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      • 1986 Squier Contemporary Series Stratocaster
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        • 197x Session Les Paul Custom Copy
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      • Amps of the Past
        • 1978 Fender Vibro Champ
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1978 Fender Vibro Champ

Vintage amps are one of holy grails for a number of musicians, who often have too many holy grails to count. I’ve always wanted one made in 1978, the year I was born. As you can tell by the title, I had the chance to own one, and by the section of the site this page is in, I no longer own it.

Like so many other things, amps were just made different back then. These old ’60s and ’70s era amps didn’t use printed-circuit boards (PCBs) and were instead wired point-to-point (PTP) making maintenance and repairs as simply as unsoldering and soldering in a replacement component.

The Fenders, Marshalls, and a whole slew of boutique amp makers play to this with reissues and clones of these old amps down to NOS electronic components, transformers, and “as close as you can get” speakers.

Heck, I own a Princeton Reverb Reissue (PRRI), though with a 12″ speaker instead of the typical 10″ that came in the old versions, and one of my favorite all time amps is the Deluxe Reverb Reissue (DRRI) I used to own.

The downside to vintage amps is the price, and it’s only gotten worse over the years. When the chance to buy a Vibro Champ that was described as being made between “1977 and 1979, but likely 1978” for the right price, I snapped it up.

Little guy; Big vibrato
What did I mic it with?
Saying Goodbye
Would I suggest it?
Little guy; Big vibrato

The Vibro Champ is a 5-watt amp with a tiny 8″ speaker. It’s not going to win any volume awards, but it, like the vibrato-less Champ, is great for cranking up the volume to get that sweet overdrive-tube breakup that people love but at volumes that won’t leave your ears ringing for hours.

With the 8″ speaker comes the downside of that even when you cook the tubes, you’re still having to deal with a speaker that’s going to bottleneck your potential. You’re not going to be heard over most drummers and if you’re after clean tones, you aren’t going to have a ton of headroom before the amp starts to break up.

For someone like me that plays at reasonable volumes anyway, this wasn’t too much of an issue. I wasn’t getting the tube breakup that is the strength of these amps, but I also wasn’t pushing volumes where the 8″ speaker was immediately a hindrance.

What I did get out of the Vibro champ was that legendary Fender tremolo. My PRRI has it, but the Vibro Champ absolutely and unequivocally left the Princeton Reverb in the dust. It was rich, it warbled in a way that the PCB driven PRRI didn’t, and it came through so clearly. The first moment I actually sat down and played around with it was magical for me.

What did I mic it with?

I mic’d the Vibro Champ with my Shure SM57 and recorded every song on Volumes One through Three, and most of the 2022 singles with it. The thing is, I don’t think I ever used that signal as a primary tone on any guitar track.

The Vibro Champ always sat in the background somewhere, a slightly harsh and bright tone, regardless of where I stuck the mic. Always the bridesmaid but never the bride.

 

Saying Goodbye

When I wasn’t recording, I’d often just turn the Vibro Champ on and play through it. The clean tone, for as small as it was, still sounded good, but I don’t use clean tone as often as I do overdrive and distortion. Unfortunately, the only pedal that I felt really paired nicely with the Vibro Champ was my Zvex Double Rock. I’d often go back to my PRRI or the Egnater Tweaker before
too long.

As I recorded with the Vibro Champ, I eventually had a falling out with it. Gone was the initial charm and excitement over owning an amp from my birth year. I used it because it was there and not because I was excited to use it. Then, it suddenly stopped working.

I took it for a visit to Scott Hughes at a local repair shop called Vistalux Amplification just before he retired and he repaired the amp. He also confirmed that it was indeed a 1978 amp. Scott was, and still is, an incredibly knowledgeable dude. It’s a bummer he retired from the amp repair business, but I’m thankful for the interactions we had, as they were always pleasurable.

With a clean bill of a health from a reputable business, I posted the Vibro Champ up for sale. The amp had appreciated considerably since I’d bought it and the money I made from the sale enabled me to pick up the Mesa Express 5:25 that I currently own, and would supplant my PRRI as my #1, if my circumstances were different.

Would I suggest it?

This is a fair question. Are you looking for a cool little bedroom amp that won’t piss off your significant other or neighbors? Do you want to get a very particular tone? Are you willing or able to rehouse it?

Would I suggest it? Yes, if only to have the experience of owning it. There are plenty of folks who buy a vintage Champ or Vibro Champ and are incredibly happy with the decision.

As someone who needs to squeeze every little bit of whatever I can out of an amp at the volume I play at, it wasn’t a long term solution for me. If you’re looking for a main amp, then, no, I don’t think this is the amp for you.

For what it’s worth, Fender has put out a Silverface reissue of the Vibro Champ that has a 10″ speaker instead of the little guy the vintage ones come with. I have no idea if these sound any good or fix the issues I had with the amp, but it might for you. Given the fact you can get a vintage Vibro Champ for the same or less than the price of that one, it’d be your call.

I’m glad I bought the Vibro Champ and equally glad I sold it. In the end, it was an avenue to an amp that fits my needs much better than it did.

It also scratched the itch I had to own a vintage amp from my birth year, at least for now.

The biggest thing it had going for it was that it was PTP and that made it cheap to repair, but repairs are something I’ve not really had to deal with too much, especially given the number of amps I’ve owned over the year.

I hope the person that bought it from me has enjoyed it and made better use of it than I did. I haven’t seen it pop back up on Craigslist or the Facebook gear groups I’m a part of, so perhaps that’s a good sign the little guy found a good home.

In a world of noise, be sound

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It has come time to part ways with one of the cool It has come time to part ways with one of the coolest Muff-based fuzzes I’ve ever played: the Blackout Effectors Musket, which is the right side of this pedal, the Twosome. 

You might question what a Muff fuzz is, and if you’re a non-guitarist/musician, I point you to Smashing Pumpkins’ album Siamese Dream, notably “Today” and “Cherub Rock”. 

Fuzzes have been used for a long time and the Electro Harmoniz Big Muff is one of the most well known. 

However, this allows me to bring other fuzz sounds into my bag of tricks and that makes me excited.
Gear that came and went in 2023: Pedal Edition (ma Gear that came and went in 2023: Pedal Edition (maybe pt. 1)

There might have been more. I’ll have to check an Imgur folder

• Jet Pedals Lion 
• Lovepedal Echo Plexi (traded toward Friedman PT-20 v2 head/cab
• Emerson Paramount (traded toward Friedman PT-20 v2 head/cab
• Line 6 HX Stomp + extension pedal (traded for Crate Palomino v16 and cash)
• TC Electronic Sub n Up (came in 2022)
• Boss DS-1
• Old Blood Noise Endeavors Float
• Kelley Katana Mini Boost
• Ibanez TS-9 Tubescreamer (traded for Katana Mini Boost)
• Barber Gain Changer (traded for Bearfoot FX Honeybee X)
• Jackson Audio Broken Arrow v1 (traded for Fulltone Fulldrive 2)
• Line 6 Helix LT

Gone but not pictured:
• JHS Buffered Splitter (traded for Tubescreamer)
• Fulltone Fulldrive 2 (traded for Emerson Les Paul Harness)

Bought and returned:

• Used Jackson Audio Asabi (defective)
• New Jackson Audio Asabi (gain was not useful)
•Jackson Audio Golden Boy mini

The Lion, Float, Paramount, and DS-1 were taken in as trade for the light blue tele in my recent guitar post 

I’ll probably think of a couple more I missed because I don’t still have the pictures of them, or never took pictures because I never posted them for sale. 

#guitar #guitarpedals #pedals
@bugdayband It’s glorious @bugdayband It’s glorious
@teresa.aldaco, ignore this post. I was going th @teresa.aldaco, ignore this post. 

I was going through my photos today and saw a number of guitars and pedals that I’ve sold/traded or bought in 2023. 

These are 10 of the guitars that came into and left my possession in 2023.

• 2016 Fender Chris Shiflett Telecaster Deluxe
• 2019 Gibson Les Paul Tribute DC
• 2021 Squier 40th Anniversary Jazzmaster, Vintage Edition
• Partscaster Tele
• 2021 Sterling Avis AX3FM
• 2022 Gibson Les Paul Traditional Pro V Satin
• 2007 Epiphone “1966”  G-400 SG
• LTD M-1000 with HetSet EMG (can’t remember the year)
• 1970s Session Les Paul Custom Copy
• 1997 Squier Affinity Strat (this year was one of the first years of the Affinity models)

I also sold or traded:

2022 Squier Classic Vibe ‘60s Strat
2018 Fender P-Bass Deluxe FSR
2012 Gibson Les Paul Traditional 

There might be one or two more I’m forgetting about. I also have a few that are waiting to be listed for sale too. 

It’s been a bit crazy, and 2024 is off to a start of its own. 

#guitar
Out getting into some Christmas Mischief and neede Out getting into some Christmas Mischief and needed some background music. It’s a good choice of good music. 

Finding new music from half the country (or world) away, or even right next door, is one of the best things about the internet and social media. Without it, I’d have never found bands like @bugdayband, No More Kings, @zwetschconnor, @clinically.sane.band, the musicians I’ve met and talked to, or people wouldn’t have found my music. 

Seek out new music. Don’t stay stuck in your music habits for too long like I too often do. I do love me some ‘90s rock, but I needed to move beyond what gets played on Lithium. 

Finding that new song that gives you chills with a lyric, when the distortion kicks in, a transition between section, or opening chord is never a disappointing feeling. 

It’s not 2024 yet, but we don’t have to wait to make a resolution to find and embrace new music by artists we might never have found if it weren’t for our friends, or an algorithm, saying “hey, check this out”.
Well, no surprise that I’m my #1 listened to ban Well, no surprise that I’m my #1 listened to band. Olivia Rodrigo and Taylor Swift are due to my kid, but @bugdayband ranking up there with Pearl Jam is good stuff. You should check them out. 

#spotifywrapped #kcwmmusic #rock
Grayson, aka Buddy aka Buh aka Bubs, is our sole r Grayson, aka Buddy aka Buh aka Bubs, is our sole remaining cat after all three of our senior cats succumbed to complications of their age. 

He’s a good companion and has become extra clingy since Mike’s passing in September. He sleeps with us at night and responds to “Want to get some food and go to sleep?”

He really is the best buh. 

#grayson #graycatsofinstagram #cats #catsofinstagram #graycats
Five or six years ago, I bought a Gibson Les Paul Five or six years ago, I bought a Gibson Les Paul Classic in green oceanburst. After a setup from @bigjohnsguitars it played how I’ve always wanted a Les Paul to play. 

After the honeymoon phase was over, and after recording some tracks, I wasn’t happy with the sound. It was very dark and muddy. John helped me install some new pickups, but the problem persisted. 

I eventually met and talked to the guy who runs @wtonesupply and we talked pickups. I dropped my Les Paul off and he got to work winding me some of his pickups. 

We made the trip out to Allen (which is why we ate at Portillos) to pick it up last night and I finally got a good chance to put some time into playing it. 

Problem solved. 

Our original plan deviated a bit once he had the guitar  but the choices he made has proven to be the remedy it needed. Plus, the covers he used look slick! 

With a trade finding a new home for the guitar that displaced this one as my go-to Les Paul, it’s nice to have this back in its rightful place. I can’t wait to record a song or two with it real soon. 

Finding good folks that do even better work has been something I’m very thankful for. Those individuals and the many conversations I’ve had and work they’ve done for me is something I hope every musician can experience.
It’s a @bugdayband kind of day. You should make It’s a @bugdayband kind of day. You should make it a Bug Day kind of day too. Because #guitar #altrock is good for the soul.
Remixing the first 7 songs from Volumes One and Tw Remixing the first 7 songs from Volumes One and Two is coming along. 

Some songs sound better after the first attempt, some require a tweak or two, and others require whole new parts be recorded. 

I still need to re-record “Octivation”, “Lost It All In Factory”, and “Let’s Get Behind Them” for different reasons. 

I’ve learned a lot between the beginning of this whole process and now, and you can hear the difference in the originals vs. the remix. 

Want access to listen to the remixes? DM me and let’s talk about it. I’d love to talk about the process and hear your feedback.
During the 9/13 @pearljam show, we were treated to During the 9/13 @pearljam show, we were treated to Eddie Vedder dressed up as a mirrorball and a story behind the jacket and helmet for “Wishlist”. I recorded very little during the show, but him spinning around was too good to pass up. I tried to catch it on the big screen but only caught a moment of it.
I worked out two separate trades on Sunday that in I worked out two separate trades on Sunday that involved a #strat as part of the deal. Funny thing is that the #stratocaster is not my favorite type of guitar to play, but both were interesting. This doubled the number of strats I have.

1) The red #Fender is made up of parts from Fender guitars, but I do not believe that any parts are from the same guitar. 

• The body is refinished matte red with some roadworn-ish type relicing, which is just gold underneath...maybe the original color?

• Fender Vintage Noiseless pickups with a Clapton mid-boost mod. It sounds really good. 

• Neck is from a 2013 MIM Floyd Rose Fender. It's a really nice, comfortable neck. 

• Thick solid steel block. It has excellent sustain

If I keep this one, it will get some Fender Locking Tuners

2) The black one is a #Squier Affinity Strat, but it's not a normal Affinity. It's a 1997 model, the first year they offered the Affinity line and it's a full-sized, hardwood (likely Alder) body with a 22-fret rosewood neck. It's a pretty nice neck, especially for a Squier. 

It's hefty for a strat too...it's not light like so many of the Squier Affinity line. Having that full-sized body adds some weight. 

The pickups leave a bit to be desired, which is par for the course with the Affinity line, but this guitar would make a great modding platform for someone interested in doing so. 

Heck, if that red one hadn't come through and I didn't already have two other nice strats (both Squiers, interestingly), I'd likely look to make some modifications.

----

In the end, I will take time to consider whether I like the red partscaster or my Squier Classic Vibe '60s strat more. Whichever one wins gets the Vintage Noiseless. Clapton mod, and stainless steel block (as long as it fits the Squier). 

I have some decisions to make.
New upgrade for KCWM music purposes. Next recordin New upgrade for KCWM music purposes. Next recordings will feature this 2004 Dr. Z Maz 18 Jr. 

#NAD #newampday #drz #maz18 #guitar #guitaramps
Back in '95, my grandmother bought my first real e Back in '95, my grandmother bought my first real electric guitar from a pawn shop in the small town I grew up in. I think we paid $85 for it with a hard case. 

I played that guitar a lot, its pictured with me in the Jazz Band photo from my junior year (covered in a ton of stickers...so classy), and I recorded songs with it. 

When the electronics started to die, I wasn't as knowledgeable in what could be repaired and I junked it. I sold the parts and moved on. It wasn't until years later that I realized what I'd given up and I've often priced them, but never pulled the trigger. 

Yesterday (7/19/23), this popped up on Facebook Marketplace from a local shop. At first, I thought it was interesting and didn't intend on buying it, but after giving it some thought, I went and did just that. 

This was a bit of a nostalgic purchase. If I named my guitars, this one would be called Dot or Syb (short for Sybil), after my grandmother.

This Squier Contemporary Strat (27-6800) was made from '84 - '87 in Japan. From the info I've gathered online, it's a 24.75" scale instead of the normal 25.5" Fender Scale. The pickups each have an on/off switch so you can turn all three on at the same time, and the humbucker has an on/off/coil-tap switch. The tuners are Fender-branded Gotoh. 

It has some definite wear and tear, but I don't care. 

You'll definitely be hearing this on some upcoming songs, as I intend for it to split time with the tele I use for lead parts, as I did with the modified Squier '51 it's replacing did. 

Anyone in the DFW area looking for a cool modified Squier '51? 

#guitar #fender #squier #stratocaster #strat #fenderjapan #mij #ssh #rock #kcwmmusic #dmcafreemusic #dmcafreerock #nostalgia
I need to clean up my desk a bit more but I just r I need to clean up my desk a bit more but I just replaced my two 1440p monitors with this 34” ultra wide. I’m able to see every track on the mixer of Studio One 5 and so much of Superior Drummer 3. It’s so awesome.
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