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Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 98
Enthusiast
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Enthusiast
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 98 |
One thing to understand about buying a guitar from an internet source: obviously you cannot hold and play the instrument. Rondo has fantastic bargains, but on occasion I have had to do some serious work on their guitars. I had a nut shatter into pieces on a Tele clone during the tuning process and had to replace it. This required digging out the pieces of the old nut, cleaning out the nut channel, and replacing the nut. I used a graftech black nut for this. If you aren't up to this stuff, it might be better to go locally and buy an instrument there. Another Rondo violin bass had the tail piece installed about a 1/4" off center! Wacky. I had to remove the tailpiece and drill a hole in the right spot, then re-install the tailpiece and re-adjust the floating bridge and brass saddles.
Point here is: I doubt that Rondo does any examination of the product before they ship it out. It may arrive in fine condition, or it may require work. I'm willing to do the work, as I do this stuff all the time, and the bargains are so good, but if you don't have the skill or patience or tools, you might be wary. Guitarfetish items are very nice and way cool, but their tuning machines are not very good in my opinion. I count on changing them out as a matter of course. The overall quality and price make this a very viable option for me, but not for everyone.
In any event, count on some set-up time with neck adjustment and intonation settings as well as the action, and pehaps a change-out of strings. This stuff can and should be done by a local retailer, but you're on your own if you buy from an internet source.
Fire, the wheel, and the I IV V -- foundations of civilization.
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Off-Topic
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 598
Journeyman
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Journeyman
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 598 |
I like that Strat mentioned above but it might be a tad bit limiting in the sound department, in my humble view. There are so many good guitars for cheap nowadays that the best bet would to simply go out and start playing the ones in your price range. Got to hear it before you buy it.  As far as an amp goes, you can pick up a" Kustom 16R" for about $175 American. As my Marshall blew up for good a couple months ago, this is the amp I'm using now. I'm astonished at how good it sounds for its size ( stands about 15" high and is about 18" wide) and price. Sounds amazing at low volumes. Click on my signature and hear how it sounds if you like. Good luck, man.
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Off-Topic
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 235
Apprentice
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Apprentice
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 235 |
LOL. It seems a bit a question like what fish should I eat. As many as different tastes, so many different advices. Amps, simulators, hardware, software, or the in-ear pocket devices. It is all in the end a choice only you can make, your ears to be the judge of it's sound, your eyes for it's looks, your brain for all features offered, your neighbours for their complains if you don't- or their worshipping if you do it all well, and your mouth to examine how all those flavours blend, mix and taste to make a feastmeal for your senses. So I zip my mouth with only this: Go to a shop and try out as many as you can, compare them like you are buying a dangerous Japanese Ball-fish-dish, and make sure you don't get sick after you are eating it, since you will be eating it every day after. 
I'll be back...
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Off-Topic
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502 |
No Marshall I've ever seen ever blew up for good.
Old Marshalls are like old Chevy smallblocks, they get rebuilt.
Especially if'n they got 4-bolt mains...
--Mac
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Off-Topic
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Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 24
Enthusiast
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Enthusiast
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 24 |
A bit late, but here goes;
I spent most of the winter researching, pretty much for what you want. I settled on a Hagstrom Super Swede Vintage Style guitar, and a Peavy Vypyr 30W. I live in Canada, and I couldn't find a Hagstrom dealer here, so I got one from Strings and Things on the internet. The demand for the amp was such that I would have to wait for a 30W here in Calgary, so I bought the 75W. I don't play it without going through the computer, and it sounds great with the subwoofer and all. It just needs a cable from line out to line in on the PC, which I got at Radio Shack, or whatever they call themselves. The 30w and 75 are very similar with 24 simulated amp models, stompbox effects and post amp (loop) effects, global echo and reverb. You can save a bunch of your own presets also. There were problems early on with the processor in the amp, but they've fixed it. I haven't had a hitch with mine in the 3 months I've had it.
If you're into Jazz and/or blues, Hagstrom have an excellent line of 335 emulators. Hags have always been known for the neck, fastest in the business.
Colin James has a Swede and a 335 copy.
HTH,
Dennis1945
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Ask sales and support questions about Band-in-a-Box using natural language.
ChatPG's knowledge base includes the full Band-in-a-Box User Manual and sales information from the website.
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Last Chance! The Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® Special Ends Today (May 31, 2026) at 11:59pm PDT!
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Our new jazz, funk & blues RealTracks include a groovin’ collection of RealTracks and RealDrums! These include more requested “soul jazz” RealTracks featuring artists Neil Swainson (bass), Charles Treadway (organ), Brent Mason (guitar), and Wes Little (drums). There are new “smooth jazz” styles (4), which include a RealTracks first: muted trumpet, as well as slick new smooth jazz brushes options for drums. Blues lovers will be thrilled—there are more “classic acoustic blues” styles, including guitar (5), bass (4), and drums (10) with blues master Colin Linden, featuring understated and tasty background acoustic soloing, plus brushes drums and acoustic bass. There are also new electric blues RealTracks, including electric blues with PG favorite Johnny Hiland (3) and soulful electric slide guitar from Colin Linden (4). If you love funk & gospel, there are great new options this year, including gospel organ (3) from Charles Treadway, as well as new funk, tango, and rock ’n’ roll drums (3) and bass (1). And for big, bold arrangements, we have uptempo soul horns (4) featuring a three-part hip horn section with options for a full mix or stems of each individual horn — plus an accompanying rhythm section (4) of drums, bass, guitar, and electric piano!
Rock & Pop (Sets 476–482):
Our new rock & pop RealTracks bring a powerful mix of requested favorites, fresh genres, and modern chart-inspired styles! We have more of our popular “Producer Layered Acoustic Guitars (15)” featuring Band-in-a-Box favorite Brent Mason. We’ve continued our much-requested disco styles (10), and added new Celtic guitar (5) with a more basic, accessible approach than our previous Drop-D or DADGAD offerings. There are also highly requested yacht rock styles (17), inspired by the smooth, polished soft-rock sound of the late ’70s and early ’80s — laid-back grooves, silky electric pianos, warm textures, elegant harmonic movement, and pristine production aesthetics. Fans of heavier styles will love our new glam metal (13), capturing the flashy, high-energy sound of ’80s arena-ready guitar rock. We also have a set of rootsy modern-folk rock (18), with a warm, organic sound combining contemporary folk textures and driving acoustic strumming. And we’ve added lots of new modern pop styles (16) — the kinds of sounds you’re hearing on the radio today, featuring exciting new drums, synths, and cutting-edge RealTracks arrangements.
Country, & Americana (Sets 483–488):
Our new country & Americana RealTracks deliver a rich collection of acoustic, electric, and roots-inspired styles! We have new country pop (9) with legendary guitarist Brent Mason. There is also a potpourri (14) of bouzouki, guitars, banjo, and more, perfect for adding texture and character to contemporary acoustic arrangements. We’ve added funky country guitar (5) with PG favorite Brent Mason, along with classic pedal steel styles (5) featuring steel great Doug Jernigan. There are more country songwriter styles (8) that provide intimate, rootsy foundations for storytelling and modern Americana writing. Finally, we have “background soloing” acoustic guitar (12) with Brent Mason — simpler, but still very tasty acoustic lines designed to sit beautifully behind vocals or act as a subtle standalone solo part.
Check out all the 202 new RealTracks (in sets 468-488)!
And, if you are looking for more, the 2026 49-PAK (for $49) includes an impressive collection of 20 bonus RealTracks, featuring exciting and inspiring additions to add to your RealTracks library. You'll get new country-rhythm guitar styles from PG Music favorites Johnny Hiland and Brent Mason, along with modern-pop grooves that capture today’s radio-ready sound! There are also new indie-folk styles with guitar, bass, 6-string bass used as a high-chording instrument, acoustic guitar, and banjo. Plus, dedicated "cymbal fills" RealDrums provide an added layer that work very well with low-key folky styles with other percussion.
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- MIDI Styles Set 92: Look Ma! More MIDI 15: Latin Jazz
- MIDI SuperTracks Set 46: Piano & Organ
- Instrumental Studies Set 24: Groovin' Blues Soloing
- Artist Performance Set 19: Songs with Vocals 9
- Playable RealTracks Set 5
- RealDrums Stems Set 9: Cool Brushes
- SynthMaster Sounds Set 1 (with audio demos)
- iOS Android Band-in-a-Box® App
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- MIDI Styles Set 93: Look Ma! More MIDI 16: SynthMaster
- MIDI SuperTracks Set 47: More SynthMaster
- Instrumental Studies 25 - Soul Jazz Guitar Soloing
- Artist Performance Set 20: Songs with Vocals 10
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