David B

Carol Vorderman. I watched Countdown last week and got aroused. Only 7 letters, though.

Aberdeen and West Brom

In my mid 30's I found that the high pitch of the hi-hats and cymbals was hurting my ears and giving me headaches. I now use foam ear plugs from Boots. Have used them for the past few years and have no problems. It did take a few weeks to get used to it but was well worth it. Cheapskate - moi?

Bri Just get the new Orange head (the wee one - forgotten its name). You've got so many cabs that I am sure you could match them up. Crank up the valves. Forget the attenuator. Mike it up through the PA if you need extra oomph for gigging.

This thread brought back memories. Casio was the ultimate in cool way back then. Remember the hit single it spawned? Da Da Da by Trio. They don't make them like that any more.

Perhaps we can add a third one. Over to you, Mr Calderwood.

Amstell just isn't funny. Totally unable to ad lib. Looks fake staring at the autocue all the time. Bailey & Jupitus pretty hopeless as well so far. I think Lamarr's gift was having the right insults to bring out the funniest reactions from the guests.

Thought the whole event was great. Officially I was just a dad there with his 2 kids. In reality it was a hoot. Very slick and these guys up close are HUGE. Even fatty Trevor Murdoch is a powerful guy. Lot of matches, big stars in attendance and all round VFM, even at £45 a ticket. I drew the line however at £20 for a T Shirt. Would have paid a tenner for a kids T Shirt but 20 was a bit much. Place went mental for Cena and DX. Great fun.

Guess you're glad you didn't follow R&B's advice!

Oliver at strathbeg.com recently did some work on my Highway 1 Strat. Check his site for more info. I initially contacted him by e-mail and got a lengthy response and quote within the hour. Got my guitar back next day with set up and jack socket repair. Nice guy. Gave me a play of his guitars while I was out at his house.

£899 from GAK for an American Deluxe Tele. Nearer to home, I bet Merchant City Music in Glasgow would be similar (Deluxe not listed on their site meantime). I have no personal experience of importing stuff BUT I hear anecdotal horror stories. They all go along the lines of - "got a note from Customs saying if I pay the import duty of £ (insert large figure) then I can collect my stuff" Other sites have tales of people who have got away without paying anything. Even if you get the stuff, what if the neck pocket isn't a perfect fit with your neck. Is it a risk you are willing to take?

Getting plastered at a gig is not a good idea! BOOM, BOOM

Just us then? Scary.

Columbo is certainly there or thereabouts. Seemingly perfect muder is committed. He then solves it. Great. Sherlock Holmes is probably the best. Real depth of charactor. Basil Rathbone was good, although set in the wrong century! Who cares? Jeremy Brett was the best Holmes. Holmes with all the personal flaws to the fore. Saw him in HMT years (decades) ago doing the Holmes thing. Good stuff. Monk is the best of the current crop.

Our band (Red Cortinas) are Peterhead/Fraserburgh based and I am the "baby" of the band at 40. We have advertised for singers over the years and it is very hard to get people of the right age/location. We have a full complement of band members now but it aint easy. Keep trying, mate.

Don't mess with Snakey. He's a kick boxer. He also sharpens his Mohican on a regular basis. You have been warned. PS Do we need to be so childish about whether or not something can be called punk? Does it matter? Is it important?

Britheguy - Is that fear of you or your wife? Or both?

Is it an Engl amp which Ritchie Blackmore plays these days? He is "the man" so far as I am concerned and I am sure I read somewhere that this was his current amp. Saw him with Rainbow 25 years ago but it was Marshall back then. Sweet memories!

For Frosty - Yes, it was one of those generic ones. Cannon Adder (Birmingham Drum Centre own brand) The old style, not the new garish ones in the drum mags. Thiink the picture you refer to is in the Alabama Showboat in Peterhead. You will notice that I only use it as a 4 piece. Kit still has my "Red Cortinas" lettering on it. Buy a piece of history. For brithe guy, I've managed to sell your Tele in AUBL so I thought I'd get rid of some of my stuff as well! PS Would sell the drums without the cymbals if anyone prefers.

5 piece. Red. 22" bass, 12" and 13" hanging toms, 16" floor tom, 14" snare. Paiste Hi-hats. 2 Sabian Solar 16" crash cymbals. Cowbell. Recent Remo Skin for snare and New Remo skins for other drums. Bought the kit new from Birminghan Drum Centre about 5 years ago. Was the beginning of my mid life crisis at the time when I started drumming again after a long break. Kit has been gigged with the Red Cortinas (www.redcortinas.piczo.com). Good condition. Recent upgrade (to 6 piece Premier Artist Birch with Iron Cobra Pedals) is reason for sale. Ideal for beginner or perhaps someone like myself who wants to get back into drumming after some time away, without breaking the bank. Looking for 120 ONO Is set up in my garage in Peterhead. Come and give it a bash. PM or call 01779 473818 after 6pm.

Our bassist lives in the Broch so does a quarter of the band count? We played at Brochstock 2005. Close enough? Presumably us middle aged dudes are not barred (I say this cause AUBL seems to be dominated by teenagers - nothing wrong with that but it makes me feel OLD!). PS I had a look at your site. At least I was mature enough to enter the "adult" section.

Old wives tale. You DO NOT need to leave your guitar after a truss rod adjustment - they should take effect straight away. Every pro set up book/guide I have read tells you this (unless of course I read the wrong ones - but I think Patrick Eggle knows his stuff!) It was with fear and trepidation that I recently started messing about with truss rods, bridge saddles, intonation etc. Started on the kids' guitars before working up to my Fender. Made a real difference to the guitar's action and "playability". A bit of patience and you will notice a big difference.

I have a fairly recent copy of Music Mart with reviews of wireless systems. Give me a call on your return. Will try not to chuck it out meantime!

Row C in W1 for me and the 2 kids. Never been to see WWE before but I hear it is very well organised and prime entertainment. Kids (9 and 7) love Cena.

I have read good things about the Seymour Duncan pick up booster pedal. Can give a clean boost and also has a setting that can fatten up single coils. Useful for a Tele. Costs 80 or 90 quid.