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So now the VOX VT80+ is sitting here in the rec room, and I've had a blast with it this evening. I ended up setting it alongside the Fender Mustang III at the local Long & McQuade's shop, and went back and forth for a while to compare. To my ear, the Mustang just sounded "thin" in comparison. Another unexpected bonus is the adjustable power level on the VOX. It can be adjusted way down, so that all of the effects / tones / models sound just as good at a lower volume. The Mustang really died off when the volume was turned down. The VOX was about $50 more moolah, but well worth it IMHO.
As a side note, it has a surprisingly realistic acoustic guitar mode. It was cool to play right through Led Zeppelin's "Over the Hills and Far Away" using the foot switch to go back and forth from acoustic to electric. New friends are great to find!
Thanks to you all for the opinions ... it all helps.
Another Spock classic is the campfire scene in one of the films. After a semi-drunk McCoy and Kirk tried to get him to join in with "Row, Row, Row Your Boat", Spock says:
"Were we having a good time?"
Well BGD, you're definitely right about those four ... wow! I'm not really into blues, so wasn't aware of those (thanks for the effort!).
The covers I mainly had in mind are more from the classic rock / prog rock scene, and most of the ones I can recall are awful. I've heard a few versions of some Jethro Tull tunes, and they don't work at all. And I had just heard the Bare Naked Ladies version of Bruce Cockburn's "Lovers in a Dangerous Time", and that's what prompted my question ... it's terrible. BNL are a band I usually like a lot, and most of their original stuff is great.
And EasyBeat, you're right about Cocker ("I Get by With a Little Help From my Friends").
I'm glad I asked the question, and would love to hear some more examples.
Notwithstanding the notion of paying tribute to a great song, can anyone out there think of a single cover song that's as good as (let alone better than) the original? There a few respectable ones, i.e, Heart's cover of Led Zeppelin's "The Battle of Evermore", and the Aussie Pink Floyd Show is a decent cover band for Pink Floyd. Beyond that, most covers absolutely make me cringe.
Thoughts and opinions?
In 2003, the Stones did a benefit concert in Toronto to help raise relief money for the S.A.R.S. epidemic at the time. There was this great cartoon done of Mick & Keith as caricatures, highlighting how unhealthy and anemic they both look. Keith turns to Mick and says, "Isn't it a gas that we're here promoting health care?" They are indeed a haggard looking pair. Keith reminds me of what a mummy might look like when unwrapped 
That thing's dressed-up for night out ... great looking guitar, Beamer. It's probably because I'm Canadian, but this style of Kramer headstock always reminded me of a hockey stick. I also like the look (and sound) of some of the PRS guitars. Their bird inlays in their fretboards are very cool looking.
Fire Art ... nicely done on restoring your guitar to a playable state! When I did my old Norman last year, I felt 10' tall when it was re-strung and sounding great again. I suppose the field of guitar repair is the only place where being called a "nut job" is a compliment. Congratulations!
Turned 55 this past November, and have been playing guitar for about 45 years. Before the children were grown, there were long spells where the case never opened. Now that they're grown up and no longer home on the payroll, there's lots of time to enjoy.
I've got along very well with my EPI. They're making a decent quality guitar, and the lower off-shore labour costs put them in our shops for a very good price.
Well put, Beamer ... if it fits, it fits.
I noticed that Ibanez is also using a lot of that H-S-H pickup configuration on their S-Series guitars, with the 5-way switch you describe. I'll bet it gives you a whole range of sounds without touching your amp or a pedals. The Kramer Striker is a cool looking axe, and they appear to be excellent value for the money.
Fortunately, the field has broadened a bit in recent years. At one time, a person bought Gibson / clones if they wanted the humbucking sound, or Fender / clones if they liked the single coil sound. A number of manufacturers are now making very good instruments with coil-tapping pickups, so one can get the best of both worlds in one guitar. This feature isn't quite as good as either of the purebred HB's or SC, but they are still quite good.
It's also worth noting that some of the off-shore clones have gotten quite good, with Squier (Fender) and Epiphone (Gibson) being very reasonable and affordable facsimiles of the parent company. My EP Les Paul Custom Pro has their new ProBucker pickups w/ coil tapping, and I really like them ... a lot hotter and not nearly as muddy as their previous humbuckers. Other serious contenders like PRS and Ibanez are also building high-quality and innovative instruments.
It all comes down to a person's sound preference, and more importantly the feel (ergonomics) of the instrument in your hands.
Thanks for the opinions, ladies & gentlemen ...
Everyone has their reasons for liking or disliking an amp, so I do appreciate everyone being candid. With a preference for cleaner tones (modified or otherwise) the VOX has a warmth to it that the others don't. As soon as I plugged into it and started with a few Dire Straits tunes, that warmth stood right out. And when I poured on the syrup (reverb + delay + phaser, like Pink Floyd's "Breathe") it really shined (shone?). The VOX uses a 12AX7 tube in the power stage, so that's likely why ... the other two are 100% electronic.
A few of the on-line reviews about the VOX mentioned a humming problem in some instances, which was covered by warranty and replaced. It would seem to be an isolated happenstance, so no worries.
Thanks again; the choice is becoming clearer.
I've got three firsts as I recall them:
1) Classical - "Angels We Have Heard on High" (good scales exercise)
2) Acoustic - "After the Gold Rush" (Neil Young)
3) Electric - "Space Truckin" (Deep Purple)
I've been considering purchasing a modelling amp for home use and a bit of jamming, and have been watching a ton of YouTube stuff, reading reviews, trying them out, etc. The three I've narrowed things down to are:
1) VOX Valvetronix VT80+
2) Fender Mustang III
3) Line 6 Spider IV 75
I know these are really just "toys" and not for serious performance (don't do that anyway) and my preference is the VOX at this point. My question for the "Chordie Universe" is whether or not any of you own / have owned one of these, and how they've stood up, handled, sounded, etc. Nobody's getting a commission or an endorsement deal here, so please just tell me what you think.
Thanks in advance!
Best invention ever?
PEANUT BUTTER !!!
There are NO contenders ..............
Understood & agreed;
Like another thread about great groups that no one's heard of, there's lots of great (and arguably, better) stuff just off the beaten path. The chappie doing the demos for the GODIN Multiac's is Benjamin Woods. I believe he originally hails from Seattle but now lives in L.A. Guitarists with skills like this make me want to take up knitting
When I bought my Larrivee last year, I was comparing it to a couple of slightly higher priced Taylor's. I know the Larrivee's are Canadian-made (Vancouver) but I didn't decide on it to be patriotic ... it just sounded and played better.
Sounds like a great adventure you're on, BGD ...
May I suggest that you look at the family of GODIN Multiac's at this site?
http://www.godinguitars.com/godinmultseriesp.htm
I have two guitars from the Godin family of companies (Norman, LaPatrie) and they are very high quality. There are several videos on their site demonstrating these, and they've been at a while with a lot of selection and experience.
Always fun scouting out a new instrument, eh?
Thanks for the welcome, Topdown;
The favorite will always be Jethro Tull, and their tune that I'd like to depart from this earth to would be "Life's a Long Song".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QE8YLPHZImw
An almost unknown guitarist I enjoy is Austrian Bernhard Beidl, who currently tours & records with Tangerine Dream. I've mentioned him to a lot of guitarists and no one's ever heard of him. Although TD are primarily thought of as an electronic group, check out one of Beidl's solos in this clip (1:40 - 2:50) recorded live in Zurich last Spring:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vm8owI2y … ure=relmfu
He's playing an Ibanez "S-series" or "RGA-series", with 7 strings .... the thing really growls! Another terrific guitarist is Croatian Zlatko Perica who also toured & recorded with TD. I'm convinced that there's a lot more talent out there than the select few that the mainstream media publicizes, and ... many of them likely prefer it that way!
Hello, Tel ...
I've also been playing a while (about 45 yrs) and am primarily an acoustic player also. What you describe is my same experience, so I suppose it's some consolation to find someone else having the same aggravation. When I pick up the electric, I find myself doing exactly as you describe. I've checked the intonation with a tuner, and everything's fine on my four guitars.
I think it's because acoustic strings are typically heavier than electrics, so we've simply become accustomed to using a firmer grip. For example, a set of "light" acoustic strings typically ranges from .012 >>> .053, whereas a "light" electric set would go .010 >>> .046. Acoustics generally have a bit higher action also, so we habitually squeeze harder for a bit more sustain ... could be another contributing factor. Perhaps in a few more years, the the onset of age-related arthritis will intervene, and our troubles will be solved (hahaha).
Hard to pick "best" bands without lining up a bunch of measuring sticks like overall skill level, cohesiveness, inventiveness, longevity, financial success, etc., etc., etc. Personally, I can't get below ten personal favorites (not in any particular order)
1) Jethro Tull
2) Pink Floyd
3) Steely Dan
4) Yes
5) Genesis
6) Beatles
7) Wishbone Ash
8) Rush
9) Led Zeppelin
10) Tangerine Dream
These groups all have / had long and successful careers doing their music in their way, without flopping around trying the please the critics. Funny thing, half of this list could be different on another day.
That never crossed my mind ... thanks for the info. I've got fairly new ones on right now, but I'll use the tuner and keep an eye on things in due course.
Hear ya loud & clear BGD ... it's amazing how the gradual deterioration of sound goes so easily unnoticed.
With an electric, I wonder if the buildup of crud in the wound strings affects the way they interact with the pickup's magnets to any degree? With an acoustic, it simply affects their resonance. But since everything's magnetic with the electric, it seems like it must interfere with the magnetic field somehow. Any thoughts?
Regarding string changing frequency, I've heard it recommended to let the low E string be the guide. As it's the heaviest, it will typically begin to sound "dead" before the others. Wiping them down with a microfiber cloth after playing is the single easiest and most inexpensive habit to extend string life. Using coated strings definitely helps extend life (personal preference is for Elixir NanoWeb's over D'Addario EXP's). As my acoustics generally get played much more than the electric, they get changed every 6 weeks or so; whereas the electric will be at 3-4 month intervals. Nothing sounds better than a fresh set of strings, so changing more often is a small price to pay for extra brightness and sustain.
I personally find B difficult if played the orthodox way, because my hands are proportionate to my 6'4" - 250 lb frame. They're not like Chris Squire's or anything (bassist for "Yes") but cramming 3 fingers next to each other on the fret board is only possible on my classical (2" wide @ the nut). As a number have suggested, reconfiguring ones fingers is sometimes the only solution. For A and B, I now invert the knuckle of the middle finger to cover the D and G strings, and then put the ring finger on the B to complete the shape.
The opening instrumental section of "Blood on the Rooftops" (Genesis) also contains a couple of odd / difficult ones which aren't any charts I've seen. A combination of practice and experimenting with which fingers to use will eventually solve any of them.
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