barkin

[quote name='casapete' timestamp='1406557312' post='2512396'] Having said that, Strings Direct are offering free postage on orders till 31st August, and have Fender Phosphor Bronze sets in at £13.99 so may be tempted to try some. [/quote] I've a set of those on my Tanglewood acoustic. Have to say, I'm a bit disappointed with 'em. Sounded OK new, but went off and just made a dull thud very quickly. Wondering what to try next...

[quote name='spongebob' timestamp='1406306617' post='2510479'] Too many to list! But for a real genuine keeper, it would be 'Moonflower' by Santana. [/quote] One of my favourites too. Whenever I hear it, I think 'wow, is that really getting on 40 years old?' Too many to count: The Who - Who's Next Jeff Beck's Guitar Shop Frank Zappa - Guitar Wishbone Ash - New England Dr Feelgood - Stupidity Nine Below Zero - Live At The Marguee John Martyn - Solid Air AC/DC - Back In Black Stones - Black & Blue . . To name but a few...

[quote name='icastle' timestamp='1405864428' post='2505931'] I haven't used valve amps for 20 years, but I still connect my speaker(s) before powering my amp up. Just get into the habit of always doing it and you'll never have a problem. [/quote] This. I just wouldn't dream of plugging stuff in/out when it's powered up - be it valve, SS or steam driven.

I normally only get this if I've not been playing as much as usual, and I do a lot of playing over a short period. eg long rehearsal thursday, gig friday, 2 gigs saturday kinda thing. I just try to be aware of it becoming a bit uncomfortable, and use a pick whenever I can BEFORE it becomes a necessity.

Perhaps I'm missing something here, but...if the intonation etc is OK, and it plays OK, does it matter ?

Oh dear - I showed these to MrsB, they dingo down very well

Dunlop Jazz III for me. The thickest one they do - 1.4mm or summat. Stiff as ya like.

Personally, I wouldn't even consider keeping it.

Just received some parts for a project from Paul. Very prompt & helpful comms, and goods despatched promptly. A pleasure to deal with, form start to finish. Top man. Cheers matey - much appreciated.

The last 2 outfits I've become involved with were from me responding to ads on Gumtree & Joinmyband.

[quote name='4-string-thing' timestamp='1405352915' post='2501120'] Just the opposite of my experience then. I've gigged with an Acoustic 220 for 33 years and never felt the need to take a back-up amp. [/quote] Long may it continue to serve you well. I don't recall exactly what happened to mine (I think mine might have been a 120, rather than a 220) but I do remember the tech who repaired it saying that it wasn't an uncommon problem. While I did like it, I never really trusted it after that, and sold it on. [quote name='4-string-thing' timestamp='1405352915' post='2501120'] I did buy an Ashdown 600w, thinking it would be louder (when I was in a spoof hair metal band) It wasn't..... [/quote] My immediate replacement was a Carlsbro TC60, which I've still got. I wondered at the time if it would be loud enough. It was...

That's what I thought too, and there's not much wound on the pegs afaics. Looks like a solution looking for a problem to me, and when they couldn't find one they created one.

[quote name='Weststarx' timestamp='1405014053' post='2497955'] Hello All, Having recently waited 3 weeks for my amp head to return from Laney when it broke down, I've wondered if theres amp head out there thats either made or is ideal to be used as a backup. Anyone got any advice? [/quote] I had an Acoustic head went up in smoke, literally, during a gig 20-odd years ago. I've always carried a spare since then, and never needed it ! Never leave home without a BDI21 too these days. You're round Cambridge way, are you not? A bit late now perhaps, but drop me a PM if you get stuck in future.

[quote name='Conan' timestamp='1404976082' post='2497377'] And some basses are just less "shouty" than others! I haven't owned a Warwick, but I found this to be the case with my Spector Euro. It would overdrive the input section on my LH500 [/quote] Crikey !

Just to echo what others have said really... I've done the "20 Watt practice amp" thing, and wouldn't do it again. They're really only any good for bedroom practice, and don't really take any less space than a proper rig that'll be usable for playing with others - with a drum kit etc. I know you said you'd rather buy new, and I kinda understand that, but just to give some food for thought...you could get a very usable cab (there's a Hartke 2x10 in the For Sale section here, for example, for 100 quid IIRC) that won't really take any more floor space than a practice combo. Add to that a separate amp head (I've done loads of gigs in pubs etc with a Hartke HA2500, for example - 200 quid new...) and you've got a setup that'll not only sound better at bedroom levels IMO than a practice combo, but will also be usable if/when you start playing with others, and give the option of adding another cab later on, should you need to, to make a 4x10/2x10 + 1x15/whatever rig that'll cope with pretty much any pub-type gig situation. Just a thought...

Dammit! Looks like I'm now working at the weekend, so I've gone from a "definitely be there" to a "might make it if I get done in time"

I keep a couple in my bits-n-bobs bag, just in case. I've used 'em on the odd occasion to extend a speaker lead in an emergency, but never on an instrument lead.

Many moons ago I used to do pubs, small-ish halls etc with a Carlsbro TC60 into a single Acoustic 1x15 and it always seemed to do the job. Used to get a bit gnarly when it was pushed, but that was a plus... More recently, I've used it with a single Compact on pub gigs and not found myself needing more volume - but my idea of 'loud enough' may be different to yours. We do make a real effort to play as quietly as we reasonably can.

I did the same for my daughter a few years ago. All of the 3/4 size ones, in my price bracket, that I looked at either felt a bit toy-like or didn't sound great. I ended up getting her a small-bodied full-size one. I've a Squier Mini Strat that I'm thinking of selling...

Aah...I wondered why nobody much was posting their ACC gear. Now I know why...Mike's got it all !

I've a Westone Thunder and a Vintage V4, both of which can be picked up 2nd hand for 100-ish quid. I'd happily take either to a gig as my only bass.

majelectronic.co.uk. ? The website's...erm...interesting...