Messages

Congrats!  I thought from the thread name that you'd bought a new bass.   

Me, too.  Obviously this is much better.   

I don't bother watching the listings of Japanese sellers anymore.  I don't think they will ever get caught because nobody will ever buy their items.

I've seen this many times.  I own a 1968 Guild Starfire V, so I follow vintage Starfires (all models) on eBay just to keep track of the value.  Depending on the specific model and assuming good condition or better, they should sell for $1200 - $2000.  A legitimate retailer might ask as high as $2500, but they won't get it.  For them it is a starting point to cut a deal or take a trade.

These Japanese sellers list them for between $3200 and $4200 - 2 or 3 times the value.  The same guitar (they foolishly show photos of the serial numbers!!!) can be simultaneously listed by 3 or 4 sellers.  It never occurred to me that they were brokers, I guess that makes sense.

Nice builds, Mike!

Nice build and demo, Mike!

Barry sells these over at GuitarPCB (http://www.guitarpcb.com/apps/webstore/products/show/6644498):

[Ibanez Collectors World]

Since the late 90s I have owned 5 or 6 Ibanez guitars that date from 1974 – 1983 (I still own 2).  After I bought my second in 2001, I discovered a web site called Ibanez Collectors World .  It has been in existence since the late-90s and has information on all models, including specs, scanned brochures, years made, serial numbers, etc.  There are discussion forums, buy/sell/trade, show your collections – all the stuff you'd expect.  I know there were other Ibanez collector sites, and there were 1 or 2 for vintage Aria instruments (I also owned a mid-70s Aria bass until a year or 2 ago.  I think sites like this were a factor in creating the lawsuit mystique.

Several of the ICW site members were AVID collectors.  I used to track sales of some models on eBay and there were a couple of collectors who seemed to win all the auctions – at least for the nicer guitars.  I corresponded with one of these collectors about possibly purchasing one of his guitars, and he revealed that he had over 200 in his collection!!!  That might sound foolish, but they were affordable and increasing in value.  I made money on all of the ones I sold.

I was most interested in their original designs – primarily the Musician series and the AM-2xx series, but I did own a copy of an ES-175.  I never actually played an original Gibson so I can't compare them, but it was quite a nice sounding and playing guitar.

---- Edited to fix the link ----

Nice work!  Whose PCB is that?

Stunning etch!

[one of these]

I recently got one of these at a local electronics store for $40.  I'm really happy with it.  I can mount the PCB on this holder and the lighted magnifier extends over it.

I'm stunned.   

Thanks for all the suggestions.  I'll be presenting the options to Al's wife later this week.

[these]

I use cups like these - they're basically disposable drinking cups.

I don't think I ever had bubbles appear so long after a pour.

[Peavey Vypyr VIP 1]

I did a search for the Vox nutube and a few clicks later I found this Peavey Vypyr VIP 1, 20-watt 1x8".  From the description it seems to fit the requirements perfectly.  And the user reviews are great.  Peavey also makes a 40-watt 1x12" and a 100-watt 1x12 in the same series.

Anyone know anything about this line?

[wouldn't]

Yup, my situation is similar.  I have a 500w Fender class D and a 12" & 15" bass cab.  I used to own a GK bass combo.  My acoustic is from the early 70s, so no pickup.

I don't see why it wouldn't work, but I wonder if it might need built in EQ to tame the bass frequencies.  Or maybe an acoustic preamp pedal.

My friend Al's wife asked me to help her choose an amp to get Al for Father's Day.  She wants something he can use for both acoustic guitar and bass.  Al doesn't perform any more, so it will only be used at home, or on rare occasions to play with a friend.  They live in an apartment so size is a factor.

I was thinking that a small, Class D combo bass amp might be the right choice.  They are manageable from a size & weight standpoint, but I don't know how an acoustic guitar will sound through one.

Does anyone have any experience with this?  Is this the right way to go?  Any other suggestions?

Thanks!