madbeanpedals::forum

General => Open Discussion => Topic started by: culturejam on August 14, 2014, 01:26:23 AM

Title: Need help filling up Sweetwater shopping cart
Post by: culturejam on August 14, 2014, 01:26:23 AM
Okay, so I'm going to be getting a Jamman Xpress looper from Sweetwater. But I figured I should get a couple more things and do the 3-payment plan and make it worth it.  ;D

But I can't figure out anything I can remotely justify as a "need" or even a strong want. There's got to be something cool I'm missing out on, so I want to enlist your help in giving me suggestions. I'm looking for useful, handy, utilitarian, etc., in the $100 - $200 range.

To help kick things off, here are useful things I already have:

• Clip on tuner (two actually) and a pedal tuner
• eBow
• Audio interface
• Capo (several)
• Acoustic guitar hydration system
• Strings (just bought some sets recently)
• Guitar and fretboard polish / oil
• Guitar stands
• Guitar straps
• Microphones (SM57 and Sennheiser 609)
• Solid-state amp (Roland Cube 40xl)
• Cajon drum
• Cheap guitar (Agile, etc)
• Guitar / mic cables
• Music stand / Mic stand

I'm set for just about every kind of pedal, with the exception of maybe a Micro POG. But I can't justify full price on those when used ones are about $160.

About the only thing I don't have is a dedicated headphone/practice type Pod thingie. But I could easily use my iPhone for that, I suppose.

So what am I missing? Let's hear some suggestions, o' fellow brothers of the GAS order.  8) :D
Title: Re: Need help filling up Sweetwater shopping cart
Post by: GermanCdn on August 14, 2014, 01:50:11 AM
The Cruztools tool kit (either their standard or Fender set) is actually really handy to have around either at home or in the gig bag.  Think they're around $60.

Gorgomyte if they have it (GHS has branded it now I think) typically around $10.

Ernie Ball Power tuner - most gimicky thing I own, but use it far more than I ever thought I would.  $22

The new Daddario capo with the slot for the PW tuner $20

Seymour Duncan Vapor Trails Delay - ridiculously good analog delay, $160.


Err, this self imposed gear buying moratorium is going to kill me....
Title: Re: Need help filling up Sweetwater shopping cart
Post by: icecycle66 on August 14, 2014, 02:18:17 AM
TASCAM DR-07mkII

Title: Re: Need help filling up Sweetwater shopping cart
Post by: madbean on August 14, 2014, 02:29:39 AM
Fender Output Jack...only $6.49!
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/GtrOPJack/

Do they have any decent piezo pickups for electric? I've been wanting to add one of my guitars for a while. I like the sound of an unplugged electric layered in with the amped sound.
Title: Re: Need help filling up Sweetwater shopping cart
Post by: culturejam on August 14, 2014, 02:33:33 AM
Quote from: GermanCdn on August 14, 2014, 01:50:11 AM
The Cruztools tool kit (either their standard or Fender set) is actually really handy to have around either at home or in the gig bag.  Think they're around $60.

I'll give that some thought. Thanks!

Quote from: icecycle66 on August 14, 2014, 02:18:17 AM
TASCAM DR-07mkII

Hmmmm, interesting. I want it, but I'm not sure what I'd do with it. I pretty much do all my scratch recording with an audio interface, or if it's really off the cuff, with my iPhone. But I'll give it some thought.

Quote from: madbean on August 14, 2014, 02:29:39 AM
Do they have any decent piezo pickups for electric? I've been wanting to add one of my guitars for a while.

I've got a Takamine acoustic/electric already. :/

(http://cdn.funnie.st/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/first-world-problems-1911.jpg)
Title: Re: Need help filling up Sweetwater shopping cart
Post by: pickdropper on August 14, 2014, 02:50:28 AM
ES-335.  :-)
Title: Re: Need help filling up Sweetwater shopping cart
Post by: gordo on August 14, 2014, 02:53:52 AM
Those new Fishman pickups made from circuit boards.
Title: Re: Need help filling up Sweetwater shopping cart
Post by: culturejam on August 14, 2014, 03:00:37 AM
Quote from: pickdropper on August 14, 2014, 02:50:28 AM
ES-335.  :-)

Does not fit the $100 - $200 price restriction. :)

But yeah, I need one of those for sure.
Title: Re: Need help filling up Sweetwater shopping cart
Post by: Blues Healer on August 14, 2014, 03:14:29 AM
personally, I've been tormenting myself over getting a volume pedal, just for those cool volume swells ... it would be easy to say, get an EB, but I also like the Mission Pedals
Title: Re: Need help filling up Sweetwater shopping cart
Post by: culturejam on August 14, 2014, 03:20:51 AM
^^ nice suggestion. I don't have a volume pedal.

I just remembered that one of the things I really want is one of various TC Helicon voice effect pedals. I love to sing, but my voice is not exactly award-winning. I need a little help...a lot of help sometimes.

The Voicetone Harmony GXT looks about right. Pitch correction, harmony, reverb/delay...hmmm.
Title: Re: Need help filling up Sweetwater shopping cart
Post by: icecycle66 on August 14, 2014, 03:52:57 AM
Yeah, get one of those voice pedals and demo to t n guitar.
Title: Re: Need help filling up Sweetwater shopping cart
Post by: pickdropper on August 14, 2014, 04:08:32 AM
Actually, a volume pedal would be really useful.

Do they carry Vertex?
Title: Re: Need help filling up Sweetwater shopping cart
Post by: jimilee on August 14, 2014, 04:21:50 AM
I really dig my volume pedal, and those cool swells are kick ass if you play a slide and use delay.
Title: Re: Need help filling up Sweetwater shopping cart
Post by: hoodoo on August 14, 2014, 05:38:30 AM
Ukulele  :) seem to be popular these days. If you are looking at the TC helicon stuff, i've got a harmony singer that is great, as long as you play the right chords and sing in tune, that is  ;)
Title: Re: Need help filling up Sweetwater shopping cart
Post by: RobA on August 14, 2014, 05:55:30 AM
Quote from: hoodoo on August 14, 2014, 05:38:30 AM
Ukulele  :) seem to be popular these days. If you are looking at the TC helicon stuff, i've got a harmony singer that is great, as long as you play the right chords and sing in tune, that is  ;)
My son has one of the Yamaha Guitalele things. Its build quality is a bit suspect as is its intonation, but it is fun and I find myself grabbing it to just fiddle with all the time.

I'd love to get a cheap but good mandolin. There are plenty of them out there in the $100-$200 range, but I have no idea if any of them are even useful as an instrument.
Title: Re: Need help filling up Sweetwater shopping cart
Post by: jubal81 on August 14, 2014, 05:59:39 AM
Can you buy a gift card to add to the total? Save it to go toward something later.
Title: Re: Need help filling up Sweetwater shopping cart
Post by: RobA on August 14, 2014, 06:03:51 AM
Quote from: jubal81 on August 14, 2014, 05:59:39 AM
Can you buy a gift card to add to the total? Save it to go toward something later.
That's entirely too practical ;).
Title: Re: Need help filling up Sweetwater shopping cart
Post by: alanp on August 14, 2014, 06:34:59 AM
If you have a Lovetone build with the expression jacks, high impedance volume pedals work very well as controllers :) (TS cable from the pedal's Out jack to the effect's expression jack.)

Controlling the rate on the Doppelganger is more fun than you'd think it would be :)
Title: Re: Need help filling up Sweetwater shopping cart
Post by: mmlee on August 14, 2014, 08:15:42 AM
Maybe some mics other than dynamics?
SE Electronics SE X1R - a very affordable ribbon
A large diaphragm condenser like a AT2020/AT2035?

Maybe a nice DI like one of the Radials? A re-amp box for when you can't be arsed to get it right at source.....?

Title: Re: Need help filling up Sweetwater shopping cart
Post by: gtr2 on August 14, 2014, 11:21:11 AM
Boss VE-2 looks interesting...
Title: Re: Need help filling up Sweetwater shopping cart
Post by: flanagan0718 on August 14, 2014, 12:07:36 PM
These are awesome! The guy from Muse put one in a guitar. Always wanted to do that.
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/KPQuad/ (http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/KPQuad/)
Title: Re: Need help filling up Sweetwater shopping cart
Post by: pickdropper on August 14, 2014, 12:29:37 PM
Quote from: RobA on August 14, 2014, 05:55:30 AM
Quote from: hoodoo on August 14, 2014, 05:38:30 AM
Ukulele  :) seem to be popular these days. If you are looking at the TC helicon stuff, i've got a harmony singer that is great, as long as you play the right chords and sing in tune, that is  ;)
My son has one of the Yamaha Guitalele things. Its build quality is a bit suspect as is its intonation, but it is fun and I find myself grabbing it to just fiddle with all the time.

I'd love to get a cheap but good mandolin. There are plenty of them out there in the $100-$200 range, but I have no idea if any of them are even useful as an instrument.

I went through the cheap mandolin thing about 10 years ago.  I tried a bunch of them and most of them felt pretty cheap to me.  Somehow worse than cheap guitars, but it's been a while, so maybe things are better now.

In the end, I waited a bit and picked up the cheapest used A style Weber I could find (about $350 if I remember correctly) and I felt it was a considerably nicer instrument.
Title: Re: Need help filling up Sweetwater shopping cart
Post by: midwayfair on August 14, 2014, 01:50:02 PM
Honestly, if it were me, I'd get even more strings, because I know I'd use them eventually and, if I had less than 5 capos, a capo because those stupid things get lost more than picks. But I get coated strings, so dropping $100 on them for multiple instruments isn't difficult and happens probably twice a year.

I'm surprised you don't have a volume pedal, but buying something new that you can get dirt cheap used just seems like a pointless way to get to $100 extra in your cart. Buy stuff that you can't get all day every day on the forums.
Title: Re: Need help filling up Sweetwater shopping cart
Post by: culturejam on August 14, 2014, 01:58:58 PM
Thanks for all the suggestions, guys.

Ended up going with the TC Helicon VoiceTone Harmony-G XT. Seems fairly easy to use, and it has all the kinds of help that I desperately need for vocal performance.

I'll give a review once I get it and have some time to much around with it.
Title: Re: Need help filling up Sweetwater shopping cart
Post by: RobA on August 14, 2014, 04:08:27 PM
Quote from: pickdropper on August 14, 2014, 12:29:37 PM
Quote from: RobA on August 14, 2014, 05:55:30 AM
...
I'd love to get a cheap but good mandolin. There are plenty of them out there in the $100-$200 range, but I have no idea if any of them are even useful as an instrument.

I went through the cheap mandolin thing about 10 years ago.  I tried a bunch of them and most of them felt pretty cheap to me.  Somehow worse than cheap guitars, but it's been a while, so maybe things are better now.

In the end, I waited a bit and picked up the cheapest used A style Weber I could find (about $350 if I remember correctly) and I felt it was a considerably nicer instrument.
From the few cheapies I've tried in the shops, I'd say it hasn't gotten any better. Holding out to find a good one is probably sage advice. As popular as bluegrass is around here, I'd expect to see more used mandos in the shops, but they don't seem to come up all that often. One's sure to come up eventually though.
Title: Re: Need help filling up Sweetwater shopping cart
Post by: culturejam on August 14, 2014, 04:14:05 PM
Oh, and to add to the discussion: I have a cheap mandolin, too.  ;D
Title: Re: Need help filling up Sweetwater shopping cart
Post by: Alaboogie on August 14, 2014, 07:17:15 PM

Quote from: pickdropper on August 14, 2014, 04:08:32 AM
Actually, a volume pedal would be really useful.

Do they carry Vertex?

Not to derail this thread but a side note, Vertex is the new klon on tgp boards. Someone posted gut shots of the axis wah which ended up being a rehoused bbe wah, no effort in switching anything out apparently. They just put goop and threw em in the new housing. Now everyone is hating on vertex...I myself couldn't see myself buying a $300 wah anyway 😔.
Title: Re: Need help filling up Sweetwater shopping cart
Post by: rullywowr on August 14, 2014, 07:22:23 PM

Quote from: culturejam on August 14, 2014, 01:58:58 PM
Thanks for all the suggestions, guys.

Ended up going with the TC Helicon VoiceTone Harmony-G XT. Seems fairly easy to use, and it has all the kinds of help that I desperately need for vocal performance.

I'll give a review once I get it and have some time to much around with it.

Awesome choice. I have one and it's really a lot of fun to use. I suggest to ensure your firmware is up to date and try it with both the "auto tune" on and off.  Great times - especially playing acoustic.
Title: Re: Need help filling up Sweetwater shopping cart
Post by: selfdestroyer on August 14, 2014, 08:10:30 PM
Quote from: culturejam on August 14, 2014, 01:58:58 PM
Thanks for all the suggestions, guys.

Ended up going with the TC Helicon VoiceTone Harmony-G XT. Seems fairly easy to use, and it has all the kinds of help that I desperately need for vocal performance.

I'll give a review once I get it and have some time to much around with it.

You had me reading on them most of last night. I await your opinion on it when you get it. I may jump on such a box also.

Cody
Title: Re: Need help filling up Sweetwater shopping cart
Post by: pickdropper on August 14, 2014, 09:02:03 PM

Quote from: Alaboogie on August 14, 2014, 07:17:15 PM

Quote from: pickdropper on August 14, 2014, 04:08:32 AM
Actually, a volume pedal would be really useful.

Do they carry Vertex?

Not to derail this thread but a side note, Vertex is the new klon on tgp boards. Someone posted gut shots of the axis wah which ended up being a rehoused bbe wah, no effort in switching anything out apparently. They just put goop and threw em in the new housing. Now everyone is hating on vertex...I myself couldn't see myself buying a $300 wah anyway 😔.

Yeah, I was basically joking around about it.      In addition the wah being a BBE, the volume pedal appears to be a Boss that just has one of the PCBs removed.

Odd things are afoot (or underfoot in this case).
Title: Re: Need help filling up Sweetwater shopping cart
Post by: Alaboogie on August 15, 2014, 01:43:24 AM
Ah haha I should've picked up on that...yeah man I heard that too, it's a boss volume pedal. Maybe vertex is really a company that is ACTUALLY an anti-boutique company and they want us to realize that the big companies are actually underrated and need love like all the boutiquey stuff (ESPECIALLY on tgp) so they make us love stuff they put out and it ends up being a straight up ripoff...conspiracy I tell you!