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The Black Keys Fan Lounge Forum » Forum: Equipment & Recording - Recent Topics http://theblackkeysfanlounge.com/forum/ The Black Keys Fan Lounge Forum » Forum: Equipment & Recording - Recent Topics en Sun, 12 Feb 2012 06:06:05 +0000 stackshotmazz on "Silvertone 1454 project!!!" http://theblackkeysfanlounge.com/forum/topic/silvertone-1454-project#post-30177 Fri, 20 Jan 2012 13:40:41 +0000 stackshotmazz 30177@http://theblackkeysfanlounge.com/forum/ well ive had the guitar for awhile now, but ive been too busy to post the pics. i Picked up a Silvertone 1454 project! The Silvertone 1454 is the essentially the same guitar as dan's main Harmony Heath, but with different pickups and a single cutaway design. As far as my knowledge extends, Dan has only been photographed playing his silvertone 1454 at Bonnaroo '07. <img src="http://img851.imageshack.us/img851/5922/dansilvertone14547.jpg"> I bought one not only for the Dan factor, but because IMO, these guitars are BEAUTIFUL. i love the single cutaway design, and im a sucker for 3 pickup guitars. I also really dig the 3 pickup selector switches, a very unique feature. <img src="http://img542.imageshack.us/img542/7418/gedc0353.jpg"> <img src="http://img856.imageshack.us/img856/2969/gedc0354.jpg"> <img src="http://img846.imageshack.us/img846/7632/gedc0360.jpg"> Mine is from 1963 and is still in super condition!! <img src="http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/1989/gedc0361jgtq.jpg"> <img src="http://img32.imageshack.us/img32/7055/gedc0362n.jpg"> man just look at that killer finish; it has faded enough to reveal the grain beneath. its my guitar and im STILL drooling over the pics! <img src="http://img195.imageshack.us/img195/9045/gedc0363.jpg"> <img src="http://img29.imageshack.us/img29/9835/gedc0364s.jpg"> <img src="http://img696.imageshack.us/img696/4828/gedc0367r.jpg"> <img src="http://img692.imageshack.us/img692/3841/gedc0378cz.jpg"> i got the original wiring harness, but these potentiometers have the small d-shaped shafts that really only fit the factory knobs. those little knobs are expensive as hell these days going for $30+PER KNOB.i need 6 of them <img src="http://theblackkeysfanlounge.com/forum/my-plugins/bb-smilies/default/icon_bandit.gif" title=":bandit:" class="bb_smilies" /> The only real issue with this guitar is that someone turned the headstock into swiss cheese. <img src="http://img812.imageshack.us/img812/2461/silvertone14546.png"> not quite sure how---or WHY for that matter, but there are 24 screw holes in the back of the headstock. i assume the previous owner[s] obviously went through a number of tuners before they found the set they liked. <img src="http://img835.imageshack.us/img835/3315/gedc0413a.jpg"> here is a pic after i worked on the headstock for a bit. i plugged all the holes and filled up that missing chunk. and now...we wait for my bank account to fill up again <img src="http://theblackkeysfanlounge.com/forum/my-plugins/bb-smilies/default/icon_twisted.gif" title=":twisted:" class="bb_smilies" /> Four_Until_Late on "Howlin' For You Tremolo Settings?" http://theblackkeysfanlounge.com/forum/topic/howlin-for-you-tremolo-settings-1#post-30698 Tue, 07 Feb 2012 17:28:30 +0000 Four_Until_Late 30698@http://theblackkeysfanlounge.com/forum/ I'm trying to get that tremolo sound from the record with a Boss Tr-2. I'm not sure if that is what he used on the album, but I know he has used them live. Any tips? Mirby 2.0 on "Latest pedalboard shot, Dan's?" http://theblackkeysfanlounge.com/forum/topic/latest-pedalboard-shot-dans#post-30692 Tue, 07 Feb 2012 15:44:26 +0000 Mirby 2.0 30692@http://theblackkeysfanlounge.com/forum/ I snipped this from the recently released GOTC video. If I had to guess I'd say this is not Dan's but rather one of those two other guys'. Thoughts? <img src="http://i473.photobucket.com/albums/rr100/jvande7/c12d596c.jpg"> stackshotmazz on "alright, lets settle this Harmony business" http://theblackkeysfanlounge.com/forum/topic/alright-lets-settle-this-harmony-business#post-23633 Fri, 29 Jul 2011 22:02:34 +0000 stackshotmazz 23633@http://theblackkeysfanlounge.com/forum/ so, ive been looking at Dan's gear list and i see both the Harmony H78 and the Harmony Heathkit TG 46 listed in his repertiore, and although im not exactly doubting that he has both; i dont think he has ever played a Harmony H78. I was going through my collection of black keys pictures and i noticed that dan always plays the Harmony Heathkit TG46 live. HOW DO I KNOW[you ask]? well, look at the pictures of a Harmony H78 headstock: <img src="http://harmony.demont.net/images/0/H78_1964_04.jpg"> <img src="http://harmony.demont.net/images/0/H78_08.jpg"> some even had that fleur-de-leis design on there. now check out the Heathkit TG46 headstock design: <img src="http://harmony.demont.net/images/18/H78_H14541_Heathkit_02.jpg"> <img src="http://harmony.demont.net/images/18/Heath_TG46_H78_1968_04.JPG"> the story behind these guitars for those who dont know; is that the Heath Company commissioned the Harmony guitar company to build a model for a 'build it yourself' kit. They chose the H78 model and added the "BY HEATH" logo beneath the Harmony logo. Since only a short run of instruments were made for the Heath company, it makes Dan's Harmony very rare. now look at these numerous and random pictures of dan and his Harmony and you be the judge. if you look closely you can always see the small: 'by heath' logo. <img src="http://media.al.com/pow/photo/dan-auerbach-6b3383597e634697_large.jpg"> <img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3448/3361422237_a6e32cd426.jpg"> <img src="http://www.culturebully.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/dan-auerbach-first-avenue-2009-jon-behm-06.jpg"> <img src="http://www.contactmusic.com/pics/le/the_black_keys_080711/dan-auerbach_3428858.jpg"> <img src="http://blogs.tennessean.com/tunein/files/2011/06/Dan-Auerbach1.gif"> <img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JJ2xR5HfpXs/TZxgW-D9j5I/AAAAAAAAIaM/t46JJyaeVDc/s1600/Dan-Auerbach.jpg"> <img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3571/3400956340_a899f14e93.jpg"> <img src="http://blogs.philadelphiaweekly.com/music/files/2009/11/auerbach.jpg"> this is probably irrelevant info to some of you, some may find it interesting. I just wanted to clear up that for those who may have been wondering; Dan Auerbach plays a Harmony Heathkit TG46; technically not an actualy Harmony H78. i will still be on the lookout for pictures, but like i said, ive only seen him play a Heathkit model. <img src="http://theblackkeysfanlounge.com/forum/my-plugins/bb-smilies/default/icon_cool.gif" title="8)" class="bb_smilies" /> stackshotmazz on "Dan Auerbach H47 Project!" http://theblackkeysfanlounge.com/forum/topic/dan-auerbach-h47-project#post-29089 Sat, 17 Dec 2011 15:40:42 +0000 stackshotmazz 29089@http://theblackkeysfanlounge.com/forum/ Well, im back again for a build project. This one is gonna be EXCLUSIVE to the TBKFL! feel honored! <img src="http://theblackkeysfanlounge.com/forum/my-plugins/bb-smilies/default/icon_cool.gif" title="8)" class="bb_smilies" /> OK. well, a little back story. 11 months ago, i was really obsessed with 'attack and release'. Thats when Dan started bringing out the H47 Stratotone. 'I Got Mine' is bar none my top favorite Black Keys song EVER. The Letterman performance is my favorite version of it played live, so i told myself i needed a Stratotone. Without doing ANY research, i browsed ebay for cheap stratotones and bought one from a pawn shop. AFTER it arrived, i did some research and found out that i bought a H45 Mars Stratotone and Dan Played a H47 Mercury. I compared the models and scoffed. i flexed my luthier muscles and said ILL MAKE IT WORK! there was a black CLOUD over that project because it just wasnt jiving. If you desire, you can read up on my progress here: <a href="http://www.mylespaul.com/forums/luthiers-corner/124936-harmonious-project.html">Harmony H45 project</a> Eventually, i stumble on an empty H47 body a few days ago and swipe it up.NOW, my work can begin <img src="http://theblackkeysfanlounge.com/forum/my-plugins/bb-smilies/default/icon_lol.gif" title=":lol:" class="bb_smilies" /> <img src="http://img546.imageshack.us/img546/7162/gedc0272o.jpg"> the guitar came to me in great condition. As you can see, the finish has faded from that deep red to a nice coppery orange in places. <img src="http://img440.imageshack.us/img440/2104/gedc0263.jpg"> <img src="http://img708.imageshack.us/img708/2404/gedc0251.jpg"> <img src="http://img607.imageshack.us/img607/25/gedc0253.jpg"> <img src="http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/9393/gedc0258o.jpg"> <img src="http://img803.imageshack.us/img803/7923/gedc0264.jpg"> Just like Dan's this one still has a ruby red back side! <img src="http://img191.imageshack.us/img191/2157/gedc0265.jpg"> <img src="http://img833.imageshack.us/img833/4792/gedc0266p.jpg"> ill be replacing those plate tuners to modern Gotoh's. <img src="http://img811.imageshack.us/img811/1845/gedc0270xc.jpg"> Here is the main and only concern i have with the guitar. The celluloid inlays are beginning to shrink and warp. I need to do some more research on a remedy method, but im 90% sure it wont be a complicated remedy. <img src="http://img844.imageshack.us/img844/1431/gedc0271f.jpg"> normally the sides of these harmonys are cracked up, but this one is still untouched! then i STRIPPED HER DOWN!! <img src="http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/4908/gedc0283.jpg"> LOOK at those TAN LINES! The nitrocellulose lacquer fades under UV exposure, so the areas of the finish covered up didnt fade at all! <img src="http://img198.imageshack.us/img198/5950/gedc0285.jpg"> <img src="http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/7803/gedc0295.jpg"> <img src="http://theblackkeysfanlounge.com/forum/my-plugins/bb-smilies/default/icon_bandit.gif" title=":bandit:" class="bb_smilies" /> Mirby 2.0 on "Dan's Guild?" http://theblackkeysfanlounge.com/forum/topic/dans-guild#post-30611 Sat, 04 Feb 2012 18:03:33 +0000 Mirby 2.0 30611@http://theblackkeysfanlounge.com/forum/ Not the singer but the other guy, obviously. Is that the same axe Dan has been using lately? <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Z5bdu1D_WU" rel="nofollow">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Z5bdu1D_WU</a> Mirby 2.0 on "Chasing Dan's fuzz (DIY and technical jargon within)" http://theblackkeysfanlounge.com/forum/topic/chasing-dans-fuzz-diy-and-technical-jargon-within#post-29693 Sun, 08 Jan 2012 21:06:32 +0000 Mirby 2.0 29693@http://theblackkeysfanlounge.com/forum/ I've been building fuzzes for a few years now. Got started building them because of Dan, basically. Since I started I've amassed quite a collection of different "clones" of known "Dan" fuzzes. I thought it might be nice to share what I've found/learned over the years (had quite a spurt of learnin' over the past few weeks)... 1. Maestro MFZ-1. This is the pedal that started it all for me. The Big Come Up fuzz. I had an original unit once upon a time, needed money and sold it, missed it and wanted to build an exact copy, and that's how I got into pedal building. If you decide to build one of these here are the most important technical notes... C1/C4/C8 are all poly film caps, C3/C7 are ceramic disc caps, C2/C5/C6 are electrolytic caps. D1 can be any 1N400x diode but D2/D3 (clipping diodes) are 1N4148. Most importantly, the IC is a TL022CP, NOT a TL072. Either one will work, but the TL022CP gives you the correct/original sound whereas the TL072 has a slightly different sound. Make sure you use an IC socket when you build this pedal, that way you can easily swap IC's and pick the one you like best. Here's the vero layout... <a href="http://i473.photobucket.com/albums/rr100/jvande7/vero26pcb.png" rel="nofollow">http://i473.photobucket.com/albums/rr100/jvande7/vero26pcb.png</a> 2.Fulltone Soul Bender. This is a Tonebender fuzz with some modifications from Mike at Fulltone. You can build a clone using this info... <a href="http://www.generalguitargadgets.com/projects/73-fuzz-tones/161-tone-bender-3-knob-boutique" rel="nofollow">http://www.generalguitargadgets.com/projects/73-fuzz-tones/161-tone-bender-3-knob-boutique</a> This will get you some Thickfreakness fuzztones and more. Techinical notes... The tone knob is reversed, keep that in mind - CW produces more bass and CCW more treble. It has an internal trimpot which sets the bias of Q3. The trimpot should be set so that the collector voltage on Q3 is somewhere between 4.5v and 5.5v - whatever sounds best to your ears. Apparently the originals had a 500k volume pot but after July 2001 that was switched to 250k which gives the pedal more volume and a slightly different sound. The general consensus is that the updated version sounds bigger/thicker and better. 3. Green Russian Muff. This is the Attack & Release fuzz. Makes me think of Same Old Thing on the Crystal Ballroom DVD. I recently did a lot of research and some tweaking to get my straight up Green Russian Muff clone to sound more like the Hoof Fuzz from Earthquaker Devices. Here's the info for a straight up clone of the Green Russian Muff... <a href="http://www.generalguitargadgets.com/projects/17-distortion/108-big-muff-pi" rel="nofollow">http://www.generalguitargadgets.com/projects/17-distortion/108-big-muff-pi</a> To get more of a Hoof Fuzz sound, the absolute best thing you can do is change D1/D2/D3/D4 (clipping diodes) to red LED's. LED's are actually a type of diode, and they can be substituted with great results. The color you choose matters. Red is what the Hoof uses. You can also mess with the tone stack values - I made one small adjustment there which I think gives it a mucvh more Hoof like tone - change R19 from 20k (stock value at the above link) to 33k (you can even go to 39k if you like). Using the schematic/layout from the above link, R19 is the low pass resistor and by increasing it's value, you remove more of the treble when the tone knob is set low/bassy. More info on modding the big muff can be found here... <a href="http://www.kitrae.net/music/big_muff_guts.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.kitrae.net/music/big_muff_guts.html</a> There are MANY links out there but this one is the best at explaining what the different parts do, and how you should alter them to get what you're looking for. 4. Jordan Bosstone. Another one of Dan's reported favorites. I recently built one and now I know why. AWESOME fuzz. Sputtery, thick, classic fuzz that can do stoner rock and much more. Cleans up nicely too. I built mine so that the input capacitor is switchable between .1uF and .022uF and it turned out great. The stock input cap value is .022uF but I found info on the web suggesting .1uF for a thicker sound. I couldn't decide between the two so I decide to do both. Here's the vero layout I used... <a href="http://www.aronnelson.com/gallery/main.php/v/DRAGONFLY-LAYOUTS_0/album18/album144/JORDAN_BOSSTONE_001.jpg.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.aronnelson.com/gallery/main.php/v/DRAGONFLY-LAYOUTS_0/album18/album144/JORDAN_BOSSTONE_001.jpg.html</a> 5. Ibanez Standard Fuzz & 6. Zvex Octane 3 I put these together because they're both octave up fuzzes. They can get you Thickfreakness tones at settings where the octave is less noticeable, and at settings where the octave is more noticeable - they do great El Camino synth-like fuzzes. The Ibanez Standard Fuzz was one that had been on my list for a very long time. There isn't much info out there. I managed to get a hold of a layout but it has an error because of the unusual pinout of the transistors used, Q1-Q4 must all have their base and collector legs "twisted"/swapped. Here's the layout but it's not for beginners. If you do decide to try and build, be sure to read all the little notes on the layout, and you'll need to know about the unmarked resistors - There are 9 stand-up resistors and in order from left to right they are; R2, R5, R4 (2 strips above), R11, R15, R21 at the top, R17 next to C10, R22 top, R18 bottom next to C11. <a href="http://i473.photobucket.com/albums/rr100/jvande7/ScreenShot2011-12-15at43030PM.png" rel="nofollow">http://i473.photobucket.com/albums/rr100/jvande7/ScreenShot2011-12-15at43030PM.png</a> As far as the Zvex Octane 3, all of the info is right here... <a href="http://www.madbeanpedals.com/projects/Poindexter/docs/Poindexter.pdf" rel="nofollow">http://www.madbeanpedals.com/projects/Poindexter/docs/Poindexter.pdf</a> You can buy the PCB from MadBean and the results are fantastic. If you want to build an octave fuzz for Black Keys sounds, and you're not confident that you can tackle the Ibanez Standard Fuzz, try this one for sure. Awesome pedal. I'm not going to go into detail on this one. You can research this pedal, and almost all pedals, by googling or checking youtube for demos/clips. I've also built clones of the Zvex Fuzz Factory, D*A*M Red Rooster, Dallas Rangemaster and those all sound great too but I wanted to focus on the Black Keys related fuzzes. Hope it helps. turneverythingto11 on "Dan's Guild guitar" http://theblackkeysfanlounge.com/forum/topic/dans-guild-guitar#post-28416 Wed, 07 Dec 2011 14:24:32 +0000 turneverythingto11 28416@http://theblackkeysfanlounge.com/forum/ Is his new guitar the same one as muddy waters has in this picture ? <img src="http://losslessalbum.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/waters.jpg"> SavageAnimal on "What gear do you use?" http://theblackkeysfanlounge.com/forum/topic/what-gear-do-you-use#post-747 Mon, 04 Jan 2010 05:21:25 +0000 SavageAnimal 747@http://theblackkeysfanlounge.com/forum/ Dear fellow musicians and gear idiots, I thought it would be nice to know what you guys use for making music. Guitars, amps, effects, accessoires... Anthony Blue on "Dan's Dual Amp Setup?" http://theblackkeysfanlounge.com/forum/topic/dans-dual-amp-setup#post-29888 Fri, 13 Jan 2012 16:34:26 +0000 Anthony Blue 29888@http://theblackkeysfanlounge.com/forum/ I'm really interested in Dan's live sound. I read from an article that Dan uses a Silverface Fender Quad Reverb and a Marshall JTM-45 with the big 8x10 cabinet. In the article, Dan goes on by saying he uses the Fender for the reverb and has delay on the Marshall. Does he A/B between the two? Fender for clean reverb - slightly overdriven tones (the quad reverb has a fuckton of clean headroom. Can't really say if it ever breaks up) and Marshall for the Fuzz tones? I'm haven't quite figured it out yet. Insight or ideas, fellas? -Ant