neepheid

Bumparoo

Replacing/upgrading parts is fun and good to learn more about guitars in general. A word of warning though - don't even think of doing it for financial gain, you won't make megabucks just because you put a 100 set of pickups, a 50 bridge and a 50 set of tuners in it - I am only talking as your average eBay punter, but a Squier's a Squier, doesn't matter what superduper parts you've put in it. If the guitar's a keeper (ie. you like the neck) then go for it. Keep the original parts if you have any thoughts of selling this guitar on later and put them back on/in the guitar before you do. Keep the good components for another guitar or flog them seperately and you'll get a good chunk of your money back. Other than that, don't hold the soldering iron by the hot end, have fun and good luck!

I was actually surprised to see a few interesting things in the bass section at the weekend - a Cort Curbow, a second hand Musicmaster which looked quite tasty. Everything else looked pretty much same old, same old though. But I probably don't go in often enough to notice the stagnation you allude to. The bass selection's a quarter of the size of the guitar wall so I visit it less often accordingly.

I guess you mean man-up in the sense that you'd have to continue to go to work even if some nutter came into your workplace and threw a coin at you. Shouldn't happen though.

Heh, just took delivery of this yesterday: Mmm.

In general, you'll need a super big bodied acoustic bass to generate enough volume to compete with even a couple of acoustic guitars. I have a Takamine G-series acoustic: It's very pretty but it's needing some TLC at the moment - I went to adjust the truss rod and some wally who had it before me had damaged the truss rod nut. Luckily I can shift it with the appropriate sized Torx, so I'll be able to replace it, but who does that kind of thing?

social networking == going to the pub?

Improve, improve, improve. Improve everything - technique, improvisation, knowledge. I've already taken steps to help achieve this - practicing more, playing with others. I might try and do some RGT exams too. Same resolution as last year - finish my instrument building projects (4 on the go just now - that's just too much parallel tasking for my liking) Do more setup/upgrade/repair jobs for people. Calm down on the old gear acquisition. Be ruthless and sell instruments I don't play or don't lend any variety to the proceedings.

There are too many festivals vying for attention, ergo stuff like this was bound to happen as soon as the financial ride aboard the good ship UK got a bit choppy. Multiple festival goers cut back the number they go to - less frequent flyers don't bother going at all.

Pic showing lacquer cracks around the jack socket (exaggerated by angle poise lamp) Found a ding bottom rear edge of the body: Some headstock shots: In light of finding a ding, I'm reducing the price to 140. Bah.

Well, I hope they refurb the prices too. I always thought it was a tad expensive in there considering it's just a boozer.

This is a 2003 Epiphone EB-3 made in Korea (for those who obsess about such things) with the following details: Mahogany body, mahogany neck, 34" scale, set neck, 1 Sidewinder "mudbucker" in the neck, 1 mini bass humbucker at the bridge, independent vol/tone for each, 3 way switching. 3 point bridge with the bushings epoxied into the body to alleviate lift out under string tension which seems to afflict bridges of this kind. The only bad point - a couple of lacquer cracks around the jack socket. About a week after I took this home I was playing sitting down. I stood up. My foot was on the lead. Oops. I tightened up the jack socket again and it hasn't moved since (5 years), so it looks like I got away with it. Apart from that, it's in excellent nick - no dings, no rash, slight swirling in the lacquer where the strap attaches at the back. Anyway, I have a couple of photos of it but I'll add some better ones and a closeup of the jack socket area to show those cracks. I'd like 150 for it. The last two went on eBay for 122 and 207 respectively so I think that's fair enough.

PMed re: Epi Les Paul

This is the pertinent point, I feel.

This is now sold, cheers.

I'm talking tiny here. This thing produces 4W @ 4ohm through a 4 inch speaker. Don't expect miracles, but it will make your bass audible enough for practicing. Useful for practicing on the move, using at a second location where space is at a premium (work? significant other if not co-habiting?), or random amping/experimenting (I used it once to amplify the results of a wireless mic while testing its range from various rooms in the house). Here's a photo (not mine) for some context: I haven't used it in months and it's just wasting space. I fired it up a few days ago and it works fine. A tenner and it's yours.

If it's going in the living room then it's got to look good, right?

The only time I went to see Iron Maiden, I was a little disorientated by a half full bottle of water landing bottom first on my head, then spent the gig with 50% of my attention dedicated to my personal safety (avoiding crowd surfing gits (news flash for you guys - it isn't likely to be an Olympic sport any time soon, so give it up), spontaneously opening up mosh pits, staying on my feet in general). I don't even remember half the songs they played. One of the nails in the coffin for my attendance at big gigs. Not that it's Iron Maiden's fault, but this thread brought that memory back and I thought I'd bore you with it. I avoid big gigs these days (far too much lager being thrown around - are you there to see the performers/listen to the music or just there to be a dick?). At least at small venues if someone throws a pint up in the air then they'll get kicked out.

I did buy a cheapy sixer, but it was butchered for the neck. I'm in the process of turning it into a wide spaced 5 string. Think a P bass with an extra string grafted on at the same spacing

Well, there's your problem (a little bass player rival idealogical joke there - no offence meant!) I would offer to help but my experience with dual truss rods is minimal.

Feedback is everywhere, it doesn't have to be written/spoken. People vote with their feet. If your audiences aren't increasing in size/enthusiasm over time then you might be doing something wrong, or at least could be doing something better. Whether it's the musicianship, stage presence, songs, promotion, attitude in general, pissed the wrong people off (generally you should avoid pissing anyone off, it makes life easier), you'll have to figure out for yourself on the whole. People have opinions, but trying to squeeze it out of them is another matter entirely. Constructive criticism is even rarer - what's the use in being told "you're pish" without being given any pointers or clue as to WHY this might be the case? Making it is fine - it being the main reason for making music in the first place is wrong. Make music for music's sake. If you're good enough and you work hard enough then the success will come.

If everyone would stop being so bloody "amps at 11" and distorting all over the shop then it wouldn't be deemed necessary. Oversaturated, overworked PA systems kill live music, for me at least anyway.

Gordon Strachan was funnier when he was worried about his yogurt going off. With regard to the game, I'm gutted I missed it. I could have met a mate in the pub to watch it, but a combination of some emergency morning IT support with a hangover and arsed up arrangements meant I couldn't go. A fine result for the Dons though, and a most welcome bonus with Dundee United getting comprehensively dismantled. What a turnaround considering we were bottom for a while there.

I've never used braid, I use the little vacuum pumps for removing solder. Which reminds me - need to get some new tips, my current one is looking a little sorry for itself now.

Damn you for giving me the Gibson GAS! Can't wait to see piccies. Have a bump.