Dad3353

I'm a drummer, and wouldn't consider going to a gig without a spare snare drum, bass drum, one of each tom and few spare cymbals. Spare stands are on hand, and I've a stick bag (and a spare one...) clipped onto each side of my drum throne, and the back-up throne. Bitter experience has shown me that only one spare bass drum pedal is not enough, so I use a double pedal, with a pair of spare ones close by. I don't carry spare heads any more, as it's quicker to roll out the spare drum riser and change the whole kit; I have to check that the drum risers have spare castors, of course, as it wouldn't do to have it all stuck halfway off the stage. I take it as 'given' that the PA folk have spare mics for the set-up, but I have a flight case of ancillary mic's on hand if needed. For the 'live' recordings, I usually rely on having two (sometimes three...) digital recorders rolling, and a trusty pair of Revox reel-to-reels taping everything. Our second tour-bus is followed by an AA van in between venues. We've never had a failure yet, so I don't know if any of these precautions would save the night or not, but it's worth it just for the peace of mind. My stand-in agrees.

Start off by working on how to design for 3D, using whatever software you can afford (I use Blender, which is free; some software costs an arm and a leg each month...). The resulting design has to be in a format that 3D printers work with (typically STI; there are others...), and that the design is '3D-print friendly', which means that it is physically possible to create it by 'layering' slices of the chosen material one on t'other. It's easy to start off, for learning, and can cost nothing but one's time and patience (like many other skills...); one 'designs' a cube to start with, then rounds off the corners, punches holes through, chooses connection points etc... As I boldly stated, it's really not rocket surgery for anyone with a will to learn, and, whilst it's only 'on screen', wastes nothing. Once one has a half-decent little project to be tested (not necessarily a complete guitar; just a test piece such as a small house, or a duck...), there are local 3D printers not far away that will print it, after testing its technical feasibility, for very little expenditure. When it comes to actually wanting to print out a complete body, there are 3D printers that work with almost any material required, including carbon, so no need to invest, oneself, in industrial plant. Start small and modest and it becomes much more 'doable'. You're probably right about a complete, fretted, neck, although I'm sure some hi-tech means are available now, but the day is fast approaching. Anyway, the first step will always be the ability to have the Idea, then create a printable file from the software, and anyone can do that, after putting in the effort. Just sayin'.

Whilst I wouldn't claim that the method and model presented in the video are the be-all and end-all of luthery, looking purely at the financial outlay and the end result, it looks, to me, to be a darned fine deal. The 'mystic' of 3D printing is soon dissolved once one has done a little, and that one's printer is a decent one (mine is an Alfawise U30, so far from 'top-end', but it does a fine job...). I'm sure that you're familiar with amateur silk-screen printing..? It's about the same learning curve, I'd say; a few spoilt tee-shirts and some runny ink, then it settles down to a certain routine. Without having looked at the details of the files offered, I see not major reason why anyone couldn't just bash 'em out; it's not rocket surgery, really. The PLA material used is very inexpensive, with the downside of not supporting high temperatures too well, so such an instrument left out in the sun could well become a Salvador Dali version. There are other materials, such as ABS, that would be fine, but they require a well-ventilated print-room, as they are not really lung-friendly. Customisation would be a doddle to anyone using even basic 3D software such as Blender, and the honeycomb idea makes it even easier. If one wanted to go 'solid' (although most 3D prints are not fully solid, anyway...), it's no big deal. A mistake really only costs the time spent printing (it's not instant; pieces like that would take days to produce, not minutes...), so experimentation would not be a disaster. The material used is not embedded in the print file, which is really only concerned with the actual shape; the software coupled with the printer would decide exactly how to 'slice' the model, with the parameters that the operator would enter. I started out with zero knowledge; I'm certainly not expert now, but such a project daunts me not at all. I've successfully printed far more complex stuff, and anyone with half a grain of experience can do the same, I'm sure. Hope this helps.

I'd keep the drummer; the other two can leave, quietly. Dead weight, mate.

Luke-warm soup..?

Incomprehensible.

Interesting, in the video, to see how each positions the left-hand thumb..!

You've answered this yourself.

The HB Tele body was not used, in fact. The body was assembled from several individually-printed parts, as explained more fully in the video. The result, whatever its pedigree, is quite convincing, and leaves each project open for folk to customise as they wish.

Yes.

S'been done...

Anything to oblige ...

They do indeed; thanks. I'd echo the previous post; I suppose it's an audio feed from the camera, but the poor lass's voice is all but inaudible in the video. Hopefully the venue got a better mix..? The drummer will improve in time if he gets to play 'live' more often, to loosen up a little and 'lock' with the other instruments. For a first public appearance, though, I'd say 'Chapeau..!'. Thanks for sharing.

Nice try, but there are hundreds upon hundreds of 'Simon C' in there. I scrolled through pages of 'em; couldn't recognise anything that could be yours. A link, maybe..?

Be careful what you wish for.

I read it as 'I wish I had had this during my career.'

To be honest, this kind of attitude is not greatly appreciated here, either. Civility costs so little, and these lazy fashion insults reflect more on the user, really. I'm sure you're better than that; please don't prove me wrong.

Hmm... Grandmothers sucking eggs comes to mind.

Does this at least partially explain the dog-awful racket many of them produce..?

Do I see a pattern here..?

Standing 2' away from almost any bass cab won't be an accurate representation of tone.

Just to be clear, there's a case to be made for the notion that Consumerism, and the buying of unnecessary 'stuff' (this includes basses, but much, much more...) is one of the factors determining the present state of the Planet. It's not all that long ago that frugality was the order of the day (often as there was no other option in the matter, of course...), and the Planet was in better shape. Mea Culpa; I'm not the Solution, as I'm part of the Problem, too, but as long as it's realised and admitted, it's for each of us (and everyone else...) to make their own choices. It's a bit too easy, though, to just absolve ourselves from the real consequences of our actions. There's no Moral to this; I'm just sayin'.

I'm now past 72, and never play Beatles stuff much at all. I remember distinctly, though, the effect they had at the time, and often hum, sing or think of their songs (just this morning, for example, singing in my head 'I'm looking through you'...). I don't need to play 'em to get that effect any more; in fact it may well spoil things. Memories and nostalgia are precious gifts, to be preserved. Wishing your Dad a long and healthy life.