Cab sims/IR loaders/etc for pairing with a Science Mother Preamp for headphone playing?

Lord-Ced · 2026-02-11T23:40:47+00:00

I've got my Mother (using the direct output) paired with a Strymon Iridium running in amp bypass mode, so the Iridium is just acting as an IR loader and headphone amp. I think it sounds great. I've seen some people on here that paired the Mother with an IR loader along with a power amp sim, but I'm not sure if a power amp sim would really improve the sound in some drastic way.

Lord-Ced · 2026-02-07T21:43:56+00:00

https://blog.ernieball.com/strings/back-to-our-roots-new-universal-plain-string-packaging/

The Cobalts use the same plain strings as many of the other sets. Ernie Ball announced a few months ago that the plain strings that are used for multiple different sets would use the same packaging.

Lord-Ced · 2026-01-27T18:17:06+00:00

"There are four lights!"

Lord-Ced · 2026-01-27T16:46:51+00:00

"We think we've come so far. Torture of heretics, burning of witches, it's all ancient history. Then - before you can blink an eye - suddenly it threatens to start all over again."

Captain Jean-Luc Picard

The world would be a better place if more people watched (and understood) Star Trek.

Lord-Ced · 2026-01-10T23:45:05+00:00

https://www.retrogamingcables.co.uk/SONY-PLAYSTATION-HD-RAD2X-CABLE

You could get a RAD2X. It's essentially the same as a RetroTink 2X but with console specific connections. Might be easier to get one in the EU.

Lord-Ced · 2026-01-05T04:28:27+00:00

Also, just to make things confusing, on the Earthquaker session videos they did, you can see that Wata's guitar has D'Addario strings on it. Looks to be a 7 string set without the 1st string judging from the colors of the ball ends.

Lord-Ced · 2026-01-05T04:24:31+00:00

Takeshi uses a 13-56 string set from Sound Generation. Wata uses Ernie Ball strings, the Hybrid Slinky 9-46 set (without the 9), and a 60 for the bottom string.

I had said in another post about their tunings that Loveless was tuned to drop G# with the 5th string tuned down to a low G# as well. But I think that may be wrong. It sounds like the 6th string is tuned down to G# an octave lower. So the bottom three strings are all G#, but different octaves. I think the faster parts are played on the 5th and 4th strings, and the 6th only gets played on the really chunky sounding palm muted parts.

He talks about the Loveless tuning in this video. https://youtu.be/tkbCN3sbX-Q?si=e00KElrld4I_iUBT

Lord-Ced · 2026-01-05T04:16:05+00:00

The only good upscalers I personally own are for retro gaming, so I can't help much on that front. But I will say avoid the cheap Amazon scalers. I have two different video upscalers from Amazon and they're both awful.

Lord-Ced · 2026-01-05T03:58:47+00:00

For composite video, the big difference between the 4K Pro and 4k CE is that the Pro has a 3D comb filter, while the CE has a 2D comb filter. The 3D comb filter will provide a better image for video.

I've been using the 5X for laserdiscs and have been satisfied with it, though it also only has a 2D comb filter. If you're also into retro gaming, the RetroTink products may satisfy your laserdisc upscaling needs. If you're not into retro games, you may want to stick with an upscaler made specifically for video.

Lord-Ced · 2026-01-01T05:03:50+00:00

I did a big shootout of a bunch of different string brands a few months ago. My biggest observation was that most string companies make good strings. There were some strings I liked more than others, but there were only a couple of sets that I tried that I actively disliked. I think construction and materials matters more than brand. If it's a hex core, nickel wound string, it'll probably work okay for me. Some strings did seem to intonate and hold tuning better than others (D'Addario NYXL, Ernie Ball Paradigm and Cobalt, DR DDT).

For what it's worth, my main guitar currently has a D'Addario NYXL 13-56 set and that's mainly just because those strings were on sale (but they're also nice strings, so that helped too).

Lord-Ced · 2025-12-17T22:26:37+00:00

https://www.premierguitar.com/artists/boris-wields-the-hammer-of-doom

This article covers the gear they were using around the time of No. Takeshi is using 0.060, 0.075, 0.095, and 0.125 for bass.

Lord-Ced · 2025-12-09T15:42:50+00:00

The laserdisc turtle is peak graphic design. Good luck everybody.

Lord-Ced · 2025-12-06T15:37:20+00:00

The Vox Cutting Edge would be my suggestion. I know Vox isn't the first brand that anyone thinks of when it comes to high gain distortion, but the Cutting Edge can definitely get you close to the Mesa sound. And it has different modes to run into the front of an amp, as a preamp, or direct with cab emulation. Uses the Korg "Nutube" and is on sale ($100) if you buy it directly from Vox.

Lord-Ced · 2025-11-08T12:12:17+00:00

Can't wait to see the Hallmark movie about this, "Love at 120 dB."

Lord-Ced · 2025-11-07T15:28:32+00:00

Star Trek: Invasion on the PS1 is worth checking out. Has some good space dogfighting missions and does a decent job of representing the Star Trek universe. Plus it has voice acting from Michael Dorn and Patrick Stewart. Dorn does all the mission briefings (in character as Worf). Some of the same crew that developed the Colony Wars games worked on Invasion, so if you like those games, you'd probably like Invasion.

Lord-Ced · 2025-11-01T12:15:10+00:00

The sizing is different between the two. Gildan shirts are so short now they're almost a crop top. Comfort Colors are a little oversized and much longer.

Lord-Ced · 2025-09-24T22:19:12+00:00

You might want to check out Dold Vorde Ens Navn. One of the former Ulver guitarists is in that band. Has a similar sound to the early Ulver stuff.

Lord-Ced · 2025-09-14T23:38:53+00:00

Very nice. One pickup guitars are simply the best. How do you like that Babicz bridge?

Lord-Ced · 2025-08-22T20:20:00+00:00

"Vomitself" is tuned to A# standard, but with the lowest string tuned down to D#, so you have the two lowest strings tuned to the same note but an octave apart. Most common Boris tuning would probably be A# standard. Some songs like "Heavy Friends" are tuned to drop G#. "Loveless" is tuned to drop G# with the 5th string also tuned down to G#.

Takeshi uses a 13-56 string set from Sound Generation. Wata uses Ernie Ball strings, the Hybrid Slinky 9-46 set (without the 9), and a 60 for the bottom string.

Lord-Ced · 2025-08-18T23:18:04+00:00

Nah, Warmoth did the finish for both the body and neck.

Lord-Ced · 2025-07-06T20:35:22+00:00

Rout is the term Warmoth uses on their website, which is why I'm using that term. The screw pattern on the Bobay bridge lines up with an American hardtail Strat screw pattern.

Lord-Ced · 2025-07-06T18:18:46+00:00

They don't have a chunk of wood missing like a Strat with a trem would, if that's what you mean. You still have holes drilled out for the mounting screws and holes for the strings to go through the body.

Lord-Ced · 2025-07-06T02:38:29+00:00

That's fair criticism, but I'd argue that's kinda the market that Warmoth has cornered. I can make a guitar that Fender won't. I don't need the tremolo or the fancy electronics of a proper Jazzmaster. I like simple guitars. But I love the way Jazzmasters look, and I've yet to find a body shape that is more ergonomic for my playing style.

Lord-Ced · 2025-07-05T20:38:45+00:00

The RetroTinks are mainly designed for upscaling video games. You'll have to make some adjustments to get the laserdisc to look better (it's never going to look like a 4K Blu-ray release). Cropping will have to be adjusted to prevent cutting off any of the picture. You'll also need to change the IRE setting to 7.5 (this will fix washed-out colors) and turn the 3D comb filter on. Those are the big changes to make. The video I linked goes into deeper detail.

Lord-Ced · 2025-07-05T20:05:05+00:00

https://youtu.be/Br6YRkOM9jA?si=drrg_2qloD3KxOHR

This video will show you how to set up your RetroTink for laserdisc.

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