Martin
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Post by Martin on Nov 8, 2013 9:35:09 GMT
Nothing recently, but I'll need to get some banjo-sized Hercules stands/wall-hangers sometime soon. Maybe Santa will bring them
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stringdriventhing
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Post by stringdriventhing on Nov 8, 2013 11:08:13 GMT
Keep meaning to try the lemon oil, but never get round to it. I use Fast Fret once in a while. Manual string winder and snark tuner. My most important piece of kit is the wee tobacco tin that I keep me picks and capos in.
Next thing I wanna buy is a Shure sm57 mic. Oh, and a new mandolin :-)
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Post by jugbandman on Nov 8, 2013 11:30:26 GMT
Today I've just ordered the Ernie Ball power stringwinder and PW lemon oil. Haven't used either in the past, how about you? I've also just taken delivery of some Newtone strings for the first time and some Dunlop max grip .60mm which I have used and like. Thinking about some Turtle wax. Have you used any of the above and what are your thoughts.... I've recently bought a Planet Waves string winder/cutter, which is handy. My old winder doesn't pull bridge pins any more so it stays in the banjo case. Lemon oil: less than once a year. I'm told Martins get WD40 on the fretboard at the factory, & that's it for life. Best not overdo that stuff. Newtone strings are good quality. I used them on a Dobro because the heavy gauge felt a little softer than other brands. Should give them another go. These days I use D'Addario 85/15 American Bronze almost exclusively, but have a set of Martin Tony Rice Signature Monel strings to try out, possibly today. Incidentally, I recently tried GHS 85/15 strings and they were hopeless. They went straight in the bin. And coated strings are an abomination. I file them with pimped Astras and pineapple on pizza. As for polish, it's whatever furniture polish I have around. Plectrums: Clayton every time. Three materials: Ultem, Acetal and Black Raven; little to choose between them, but all excellent. Thumb picks: Standard plastic ones all seem to do the job. Fingerpicks are more troublesome, and I recommend Alaska Piks because you can play as though they weren't there.
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Post by redpick on Nov 8, 2013 11:56:26 GMT
Love the Dunlop maxigrips.... My oldest guitar was introduced to lemon oil for the first time in 35 years by Akquarius at HB4, she seemed to enjoy the care Newtones - used 'em once (a gift), loved 'em. Would get 'em again - eventually Any other pick recommendations? I'm going to try the lemon oil on my beater first and if OK I'll work my way up my guitar chain. Planning to use it at most once a year. You'll need to hint Newtones for Christmas I reckon....
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Post by redpick on Nov 8, 2013 12:00:57 GMT
I'm eagerly awaiting a tortoiseshell self adhesive pickguard blank. I never liked the cheapo black plastic one on my Yamaha so when it started to come away I couldn't resist peeling it off. The change in colour of the top after 20 years compared to the original colour under the pickguard is remarkable but it looks weird so I'm hoping this will smarten it up. Must admit I prefer tortoiseshell ones myself. Once bought an expensive Martin where the original owner had removed the pickguard with a hairdryer, made a great job of it but how brave/stupid is that!
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Post by redpick on Nov 8, 2013 12:06:31 GMT
Powerwinder - not used - I sometimes use a hand winder though; lemon oil - not used - I'll put a bit of Fast-Fret on my fingerboards once a year or so if they seem dry; Dunlop max grip - not used - Tortex triangles for me when I want a flatpick; Turtle wax - never use anything on my instruments other than an old T-shirt that's been hurred on with a v occasional slightly damp cloth preceeding it - wouldn't dream of using anything described as a polish of any kind in fact; Newtone strings - oh yes, definitely very yes! This week I have mainly ordered a strap to my own design and measurements - the leatherworker is drawing up a suitable template right now. Keith If hurred on is what I think it is, I must congratulate you on your environmentally friendly approach. I'm thinking of ordering a new strap from Bear Straps in the UK, worth checking out.
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Post by redpick on Nov 8, 2013 12:19:21 GMT
Thanks for the heads up on these kits, there's a very good friend of mine who'll be real interested in this.
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Martin
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Post by Martin on Nov 8, 2013 12:23:05 GMT
Any other pick recommendations? You won't like it, but I recommend Blue Chip Yes, they're crazily expensive, but it's an excellent pick. For much cheaper and still pretty good, I'd recommend the Dunlop Ultex picks.
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Post by redpick on Nov 8, 2013 12:28:24 GMT
Lemon oil on my old guitars only, not my Tanglewood. And maybe only once or twice a year... if that. Manual string winder. Dry Micro-fibre cloths on all guitars. I shouldn't need to buy anything for a while though as I have a 'guitar toolbox' chock full of all kinds of spares. I must admit I'm a bit wary of using the oil on my fretboards. Plan on an annual basis if that. I've been using a manual s/w up till now and still feel I need three hands-one to maintain tension, another to guide the string on the post and yet another to turn the peg! Big YES to micro-fibre cloths, get mine in Tesco. My (guitar) toolbox has expanded into the whole deep drawer that the box is kept in!
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Post by redpick on Nov 8, 2013 12:34:35 GMT
Lemon oil every string change. Three quid delivered; tinyurl.com/pg3x4kwLuthier wax polish to the back of the neck and arm-pit areas- the guitar's that is, not mine. Applied with old T-shirts since the front rows stopped throwing panties. I don't wrap the posts with more than three turns so a winder isn't necessary. I don't use ' sets ' of strings anymore as I'm experimenting with non-standard gauge mixes. I have a 50p terrarium humidity gauge in the case and I load the Oasis humidifier with distilled water whenever it feels like Albert needs a drink. Yes, I saw that lemon oil, I've ordered mine from Amazon @ £3.65 del. for 50ml. Is Albert a terrapin?
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Akquarius
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My main instrument is: Towet Fingerpicker, Dreizehnter SJ15 "Akquarius"
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Post by Akquarius on Nov 8, 2013 13:35:32 GMT
... Newtones - used 'em once (a gift), loved 'em. Would get 'em again - eventually You still use'em, I guess. As far as I recall we put a set of Newtones on Naomi an HB4 ;D Lemon oil: definitely. I prefer d'Andrea. Can't beat it when it comes to getting back that dark wood look. Especially when combined with some fret polishing. I use PlanetWave fret polishing cloth for that. Works wonders, even on 35 year old guitars. Wax polish like Dunlop and the likes: yes, when the guitar has a gloss top. Definitely no when it hasn't. As to turtle wax: the consistency might be a bit too thick for guitars. I use axe wax (only a wee bit, mind!) on my solidbodies and metal parts, Dunlop on my gloss tops.
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maninashed
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Post by maninashed on Nov 8, 2013 13:36:58 GMT
Must admit I prefer tortoiseshell ones myself. Once bought an expensive Martin where the original owner had removed the pickguard with a hairdryer, made a great job of it but how brave/stupid is that! I know what you mean. The Martin OOO 15SM is s a lovely guitar - except for the ugly pickguard, there are quite a few discussions on the internet about how to remove them but I don't think I'd dare to if I'd spent £1500 on one!
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Post by redpick on Nov 8, 2013 14:59:19 GMT
I meant to add I've got 2 of those winder things bit I only use them for pulling the bridge pins out , and I've got a Hercules stand . Yep, can't beat the Hercules stands, I've a couple of floorstand ones. Thinking about a project involving wall mounts but early days yet.... BTW hope you use the saddle rather than the bridge for leverage when pulling bridge pins-to avoid denting the bridge.
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Post by sigmadel on Nov 8, 2013 15:31:48 GMT
I meant to add I've got 2 of those winder things bit I only use them for pulling the bridge pins out , and I've got a Hercules stand . Yep, can't beat the Hercules stands, I've a couple of floorstand ones. Thinking about a project involving wall mounts but early days yet.... BTW hope you use the saddle rather than the bridge for leverage when pulling bridge pins-to avoid denting the bridge. I do yes but I used to put a cloth under and it never marked the bridge . The Hercules stands are great and rock solid too .
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ocarolan
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Post by ocarolan on Nov 8, 2013 16:01:06 GMT
Two of my personal hobby horses have surfaced in this thread, so, sorry for rising to the bait, but in the interests of happy guitars (and owners) I would venture to suggest that - i) Unless dealing with old and/or less well-looked after instruments that are seriously filthy, guitars don't need any kind of polish to stay looking good. Applying polishing products does either or both of two undesirable things - firstly, the more abrasive ones remove finish (which is how they "remove" small scratches - the surrounding surface is abraded down to the depth of the scratch), and secondly, some polishes leave a deposit (eg wax) on the finish which then retains more muck and leads to smearing and an increased need for cleaning. Regular wiping down (ie after every playing session) with an old t-shirt (or microfibre cloth), plus or minus a bit of hurr will keep both satin and gloss finishes looking good for a long time. Stubborn marks (eg after a pub session!) can be treated to a slightly dampened cloth and then buffed with dry cloth. ii)Properly fitting bridge pins do not need levering out once the string tension has been slacked off (which is what holds the pin in place) - they should be removable with finger and thumb. The thought of applying any kind of leverage to the pin/bridge/saddle makes me shudder. Yes, I know, I'm a pedantic old fuddy-duddy! keith
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