ashtraycat's Reviews

Roland A-49 is good for using with Roland boutique synths

Great feeling full-size keys (49 full-size keys with velocity sensitivity). I have my Roland A-49 connected via a MIDI cable to a Roland Boutique SH-01a synth. This is a big improvement over the K-25m mini keyboard. The A-49 has simple controls... perfect for my needs.

To use with a USB power adapter: hold down pitch, assign & function and connect USB power.

Fender Mustang hardtail MIM 'offset series. Lightweight and dependable.

Fender Mustang hardtail MIM 'offset series'. The single coil model seems to have been wired from the factory with 500k pots (same as the p-90 models) and sounds very shrill and trebly. Just change the pots to 250k to take off the shrill high end and you are good to go. A Very well made, light and resonant guitar with a great feeling chunky maple neck. The string-thru body hardtail Strat bridge is very resonant. If you prefer vintage-style tuners, the Fender Classic Gear tuners are a drop in replacement. A Switchcraft short 3-way toggle switch is also a recommended upgrade.

Fender AVRI Jaguar

A great guitar when you have it set-up to your liking. I installed a Staytrem bridge and a Stewmac 1-degree neck shim. We had a love-hate beginning but we are friends now. Lot's of tone options and great sounding pickups.

FUZZZ

The Malekko Omicron Fuzz is great Super-Fuzz clone. An internal 3 way switch selects the mode: the top position has a trebly velcro octave fuzz sound, the low position for scooped mids and evil low end and the middle position is a blend of both. There is also an internal bias that can be set for more octave or grit. The pedal is too small for a battery and it uses a standard 9V DC negative tip power supply. An isolated power supply (like a T-Rex Fuel Tank or similar) is recommended to avoid any additional hiss.

Highwood saddles

I highly recommend these saddles. My 'Vista Series' Jagmaster now has a set of (10.8mm) relic Highwood Strat saddles. Bends are easier with the notched saddles and setup was very easy.

flanger

Really nice budget clone of the Electric Mistress flanger.

green big muff

Electro-Harmonix green Big Muff reissue. Every setting sounds good.

fuzzzz

I was made aware of this octave fuzz pedal by Rowland S. Howard. It sounds like an evil motorbike about to explode. It's groovy. Sonic Youth & Dinosaur Jr. think so too.

Squier Short scale Jaguar bass

Comfortable and lightweight short scale bass. I fitted a Fender HiMass bridge onto my Squier Jaguar bass. It's an easy drop-in mod that stops neck dive and gives the bass better balance.

true love

Any day playing my Mustang with an out-of-phase setting and a fuzz pedal is a happy day.

number one

Squier Vista Jagmaster (crafted in Japan). My first real electric guitar. Fender Japan quality. Lightweight basswood body and slim 24" scale neck. The neck is slim and very similar in feel to a '69 Fender Mustang neck. I upgraded my Vista series Jagmaster with 'Highwood' relic contoured Strat (10.8mm) saddles. Bends are easier with the notched saddles and setup was very easy. A highly recommended upgrade.