This comes from Dolphinstreet. There are many other free lessons and video reviews worth checking out there.
The Marauder Project: Part 1
The Gibson Marauder was sold from 1975-80. It was the “Norlin era”, considered by many to be a low point in the companies history. About 7,ooo were sold thanks in part, to the low price tag. Designed as an entry level guitar, it had a lot of Fender-type elements such as a bolt on neck and the angled single coil blade pickup in the bridge position. Many people say this was its downfall. Too Fenderish for the Gibson crowd but still too Gibson for the Fenderites. The most consistent criticism you will find is with the Bill Lawrence Pickups. The bridge PU is often cited as ‘weak’, something I agree with. The neck humbucker, for me is muddy and flat sounding.
What I like about it is the look. It has enough of the classic Gibson design but with a little 60’s era Japanese guitar styling thrown in. I also like the the feel of the neck and the action. Maybe that’s because this was my first electric which I got when I was 13 and was basically the only guitar I played regularly for the following 10 years. My hand literally grew around this neck.
So yeah, I could never part with this guitar. But recently I have discovered the whole guitar DIY scene. Refinishing, rewiring, experimenting…I had already refinished this guitar twice. It was originally a burgundy stain, a finish that today, I would love to have on it. But back in highschool and college I was into punk and new wave and I remember thinking my Marauder looked too “old man”. So I sanded off the finish and sprayed it(I think with Krylon) gray with black tiger stripes…ummm, yeah.
In college, being a sophisticated art major, I got into the retro look(and those tiger stripes were already embarrassing me) so I sanded and resprayed again with a teal color I called “swimming-pool blue”. And really it didn’t look to bad. I did a decent job, though there is no visible clear coat to speak of.
As you can see, the unprotected paint has deteriorated quite a bit. Relics have a limited appeal for me so that’s a route I am not considering, though this would make a great base for such a finish. So I’m going to give the old Marauder a complete overhaul – the finish and the sound. I’ll strip the body down to the wood and replace all the electronics. Leaving the original loaded pickguard complete in case I ever want to experience the ‘classic’ Marauder sound again.
So in upcoming posts I’ll detail the complete process, mistakes and all.
Addicted to computers? Obsessed with guitars?
Orange amplifiers may have your perfect piece of gear. Its called the “OPC” and its a PC with a built in amplifier.
Still in development for possible release in a few months, the amp-PC sports a 8″ JBL speaker, 1/4 input jack, output jack for external cab hookup and stereo output. It also comes with amp modeling software based on Amplitude.
Not much info was provided on the PC specs other then it comes standard with integrated graphics(blech!) with an optional discrete ATI Radeon 5670.
For a guitarist/computer geek it’s certainly the coolest looking computer I’ve ever seen.
UPDATE 4/16/2010: Orange just officially announced this product and filled in a few details.
The OPC will be leading the way with a number of ‘Firsts’:
– The first computer of its kind to have a built-in high powered speaker which delivers superb full range hi-fi quality sounds as well as vintage guitar sounds.
– The first computer to have a universal input jack enabling users to plug in a multitude of musical instruments (guitar, keyboard etc ) and peripherals such as the iPod, MP3 players, microphones.
– A unique cooling system to ensure air goes in and exits only after cooling the internal computer
As a fully fledged computer it has 4GB DDR2 RAM, 500GB Hard Drive, Intel chips, Windows 7 x64 home premium, 8 x USB2.0 ports, is Wi-Fi enabled and has an integrated GeForce 9300 graphics card with an optional dedicated ATI 5670 512MB card for those who may want to play a few games while they put their guitars down. The first models will include modelling software incorporating computer samples of vintage and current Orange amps and cabinets as well as free branded recording software package. Once plugged in, you can then use the software included to create music or choose your guitar sound and then play, record and hear your guitar through the computer! Release date is June 2010.
Kustom adds new $99.99 all tube head
Kustom Amplification dealers are now taking preorders for the new Defender 5H guitar amp head. It will be interesting to see how it compares to the Epiphone Valve Junior. There is a matching 1×12 cab also priced at $99.99. Both should start shipping May 15th.
Defender 5H
Is there anything more fun than a low-wattage all-tube amp head that provides authentic, cranked up tube tone at modest volume levels? We think not. And did we say “simple?” The new Defender 5-watt Model 5H guitar head has one knob! (Volume) But the fun lies in hearing what this knob does as you slowly turn it up. Starting in the counterclockwise position, you’ll move through clean and clear tube tones to progressively dirtier sounds until this little sucker is just plain screaming!
This “clean-to-mean” response isn’t due to any overdrive or distortion circuit, it’s just the sound of the single EL84 power tube moving naturally into increased output distortion. And it’s great for cranking up and controlling the action right from your guitar’s volume control – no channel switching required!
Features include one 12AX7 preamp tube, one EL84 power tube and three speaker outputs (4, 8, and 16-ohm). By the way, the Defender 5H head is designed to match perfectly with the Defender 1×12 speaker cabinet. This cabinet is loaded with one 12-inch Kustom speaker that handles 30 watts. Check it out!
Wampler Pedals ‘Ecstasy Drive’
Video by the popular "Gearmandude" showing the very versatile Wampler Ecstasy Overdrive.