Guitarists’ Guide (news & all things guitar related)

Uprightmusic

@yellow_eyez said:

@Uprightmusic said:

@yellow_eyez said:
Not sure what it does compared to what I already have but SOLD! Haha 😎 (reminds me of the Nux and Mustang Micro)

What guitar do you like playing?( If you have a favorite ?)❤️

I usually don’t get this excited about stuff but it came in the mail today, plugged it into my iPad 10th gen fired up AUM and it worked without an issue. I’m kinda blown away it’s only $64 lol. Right now I’m spending a lot of time playing my Ibanez AF95. It’s a fairly affordable hollow body. Also have a bunch of Strats. What are you playing if you don’t mind me asking.

I’m a little jealous. I was looking for a compact solution for around $100 or less and I got a nice deal on the mustangs micro plus , which is absolutely fantastic, but this looks like it’s possibly trumping both.

I am a Japanese kinda guy; I love my ESP and Ibanez MIJ j customs/custom shops

Main guitar is : 7 string ESP Snapper [custom shop]

So you got your hands on it !? Wow lucky

Have you ever tried other compact modelers ? How do you feel the tones and modeling compare to the big boys? < and is fractal , helix, kemper and the rest becoming passé and overcharging ?>

I personally do prefer hardware for instruments because it’s basically a fail safe versus software based stuff; however it seems the gap narrows every day and everyday something else makes the guitar world smaller and smaller

Great post

Thank you

Hey no problem…I just couldn’t curb my enthusiasm so I had to share haha.

I have the OG Mustang Micro. I’ve used it in a pinch on vacation a few times to record ideas but as you know you cannot monitor from the older unit like your Plus can.

As far as the tones. I’d say they are really usable. I mean, I’m mostly a clean player so stuff like Jazz and lofi beats are what I mostly dabble in. I found it really easy to dial in a tone I like. I only had it a few hours but I was able to figure out how to navigate the pedal and dial in a tone within 10 minutes. I can’t speak for overdriven tones or heavier chug style tones.

I’ll definitely be doing some recording to the iPad with this but it will mostly be a quick way for me to practice without needing to boot up my full rig. My full rig is centered around pedals and Tonex. I also have an HX Stomp

Wow a 7 string ESP Snapper Custom Shop! Sheesh!

I don’t have a custom shop anything yet. My prized guitars are my D’Angelico EXL-1 and my Eric Johnson Strat….but I have too many guitars. I’m almost embarrassed to say how many. I’ll post a picture of my studio (which doesn’t picture every guitar) 😬

dblonde

yep ordered one of these too

Uprightmusic

@yellow_eyez

for some reason my links aren't working

Uprightmusic

Not sure why

Uprightmusic

My apologies

Uprightmusic

@Johnmayo said:
Why not get a mini interface and just use iPad apps?

Not sure where you can get an interface for $64?

tubespace

For the price, the Pocket Master looks fantastic! Super tiny and light with lots of preamps. The interface can only put out 16 bits, so that could be a deal-breaker for some people. But for that price, you have to expect some sort of sacrifices.
I have a Sonicake fuzz pedal, and I really love the sound.

michael_m

@yellow_eyez said:
Question:

1) who is concerned with radius, length and fret type (e.g compound radius vs uniform, 12 vs 17”, 24.75” v 25.5” v 26.5”?, stainless steel or nickel)

2) what did you find are your preferred neck types - c , U , or D?

When did you discover these things as integral to your playing style or preference ?

It’s crazy how many different configurations are possible with guitar from string number, to fret type, neck size, length etc

To be honest I don’t worry about any of these things at all, as they make each guitar unique, and I’d rather each guitar I own play differently from all the others.

Neck types make a differ to how I want to play, frets might make slightly less of a difference, and scale length is interesting as it has more of an impact on the sound than most people think. String number and tuning obviously impact how you play, and gauge impacts both the ability to bend and the overall sound.

I just love that all my guitars are very different from each other and they make me play differently on each one.

Uprightmusic

@tubespace said:
For the price, the Pocket Master looks fantastic! Super tiny and light with lots of preamps. The interface can only put out 16 bits, so that could be a deal-breaker for some people. But for that price, you have to expect some sort of sacrifices.
I have a Sonicake fuzz pedal, and I really love the sound.

Yeah the 16 bit aspect may be a deal breaker for some. So I just got it today and I’ve use it both as an interface (into AUM) and straight out the main outs of the unit into a recorder. Absolutely nothing to complain about. It’s rock solid for the price.

tubespace

@Uprightmusic said:

@tubespace said:
For the price, the Pocket Master looks fantastic! Super tiny and light with lots of preamps. The interface can only put out 16 bits, so that could be a deal-breaker for some people. But for that price, you have to expect some sort of sacrifices.
I have a Sonicake fuzz pedal, and I really love the sound.

Yeah the 16 bit aspect may be a deal breaker for some. So I just got it today and I’ve use it both as an interface (into AUM) and straight out the main outs of the unit into a recorder. Absolutely nothing to complain about. It’s rock solid for the price.

Honestly - for the way most people use guitar sounds - with lots of drive and dirt - you won't notice a difference between 16 and 24 bit. And especially if guitar is just one part of your composition.

filo01

@Uprightmusic said:

@Johnmayo said:
Why not get a mini interface and just use iPad apps?

Not sure where you can get an interface for $64?

I tried and I think you can't. I found only one durable small interface at that price range: Zoom AMS-22 for $80-$90.
The other reason why to buy something like this Sonicake is a portability. I have the NuX Mighty Pro and I love just plugging in my headphones, connecting my phone/iPad via BT to it for the backing track, and then walking and playing wherever I want.
Btw Did you already check a round trip latency of Sonicake, @Uprightmusic?

wim

Sez it’s 24bit on their website and elsewhere…

100+ Built-in Guitar/Bass/Acoustic Effects with 20 Legendary Amp Models, 24-bit 44.1kHz Signal Processing.

tahiche

Looks great, specially for the price. Unfortunately it’s sold out.
Can it be powered by the iPad via a PD usb hub?

Gravitas

@yellow_eyez said:
Question:

1) who is concerned with radius, length and fret type (e.g compound radius vs uniform, 12 vs 17”, 24.75” v 25.5” v 26.5”?, stainless steel or nickel)

2) what did you find are your preferred neck types - c , U , or D?

When did you discover these things as integral to your playing style or preference ?

I wasn't concerned about any of this until my favourite guitar got stolen back in 2018.
I chose my instruments by feel and the one that got stolen felt right.
I had had it for about 27 years.
It took me 3 years to find a new one.

It’s crazy how many different configurations are possible with guitar from string number, to fret type, neck size, length etc

That's why it took me three years to find a new one.
I tried so many different guitars,
some were perfectly setup but no feel, some had feel and no setup.
The one I found had plenty of feel however the setup was dreadful.
The tone though was creamy and a little bit wild.
I bought it, took it to a luthier and my instinct was right.
She's a beaut' to play, she's got this "edge" that purrs and roars when need.
Very happy.

hisdudeness

@yellow_eyez said:

Location: UK

Genre/type of guitarist: “Pop/ambient/worship* / lead

Guitars: Gretsch Falcon 6136, PRS Silver Sky , Jackson Dinky modified with TV Jones, push coil and kill switch , Taylor 214 , Maton Tony Emmanuel signature

Favorite /influences: Slash , Satriani, Hendrix , Tommy Emmanuel , John Mayer

Favorite pickups: Single coils , TV jones stuff and LR Baggs stuff

amps/cab: Quad cortex , Vox ac 15 , Ethos clean 2, UAD amp sims

fave Fx/pedals H9 , H90, Cloudburst , skreddy lunar module , KOT

Fave apps /for drums: Lumbeat apps, GarageBand

Fave DAW:, AUM+Cubasis + Auria, [Logic Pro (desktop )]

Uprightmusic

@tubespace said:

@Uprightmusic said:

@tubespace said:
For the price, the Pocket Master looks fantastic! Super tiny and light with lots of preamps. The interface can only put out 16 bits, so that could be a deal-breaker for some people. But for that price, you have to expect some sort of sacrifices.
I have a Sonicake fuzz pedal, and I really love the sound.

Yeah the 16 bit aspect may be a deal breaker for some. So I just got it today and I’ve use it both as an interface (into AUM) and straight out the main outs of the unit into a recorder. Absolutely nothing to complain about. It’s rock solid for the price.

Honestly - for the way most people use guitar sounds - with lots of drive and dirt - you won't notice a difference between 16 and 24 bit. And especially if guitar is just one part of your composition.

I completely agree.

Uprightmusic

@filo01 said:
Btw Did you already check a round trip latency of Sonicake, @Uprightmusic?

I haven’t checked the round trip latency yet. There’s a guy on YouTube that usually does check latency, Leo Gibson. He’s done a video on the Pocket Master but I can’t remember him checking the round trip latency on it….but I’m not noticing anything overly bother some. Sounds as immediate as my Motu 828.

Uprightmusic

@tahiche said:
Looks great, specially for the price. Unfortunately it’s sold out.
Can it be powered by the iPad via a PD usb hub?

It’s available on Amazon. That’s where I bought mine.

yellow_eyez

(Which links @Uprightmusic ?)

Uprightmusic

@yellow_eyez said:
(Which links @Uprightmusic ?)

I was trying to share some pics of my rig.

Cambler

@Uprightmusic said:

@tubespace said:

@Uprightmusic said:

@tubespace said:
For the price, the Pocket Master looks fantastic! Super tiny and light with lots of preamps. The interface can only put out 16 bits, so that could be a deal-breaker for some people. But for that price, you have to expect some sort of sacrifices.
I have a Sonicake fuzz pedal, and I really love the sound.

Yeah the 16 bit aspect may be a deal breaker for some. So I just got it today and I’ve use it both as an interface (into AUM) and straight out the main outs of the unit into a recorder. Absolutely nothing to complain about. It’s rock solid for the price.

Honestly - for the way most people use guitar sounds - with lots of drive and dirt - you won't notice a difference between 16 and 24 bit. And especially if guitar is just one part of your composition.

I completely agree.

Stupid question but could you plug one of these into a 24 bit project and have it record in the downgraded bitrate?

Uprightmusic

@Cambler said:

Stupid question but could you plug one of these into a 24 bit project and have it record in the downgraded bitrate?

Hmmm I’m not exactly sure.

Uprightmusic

Looks like the Pocket Master just got a new update. Adds Nam profile support and a couple of new effects. The Nam support is kinda huge IMO.

tahiche

@Uprightmusic said:

@tahiche said:
Looks great, specially for the price. Unfortunately it’s sold out.
Can it be powered by the iPad via a PD usb hub?

It’s available on Amazon. That’s where I bought mine.

Can you power it with the iPad via usb powered hub?. And s the headphone output good?. Besides the obvious guitar use, It sounds like a great option as an all-purpose audio interface.

Edward_Alexander

I’m assuming it doesn’t have an iOS/ipadOS app to go with it. ie you’ll need a desktop/laptop PC to update the firmware and/or do any pedal chain editing etc.

Uprightmusic

@tahiche said:

Can you power it with the iPad via usb powered hub?. And s the headphone output good?. Besides the obvious guitar use, It sounds like a great option as an all-purpose audio interface.

Yes I’m getting power via my Hub. Hub is connect to a 65w wall wart and it’s delivering power to both my iPad as well as the Pocket Master.

I have a few Multi effects pedals that I’ve tried to use the headphone out for recording with varying results. The Pocket Master headphone out is probably the best I’ve used. I’m assuming because it’s actually a Output/Headphone out. The actual technical specs of the output and how it functions when to comes to ohms and that sort of thing is lost on me…all I can say is that it’s giving me exactly what I’m expecting from that output when running into other gear. For quick contrast, I have a Ampero Stomp 2 and while the actual outputs of the stomp sound great, the headphone output overloads at much lower levels than the actual outputs. I don’t not experience anything like that with the PM.

wim

@Cambler said:

@Uprightmusic said:

@tubespace said:

@Uprightmusic said:

@tubespace said:
For the price, the Pocket Master looks fantastic! Super tiny and light with lots of preamps. The interface can only put out 16 bits, so that could be a deal-breaker for some people. But for that price, you have to expect some sort of sacrifices.
I have a Sonicake fuzz pedal, and I really love the sound.

Yeah the 16 bit aspect may be a deal breaker for some. So I just got it today and I’ve use it both as an interface (into AUM) and straight out the main outs of the unit into a recorder. Absolutely nothing to complain about. It’s rock solid for the price.

Honestly - for the way most people use guitar sounds - with lots of drive and dirt - you won't notice a difference between 16 and 24 bit. And especially if guitar is just one part of your composition.

I completely agree.

Stupid question but could you plug one of these into a 24 bit project and have it record in the downgraded bitrate?

I don't understand all the talk about 16 bit. Everything I've seen says it's 24 bit. What am I missing?

wim

@yellow_eyez said:
(Which links @Uprightmusic ?)

https://a.co/d/4fPIOhB

The black one says delivery Feb 7 - 17, but the Grey one is showing two-day delivery with Prime.

wim

"Is that a guitar amp in your pocket or are you just happy to see me."

cramdog

@wim said:
I don't understand all the talk about 16 bit. Everything I've seen says it's 24 bit. What am I missing?

Hi, @wim.
Note: I’m not sure about the context of the topic, so my report below may be off-topic.

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https://www.sonicake.com/products/pocket-master

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