Jester700

I used a "double barrel" switching arrangement, plus a push-pull volume pot. This gives me 17 unique sounds, but no copies - all positions are unique. I used a rotary switch as my second 5 position so I wouldn't have to mod the face of my guitar. This replaced the tone pot that I never used anyway. But with a strat, you can have master volume, master tone, and the rotary switch. I agree that splitting can be hit-or-miss, but if you choose the pickups carefully (and are willing to compromise a little on the humbucking sound), it can be very good. I use a Duncan Stag Mag at the neck, and an SK dualtone at the bridge. These (as well as Rio Grande's Tallboy & Muy Grande buckers) have one or more coils with alnico poles (like a single coil) - and it works well. If you don't want to have such limited options, remember that generally speaking, the higher output buckers split better. http://www.guitarnuts.com/wiring/doublebarrel/index.php

To anyone who understands and follows the ways of God, the reaction would have been nothing unordinary at all, rather expected really. I think it's awesome that the Amish families did that - to put the assuaging of others' pain above their own in a time of tragedy. My hat is off to them, as well as my condolences for them, AND the family of the killer. But to say this is an "expected" behavior of god followers is simply untrue. It is special, and fairly rare. The Amish are a branch of christianity, but quite unlike most branches, and I suspect most christians I know would not have done this (though understandably, IMO).

I think yours is an older diagram. The pup selections shown on the page I linked: http://www.ibanez.co.jp/world/product_news...uo/index_u.html There's a push-pull pot on that version, so in position 5 you get just the single coil. I'd hope that the dummy coil is out of circuit in position 4, which as you say is naturally humbucking.

Basically, there are 2 non-normal things. They replaced the steel slugs in one coil with alnico magnets, as used in single coil pickups. This gives a different magnetic pattern than a magnet/slug combination. Also, they added a dummy coil to that coil so that when the pup is split it is like a stacked humbucker - a single coil sound, but noise-free. There's a thread on Duncan's forum here: http://www.seymourduncan.com/forum/showthread.php?t=83750

Try Reaper. It's shareware, but uncrippled. If you like it, a personal license is $40. And the .999 beta is absolutely free. http://www.reaper.fm/ The other popular freebie is Kristal: http://www.kreatives.org/kristal/

Not for the OFR. There's no 12" nut. Just 10". As for the mismatch, I'm starting to agree, that's not a big deal....plus, I'm starting to like the idea of trying the compound radius boards at stewmac...and then ordering some new saddles from FR to flatten the radius at the bridge. You are right - I remembered incorrectly; only the speedloader is available with a 12" radius. Sorry. For what it's worth, I LOVE my compound radius necks - the 10-16" one by Warmoth is awesome IMO.

That's not that big of a mismatch. I'd actually try it to see if it's a problem. If so, which do you prefer? You can get a 12" nut and shims for the bridge saddles if you prefer that.

Actually, using CBR (constant bit rate), MP3 encoders don't need a very big "picture", and as long as there's a buffer big enough, theoretically this shouldn't be a problem. Software can record MPEG VIDEO in realtime, after all.

Definitely check out options. The ToneLab, Digitech GNX3000, and Zoom G series all have fans with valid points. I have a G2, ToneLab, and VAmp2 myself, and like each one for different things. The only one I was NOT real fond of was the Pod 2.0! I haven't played with the XT, though.

I know that it was in *MY* head that the Freelok was a quick attempt to copy Kevan's design & "beat him to the punch". That idea might have come from another forum instead of here, but it's hard to keep track. It DOES make some sense to assume that - after 20 years of Floyds, both products come out now, at the same time? So I can understand Bill trying to clear this up and for being upset about people thinking this (and about misinformation on the competitor's site - if it is such), so I for one am not annoyed by his delivery. I am glad you cleared this misconception up for me, Bill. You & Kevan have a great concept.

Wood is very important to the sound. Without the wood, the metal parts all fall to the ground in a heap, the strings lose all tension, and it's impossible to play the guitar, because your right hand is holding the bridge, while your left holds the tuners & nut - it's a real mess. ;-)

You're close - the satch fingerboard radius is 240mm - about 9.5 inches. I assume the bridge is set to match. Note the shims under the saddle pieces on the bridge.

OFR uses 10" radius. Schaller is 14 or 16", IIRC.

Yes, it will work. The nut will be an exact match, but you'll probably want to shim the bridge (if it's an OFR). The Schaller licensed floyds are 14" radius (nut and bridge). EDIT: You could get a FR nut (10") and a Schaller trem (14") and use the compound radius neck without having to shim anything. The floyds use 3 different heights of saddle. I suspect Schaller uses the same center ones, and then uses the 2nd "tier" from an OFR on the OUTSIDES, with an intermediate size in between. It could be that you only need to buy 2 Schaller saddles of the right height and do some rearranging to keep it a "stock" 14". Or, just get an OFR nut & Schaller bridge. These methods would work about about the same cost-wise.

That's a bummer about Carvin's pricing. Firefox, have you called Carvin? Every time I ordered from them I got different answers about the price of options - specifically whether the options were "half off" when you buy just a neck (they're half off on every guitar, including the unassembled kits). My new neck (6-8 months old?) I got with options half off - Floyd nut, abalone block inlays, and SS frets. The neck I got 2-3 years ago is similar, but options were full price - so got a kit, ebayed the rest, and made out better than the "retail" price on the neck.

Ibanez JS/Radius. I LOOOVE that shape. It is a little slippery when sitting "properly", but it's nice when you're "chilled out" on the couch.

Of course, there are LOTS of combos you won't get with that setup. With ANY practical setup, really. Checkout the guitarnuts site for a couple "all that AND a bag o' chips" wiring setups. I use the double barrel setup with a coil split switch on my HSH guitar. 17 combos, I think. Not all great, but most very usable. But I DON'T have an "all on" position.

The short answer is: sure. It won't work quite as well as an exact match, but it'll work. RWRP pickups don't always match exactly, but they work - the same concept hold true for "mismatched" humbucker coils like DiMarzio's dual resonance models. Note that you need all 3 normal pickups the same for this - no RWRP middle. And with THAT setup, position 2&4 will always have hum - they won't cancel on their own, and the dummy WILL be a poor matchin this setting. Tech stuff: A dummy doesn't really have to match the pickup. There's an equation to make the noise sensed the same for good cancellation, but I forget the details. I THINK it's total area enclosed by the coil. IOW, you could use a 3" round coil as a dummy coil that uses a LOT fewer turns of wire because the area's so much larger. This will suck MUCH less tone because the inductance would be very low.

Well, tempered glass is tough - they DO make windshields out of the stuff. But how to get that into a fretboard - I dunno.

I had a nomad for a while. Neat idea, but cheap execution. Well, it wasn't very expensive. Yes, it DID feed back easily. Sometimes this was cool; sometimes not. It DID sound tinny; you have even less "cabinet volume" than even those mini fender & marshall pocket amps, so that makes sense.

Unless your distortion is from a modeler. Those are designed to go through "clean" amp systems, like PAs, home stereos, studio rigs, and acoustic/keyboard amps. Their built in speaker sims should help get a "normal" electric amp sound.

Duncan just came out with their new "stack plus", which is supposed to be among the best of this type (and much better than their old "stack" model). Might want to look there as well.

Definitely play a Steinberger or other "travel guitar" to be sure the concept works for you. In fact, don't reject the option of just buying a Steinberger out of hand. I got one because I knew I'd be going on a few work trips, but I use it around the house all the time now for quick bouts of practice. Square doesn't look very cool, but it leans against any wall without falling over...

Welcome to the wonderful world of music. But really, you needn't cash *everything* in. Every aspect of playing is a seperate thing. If you sell everything off now, you might be looking for it again if another band asks you to join. So I'd keep your gear unless/until you need money. You still have your playing & band skills. That investment was more worthwhile than 5 years of watching FEAR FACTOR, wasn't it? I mean, think logically about quitting the band, make your decision, do your thing. But don't tie all of "bass playing" to that one band in your mind.

Cheapest intelligent harmonizer I've seen is in the new Zoom G2. This little $100 box is very impressive for the price. I think the V-Amp is actually a good unit. Cheesy plastic, but in the same class as a POD 2.0 sound-wise. I think it gets a bad rap because it's so cheap and because it's Behringer, but it's a good cheap tool.