BigRedX

[quote name='Bassman Sam' timestamp='1457915719' post='3003056'] But does it sound like a Thunderbird? [/quote] Which Thunderbird? The latest Gibsons don't sound like the originals and the three Epiphone models all sound different to each other.

I got a reasonably playable acoustic guitar for my 14th birthday. I think my parents were hoping that it would be a gateway into the world of classical (or at least folk) music rather than rock n roll. I was actually forbidden to buy an electric guitar, not that I could afford even a Zenta or a Kay as it would have involved saving all my money for the best part of 6 months, something I doubt any teenager of any generation would be able to do. I finally got around the problem by building my own solid-bodied guitar in the woodwork shop at school during the free periods of my A levels, and buying the hardware to go on it as an when I could afford it. Also it was relatively easy to smuggle a pickup or a set of machine heads into the house and hide them in my room until they were ready to be assembled. I worked out that I had spent more time working on the guitar than I had on any one of my 3 A-level subjects, something that was probably reflected in my grades. The finished guitar was brought home on the last day of term and presented as a "fait accompli" I didn't care what my parents thought any more, and besides I was off to university in a couple of months time. TBH I think that the difficulty I had playing rock music when I was growing up made me all the more determined and probably is a large factor in the fact that I'm still actively playing in bands today.

I find it very difficult to get misty-eyed about instruments like this, because back in the 70s when I was just starting to learn the guitar, unless you had parents who were relatively well off and supportive of any rock music aspirations, this was all you could dream of affording. And even back then we knew they were sh*t. A class-mate scraped together enough pocket money and saturday job earnings to buy one. He spent weeks levelling the frets and adjusting the truss-rod, nut and bridge to get a bit more playability out of it, but all that fettling couldn't disguise the fact that it had a neck like half a baseball bat and the pickups sounded like crap unless you played it through a distortion pedal turned all the way up. It also went out of tune at the drop of a hat.

Woolies Special. Cost about £25.00 in the mid-70s. Unfortunately only worth the same today.

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1457860072' post='3002315'] Worth a punt, I like 'em. Makes you realise that every string set you've used so far has had a wildly tense 'D' and 'G' string and that you've been sub-consciously compensating for it all this time. Nice strings. [/quote] It's all about taste. IMO the D and G on a standard set are about the right tension and then everything else feels more and more floppy the lower you go. It sounds as though for me a "balanced" tension set would all feel to loose.

Have you got both devices set to same MIDI channel?

1. Minimal heel at the neck joint i.e. set or through neck construction 2. Angled headstocks. 3. Neck finishes that match the body finish. 4. Instruments where every part has been specially designed so that it compliments the overall look, rather than having been thrown together from standard inappropriate looking bits that just happen to be easily available.

Just noticed the prices... What on earth makes the Bigsby version be worth two and a half times the cost of the entry level model?

Almost definitely home-made. Just look at the neck...

[quote name='DaytonaRik' timestamp='1457709098' post='3001200'] I get this if it was a few days apart but two months? [/quote] I suppose it depends how often the average punter wants to go and see a Thin Lizzy tribute band. It would appear the venues think no more than 4 or 5 times a year ;-)

The problem with DAB is that in order to maximise revenue Ofcom have opted to cram many more stations than originally intended into the bandwidth meaning that the broadcast bitrate is severely compromised over what was original intended. IIRC the best way to listen to DAB is via a cable set-top box, because that gets a much higher bitrate than the signal that is broadcast to air.

[quote name='DaytonaRik' timestamp='1457708380' post='3001189'] We are taking it as a HUGE compliment as we already know of punters who have elected to come and watch us for free in/around derby in lieu of forking out nearly £20 to watch Limehouse play locally the next night. [/quote] And that's exactly why your other gigs have been cancelled. Why pay to see one Not!Thin Lizzy when you can see another for free?

Where's Bilbo?

Hazards of being in a tribute band, and especially if there is another one covering the same artist that is better known.

[quote name='largo' timestamp='1457621384' post='3000244'] Inset handles, Tolex covering & a grill that covers the whole of the front of the cab. You did ask [/quote] I thought the whole point of Barefaced was the cabs are small and super-light. Pretty much everything you want will add unnecessary weight and size to the cab.

[quote name='fleabag' timestamp='1457627587' post='3000387'] Weird looking plank [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=We2ORbOVFuw[/media] [/quote] That will be the Epiphone Newport mentioned earlier in this thread.

[quote name='pendingrequests' timestamp='1457626651' post='3000374'] Check with the airline man. They will tell you what to do. The musicians union allows it to come onboard as baggage. If I'm not mistaken? [/quote] Checking with the airline is useless. The ultimate decision rests with the cabin crew at time of check-in. IIRC the MU have got some motion in EU parliament to get the major European airlines to agree to allow musical instruments to be carried in the cabin. However this is still some way off being policy.

[quote name='EmmettC' timestamp='1457624055' post='3000314'] I think it's great they treat their staff well, and they demand is still very high. I still think if I went to a good British Luthier (ACG, Overwater etc) I could spec something very similar for a lot less money. [/quote] But it wouldn't be a Fodera, and wouldn't have all those details that someone who wants a Fodera would expect. That's not to say that any of our brilliant British luthiers don't make great basses, but each has it's own individuality and that should be why a player will pick one luthier over another to build their bass. Otherwise if you just wanted a bass guitar I'm sure that for most people something like a Squier P or J would be fine.

[quote name='Sibob' timestamp='1457616429' post='3000152'] For what it's worth, I think Gus Basses are ugly as sin, and a 5 string variant couldn't look less punk IMHO....... [/quote] So what am I expected to play? A boring old P-Bass? That's such a cliché.

In terms of supply and demand, if you look at the waiting times for a new Fodera they are probably still underpriced.

Can't see what's custom about that. Looks like one of the standard Spear models. And about twice the price they were selling for new in the UK.

[quote name='therealting' timestamp='1457435229' post='2998437'] Just wondering if anyone has tried one yet. I'm considering their smaller-bodied hollowbody guitar from the same range... [/quote] If you are going for one of their vibrato-equipped guitars make sure you try it first. Our guitarist had one for a while and the shallow break angle over the bridge meant that he was forever pinging the strings off their saddles. The problem is that for some reason they've omitted the bar that strings pass under on a real Bigsby unit.

Mine was Polysics playing their one-off UK debut gig in the Bar venue of the Islington Academy. Tiny venue and almost ear-bleeding volume. The two support bands played at far more sensible levels and were all the better for it. The volume was verging on painful but as I expected this to be the only chance I'd get to see Polysics without going to Japan, I endured it. My ears were ringing for days. Of course Polysics went on to do 3 full UK tours and this was just the first of many times I saw them - all at far more comfortable volumes.

I think a lot of the problem is for Fodera is that apart from the ring-yang bass, looks wise there's nothing really special about them. As a bassist of below average ability I can get away with playing my Gus in a punk band because it looks the part, and the relatively high cost of the bass never comes into question.

[quote name='EBS_freak' timestamp='1457431760' post='2998379'] Would you say that Mustang Sally was the best cover by The Commitments? Just the way it is, I guess. [/quote] I don't have a problem with "Mustang Sally" because I rarely hear it (I'd never heard before I saw the film) and I've never had to play it. It's not really the sort of music I'd choose to listen to or to play but I "get" why it's popular with audiences because it's upbeat and catchy - things I can't hear in "Sex On Fire".