Gomez "G-Spring" Reverb Unit

手工小工坊製作的 Reverb 效果器

昨天向一位美國網友 Frank 買了一個一直想要的 Gomez "G-Spring" Reverb Unit







Gomez "G-Spring" Reverb Unit 規格如下:

The "G-Spring" features a JAN Philips 12AT7WC pre-amp, NOS RCA 6K6GT driver and JJ/Tesla ECC83S reverb recovery for a smooth and ultra wet ride.

Power Ouput: 8 Watts

Pre-Amp: 1 x 12AT7WC NOS JAN Philips miniature tube

Reverb Driver: 1 x NOS RCA 6K6GT power tube

Reverb Recovery: 1 x ECC803 JJ/Tesla miniature tube

Controls: Dwell, Mix, Tone

Reverb Pan: Accutronics 4AB3C1B 2-spring reverb pan

Covering: Rough-Blonde Tolex with Wheat

Oxblood or Lacquered Tweed with Chrome Control Panel ($50 upcharge)

Weight: 10 lbs.

Dimensions: 10" x 19'' x 7 1/2" (HWD)

Footswitch: 1-Button Vintage Style with RCA Jack (included)

Cover: Custom Amp Cover (included)

Power: 120V Gomez 的沖浪音箱可以說是在美國沖浪樂界最受推崇的小工作室, 全部手工製作. 我前年想買, 他已經忙得不再接單. 可惜今年中聽說他想關門不再做了. 正好Frank 要賣, 他又在芝加哥馬上就買下來. Gomez 的網頁如下:

http://www.gomezamps.com/g-spring.html

Frank 是在芝加哥很有名專門唱披頭四歌曲樂隊的主唱和第二吉他手; American English, 電視介紹過他們, 他是唱John Lennon 的部份. 他們的網頁如下:

http://www.americanenglishbeatles.com/

我 的Fender 59 Bassman RI LTD 音色不錯; 可以彈貝士也可彈吉他. 可惜沒有Reverb, 現在買了這個 G-String Reverb Unit 回來配上試試, 覺得相當滿意. Reverb 效果比我原來的Victoria Victorilux 和Fender 72 Silverface Twin Reverb 都好 (這些音箱我在部落格有另文介紹)

Gomez "G-Spring" Reverb Unit vs, Victorilux, vs. Fender Twin Reverb

我特別作一個Reverb ABC比較的示範 Youtube 和大家分享



A) Gomez G-String Reverb Unit 配Fender 59 Bassman RI LTD



B) Victoria Victorilux



C) Fender 72 Silverface Twin Reverb



我隨便抓一把日本生產的 Fender Hank Marvin Signature Stratocaster 作示範.



歡迎大家一起討論這個Reverb 效果器, 我在家穿衣服穿拖鞋一向很"台客", 很隨便拉蹋. 對我的穿著打扮我有自知之明, 就不用網友來提醒了.

**************

我用新的G String Reverb Tank試彈一下, 隨便用卡拉OK彈了一下"無敵情報員" Secret Agent Man.



我在現場覺得Reverb 的效果非常好, 可是錄完我再去聽錄影帶, Reverb 的效果顯不太出來. 雖然不理想, 還是放上來供大家參考. 這不是表演, 所以彈的好不好無所謂.

我的確認為這個 Reverb Tank 要比Victorilux 和Fender Twin Reverb 好.

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[有網友問]:

Gomez(請問沙漠叔新的一台多少錢呢?)應是要拼Fender的那台Reissue Reverb Tank, 如果能跟Fender 63 Reverb tank比較那就太讚了! 不知沙漠叔有沒有地方借的到? Fender這兩台殺價後約$650和$850(只是外皮的差別):




[我的答復]:

用 Camcorder 錄, Reverb 顯不出很大的區別, 現場聽是差相當多, 如果 FenderTwin Reverb 是65分, Victorilux 是75分, Gomez G String 應該是85分

這台Gomez G String Reverb Tank 原價是$749, 網上$699再加音箱套和腳踏器, Gomez 在幾個月前曾經清倉好像$600賣過, 可是一下子就賣光了.

這 台Gomez G String Reverb Tank 是幾乎全新的, Frank 本來要搞沖浪吉他團, 結果去彈披頭四, 這台變成沒有用. 在 Mosrite 論壇賣, 我馬上說要, 而且用現金買, Frank $540賣我, 還送到我練琴的地方, 他是很夠意思的人.

我沒有試過Fender 63 Reverb tank. Frank和我另外一個網友猶太沖浪團的Mel都說這比Fender 的 63 RI好. Naperville Music 沒有存貨, Mike可以$600多賣我, 可是我不想等.

有了這台我打算把Victorilux賣掉.

Fender Bassman 59 RI LTD

吉他貝士兩相宜

替新買的 Grosh J4 找比較好的音箱, 看了一些最後還是決定買 Fender Bassman 59 RI LTD. 雖然瓦數不是很高, 自己練習應該夠了.

原先考慮的 Victoria 45410 價格太貴, 要Fender Bassman 59 RI LTD 的兩倍, 加 Wattage 更貴. 最重要的是我可以用一把不常彈的 Gretsch 吉他換還有錢找.

回家試發現Fender Bassman 59 RI LTD 非但 Bass 聲音好, 用來彈 Single Coil 單線圈拾音器吉他音色非常清澈, 一物兩用, 吉他貝士兩相宜.

Fender '59 Bassman LTD 50-watt Guitar Amplifier Features:

• 50-watt tube guitar amplifier
  
• 4 x 10" (Jensen P-10R)
  
• 2 channels — normal and bright
  
• Chrome control panel
  
• Solid finger-jointed pine cabinet
  
• New U.S.-made GT-6L6-GE output tubes, improved 12AX7 preamp tubes, original-spec 5AR4 Rectifier tube, internal bias pot (makes it easier to experiment with various output tubes)
  
• Fitted cover is included
  
• Controls that go to 12, 4 inputs (2 per channel)
  
• Standby switch
  
• Controls: Presence, middle, bass, treble, volume (bright channel), volume (normal channel)
  
• Covering: Genuine lacquered tweed with striped oxblood grille cloth
  
• Weight: 53 lbs.
  
• Height: 22.37"
  
• Width: 23.5"
  
• Depth: 10.5"

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Hofner Beatle Bass

玩真的

幾個月前買了Jay Turser JTB Violin Bass Hofner Copy 仿製品, 開始玩小提琴貝士, 喜歡她的木琴音色和容易彈的短琴格 Short Scale.

常常上網看小提琴貝士的貼文 難免會一直注意原創作的 Hofner 真品. Hofner 古董貨太貴, 德國的再制品 RI 也不便宜. 有人認為 Hofner 在中國製造的 Contempory CT 系列值得買, 我有點心動. 昨天看到有人在 Craigslist 上賣 Hofner CT Bass 狀況像全新, 價錢非常便宜就下手買了.

這是中國製造的, 品質卻出乎意料的好. 比在店裡看到的 Icon 系列好很多. CT 系列是按照 Hofner 63 的 H500/1規格打造的. 拾音器 pickups 是德國原裝送去中國組裝. 琴身中心有個木塊加強延音效果, 比較有實木貝士的現代音感(原裝的德國貨沒有, Icon系列也沒有). 音色和彈奏都讓我非常滿意.

顏色是保羅馬卡尼 Paul McCartney喜歡拿的漸淡色 Sunburst, 賣家還把調音鈕換成更像 Hofner 63 德國產品的 "茶杯鈕" Tea cup knobs. 還附了保羅馬卡尼樣式的皮肩帶. 賣家顯然是披頭迷, 但他說貝士彈不來, 希望便宜賣掉讓愛彈的人擁有, 我算撿到便宜了.

唯一美中不足是沒有原裝盒, 我原來的 JTB 盒子不太合, CT 的琴頸較高, 盒要用力壓才關得起來.問題不大, 不帶出門或者再買個新盒子就是了. (事後發現如果小心的放, 稍微壓一琴身琴頸下就可以蓋起來)

Jay Turser JTB Hofner Copy 仿製品 和 Hofner Contemporary Series 真品:

Hofner H500/1-CT Contemporary Series Violin Bass Guitar Specs:

A year after celebrating the 50th anniversary of Walter Hofner's original violin bass, made famous by a certain Beatle who shall remain nameless, they have decided to produce a contemporary version. It has a vintage look that will produce many "oohs", and an internal sustain block that creates a more modern, deep-resonating sound that will produce many "aahs." It's the kind of bass guitar people love to see, play, and hear. Aesthetically, this model features a maple-beech-maple set neck with rosewood fretboard accentuated by mother-of-pearl dot inlays, the signature Hofner violin bass headstock, a brass trapeze tailpiece, and glossy spruce top with glossy flamed maple back and sides. An ebony bridge with movable metal saddles maintains intonation and string spacing. The nickel-plated hardware and floating celluloid pearl pickguard give it an extra little pop for the eyes. On the electronics side, you're working with two original Hofner 511B 'Staple' humbucking pickups, as well as a control panel with 2 volume controls, 2 on/off switches, and a rhythm/solo switch for volume boost. The overall sound is warm like the original model, but with a little more sonic kick for a more "now" sound.

Hofner H500/1-CT Contemporary Series Violin Bass Guitar Features:

• Rosewood fretboard
• 22 frets
• Maple-beech-maple set neck
• Neck width at nut 1-5/8"
• 4 individual machine heads
• Ebony bridge with movable metal saddles for perfect intonation and string spacing
• Brass trapeze tailpiece
• Selected German spruce top
• Flamed maple back and sides
• 2 Hofner 511B 'Staple' humbucking pickups
• Control panel with boost and individual on and off switches and boost
• Nickel-plated hardware
• Floating celluloid pickguard, pearl designed
• Mother of pearl inlay dots

Hofner 500/1 Vintage '63 Violin Bass Guitar specs:

Musicians love the Hofner 500/1 Vintage '63 Violin Bass Guitar. In 1956 Walter Hofner had an idea for an amplified semi-acoustic bass. When it was brought to life, it proved to be a unique instrument with a smooth, sweet sound and a playing ease that eludes most ordinary basses. Many players revere Hofner's Violin Bass as a legend because of its historical significance and its warm, woody, double-bass-like amplified tone.

Named for the year the most familiar version of the Violin Bass was popularized by by a certain young bass player from Liverpool, the Vintage '63 captures its characteristic tone - deep, warm and reminiscent of a full-sized string bass. Built to be as durable as its legacy, the compact-sized, easy-to-play, light-in-weight Vintage '63 is equally at home onstage or in the studio.

Hofner 500/1 Vintage '63 Violin Bass Guitar Features:

• Select German spruce top, back, and sides of flamed maple
• Maple-beech-maple neck
• Rosewood fretboard with 22 frets
• Mother-of-pearl dots
• Scale: 30" (76cm)
• Neck width at nut: 1-5/8" (42mm)
• Machine heads: Hofner 61/73B (4 individual)
• Hofner 72/20B ebony bridge with movable metal saddles for perfect intonation and string spacing
• Hofner 62/30 trapeze brass tailpiece
• Hofner 65/36-P floating pearl celluloid pickguard
• 2 Hofner 511B "Staple" humbucking pickups
• Hofner A2-B control panel with 2 volume controls, 2 on/off switches, and rhythm/solo switch for volume boost
• Nickel-plated hardware
• Antique-brown sunburst finish

Hofner Contemporary 500/1 CT Beatle Bass 的示範: 他用 Vox 的音箱



大概只有幾種人喜歡Hofner小提琴貝士:

1) 披頭迷 Beatles 尤其 Paul McCartney
2) 喜歡短的琴格 Short Scale
3) 怕貝士太重, 傷背
4) 喜歡木琴的音色 (Acoustic Tone)

喜歡現代音色的貝士手大概不會喜歡此型號

我也請 Mike 試試此貝士, 他坦白的說這貝士不適合他.

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Kudela Bass: 庫帝拉的手工貝士

天衣無縫的品質

這是一把在喬治亞州的工匠; 庫帝拉 Steve Kudela 的手工貝士, 我用其他吉他和別人換的.

http://kudelabass.com/

用料都是第一流的:

Top: Brazilian Rosewood 巴西玫瑰木
Neck: Walnut 核桃木
Body wings: Walnut 核桃木
Core: Bubinga
Fingerboard: Macassar Ebony 黑檀木
Electronics: One Bartolini humbucker, hand wired 手工捲巴托理尼拾音器
Turquoise "K" inlay
TKL hard-shell case

只有一個拾音器, 沒有任何調音鈕, 琴身有裝飾條簡單高雅, 木工品質天衣無縫, 不彈摸起來也舒服. 肩帶用特別和琴身平的扣鈕. 琴身很小不重對我很適合.

Standard Features:

• Neck thru construction
• Graphite neck reinforcement
• Dual action truss rod
• Hipshot bridge & tuners
• Bartolini pickup & electronics
• Dunlop flush mount strap locks
• DR strings
• Hand rubbed oil/wax finish

右邊的老頭是工匠 Steve Kudela


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謝謝大家的回復! 我再補充一下:

有人會認為沙漠叔換琴升級的真是快啊, 其實不然, 我是在調整我的吉他收藏存貨, 開始把比較不彈, 不好賣的吉他去換高檔的吉他或貝士. 這樣我的收藏數量會逐漸降低, 高檔的吉他或貝士將來比較容易脫手.

琴頸連琴身是一體的單一木料, 和兩邊的琴身翅膀 Wings 膠合. 上面再貼巴西玫瑰木. 這是賣家告訴我的. 改天我會打電話和工匠 Steve Kudela 聊聊確定. 這把琴的優點除了手工細膩外, 用的材料是相當難找的木頭.

核桃又加玫瑰木的感覺是非常的好, 抓起來很舒服. 琴頸和琴身的平衡性非常好.

上端的琴翼是一大塊沒有缺口, 的確讓人覺得高把位彈奏會造成大拇指的不舒服. 不過我高把位幾乎不彈, 而且注意背後的設計; 在琴頸貼琴身處有個凹槽, 大拇指可以放那裡不會太難彈奏.

最後一張照片是顯示把肩帶的金屬頭插入內那個Strap lock位置洞口. 貝士上沒有突出的金屬頭, 全身是平滑的.

"造型簡單, 線條流暢, 琴體平滑"是這把貝士的特色, 也是缺點; 貝士上沒有音量音質調鈕完全要靠在音箱調整.

音色偏現代, 並不是太適合我. 彈沖浪還是喜歡我的 Grosh J4. 下週我請我的好朋友貝士高手 Mike 用此貝士示範一下音色和彈奏感覺.

Mike 是芝加哥一個新潮樂隊的貝士手, 在 House of Blues 表演過.

*************

今天我請 Naperville Music 的 Mike 幫我試這把貝士給網友聽聽.

他用便宜的 Fender Rumble 100 2x10 貝士音箱來試, Kudela 的音色適合現代音樂.

大家聽時要用有低音的貝士音響比較可以聽出效果



Mike 也是 Naperville Music 吉他店的經理. 我有介紹過, 請看此聯結:
我認得的吉他店 Naperville Music



Mike 是芝加哥Alaya Conscious 樂團的貝士手:
www.myspace.com/thealayaconscious

德國Warwick 貝士公司 和 Eden 音箱公司請 Mike 當背書代言貝士手, 請看此聯結, 有特別介紹 Mike:

http://www.eden-electronics.com/artists/mikerinkenberger.asp

http://www.warwick.de/modules/endorser/endorser.php?endorserID=1046&mtpl=show_endorser&cl=EN

這是Alaya Conscious 樂團表演的實況, Mike 請我去觀賞, 但我沒有去, 我擔心聽10分鐘就會想回家彈自己的沖浪.



***************

和工匠 Steve Kudela 的談話



今天打電話給工匠 Steve Kudela 聊了將近40分鐘....

Steve 非常有耐心非常客氣, 不厭其煩的回答我的問題.

我自我介紹是他替Nick做的貝士的新主人.

他有點詫異原買主Nick把此貝士賣掉了,這把貝士的確是按Nick所要的音色訂做的, Nick 喜歡現代樂風. Steve 根據 Nick 喜歡的 Mesa Amp M-Pulse 600 的音色打造的. 所以只需要一個拾音器.





我告訴他我過去經銷傢具零件多年, 一看到這把貝士就知道是木工高手的傑作, Steve 說他做木工有30年了....

首先我問他為什麼我的貝士型號叫11:28sc? (其他叫B1, B2, 11:28, )

原來是;他按貝士身形取名, Steve 是很虔誠的基督徒, 11:28是他最喜歡的聖經的段句. SC 是 Single Cut.

我再問他; 我的貝士用的材料?

琴身是Walnut 核桃木(背面)Bubinga 非洲花梨木(中心)Brazilian Rosewood 巴西玫瑰木(上面)膠合的

琴頸是Walnut 加 Maple 裝飾條膠合的, 上面的指板是Macassar Ebony 黑檀木

基本上Nick的資料是對的.

我問他我喜歡60年代投機者的沖浪音樂, 我的貝士只有一個拾音器如何去改變音色?

他說基本辦法是換拾音器, 但是他建議不要, 認為可惜了. 因為這把貝士現代音色很多人會喜歡. 要我儘量在音箱上做調整, 彈奏時在貝士不同部位去找自己喜歡的音色.

有沒有做過適合沖浪的貝士?

Steve 說還沒有, 目前定做大部份是合適現代樂風. 不過有做過其他的, 上面那把無弦格(Fretless) 的貝士是一位喜歡現代爵士樂的貝士手訂的.

什麼音箱適合這把貝士?

他介紹幾個牌子音箱, 強調在家練習至少要有100W, 樂隊表演則要300W以上. 他並且教我一些音箱調法, 可惜我聽不太懂. 我說我請我的好朋友芝加哥樂團的貝士手Mike打電話給你.....

我問他有沒有賣他的貝士去日本台灣?

他說沒有, 很謙虛的說他工作室很小而且財務很緊沒有能力作廣告....

我說我住在芝加哥但是最早來自台灣, 在台灣論壇上有提到你, 也會告訴日本朋友你的貝士, 也許將來有人會從日本台灣來問你一些問題. Steve 說非常歡迎....

最後我說非常感謝他抽空提供這些資訊給我, 我們保持聯絡, 將來我想訂作沖浪貝士也許會找你....

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Fender 貝士練習音箱; B-Dec 30

G-Dec 30 吉他練習音箱 的姐妹產品

最近在Craigslist便宜買到幾乎全新的 B-Dec 30 練習音箱. 使用心得要一段時間再放上來.

初步感覺: 30W的音箱音色馬馬, 練習還可以, 表演用差些. 練習的軟體有點複雜不是很好用.

The G-DEC 30 Thirty is an amazing, great-sounding new amp for practicing and recording. Packed with features, it includes digital amp and effects models for every playing style, 100 presets—many created by the world’s top artists and session aces, and a huge collection of music to practice and play over. Includes Fender FUSE™ software—your key to creating, connecting and configuring your G-DEC 3.

Create your own arsenal of guitar tones, then experience the G-DEC 3’s fantastic play-along capabilities. Many of its dozens of backing tracks were recorded by the world’s finest players—from L.A. to London and Nashville to New York; from rock to blues to Latin to metal; from top studio musicians to famous rock stars.

The 30-watt G-DEC 3 Thirty also boasts onboard mp3 and wav file storage and playback; stereo line outputs; a multi-function SD card slot for unlimited storage of presets and audio content; Ableton® Live Lite 8 Fender Edition studio-quality recording software for creating and editing additional backing track content; and AmpliTube® Fender LE software for practicing, playing and recording with classic Fender tones on your computer.

Fender G-DEC 3 Thirty 30W 1x10 Guitar Combo Amp Features:

* 30W
* Onboard MP3 and WAV file storage and playback
* Ableton Live Lite 8 Fender Edition studio-quality recording and editing software
* AmpliTube Fender LE modeling software, which recreates classic Fender amp tones
and delivers ultrarealistic speaker, mic, and effects models
* Multifunction SD card slot for unlimited storage of presets and audio content
* Rugged Fender Special Design speaker (plus high-frequency tweeter on 30W model)
* Onboard phrase sampler with overdub and export functions
* Onboard chromatic tuner









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Front Porch Music (Vintage Mosrite guitars store)

I visited Front Porch Music a few years ago.

















My dream guitar; 1963 side jack. But....