The dreaded Fender Strat knob inadvertently moving.....

[smitty_p]

Not sure I know what this means.

I am so turned around with all the options of Strats. Makes me wonder what those Jazzmasters or whatever Fender guitars had all those oddball switches on them do.

A few years back, Fender had "Personality Cards" for the Fender American Deluxe Stratocaster Plus. I thought it was a really cool idea. The guitar had an opening in the back where you could literally swap in a circuit card in a matter of seconds that would change the wiring scheme of the guitar.

So, say you had a song where you used the bridge and the neck pickup together (not possible with a stock Strat)? Well, while your vocalist is working the audience between songs, pop in a new card in less time than it takes to switch guitars! This is just one of several options available with the Personality Cards.

This version of the Deluxe Plus was only around for a very short time. I've seen them for over $2k on the used market. Even just the circuit cards can go for hundreds.

Here's what the back of the guitar looked like;




There were three main cards. As I recall, other custom cards were available that offered even more options.

 

[Inspector #20]

A few years back, Fender had "Personality Cards" for the Fender American Deluxe Stratocaster Plus. I thought it was a really cool idea. The guitar had an opening in the back where you could literally swap in a circuit card in a matter of seconds that would change the wiring scheme of the guitar.

So, say you had a song where you used the bridge and the neck pickup together (not possible with a stock Strat)? Well, while your vocalist is working the audience between songs, pop in a new card in less time than it takes to switch guitars! This is just one of several options available with the Personality Cards.

This version of the Deluxe Plus was only around for a very short time. I've seen them for over $2k on the used market. Even just the circuit cards can go for hundreds.

Here's what the back of the guitar looked like;


View attachment 85081

There were three main cards. As I recall, other custom cards were available that offered even more options.

View attachment 85082

Must have let a Gretsch engineer in the building on that day....



You'd never hear the difference in a live performance setting....

 

[smitty_p]

Must have let a Gretsch engineer in the building on that day....

Are you having a bad day at work?

 

[Inspector #20]

Are you having a bad day at work?

LOL!

I'm not on the Gretsch line, so it's a good day!

 

[Jethro Rocker]

Must have let a Gretsch engineer in the building on that day....

View attachment 85083

You'd never hear the difference in a live performance setting....

As a player in front of your amp you would notice. Thats kind of like saying you cannot hear the diff between neck and bridge pickups live, which of course, one can. I dont care what the audience hears, I need it for me.

 

[Inspector #20]

As a player in front of your amp you would notice. Thats kind of like saying you cannot hear the diff between neck and bridge pickups live, which of course, one can. I dont care what the audience hears, I need it for me.

I'll say that you'll hear exactly what you listen for.

I'll venture that you've never experienced the sound of your amp passing by you during a live performance at stage volume???

I've been standing in places on the stage where I couldn't hear my amp clearly at all, and we were ticking 110db 10 feet out from the stage.

I've played entire 3 hour shows on the neck pickup and didn't notice it, and that's probably due to the clarity of my rig, but nuances just aren't worth trifling over.

As long as I get paid, I'm good with whatever theory is being tossed about.

 

[Inspector #20]

 

[Jethro Rocker]

I'll say that you'll hear exactly what you listen for.

I'll venture that you've never experienced the sound of your amp passing by you during a live performance at stage volume???

I've been standing in places on the stage where I couldn't hear my amp clearly at all, and we were ticking 110db 10 feet out from the stage.

I've played entire 3 hour shows on the neck pickup and didn't notice it, and that's probably due to the clarity of my rig, but nuances just aren't worth trifling over.

As long as I get paid, I'm good with whatever theory is being tossed about.

View attachment 85087

We play at way less volume than that. I never accidentally hit neck pickup and not know it. I stand in front of it can absolutely hear that.
Why get different pickups? Why have a neck pickup?
Seriously, Maybe your hearing is not great from the years of volume?

 

[smitty_p]

I'll venture that you've never experienced the sound of your amp passing by you during a live performance at stage volume???

Well, you're correct, on my account, but for a different reason. I run direct to the mix from a processor and use a stage wedge.

We bring our own PA gear and my sound comes through the mix.

Plus, I've gotten almost non-stop compliments from them on my sound since joining the band.

Every patch always the same every time.

 

[Jethro Rocker]

Here is an example. Small pub, low volume. Solo 2 is obviously neck pickup. Use earbuds at minimum a phone speaker is useless. Video camera sound so not great. I absolutely hear the difference between a bright pickup guitar and a dull one. If you can't perhaps it is you? Or everything is so loud there are no subtleties.

 

[Inspector #20]

We play at way less volume than that. I never accidentally hit neck pickup and not know it. I stand in front of it can absolutely hear that.
Why get different pickups? Why have a neck pickup?
Seriously, Maybe your hearing is not great from the years of volume?

Here is an example. Small pub, low volume. Solo 2 is obviously neck pickup. Use earbuds at minimum a phone speaker is useless. Video camera sound so not great. I absolutely hear the difference between a bright pickup guitar and a dull one. If you can't perhaps it is you? Or everything is so loud there are no subtleties.

Nice little video!!! Good sound!!!

You'll need to appreciate that I don't base any of this on my own perceptions. It's based on what 7 years of working daily with L.A.'s top producers (both in the studio and live sound production on soundstages) have pointed out to me and time and again, I've seen them prove what they are talking about.

Bright and dull???

Definitely, I can hear the muddiness in some people's rigs that I listen too, but, I've got very little difference between my neck and bridge the way I have them set up and they way I have the poles adjusted...and that's intentional. I cannot stand the typical muddy neck pickups that I hear so often. When I switch to the neck, the tone gets fuller but there's no volume drop and no huge shift in tone...and that's also intentional.

You know, @Mitch Pearrow SJMP has been to many of our stage volume rehearsals when I was running the Judas Priest Tribute.

Don't take my word for it...ask him.

I switched guitars three times in one song (on purpose) and nobody could hear the difference....from a Humbucker Strat to a Les Paul and then to a Double neck.

I think it's more about having the rig set up really tight and consistent, IMHO. There just isn't much variation and nothing is ever changed, so the tone is very consistent.

At the end of the day, I'll say this...and then I will leave you good folks to whatever opinion or theory you choose to believe.

For 2-1/2 years that was my only source of income and that was my 5 night a week job - the only band (that we know of) that worked full time in SoCal through the pandemic...(private clubs, estates. closed supper clubs that were operating illegally) because we had too....No retirement stipend to fall back on...just walking the tightrope without a net.

I'd say we did pretty good.

 

[Inspector #20]

Well, you're correct, on my account, but for a different reason. I run direct to the mix from a processor and use a stage wedge.

We bring our own PA gear and my sound comes through the mix.

Plus, I've gotten almost non-stop compliments from them on my sound since joining the band.

Every patch always the same every time.

Well,

we've played some pretty small clubs and some larger venues and a lot of them outdoors too. We haven't had the luxury of having all the instruments being mic'd and (using) a PA with a sound person very often. In some clubs, like Mill Creek, the venue is almost 200 feet deep and 75 feet wide and it takes a lot of sound to reach the back of the room when it's full of people.



Typically, we ran all the vocals and the drum kit through the PA and the monitors, but all (3) guitars and the bassist were all stage volume.

I suppose it must be nice to have the luxury of patches and all the nice PA stuff, but we worked 2-1/2 years, 5 nights a week and made a great living doing this, so I feel like we were very successful.

There's plenty of performance videos shot by our friends on FB.

But I gotta admit that feel very blessed to be getting paid to do what I love to do. My first real job was as a guitarist in a bar band at 15 earning $125.00/week. I been doing it a long time.

Now, I know a lot of people who play music, and most do it just for fun, and that's super cool, but I don't know many who can go back to 1980 and produce a photo that shows that music isn't something they started doing recently, it's been in my blood for over 40 years.



I'm not trying to change how you guys hear things. That's personal and you should be able to do, think and believe whatever you choose. I'm truly happy that you are enjoying yourself in whatever you do. But I'll tell you this, when they close those doors on a 10 hour/$3,000 lock out of studio time and you find out your ass is on the line, poop gets real, really quick and you find out, it's a different world. All the pubs and clubs are meaningless in this game. If you don't adapt, you die, financially anyways...

Sure, I could argue with a producer and tell him that I am hearing something different or I want to mess with my EQ's because I can hear all these nuances, etc.,

I've seen guys do it.

And I've seen them be escorted out onto Sunset by security too. And you won't get work with a reputation like that. Word gets around in this town.

I guess it's good that you get to live in your world and I get to live in mine. I have a great life, a great wife, a beautiful garden and I'm playing and recording constantly for hire.

I truly wish you both the very best in all your endeavors and I hope that everything you touch turns to gold....

 

[Jethro Rocker]

Nice little video!!! Good sound!!!

You'll need to appreciate that I don't base any of this on my own perceptions. It's based on what 7 years of working daily with L.A.'s top producers (both in the studio and live sound production on soundstages) have pointed out to me and time and again, I've seen them prove what they are talking about.

Bright and dull???

Definitely, I can hear the muddiness in some people's rigs that I listen too, but, I've got very little difference between my neck and bridge the way I have them set up and they way I have the poles adjusted...and that's intentional. I cannot stand the typical muddy neck pickups that I hear so often. When I switch to the neck, the tone gets fuller but there's no volume drop and no huge shift in tone...and that's also intentional.

You know, @Mitch Pearrow SJMP has been to many of our stage volume rehearsals when I was running the Judas Priest Tribute.

Don't take my word for it...ask him.

I switched guitars three times in one song (on purpose) and nobody could hear the difference....from a Humbucker Strat to a Les Paul and then to a Double neck.

I think it's more about having the rig set up really tight and consistent, IMHO. There just isn't much variation and nothing is ever changed, so the tone is very consistent.

At the end of the day, I'll say this...and then I will leave you good folks to whatever opinion or theory you choose to believe.

For 2-1/2 years that was my only source of income and that was my 5 night a week job - the only band (that we know of) that worked full time in SoCal through the pandemic...(private clubs, estates. closed supper clubs that were operating illegally) because we had too....No retirement stipend to fall back on...just walking the tightrope without a net.

I'd say we did pretty good.

I will try n do audio sometime of my Yamaha with the Dimebucker vs the Godin Xtsa. Last gig I used the Yammy I had to lower the highs a touch because it is so bright.
Not because I expected it to be but because I heard it. The Godin is dull sounding. Needs an increase in highs.
Why do they make umpteen types of pickups?
I also use different amps.
I like a difference in neck and bridge tones. American Woman neck tone is quite different from bright ballsy bridge tone!
Working 5 nights a week doesn't mean everyone else's guitars will all sound the same on stage!

 

[Inspector #20]

I will try n do audio sometime of my Yamaha with the Dimebucker vs the Godin Xtsa. Last gig I used the Yammy I had to lower the highs a touch because it is so bright.
Not because I expected it to be but because I heard it. The Godin is dull sounding. Needs an increase in highs.
Why do they make umpteen types of pickups?
I also use different amps.
I like a difference in neck and bridge tones. American Woman neck tone is quite different from bright ballsy bridge tone!
Working 5 nights a week doesn't mean everyone else's guitars will all sound the same on stage!

That would bug me, Man.

Honestly, I'm just playing the Gibson Les Paul these days. I really don't play anything else, unless I am asked to use a ____ on a certain recording. I find it to be very, very consistent. I ca roll the tone off and get a different tone of the song requires it. Since I switched to Ernie Ball Paradigm's, I no longer use a backup guitar.

I put a set of Paradigm's on my les paul for our February 23rd NASCAR show and I am still playing them and I still haven't broke them yet. I used to get two weeks out of regular Ernie Balls.

Greg almost has the new 2204 finished and that will replace the Ivanberg Hot-Rodded Origin 50. Just one guitar and one amp.

I like this Joe Bonnamassa quote:

"When it comes to gear, we all chase the mythical holy grails, and I’m lucky enough to own a lot of them. But it’s funny: If I took an Epiphone Les Paul and a Peavey Bandit or if I took a ’59 Les Paul and a Dumble, chances are I’m going to sound very similar, and, to me, that’s gear in a nutshell. It all comes down to you. It’s the type of pick you use. It’s your attack and your bloom. Do you have a light tough, or do you pick hard? Tone really starts with you. It's what you hear in your head and how it manifests. Gear is important – you want to have the right tools – but there isn’t one device, electric guitar or amp that’s a game changer. Nothing is going to give you your sound. Your sound’s in you. Your gear is just there to help you...."

 

[Jethro Rocker]

I put a set of Paradigm's on my les paul for our February 23rd NASCAR show and I am still playing them and I still haven't broke them yet. I used to get two weeks out of regular Ernie Balls.

Do they seem to last tonally longer? I might have to try a set.

 

[Inspector #20]

Do they seem to last tonally longer? I might have to try a set.

They've totally shocked me. They still sound and feel great after months of use.

Ask @syscokid about them.

$14.99 a set here and worth every penny!!!!

 

[chilipeppermaniac]

Hey Robert, ETC

How do you guys think a set of OLD SCHOOL Dean Markley strings will be if I bought a set off Ebay? Any chance they will be dull, suck, not hold tune, or be just fine?

I still remember when I bought my first Les Paul in 1983 these were my first strings. I liked that sticker they came with and this one set is unopened and has the sticker. I want to put it on my case like I did when I got my first black " Baby"

 

[chilipeppermaniac]

They've totally shocked me. They still sound and feel great after months of use.

Ask @syscokid about them.

$14.99 a set here and worth every penny!!!!

This sounds like a great endorsement for a product.

My middle of 3 steps is our daughter who is 31 and has a boyfriend same age. He is a computer whiz and works in a job where if he tells what he does, " he'd have to kill us"

Anyway, I was asking him if he could get my Windows 98 computer working again. The blank stare was priceless. He was 8 or 9 years old when I got it in 2000. I told him, I like to buy a thing and use it 30-40+ years till it wears out completely NOT planned obsolescence type deals. Then we talked about Windows ME, Vista, 7, 8, 8.1 etc. Sadly I only got used to the computers other people had and then got my own IBM win 98 model " eventually" at a huge cost of $1000 + way back in 2000. Been lucky ever since as I went from that one desktop to my HP laptop Windows 7 until the HD went on it and I got a new HD that a buddy installed Win 8 on. That one was

When that laptop went wifi card took a dump,, I got a new one and it worked and gave me a few years more service out of that laptop till it dropped and messed up the screen. I liked that model so much, I bought another exact replacement and for some reason the Wifi stopped being able to connect on that one too.

SO now I am using this Dell I got off Craigslist for like $200. I mostly like it too, but it has some real oddities that F me up and frustrate me to no end at times. The weirdest things are, I can be typing along and then the place I think I am typing suddenly jumps UP Page somewhere randomly or the freaking sentences just disappear on me. I learned about CTRL Z to bring those back, but it doesn't work all the time and it pisses me off to have to re-type what I just typed.

HAHA so after saying all that, Those Paradigms sound like my kinda strings for sure. DURABLE

 

[Inspector #20]

This sounds like a great endorsement for a product.

My middle of 3 steps is our daughter who is 31 and has a boyfriend same age. He is a computer whiz and works in a job where if he tells what he does, " he'd have to kill us"

Anyway, I was asking him if he could get my Windows 98 computer working again. The blank stare was priceless. He was 8 or 9 years old when I got it in 2000. I told him, I like to buy a thing and use it 30-40+ years till it wears out completely NOT planned obsolescence type deals. Then we talked about Windows ME, Vista, 7, 8, 8.1 etc. Sadly I only got used to the computers other people had and then got my own IBM win 98 model " eventually" at a huge cost of $1000 + way back in 2000. Been lucky ever since as I went from that one desktop to my HP laptop Windows 7 until the HD went on it and I got a new HD that a buddy installed Win 8 on. That one was

When that laptop went wifi card took a dump,, I got a new one and it worked and gave me a few years more service out of that laptop till it dropped and messed up the screen. I liked that model so much, I bought another exact replacement and for some reason the Wifi stopped being able to connect on that one too.

SO now I am using this Dell I got off Craigslist for like $200. I mostly like it too, but it has some real oddities that F me up and frustrate me to no end at times. The weirdest things are, I can be typing along and then the place I think I am typing suddenly jumps UP Page somewhere randomly or the freaking sentences just disappear on me. I learned about CTRL Z to bring those back, but it doesn't work all the time and it pisses me off to have to re-type what I just typed.

HAHA so after saying all that, Those Paradigms sound like my kinda strings for sure. DURABLE
[/QUOTOK?

I had a 486 with Windows 98+!!!!!

My first PC I got it in 1998!!!!!

Paradigms really do last!!!!

 

[Inspector #20]

This sounds like a great endorsement for a product.

My middle of 3 steps is our daughter who is 31 and has a boyfriend same age. He is a computer whiz and works in a job where if he tells what he does, " he'd have to kill us"

Anyway, I was asking him if he could get my Windows 98 computer working again. The blank stare was priceless. He was 8 or 9 years old when I got it in 2000. I told him, I like to buy a thing and use it 30-40+ years till it wears out completely NOT planned obsolescence type deals. Then we talked about Windows ME, Vista, 7, 8, 8.1 etc. Sadly I only got used to the computers other people had and then got my own IBM win 98 model " eventually" at a huge cost of $1000 + way back in 2000. Been lucky ever since as I went from that one desktop to my HP laptop Windows 7 until the HD went on it and I got a new HD that a buddy installed Win 8 on. That one was

When that laptop went wifi card took a dump,, I got a new one and it worked and gave me a few years more service out of that laptop till it dropped and messed up the screen. I liked that model so much, I bought another exact replacement and for some reason the Wifi stopped being able to connect on that one too.

SO now I am using this Dell I got off Craigslist for like $200. I mostly like it too, but it has some real oddities that F me up and frustrate me to no end at times. The weirdest things are, I can be typing along and then the place I think I am typing suddenly jumps UP Page somewhere randomly or the freaking sentences just disappear on me. I learned about CTRL Z to bring those back, but it doesn't work all the time and it pisses me off to have to re-type what I just typed.

HAHA so after saying all that, Those Paradigms sound like my kinda strings for sure. DURABLE

Ernie Ball Paradigms - Wow!

Great strings!!! All plains have wound ends. I noticed improved intonation (less variation) on my personal, working guitars. Very smooth feel too. Super impressed!!!

www.thetonerooms.com