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HSB0531

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Posts posted by HSB0531

  1. The last time I played live was at a Bar that had a multi-slip docks.  We were set up with our amps and the drum kit against the bar's outer wall, and we faced the seating with the water behind it. That was the best sound I got in years and the drums sounded tight and just a little compressed.  The crowd filled in all the space in front making it sound even better.

    Indoors, on stage, it's tricky to get the right sound if you're not mic'd up through the PA and using a low power amp. Every venue sounds different. And if you're only doing one night there with no time for a good sound check, it's hit or miss.

     

  2.    We've all seen an old lacquer finish get check marks from being applied with too much hardener.  I've got the opposite problem on the Standard Bass.  Too little hardener, and the finish is a bit soft.  The plush lined case material embeds itself to the finish and is a pain to get of.

    Any ideas on what I can use to remove it, that won't harm a 44 year old lacquer finish?

     

  3. 28 minutes ago, Biz Prof said:

    Probably good ol' jealously.  I don't fawn over every gear purchase he makes, but I think it's cool that he's such a guitar nerd, uses real amps on stage, and finds joy in exploring, using, and chasing down an incredible variety of guitars, amps, and effects.  He's like a prominent muscle car aficionado and collector who likes all sorts of GM, FoMoCo, and Mopar classics, enthusiastically shares news of his latest finds, and actively drives the cars rather than just salting them away in garages.

    Well put!

    • Like 1
  4. AHA!!...I found your problem!

    Disregard what I said previously.  It's the Eyebolt & Nylock nut on the end of the chassis.  They're causing reverse hysteresis of the Framus Modulator Tube and an inrush backflush of electrons to the speaker coil. Simply remove those, and fill the hole in with a wooden mahogany plug. That'll do it!

    • Haha 3
  5. 17 minutes ago, RobB said:

    Tangentially, why do guitarists hate this guy so much? He plays great and has tons of bitchen guitars. Is it the modern version of Yngwie-scorn?

    I agree.  I really like his playing and tone.  Maybe some guitarists think he has an attitude or showing off what he owns, but I see it as a free education on vintage gear and look at stuff I would normally have to scour the internet to see.

    • Like 4
  6. Replace the electrolytic caps in the power supply.  The power supply caps discharge voltage when the amp is turned off and when they start to go bad, they allow D.C. voltage to be present at the speaker(s).  This causes the popping sound. D.C. voltage is harmful to speakers.

    If you have cleaned the volume and tone pots and you hear a scratchy noise when you turn the volume and tone pots, replace any electrolytic caps in the audio path.

    Use Caps that are rated at a higher voltage than what's in there, and ones with a 105 degree rating if you can.  The typical ones are 85 degree rated and fail quicker in a high heat environment like a guitar amp.

    • Like 3
  7. On 3/19/2024 at 7:25 PM, cmatthes said:

    My USA Standard cases are all form-fitting.  I forget when they made the change, but I personally prefer the USA versions.

    I got a new case for #0531 in 2004 and it was a USA form fitting case.  The Standard 12ver came from Hamer with the USA form fitting case also and that was in 2010.  I just checked them and they're TKL and they both have Hamer USA inked on the outside.

  8. On 3/6/2024 at 8:25 AM, santellavision said:

    So many knobs and switches! 

     

    Yes, and I hope that QuadBass comes with the special 5-pin cable and breakout box that they all came with from Hamer.

    The box splits the signal to 4 separate mono jacks for each string. I didn't see a standard style output jack on that bass anywhere.

     

    On 3/6/2024 at 8:25 AM, santellavision said:

    So many knobs and switches! 

     

     

  9. On 3/6/2024 at 7:58 AM, Hackubus said:

    It even has a nice pic of the owner's name and SSN etched into that port for the whole world to see. 

     

    On 3/6/2024 at 9:14 AM, kizanski said:

    Since he made it so easy to steal his identity, just open a credit card in his name, buy it on ebay, and he has to pay for it.
    Everybody wins!

    Except him of course.

    Brilliant AND Funny as Hell!!!

  10. On 11/21/2023 at 4:24 PM, velorush said:

    Back in 2020 I ran across one of the new Lesters Guitar Chimp had up on Reverb.  After a phone conversation with Jerald (and consultation with a certain esteemed HFCer/Gibson expert in the Nash Vegas Metropolitan area) I bought it.  It's a 2019 50's Les Paul Standard. 

    Pk0CmDf.jpg   

    The Burstbucker 1 and 2 pickups are fantastic and if I could have this neck on every instrument I play I'd be more than happy.  The 500k pots work / sound much better than the old 300k's but I've been listening to too many vintage Lester clips and have gotten curious about 50's wiring.

    Those in favor of it say it "removes the blanket" (whatever that means - the 500k's do a lot of that) and allows the controls to do what they were originally intended. Those opposing it say it makes the controls too "fitzy" with the Tone control messing with volume and vice versa. 

    Personally, I am constantly tweaking both controls, so I don't think I would dislike it after getting used to it. My purpose (other than curiosity) would be to see if I could get closer to the vintage tones I'm hearing without spending my entire retirement fund.

    Tons of discussion of this on other forums, but I don't know those folks.  What say the HFC about 50's wiring for a VVTT setup? 

     

    I Love looking at this one!

    • Like 1
  11. 19 hours ago, Cboss said:

    Not true, the pots have an inherent resistance to them (full CW/10) which is absolutely audible

    that's why they're sold in different resistances, 1M 500k 300K 250k 25k Etc.. there are videos on YouTube that will let you hear the difference between these, everything else being the same

    Yes you're right, I stand corrected.  Everything in the chain adds a little bit to the tone of the guitar.

  12. 16 hours ago, Dutchman said:

    That's not a 72. Sorry. 

    I used amplified parts for most parts. I'm sure it's just a spin off of some larger sales store.  The PCP stuff is relatively easy to fix. But it does require exaxct fit. Pull one out and should have a part number. Then possibly Mouser might have the part in inventory yet. 

    I had to replace all the pots on a 90's Peavey bass amp a while ago and sourced them out of mouser.

    Good luck!!

    I use Mouser also.

    They seem to have the most inventory and the widest range.

    One item that's been an indispensable tool, is my digital caliper.  I use it to measure small parts to figure out what fits and what doesn't.

     

  13. On 3/1/2024 at 4:14 PM, JGale said:

    It’s got a circuit board (grrr). 
    I need four potentiometers, the first four on the first channel, one of them switched. Also a jack, all for PCB mount. 
     

    What fun we will have. 💩

    IMG_0794.jpeg

    IMG_0795.jpeg

    For me, the hardest part of working on older gear, is finding parts.  Caps are especially difficult because the sizes are much smaller than they were for a given voltage and capacitance.  IC's are harder to find in socket mount packaging too.  Resisters are still easy to source though. Pots are a little tricky because of the mounting style, shaft type, and whether they are linear taper or Logarithmic.

    Here's some info on types of pots and markings used:  https://eepower.com/resistor-guide/resistor-types/potentiometer-taper/#

    The pots on the circuit board are usually linear taper, but a few amp designs have required audio (log) taper.

    • Like 1
  14. 7 minutes ago, Hamerica said:

    Soo...in an earlier posed, I pine about me only seeing Living Colour as an opening act (special guest if that makes one feel better), for the Rolling Stones some 35 years ago and a few weeks ago for the band Extreme.  An'  for all intent and purposes, it was gonna remain so until they would come back through the DFW Area hopefully, my schedule would allow to catch that future show.

    Well, before we had decided to go to the Dallas HOB show where LC opened for Extreme, I had told my wife LC was headlining in OKC at some venue called "Beer City Music Hall".  So she mentions it to her cousin literally 4 - 6 weeks before the Dallas HOB gig. 

    For weeks we heard crickets....then last  Saturday, March 2nd, my wife gets a text from her cousin, "We bought tickets, see you Monday night!"    Oh boy, I scramble and get tickets for Monday Night, March 5th.   Now I'm cool with this however one of the grandchildren just lost $400 out of their college fund cause I'm a stickler for budgets.   (Wasn't coming out of some important like my gear fund...cough cough ) 

    Couple of side notes - My wifes cousin is a huge concert goer.  He is into  Metallica, Slayer, Anthrax, Megadeath, you know the mellow side of the genre.   Him, his girlfriend, and his daughter know one song by Living Colour - Cult Of Personality. 

    We arrive early to meet her cousin for dinner.  They have some issues getting out of work early enough for dinner so those that know me, I'm gonna relax at the hotel and enjoy the local cable channels. Yeah F that...we head over  to the venue to check it out and as luck would have it, the band is doing sound check (they are running behind).   Even with the doors shut, you can tell it is gonna be loud.  

    The venue is a typical "Concrete & Steel" with no sound proofing.   There are no real acoustics - just loud.   The good news the sound was actually quite good for that type of venue.   The Venue is Fire Marshal rated for 500.  Since the band was so loud the team meeting was held outside; Attendance was estimated around 350.   I was slightly surprised so few but then again it is a Monday Night.    

    More Good News we are so early I had a Mike Damone moment, "So close to stage you probably scared the band."  My wife was right up to the rail with me right behind her in front of Cory.

    Opening band was local act named  - Aranda.  A brother duo with bass and drums.  The drummer was very good.  The band is good.  Well known by the locals and several songs were sung by the audience.   The guitarist had a ton of Jack Black moments, good shtick.  Overall good stage presence good job getting the crowed ready for LC.   Check out their You Tube page.

    LIVING COLOUR

    Opener  - KOTJ again for Brother Wayne Kramer, Respect!   
    Go Away
    Ignorance is Bliss
    Leave It Alone
    BI
    Mind Your Own Business
    Auslander
    Nothingness
    Letter to a Landlord
    This Little Pig
    Wall
    Doug W.  Rap 50th White Lines / Apache / The Message
    Funny Vibe
    Love Rears It's Ugly Head
    Will Drum Solo
    Type
    Cult of Personality

    No Encore

    Vernon Reid 
    Like the Dallas HOB gig, Vernon played the Hamer Malcom X guitar for most of the night.  I know he just had MLK upgraded with his EMG preference  but no sighting.  He played a PRS (I think) for one song and a James Trussart Stars and Stripes looking guitar for a couple of tunes.   BONUS - Vernon had on HFC approved shoes! 

    Cory Glover
    Suit and looking presidential.   Powerful vocals all -  night  -  long.  Just one of the those guys who knows how to use his musical instrument and project emotion to an audience.  For me the funniest night was Cory just repeating "Him", "Him", "Him", at Vernon before they went into Mind Your Own Business.  MYOB is a timing change nightmare. 

    Will Calhoun
    Just an overall great drummer.  Will triggered "Love Rears Its Ugly Head" before "Funny Vibe" so as Cory pointed out "We are a Live Performing Band".  Vernon just kept saying "this time it wasn't me." 

    Doug Wimbish
    Pedal Boards. Yes, with an s.   Doug lays it down with the best of them and he does love his toys.   Lots of sonic booms and effects though-out.  

    Epilogue
    Like many bands, most people come to listen to the hits cause they only know one or two songs.  I heard that comment several times when LC didn't play one of their songs from Vivid or Time's Up.   Looking back, it's no coincidence that 10 of the 18 sections last night were from "STAIN".

    On Living Colour's Facebook Page March 2nd, let us know your favorite memories of STAIN songs and shows from the last 31 years.   For me personally, I had never heard that album live.  The good news is the crowd was into it.   While I missed Middle Man, This is The Life, and some others. 

    Another thing that was noticeable, their road crew are totally into the band.   Tour Manager / Guitar Tech Troy Castro was watching the crowds reaction, checking out various solos and a couple of singalongs.   The sound engineer gave back the twenty he was having such a good time.  Doug had a couple of technical issues which kept the bass tech busy.  But that's a to be expected when your tone is created with technology.  

    Vernon is one of my top ten guitarist.  I was extremely happy did get to watch Vernon up close and provide me with some guitar lessons.   At the end they did their wave on stage and Vernon gave out couple of pics, to people in front of him, Will gave out drum sticks and the like.  Vernon's attention went  to various folks and as he was walking back by before exiting,  I finally yelled out "VERNON!"  He looked at me like "hey".  Not saying anything else, I pointed out to my HFC logo on the front and he obliged,  looking quizzically.  As he read it, I  got that trademark Vernon smile...he pointed, leaned down and fist pumped me.  Of course you got the surge of everyone else wanting handshakes and his attention. 

    Now if I can just figure out a way for Living Colour and Kings X to tour together in 2025!   That would be killer!

     

     

    Vernon Malcom X.JPG

     

     

     

    Vernon HFC Approved Shoes.JPG126310bd-4df3-499a-91a0-83b84a5d953e.JPGWIll LC Stage.JPG

    260c7d6e-f7a4-4e5b-ad74-4d5b47f62a74.JPG

    Hamerica  

    Very Cool. They're a great band and I wish I got to see them live.

    • Thanks 1
  15. My guess is that they are getting rid of stores and might be online sales only.

    They might keep distribution centers for online order shipping only.

    Their online sales were doing bigger numbers than the stores were quite a long time ago, and they offer free 2 day shipping on most items with a purchase of $49.99 or more.

    I was talking with Sammy Ash many years ago about the stores and he had said back around 2018 that the online sales were doing fantastic, while the stores were doing poorly.

    • Like 1
  16. 52 minutes ago, hamerhead said:

    Don't be dicks, you guys. He's learning.

    The first digit - the zero - means 1990. The rest is where it came off the line.

    Those other zeroes were just messing with you. B)

    It's in The Book:

    lf.webp

    https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-ultimate-steve-matthes/1115527775?ean=9780764343520

    Everything you need to know about Hamer guitars is right there. Well, almost everything. We're still waiting for Volume II......

    Speaking of Volume II, if it every comes out, I want 2 copies.

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