My work here is done...#2 (Stepp DG1)

HarrySeven

And also, I picked this up....

SimonC

Looks a bit more complex than your average egg slicer.

xmrchi

What the fook is that then!

hobbio

And I was just thinking your Bond was quirky!

 

digitalscream

mrchi said:

What the fook is that then!

MIDI guitar. Two sets of strings - one at the picking end, one over the neck.

My dad's got one of the older versions. Extremely weird to play, and the tracking was nowhere near good on his (they probably improved it on later models). Honestly, I came to the conclusion that it'd be easier just to learn how to play a keyboard than it would to get stuff right on that thing.

impmann

Wow now that is a blast from the past. I remember Graham at Rose Morris Music on Denmark Street showing me one of those back in the day and being boggled by how amazing it was! Not quite sure why the Stepp and Synth Axes were on the top floor with the acoustic guitars, though!!

andyoz

Always nice to have your guitar packed in a polystyrene padded case.... Very 80's.

Remember those jumpers?

HarrySeven

A Stepp DG1 has been top of my wants list for the longest time. When I first saw one in the mid-'80's, it (like the SynthAxe) was beyond my wildest dreams, affordability-wise. However, I now own both. But...

Here's the sad bit...

Met up with the seller today to view it - lovely guy, super helpful - fired up the Stepp, it passed the initialisation procedure fine, all looking good, the only (expected) issue was a low onboard battery. Hooked it up to an amp and voila! All patches in place and everything working properly. Yay!

After 10 minutes of playing, the PSU (located in the floor unit (LSU) - which also contains the sound module) smoked (literally!) - smoke poring out of the rear vents.

We disassembled it and a number of components on the PSU board were torched. Mortified!

I still bought it, but finding schematics/getting it repaired will be tricky.

To say I was gutted is something of an understatement...

HarrySeven

@digitalscream - don't suppose your Dad wants to part with his?

digitalscream

HarrySeven said:

@digitalscream - don't suppose your Dad wants to part with his?

Pretty sure it's non-functional after having been stuck in the garage for 10 years or so - the display's knackered, I know that much.

John_P

wow.  I remember lusting over those when they came out.     Was there a DG2? 

HarrySeven

If he wants to sell, I'll buy it anyway.

HarrySeven

Messaged you.

andyoz

The 80's was some decade, imagine pulling those shapes down the local pub gig..

CloudNine

Thought it was a sneak preview of Gibson's 2016 Les Paul model.

HarrySeven

Plus the fact that Mr. Holdsworth had a gang of scientists on the road with him, keeping it running... not the most reliable tech!

ROOG

second time I've seen one of those in as many days, didn't ICBM post some pics yesterday?

Anyway have a wow, i hope you get it fixed.

andyoz

The guitar of choice by 'Metal Mickey'.  Nice bit of 80's history there and it looks mint.

HarrySeven

ROOG said:

Anyway have a wow, i hope you get it fixed.

Thank you!

xSkarloey

Yes, all the best getting it sorted.

IIRC that was the instrument Barry (or Maurice?) Gibb played on TOTP for "You Win Again".

Sticks in my head because it was so distinctive and the song was no 1 for ages so I got to see it on TV a lot.

HarrySeven

First stumbling block - where the f*ck do I find schematics for this thing?!!!

Probably written on unicorn hide in the blood of Christ by Elvis and Ghandi.