. It is engaged when you pull the tone knob up. It is a 250k CTS pot with a .01uF CRL ceramic disc cap. It will give a clean tone, an overdriven "blues" tone, or a high gain tone. It will have the full potential of the p/u's output when the tone knob is "down" in its normal position, since the tone pot and cap are disengaged in that position.
The volume pot is a 1 meg . This will result in the most output the pickups are able to produce, short of wiring them directly to the jack! It also has a treble bleed circuit, with a 220k resistor and a .006uF cap wired in parallel.
It has PRS/Mann Vibrato Bridge in black nickel bridge, but I opted for the plain nickel saddles. The original Mann trem arm was also in black nickel but was too short for my liking. So, I used the original overseas trem arm in shiny chrome.
This is it! This should be the end of my GAS. Thank you so much, Dr.**** for designing and building my guitar circuit!
I got this guitar used. So, it has battle scars. I like guitars with a story than a brand new guitar.
13
Guitar Lounge / Re: "The Nita Strauss Syndrome"
« on: February 17, 2020, 02:25:25 PM »
As I came to think about it, there has not been a guitar I owned that did not get any mods except for one.
14
The Pickup Place / Re: Pickup suggestions please!
« on: February 01, 2020, 07:37:31 AM »I tried many sets in my mahogany axes and ended up w D Activators. Balanced eq Loud and not over compressed. Very open sounding. They excel at metal. Mark Holcomb of Periphery used them before getting his own sig duncans. I have those too but in my opinion the D Activators eat them for breakfast.
Thanks! Got the D-Activator X set! I am loving it!
15
Gear Closet / Re: Dragon's Heart Original pick...
« on: January 01, 2020, 03:31:48 AM »
Been using them for years already. After trying the different models, my choice is the original. The others are a bit noisy on recordings with my style on hitting the strings.
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