StratDudeDan

and a repeat of that post from me.

you can still have an opinion. in fact, i'd like to hear what people ages 15-17 have to say, because they'll be the next "determinate factor" in the election process. polls right now are indicating two things: voters age 18-22 (first possible year) are showing an amost 15% increase at the polls. voters age 18-22 vote nearly 70% democratic. to hear what the next election might hold in store would be interesting, i think.

that... that was incredibly well-stated and spoken. *bows* go be a senator somewhere!

my apologies for posting those three only, i based it on the most popular. that's not me saying "those guys aren't important" or anything, and i apologize for that. i debated putting the "other" catagory down, but as my data is only for the three main candidates (well...2 main and then Nader...), i felt that i didn't need to create an extra distraction or a way for my info to be "tainted." (i'm voting for Mickey Mouse! yeah!). i actually am looking at a lot of the independant party candidates closer lately, just to see if there's any merit in there that i feel comfortable following and voting for.

colorado's amendment will be retrospective to the election if it passes, therefore, for this election, if it goes, the state's 9 votes will be split according to popular percentage, not districts like maine and nebraska. however, this causes some concern, mostly because colorado is one of the highest Nader-supporting states. if he gets at least 11% of the vote (about a 50-50 chance of that) then the possibility of a tie is present. which scares people. no one trusts the House of Representatives, especially because they're rather one-sided (almost 2/3 republican) and would allow for what could be considered another "florida" situation, where there is a loss of the popular votes, but a win nonetheless. personally, i like colorado's system, but i think it would only work if it were nation-wide. it would be a better representation of the public's opinion, which is what a "democratic republic" is all about. also, if anyone has some information on kerry's campaign and their financial plans/goals, please, PM because i'd really like to see it. BTW- thank you everyone for being well behaved thus far. keep the mods happy and help me pull data at the same time. two-for-one.

my friend had an LP-100 who's bridge was very good at cutting strings. the grooves were made by someone with a sense of humor, 'cause they we're rounded, rather just filed it at an angle, making a wonderful string cutting machine. he was breaking sets of 12's on his... you might want to check that. also, if they're breaking at the tuning peg, you're having a problem similar to what i had a while back with my strat. when i installed them, i'd run the string through, then just start tightening until it was up to pitch. this created a slightly mean kink in the string. now, i wrap the string around once then run it through the peg and start turning. it puts much less tension on the place where the string goes through the peg and and instead spreads it across the section that's already wrapped around. if they're just breaking in the middle, check your tuner. you might not be tuning to concert pitch anymore. maybe you've decided to tune to a concert Eb pitch instead, my tuner does that to me every now and then. confuses the snot out of me. also, if they're breaking at the nut, i don't have any ideas, i'd usually just get a file in there and then some mechanical pencil lead, but i've never had that happen on an electric.

Kevan, thanks for that. i was kinda hoping to get a mod response like that. as for me, i'll be upfront in saying that i don't like bush, but kerry isn't exactly the godsend to vote for against him. there seems to be a serious lack of some important concerns (economically, mostly) from his party, which scares me. as for nader, well, i would love to vote for him, but a vote for nader feels like a vote for bush in this case, 'cause it's taking votes away from his competitor. ah well. this will be one of the more interesting presidential elections to watch go down. EDIT- btw, if anyone is interested in watching the polls and seeing the current national standings (or close to, Colorado, Maine, and Nebraska will be different that displayed) may i point you toward: http://www.electoral-vote.com/ this is the most non-partison, closest to correct poll i've seen yet this year, as it is a combination of i believe 7 different nation-wide polls.

at the risk of getting in a wee bit of trouble for bringing politics here, as well as the fact that this is an international forum and doesn't affect everything, i'm asking this for two reasons. 1. project data for my "social politics" class. 2. i'm just plain curious. PLEASE! do not start flaming people that post after this because they think something else. i'm not trying to find out "WHO" is voting for which candidate, just "HOW MANY PEOPLE" are. also, if you don't want people to know who you're voting for or why, you don't have to post. again, i'm not in the business of starting a flame war here. debate, maybe...but still not really. i didn't click the "do not allow posts" buttong, because i want to hear if people have something good to say. i'm still undecided, after all, so i'm all up for hearing what people have to say.

i don't suppose we can get a 100% official count of who's still in? i'm not. i've taken down a different path of finishing since, then. latest project is an ivory LP-100 w/ Riemann's Sum = the standard integral on it in black going around the bottom/"this-side-up-while-playing" side.

before i had a real case for my strat, i made one out of duct tape. started by laying the guitar down, then running a strip (sticky-out) around then entire body, but sidways to get an outline (from strap button up to headstock). i then repeated, sticky-in about 9 times. after that, it was just run a strip across the back sticky-in, layer it stick-out on top (sticky to sticky) and inside the case so it would hold strong. ended with about 15 layers of industrial duck brand duct tape. about as sturdy as a mid-high level gig bag. btw, i went through 2.5 60-yard rolls making this, so unless you feel like invensting a good $20 (real industrial duct tape is quite expensive, store-shelf is maybe $.10 a yard), don't try and do this. plus, it was really hard and my fingers got really raw from ripping the tape. i don't cut it. cutting it is for EDIT

that's what i thought. they're only single-coils, but i had no idea what else i could do other than a, a+b, and b, so i just threw some crap in.

well, one of my pickups is dead to the point where i just don't feel like fixing it (it wasn't that good as it was...), but that means my three pickup strat is down to 2... i was looking for a couple ways to wire the switch so i could get a few more options out of it. say, pos 1 = both pups, pos 2 = neck only, pos 3 = both with neck out of phase, pos 4 = both with mid out of phase, pos 5 = mid only. yes, in case you haven't guessed, my bridge pup is the one that's gone. which i'm fine with. i need a new set soon anyway. these just don't have the balls i'm looking for. anywho, i don't know how the poles on the switch work or where they go to or anything, so if someone could take a look at that and see if its doable, that'd be awesome. i know the out of phase ones are a little strange, but i couldn't think of something to put in there and i don't want to get another switch unless i buy a pre-wired pickup set. thanks in advance!

might wanna check your language there... i'd say edit before a mod gets here (quick, hide! the boss is coming).

Dean no longer has my bass's serial number on file, even...confused me the first time i saw that... also, you can't get *much* information about the JetKing1 from Ibanez anymore. they still know about it, at least, but because of the 2, 1 has just kinda been overshadowed and left to rot in the gutter.

i've kinda run into the same thing with my bass playing, rick. i know i can be better. i've been playing professionally for "only" three and a half year now (i use the quotes 'cause i know lots of people that that's amazing to, especially with the music scene in my city...), and i've learned a lot. my technique is pretty damn good, and i've sat in with some of the best rhythm sections in the area. however, there is always this inkling in the back of my head, or i'll hear something i don't know, sit down and try it then realize that it's actually above me, and it drives me crazy. i remember the first time it happened. "Come Original" by 311. P-Nut's style and grooves through that whole song drove me insane. i could not get it for the life of me. i still can't... i've been pushed other ways, though. my dad does it for me. he'll offer me up for a very well paying gig that is over my head. forces me to catch up quick and i kinda like it. can only take so many of those jobs, though... as for guitar, i'm in a very odd situation. i've been playing longer than almost everyone i know (i know one player that started before me, one that started at the same time, and tons that started after me), so i'm constantly looked up to for my "playing abilities," which i really see as a lackthereof... that creates an interesting drive. i know how much i suck. heck, i can't even read music (in the jazz world, that pretty much means you can't play...) with six strings in front of me. but when a couple punk kids two or three years younger than me come over and just ask me to play along with the stereo so they can watch my fingers and "observe the essence of dan," it feels just kinda strange. i gotta get better for them, even though i really don't care about getting that much better. i can play what i want to, and that's it. now, there's a couple "kids" that are far superior players than i am, and i know it, but they still look up to me, 'cause i've been their mentor for so long. i know the stuff, i just can't do it. it's just odd... as for moods, though...i gotta stick with the "if it ain't fun, don't do it" mantra. when i was pissed off, i'd usually grab my acoustic 'cause the sound i get from that makes me happy anytime. if i was excited or energetic, strat cranked through a quarterstack or something in a small room in my basement. but i couldn't go the other way and channel my energy toward acoustic, or use my pissed-offedness towards achieving a higher standard of guitar. it's just weird...

of the three you posted, i've gotta say the ibanez, but the crate is a close second. i've played through the ibanez stack before, and my own style is a little bit punkier than what you listed. i usually play lead when i'm playing guitar. i will admit, that stack does sound a bit...digital? but as a personal preference, i really don't mind it and it gives me enough control to be able to get a rather decent tone out of it. if you look at the "Show Us Your CD" topic, the band i posted (Leash & Scoop), both guitar players used one of those half stacks for recording. as for the crate, it's always seemed to have a thinner, but slightly more, i dunno...toneful? presenceish? sound to it. it give you a bit more dynamic picking control, and it adapts well to your guitar's tone. whether you're playing a strat, LP, or SG, doesn't matter, you can probably get something close yo what you're looking for out of it. if you're talking pure "bang-for-the-buck" status, i will suggest the Ibanez winning by about 70%-30% over the crate, if not a wee bit closer...

i have fairly long fingers with fat knuckles. really strong hands though, mostly coming from my carpentry and swimming experience (it's hard to hold your hands in a cup while concentrating on everything else you need for a race...). on bass, i have a stretch from first fret to the 6th fret, not sure about guitar. i can hit the seventh fret on bass, but i can't firmly hold it. usually ends up buzzing or quacking. the joint between my hand and my fingers is really large, though (big palms). i've found the most comfortable necks to have an acoustic feel to them with a 19"-21" radius. my strat is a 16", and it feels very curved to me. i can't stand tele's. the actual pads of my fingertips are very squishy and rather large in surface area. on my left hand, the tips of them have no feeling (have to type using the fatter part) and on my right, the "outside" of my thumb as well as everything past the last knuckle on my index, middle, and ring fingers are dead. very flexible, though. i can bend my hand and fingers back to the point where they make 2 90 degree angles (between my wrist and the back of my hand, and then my hand and my fingers). while having my hand sitting on frets 1-6 on bass, my middle finger can play on the third and my ring finger up to the fifth. going lower, not quite as well. middle can only go to 2nd and my ring finger barely to third (this is while keeping my pinky and index fingers still at the ends).

i had my pups out to repot today, and as i was putting them back together, i noticed that the bridge pickup coil had a break in the wire. figuring "it's touching itself the whole way around, this should be fine) i sealed the coil back up and dropped everything in place. then i plugged it in. as luck would have it, it doesn't work. the pup is almost completely dead (only get sound when maxed on gain). questions: why did the pup die? can i save this pickup? the broken ends do not reach each other, is there any way to just press them into the coil and let them do their thing? should i just give up now and buy a new pup? thanks in advance!

i used to play through my friend's Orange head w/ a Crate 2x12" cab. i really liked the sound i got for jazz/blues, and completely LOVED it for rock. however, i recently got an old Fender Ultrachorus solid state amp running, 130w bi-amped, 2x12", and i don't think i will ever go back. in fact, i already "sold" the head to my friend in exchange for the amp, just not "definitely." we might trade every now and then, etc. to me, just hearing the word "tube" is like hearing the words "High Definition" when you're buying a TV. yes, it really could be, but sometimes, there's a little digital TV out there that looks just as good, is way the hell cheaper, and fits better. yes, you might be missing out on something that really is better, but at the same time, if you can do the same job at 95% effeciency instead of 100%, and save a crapload of money while doing it, go for it. as for modelling, avoid that at all costs. modelling amps are the devil.

i must disagree with you on your opinion. not to say that SWR don't sound good to you, but i've played through lots of amps, and SWR are probably the worst or near worst amps i've played through. if you're looking for strictly "bang-for-the-buck" style amperage, look at Peavey's NitroBass and FireBass lines. the firebass isn't much, but the price reflects it tenfold. i've been saving for a NitroBass 1x15" combo for a little while now. i believe 300w RMS, 1x15" will run you about $400-700, cheaper if you find one "badly" used. through testing, i've grown to just love the sound of that with a GK or Hartke 2x10" ext. cab on top of it. incredible punch, and enough power to shake the floorboards a wee bit, unless they're loose or like, really hardcore held in place or something. then you could either like, break them or do nothing... anywho... Peavey's amp combos are decent. if you're looking for a stack setup, look at GK's RB240-II w/ a 2x10 + 1x15 cab. that whole rig will run you just over $1000, but even if you buy it in pieces one at a time, it'll sound great no matter what. you could also get the RB240-II 1x15" combo for around $600 i believe, then just save up for the 2x10" combo. beautiful sounding amp, and really has a powerful output for only 240w. my bass player's $.02, which i think is worth a slight bit more than a guitarist's $.02. it's kinda like going from US to Canada...

now, most if not all of us are musicians here, and being a musician also involves listen to music rather often. i know that i can't go for more than a matter of minutes without hearing some type of music, whether in my head or cranked through a vintage stereo or a crysal clear computer studio monitor set. anywho, what would be a song or some songs that would be found on the "Background Music of Your Life: The Soundtrack" album? a couple of mine off the top of my head: "Beautiful Letdown," Switchfoot "Life's Not a Race," 311 "Way Away," Yellowcard "Sympathy," The Get Up Kids "Grand Theft Automn," Fall Out Boy "Battlestar Scralatchtica," Incubus "Stealing Happy Hours," 311 "First Straw," 311 and "Sweetness," Jimmy Eat World. they just seem to make sense, Switchfoot throwing in my more "contemplative" side, 311 giving me a sense of groove, rhythm, rhyme, as well as lyrics that actually mean something, JEW for the intensity of raw and power-driven music and emotions, Incubus and their idealistic outlook on the world (granted the song written is just an awesome song that deserves to be turned up loudly...), and then a couple punk/fau-punk/neo-punk groups in order to maintain a steady line through which my life, musically, socially, and thoughtfully speaking has been tied to.

yeah...it's only like...18 hours away for me...

GL Maiden. true beauty. my heart dropped when i saw what i was up against.

i jump around while playing bass. a lot. i've broken both my own and my guitarist's nose in a single swing of my instrument... and of the 15-20 drummers i've played with, i like, 3...

k. i've never worked on something this large scale, so i haven't seen "test points" on schematics before. for my own benefit as well as anyone following this, how does one test this? is it one at the start one at the test point? or from like, TP-21 to TP-22?