BoogieMKIIA

This thread has helped me better understand my Studio Custom and how to approach it. Seems a bit bright but not related to wood. This is due to the tone cap value and pots (all stock Hamer on mine). Just adjust your amp or turn down the tone control to taste. Has been stated plenty of times, now it makes more sense as to why.

May be worth trying these on my Les Paul. Won’t squeeze the budget. If you can hear a difference, it should be possible to measure it. I’m now retired but worked at several companies that had great labs and experts. Finding exactly what makes the difference is much more difficult. Those material labs would be key. I’ll let it be, I can go on about different ways to measure speakers, electrical stuff.

Have you compared these to the RS pots? I really like the taper, these look similar. Vintage inspired seems to use the same taper for volume and tone. Some other places recommend a standard taper. Hmm, did Gibson spec different pots for volume and tone?

What differences have you heard from changing brand/ type of capacitor? From what to what? The complex impedance will differ between capacitors - capacitance, resistance, inductance - depends on how different and interactions with pickups, pots, other wiring. I don’t doubt there can be an audible difference, have yet to find a technical reference that can explain it in circuit terms.

The value is the biggest factor, going with pickup type and pot value typically. I have put paper in oil caps and can’t tell a difference in tone between them and ceramic, polypropylene, etc. as long as they are of reasonable quality. I am not changing my Hamer caps. Guitar pickup signals are low voltage and there is no AC voltage to block. Most guitar tone caps have a voltage rating more than 20x the signal level. Others swear by specific types. Cheap and easy to change for value or type if you are curious (except ES-335 types where you have to pull parts thru the pickup cavity).

Recently got a JJ 6L6 pair from Eurotubes for my Mark IIA and they are sounding good to me. Normally used Mesa tubes and all were fine to my ears. Could be worth checking out the various STR versions. They are manufactured by few remaining Russian, Chinese and Slovakian companies as everyone else and are tested and matched. The website has some descriptions and there are decoders on the web, @tbonesullivan provided the following - “There are some smaller tube factories in central / eastern Europe as well as some in China. Psvane is one in china that comes to mind. Unfortunately the Shuguang factory that really worked with Tube Amp Doctor and others to make some great tubes has been shut down since a fire, and I would guess will not be coming back. The tube factories still in large scale production are just JJ electronics in Czechia and the Reflektor / X-pul plant in Saratov, Russia. Both of these make multiple variants of the 6L6 tube types. Mesa currently has the following types: 6L6 STR 443 - These are the same as the Sovtek 6L6WXT and Electro Harmonix 6L6GC. I think these are actually a variant of the Russian 3PS tube. 6L6 STR 445 - These are JJ 6L6GC tubes. A lot of people like these for various uses. I think they are "rounder" sounding than the Russian tubes. 6L6 STR 441 - These are Russian, and most people believe that these are the Tung-Sol 6L6GC-STR tubes, which are part of their reissue series. 6L6 STR 448 - These are, I believe, the same as the TAD Redbase, and are made by PSvane in China. I've heard VERY good things about these tubes. So, you can get these tubes elsewhere, however you need to make sure you can get a pair that will bias correctly in a Mesa, which probably came stock with the STR 415 tubes which were I believe Sylvania. Ruby Tubes and Groove Tubes may also market many of these same tubes. Groove tubes are rated, and the Mesa rating system covers groove tubes ratings from 4 to 6.” My opinion, unless you really push output tubes, you may not hear much difference between brands. 15 watts of output power is plenty loud through an efficient speaker.

How many Shishkov’s remain?

Wonder if it’s being discontinued? Still showing on Mesa’s web site. Quite a buy if you like them.

Depends on how much you want to spend. I did a home made version with left over hardwood floor planks and a half round to get an angle. A Hot Spot wall wart power supply with multi plugs. 3M hook and loop. Great if you aren’t transporting it much. As I got more pedals and started gigging more, got a Dingbat medium with power supply and case. Wasn’t cheap but I don’t regret it a bit. You can also look for used boards. One that holds five pedals shouldn’t cost too much.

Beautiful

I have always liked red guitars. Probably don’t have one because I’m a UK fan and not a UL fan. I would get one like this if I was looking.

I think differences in many pickups are small, especially PAF types. It is amusing that each new Gibson version is more accurate to the original, same as all the Les Paul reissues. I did find a big improvement with Gravelins in my Studio Custom (were SD 59) and my Les Paul ( sometimes I think about putting the first edition Pearly Gates back in the bridge). Of course, you kinda know what different construction Josh did. I haven't done other swaps due to cost and bother, so maybe I'm missing something. Wouldn't mind trying Carondelet pickups, seems most are not PAF clones and are truly hot rodded. Back in the day, I never tried Super Distortion.

I like black and orange streaks in Korina. Searched for awhile to find boards for my Boogie cab. But also like clean Korina. I’m playing at Gerstle’s Saturday 3/29 if you happen to be about in Louisville.

I love the red/gold. Willcutt had one years ago, it may have been pre victory inlays. Stunning in person.

I’m not in the market, this is a really great deal for a fantastic guitar. A new one would be +$3500