Behringer UMC1820 - date slips again - now 2015?

Looks like the Behringer UMC1820 interface release date has slipped once more.

Are we now looking at end Dec 2014 / Jan 2015 release date? 

Probably ................... yes !

Helping with a Build your own Guitar project - Cheapcaster // Telecaster style kit - PART 3

As promised from PART 2 of the "Helping to Build a Guitar PROJECT"..

Here are some quick photographs of the FINISHED guitar.  (I'll upload some better pictures once I get them!).  In the 'flesh' - the wood tone looks different to these pictures.  The photos don't really do it justice.

Finished guitar

Ash Burl Veneer TOP with BLACK binding
to compliment the black 3-ply Pickguard (sits flush with Control Plate)

Wilkinson Ashtray Style bridge with BRASS Compensated Saddles
(3 x 2 string pairs - a'la Fender Vintage)

Liberon Finishing Oil
With 'donor' machine heads / tuners from my
Yamaha

Helping with a Build your own Guitar project - Cheapcaster // Telecaster style kit - PART 2

OK.......... you've seen the kit as shown in PART 1, right?

I won't go into the woodworking / finishing details (unless relevant);  it is EXPECTED that you will need to spend a LOT of time on sanding, colouring and finishing.  

For this particular build - my dad decided to avoid the Nitro / Poly finishes - and go down the route of wood dyes, stains and varnishes.  If you have ever used aerosol based lacquers / varnishes - you'll know that a) it gets everywhere - and b) you need a decent face mask so you don't breath the stuff in.  

For the bulk of the woodwork - he used Liberon Finishing Oil.  This is available easily in the UK and offers a natural finish with a good level of protection.  Liberon Finishing Oil seems to be a firm favourite of luthiers and guitar builders in Europe.  

Oils / varnishes are generally easier to apply - as you can put them on with a brush or rag.  No MASKS or spraying booths were required !

Kit Quality - Good and Bad

Woodworking aside - let's examine the good points and the bad points... of this kit.

• Neck / Body Matched Components
• GOOD - The neck / body have factory numbers to ensure that the body and neck have been matched to each other - during the final QA process.
• BAD - In reality - this did not guarantee that the 'fit' was a good one.
• Neck
• GOOD - The Maple Neck is actually not too bad - the fretwork is already pre-done - and on the whole - they've made a fairly decent job of it.  No sharp fret-ends, no overcut fret slots in the Rosewood fingerboard. 
• BAD - the supplied nut is plastic
• Headstock
• GOOD - allows for you to cut your own headstock profile / shape.
• BAD - nothing really
• Body
• GOOD - In this case - the body was 3 piece basswood body with the Ash Burl Veneer.  The veneer was quite thin....  but allowed for a nicer overall top.
• BAD - at some point in the manufacturing process - a knot was likely removed in a section of the basswood - and a 'wood plug' had been inserted back in.  (This was on the side on the guitar).  UNFORTUNATELY - they did not orientate the grain of the plug - so it was obvious that a piece had been put in.  Not a problem if you were going down a Nitro / Poly finish - as this could be hidden....  but a bigger problem with translucent oil / varnish finish.

The 'dry-fit'

• On the first dry-fit - it was observed that the neck pocket was routed slightly too large - making for a looser neck to body joint.  As the neck was bolt-on - this was not a huge issue and could be easily corrected.
• The supplied BRIDGE pre-drilled holes in the body were not square with the neck / nut alignment.  The bridge would have been askew if the original holes had been used.  This is NOT GOOD and had to be corrected. *See bridge / saddle replacement
• Fretboard Radius - measured at 10" (More common for a Gibson than Fender)
• Scale Length - measured and checked at 25.5" (Fender Standard)
• Marked on guitar body to help with rough saddle positioning

Supplied Hardware

Overall, the quality of the supplied hardware was quite poor.  The three worst items supplied were a) the tuners, b) the ashtray style bridge with 3 x saddles [steel], and c) a dodgy set of strings.  Everything else was of a reasonable quality to be used initially.

Ch-ch-ch-changes........

• TUNERS - The supplied Tuners were ditched.
•  I donated my old Yamaha Pacifica tuners to the project  that I removed when I fitted the Grover Locking Tuners.   (Additional cost £ FREE)
  
• BRIDGE / SADDLES - there were a number of issues with the bridge saddles on the supplied kit.  The saddles were a 3x2 string pair - Vintage Fender Look-a-likey saddles - but were made of steel.  The biggest problem here is stability, and trying to intonate the instrument was almost impossible to get it right.  The supplied bridge was ditched, and a new replacement was purchased.  
• New Bridge / Saddles - Wilkinson Ashtray Style Telecaster Bridge (WTBCR) with 3x2 Brass Compensated Saddles.   MUCH BETTER without compromising the Telecaster look-a-likey aesthetics or TONE ! (Additional cost £20 GBP)
  
• STRINGS - supplied Strings
• Used initially for bridge alignment - and to check string spacing on neck.  
• REPLACED with Ernie Ball REGULAR SLINKY (10 gauge) for final setup and fit.(Additional cost around £5 GBP per set)

Wiring the pickups, output jack and grounding

In this kit - a lot of the wiring is pre-done for you.  HOWEVER - the biggest problem is that they DO NOT INCLUDE A WIRING DIAGRAM for the 3-way / 3-position switch.

Typically - Fender Telecaster style 3-way switches have EIGHT terminals for a 3-way switch.  However, with this kit / switch - you have 7 x terminals....and NO WIRING DIAGRAM.

I spent a large amount looking for a diagram - but couldn't find one....  

So, for those of you POOR SOULS - who have purchased this ROCKTILE KIT, or a similar one from another manufacturer - and you are faced with wiring a 3-way 7 terminal switch - I've created a nice wiring diagram for you.  YOU ARE WELCOME !

This 7 terminal switch seems to be used a lot on the Chinese made guitars, it's not the best quality switch - but once wired correctly it works OK !

FINAL SETUP

• New set of Ernie Ball REGULAR SLINKY (10's) fitted
• Truss Rod adjusted to add a small amount of neck relief
• String Height set for 'comfort' play-ability.
• Intonation checked and set (MUCH EASIER to intonate with the COMPENSATED SADDLES and a lot more stability) - plus the BRASS SADDLES make for a nice tone.

Still-to-do

• The plastic NUT will be replaced with a Graphtech TUSQ nut at the next strip-down // string change.

Well that's about it for the BUILD.   I'll get some finished pictures from Dad - and upload them for you all to enjoy !   

..and FINALLY one more thing.............   In many ways - building a guitar is a good way to understand how guitars *truly* work, and how to get the best from them (once they are setup correctly).

If you found this useful - feel free to comment below.  We'd love to hear from you.

Helping with a Build your own Guitar project - Cheapcaster // Telecaster style kit - PART 1

Looking to build your own Electric Guitar from a Kit?  Here is my experience of it....

INTRO / BACKGROUND

A while back, my dad mentioned to me he was looking to take on a small project of building his own guitar.   As he is an OAP (old age pensioner) now, and doesn't have a lot of spare income to splash out whenever he gets G.A.S. 

In his youth - my father had built his own guitar from scratch and had enjoyed doing it.  Now older, wiser and more experienced - he really wanted to have a go at building a guitar from a Kit. Something for him to do as a bit of fun, but wasn't going to "cost the earth" - and would give him a satisfactory end result.

There are a large number of build-your-own (BYO) guitar kits available - with mixed reviews being posted about the kit quality etc.

One BYO Guitar kit that seemed to have fairly good reviews was the ROCKTILE Telecaster Style Kit from a company in Germany (Europe).  Musikhaus Kirstein.

Here is how they describe the kit.

Your shape - your design - your instrument!

With the Rocktile "do-it-yourself" TL Style (Bausätzen) You'll be your own custom shop.

Search out your favorite shape and you build your individual unique instrument.

In this kit you can find all the parts that you need only a few tools and a certain amount of technical skill to complete the project.

All wooden parts are pre-milled and are untreated.

You have a lot of creative freedom in the design: go for a natural satin finish or metallic high-gloss / colourful finish.  ..or keep it simple - black / white or vintage / aged moderately worked with a hammer and file ... just like you want.

"Do-it-yourself" Electric Guitar Kit

TL-Style,

>> Body: Basswood (with Ash Burl Veneer)

>> Neck: Maple screwed

>> Fingerboard: Rosewood

>> Pickups: 2x Single Coil

>> including all necessary parts

>> a certain degree of craftsmanship is required<<

Features

========

Die-Cast Machine Heads

Color : Natural // Unfinished // Untreated

Pickup placement S / S

Short Scale No

Tremolo No

Price EURO 79€

I SHALL CALL IT "CHEAPCASTER"

So for around 80 EUROS - you get an electric guitar in kit form.  

So you are probably thinking - Is it ANY GOOD? 

Check out PART 2 to find out.

Behringer UMC1820 - Rumoured September 2014 release?

Greetingz.................

Way back in February 2014 - around the time of NAMM 2014 - I mentioned a new interface that seemed too good to be true !

The Behringer U-Phoria UMC1820..  18 IN / 20 OUT - USB interface.

Sweetwater in the US of A have updated their order page for the UMC1820 - and it estimates a September 2014 release date.  Oooooooooooh !

Looking at my BLOG STATS for SIXSTRINGZUK - I've seen a lot of traffic / visitors in the past few months who are searching for information, reviews and pricing on the UMC1820 - so, it must be an interface that has grabbed people's attention.

It certainly did mine.................

The only outstanding question I have is about the Mixer / Routing and standalone capabilities within the software elements.....  How versatile will it really be?

Software / Firmware will either MAKE it or BREAK it...............

Let's hope they stand true on firmware upgradable to 192kHz also.

Released anytime now then? *fingers crossed*  

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Here is a snippet from my post - back in February.....

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

...

BEHRINGER UMC1820 - Too good to be true?

The U-PHORIA UMC1820 from Behringer which was announced at NAMM 2014.

RRP $299 US DOLLARS - rumoured to be around £200 GBP

Currently pre-order ONLY - US stockist - and released around mid-March 2014 (March 15 according to one web store!)

Type	USB 2.0
Converter	24-bit, internal clock
Sample Rates	Up to 96 kHz *Rumoured to be upgradeble via FIRMWARE to 192kHz near to launch !
Connections	2 x XLR/TRS combo Input (front) 6 x XLR/TRS combo Input (rear) 2 x 1/4" TRS main Out 8 x 1/4" TRS Out 2 x 1/4" TRS headphone 2 x RCA coaxial S/PDIF I/O 2 x TOSLink ADAT I/O (switchable to S/PDIF) 2 x 5-pin DIN MIDI I/O 1 x USB Type B
Dimensions	19" 1U rackmount

>> FULL POST - CLICK HERE <<

Got G.A.S? Yes I do.. Papas got a brand new PigBag (..or should that be PIGNOSE?)

OK, I admit it............. 

I had an episode of G.A.S. recently and needed JUST ONE MORE GUITAR !

In the past, I had spent an enormous amount of time travelling with my job (all over the world!) - and had always 'secretly desired' a TRAVEL GUITAR !  Something small, good quality and FUN !

I found what I was looking for; from PIGNOSE...  

So, PIGNOSE has always been a name synonymous with portable amplification;  While in early development - the prototype PIGNOSE Amps were rumoured to have been given to Led Zeppelin, Rolling Stones, The Beatles, and artists such as Joe Walsh, Eric Clapton and Frank Zappa.

In the SUMMER NAMM 1973 show - PIGNOSE debuted with their first production amps; making around 50,000 units in the first year !

PIGNOSE has to be mentioned as an legendary American brand........ but they just make Amps, don't they?   Well, technically - YES.  

The PIGNOSE Travel Guitars are actually made by ARIA GUITARS (..using the PIGNOSE brand) - by all accounts, they make a cracking little axe !  

There are a few models - but I opted for the DELUXE MODEL PGG-259.  It has 22 frets and a 24.1/4 inch scale....... and a micronised body.  More on the specifications below.

PIGNOSE DELUXE - PGG-259

The PGG-259 DELUXE is a mini-electric / travel guitar with built-in "PIGNOSE" amplification.

Pignose describe the DELUXE..... as putting all the funk, grit, and power of a Pignose amplifier right inside a very playable, kickin' little guitar.

I would have to agree !  In some ways, it reminds me of a baby Les Paul.

All you do is pull the famous Pignose knob, crank it up, and the Pignose sound you've known for years comes straight out of the guitar and into your face!

Is it a NOSE or a KNOB?

PGG259 SPECIFICATIONS:

• Maple bolt on neck 
• Adjustable truss rod
• 22 frets
• 610mm // 615mm (24¼ inches)
• Ebonised rosewood fretboard with special mother of pearl block markers
• Special white binding to body, neck and headstock
• Gold coloured hardware
• Fully adjustable bridge with six individual saddles
• Single custom Pignose dual rail humbucker
• Pignose master volume control with push/pull power switch
• Jacks: 1/4" guitar jack and 3.5mm headphone jack 
• Black pick guard with black metal speaker grill
• Built in amplifier powered by 9V battery.
• Weight 2.3kg (5.1 lbs)
• Length 82cm (32 inches) width 25cm (10 inches)
• Finish: Gloss Black with White Binding and gold coloured hardware

WHERE CAN I GET ONE?

After searching around - and placing an order with another musical store I've spent a lot of money with over the years;  they gracefully accepted my order - and then cancelled my order a few hours later (stating - this guitar is discontinued, and we have no stock!)

Makes me wonder why they advertised the guitar as being "In-Stock" then?  Hmmmm...

At this stage - I had committed to the cause' - I WANTED ONE !

SEARCH ON............

Bit more searching - and I came across "Play Away Guitars" based in Brighton & Hove. After a quick telephone conversation with a lovely man called Patrick; my order was placed and the guitar was on the schedule for delivery by courier.

I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND "PLAY AWAY GUITARS" IF YOU ARE LOOKING TO PURCHASE A TRAVEL / SILENT GUITAR;  THIS IS WHAT MAKES PLAY AWAY GUITARS UNIQUE - THEY SPECIALISE IN PORTABLE HIGH QUALITY GUITARS.

Anyway - Play Away Guitars were selling the guitar PLUS the Gig Bag - PLUS they were shipping the guitar with an improved / modified setup;  removing the lighter gauge factory fit strings - and replacing them with MY FAVOURITE BRAND / GAUGE OF STRINGS (Ernie Ball - Regular Slinky's!)  HURRAH !

Delivery was prompt by ParcelForce.  You now receive a TEXT MESSAGE giving you a 90 minute window when your parcel is due !  This is great - if you need somebody to wait around to sign for the delivery.  No more sitting in waiting for parcels all day.

The guitar was very well packaged, and was de-tuned before shipping.  After the guitar had acclimatised, we were off - tune up and ROCK OUT !

To show you the size differences - I've 'borrowed' a few pictures from the Play Away Guitars website;  I'm sure Patrick won't mind - if it brings him new customers;

Just remember to tell him - Mark from sixstringzuk BLOG sent you !

Picture PRAWN

My little PIGGY with my little GIGGY BAG

FULL SIZE LES PAUL -vs- PIGGY DELUXE (piggy on the right!)

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?

£225 GBP not including P+P

Get yours - from :-

http://www.playawayguitars.com/play_away_guitars_shop.php?itemID=610

Review : SNARK / QWIK TUNE SN-2 Chromatic All Instrument Tuner

What's the one piece of advice that every guitar player should heed?

Make sure your instrument is in-tune each and every time, right?

Getting your guitar in perfect tune is something that every player should do before every session.  If you are out of tune, you may as well go strangle the neighbours cat !

I have chromatic tuners on various bits of kit around the home studio, including a very nice one on the Eleven Rack.... however - what if you are playing unplugged / acoustically or just want a quick strum / session?

I've been impressed with the array of head-stock tuners out there to purchase;  after reading various forums, there seemed to be a growing appreciation for the SNARK / QWIK TUNE range as being small, fast and deadly accurate.

After some (albeit brief) deliberation - I opted for the SN-2 All Instrument Tuner and parted with my hard-earned cash.

Features :

QT // SNARK SN-2 [CLIP-ON CHROMATIC ALL INSTRUMENT TUNER]

• Fully Chromatic Tuner
• Full Color LCD Display
• Display Rotates 360 Degrees
• ‘Stay Put’ Clip
• Fast and Deadly Accurate
• Tap Tempo Metronome (VISUAL ONLY, not CLICK TEMPO)
• Transpose Feature (Keeps the tuner readout from E to e) if using a CAPO
• Internal Mic or High Sensitivity Vibration Sensor
• Pitch Calibration 415-466 Hz

• Extended Frequency Range to cover all Instruments

From a size perspective - here is a UK TWO POUND COIN £2 for size comparison.

A £2 coin is the same size as the LCD Display of the SN-2

In the BOX - the SN-2, 1 x Battery (CR2032), Instructables

Where can I use it?

- Anywhere.  The SN-2 has high-sensitivity vibration tuning, and also an internal Microphone.  This vibration tuning is a distinct advantage when trying to "tune up" in a live performance environment - where every other musician is trying to get warmed up.  If you had a mic only tuner - background noise would interfere with your tuning efforts.

How much does it cost?

You can pick one up from prices ranging from £13 - £20 GBP

Is it any GOOD?

YES, what's not to like here?  It is reasonably priced, fast and accurate.

I've used it so far on two different instruments with great results. 

I give it 5 out of 5 STARS.

Grover Screws replacement - FINALLY ! ..and I got G.A.S.

Hello folks

Sorry for the long absence away from the blog..........  seems like quite a few months since I last posted something here..... around 3 months or so?  

Well, I'm back to share what I've been up to lately...

Last Year I wrote up a "how-to" guide to replace the original tuner heads on the #Yamaha Pacifica 112X with the Grover Roto's;

One of the frustrations I had was with the poor quality screws supplied...  they were damn awful - so soft and next to useless.

I wrote to Grovers - and they replaced the screws...  *how very kind of them!* - link below to the original post...

http://sixstringzuk.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/quick-update-on-soft-screws-problem.html

..anyway...................... I digress....

I finally got around to replacing the screws with the new ones, and OH BOY - they are so much better.  They are marginally larger, but to be honest - I'm not too bothered about it. 

The screw heads are good - and strong like BULL !

While the Pacifica was on the bench - I decided to give it a good clean up, and replace the strings to a gauge closer to the original OEM set; 

When I changed the tuners initially - I fitted D'Addario EXL120 - Super Light ...but I wasn't happy with them.  

With the EXL120's gone - I speed-fitted a new shiny set of Ernie Ball Regular Slinkys....  and it's amazing how much better the Pacifica 112x feels and sounds now.

Thumbs DOWN from me for the EXL120's !!!

ME NO LIKEY !

I think that the Pacifica will be getting some extra "play time" real soon................  but as I've been hit with G.A.S. again - something else has been vying for my attention.

Sean Bean says it best...............

HyperControl Drivers for ProTools released for the AXIOM AIR Series

For those of you who have been patiently waiting.........

* wait for it *

M-Audio have JUST announced / released the HyperControl drivers for the AXIOM AIR series.

YES - YOU DID READ THAT CORRECTLY !!!!

DOWNLOAD LINKS BELOW...

http://community.m-audio.com/m-audio/topics/pro_tools_hypercontrol_driver_now_available_for_the_axiom_air_series

http://www.m-audio.com/index.php?do=products.hypercontrol&prod=axiomair

Sorry - I don't really care now because I no longer have the AIR 25 ! ..but I hope these drivers work well for all of those long suffering AIR owners with Pro Tools.

GO GET THEM..........  HOT OFF THE PRESS.

Daddy wants a new Audio Interface - Part 2

Pappa bear wants a new Audio Interface..........

What's your budget?

Up to £400 GBP

What features are important?

• Simplified IO and future growth
• Tracking vocal / instrument mics / MIDI without having to disconnect / re-connect everything
• Plentiful IO for any future developments.
  
• S/PDIF (Coaxial) x 2
• Linking Avid Eleven Rack but without compromising feature set such as Embed Rig Settings into track
• Keeping the True-Z characteristics of 11R (not bypassing it)
• Retain Embed Rig settings into track over S/PDIF
• Word-Clock SYNC with Eleven Rack and Master Word-Clock [the new Audio Interface!]
  
• Enhance options & quality for vocal & instrument mic's
• Looking for decent MIC pre's
• Must support 48V Phantom
• Must include PAD when ......
  
• ADAT Lightpipe / Optical (x2)*Desirable
• Would be nice for any future expansion
  
• Word Clock (BNC)Input / Output *Desirable
• Most reliable connection for Master Word-Clock generator role
  
• Standalone mode
• Can run as a signal mixer in standalone mode
  
• 19" Rack Enclosure ready
  
• Power ON / OFF Switch
  
• Windows 7.x x64 Bit // Pro Tools 10.x compatible
  
• USB 2.0 ..ideally - or Firewire

Interfaces under consideration

• PreSonus AudioBox 1818-VSL
• RRP £430 GBP
  
• Focusrite Scarlett 18i20
• RRP £400 GBP
• This unit is effectively the Saffire Pro 40 with USB 2.0 rather than FireWire.
• 
  
• Behringer U-Phoria UMC1820
• ESTIMATED @ £200 GBP (NOT RELEASED YET!)

Presonus has built-in DSP 26x8 DSP mixer which allows for Near-zero-latency monitoring with extensive signal processing - including compression, reverb, delay and EQ to be added to the 'monitoring' side with no audible delay.  The end result : a more natural performance from the performer (counteracting the clinical sound absorbing studio env).    This is of course interesting in LIVE situations, but also for mixing in the studio.  

Without a decent hardware / software combination such as a software based mixer / router - you rely on the DAW to add the effects into the signal chain - which can add milliseconds before the output is heard via the speakers or headphones.

Whilst the hardware from all vendors is quite similar - it is often the software that makes or breaks the solution.  Let's examine the options.

PreSonus have VSL

Focusrite have MixControl

Behringer have ?????????????????? I don't know - TBC