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Post by kiwi on May 10, 2011 11:01:02 GMT
I know this has been talked about on the forum some time ago. After years of tuning my guitars using Harmonicas and an E tuning fork I finally invested in one of these things . It is terrific for tuning the guitar , I thought my ear was quite good but this makes the guitar sound so sweet , so easy to use as well ........ it makes it a breeze tuning resos and weissenborns. For anyone interested who orders gear fromThomann they are knocking them out for 11 quid , well worth it . Regards an in- tune Growler Well, based on the good reports here I ordered one, NZ$24 delivered so about $20 cheaper than locally for a similar one, have been using a Kala one, but meh performance. I'll let you know what I find.
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Post by kiwi on May 7, 2011 7:09:22 GMT
Chris, I spotted this on youtube, I think he is known around these parts, and has some good advice on these. The first one I bought was described as a great player, and when it got here was a wreck, but the next 2 a few years later are great.
Cheers
Laurie
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Post by kiwi on May 6, 2011 7:03:54 GMT
As Blueshome said, I have 2 Stella 3/4 guitars I bought recently, ladder braced, birch and just the best slide tone, love what I can get out of them. The redhead is a 68 and the Blonde not sure, but probably a couple of years earlier based on the fretboard stencils. I am using light strings 11-50 (I normally use 12s up on electrics and 15-56 on reso), although made with solid woods, the neck joints are none too strong and the body woods are thin. I had to do a hippy neck reset on the redhead, but that worked out really well. But hey the blonde I bought 3 weeks ago was US$50. They are definitely worth a look. Great sound and loud to boot.
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Post by kiwi on Apr 29, 2011 7:35:35 GMT
Michael They were a great record shop/chain, but unfortunately they are about to go belly up. They actually went bankrupt last year, and staff bought the Auckland and Wellington shops, but the Wellington one is going under, a pity, they supported a lot of non mainstream bands here.
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Post by kiwi on Apr 26, 2011 10:12:03 GMT
Hmm, not sure but it might have been Radio Hauraki, but the magazine, the only one I can think of is Rip It Up.
As for record stores, back then maybe Marbecks or Real Groovy, I was living in Oz then, but the previous decade was hunting old pre war recordings of blues guys and playing bad harp.
Never mind, I'll be off next pay to buy King Guitar, love the stuff of yours I have heard.
Cheers
Laurie
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Post by kiwi on Apr 26, 2011 8:37:06 GMT
Michael, the only music of yours I have heard is here on this forum and youtube, and would be very interested in hearing more, the early stuff in particular. NZ was probably not one of your bigger markets and as such I never heard any. Your music ticks all my buttons, so let us know when it is available, I also would be interested.
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Post by kiwi on Apr 26, 2011 5:58:00 GMT
Just ordered a couple sets of mediums (MM Newton's) for my biscuit cone. Didn't think I could find them in the US, but Google delivers! On sale at Strings and Beyond to boot! can't wait to try 'em. That is music to my ears, I used them a few years ago, Elderly used to stock them at a reasonable price, but stopped. Inquired with Newtone but the need to buy in bulk and shipping killed it, so have been using John Pearse and Black Diamond. YES I can get MM Nationals now, thanks mate. Off to order, shipping and exchange rate is better from the US to here ;D (Thats one happy Kiwi)
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Post by kiwi on Apr 26, 2011 5:50:43 GMT
Gerry, that would be great, it would work better for me, only a few months in a new job after 2 years out of work so money is tight. I'll talk to Chris and see when he is going back, but am very tempted by your offer. Thanks it is appreciated
Laurie
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Post by kiwi on Apr 19, 2011 10:50:06 GMT
Hi Jaoao, had to let the Amistar go due to the times (unemployment), really hated selling that, but 2 years later when I got a job I got the Republic, it is very good. For sure NZ is nice, but I think I would find Spain pretty interesting, I know I did have a great time in Brittany, France, a couple of years ago so it is relative, where ever you are is interesting.
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Post by kiwi on Apr 14, 2011 6:31:33 GMT
Joao, I swapped the cones on an Amistar Style 2 for National cones (the old ones, not hot rods) and promptly swapped back, the Amistar cones were fine, different, but I preferred them in that guitar.
I currently have a Republic tri, and it sounds good so won't swap. I wanted a MM but shipping to NZ from the UK is horrendous, from the USA $100.
But I am hatching a cunning plan. An English couple here in town go back each summer, so I may ask if they would bring it back.
As the others have said, just play it. By all accounts these are fine sounding guitars.
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Post by kiwi on Apr 9, 2011 5:46:32 GMT
I have had home made brass, bottlenecks I cut and ceramics (moonslide and mudslide) but I really like the Big Heart Robert Johnson brass, great sound and fits nice, been using it for years. Now I have been converted to Diamond, my Ultimate gets a very similar sound and is so much lighter. I am still trying to figure out how glass can sound like brass?
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Post by kiwi on Feb 20, 2011 8:53:38 GMT
I have modded nearly every reso I had, Johnson, Regal, Epi and Amistar, mushroom mods, rebuild inside, cone replacements, saddles, nuts you name it but the Republic, all I have done to get better trebles is put a 16 on the top e. That sorted it.
Apart from a slight drop away on the fret board after the 13th fret, not much to complain about, and that doesn't worry me, I do little fretting up there.
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Post by kiwi on Feb 12, 2011 22:15:48 GMT
Not that I am aware of Gerry, I have a pair of their brass fingerpicks, but found them thick and a bit heavy/clunky to use.
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Post by kiwi on Feb 12, 2011 5:58:31 GMT
Over the years have used Dunlop plastic and various brass, but the last few years have used the Acri thumbpick with Dunlop plastic fingerpicks. The Acri is really comfortable, with a brass body and Delrin blade attached. They seemed to disappear for a few years so I was cutting new blades and gluing them on. Then I found a supply and have just received 2 new ones, now a very happy camper with the Acri, and Diamond bottleneck. ;D
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Post by kiwi on Feb 9, 2011 5:35:10 GMT
I just got my Diamond Ultimate today, and having taken it for a test run on the Republic tri, it is simply the prettiest looking great sounding thing. I have made my own from wine bottles, bought ceramic, steel, and brass. This is it. Was a gamble due to the exchange rate, it is cheaper to import from the US, hence the Republic, not the MM. But a complete win for me. Ian is a dream to deal with. I modelled the dimensions on my Big Heart Robert Johnson, which is my #1, and Ian and crew got it to within a bees dick of the same measurements, so the #1 is now #2. Photo of the Big Heart and clone. .
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