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I am firmly in the UltraTonic camp – James May has designed a neat little circuit that, combined with an extra output disc, gets the best possible feedback-free and well-balanced output I’ve heard. When I heard what it was able to do with my Santa Cruz baritone, I decided it was the only way to go. It has the advantage of no battery, easily tuned for the guitar its installed in, a soundhole volume control that doesn’t modify the tone, and offers a simple retrofit kit if you already have a K&K installed. I recommend it highly –
Got one for you – get me your mailing address and I’ll slap a label on it –
or, wait til July – all good by me!
Even though SCGC uses well seasoned wood, I’ve never played a Santa Cruz that didn’t sound much better after some time has passed – playing helps a lot and speeds it up, but even just sitting around will let the guitar settle into itself. And many times, it’s kind of an “Ah-ha!” moment – you’re playing something you’ve played before, but it just sounds better, and after realizing you haven’t really suddenly become a much better player, you realize your guitar itself has possibly changed in some better way.
And the really fun thing is, it might not be done! Just keep playing – 😉
I don’t know if it’s a yes/no kinda situation – the thing is you have to know your guitar. I can remember Richard being asked this question (pre- SCGC string days) and his response was pretty basic. Try it, but keep a close eye on your guitar. If you notice the action raising, the belly raising, the neck bowing, or any other problem that might indicate excessive string tension, then you need to lower the tension. So, don’t put them on and slide the guitar under your bed and wait to check it in 6 months. There will be some extra tension, so you may need to make a minor adjustment initially, but after that, if it continues to show problems, you’re probably better off going back to lights –
That said, the minimal extra tension from SCGC mediums, on a short scale guitar, is probably not a problem at all. I think Eric Skye was playing mediums on his signature 00 for some time, but I really don’t know what he’s using now –
Well, if you picked up a FTC, I think we need to see some pics and details! They are such beautiful guitars – congrats!!
Wouldn’t a D-12 be a somewhat close approximation? And I know they made some deep body 000’s, the Rising Fawns? Those were 12 fret. And there are definitely short and long scale F’a, but I’ve never seen a 12 fret F. Brozmans are 12 fret, but those are x-long scale –
Such a beautiful guitar – and it certainly doesn’t sound like it needs to “open up” – but the changes may be subtle, and slowly evolving, so slowly that you may not notice them. But one day, you might pick it up and suddenly realize that it sounds “better?” – not that anything has suddenly changed, except maybe your perception? ;-). Enjoy!!
I’ll get another one from eric and if you still haven’t gotten one, we’ll make it happen – and if you have already, I’ll have a Xmas gift crossed off my list – 😉
Finding that while I’ve enjoyed having a guitar stores worth of guitars salted away in all the closets, being able to pull out whatever intrigues me at the time, we’ve gotten into another small remodel project, forcing me to try and find new storage areas for most of them – and now I’m thinking that I should be very happy with about a dozen, and it would give us back a huge amount of storage space. I admire and respect those who come to that conclusion faster and don’t get into this situation –
But Elixir nano-lights? I haven’t done Elixirs in a long time – wasn’t happy with them years back – but maybe they’re worth a try? I enjoy my SCGC lights, but it might be fun to try something different –
Finding that while I’ve enjoyed having a guitar stores worth of guitars salted away in all the closets, being able to pull out whatever intrigues me at the time, we’ve gotten into another small remodel project, forcing me to try and find new storage areas for most of them – and now I’m thinking that I should be very happy with about a dozen, and it would give us back a huge amount of storage space. I admire and respect those who come to that conclusion faster and don’t get into this situation –
But Elixir nano-lights? I haven’t done Elixirs in a long time – wasn’t happy with them years back – but maybe they’re worth a try? I enjoy my SCGC lights, but it might be fun to try something different –
Amp talk always goes over my head way too fast – enjoy it, but still trying to grok it. I even spend way too much time watching the amp repair/rebuild channels on YouTube, hoping some of it sticks. Secretly, I want to be able to troubleshoot and repair old electronic equipment, but maybe in another lifetime –
I like the size and aesthetic of that amp, Daniel – but beside the voltage change, does the service frequency difference affect anything in an amp?
What a great question! I got no more than have already been offered – but I know that there are a number of good builders and techs out there who spent some time at SCGC. Whether they picked up their skills, refined their skills, or just broadened them is a fair question. And while many of them may not be “known” by a large audience, they are undoubtedly appreciated by their local guitarists –
Yeah – we really blew it in terms of getting together last year. I take the blame – I was not aggressive enough in trying to put it together, and had a whole lotta personal flotsam to deal with.
Buy IT IS TIME – we’ll let the roads get cleared up and let the land dry out a while, and then I’ll get the maestro to give us a date that we can get together at the shop and have a great get together – March/April may be the best we can do, but stay tuned!!
