# The Great Ongoing Guitar Thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [January 31, 2010, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172 "2010-01-31T23:20:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 162
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2013, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/3223 "2013-07-25T12:06:42Z")
Missed the edit, but there’s pics of one sitting on a living room floor on the [offsetguitars.com](http://offsetguitars.com) forum thread. It seems like Fender hasn’t officially launched them, but they might be shipping them already in limited numbers. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2013, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/3224 "2013-07-25T17:20:42Z")
Interesting. And $350, wow. I’m not sure why you think we can’t link to other boards. I hadn’t heard that one. Not saying you’re wrong, just hadn’t heard it before. My Egnater tweaker head died last night. Power seems to work. Tubes light up. But (almost) no output. Initially it made loud popping noises, now (almost) nothing. Except, if you turn up the master gain, you can hear a rushing sound; if I turn up the master and channel gain to 11, I can just make out, very very softly, the sound of a plugged in guitar, very quiet, very distorted. The bass notes have an “octave” effect applied. It seems like the power and preamp sections are working, just really badly. Obviously the first thing to try is re-tubing. Anybody else have thoughts? Does my description indict the power or preamp sections more? I’m thinking the latter. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2013, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/3225 "2013-07-25T17:34:46Z")
Sorry, **squeegee** - I hate it when that happens. I don’t consider myself a circuit guy, as you well know, so I will leave it to other Dopers to dig in. I will say that I have encountered stuff like that, and sometimes it was just making sure that your tubes were properly seated in their sockets and emitting the expected amount of light when running. Eyeballing a dead tube is about as ambitious I get - past that, I take 'em in. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2013, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/3226 "2013-07-25T18:56:48Z")
Sonofagun, the Tweaker has a 3 year warranty (90 days on tubes). Looks like I just need to find a service center. Customer service form sent to Egnater. ---
**Author:** ![BigShooter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f07891/32.png) [@BigShooter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigShooter)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2013, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/3227 "2013-07-25T22:42:14Z")
My Tweeker did the same thing a couple of months ago. Took it to one amp shop that had it for 3 weeks and couldn’t figure out what was wrong with it. Then I took it to a different shop and they had it for a week and it stumped them too. So they ordered the wiring schematic from Egnater and went to town checking each and every solder joint… The problem turned out that when the amp heated up, one particular solder joint got too hot and became unstable. It started to liquify a little and the connection was compromised. As soon as they resoldered the connection, it came back to life… Judging from your description, I’d say the same thing is happening to yours. ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2013, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/3228 "2013-07-26T00:11:35Z")
Is there a “Line Out” or “Effects Out/Effects In” between the preamp and the power amp? That would be a useful place to check for a signal. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2013, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/3229 "2013-07-26T00:19:04Z")
> [@BigShooter](#): > > My Tweeker did the same thing a couple of months ago. Took it to one amp shop that had it for 3 weeks and couldn’t figure out what was wrong with it. Then I took it to a different shop and they had it for a week and it stumped them too. So they ordered the wiring schematic from Egnater and went to town checking each and every solder joint… > > The problem turned out that when the amp heated up, one particular solder joint got too hot and became unstable. It started to liquify a little and the connection was compromised. As soon as they resoldered the connection, it came back to life… > > Judging from your description, I’d say the same thing is happening to yours. Hmm, that’s not good. Sounds like a design flaw. So if I get it fixed it’ll just break again. > [@Ranger\_Jeff](#): > > Is there a “Line Out” or “Effects Out/Effects In” between the preamp and the power amp? That would be a useful place to check for a signal. There’s an effects loop. What do I do, take the effects send and plug that into my other guitar amp? If it I get good signal, then what? ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2013, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/3230 "2013-07-26T00:39:35Z")
Well, hell. I just heard back from Egnater. They game me the names of all their authorized repair places in California, and there’s not one in the SF Bay area (I’m in Gilroy, 30 minutes south of San Jose). Five in the LA area, and one each in San Diego, Fresno, and Bakersfield. Fresno is the closest at 120 miles. So I guess I’m shipping my amp somewhere. I suppose I should choose one of the LA places, there’s plenty of music expertise down there, right? Anyone want to throw a dart at this list? AUDIO DESIGN AND SERVICE NORICK ASLANYAN [info@audiodesign-service.com](mailto:info@audiodesign-service.com) 10764 Vanowen st. N. HOLLYWOOD CA 91605 818-754-0467 AUDIO REPAIR SPECIALIST Mike [mike@arsrepair.com](mailto:mike@arsrepair.com) 6603 Independence Ave., Suite G CANOGA PARK CA 91303 818-346-3762 DB ELECTRONICS Shan [shan.farley@comcast.net](mailto:shan.farley@comcast.net) 4051 North Valentine FRESNO CA 93722 559-229-6092 GPS ELECTRONICS George Tomahich [gpseletro@yahoo.com](mailto:gpseletro@yahoo.com) 13045 TOM WHITE WAY, SUITE I NORWALK CA 90650 562-802-0840 PACIFIC WEST SOUND Brent Milton [brentm@pacificwestsound.com](mailto:brentm@pacificwestsound.com) 2305 Alta Vista Drive BAKERSFIELD CA 93305 661-395-1448 SAN DIEGO SOUND Ezra Maxwell [emaxwell@sdsmr.com](mailto:emaxwell@sdsmr.com) 6563 El Cajon Blvd SAN DIEGO CA 92115 619-582-8511 THE TONE GARAGE JEFFREY COLLISON [HollyAnn@TheToneGarage.com](mailto:HollyAnn@TheToneGarage.com) 438 CALLE SAN PABLO UNIT B CAMARILLO CA 93012 805-482-5222 ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2013, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/3231 "2013-07-26T02:03:18Z")
> [@squeegee](#): > > Interesting. And $350, wow. I’m not sure why you think we can’t link to other boards. I hadn’t heard that one. Not saying you’re wrong, just hadn’t heard it before. I’m not sure where I got that idea either. I think I heard it was to prevent flame wars. But I can’t see how this would cause one, and I don’t find anything to back it up in the board rules, so here’s a link to the post with the pics of it on a living room floor: [http://www.offsetguitars.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=71490&start=491](http://www.offsetguitars.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=71490&start=491) > [@BigShooter](#): > > My Tweeker did the same thing a couple of months ago. Took it to one amp shop that had it for 3 weeks and couldn’t figure out what was wrong with it. Then I took it to a different shop and they had it for a week and it stumped them too. So they ordered the wiring schematic from Egnater and went to town checking each and every solder joint… > > The problem turned out that when the amp heated up, one particular solder joint got too hot and became unstable. It started to liquify a little and the connection was compromised. As soon as they resoldered the connection, it came back to life… > > Judging from your description, I’d say the same thing is happening to yours. I agree with **squeegee** , that sounds like a design flaw. Electronic devices usually don’t get hot enough to melt solder unless they’re a soldering iron. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2013, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/3232 "2013-07-26T02:12:38Z")
> [@scabpicker](#): > > I’m not sure where I got that idea either. I think I heard it was to prevent flame wars. But I can’t see how this would cause one, and I don’t find anything to back it up in the board rules, so here’s a link to the post with the pics of it on a living room floor: > > [http://www.offsetguitars.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=71490&start=491](http://www.offsetguitars.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=71490&start=491) Cool, thank you!! Do we think that’s a 30" scale like a regular Fender VI? And, huh, three pickups with offity-on switches for each, and mysterious fourth switch (bass cutoff like in the [Fender Bass VI wiki article](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fender_Bass_VI)?). Interesting. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2013, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/3233 "2013-07-26T03:14:53Z")
Also, what makes that a bass and not a baritone guitar? ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2013, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/3234 "2013-07-26T05:28:10Z")
> [@squeegee](#): > > Also, what makes that a bass and not a baritone guitar? I don’t know how a baritone guitar is tuned, but I reckon if all strings are tuned an octave below a standard guitar’s, it’s a bass guitar. Trivia: Leo Fender sold the first Precision Basses as an “Electric Bass”. The six string was his “Bass Guitar”. ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2013, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/3235 "2013-07-26T05:33:42Z")
[QUOTE=Ranger Jeff] Is there a “Line Out” or “Effects Out/Effects In” between the preamp and the power amp? That would be a useful place to check for a signal. [/QUOTE] > [@squeegee](#): > > There’s an effects loop. What do I do, take the effects send and plug that into my other guitar amp? If it I get good signal, then what? Generally, the effects loop is between the pre-amp and the power-amp circuits. If you get a good signal out of the effects send, that would indicate the problem is in the power amp and not in the pre-amp. So if you’re going to try tube replacing/wiggling, at least you’ll know which tubes to try. In trouble shooting terms, you’d be “half-stepping”. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2013, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/3236 "2013-07-26T05:34:08Z")
> [@Ranger\_Jeff](#): > > I don’t know how a baritone guitar is tuned, but I reckon if all strings are tuned an octave below a standard guitar’s, it’s a bass guitar. So if I take a Bass VI and tune it up one half-step, does it become a baritone guitar? 😉 ETA: I posted that before your reply about effect loops. I’ll give what you said a try. ---
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2013, 11:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/3237 "2013-07-26T11:33:18Z")
Opinions may vary - my Baritone Guitar is a six-string instrument that is tuned down a fourth - BEADF#B . It has a gorgeous tone, even after its accident. I use it primarily for transposing guitar/voice music down from its original key. It’s actually very strange to hear/play familiar music on it - we had a studio recital a couple of weeks ago where my teacher and three of his students (including me) played what we’d been working on lately. I played 4 of the Leo Brouwer ‘Estudios Sencillos’ from Book 3, and the other students were so intrigued they both wanted to play their pieces on it as well. ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2013, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/3238 "2013-07-26T13:08:33Z")
> [@squeegee](#): > > So if I take a Bass VI and tune it up one half-step, does it become a baritone guitar? 😉 Just put a capo on the 7th fret for a baritone guitar. ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2013, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/3239 "2013-07-26T15:17:21Z")
> [@squeegee](#): > > Cool, thank you!! Do we think that’s a 30" scale like a regular Fender VI? And, huh, three pickups with offity-on switches for each, and mysterious fourth switch (bass cutoff like in the [Fender Bass VI wiki article](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fender_Bass_VI)?). Interesting. Every report I’ve heard says it’s 30". It’d be decidedly strange for them to change the scale, the overhang past the bridge to the tail piece would make it’s overall length longer than a Jazz or Precision. I can’t imagine the switches being set up differently, either. Three pickups/four switches implies on/off for the pickups with either a master on/off or an effect for the fourth switch. A bass cut is a cheap effect, so I bet it’s still that. OTOH, guitar manufacturers do some decidedly strange things, so I could lose that bet. ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2013, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/3240 "2013-07-26T15:39:20Z")
Ooooo!, I found a place you can order one at! 🙂 It’s in the Netherlands, so I don’t think I’ll order just yet. ☹ However, if their description is accurate, it has the scale and controls kids crave, including voodoo! [http://www.rockpalace.com/en/product/Squier-Vintage-Modified-Bass-VI-3-Color-Sunburst](http://www.rockpalace.com/en/product/Squier-Vintage-Modified-Bass-VI-3-Color-Sunburst) ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2013, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/3241 "2013-07-26T17:55:24Z")
> [@scabpicker](#): > > Ooooo!, I found a place you can order one at! 🙂 It’s in the Netherlands, so I don’t think I’ll order just yet. ☹ However, if their description is accurate, it has the scale and controls kids crave, including voodoo! > > [http://www.rockpalace.com/en/product/Squier-Vintage-Modified-Bass-VI-3-Color-Sunburst](http://www.rockpalace.com/en/product/Squier-Vintage-Modified-Bass-VI-3-Color-Sunburst) Voodoo? ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2013, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/3242 "2013-07-26T19:19:53Z")
> [@squeegee](#): > > Voodoo? The bass cut switch. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172.md?page=161) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172.md?page=163)