Dad3353

Found s/h (in France...), all under £150... Fender Super Champ XD..? Ibanez TSA 5..? Blackstar HT-1R..? Fender Champion 600 Bugera V22..? Blackstar HT5..? Nothing similar near you..?

I'll admit to not understanding; if the sound you're after comes from a small valve combo, with reverb, why not look for and buy a small valve combo with reverb..? It would cost no more (possibly much less...) than the Yamaha, and solve the issue, no..?

Good evening, @alpro, and ... ... Plenty to read and amuse you here, and lots to learn and share.

Here's what Andertons offer as information on the subject... Andertons Blog : Fender Standard vs. Player II vs. Squier Classic Vibe... Not quite 'chalk and cheese'; the differences are down to personal preference and budget, maybe..?

Good evening, @otoledo, and ... ... Plenty to read and amuse you here, and lots to learn and share.

Good evening, @StairliftToHeaven, and ... ... Plenty to read and amuse you here, and lots to learn and share.

Plenty of Youtube videos on the subject; here's one... Here's another ... Hope this helps. Ignore the 'choice of string gauge' stuff, you'll want 10-48 gauge, really. Others will be along too, soon...

Good evening, @Jensen, and ... ... Plenty to read and amuse you here, and lots to learn and share. A little patience; others will be along to help you. Meanwhile, could you please specify if you play acoustic or electric guitar, and in what song you want to be getting this 'bend' effect..? That'll help with suggesting solutions. Thanks in advance.

I'm afraid that I can't help with the 'compulsion' aspect of things, not being medically qualified, but the tuner ratio is quite easy to sort out. To get finer tuning, one needs a higher ratio. Imagine, if you will, a 1:1 ratio; each full turn of the tuner 'bean' turns the string shaft one complete turn (as on a violin or cello, for example, with tapered, non-geared, tuners...). The slightest turn would change the pitch a lot. Now, at another extreme, imagine a ratio of 1:100; it would take forever to change strings, as the 'bean' would have to turn so many times before even taking up the slack of a new string (a string winder would help, but still...). The 'average' tuner has a ratio of 1:12 or 1:14; this can easily be checked by noting, carefully, exactly where the string currently goes through the hole in the shaft. De-tune, counting the turns of the 'bean', until the string is at the exact same position after one complete rotation of the shaft. The number of turns of the 'bean', for one complete shaft rotation, is the ratio. Tuner companies have different ratios available, but tend to be more costly as the ratio increases. 1:18 is common enough, some offer 1:20, or 1:22. Again, this can be helpful when fine-tuning, but becomes a bit of a beggar when changing strings without a string winder. If there is any change to be made, I might suggest 1:18 as being the reasonable upper limit. 1:14 is an improvement over 1:12, but if there are still issues with ratios, I might also suggest that the method for tuning is maybe suspect. One always tunes from low to high; if the correct pitch is overshot, tune back down and start again, raising the pitch, slowly. Once it's overshot, it's not a Good Idea to go back down to meet the correct note; go back enough to only ever be tuning up to pitch. I've nothing to add concerning the other mods you're envisaging, as it's so dependent on one's tastes and budget. I would only cite the expressions 'gilding the lily' and 'diminishing returns' and leave it there. Hope this helps; meanwhile... Have a splendid day. Douglas

My next birthday, in a few weeks, I'll be 75, and I am still very much a learner. Ain't it just fun, though..?

Good morning, @Noctua69, and ... ... Plenty to read and amuse you here, and lots to learn and share. Please allow me to congratulate you on your wisdom, getting the right help from Someone Who Knows. Well done. May I also offer my standard words of encouragement..? 'It's the first forty years that are the hardest, after which things sometimes tend to get slightly better. '

Good evening, @Chris Wood, and ... ... Plenty to read and amuse you here, and lots to learn and share.

A clue, certainly, but confirmation that it needs the attention of someone capable of fixing whatever it is that's amiss. It could still be something simple; just take it to a vet guitar tech.

The trap is to access the battery for the built-in tuner (on the bridge pick-up ring...). See here ... But unlike vintage models, the Slash “AFD” Les Paul also comes with a built-in Shadow® E-Tuner built into the bridge pickup mounting ring. The tuner is powered by one #2032 Lithium long-lasting battery, easily accessed from a compartment on the back of the guitar. As for the pick-up, it may well be just the selector switch not adjusted properly, or a wire fallen off inside. I would suggest taking it to a trusted guitar tech, to be checked out and set up properly. It shouldn't cost much for an easy fix, and a good set-up will do wonders for your enjoyment for years to come. It's rare to have a pick-up completely faulty (but does, of course, happen...); it's much more likely to be something very easy for a tech to determine and fix. He/she can also give tips on the other functions of the guitar, such as how to 'split' the pick-ups. Let us know how you get on..? It's a fine guitar with a good reputation; enjoy. Hope this helps.