Maude

We had our first rehearsal since all this madness and my Suitcase has been in storage in my workshop, not heated but not damp either. Similar conditions to our basement rehearsal space that it's been in for years. I brought it indoors the day before to acclimatise but, stupidly, didn't check it. At rehearsal I plugged it in a switch on, it was ever so slightly crackly (no bass plugged in) then it made a faint squeezing noise which quickly faded. I switched off anyway but intrigue got the better of me and I switched it back on, where it released the blue genie. Copious amounts of smoke pouring out the ports. I've just pulled the back off and it appears that two large capacitors have blown but, visually, nothing else. I know sight isn't a good tester for electronics but it was just a quick look. I've don't know whether to source the two capacitors myself and fit them or find a local tech (not easy down here) and give it to them. If it's just the pair of capacitors I'm happy to fit them but I'm worried something else might have caused them to blow. I'm not convinced it was damp as my other three amps stored with it are fine. Who knows. Everything else visually appears to be fine but that smaller capacitor in the top right corner has something dark on the top, but doesn't look to have split open. I'll look closer later. Hope it won't be too expensive, and as with most things, it could be worse I suppose.

An electric or air grinder would make short work if the notches, if you have access to one. Then just a quick tidy up with a file/sandpaper/wire brush etc. I have considered doing this myself but that HB one looks good value compared to a tenner steel rule plus my time.

Is it crazy though? (Not a dig BTW 🙂) You could spend £15k on a car, and in ten years it's worth pennies. Where as this in ten years will be worth, well who knows, but it'll never be pennies. If I had the money to spare I'd have found it very hard to resist. But I can get uncharacteristically giddy over JD/NO stuff.

The Needle And The Spoon - Lynyrd Skynyrd

A few cassette inspired names, Tape To Tape, Auto Reverse, or if you're playing the VW festival circuit, High Speed Dubbing.

Ah, rumbled 😂.

I remember listening to Jeremy Vine saying that he bought the set of chimes that was used on Atmosphere from either Hooky or Bernard. I'm also pretty sure I read that the sound of those chimes was one disc off a tambourine fed into a delay of some sort by Martin Hannett, or something similar. So it appears poor old Jezza was stitched up by them as well. 🤣

Sorry, I didn't realise you picture was the final bid. Another four grand or so to add on to that isn't there, was it 28%?

What did 142 end on?

That's Not My Name - The Ting Tings

Well I'm absolutely stonkingly super chuffed that I managed to bag lot 142. Lot 142 in the local auction house, a brass fireside companion set. What auction were we talking about? Ooh meds time. NURSE!!

Love Missile F1-11 - Sigue Sigue Sputnik

Another issue now. My PJB Suitcase just released the blue genie at rehearsal tonight. More expense. ☹️

The thing is, and yes I'm well aware of how rediculous a reason this is, I'm a massive Joy Division/early New Order fan, always have been since my teens. Anything that's not a Hooky signature bass just won't satisfy my want/lust/need/greed. I am that sad man that I usually ridicule.

🤣🤣🤣 Saw the £20 and the make an offer option, so offered £15,declined. £17, declined. Final offer £18.50 (got to feel like I'm getting something off), declined. Thought why bother putting offers if you've set your auto decline limit at virtually the asking price? Then saw it was an auction. 🤣🤣🤣

The thing is, I just don't need it. I'd like it but is that a good enough reason. I know they're not comparable but I'm really loving my reverse P 424 at the moment. @Reggaebasshas just posted the counter argument. I can't go tonight anyway so I'm going to see what happens tomorrow.

You lot aren't helping you know. 😁

Is the Embassy headstock smaller than a Jack Casady or EBO? They both have elephant ears, but to be fair they do look a bit huge on them, so if the Embassy is smaller then it'll definitely look out of balance.

Manchester? That's a long drive from Cornwall. 😉 It's in Wellington, Somerset. Sounds a long way from Cornwall but I'm only just in Cornwall and the bass is only just in Somerset, so just a quick blast through Devon in reality.

I think we all know the answer to that one. 😉

Holy random angles Batman!! 😁 Looks to be the same pickup (albeit with a black cover rather than white) that was in Robert Smiths first guitar, a Woolworths Top 20. He liked the tone so much that when convinced to buy a Fender Jazzmaster, he installed the pickup from the Top 20 in it between the two original pickups. It should be great as a slide guitar.

I'm Cold - The Cure

Olympic White P, maple fretboard, black pickguard, long strap, curly lead and curly top lip.

So if I got it for less than a grand it would actually be an investment really then. A sensible purchase and something not be passed up on. 😁

Hmm, well, yeah, kind of, I think. 😁 I'm kicking myself I never bagged one new. Now any I've seen come up are more than they were new. £1000 but up for sensible offers. Advert suggests postage is included in that, so if I collected there should be some decent wiggle room. What's the general concensus on the price of these. Are they going to keep rising, in which case I need to get one soon, or are they gonna peak and then start to come down after a few years and the novelty has gone (pun most definitely intended), in which case I'll wait?