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Alembic Club » Miscellaneous » Archive: 2006 » Archive through July 16, 2006 » Anyone used Fret FX add-on LED's? « Previous Next »

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jazzyvee
Senior Member
Username: jazzyvee

Post Number: 411
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Thursday, May 04, 2006 - 11:55 pm:   Edit Post

I'm considering getting a set for each of my guitars and basses I use live, SC DLX, Europa 5 Orion Guitar, Strat.
The UK Pound/Dollar rate is good at the moment so they are at the right price :-)

Anyone used/fitted them & how do they shape up?
My strat is an Ultra strat with an ebony fretboard which is about half the thickness of the alembic Orion guitar so I wonder how well it would stick to the edge of the fretboard.

I wouldn't want them if they were so bright that it looked posey on stage but would welcome some for the ease of positioning fingers on dark dingy stages :-)

any advice, horror stories welcome.

Jazzyvee
dadabass2001
Senior Member
Username: dadabass2001

Post Number: 573
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Friday, May 05, 2006 - 5:42 am:   Edit Post

Jazzy,
I've got a set on one of my Epics and I love it. My second Epic has factory installed LEDs.
I can't speak to guitar setups however. They show some guitars on their website, including a strat. Perhaps another member will have some guitar experience to share...
Mike
fmm
Intermediate Member
Username: fmm

Post Number: 132
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Friday, May 05, 2006 - 5:43 am:   Edit Post

I installed a set for a student. We were both initially happy with the results, but they're kind of fragile. You can't pick up the bass by the neck after installation; the LED strip is brittle enough that you'll crack it and permanently break the array. My student found this out the hard way.
jazzyvee
Senior Member
Username: jazzyvee

Post Number: 412
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Friday, May 05, 2006 - 11:01 am:   Edit Post

Thats a 50:50 split. A good point though about not being able to pick the guitar/ bass by the neck.

My alembic guitar is very light so I may get away with it on that. However the basses are significantly heavier especially the SC and i do grab them by the neck when I pick them up rather than trust the strap. Maybe I should just try one on the guitar first and see how I get on.
Cheers for the responses.
Jazzyvee
palembic
Senior Member
Username: palembic

Post Number: 2387
Registered: 9-2002
Posted on Friday, May 05, 2006 - 2:54 pm:   Edit Post

Hey Jazzy ..how are you my friend?
I installed Red fret FX on Bonnie!
There was no problem in taking her by the neck or whatever. It's spectacular for the audience ("hey dude ...are you playing a runway????") because the LEDs are ON the side of the neck ...instead of IN the side of the neck when installed by construction.
HOWEVER!
I cracked the set by ...adjusting the nut of Bonnie!
I was not careful enough and the contacts broke when trying to adjust my nut height because the wire from the battery to the LED-ribbon is JUS in a critical point there!
So ...no Bonnie with red lights anymore.
Fragile ...yes!
Handy ...absolutely but ...BE CAREFUL!!!!!
For "normal" budgeted players it is not a big cost though!

Good luck!

Paul TBO
davehouck
Moderator
Username: davehouck

Post Number: 3776
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Friday, May 05, 2006 - 5:38 pm:   Edit Post

Can they be easily removed?

The reason I ask. It seems to me that if you ever decided to sell the instrument, some buyers looking for a high end hand made instrument like an Alembic are going to pass when they see the picture of the battery pack glued to the back of the headstock. Of course I'm just guessing; I haven't seen enough sales to have any actual idea of the effect on resale value. For all I know they may actually add to the value; but my guess would be that some potential buyers would pass and that the resale value would be diminished.
jazzyvee
Senior Member
Username: jazzyvee

Post Number: 413
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Saturday, May 06, 2006 - 2:16 am:   Edit Post

palembic, are you saying they will be very bright?
I guess it's too late to change my mind now as I ordered one for my guitar yesterday and hope they get here soon as we start touring as of Friday next week.
Will let you know how the stand up the the rigours of on the road touring.
I hope they do come off easily as I would be really unhappy if they damaged the guitar in any way.

Jazzyvee
palembic
Senior Member
Username: palembic

Post Number: 2390
Registered: 9-2002
Posted on Saturday, May 06, 2006 - 2:52 pm:   Edit Post

Moder Dave ...removing went very smooth. No "leftovers".
Jazzy ...yep ...VERY bright though I had the option with the two position: half and full.
Also very "visible" also from audience point of view.
Not bad you know, not bad!

Paul TBO
thebass
Advanced Member
Username: thebass

Post Number: 208
Registered: 3-2003
Posted on Sunday, May 07, 2006 - 1:30 am:   Edit Post

I had the fretFX installed on my EPIC fretless (which has found a new home in Amsterdam a month ago). Had no problems with robustness but they are quite bright as Paul wrote too. I absolutely recommend the brightness switch. I always ran them in the half position as full brightness rather seemed like a stage effect or a search light to me :-)
jazzyvee
Senior Member
Username: jazzyvee

Post Number: 414
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Sunday, May 07, 2006 - 2:07 am:   Edit Post

I'm off on the first leg of our 2007 tour next week so if they arrive in time I'll get to try them out on the road. The photo's on the FX ebay page makes them look really bright which could be a bit loud as all i want them for is a reference point not a light show lol.
I suppose at that price you can't have everything and I can always turn them off... lol

We are doing a USA tour this summer and also some dates in England and Europe so If anyone is around the area's we are touring this year give me a shout and if the band guest list isn't full I can try to get your name on. ( Numbers are limited usually but .....hey) Other than that It would be good to meet some fellow Alembic owners.
You can find the tour schedule on the Apache Indian Web site http://www.karmasound.com/livedates.asp

Jazzyvee
davehouck
Moderator
Username: davehouck

Post Number: 3784
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Sunday, May 07, 2006 - 9:31 am:   Edit Post

I didn't see any US dates on the schedule.

[Edit] I just noticed in your post in the Gigs section that US dates had not yet been confirmed.

(Message edited by davehouck on May 07, 2006)
jazzyvee
Senior Member
Username: jazzyvee

Post Number: 416
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Sunday, May 07, 2006 - 11:51 pm:   Edit Post

As far as I have been told, the USA West coast/Canada tour is happening. We don't usually get the venues and dates till it's all signed on the dotted line. As I guess you know anyway. With the music business, everything is "subject to change". :-)
As soon as dates, places etc come through I will post them.

Cheers
Jazzyvee
lbpesq
Senior Member
Username: lbpesq

Post Number: 1273
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Monday, May 08, 2006 - 12:08 am:   Edit Post

Jazzyvee:

I hope you're out here when I'm in town (I'll be on the East Coast this summer for a wedding). I'd love to check you guys out and offer you the opportunity to try a Series guitar and some other cool stuff if you have the time. Keep us informed of the schedule.

Bill, tgo
jazzyvee
Senior Member
Username: jazzyvee

Post Number: 418
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Monday, May 08, 2006 - 10:52 pm:   Edit Post

Thanks Bill, that would be fantastic. If my Orion guitar is the "Entry model" guitar for Alembic, I cannot begin to imagine what a series guitar sounds like. I imagine I'd want one badly if I heard it.

I hope the opportunity materialises.
Cheers
Jazzyvee
jacko
Senior Member
Username: jacko

Post Number: 637
Registered: 10-2002
Posted on Tuesday, May 09, 2006 - 4:34 am:   Edit Post

There aren't any scottish dates either ;-(

Graeme
jazzyvee
Senior Member
Username: jazzyvee

Post Number: 421
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Tuesday, May 09, 2006 - 10:48 am:   Edit Post

Erm.... no.
Closest on is York or Belgium.

Jazzyvee
jack
Member
Username: jack

Post Number: 58
Registered: 11-2005
Posted on Tuesday, May 09, 2006 - 11:40 am:   Edit Post

Regarding the Fret FX, I love 'em. Definitely get the dimmer switch option, it's only 10 more bucks. Also, you may want to reinforce the adhesive on the battery pack with some tape or something, especially if you jump around a bit on stage, as the pack can come off and would probably break the connection.

Look's like a great tour; demanding schedule. Hope to see some NYC dates...

-Jack
palembic
Senior Member
Username: palembic

Post Number: 2393
Registered: 9-2002
Posted on Tuesday, May 09, 2006 - 12:28 pm:   Edit Post

They're coming to Bree yoochie - they are coming to Bree Yoochie - teh're coming too ...
wait ...
hang on ...
Can I go to Bree
I'll try!
Jazzy the hell I'll try!

Paul TBO

Let's have drinks together!!
jazzyvee
Senior Member
Username: jazzyvee

Post Number: 423
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Tuesday, May 09, 2006 - 2:34 pm:   Edit Post

Yeah we just got an update to that, we are playing there on 24th June.
It would be great to meet up if you manage to travel there. Remind me closer to the date so I can see about a guest list pass or something.
For that show we are flying in, doing the gig and flying out the next day.
Cheers
Jazzyvee
jazzyvee
Senior Member
Username: jazzyvee

Post Number: 427
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Wednesday, May 10, 2006 - 2:33 pm:   Edit Post

hey Paul TBO, we are looking for some transport from Brussels airport to Bree for that gig. Do you know of any local minibus companies that you could recommend?
If so could you email me the company and phone number etc or web site so I can pass on to manager to check out.
THanks
Jazzyvee
palembic
Senior Member
Username: palembic

Post Number: 2394
Registered: 9-2002
Posted on Wednesday, May 10, 2006 - 10:12 pm:   Edit Post

I'll check today ...hang on.
How many people? Instruments?

PTBO
jazzyvee
Senior Member
Username: jazzyvee

Post Number: 428
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Wednesday, May 10, 2006 - 11:00 pm:   Edit Post

I will email you later and give you the details rather than clutter up this forum thread.
Cheers
JAzzyvee
spliffy
Junior
Username: spliffy

Post Number: 43
Registered: 3-2003
Posted on Thursday, May 11, 2006 - 4:58 am:   Edit Post

This site has 2 interesting options. I know you already purchased a unit, but this might be interesting anyway. I have not tried them. I do not jam on a regular basis anymore, so there is no need.

http://www.fretlord.com/Fretlaser.htm
http://www.fretlord.com/fretoptix.htm

Also JazzyVee, let us know if you will be coming to Toronto Canada, I will try make it out to see you play!

Good luck.

Al
jazzyvee
Senior Member
Username: jazzyvee

Post Number: 429
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Thursday, May 11, 2006 - 11:18 am:   Edit Post

I just checked them out, they seem cool and less expensive than fx.
May check them out for another guitar later on if I get to like the effect of fret led's.
Cheers
Jazzyvee
jazzyvee
Senior Member
Username: jazzyvee

Post Number: 465
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Saturday, June 17, 2006 - 12:59 am:   Edit Post

Hi Palembic, our appearance at the festival in Bree, Belgium has been confirmed and we fly out on Saturday morning for the concert.
http://www.afro-latino.be/egroepapacheindian.php
Regards
Jazzyvee

btw, Its over a month now since payment was completed for this item on ebay and I still have not received it. I've emailed them again and waiting for an update.
palembic
Senior Member
Username: palembic

Post Number: 2406
Registered: 9-2002
Posted on Saturday, June 17, 2006 - 1:15 am:   Edit Post

Jazzy ...I AM trying to come!
REALLY!
I dunno how we could meet in the case I can make it!
Do we have to agree on a "secret code" I have to pass to th ebody guards??? LOL

Paul TBO
jazzyvee
Senior Member
Username: jazzyvee

Post Number: 467
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Saturday, June 17, 2006 - 4:29 am:   Edit Post

There is another guy who also wants to come to the concert. As I said to him I will ask the manager how many we get on a guest list, then let you know.
Jazzyvee
jazzyvee
Senior Member
Username: jazzyvee

Post Number: 479
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Friday, June 23, 2006 - 7:56 pm:   Edit Post

Palembic, I have given your name + 1 to our manager for the guest list. Hope you will be able to make it.
We are on stage arounnd 4pm
Cheers
Jazzyvee.
palembic
Senior Member
Username: palembic

Post Number: 2413
Registered: 9-2002
Posted on Saturday, June 24, 2006 - 9:23 am:   Edit Post

Alas-alas-alas
No way I could make it!

PTBO

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