Adhesive pads for guitar

[BJG145]

A while ago I picked up an ACPad that was going cheap; a rubber MIDI-controller overlay designed to stick on an acoustic guitar. Unfortunately the sticky pads it uses are no longer sticky enough, and I haven't been able to get a replacement set yet.

I was wondering if anyone could suggest some other double-sided sticky thing that could be used to fix something securely but temporarily to the top of an acoustic...? While I wouldn't want to damage the surface, I don't mind about minor marks.

[Wonks]

I would suggest trying light tack masking tape and superglue. It's a luthier trick for sticking sandpaper to radiusing blocks (and similar). Stick the masking tape to the guitar to cover the area under the pad. Repeat for the underside of the pad. Carefully spread superglue over the masking tape on the guitar (you probably want to do this outside as superglue in any quantity produces nasty fumes). Don't overdo it as you don't want the glue spreading on the guitar, so leave a band round the edges with no glue on. You can get an accelerant spray for superglue, (which is recommended in this case), which you spray on the glue, then put the pad on top and press down.

The tape is now joined back to back with the superglue and although light tack, provides enough grip overall to keep the pad securely in place. It's certainly strong enough to keep sandpaper in place when sanding a fretboard. But it still allows you to prise the surfaces apart with a spatula/scraper. You may still need to use some glue remover after you've pulled the tape off, but there shouldn't be any permanent marks left.

I suggest trying it out on some scrap wood first.

Demoed here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ub6PsY4cgwg

[BJG145]

Thanks Wonks, that's an interesting hack.

[Studio Support Gnome]

Thanks Wonks, that's an interesting hack.

i've done similar in the past by using 2 inch wide masking tape, with 1 inch wide self adhesive velcro in the middle of it ... as long as you're careful it makes the thing removable and replaceable , often handy if the instrument has to go in a hard case.

[BJG145]

Finally got round to trying this - works a treat.

[Drew Stephenson]

A portable one-man band. Any video/audio footage of it in action?

[BJG145]

...ah, it was Wonks' suggestion that I was referring to. No, so far I've been content just to prop it up in a dark corner with the lights on and admire it.

The Kickstarter originator Robin Sukroso has made some nice demos with it...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2S0o4Sjwis

Think I'll start simple with a couple of synth effects on Echo Beach at the local jam night tomorrow.

[Martin Walker]

The Kickstarter originator Robin Sukroso has made some nice demos with it...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2S0o4Sjwis

Now that's an impressively versatile creation!

Martin

[BJG145]

...time passes...

There's only ever been a couple of MIDI guitar overlays AFAIK; the Livid Guitar Wing for electrics, and the ACPad for acoustics.

I'm pretty sure the Guitar Wing looks dodgy image-wise. I've sometimes been tempted when they pop up on eBay, but I've managed to resist so far.

The ACPad is discontinued now. I still haven't made up my mind whether it looks stupid or not, and I've never used it. But I've decided to try it out next time I'm down the Louis Marchesi for a jam night.

The tape/glue thing has worn off in the interim, but I grabbed some sticky velcro pads from the local hardware store earlier and stuck it back on my dusty Faith Saturn Eclipse.

Hmm.



I'll let the audience decide. As RichardT recently explained, perfection is subjective.

I don't usually do the singer/guitarist thing, but it's time to give it a try. Still wondering what to have a go at. I've got the shortlist down to three or four.

If The Dogs Don't Get You - Echobelly
Walk The Walk - Gaz Coombes
Underdog - Turin Brakes

[ManFromGlass]

I tried the Guitar Wing but it wasn’t what I was looking for so took it back. I really wanted to like it, but this was more than a few years ago and I don’t remember why it didn’t do what I wanted. I think I had a very early version - got it on sale, so maybe it’s better now than it was back then. Cool idea.

[Martin Walker]

Looking forward to seeing/hearing you in action with the ACPad Ben - you always have a sympathetic and interaction with controllers of all types.

[ManFromGlass]

[adrian_k]

A bit late to the party, but might be useful for future reference, I use microsuction tape for sticking things to my guitar. It not adhesive so leaves no marks, can be revived with a wipe of a damp cloth. Comes in a sheet so easy to cut pads to size.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00M7FC1K8/ ... BQFKCBANEW

[BJG145]

...cheers, the sticky velcro pads peeled off so I've switched to blu-tack. Slightly concerned about marks long-term though, so I'll give this a try.

I've settled on the Gaz Coombes number and tracked down the original ACPad "Replay" software via Wayback Machine. I can read all the control inputs directly via a CME WIDI Bud Pro, but some of the MIDI messages are a bit odd/unhelpful and evidently tied to specific functions in the software, so I'll give that a go in the first instance.

[Johnsy]

It says a 4" by 1" square (!) can hold a pound of steel - but what about a pound of sweets?

[BJG145]

I don't usually do the singer/guitarist thing, but it's time to give it a try.

And...went completely blank. I'm happy jamming along with a band, but a solo open-mic slot in a busy venue is another story. Only way to get better is by trying though. I'll try again...after a while.

[shufflebeat]

I don't usually do the singer/guitarist thing, but it's time to give it a try.

And...went completely blank.

Ouch!

I'm happy jamming along with a band, but a solo open-mic slot in a busy venue is another story. Only way to get better is by trying though. I'll try again...after a while.

Good man. Don't leave it too long.

[Drew Stephenson]

Oof. Tough, but recoverable. As Shufflebeat says though, try not to leave it too long.

[Wonks]

Maybe try and ease into it by performing first as a duo? And then maybe introducing a couple of solo songs into that arrangement.

[merlyn]

My friend always says "bad gigs are character building". For me the worst thing that can happen is a 'trainwreck'. That's when everyone goes out of sync and can't get back in. "Where are we?" isn't a question you want to hear in the middle of a song.

I've done solo instrumental gigs and to get started I might just play the harmonics at the 12th fret. Once I start making a sound that connects me with music. Then i could play something in Em. These are generally background music sort of gigs, so it is a bit different.

To get started you could strum something that will fit with the song that is to follow and introduce yourself. An intro if you like, and make it super easy so you can play it in your sleep.

[Drew Stephenson]

I've only had to completely stop and re-start a song once. I launched into the intro with my usual gusto and at the point the cellist was supposed to join in nothing happened. I looked at her to see a her looking at me with a WTAF? expression.
Turns out I'd left the capo on and was in entirely the wrong key.

We laughed, the audience laughed, we started again, all was good.
What I call a category 4 error.

[Sam Spoons]

I've done that more times than I care to remember, I play with different people and sometimes I'm the singer, sometimes somebody else is, and we need different keys depending on who is singing. Capo's get left on or removed in error and it's especially challenging when I'm exercising my relatively limited mandolin chops

The occasional open mic duo I do with my bass player mate is a bit rough and ready, we bill ourselves as "Trainwreck"

[adrian_k]

I’m always doing it, forgetting words, wrong chords, I don’t care, I just laugh it off. I’m doing it for me anyway, not interested in entertaining people. Yes I know it’s not a normal attitude

Edit - talking about open mics here, not paid gigs….

[BJG145]

...hey, thanks for the encouragement all, I was a bit taken aback; I'm blasé about playing to an audience with some decent musicians around me, but I was like a rabbit in the headlights standing up with a guitar on my own. Fortunately someone asked me what I was trying to play, Googled it, and shouted out the first line to get me started. Not a very auspicious beginning to my solo career but it can only get better.

make it super easy so you can play it in your sleep

...yes, next time.