Well...I guess that's O.K. then...as long as they still sound good.

In sharp contrast to the "gig potential" concept which has been the focus of this discussion, I have been daydreaming of building a modular analog synthesizer...and playing a Stick through it (possibly GK-3 controlled, but definitely with the Stick itself as a wave generator).

Yes. The input signal needs a few extra milliseconds before speaker cones start moving, if comparing to a solid state based amp like for example the legendary Gallien Krueger 250 ML.

I'm also planning on doing this - using modulars, not building them. There are plenty of fun filters, frequency shifters, waveshapers, etc to play with. Hoping to get to it this summer.

Don't want to clutter up the OP's thread further so let's move this dialogue to here:

http://www.stickist.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=6302

Fair enough, I would have said "assembling" rather than "building" if writing at a saner time of day.

I am looking forward to a USB/MIDI/CV/Gate quadraphonic module due to be released this Summer by Doepfer (A-190-5). I plan to assemble an inordinately simple synthesizer with four note polyphony, expanding it to eight note polyphony (with a second such module) before adding more signal processing/generation functionality.

Is anyone else here reminded of Spalding Gray's Monster in a Box?

I hope all of my, well, blogging in this thread inspires people to come up with new ideas for their Stick. Let me recap a bit before unveiling my new idea.

Whereas I was probably born for modular analog synthesis, I will not be getting into it any time soon. That entire subject is just too good of a distraction from my wait for my Stick. In fact, it is too good of a distraction from my Stick as a whole. I am looking forward to becoming a Stickist, lest I forget. Besides, pretty much any individual synthesizer module costs the same as an effects pedal. If I ran my Stick through that many pedals, I would pretty much have a synthesizer "pad" anyway.

So, the idea. I have suddenly realized that I have a shortcut to a versatile tube preamp for my melody side, as well as providing both sides with flexible tube power (50, 22, or 7 watts). I am, no doubt, I'm showing my electric guitar roots here. The signal routing would be something like this:

Melody Side > Carvin V3M preamp > V3M Effects Send > Rane AP-13 Expand In > AP-13 Main Output > V3M Effects Return > V3M Output > Greenboy-designed Fearless Speaker

Bass Side > Rane AP-13 Piezo Input > AP-13 Main Out > Carvin V3M Effects Return > V3M Output > Greenboy-designed Fearless Speaker

This would provide stereo processing of the Stick into a mono output. The V3M's channel volume and the AP-13's output level would control of the mix of the melody side to the bass side, respectively. I would have the option of expanding to two speaker enclosures for medium-sized solo gigs, without PA support, in case the need arises (hope, hope, hope).

What do you think? Is this brilliant, or just tube snobbery?

Well, it certainly looks cool. What exactly are you hoping to accomplish with the AP-13 in this setup?

It will be both the bass side preamp and a summing mixer.

O.K., makes sense then. As long as you can keep track of what your signal path is doing this config. will leave you with a lot of flexibility. You'll be able to insert gain effects/compressors (often pedals, but not always) in the pre-gain path of the melody side and other rack effects before the effects return of the V3M.

I'm actually a little jealous of the tube power amp part.

Glad I didn't see this idea back when I was putting my rig together, or I might have tried something like it myself. Of course, then I wouldn't have been able to afford my Lexicon MFX unit.