paul_5

This is probably my favourite joke EVER!!

At least we can be fairly sure that it’s a rosewood board - nothing splinters in quite the same way!

If you’re only going to do it once then a cheap set is fine, depends how many nut replacements you plan on doing in the future…

Dirty Movies - Van Halen

I had a Boss phase, then an EHX phase, then an EBS phase, then an MXR phase and then just went ‘open season’ on anything. I learned that I prefer certain manufacturers for specific effects (I prefer EHX stuff for modulation for example) but it took a while to get there.

Rounds with a light overdrive works every time for me. Can't hurt to boost a little at around 200Hz either.

Throw Away Your Television - RHCP again.

Still got more strings than knobs, not excessive at all!

Playing around with a tube overdrive using Matsumin’s Valvecaster circuit. I’ve changed the caps to allow more bass through and boosted the input to create a higher signal level into the drive stage. I’m waiting for some capacitors rated at 63v to add a charge pump to supply the tube plates with 30 odd volts. So far it sounds great!

Charlie's Enormous Mouth - Zappa

Yes, check it. I’d use a known good stereo lead and a multimeter set to continuity or diode mode and see which one goes to tip, ring or sleeve.

Jack sockets for active basses need 3 connections - tip, ring and sleeve. This means that whenever a Jack lead is plugged in it forms a connection between the ring and sleeve which completes the power supply circuit - typically the ground connection, leaving the tip to carry the signal. This has the advantage of not drawing power from the battery whenever you unplug your lead. If the original socket only has 2 lugs then you’re going to need an awful lot of batteries…

Sex on fire - every band, everywhere.

Like anything in music (and life in general for that matter) you'll never do it fast if you can't do it slow. Conscious, precise, slow movements are the key to any change/improvement. I've played floating thumb since I started, and doing anything else feel weird!

Always wind to the bottom of the tuning peg, and check that the strings aren't in torsion (twisted) when they go through the bridge. I do this by getting the string tight enough to produce a pitch (not anywhere near the final tuning), grip the string between my thumb and forefinger and run them down the length of the string from the nut to the bridge - when the ball end spins then you're taking the unnecessary twist from the string. Doesn't happen everytime I re-string, but it's worth doing every time, just in case.

Lonesome Cowboy Burt - Zappa

Liar - MegaDave

I can do that stuff most of the time, but look dreadful naked. Swings and roundabouts Rob.

Blackberry - The Black Crowes

So What - Anti Nowhere League

My youngest son (15) just overheard me playing ‘funky mellowship in B major’ by RHCP and commented “well, you’re better than Homer Simpson”. I’ll take that.

Youth Against Fascism - Sonic Youth

At least the tuners are in a straight line, unlike some monstrosities I’ve seen…