How to be obscure without really trying

**New Wineskin** · 10-09-2022, 04:45 AM

Good morning/day/evening everyone.

I am new to this (or any other) forum. Being an old codger who has mainly played guitar (fingerstyle/rhythm) in my own company - excepting church worship groups - I have been toying with the idea of playing some lead work.

I cannot play chords now due to arthritis/fybromyalgia and can only play for a very short time at best. I have had to adapt playing styles and even melody notes but I still love playing. All for fun and to keep my mind alert.

I have a Yamaha APX5A modified with nylon strings and a Squier Mustang which was bought for the neck profile (very slim C), scale length (24") and cost, which I play unplugged.

Always having an interest in jazz, my thoughts turned to beginner versions of some standards and although I use both guitars for such I would like to try a hollow/semi hollow body with a neck comparable to my guitars.

I also need to keep the cost down. I have been looking mainly for Ibanez guitars, specifically AS/AG75 but I need specific information on the neck profile.

Due to other circumstances, I am unable to travel around to different parts of the country to try various models. All refernces to this on Ibanez/shopping sites are something like "AF Artcore neck" and other such obscure wording. Although the Ibanez site does give thickness at 1st an 9th frets, it does not mention the profile, eg.. C, D, V etc or whether fully rounded or slim.

I know neck styles are subjective to players but if anyone could help with a comparison of the Ibanez neck to my guitars or comment on the profile generally it would be very much appreciated. God Bless.

**Hammertone** · 10-09-2022, 04:27 PM

What about...

**mr. beaumont** · 10-10-2022, 08:46 AM

I'd play the Mustang and get a decent amp.

And listen to lots of Grant Green.

**New Wineskin** · 10-10-2022, 01:13 PM

Thank you Hammertone. I do use slide in open D tuning on another Electro - Acoustic Yamaha (APX700II), steel strung which is left in D tuning. I was really looking to play some lead as well. Thank you for considering my post. God Bless.

**New Wineskin** · 10-10-2022, 01:28 PM

Thank you mr beaumont for your input. Any recommendations for bedroom use amp which is cost friendly? God Bless.

**mr. beaumont** · 10-10-2022, 01:31 PM

Originally Posted by New Wineskin

Thank you mr beaumont for your input. Any recommendations for bedroom use amp which is cost friendly? God Bless.

Roland Microcube, or a Yamaha THR.

**New Wineskin** · 10-10-2022, 05:29 PM

Thank you for your input, mr beaumont. Much appreciated.God bless.

**rlrhett** · 10-10-2022, 09:42 PM

I have the micro cube and the positive grid spark. Both are great living room amps. The spark is a slight nudge above in power, features, and sound. OTOH I bought the Spark because I couldn’t find a Micro Cube in stock anywhere. I would have happily bought a second Micro Cube. Glad I got the Spark, but it’s a bit more expensive.

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**pauln** · 10-11-2022, 01:15 AM

I have the AG75 (old one for over 15 years) and I would describe the neck shape as a skinny "D", very little thickness, 24" short scale, easy to play - neck is much easier and thinner than my Stratocaster.

I have a MicroCube as well; I use it as a backup amp as the line OUT is very high quality, so if I ever have an amp failure on stage I can send the line out directly to the console. The line OUT may be used for recording or headphones.
It also has a line IN so that you can connect a music source (CD, internet/computer) with which you may play along.

The MicroCube is a modeling amp, very easy to use, just knobs, no menus or programming.
Tuner
Volume
Tone
Gain
Amp models
- Acoustic
- JC Clean (Roland)
- Black Panel (Fender)
- Brit Combo (Vox)
- Classic (Marshall)
- R-Fier (Mesa Boogie)
- Microphone
Effects
- chorus
- flange
- phase
- tremolo
- reverb
- delay

Welcome to the forum!

How to be obscure without really trying-cube-jpg

How to be obscure without really trying-cube-jpg

edit... Looks like the new ones have added an additional knob.

**New Wineskin** · 10-11-2022, 02:23 PM

I am much obliged to you for your comments rlrhett. God bless.

**New Wineskin** · 10-11-2022, 02:40 PM

Thank you very much for taking the time to consider and submit such a detailed response, pauln. It has provided much food for thought; the Micro Cube (as also mentioned by rlrhett and mr. beaumont) must be worth serious scrutiny. Being unused to amplifiers would you mind suggesting amp settings for a hollowbody guitar such as yours. Your comments on the older AG75 are most helpful and encouraging. As a newbie, I appreciate your greeting. God bless you.

**mr. beaumont** · 10-11-2022, 02:51 PM

For the Cube-- and really any modeling amp, I like to take an amp model that has a little bit of grit to it, then run the gain low and volume high.

So for the Cube, I really like the Vox channel, I set the gain so that the very hardest notes I hit have just a little breakup, then set the volume from there. If I nned it a little cleaner, I'll run the guitar volume not quite all the way open.

**rlrhett** · 10-11-2022, 05:57 PM

I second MrB. I generally use the “black panel” setting with just enough gain to give it a bit of growl if I dig in, and no more.

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**guavajelly** · 10-11-2022, 11:26 PM

I liked my AG75 a lot – so I gave it to my best friend when I eventually got a GB. I would not describe the neck as skinny but overall it's a very comfortable instrument, well rounded neck profile, I think C could describe it.
Since I have a frozen shoulder syndrome and also arthritis a slimline is much more comfortable for me then a full depth archtop. AGs and GBs fall in between.

**Doctor Jeff** · 10-12-2022, 08:12 AM

As far as guitars, I have no experience with the Ibanez, but most people seem to like them. To me most Asian-made guitars have a similar neck profile, and I haven’t found one that wasn’t tolerable for my fat fingers.

This is where I put in my obligatory plug for the Godin Kingpin as being one of the most ergonomic guitars out there. With the neck profile, 16” radius and chamfered fretboard edge it is great for playing chord melody.

I have a microcube also. It is a great little amp. I put batteries in it when I got it about 8-9 months ago, and haven’t had to replace them or plug it in once.

Decent volume. I take it for jam sessions at a friend’s. However, it doesn’t quite have the volume and tone of a larger amp such as the Fender SCXD or Fishman Artist, and I would be frustrated if there were a drummer. But for being grab and go…it’s unbeatable. Just throw my 175 in the passenger’s seat of the ‘vert and put the Microcube in the trunk, and you’re good to go.

Lately I have been enjoying my Epiphone Valve Jr. It’s a one-trick pony (one knob pony) but what a trick. It gets that warm thunky fat sound better than any other amp I have right now. No reverb, so I put a Holy Grail nano in front of it, which mellows it out even more. For bedroom playing this amp is great.

**Liarspoker** · 10-12-2022, 04:17 PM

I often busk with my Ibanez AFJ85 into a Microcube. The amount of people that have said that it sounds great is unreal!

In fact I like the Microcube so much that I went and bought a second in case the first stops working (as you can see in the photo below).

Also I recently bought an Ibanez AS93 and love it. Those Artcore guitars are great value for money.

How to be obscure without really trying-img20221012211426-jpg

How to be obscure without really trying-img20221012211426-jpg

**New Wineskin** · 10-15-2022, 12:28 PM

Thank you mr.beaumont, rlrhett, guavajelly, Doctor Jeff and Liarspoker. The amp info is very helpful. I think I have decided on the Micro Cube. Your input is much appreciated. God's blessings on all.

**mr. beaumont** · 10-16-2022, 09:58 AM

Originally Posted by New Wineskin

Thank you mr.beaumont, rlrhett, guavajelly, Doctor Jeff and Liarspoker. The amp info is very helpful. I think I have decided on the Micro Cube. Your input is much appreciated. God's blessings on all.

Cool! When you get it, let me know if you're having any issues dialing it in. They're a really surprising little device...sounds much better than something that small "should."

**doc w** · 10-16-2022, 12:40 PM

Hammertone, what is that thing you posted? I can't find the appropriate smiley but if I could, it would be WTF.

**pauln** · 10-16-2022, 01:21 PM

Originally Posted by doc w

Hammertone, what is that thing you posted? I can't find the appropriate smiley but if I could, it would be WTF.

The images are large; think of them as small enough to slip over your left hand third finger...

**Cunamara** · 10-16-2022, 02:41 PM

The pictures make them look large enough to slip up somebody's head in a dark alley.

**New Wineskin** · 10-16-2022, 03:13 PM

Thank you for your offer of help, mr beaumont and for putting me onto Grant Green to whom I have been listening these last few days. I think I have played Besame Mucho at least 20 times. I love the simplicity until he breaks out into the solo! What a player. Also a couple of bends in there.That tune reminds me of a classical piece by Francisco Terraga - Capricho Arabe. Just gotta find the right guitar now which may now need to include a Bigsby for bends (only Gretsch seem to have a variety of hollow bodies with VB but I am not keen on the neck profiles mentioned in the reviews). God bless and stay safe. NW.