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The sub 100 forum...


revolead

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Everyone always talks about expensive stuff on this forum, so I thought it'd be cool to start a thread on anything to buy for your axe, amp, recording gear, whatever, that is awesome yet sub or around $100. Lets see how this goes...

 

Give me some feedback. - Rev

Shut up and play.
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Great idea, Revolead, and Mark, you betcha.

 

Laugh if you want, but I've got (actually I got it for my daughter so she could have an amp in her room) a little Gorilla TC-35 "Tube Cruncher". Well yeah, it won't hold a candle to my Marshall TSL-122...HAHAHAHA...but for (I think) around 80 bucks, it's a killer little piece! Takes a knockin' and keeps on rockin'... :D

"Cisco Kid, was a friend of mine"
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I love my little Rolls four-channel stereo headphone amp. I got it for about $80.00, and it's sound is plenty good enough for guitar. (I use a Johnson J-Station into a Lexicon Vortex for the preamp and effects.) As the output of my Lexicon left something to be desired as far as 'phones go, it was the perfect added link in the chain for my home-playing needs.

 

When at a friend's house, we can plug into a mixer with our respective DI-gear (he uses a Boss Amp Factory for a pedal in front of an amp, and can go DI with that) and send the whole schebang to the Rolls and have separate volume controls through 'phones and jam while his kids are off to bed on a school-night! All the while with all that Pink Floyd effects kind of sound in stereo! I also have some AKG 'phones that have a built-in "enhanced" bass-response that ran me about $50.00; they definitely sound cool for guitar duty!

 

Now, neither the Rolls headphone amp nor the "budget" AKG cans are exactly "reference" grade, they have audible distortion at moderate levels and the aforementioned "tweaked" bass response, so they wouldn't do for any serious recording-monitor duties. But, for jamming and practicing, they are great!

 

By the way, is "used" gear (at the "going rates") acceptable here on this thread, Revolead? -k(nalp eht knapS)

Ask yourself- What Would Ren and Stimpy Do?

 

~ Caevan James-Michael Miller-O'Shite ~

_ ___ _ Leprechaun, Esquire _ ___ _

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Good start guys. As long as the used gear doesn't normally exceed a lot of money (like $300) I really could care less. Some of the coolest stuff is used.

I got a Boss RV-3 Digital Delay/Reverb used for 90 bucks. It was in the exact same condition as the only new RV-3 in the store (the demo pedal, go figure) and I love the thing. The delay times are perfect for anything I'll need it for and the reverb is good too. I can emulate pretty much any atmosphere from a cathedral to a garage to a bedroom.

Shut up and play.
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Some of my fave gear that I own for under $100 US:

(prices are when bought NEW)

 

-Ibanez TubeScreamer ToneLok TS7, $35

Has a HOT switch for switching between TS9 and HOT mode. Very versatile because of that, so you don't have to spend the $99 or so that a TS9 reissue would cost.

 

-Ibanez Distortion DS7, $35

Their standard distortion pedal. I would've bought a BOSS DS1, but I liked this better. Slightly fuzzier, but has a wide gain range, and good midrange punch.

 

-Jim Dunlop Crybaby wah(GCB95), $70

The standard wah wah pedal. Good enough for most of my uses, and can be easily modded for extra sounds later on for not much money.

 

-BOSS MT-2 Metal Zone, $80

This thing BURNS!!! I use this for metal, and for true death tone, I kick in my TS7 for an extra boost.

 

-Jim Dunlop/ Schaller strap locks, around $11-15

If you're even serious about playing onstage, and move around quite a bit, definitely get your instrument equipped with the strap locks. Especially important if you like to hang your geetar below the waist. I prefer the Dunlops, as it handles heavier instruments better.

 

-Fender Mini Twin amp, blackface version (about $35)

I got this for Christmas back in 1999, and use for late night practice with headphones. It's got two 1 inch speakers, headphone jack, and 9 volt adapter jack. A 9v battery can also be used, and it makes for a nice conversation piece in the living room. :)

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Hi,

 

ANY volume pedal will do for my neighbors ;););)

 

More seriously, one of these very small amps (2-5 watts), that can run on recharchable battery,

could be interesting : you attach it to your strap and can play anywhere ...

 

Bests.

 

Stan.

Love + Learning + Music = LIFE !!! (some money welcomed as well ...)
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Now, the whole tubes-vs.-SS/modeling thing aside, I think that the Johnson J-Station as a cool headphone amp/direct recording device for $149.00 (brand-spankin'-new, Scoob'!! ZOINKS!!!) is a seriously good deal right now. It may not be as cool as some newer devices or a Univalve or Hot Cat, but we're talkin' a lot of bang for the buck here! Stereo analog-tape-sounding delay, nice phaser, decent enough 'verbs... Way better than an old Rockman or Smokey (soundwise) or those Zoom jobbies were. Very responsive to your volume-control and "touch", in a very tube-like manner.

 

How about those E-Bows? Aren't they still about $80.00 or $90.00?

 

I love the wider Planet Waves straps with the extra-slidey shoulder pad. Takes some of the weight out of a Les Paul!

 

And those bell-brass, concave-flared Dunlop Harris Slides. Makes those Sonny Landreth "behind the slide fretting" tricks easier!

 

I love the old EH "Small Stone" phase shifters, too, even though they're often overpriced. But they sound cool! (And still go for under a hundred bucks at the most, don't they?)

 

Oh, and Tazzola- I couldn't agree more with you about those Straplocks, especially the Dunlops. Love'm, love'm, love'm! -k

Ask yourself- What Would Ren and Stimpy Do?

 

~ Caevan James-Michael Miller-O'Shite ~

_ ___ _ Leprechaun, Esquire _ ___ _

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How about ... STRINGS.

 

Hey CaevanO'Shite; Have you used the Johnson J-Station? I just went to their site and it sure looks cool for $150.

 

Anybody else tried the J-Station?

 

Oh yeah, also under $100, how about changing a pickup and/or coil tapping.

Gotta' geetar... got the amp. There must be SOMEthing else I... "need".
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Originally posted by Dave th Dude:

"Hey CaevanO'Shite; Have you used the Johnson J-Station? I just went to their site and it sure looks cool for $150. Anybody else tried the J-Station?"

You can read the post above that I wrote about it, or are you razzing me? I'm getting pretty oblivious to subtlety these days...

 

Yeah, I know it's a little over the hundred clams ceiling set by revolead, but I figured it was too much bang for the buck to exclude it.

 

Again, it may not be the amazing magical salvation of us all, but it is pretty cool within its limits, and extremely cool as a headphone amp for guitar. Actually, it sounds even better for bass, which is one reason I'll likely never part with it, even though I might get something better for guitar. Too many cool potential applications are possible with this cheap little unit (before they run out of'em)!

 

Oh, and speakin' of strings, I have to say again that I love DR Pure Blues pure-nickel wrap on round core wire (as opposed to hex-core), in .011's. Perfect, absolutely perfect, on a Les Paul or PRS or similar axe with humbuckers or P-90's. And, any time you can deal with putting heavier or just plain different specialized strings on your axe and setting up the intonation and neck relief and action you can dramatically improve its tone and playability.

 

One of these days, I want to try these brass-alloy coated plain strings that Thomastik-Infeld makes for acoustic sets on my Les Pauls, along with the aforementioned nickel DR's, to see if they impart still more fat warmth to the high notes... cheap R&D! -k

Ask yourself- What Would Ren and Stimpy Do?

 

~ Caevan James-Michael Miller-O'Shite ~

_ ___ _ Leprechaun, Esquire _ ___ _

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On the 7th picked up a Bad Horsie wah for $79.00 it was a display model that had made its way to the discount bin (Guitar Center) the wall wart was another $13.99 I also picked up a Steve Morse DVD (instructional) I think that was around $12.00 all together it came to $123.00

 

In middle of last month I picked up a Tone Works Pandora PX3 for a whapping $99.00 they threw in the power adapter and I picked up a really cheap pair of Sonys for about $6 from Musicians Friend

 

Yesterday I picked up a proper speaker cable for my old Randall and a 21mm heavy wall Dunlop pyrex slide I think I got out the door for a little over $13 and change.

So those calluses are supposed to be there; right?
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Marshall MXL603- A good small diaphram condenser mic for recording acoustic guitars. It has a wide cardoid pattern. A bargain at $75.

 

"Classical for Guitar" Songs by Carcassi, Sor, Carulli, Bach, Tarrega, Pachelbel, and Guiliani in standard notation and TAB. A good book for beginners, and having TAB is good for people like me who don't read music very well/fast. $7.95

 

"Frank Gambale Technique Book I". Looks at ways to solo over different chord types using diatonic scales, arpeggios, pentatonic/blues scales, and triads. It gives lots of examples and plays them on the included CD. I am only part way through the book but I already wish I had bought it years ago. $26.95

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I love bargain shopping for gear. My latest finds are;

 

A Fender Sidekick 10, it has great sound (really cool dirty distortion if you turn it up), it's small, has an internal battery pack. Paid $60.00

 

A 3/4 size Stella acoustic guitar that has great blues box tone, great for slide work as well. Paid around $30.00 plus shipping.

 

I also lust after cool guitar straps. I have never paid over $50.00 for one and I love finding a new cool strap.

 

I could go on and on and on. One of my favorite pass times is to look at the EBAY guitar section under going, going, gone listings. You can get some great stuff for cheap. One word of warning I recieved over and over again from my wife is, "You can go broke just as easy buying 10 $50.00 bargains as you can buying one $500.00 item." My reply is always, "yeah but the pile is usually a lot bigger!"

DUKBUT

"If you wish to better understand seemingly incomprehensible things, help another to better understand."

Dalai Lama

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  • 2 weeks later...
I just got my Keeley mod DS-1 in the mail the other day. It was $95, no shipping charged, and this thing rocks. Realtively natural-sounding (it is distortion), and it gets very loud and very dynamic. The asymetrical clipping really help bring out the nuances of picking and it can go from sweet to pissed-off in a few quick turns. I have yet to find a bad setting.
Shut up and play.
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How is the tone you are getting out of your modified DS 1 different from when it was stock? I mean is it totally different, but much better over all, or is it a DS 1 on steroids?

I just picked up a DS 1 (on sale $39!) Tuesday, and was thinking about getting the Keely mod done to it. But I really like the way that it sounds now, and am a bit concerned that it will turn out to be one of those things I al have done only to get it back, plug it in, and realize I should have left well enough alone.

So those calluses are supposed to be there; right?
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Originally posted by Djinn1973:

How is the tone you are getting out of your modified DS 1 different from when it was stock? I mean is it totally different, but much better over all, or is it a DS 1 on steroids?

I just picked up a DS 1 (on sale $39!) Tuesday, and was thinking about getting the Keely mod done to it. But I really like the way that it sounds now, and am a bit concerned that it will turn out to be one of those things I al have done only to get it back, plug it in, and realize I should have left well enough alone.

Here's what I did. I thought the same thing would happen so I just bought a new pedal entirely. I sounds awesome, and I'm actually going to get rid of the original DS-1. Compared to the Keeley it sounds like a bunch of insects, despite its decent tone originally.

Basically the mod cleans up all the DS-1s bad points and turns the burdens into graces. The high-gain noise is gone, w/ more gain added, the sound is more natural, and every setting sounds good. My only complaint is that any tone setting past 12 o' clock is very ear piercing and could potnetially damage your hearing, but as long as you avoid keep tone at reasonable twang level, you'll be fine.

Shut up and play.
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Mr. Dude,

 

I just was given the gift of my 5th grandchild last week. My son has my digital camera for a little while. As soon as I get it back I will post some photos.

DUKBUT

"If you wish to better understand seemingly incomprehensible things, help another to better understand."

Dalai Lama

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Earplugs... The ER-20s are inexpensive and absolutely necessary if you crank your amp:

 

http://www.etymotic.com/

 

http://www.westone.com/cgi-local/SoftCart.100.exe/online-store/scstore/p-79445.html?E+scstore

 

Cables... A good low-capacitance cable will let through more of your guitar's high-end. If it's too much, you can always roll back the presence or treble. But if the cable kills it... well, your amp can't put back what isn't there to start with.

 

I used to buy Carver Professional ToneLine cables, but the line is now marketed by Fender as their U.S. Instrument cables. I'm guessing that street price is around $25-30.

 

Picks... This is really a matter of personal preference. I happen to like picks that are heavy (for control) and have a smooth release (to minimize pick noise). I prefer the Dunlop Jazztone (not Jazz) picks.

 

EBow... About $80 new. Nice for adding a different texture for spacey segments.

 

Strings... I like to change strings after about 20 hours of playing. I buy custom-guage D'Addario sets in bulk - about $40 for ten sets.

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