The Builder's Bench

Playing live and getting the best sound from the...

Nervous NGD x2

Bill Frisell - Moon River on 1958 Bigsby

StewMac Alnico II Neck Gold Humbucker $70

Shift Line Twin MkIIIs tube preamp/DI/headphone...

Here are a couple of things I tried this afternoon. 1. I actually could not identify the 12AX7 that came with the amp, though it definitely sounded good. The EL34 is a TAD Redbase, and it seems...

Koch Little Gristle - Killer amp for intensive daily use in (and out) of jazz

My action is certainly more than that, so if your action at the nut is OK to there doesn't seem to be much reason for a neck reset!

Giving the Loar some love - new saddle

Well, I'm not so sure that even the heaviest of jazz guitar players and composers really "recognise" every tone in a chord. At least that I ever played with. They've just got a lot of experience...

Holy ****, my (musical) ears are bad

My basic action height adjustment is 2.0mm for the high E and 2.5mm for the low E. That's the starting point, the final height depends on many factors of the guitar, the strings, the player, the...

Action height for acoustic fingerstyle archtop?

I have decided to sell the Sienna Burst Sadowky Frank Vignola that I bought. I've decided that Ilike nitro lacquered guitars. The FV is similar to an SS-15...but it has two pickups instead of one but...

Sadowsky SS15 or Jimmy Bruno

The guitar arrived. The guitar was stripped of strings and padding was put around the tailpiece and under the pickguard. FedEx did the rest and checked the guitar. It arrived the next day at...

Incoming a second time: Heritage Johnny Smith

As it happens my bridge on the high e is less less 20mm but more than 19! Action is 1.7mm. So not too bad.

Giving the Loar some love - new saddle

I look forward to hearing more your stuff.

Chet Baker - Let's Get Lost, Guitar Solo Transcription

Yes I think it's in C! I didn't saw transcriptions, I learned by ear but I should start to write them...! I don't have enough time and patience to write them properly... But transcribing solos or...

Chet Baker - Let's Get Lost, Guitar Solo Transcription

I posted Poinciana which, ironically, is one of the few Bruno performances to make an impression. But I do see your point. Barney had so much feeling, swing, texture, personality and guitaristic...

Barney Kessel Appreciation Thread

I try to position the amp so i can hear it, because unless properly miked it will sound worse through the PA. Also i talk to the sound guy if needed, usually in jazz they might cut the treble and...

Playing live and getting the best sound from the guitar

Yeah, I think I measured about 20mm under the 1st string (down to the top) just in front of the bridge. I'd thought that I could measure there, tweak the trussrod and then lower the saddle to keep...

Giving the Loar some love - new saddle

Sir, this is too many of the bars... I'm going to need you to go back and edit out anything about bars 5 through 32. Kidding, but I am glad to hear I'll get Back Home Again in Indiana out of this...

Bebop heads: Donna Lee

I used to have one of those 2355’s (Ibanez badged) back at college/Uni. They are solid guitars with bags of mojo. My passion for archtops really kicked off after buying one. Cheap, fun and look the...

Nervous NGD x2

Probably your best bet today is to do a deep dive into what Roland is offering for guitar synthesizers- they have several. They seem to track well, and the latest ones work with any conventional...

McLaughlin sound here

How to play over Min7b5 (half diminished) chords, Gibson 175, FractalAudio

Anyone handled the new Epis?

Who's Your Favorite Bass Player?

Incoming 1968 Gibson Johnny Smith

Aint Misbehavin chord meldy theory help

Nylon Stringed Electrics?

Dorian b5 and Mixolydian b9 scales. Why not?

Benedetto Bravo Deluxe or Gibson WesMo Crimson

What are your rules when having to criticise?

New appreciation for Steely Dan

Ibanez GB10 vs Gibson L4CES over Doxy - which do you like better?

Help, this theory question is blowing my mind

Passing chord C --> Em7