Happy Jack

Illegal? Possibly a matter for a civil action, if Fender could be arsed, which they can't, but illegal? I doubt if Inspector Knacker of the Yard has been called ...

http://www.myrareguitars.com/vintage-1984-riverhead-unicorn-electric-guitar

They'd only allow you to join if you could type with both hands at once.

Basically, they look like they're too short! I've now ordered three different string sets - D'Addario, Ernie Ball and Galli. Way I see it, worst case is that I've ordered enough roundwounds to last the rest of my playing career (given that I play almost exclusively flats).

In all fairness, Mick, it's hard to see a problem!

I have to say, that Galli Strings web-site has to be about the worst thing I've encountered on the Internet in the last decade. Designed by an illiterate 9-year-old, and totally off-putting when it comes to actually buying something!

Now those look seriously close to what I'm after ... Thanks!

I've had a first pass at the bass with T-Cut, and in truth I'm not seeing any difference worth mentioning. http://s1128.photobucket.com/user/h4ppyjack/library/Basses CURRENT/Ovation Magnum III 1980 CURRENT It doesn't photograph well but, in this shot, the two most cloudy areas are around the neckplate and at the rear of the upper bout. Maybe I haven't used enough elbow grease?

There was no silk at all. It was definitely a 4-string set! Wouldn't know where to find Galli strings ... couldn't see them at Strings Direct or Stringbusters. It didn't occur to me to photograph old bass strings before chucking them away, but I take your point.

For what it's worth, you're nowhere near the first person to encounter this problem! There used to be a rather nifty aftermarket perspex surround you could fit which pretty much did away with the problem - have a Google.

Yes, I'm assuming that you already have enough scratch?

But you don't need to use your left hand to play that ...

I bought an old Ovation Magnum, the strings are tired and rusty but sound just great so I want to buy the same again. The strings are: Extra Long Scale Tapered construction Roundwound Gold ball-ends on all four strings No coloured silks What am I looking at?

I like your thinking, Pete, but I need the Hercules for a special, a very special project ... details to be announced later this year.

Bass on Hercules stand = 31" x 23" = 713 sq" Bass on Bass Bar = 44" x 22" = 968 sq" So it takes up roughly one third more floor space, but it far harder to knock over. Ya pays yer money ...

Nicely done, sir, but I'm pretty sure that Roger Waters would have been using a pick rather than slapping! Ignoring that, you've pretty much nailed the tone.

Mine just arrived so I used it to replace the big Hercules stand in the sitting room. First impression - why didn't I know about these earlier? Ridiculously simple, ridiculously effective, far less intrusive than the other stands I've used.

Understood, but what you hear through your TV is NOT what you hear at the gig.

Thanks guys, but I don't think this is nitro. It's not a high-gloss finish like many of the modern lacquers, but it's far more 'plasticky' than nitro.