I won a new Vanguard V4v2 in a charity raffle! It’s a fet condenser with switchable pad and pickup pattern. I only only got to try it out for a bit last night, but I think its comparable (if only in function and price) to a Audio Technica at4050. I don’t have one of those, but I tried it out in cardioid next to a tube at4060 when recording finger style acoustic and voice in the same position. The V4 shockmount is really nice!

The difference between the two mics was clear, but with a similar position, pickup, and source it was still relatively subtle. I liked the at4060 better, but its not quite a fair comparison as I use that mic on pretty much everything and am used to the sound. Plus the At4060 costs hundreds more and I was just getting an even level and recording, not doing a clinical comparison, which I don’t think I would ever really do. I spent time setting up the two mics and they were pretty well in phase, so I ended up going with the sound of both of them spread out a little w/ the at4060 off center and louder for a dual mono/stereo effect.

Anyways pretty much all of my mics except for a figure 8 AEA ribbon and a Crown PZM are cardioid, so I am looking forward to trying it out some more - especially next to a at4033 on bass.

seby wrote: Fri Sep 29, 2023 6:11 pm

VaticanShotglass wrote: Wed Sep 27, 2023 10:27 amGood god this thing is pretty. The sticker fade isn’t so bad. Probably only legible from up close.

Very pretty!

Thanks yall, I like it a lot altho the neck is pretty slender. The sticker shadow is actually my favourite thing about it, twelvepoint I like the concept.
On the negative side of the ledger - an order I made six months ago and went to cancel, had actually shipped. It contained two new Squiers, a Paranormal JM XII and a Charcoal Frost CV 60s Jaguar from Thomann. Finally arrived, excited unboxing ... Beautiful, beautiful XII - glass like finish, everything tidy and well put together, looks wonderful ... even an OK setup out of the box.
Attention turns to the Jaguar ... here's the fretboard. I've contacted Thomann, we'll see what happens.

Damn, that Squier Jag with the matching headstock is hot.

matttkkkk wrote: Thu Oct 05, 2023 12:38 am

seby wrote: Fri Sep 29, 2023 6:11 pm

VaticanShotglass wrote: Wed Sep 27, 2023 10:27 amGood god this thing is pretty. The sticker fade isn’t so bad. Probably only legible from up close.

Very pretty!

Thanks yall, I like it a lot altho the neck is pretty slender. The sticker shadow is actually my favourite thing about it, twelvepoint I like the concept.
On the negative side of the ledger - an order I made six months ago and went to cancel, had actually shipped. It contained two new Squiers, a Paranormal JM XII and a Charcoal Frost CV 60s Jaguar from Thomann. Finally arrived, excited unboxing ...

Beautiful, beautiful XII - glass like finish, everything tidy and well put together, looks wonderful ... even an OK setup out of the box.
Attention turns to the Jaguar ... here's the fretboard.

I've contacted Thomann, we'll see what happens.

I really love the jag in that color. If those were in stores state side I probably would have broken down and bought one. That’s a real shame about the fret board though. Oof. That’s one reason I’d really prefer to pick one out in person. Cosmetically I’ve seen the recent Squier fretboards vary a lot from ugly dusty things to outright pretty. I got lucky and got the latter on the Bullet Mustang I ordered last year.

Thomann were decent and gave me a 15% discount, which was the only sane solution given the shipping costs and the fact the model has sold out. I’m gonna get to work with some oil, fine grit paper and steel wool, let’s see how good I can get it.

matttkkkk wrote: Fri Oct 06, 2023 8:26 am Thomann were decent and gave me a 15% discount, which was the only sane solution given the shipping costs and the fact the model has sold out. I’m gonna get to work with some oil, fine grit paper and steel wool, let’s see how good I can get it.

It’s so funny. My experience is the same with the Squier Classic Vibe stuff. The standard colors and models are all awesome out of the box. But all of the special run ones have been extremely rough and in need of fret work, especially the fret ends. You’d expect it to be the opposite. My sample size is only like 5 or 6 though.

I keep eyeballing that fiesta red 12-string. Not sure if it’s worth the gamble.

The one I got is stellar quality build-wise. Fender quality without a doubt. The pickups seem to suck (way too hot) but in the hand it’s just superb.

matttkkkk wrote: Fri Oct 06, 2023 8:26 am Thomann were decent and gave me a 15% discount, which was the only sane solution given the shipping costs and the fact the model has sold out. I’m gonna get to work with some oil, fine grit paper and steel wool, let’s see how good I can get it.

Look up "rolling" the fretboard edges. It is also not too hard to learn to file and shape the fret ends to clean all that up. Just take your time. I forgot, but I did all that on my Squier and felt much better. I used whatever fretboard cleaner and then conditioner stuff that comes in those Dunlop guitar cleaning kits. I liked how it turned out.

Is the problem that the fret ends are sharp/hanging over the board or that they are not fully seated or that the fretboard has too many open pores? I'm not exactly sure what I'm looking at.

Fortunately the frets are well seated and not even that badly dressed. My problem was the pale, porous wood covered in tool marks and glue. I think it’s partly retrievable but was ugly af for a mid priced, brand new guitar.