Of Gigs and UTEs
Slipkid
Posted 2008-01-10 10:10 AM (#61658)
Subject: Of Gigs and UTEs



Joined:
September 2003
Posts: 9301

Location: south east Michigan
Even tho just the thought of having my UTE and Brian's 1581 up on the same stage may give an OFC member a guitar-gasim, I don't think I gonna gig with my UTE anymore. In the right situation it would be fine but to often at an open mic the PA set-up is sketchy at best. To close to the monitor, too close to the speaker, or nobody adjusting the levels. The problem with the UTE is that the textured top is so active (almost like speaker cone paper), I'm having a real problem with feedback. I know the set-ups are not gonna change so I'll try changing guitars. Looks like the AD-II is going back on the road.

Last night, for the first time, Brian & I did a full hour set. And with a "damn the torpedos" type attitude, for last song we played "Won't Get Fooled Again". A song we had never played in public before.
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cliff
Posted 2008-01-10 10:17 AM (#61659 - in reply to #61658)
Subject: Re: Of Gigs and UTEs


Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 14842

Location: NJ
ever thought of trying AirLox??
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Slipkid
Posted 2008-01-10 10:31 AM (#61660 - in reply to #61658)
Subject: Re: Of Gigs and UTEs



Joined:
September 2003
Posts: 9301

Location: south east Michigan
If I preffer the playability of the UTE I guess that would work. I take it that AirLox won't effect the amplifed sound at all, right?
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Charlie Ramon
Posted 2008-01-10 10:37 AM (#61661 - in reply to #61658)
Subject: Re: Of Gigs and UTEs


Joined:
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Posts: 709

Location: Germany
I have the same problem with the OFC guitar and therefore I always put Airlocks in. My older Adamas guitars from the eighties are much more feedback-resistant and I have no idea why. It's definitely not the electronics as I have upgraded my 1980 Adamas II with the two-knobber reissue electronics of the OFC guitar. Maybe it's the hand-laid bowl?

Airlocks have no effect on the amplified sound (at least to my ears).

Karl
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cliff
Posted 2008-01-10 10:42 AM (#61662 - in reply to #61658)
Subject: Re: Of Gigs and UTEs


Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 14842

Location: NJ
Those Reagan-era tops weren't as "responsive" . . .
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Charlie Ramon
Posted 2008-01-10 10:45 AM (#61663 - in reply to #61658)
Subject: Re: Of Gigs and UTEs


Joined:
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Posts: 709

Location: Germany
But why are the Bush-era tops?
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cliff
Posted 2008-01-10 11:02 AM (#61664 - in reply to #61658)
Subject: Re: Of Gigs and UTEs


Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 14842

Location: NJ
Because Cheney TOLD them t'be . . .

Brad; doesn't your Ute have a NotchFilter??
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Slipkid
Posted 2008-01-10 11:08 AM (#61665 - in reply to #61658)
Subject: Re: Of Gigs and UTEs



Joined:
September 2003
Posts: 9301

Location: south east Michigan
Nope... no notch filter.
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cliff
Posted 2008-01-10 11:13 AM (#61666 - in reply to #61658)
Subject: Re: Of Gigs and UTEs


Joined:
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Posts: 14842

Location: NJ
I don't think you'll see a major difference in the (plugged-in) sound with the air locks . . .

And y'don't HAVE to use the whole set.
You can selectively remove plugs and see what works best for you.
(granted, you won't have much time for "experimentation in an OpenMic situation)

Order a set from Al.
(he needs the business)
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lanaki
Posted 2008-01-10 12:39 PM (#61667 - in reply to #61658)
Subject: Re: Of Gigs and UTEs


Joined:
October 2006
Posts: 5575

Location: big island
brad,
airlocks would be your answer. i got a set from al for my 1688. makes all the gigging difference in the world.
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Slipkid
Posted 2008-01-10 1:53 PM (#61668 - in reply to #61658)
Subject: Re: Of Gigs and UTEs



Joined:
September 2003
Posts: 9301

Location: south east Michigan
Okay then... Airlox it is.
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dobro
Posted 2008-01-10 2:12 PM (#61669 - in reply to #61658)
Subject: Re: Of Gigs and UTEs



Joined:
January 2006
Posts: 2120

Location: Chicago
Interesting. Played my first long gig last night with the 1581; I too had a rather harsh feedback problem (even though I was forewarned and sat pretty far from our Bose L1).

Do Airlocks ruin the beauty of the guitar face?
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lanaki
Posted 2008-01-10 2:15 PM (#61670 - in reply to #61658)
Subject: Re: Of Gigs and UTEs


Joined:
October 2006
Posts: 5575

Location: big island
they are fairly undetectable from 10 feet and further away. if your guitar is black, all the better.
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Mark in Boise
Posted 2008-01-10 2:16 PM (#61671 - in reply to #61658)
Subject: Re: Of Gigs and UTEs


Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 12750

Location: Boise, Idaho
They are hardly noticeable. In fact, the package shows them in the epaulets and the first time I saw the picture, I didn't even see them in the guitar.
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lanaki
Posted 2008-01-10 2:17 PM (#61672 - in reply to #61658)
Subject: Re: Of Gigs and UTEs


Joined:
October 2006
Posts: 5575

Location: big island
adrian legg uses \'em.

(bottom of the article in the box area)
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FlySig
Posted 2008-01-10 2:24 PM (#61673 - in reply to #61658)
Subject: Re: Of Gigs and UTEs



Joined:
October 2005
Posts: 4028

Location: Utah
Originally posted by Slipkid:
Even tho just the thought of having my UTE and Brian's 1581 up on the same stage may give an OFC member a guitar-gasim
aka O'gasm.

BTW, what's an airlock look like?
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cliff
Posted 2008-01-10 2:28 PM (#61674 - in reply to #61658)
Subject: Re: Of Gigs and UTEs


Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 14842

Location: NJ
A shallow, black rubber plug (of various sizes).

They're in the treble bout holes below:

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lanaki
Posted 2008-01-10 2:30 PM (#61675 - in reply to #61658)
Subject: Re: Of Gigs and UTEs


Joined:
October 2006
Posts: 5575

Location: big island
only drawback is not being able to see the label inside :rolleyes:
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lanaki
Posted 2008-01-10 2:41 PM (#61676 - in reply to #61658)
Subject: Re: Of Gigs and UTEs


Joined:
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Posts: 5575

Location: big island

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Slipkid
Posted 2008-01-10 3:55 PM (#61677 - in reply to #61658)
Subject: Re: Of Gigs and UTEs



Joined:
September 2003
Posts: 9301

Location: south east Michigan
Air Locks ordered from Al.
Problem solved.
Life Is Good.
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cliff
Posted 2008-01-10 4:19 PM (#61678 - in reply to #61658)
Subject: Re: Of Gigs and UTEs


Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 14842

Location: NJ
Good.

Now, . . . . about your "wardrobe" . . . . .
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Slipkid
Posted 2008-01-10 4:32 PM (#61679 - in reply to #61658)
Subject: Re: Of Gigs and UTEs



Joined:
September 2003
Posts: 9301

Location: south east Michigan
What's the problem?
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cliff
Posted 2008-01-10 4:52 PM (#61680 - in reply to #61658)
Subject: Re: Of Gigs and UTEs


Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 14842

Location: NJ
Oh, . . . nothing . . . .
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Waskel
Posted 2008-01-10 5:42 PM (#61681 - in reply to #61658)
Subject: Re: Of Gigs and UTEs



Joined:
February 2005
Posts: 11840

Location: closely held secret
S'ok, Brad. We know you're not the only member with wardrobe issues...
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moody, p.i.
Posted 2008-01-10 6:09 PM (#61682 - in reply to #61658)
Subject: Re: Of Gigs and UTEs


Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15654

Location: SoCal
How's Brian doing these days with his Adamas II?
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Jeff W.
Posted 2008-01-10 6:10 PM (#61683 - in reply to #61658)
Subject: Re: Of Gigs and UTEs


Joined:
November 2003
Posts: 11039

Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub
....and it hasn't been washed it since i wore it last.
I remember that day... 96, humid... long, long parade route.
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stephent28
Posted 2008-01-10 6:13 PM (#61684 - in reply to #61658)
Subject: Re: Of Gigs and UTEs



Joined:
April 2004
Posts: 13303

Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066
You're not the only one who remembers.....
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Waskel
Posted 2008-01-10 6:26 PM (#61685 - in reply to #61658)
Subject: Re: Of Gigs and UTEs



Joined:
February 2005
Posts: 11840

Location: closely held secret
Originally posted by Jeff W.:
I remember that day... 96, humid... long, long parade route.
...and you the only clown. A heavy responsibility indeed.
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Jeff W.
Posted 2008-01-10 6:37 PM (#61686 - in reply to #61658)
Subject: Re: Of Gigs and UTEs


Joined:
November 2003
Posts: 11039

Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub
I'm a clown, I amuse you? I make you laugh, I'm here to fu@kin' amuse you?
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Waskel
Posted 2008-01-10 6:46 PM (#61687 - in reply to #61658)
Subject: Re: Of Gigs and UTEs



Joined:
February 2005
Posts: 11840

Location: closely held secret
"Are you still afraid of clowns?"
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Jeff W.
Posted 2008-01-10 7:03 PM (#61688 - in reply to #61658)
Subject: Re: Of Gigs and UTEs


Joined:
November 2003
Posts: 11039

Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub
Absolutely.




(seems somehow appropriate that this is my 9000th post... maybe I'll find a life down there around his feet)
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stephent28
Posted 2008-01-10 7:31 PM (#61689 - in reply to #61658)
Subject: Re: Of Gigs and UTEs



Joined:
April 2004
Posts: 13303

Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066
I got something that you can find down there....


(since we have somehow ended up in the gutter)
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stephent28
Posted 2008-01-10 7:33 PM (#61690 - in reply to #61658)
Subject: Re: Of Gigs and UTEs



Joined:
April 2004
Posts: 13303

Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066
deleted (by me) due to content

contact me via PM to see if the offer is of interest
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stephent28
Posted 2008-01-10 7:45 PM (#61691 - in reply to #61658)
Subject: Re: Of Gigs and UTEs



Joined:
April 2004
Posts: 13303

Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066
Damn Weaser.....you are GOOD! :eek:

I can't believe you read the original message before I had common sense take over and change it....all of 15 seconds

Anyway....PM answered!
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fillhixx
Posted 2008-01-10 7:57 PM (#61692 - in reply to #61658)
Subject: Re: Of Gigs and UTEs



Joined:
November 2005
Posts: 4820

Location: Campbell River, British Columbia
Darn! Hate it when I zip out to do some real work and miss some small bit of off-colour cleverness.
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stephent28
Posted 2008-01-10 8:00 PM (#61693 - in reply to #61658)
Subject: Re: Of Gigs and UTEs



Joined:
April 2004
Posts: 13303

Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066
Shouldn't you be writing some lyrics or something?
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Brian T
Posted 2008-01-10 8:24 PM (#61694 - in reply to #61658)
Subject: Re: Of Gigs and UTEs


Joined:
May 2003
Posts: 425

Location: SE Michigan
Thanks for asking about the 1581 Paul. I really like the guitar, playability and unplugged tone are excellant, and it's loud.

But I am a bit disappointed with the plugged in tone from the Optima pre-amp. Lots of fizzing and quacking. The EQ helps but it doesnt sound as good as the OP-PRO. I just picked up a Fishman Aura dreadnought pedal and tried it through a PA for the first time last night. Best image seems to be number 13. It really helps to warm up piezo tone and smooths out a lot of the rough noisy spots.

Brad and I are starting to play this one bar pretty regularly. If it keeps up I may consider a VXT with seperate amps for acoustic and electric and some sort of foot switch to toggle between them.
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Weaser P
Posted 2008-01-10 9:05 PM (#61695 - in reply to #61658)
Subject: Re: Of Gigs and UTEs


Joined:
October 2005
Posts: 5327

Location: Cicero, NY
Originally posted by stephent28:
Damn Weaser.....you are GOOD! :eek:

I can't believe you read the original message before I had common sense take over and change it....all of 15 seconds

Anyway....PM answered!


I know NUTINK!
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stephent28
Posted 2008-01-11 12:23 AM (#61696 - in reply to #61658)
Subject: Re: Of Gigs and UTEs



Joined:
April 2004
Posts: 13303

Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066
and you are being amply compensated for your complacency!
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fillhixx
Posted 2008-01-11 12:43 AM (#61697 - in reply to #61658)
Subject: Re: Of Gigs and UTEs



Joined:
November 2005
Posts: 4820

Location: Campbell River, British Columbia
Originally posted by stephent28:
Shouldn't you be writing
Can't listen to music at work. Throws the drummer off beat.
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moody, p.i.
Posted 2008-01-11 12:54 AM (#61698 - in reply to #61658)
Subject: Re: Of Gigs and UTEs


Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15654

Location: SoCal
Brian, that's interesting about the Optima. There are a number of people here who consider it the best Ovation's ever produced. Keep us posted on what happens with your quest for good plugged in sound.

Anybody have any ideas why Brian's dealing with an Optima that doesn't sound, well, optimal?
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Waskel
Posted 2008-01-11 7:11 AM (#61699 - in reply to #61658)
Subject: Re: Of Gigs and UTEs



Joined:
February 2005
Posts: 11840

Location: closely held secret
Check all the obvious stuff... battery, internal connections, settings, etc... then call Budny and see if he has any ideas.

Brian, I'm surprised as well. I've always found the Optima to be very dependable, producing clear, warm tone. If yours has "lots of fizzing and quacking" then there's something wrong somewhere.
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cliff
Posted 2008-01-11 10:31 AM (#61700 - in reply to #61658)
Subject: Re: Of Gigs and UTEs


Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 14842

Location: NJ
Brad;

Check your e-mail . . .
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Slipkid
Posted 2008-01-11 10:39 AM (#61701 - in reply to #61658)
Subject: Re: Of Gigs and UTEs



Joined:
September 2003
Posts: 9301

Location: south east Michigan
You must have sent it to my house.
I'll check it when I get home.
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schroeder
Posted 2008-01-11 5:39 PM (#61702 - in reply to #61658)
Subject: Re: Of Gigs and UTEs


Joined:
November 2004
Posts: 4413

The Optima and the OP40/50 were great preamps. I don't see any improvement from the Op Pro Studio.
And I still like the tuner better in the old preamps.
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Phil Wong
Posted 2008-01-11 10:03 PM (#61703 - in reply to #61658)
Subject: Re: Of Gigs and UTEs


Joined:
June 2003
Posts: 1792

Location: Rego Park, NY,
Originally posted by Jeff W.:
Absolutely.




(seems somehow appropriate that this is my 9000th post... maybe I'll find a life down there around his feet)
Jeff I just finished watching IT. Ordered it from Netflix.
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Beggin
Posted 2008-01-11 11:35 PM (#61704 - in reply to #61658)
Subject: Re: Of Gigs and UTEs


Joined:
November 2006
Posts: 2241

Location: Simpsonville, SC
Tha book was better....always is...sumpin about tha imagination that makes it that way....however tha movie was pretty good too.
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cliff
Posted 2008-01-14 9:22 AM (#61705 - in reply to #61658)
Subject: Re: Of Gigs and UTEs


Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 14842

Location: NJ
Brad;

D'you get my e-mail??
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Slipkid
Posted 2008-01-14 10:03 AM (#61706 - in reply to #61658)
Subject: Re: Of Gigs and UTEs



Joined:
September 2003
Posts: 9301

Location: south east Michigan
Yes... PM sent.
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Todd
Posted 2008-01-30 11:04 AM (#61707 - in reply to #61658)
Subject: Re: Of Gigs and UTEs


Joined:
October 2003
Posts: 134

Location: Lakewood, Ohio
Are the bracings completely glued down from end to end in your UTE? Maybe loose bracings contribute to top vibration/feedback?
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Slipkid
Posted 2008-01-30 11:49 AM (#61708 - in reply to #61658)
Subject: Re: Of Gigs and UTEs



Joined:
September 2003
Posts: 9301

Location: south east Michigan
A couple air-locks took care of the problem.
I'll look at the bracing next time I'm back there but I don't think that is the problem. It's just that those style tops are so damn sensitive and reactive.
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