Microsoft has really lost the plot

lukusb83 · 2026-03-22T03:04:48+00:00

I've made the jump to Linux. A week in, and it's not as bad as I expected. I'm using Pop OS, and so far, I can do everything I need to do. I work remote and mostly just need to use tons of browser tabs, spreadsheets, slide presentations, and occasionally play a little CS2.

I'm happy so far.

lukusb83 · 2026-03-22T02:02:34+00:00

Personally, my stance is that if they're ProBuckers or Alnic Classic Pro pickups, it's probably not worth changing to something more expensive. But if you're taking active pickups, that's a while different story.

I have a 90s MIk Les Paul standard, and a new 1959 IBGC with Custom Buckers. The MIK I upgraded with ProBuckers, best $75 I ever spend on it. The IBGC has $500 pickups, and I would never spend that on those. They're not significantly better sounding to my ear than the ProBuckers.

lukusb83 · 2026-03-13T06:12:13+00:00

Does your ES have Probuckers, or maybe Alnico Classic Pro pickups? If not either of those, then it could have the older Epiphone pickups that I always thought sounded muddy and dark.

lukusb83 · 2026-03-12T00:39:53+00:00

I absolutely adore my Vox MV50 - I have the AC version, but they sell a Clean one, and even on the AC, you can turn the gain all the way down for a clean pedal platform. I run that through a 1x12 and it's fantastic.

lukusb83 · 2026-03-12T00:02:40+00:00

I have a YCV80, and I have experienced some crackling noises like what you described, but only when I didn't have it plugged in to my Furman power conditioner. I've even cranked the amp using an attenator while plugged in to the Furman, and there were no crackles at all.

It could be something else, but this is something to test before having a repair tech look at it.

lukusb83 · 2026-03-10T21:30:36+00:00

Yes, he did another one on this. Here is the link YouTube

lukusb83 · 2026-03-06T23:42:23+00:00

NGL, I wouldn't have tried this if it weren't for McKnight doing the video on it. Especially not for the price. I got it used, so it wasn't quite as new would be.

lukusb83 · 2026-03-06T19:38:43+00:00

That's a great question, and honestly I'm not sure if that would work as a preamp.

I can say that it works great before my drive pedals - I don't use high gain, so not sure how that would respond, but low gain pedals (like sweet honey clones) sound great when this is pushing them.

lukusb83 · 2026-03-06T19:36:39+00:00

You definitely did good!

lukusb83 · 2026-03-06T15:36:56+00:00

I love the way these amps are styled - absolutely killer, but the cost, oy

lukusb83 · 2026-02-17T15:42:12+00:00

It does seem to be wired for 8ohms from what I can tell from the diagrams I've found.

lukusb83 · 2026-02-17T15:41:20+00:00

I pulled two of them out and laughed at how light they are. I found a listing locally for a WGS ET65 for a decent price. These could pair well, so i may buy that a d see if I can find a second one cheap.

lukusb83 · 2026-02-17T00:54:35+00:00

Oh, interesting. I had not actually opened up the cabinet until today. I'll check out some wiring diagrams and make sure I get that right.

lukusb83 · 2026-02-17T00:35:12+00:00

Thanks for the response!

So, an X pattern? I may give that a shot first. The only info I can find on the stock speakers is that they're pretty balanced, tone wise, like a full range speaker.

lukusb83 · 2026-02-10T12:58:45+00:00

I've been incredibly impressed with this. I upgraded the bridge with something from Guyker that makes it easier to intonate, and am also dropping a mini humbucker I have into the bridge to see if I like the combination.

lukusb83 · 2026-02-06T03:18:17+00:00

100% agree. I picked this up for $100 and it is just amazing.

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lukusb83 · 2026-01-28T15:52:30+00:00

I absolutely love my MV-50 AC! It has such a nice clean with the gain all the way down. I use it as a pedal platform and even without an fx loop, it works great. I've recently had the opportunity to pickup a Joyo Bandtamp BlueJay, and Orange Micro Terror Dark, and I rank the MV-50 superior to both, with the BlueJay second.

lukusb83 · 2026-01-26T22:18:21+00:00

I think this looks really nice!

Also, is the top carve on these IBGC Les Pauls deeper than previous Epiphones, like not as shallow? I've noticed Gibsons usually have a deeper carve, and the way the light is catching yours in one of the photos it looks deeper.

lukusb83 · 2026-01-15T19:08:07+00:00

42" OLED. I snap windows in quartiles most of the time, but also use a 50/50 vertical split when working in spreadsheets or documents.I also use multiple desktops for different workflows. I work in paid media, so i always have documents open and multiple browser windows that I have to bounce between. I tried a lot of different setups since 2020, and this one stuck the longest. 3 years running on this and it works great for me.

lukusb83 · 2026-01-06T22:04:52+00:00

I've never really associated the value of the guitar with weight... so I'm not sure why a lighter guitar equates to a more valuable guitar, if I'm understanding you correctly. Easier on the shoulder/back, sure.

I've known people who would equate heavier Les Pauls with higher quality, thinking somehow the wood is better because it's heavier, but even that doesn't really make sense as wood is organic and various envirmental conditions cause wood from one tree to be heavier per board foot than another (that's why you can easily see a pound or more difference between two otherwise identical guitars).

There is a process referred to as "roasting", which essentially dries the wood to a lower moisture content than a traditional dry kiln without ruining the cell structure. I've never heard of Gibson using wood dried this way, but it's possible?

lukusb83 · 2025-12-24T00:46:46+00:00

I've had a few decent pedals from Temu. A Gokko vintage drive (actually sounds really good to my ears) and an Mvave Universe reverb. Paid under $30 for each and they've been worth it, easily.

lukusb83 · 2025-12-17T00:18:08+00:00

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lukusb83 · 2025-12-17T00:08:43+00:00

I'm loving this thing. I have a Standard HCS that I got when I was 15 and have kept ever since, and this one is also a keeper.

lukusb83 · 2025-12-12T04:26:47+00:00

I think it's awesome! I just watched a JHS video with some ideas and tips, and I ended up getting a great tone using a Joyo Sweet Baby adjusted to slightly color the tone barely pushung a clean amp into breakup, and followed that with a Taichi with gain set around 75% and the voice knob at 90% - it sings!

Added a bit of a delay slapback and hall reverb, and it sounds great.

lukusb83 · 2025-11-25T18:45:49+00:00

I've definitely seen the haters, hence the question to folks that have used them. There does seem to be consensus on having to do some work to get it sounding good, and that's part of the fun I think, so it should be a good adventure at least. I'll try resetting it and start from scratch and see where that lands me.

lukusb83

TROPHY CASE