cruisinon2

Sounds like the software itself is crapping out...doubt it has anything to do with your connections, but I suppose you could try connecting with the goofy USB dongle instead of the X3 just to rule that out. I'd probably try re-installing Workbench itself first, though.

With the 69's bridge, the piezo's only ground connection is direct contact with the bridge itself...arguably not a wonderful design. Any dirt, dust, sweat, and other assorted crud that tends to build up under the saddles can mess with your ground connection. Try cleaning out under there and see if the problem returns...it's not always a dead/dying piezo.

Lol

A neural net attachment so we can edit with our thoughts...and a cup holder.

Somewhere there's a guy who will claim to be able to distinguish between woods that were cut down Tuesdays vs. Wednesdays (with or without a full moon), as well as which company made the chainsaw. Take it for what is worth, which ain't much. Just as a bunch of world famous wine tasters were recently embarrassed by this guy...: http://io9.gizmodo.com/wine-tasting-is-bulllollipop-heres-why-496098276 ...the idea of "tone woods", and the ability to distinguish between them is about as ridiculous. Perception is influenced by many things (appearance and price tag are often the primary factors), and changes from one day to the next for any of 1000 reasons. ALL of theses discussions are 100% subjective, and you'll never "prove" anything, either way.

Jeez, I wish I had money...;)

Look at it this way...you only have to do it once. Beats the hell out of tweaking the same set of patches back and forth between home and gig volume constantly.

Which is why those things are almost entirely useless... Your ears won't fail you, however...unless you're already deaf. ;)

Oh well...when it's time to go, it's time to go.

It's likely that you'll have to EQ after the fact in your DAW, regardless of whether or not you're adding any in the patch itself. Once you start adding multiple instruments, the whole ballgame changes anyway.

People suck.

If it's too loud, lower it. If it ain't loud enough, crank it up. There's no secret to leveling the relative volumes of different patches.

MORE! MORE! MORE! Yawn...

Either choice should suit your needs just fine...and I'd argue that a pair of reasonably flat-response headphones work quite well for creating patches. In fact, you might find that decent cans will get you closer to what you're hearing through the PA than a pair of monitors will. All depends on the various units in question. Either way, there will always be some subtle differences you'll need to account for, no matter what you choose.

FRFR...numerous options now, at a variety of price points. You won't look back from that either.

Zombie Thread!!!!

Rule #1 of guitar repair/maintenance: If you can't, don't. Rule #2: If you're guessing, don't. Any competent luthier can install a new nut for you. Nothing magical about it, provided that he/she/it knows what they're doing.

Most people wildly over-estimate the value of the things they own. Paying "X" dollars for something is meaningless the second your feet hit the sidewalk with it. With the exception of certain gem stones and precious metals, there's hardly anything you can buy that will "hold its value". Fancy electronics aside, it's just another mass-produced electric guitar. They're a dime a dozen...If you can get back half of what you paid for it with minimal effort, I'd call that a win.

They're hardly ever in stock anywhere. These things don't exactly fly off the shelves. Still waiting for my first retail sighting. Not holding my breath, though. Almost everybody ends up buying blind online...it's either that or a road trip. Everything on earth has mixed reviews. If you only go by that, you'll never buy anything. As for the necks, I'm sure there's a Strat or two on your side of the pond...and at some point, somebody must have needed to replace a damaged neck. Stew-Mac stocks the Mighty Mite necks, and there's always Warmoth. But an honest to God Fender neck will work just as well. Specs are identical. I know Fender sells replacement bodies...there's a shop near me with a stack of them. If they're doing that, can't imagine why they wouldn't sell the necks too. Any Fender dealer should be able to locate one for you.

The Standard is a Pacifica with Variax guts...I'll leave it to you to decide if that's a good thing or not. Opinions vary. Pacificas range from about $150 to $500/$600 on the high end, WITHOUT any fancy electronics. The Standards are what, $800 or so? You do the math. As for the 69, the stock neck is a dog, imho...too fat where it should be narrow (profile), and WAY too narrow where it should be wider (at the nut). This of course is subjective, like everything else. You might love it. However, if you don't like the neck on the 69, at least you're not stuck with it. Any Strat neck is a drop-in replacement...and as a bonus, it spares you the dreadful headstock, which is basically a giant billboard for James Tyler. Casino marquees on the Vegas Strip are more subtle. Can't do that with the the Standards...Strat necks don't work. Pocket might fit, but there are scale length issues. Intonation would be a problem.

I heard they're gonna model every amp ever produced. Kinda like the human genome project, but you know...for amps. Yawn.....

Well you already tried re-flashing the firmware. If that didn't help, it's not likely that there's much else you can do. Once these things go on tilt, there ain't much you can do beyond what you've already tried. It sounds like the switch itself may be the problem, rather than the firmware. Open a service ticket and see what they tell you.

You know, it's a crying shame that you can't get good peyote in this county anymore...;)

Fair enough. If it works, it works. I'd look silly buying a hairdryer though...I'm as bald as a cue ball. ;)

That's them...and that's a great price. Cheap as I've ever seen them. For a million years they were $100-$110 most places. I have zero experience with the jam hub, so can't help you there...but if the goal is just to not drag the Alto around, not sure why you'd need that thing. Why not just plug into whatever PA you're running the vocals through at rehearsals?