velorush

From memory, a Boss GE-7 could be a big help, too (good grief, was that really 40 years ago?).

Everything I'm reading online cites Trumpet Valve Oil as being made from mineral oil. I've got an old compressor pedal that was found years ago. I was planning to clean the incredibly scratchy pots with Deoxit. If that doesn't work completely, I'll try some mineral oil. It was found in an old rental house, so if it ruins the pedal I'm out nothing.

I just remember being maybe six and begging mom for Grape Nuts at Kroger. She finally gave in. I was really put out, "Hey! There are no grapes in here! This is gross!"

I think the metal inserts were probably for the rocket launcher. I'm no expert, but I found this cool site the day after he died: Ace Frehley Les Paul - Solos, Smokers & Shooters

EMG uses the same method (stereo output jack) to turn the preamp on/off. This might be helpful: Artboard 1 (PDF). Battery negative to Ring, Pickup output to Tip and Sleeve (as normal).

Easily rectified:

Agree to disagree... 😉🤣

"All Washed Up" was released on the 14th. Listening now and I like it. Zander is an alien. The voice persists. Unimaginable. Who'd they get to play guitar? The only note on additional personnel is: ETA: I liked it. Sounded like Cheap Trick to me.

I've been using the paid version of ChatGPT (5.1) for a couple of months. The paid version ups what you're allowed to do with files and such. What has impressed me the most so far is how utterly incapable it is. It will promise, "yes, I can do that" and then it churns, sometimes overnight, and never does what it says it can and will do. Most of what I have fed it has been simple, repetitive stuff in Excel or a PDF that I can delegate to people, but it's terribly boring and repetitive - exactly what an AI should be tasked with. I'm going to give it another month or so and if I don't get better (or improved) results, I'm pulling the plug (so to speak). ETA: regarding the tariffs, for me the issue hasn't been the added cost (the only thing I personally import is tea from Japan), it's been the holdup in Customs since there no longer remains a de minimis - everything must clear. My $150 box of tea is piled in with every single thing coming into FedEx Memphis (see previous rant about Memphis in the USPS thread). Meanwhile, they haven't seen fit to add personnel to Customs, so I pay for FedEx overnight and receive the package a week to ten days later. [/amended mini-rant]

How it's done: and what a horn section!

At the risk of receiving the patented, "how much for one?" response, Music Zoo has a Hamer Standard case for sale. $500 1980s Hamer Standard Case | The Music Zoo

I think Fender has done a terrible job of reintroducing the Wide Range pickup. First, they came out with normal pickups (bar magnets) that had three-to-a-side visible / adjustable polepieces and called them wide range*. Then, they decided to make true CuNiFe Wide Range pickups (polepieces are CuNiFe magnets) and put them in select models. So now when I look at a guitar like the one linked, I'm wondering, real Wide Range or Wide Range look-alike? Should have a better means of identifying (or maybe I should do more research because they have differentiated but I am just ignorant of the nuance). * ETA: suppose I should have said "second..." First was the real Wide Range Seth Lover pickup. Second was the look-alike that was a regular pickup disguised as the earlier Wide Range...

And now I'm curious about the Fuzzy Britt. Can anyone comment on whether it's better than simply running something like a Wampler Plexi, Catalinbread DLS, etc into the Screaming Blonde set to clean? I'm thinking the Character knob on the Fuzzy Britt would give it a one-up over that scenario.

Love everything about that! The Maverick is a Super-Vee creation. People were building these for years over on the TDPRI and Strat Talk. I suppose Fender decided they'd get in on the action. I would think the offset body would be infinitely more comfortable than a Tele body.

Mike & Mike's is one of the few vendors I follow because they list the weight and neck specs on pretty much every guitar. They list tons of interesting Japanese market instruments along with the usual domestic fare.

Follow up: plugged the Blonde direct into an unaffected channel in the X32 at church. Very usable sounds. Fantastic to have two identical “channels” for variation. The Screamer sim sounds like a tube screamer. I ran a Flashback in front of it and it worked great. Definitely more practical for me than micing an amp and the tones are absolutely close enough. I want to try other pedals in front of it now. For example, how does the on-board Screamer compare to my favorite Screamer, the Menatone Red Snapper? Thanks everyone. Great recommendation!

Here's another. The added benefit is these can be altered to suit the tribute band (checkerboard paint schemes, for example) without regret.

No horse in the race, but as a practical consideration for a specifically gigging guitar, wouldn't something like this Korean Standard be a better option? Cost is around 10% of the real deal. Much less anxiety about theft or breakage!

Just spit balling, but I'd be inclined to (with string tension off) loosen the tailpiece mounting screws - not seeing it in person, I'm betting the bridge being in that position has artificially beveled the face of the guitar by digging into the wood. [Theory being: the tailpiece was installed originally with loosened screws and pitched forward under string tension, digging into the wood. It's been that way for so long it has attached itself in that position]. If you can loosen it up, then put it flat on the face, then retighten the screws, you should have the correct orientation when string tension is reestablished. [/spit ball]

One of each should do nicely: AGED CANDY APPLE AGED CHERRY BURST BURGUNDY WINE RED CANDY APPLE RED CANDY COLA RED CANDY TANGERINE (Almost really an orange) CHROME RED CIMARRON RED CORAL RED CRIMSON RED DAKOTA RED FADED CANDY APPLE RED FIESTA RED FADED FIESTA RED (custom shop) FIRESTORM RED FLASH PINK HOT ROD RED LIPSTICK RED MYSTIC RED METALLIC RED MORACCO RED PLASMA RED BURST RACE RED RED SATIN SALMON PINK PINKS COMPARED TO FIESTA RED SHELL PINK CORAL PINK RED SPARKLE (custom shop) RED BURST (CANDY RED BURST) RED BURST BLACK RUBY RED METALLIC TEQUILA SUNRISE TRANSLUCENT RED (or Trans Red) TORINO RED TRANSPARENT CHERRY SINISTER RED SUNSET GLOW METALLIC TRANSPARENT CHERRY BURST WINE RED WINE BURST

When I finally bought a Les Paul I found I needed a wider and padded strap. It's not terribly heavy for a Les Paul (9 lbs. 6 oz.), but heavy enough. I had a 3" padded Levy's for my bass and bought this one for the Lester. It works well enough weight is no longer an issue. Only problem is it will not fit in a case.

Fake news! Don't disparage the Skipper! More interesting information (for fans of Gilligan's Island).