Make some noise! The musical instrument thread!

Grant Lamontagne · **on:** February 24, 2019, 04:17:38 PM

At least two lifetimes ago I thought I was a musician. I collected guitars, basses amps and the occasional keyboard. I was at one point even accepted to the Luthier course at the Atlanta Institute of Music, which is (or was at the time at least) an extremely selective course, and almost all of their graduates were employed by Gibson, Fender or some of the other big names. Others have started their own guitar companies and many of them have also been successful. Alas, I fell on hard times, sold most of my guitars, amps and basses and never really looked them again.

Until now.

After all these years here is what I have left- I have lugged these guitars around the country on several moves over the past 20 years, without even opening the cases to see if they were intact.

First up is my 12 string acoustic, the only guitar I ever bought new:

It's an El Degas 12 string full size (dreadnaught) that I stuck a temporary tattoo on, although I don't know if it can still be called a temporary tattoo since it's been on there for over 20 years. Maybe temporary in geological terms?

I love the rich, full sound on this monster, but boy is it a pain to tune, and murder on the fingers!

It's a Korean made MT5- not a high end instrument by any stretch of the imagination, but it had a beautiful sound and I was drawn to it immediately. As much as I love it, it will be staying in the case for a while longer while I re-learn to play. Or, considering my level of skill 20 years ago, maybe it's just "learn" to play, since I was so terrible before.

I will start with my only remaining electric guitar, the one I always call The Brain.

It's called The Brain because for years it had a sticker of The Brain on the headstock.

It is also quite dangerous like Brain, but I'll get to that in a minute. It is a cheapo Jackson copy that has lead a rough (very rough) life. I bought it from a guy I went to high school with- he wanted to give it to me but that felt wrong so I bought it for the princely sum of $5. I gave him the money and he said he would drop it off at my place some time.

Months went by and I totally forgot about it, until one day I asked him about it. He said he had put it on my back porch a couple of days after I bought it, and I insisted that it wasn't there. After much back and forth, it appeared that he had left it on the back porch of my neighbor's house. That neighbor had been away for a few weeks, and when they came hoe they found this guitar that had been left out in the weather, and they put it in their basement!

I finally got the guitar, and it was in rough shape- someone had taken a hacksaw to the body (now filled with grey filler putty) and all of the electrics needed to be replaced, which I did. I "made" a pick guard out of static cling on doodads stolen from sunglasses and scrounched one pot coder for it.

I found a case that fit it (more or less) and that is where it has lived for the last 20 years. Even before the last two decades of neglect it has been hazardous to play- the fingerboard is extremely worn out and the fret wires stick up a little bit in places which have a nasty habit of biting fingers. Even so, this is the one I am going to practice on for a little while, mostly because it is easier to play than my 12 string, and a hell of a lot quieter, which is something I am sure my neighbors will appreciate!

I have just ordered new strings for The Brain, and should I ever want to plug it in I am pretty sure that it will need new electronics too. The pickups are pretty badly rusted, but rebuilding it will be fun too- if and when I get that far with it.

That's what I've got- let's see yours!

Def

Grant Lamontagne · **Reply #1 on:** February 25, 2019, 11:58:57 AM

No one here has a guitar, bass, keyboard, drums, oboe, saxophone or kazoo?

Def

SteveC · **Reply #2 on:** February 25, 2019, 02:13:58 PM

I have a few guitars , I've been playing since I was a teenager and have been in a few bands over the years. I'll post some pictures in a bit.

Greg Jones · **Reply #3 on:** February 25, 2019, 02:25:20 PM

I can add to the not able to play theme

I took a few lessons with the ukulele and can string enough cords together to entertain myself, nothing recognizable as an existing song though

We bought 2 of the Yamaha acoustics one Christmas for our daughters, neither live with us now, and my youngest abandoned this one, I keep it out on a stand thinking if I can reach for it I actually might

And then the Epiphone Les Paul Special, that I bought for myself, it's been played by friends who can, so I know the notes are in it, I just can't find them.

SteveC · **Reply #4 on:** February 25, 2019, 03:28:02 PM

First up is my pride and joy , a 2003 Martin D-18.

Next up is a 2001 Epiphone Masterbilt.

I only have one electric these days .
It's classic Vibe 50's Telecaster with some mods.

Last is my latest which I got last year. It's a smaller body Ibanez Artwood Orchestra model which is easier on my bad shoulder than my Dreadnoughts.

A little taste of how my D-18 sounds

-

magentus · **Reply #5 on:** February 25, 2019, 04:34:48 PM

Sweet Tele Steve

Here's a band picture of my Tele Thinline from back in the day

CallsignBadger · **Reply #6 on:** February 25, 2019, 05:18:35 PM

I’ve done symphonic percussion and play the kit quite a bit

I used to be big into guitar, had a nice Strat that I played with a good friend, but found drumming to be my true love

I play a lot on a shared Mapex drumset, but my personal one is a cheapo PDP just to practice on

I’ll post pics when I can

Reinier · **Reply #7 on:** February 25, 2019, 06:44:07 PM

Quote from: Grant Lamontagne on February 25, 2019, 11:58:57 AM

No one here has a guitar, bass, keyboard, drums, oboe, saxophone or kazoo?

Def

Here maybe? https://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,65075.0.html

ducttapetech · **Reply #8 on:** February 28, 2019, 02:38:36 AM

Quote from: Grant Lamontagne on February 25, 2019, 11:58:57 AM

No one here has a guitar, bass, keyboard, drums, oboe, saxophone or kazoo?

Def

Drummer myself. I have a old set of Ludwigs I play sometimes.

Grant Lamontagne · **Reply #9 on:** February 28, 2019, 12:37:53 PM

Quote from: SteveC on February 25, 2019, 03:28:02 PM

First up is my pride and joy , a 2003 Martin D-18.

Next up is a 2001 Epiphone Masterbilt.

I only have one electric these days .
It's classic Vibe 50's Telecaster with some mods.

Last is my latest which I got last year. It's a smaller body Ibanez Artwood Orchestra model which is easier on my bad shoulder than my Dreadnoughts.

A little taste of how my D-18 sounds

-

That Martin sounds beautiful!

Also, I am loving the Bandit 65. My first amp was a Peavey Bandit 75 and I also had a Peavey Austin 400.

I wasn't very good, but at least I was LOUD!

Def

magentus · **Reply #10 on:** February 28, 2019, 12:42:07 PM

Another

for the Peavy Bandit. Gigged with one for years until it was nicked from my car and then I bought the latest version (at the time) with the insurance money.

SteveC · **Reply #11 on:** February 28, 2019, 03:08:55 PM

The Bandit is a true workhorse, it was my first real amp. I gigged with it for a few years and then upgraded to a Renown 400 with 2 12"s. Just cause biggers better

I moved on to tube amps for years but I was always nonstagic for that Bandit so I picked one up a while back and slowly sold off all my other tube amps. I don't gig anymore and the Bandit is more than good enough for noodling in the basement. If I ever have a gig come up it will more than do the job !

SteveC · **Reply #12 on:** February 28, 2019, 03:14:33 PM

Here's a little demo I did after I cleaned up and renovated my Bandit. I had to replace some bad OP amps and put a new speaker in it and clean all the pots and jacks.

Grant Lamontagne · **Reply #13 on:** February 28, 2019, 03:30:18 PM

Man, there is nothing like a good old spring box reverb, at least until someone bumps into your amp!

You have me drooling man- there's an old Peavey Audition on Facebook Marketplace right now for the princely sum of $30 and I am having a hard time ignoring it!

Peavey used to be the amateur brand, what you had until you could upgrade to a Mesa Boogie or Marshall, but I have to say that I always loved the classic, bright sound of the Peaveys. I have only ever had one Marshall, and it was the Mini Stack:

It was powered by a 9V battery, and my father has it now for the occasional time he pulls out his Hofner Strat. I used to use it as an effects pedal, and get that Marshall overdrive sound (sort of) through my Bandit and man it sounded cool.

Def

SteveC · **Reply #14 on:** February 28, 2019, 03:52:05 PM

I remember those little Marshalls . My buddy had one for late night practice, not exactly a tone machine

SteveC · **Reply #15 on:** February 28, 2019, 04:10:20 PM

Found some old band shots featuring the Bandit and a 19 year old me

ca. 1986

magentus · **Reply #16 on:** February 28, 2019, 04:33:54 PM

Brad Delp?

CallsignBadger · **Reply #17 on:** February 28, 2019, 04:50:38 PM

SteveC · **Reply #18 on:** February 28, 2019, 04:50:55 PM

Or a young Lyndsey Buckinham

Another #tbt pic from around
1987

CallsignBadger · **Reply #19 on:** February 28, 2019, 04:52:29 PM

Fun times

magentus · **Reply #20 on:** February 28, 2019, 04:54:54 PM

Quote from: SteveC on February 28, 2019, 04:50:55 PM

Or a young Lyndsey Buckinham

Another #tbt pic from around
1987

Yes! You could've scored a date with Stevie Nicks with that look Steve.

Fuzzbucket · **Reply #21 on:** February 28, 2019, 05:01:50 PM

Loving you, isn't the right thing to do doof doof doof-doof doof...

By the way, I don't think you had to do all that much to score with Stevie Nicks... just being in the same room probably would've done it... then, not now of course... she looks pretty angry these days... oof.

Fuzzbucket · **Reply #22 on:** February 28, 2019, 05:04:30 PM

I've just realised, Stevey if you were to hook up with Nix, musically that is, you could call your partnership Stevey-Nix!

You two can have that one on me.

SteveC · **Reply #23 on:** February 28, 2019, 05:16:36 PM

magentus · **Reply #24 on:** February 28, 2019, 05:37:02 PM

Quote from: Fuzzbucket on February 28, 2019, 05:04:30 PM

I've just realised, Stevey if you were to hook up with Nix, musically that is, you could call your partnership Stevey-Nix!

You two can have that one on me.

That right there is why I love you fuzzy

CallsignBadger · **Reply #25 on:** February 28, 2019, 09:44:11 PM

Good one

Syncop8r · **Reply #26 on:** March 01, 2019, 08:54:38 PM

That one's going straight to the Pool Room Fuzzy.

Steve - maybe you could start a band with Nix?

Syncop8r · **Reply #27 on:** June 18, 2019, 09:49:22 PM

I just acquired a nearly finished project quite cheap... a Fender Squier Stratocaster body with a replacement neck.

Grant Lamontagne · **Reply #28 on:** June 19, 2019, 05:52:32 PM

Nice!

Looks pretty complete to me though. What's left that needs doing on it?

Def

Syncop8r · **Reply #29 on:** June 19, 2019, 09:59:07 PM

I need:
- Pickguard screws
- Output jack and surround
- Screws and springs to mount the humbucker
- Strap button
- Tremelo arm

Strings I have already bought.
The humbucker and jack need to be soldered in.
Hopefully that's it.

Hello Lurker! Remove this ad and much more by logging in.

Make some noise! The musical instrument thread!

Donations

Community Links