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Post by Cruachan on May 19, 2015 23:32:35 GMT
Hi Kurt,
Beautiful! Quite Beautiful! I must look again at my UB Hank collection - I don't remember seeing 'Somewhere'
Regards, Mike
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Post by Cruachan on May 19, 2015 23:23:32 GMT
Hi Istvan,
I really enjoyed your performance. That's a tune I used to play quite a long time ago. I wonder if I can remember it?
Thank you and, yes, the Roxlut is a great amp full of character, power and tonal capability.
Regards, Mike
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Post by Cruachan on May 17, 2015 15:35:19 GMT
Don't forget that in the Vox "Mini" range, you also have the Mini 5 ! Didier Yep, and it boasts a larger speaker than the Mini3 and has a 5W max output Perfect for the Albert Hall!! Regards, Mike
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Post by Cruachan on May 16, 2015 20:18:23 GMT
Ooooo, I bet that hurt! Surprised the headstock didn't part company with the neck of his guitar!
Regards, Mike
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Post by Cruachan on May 11, 2015 18:42:17 GMT
Hi Dave I managed to get one of those vox mini 3 amps used off the well known auction site. Only paid £60 for it, what a cracking piece of kit, very authentic sounding Hi Steve, I agree wholeheartedly! Recently I purchased the Mini5 RM Rhythm version with the metal grill and was astonished by its sound and tonal capabilities. I've only had it a few days so there is much to explore. The rhythm module and slightly larger speaker and output are the only differences when compared with the Mini3. I'm in the process of ordering a custom made cover for it from HotCovers. They made a fantastic cover for my Roxlut last year and the service is excellent. Played Sleepwalk (modern version) through Charlie and John's HCSE into the Mini5 and my playing buddy was bowled over by the sound. Dare I say it, he felt quite moved! Not sure whether it was the HCSE/VOX Mini5 combo or my playing. Hopefully it was a bit of both Great little practice amp for lugging around the house and entertaining at small gatherings. Amazing array of inputs one of which allows the concurrent playing of backing tracks. I got mine within a couple of days from Amazon (£109.00) I chose the one with the metal grill as I read a review which suggested that the Classic grill was liable to sag in humid weather so could be a consideration if you take it out and about. Regards, Mike
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Post by Cruachan on May 6, 2015 19:25:31 GMT
To be honest on that point i cant see it happening , Hank seems to be full on gypsey jazz now and i cant see a return to the strat in the near future. Shame but i guess he has done everything there is to do Strat related now. I think the same as Steve, while I should keep an open mind, I think Hank may be more interested in gypsy jazz these days Hi Steve, Charlie You may both be right and, quite clearly, the 'Hall & Collins Signature Echo' unit's ongoing success will not be dependent exclusively on a favourable review from Hank. Since the release of this remarkable creation the feedback on 'Charlie Hall & Friends' is demonstrating unswervingly high praise for the unit itself, the unit's developers and the quality of delivery from the manufacturers. This is indeed a seminal moment in the history of 'The Shadows' and deserves to be acknowledged as such. Accepting this to be true, I feel it is only fitting that Hank now becomes involved, for this may be the final chapter in the history of the emulation of 'those sounds' we all have come to know and love. I predict that the popularity of music played by The Shadows will enjoy a resurgence in the years to come and new generations of guitar players will, with confidence, be able to experience those joyous historic sounds knowing they are being produced with the utmost fidelity and that this will likely continue for as long as the 'Hall & Collins Signature Echo' unit remains in production and, possibly, far beyond. I do hope that Hank will become involved, if only to close the circle which, very tantalisingly, has remained open for far too long. Best regards, Mike
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Post by Cruachan on May 6, 2015 11:50:42 GMT
Hi Charlie and John, Just wondering if you guys are getting any fan mail from fans of Jerry Hall and Joan Collins lately ? I googled the new echo unit and got images of the 2 ladies. regards gary Hi, Perhaps more to the point, is anyone aware as to whether the great man HBM himself is aware of what's happening right now? I'm certain we are all thinking about this possibility and it seems perfectly reasonable to ask the question in view of his previously documented interest in other echo units. Mischievous Mike
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Post by Cruachan on May 1, 2015 17:19:39 GMT
I have to agree with Chris (grip), I wish it had an on/off switch on the unit itself, my only power point in my music room is under the computer desk so I have to get on my hands and knees each time to use it, at my age that's not so easy these days ;-) Glen Hi Glen, My current setup employs multiple surge protected floor extension socket bars with an on/off switch beside each socket. It's not at all unusual to have devices without onboard on/off switches these days. You can position the extension socket bar anywhere you like for convenience, even on a desk or a small table. Homebase or B&Q should have something to suit your requirements. Keeping potentially faulting electrical connections, like mechanical switches, to a minimum must, I am assuming, be a desirable objective on units such as the HCSE as part of the aim of maintaining audio fidelity. I suppose the other solution would be to pull the power supply lead from the back of the HCSE when you have finished, but this is fiddly and I'm not sure whether the PSU would protect itself by automatically defaulting to a standby or OFF state. Perhaps Charlie could tell us which solution would be most appropriate. Regards, Mike
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Post by Cruachan on May 1, 2015 10:10:12 GMT
Wow, Steve, what a fantastic demo! Thank you!
Believe it or not, mine (serial number 164) still resides in its box. Hopefully I'll have time later on today or perhaps this evening. I know, it may seem daft, but somehow anticipating what lies ahead is, for me, part of this great experience....and I'm loving it!!
Regards, Mike
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Post by Cruachan on Apr 30, 2015 14:47:15 GMT
Hi Charlie,
Mine arrived safely early afternoon today. Very well packaged and everything appears perfect within. Haven't yet managed to get past the somewhat protracted period of admiration and stunned silence. Hopefully, I'll be able to move on soon and fire her up for her maiden workout this evening. Meantime, in case there should be any remaining doubts, the HCSE's success is assured as my wife has now given it her unqualified approval..yeah!
Charlie, once again, I offer you my heart felt congratulations! The partnership between yourself, John Collins and the good folks at Electromech and Golfstream is proving to be an unqualified success story. As others have stated, and saying this as a diehard Scotsman, it's times like this that make me so very proud to be British!
Very best regards, Mike
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Post by Cruachan on Apr 29, 2015 10:54:18 GMT
Had email my unit is dispatched to reach me tomorrow with tracking available. Ditto! Mike
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Post by Cruachan on Apr 28, 2015 21:50:04 GMT
Hi Charlie & Friends, Need a new word..... A collective noun to describe a .......... of Hall & Collins Signature Echo's Regards, Tim. Hi Tim, How about.... 'A reverberation of Hall and Collins Signature Echoes'. Regards, Mike
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Post by Cruachan on Apr 28, 2015 18:29:12 GMT
What would we do without Super Glue these days? I've used it for anything and everything; well,not quite, but perhaps the strangest application was the mending of my 18+ year old electric shaver! One of two retaining lugs had broken, allowing the associated spring loaded circular cutting screen (there are 3) to work loose and this caused it to either over depress or pop out onto the floor. Not wishing to write the shaver of just yet, I explored the remedial possibilities offered by Super Glue. I discovered thet I could build up a small mound of glue on top of the broken lug stump and, once it was at the correct height and was allowed sufficient time to harden, I could file it carefully into shape. Worked like a charm and the shaver continues to serve me well 2 months after the repair Yes, this shaver is over 18yrs, continues to satisfy its owner, AND it has an integrated rechargeable battery!! Not sure whether this could be a record in longevity for both a working shaver and its battery, but surely it must be a contender. One of these days I'll dismantle it and find out what type of battery is installed. There is a screw on the back allowing access. However, the shaver is waterproof so I don't want to risk disturbing the seals. After all this time they may nor achieve a perfect seal when the back is replaced. I wonder whether it's a Lithium Ion battery. If so, it's been subjected to at least 657 full charging cycles (once every 10 days for 18 years). Regards, Mike
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Post by Cruachan on Apr 28, 2015 13:42:21 GMT
Hi Steve, Regarding the cig paper, I used to do that to my Jazzmaster back in '65 . Reason was string buzz caused by the nut being cut too deep. the only way to replace lost material was to use the aluminium foil covered paper from cigs box packaging! Foil was not at hand but the cigs were! I can only think that someone at the Fender factory was a little over zealous with the nut files maybe. Also I might add, that it did not dull the strings if put in neatly, the picture shown is a little untidy, and it looks like the type of paper I described. The guitar I was told was the first Candyapple Red to be imported to England. Regards Ivan. Hi, I recall seeing this helpful video some time ago which demonstrates how easy (?) it can be to fix a nut slot that had been cut too deep. It features Dan Erlewine of Stewart-MacDonald fame. Might help someone sometime. www.stewmac.com/How-To/Online_Resources/Nuts_and_Saddles/Fix_a_broken_nut_with_baking_soda.htmlRegards, Mike
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Post by Cruachan on Apr 26, 2015 13:20:51 GMT
Hi Steve, Oh, you really are a teaser This waiting is becoming almost unbearable! Really liked your lineup - very impressive. In fact I enjoyed browsing all your images at Photobucket. Also great to see Charlie again. The attractive packaging for the HCSE appears to be very well thought out. Looks like we should be considering making every effort to preserve it in its original condition as a mark of this historic and memorable occasion. Regards, Mike
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Post by Cruachan on Apr 24, 2015 18:15:54 GMT
Hi Charlie, Thank you Not that I'm complaining, mind. In fact I'm busy rationalising this 'delay' by persuading myself that at least I can enjoy that feeling of eager anticipation for a little while longer than those who are soon to hear their doorbells ring. Ah, life is good......and ain't this fun! Hi Roger, See above... Regards, Mike Reason for Edits: Forum software wouldn't accept the emoticon I really wanted to use in my reply to Roger....he,he!
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Post by Cruachan on Apr 24, 2015 14:39:32 GMT
All this positive feedback is starting to feed my impatience and, yes, I admit, frustration...lol Are they working through everyone interested alphabetically or according to a first-come-first-served basis based on the master list as compiled and submitted by Charlie? After I confirmed my intention to purchase, and submitted the requested details, I received an email from Derek (21 April 10:51am) thanking me and stating they would 'be in touch again shortly'. I know it's only 3 days, but I had hoped that I would be placing the order before the weekend. It now seems unlikely I'm guessing that the HCSE units are being manufactured as we speak and folk are being contacted as and when units become available for dispatch. At this stage perhaps a little clarification would be appropriate. This should help alleviate any concerns we may have about possible delays before prospective purchasers are contacted for payment. Regards, Mike (unashamedly admitting to champing at the bit!)
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Post by Cruachan on Apr 22, 2015 12:10:38 GMT
Hi Graham,
Ask yourself, would I have preferred the price quote to have been £619.00 + delivery? Would a 5% surcharge really have made a difference to my decision to proceed? I suspect not. As has been stated, PayPal charge the Seller and I think we all know that it's likely that many Sellers will factor in this expense to the cost by hiding/passing it on to the customer. Perhaps large outfits like Amazon have special arrangements with PayPal since their annual product turnover is enormous. However the same is unlikely to apply to smaller business concerns like Electromech Ltd. and I applaud them for being upfront with us about this issue.
Quite honestly, way back then I believed the price of the HCSE might have been nearer £700.00 yet I was still determined to get my hands on one for all the reasons that have been stated. It's not very often that such opportunities come our way. We need to grab them while we can before it is too late.....of course, I'm thinking more about my age and ability to play/learn than the longevity of the product!
Regards, Mike
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Post by Cruachan on Apr 21, 2015 15:21:09 GMT
stevelec said "Although we have built in the credit card companies charge in the price" Paying by Debit Card does not incur extra charges as do Credit Cards,that's why companies sometimes state a surcharge for Credit Card purchases but no surcharge for Debit Cards. Alan Hi Alan, Paying by Debit Card is usually not a good idea as you will you leave yourself exposed with very little protection if or when a problem arises. Not saying that this is likely to happen here, of course, but as a general principle it's best to avoid paying remotely by using a debit card. Regards Mike Reason for Edit: correction of misspelling of 'Alan' - my apologies!
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Post by Cruachan on Apr 21, 2015 13:17:16 GMT
Hi,
I'm with Peter. I really do think we need to relax and try not to second guess problems that, in this instance, quite evidently do not exist.
There can be no doubt for the need to take care when transactions are conducted remotely but, in common with most, I have every confidence making payments using PayPal or by Telephone to known and trusted sources. Only once have I experienced an issue and that was with a company that subsequently went bankrupt. Fortunately, I had paid for the item using my credit card and the card issuer covered the loss fully. I would have had no such protection or recourse if I had paid by cheque and the receiver had cashed said cheque before announcing their insolvency and applying to go to Administration.
Thank you Stephen for filling us in with some helpful background.
All is proceeding smoothly this end. I have received my serial number in the email from the Electromech 'Hall and Collins Support Team', submitted the requested information and received a prompt acknowledgement from Derek stating he would be in contact shortly.
Standing by my telephone!
Mike
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Post by Cruachan on Apr 19, 2015 17:56:51 GMT
Hi Charlie,
Yes, logging in does seem a bit pointless at present, although I suppose it would accord a certain exclusivity to those who sign up. Perhaps the intention is to provide product support only to those who hold legitimate licences and having to log on is a necessary prerequisite before a request can be accepted. However, as things stand there is, as yet, no obvious Hardware Support area by the Manufacturers. Is it possible that the Manufacturers may be considering the inclusion of a Support Forum?
To me, the site software feels like it is still undergoing development which is perfectly understandable at this moment in time. I was able to Sign Up and activate my account by clicking on a link sent to me by email. Subsequent logins have proved successful and my Username is displayed. However, currently there is no obvious way to access my profile to make changes or additions. Nor can I change my password.
Right now none of these observations are serious issues, but will certainly become important once the HCSE is RTM.
I suppose the question to be asked is who is being tasked with the provision of Customer Support? Will it be shared between Electromech Ltd. (Hardware Support) and Charlie Hall & Friends (Operational Questions, User Guidance and Posting of Sound Files)?
Regards, Mike
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Post by Cruachan on Apr 18, 2015 2:06:23 GMT
Hi Charlie and John,
Received the email (thanks!) although found it in the Bulk Mail folder of my iPad Air Mail client rather than the Inbox. Had me worried there for a moment!
I encountered the same problem with the embedded link. When I copy and paste the link into Notes it appears as:
x-apple-msg-load://E25127D1-1A2F-4427-A8D2-5FD6E0FDE33A/
Really no idea why that should be happening. Anyway, the link in your post, Charlie, works perfectly and I have downloaded the Owners Instructions.
This really is an exciting and historic time for us all.
My heartiest congratulations to you both!
Best regards, Mike
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Post by Cruachan on Apr 7, 2015 17:53:15 GMT
Hi Charlie, What a beauty! Clearly a well considered and practical design. After all the hard work and frustrating delays which were beyond your control, you and John should be feeling very proud to be witnessing finally this birth of your joint creation. Oh, and I do like the name: Hall & Collins Signature Echo. Touch of class! How long, I wonder, will it be before we start seeing this unit being referred to by using the acronym 'HCSE'? Well done! Can't wait to get my hands on one Best regards, Mike
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Post by Cruachan on Mar 23, 2015 15:56:06 GMT
Hi Rob, I think you may have missed this post by Charlie on March 13, 2015 charliehall.proboards.com/post/166780Gives us each a bit more time to titrate the optimum dose of tranquilliser........as we eagerly anticipate this release We've waited this long, a few more weeks shouldn't really hurt......much! Still, I agree, a nice set of piccies now could help to whet our appetites in the meantime as we struggle to supress our cravings for ownership of this masterpiece of audio engineering. Regards. Mike
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Post by Cruachan on Mar 6, 2015 14:31:45 GMT
Here's the unit and the settings I used Hi Steve, What an interesting thread! Your proposal seems so obvious yet one has to wonder why there has been so very little past discussion about the use of equalizers in our search for 'that sound". Amp tone pots are always going to be somewhat restricted in the degree of sound variation offered to the user whereas, potentially, the addition of an equalizer should allow much better control. I confess I've always been a bit shy of using a software equalizer as I'm never quite sure what I'm doing. This, I think, should be much more fun! I've taken the liberty of trying a little image processing and the result is as below: The positions of your sliders are, I think, a little more clear and I interpret them as follows: Gain ................... -6dB 31.25 Hz ............ -12dB 62.5 Hz .............. -12dB 125 Hz ............... -12dB 250 Hz ............... -12dB 500 Hz ............... 0dB 1 KHz ................ 6dB or 12dB (?) 2 KHz ................ 12dB 4 KHz ................ 0dB 8 KHz ................ -12dB 16 KHz .............. -12dB Can you confirm these are the settings you're using on the Caline 10 Band EQ?I appreciate that these mid range slider positions and the resultant sound achieved may be very amp dependent, but hopefully, along with the Ronnie Gustafsson video, they should at least give us a good basis from which we can start to build and experiment. Examples of Ronnie Gustafsson's helpful Boss GE-10 settings identified from his "That Sound - Part 2 - The Clinic" YouTube video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5cOLV_fci4He concentrates on the middle 6 Bands: 125Hz to 4KHzFBI, The Savage, Frightened City, etc:Gain ................... -0dB 31.25 Hz ............ -12dB 62.5 Hz .............. -12dB 125 Hz ............... -10dB 250 Hz ............... -10dB 500 Hz ............... -2dB 1 KHz ................ 6dB 2 KHz ................ 6dB 4 KHz ................ 0dB 8 KHz ................ -12dB 16 KHz .............. -12dB Dance On:Gain ................... -0dB 31.25 Hz ............ -12dB 62.5 Hz .............. -12dB 125 Hz ............... -10dB 250 Hz ............... -10dB 500 Hz ............... -2dB 1 KHz ................ 6dB 2 KHz ................ 10dB 4 KHz ................ 8dB 8 KHz ................ -12dB 16 KHz .............. -12dB Blue Star:Gain ................... -0dB 31.25 Hz ............ -12dB 62.5 Hz .............. -12dB 125 Hz ............... -8dB 250 Hz ............... -8dB 500 Hz ............... -0dB 1 KHz ................ 4dB 2 KHz ................ 4dB 4 KHz ................ 0dB 8 KHz ................ -12dB 16 KHz .............. -12dB Wonderful Land:Gain ................... -0dB 31.25 Hz ............ -12dB 62.5 Hz .............. -12dB 125 Hz ............... -8dB 250 Hz ............... -8dB 500 Hz ............... -0dB 1 KHz ................ 4dB 2 KHz ................ 4dB 4 KHz ................ -6dB 8 KHz ................ -12dB 16 KHz .............. -12dB Apache, Sleepwalk, Shadoogie:Gain ................... -0dB 31.25 Hz ............ -12dB 62.5 Hz .............. -12dB 125 Hz ............... -8dB 250 Hz ............... -8dB 500 Hz ............... 0dB 1 KHz ................ 4dB 2 KHz ................ 4dB 4 KHz ................ 0dB 8 KHz ................ -12dB 16 KHz .............. -12dB I hope this is helpful to others, like myself, who are tempted to have a go Regards, Mike
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Post by Cruachan on Feb 18, 2015 3:38:19 GMT
If I see 'Withheld', 'International' or a number that is either unfamiliar or clearly bogus then the phone doesn't get answered. If a call is genuine and of sufficient importance then the caller will leave a message and I can choose whether or not to call back. Cold callers which are usually computer generated usually ring off before Call Minder intercepts. Shame these so-called nuisance call filters are so ineffective.
Mike
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Post by Cruachan on Feb 18, 2015 3:35:02 GMT
Sorry, posted in the wrong thread Mike
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Post by Cruachan on Feb 18, 2015 2:35:28 GMT
Hi Viv,
Now that IS interesting. I say that because in the early days, before I started to get to grips with palm muting, I was doing just that, and it does work!
You can mute each note by playing with a light but positive touch over the fret rather than behind. As you press the string down onto the fret the fleshy part of the finger ahead of the fret is damping the string as it vibrates. If you freeze the video early at 1:43 (just before Hank swivels to the right) you can see his index finger, under the mic, is positioned directly over a fret rather than behind.
I must try it again. Only reason I switched to palm muting for the Atlantis intro was because I thought my method was wrong. Originally I had assumed that 'my' way was in fact how all strings were muted and, indeed, how that unique sound was produced in Atlantis. The downside of finger muting is the need to be very accurate with finger placement - I can remember it taking me an age to pull it off consistently.
Could we have stumbled on a new technique, perhaps, or just simply resurrected an old technique that has gone out of favour?
Interesting.
Mike
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Post by Cruachan on Feb 2, 2015 16:35:03 GMT
I think it's all about being fortunate enough to be part of an extended family, enjoying watching individuals grow and progress and learning from those generous enough to impart their wisdom and experience to help others. I regard my membership of this great site as being a huge privilege, one for which I will always feel grateful.
Mike
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Post by Cruachan on Feb 2, 2015 10:29:03 GMT
Indeed, that would be a neat trick and, at the same time, could resolve several hitherto unanswered questions about the hereafter! Mike
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