NancyJohnson

Possibly part of the OPs question is largely down to the case being that the first version you hear of something sticks more-so than the (unheard/unknown of) original. By way of example, when I was a mere teen, I remember my mum (very musical) singing along to Japan's version of Don't Rain On My Parade. I mean, at that age I knew nothing about musicals as such (we had The King & I original soundtrack, but that was about it), so why would I know any different? As time went on my record collection was peppered with loads of covers that I knew nothing better about until I started scrutinising the record label or reading the liner notes. Also going back to my late mum, she was at mine one time and I had an album playing by Shudder To Think (US post-hardcore/math rock band) and she said, 'This is 'So Into You' by Atlanta Rhythm Section. I was like, 'What? Whaaaat?' 😂

I'll rotate what I have. There's nothing I own that doesn't get used.

Mods! Teehee 🤣

Now then, you've crossed the line here. While I understand the sentiment in this, I'd raise you the Mott The Hoople live version from the 1974 live album. Man alive, while I have no love for the song, but you have the end of the intro tape (Jupiter from The Planets suite), a bit of crowd noise and then Ian Hunter doing about 70 seconds of it launching the band into The Golden Age Of Rock 'n' Roll. It's magical.

With the John East Uni-Pre range you have flexible units (they'll install into anything). They're all stack-knob (pickup blend/volume, mid frequency seep/mid and bass/treble/pull for brighter), the UNi Pre 4 also includes a passive tone control. Bear in mind too that there also a microswitch that turn the unit from active to passive - you'd need to add an extra hole to the bass, which is no real biggie - I've done it to both my Lulls with the Uni-Pre 3. As you have an existing 4-knob set-up (VT/VT), you could go the Uni-Pre 3 and utilise the extra hole with the power switch. (Incidentally, John is happy to do custom work - he altered a Uni-Pre 3 for me so it was always on, obviating the necessity for a on/off switch). I'd like to see John try something different with the Uni-Pre 4 passive tone knob, maybe a push/pull to turn the actives on/off and maybe double as the passive tone with the knob is in the off position. Shoot him an email; he loves to experiment. The range is here: https://www.east-uk.com/product-category/universal-cavity-mount/?v=79cba1185463 As is the case, you have to weigh up whether you mind doing the work and (maybe) drilling a hole. For me I didn't mind in the slightest, despite the Lulls being £5K/£6K respectively.

One thing that strikes me with most of the songs on this thread is that pretty much all of them could quite easily fall into the category of populist music enjoyed by people who don't really like music. About 30 years ago, a friend of mine was trying (in vain) to prok a girl from the company typing pool. They had zero in common until he heard she liked Babe by Styx and that she, 'really loved Styx.' He was a huge Styx fan (along with all the other bands sharing that pomp rock/yacht rock genre); they were playing at Wembley, he got tickets took her along. Prior to this, he still hadn't been able to go out with him her, so this was effectively a first date scenario. A few days after the gig, she hated Styx. 'They were so loud and heavy and I couldn't stand the singer's voice,' she said. Consequentially, any chance of romance was scuppered as soon as they started playing 'Welcome to Paradise'. This my friends is why we hate the hit singles or the material that breaks the mould of what the real band actually is.

It's in Japan - £1,320, includes shipping. A mate of mine has one of these; I played it for two gigs in Italy about three years ago. The colour is stunning, way nicer than the current crop of Dupont colours being used. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/326063652799?itmmeta=01HT5JK29FXPV84PKKTH2R2MR0&hash=item4beae87fbf:g:EPcAAOSw-nRl~h0k&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAAA4KiZwWpnXTyHbL51JdsNlcjvk31BkNY3Idusgw6ewVO%2BJaAcv2Ce7rIIwjqIHvHfizV%2Bva2RZjHYFjnXHlw4CqB7d0OTkwxQ8wkIS6RPUWrNZbOs3d6EgYjJz%2BGKK%2BZ4ufI3IPAdH6ymdsgBMY50u%2BOR4yhxqQVNnnadympcz32NqBcbsJS3dnm8KlNl37GwvCG6XuNzYUNftMXejsGB7%2FTVU7NR9NdpyoG1jCbzFR2qQ6LKTn70go46SMegfICWrj9h7gOwLb4sEb7mf5LowbdyXejT0rXbIS8fVozbKt4n|tkp%3ABk9SR_CkzLLRYw

I've been cranking the thing up. Blimey! Epic. I'm really impressed with the output, clarity, transparency etc. It's completely silent too; no interference from dimmer switches (like the A/O 900). I suppose the real test would be when I get in a room with people, but if it's no good for that, then I'll just use it at home. It's stupid cheap; at £68 it's less than a night out at the pub and a kebab. What's not to like?

We're all too hung up on big name kit. See my post elsewhere (Pedalboard amp). I just bought a Harley Benton GPA100 (£70) for home use. Stick a stomp in front of it (currently a GED 2112 Sansamp). It's pretty loud; I'll take it along to a rehearsal at some point and see how it copes, but so fat, peachy. Amazing little unit.

I wish someone would actually give a tonal definition of what they feel constitutes growl or for that matter hi-fi. Don't get me started on clank or ponk. Point us to a recording of what you're expecting, then the good people of BassChat will guide you on your tonal journey. A pre-amp is just one of another small step that makes up the sound that hits your ears. Christ, I've used East units, Spector, Dark glass preamps and they all do pretty much the same thing.

If it was a toss up between the two for me, I'd go the Bongo 5HH every day of the week.

Are you insane?

The one that really makes me want to start breaking things is 'Walking On Broken Glass' by Annie Lennox. Our local BBC radio station (Berkshire) just seems to have such a limited playlist and I'd hear this song maybe once every couple of days. At work, the consultants have a terrible oldies station on at the other end of the office and I hear it twice, sometimes three times a day. It's torture. I can't bear her or The Eurythmics at the best of times.

Well it arrived about half-hour ago and I've had a quick noodle. I jacked it into a Darkglass 1x12 and put the GED2112 into the front of it. Spector Euro X. First impressions, well made, weighty. Volumewise there's obviously going to be some parity with how hot the input signal is...did a brief bit of tweaking with the GED and the amp and rolled up the volume. It's certainly got some oomph, even at about 25% volume. I'm very surprised at how good it appears to be. Three small tone controls on the top, there's a pleasant indent at the noon position, so you're hoping this is the transparent point. Quite please, to be honest. Surprised, even. £68.00. Belter.

It's funny how threads get resurrected, was talking about import tax etc last night. Wife said something along the lines of, "Do you remember how holiday companies would promote the USA and say stuff like, 'Come to New York! It's the shopping capital of the world!'" How does stuffing a half-empty outbound suitcase with new clothes differ from buying a guitar and bringing it in? Bringing a guitar in, I suspect you're easy prey for custom officials. Christ on a bike, I know a few people who packed a smaller suitcase inside a bigger one so they could buy loads of clothes.

Staines is an odd place. I'm an Egham kid, if that wasn't bad enough. We'd only venture into Staines to go Adam's and Record Scene (an old record shop that went under the ball and chain when they were building the new ring road by the Iron Bridge). I haven't been there in 25 years. Depressing. Like Bracknell.

Momma. I am obsessed with them. There, I said it. They're like Veruca Salt and Smashing Pumpkins had a child.

For the benefit of the Staines Massive @TrevorR @Dad3353 I was just having a peruse on Google Maps...while the street view thing doesn't extend down Station Path, there are photos of the area courtesy of the dental business that now occupies the site of what was Adam Music. Almost certain the shuttered building dead centre below is where it was. Couldn't say for cetain whether the old place got demolished and rebuilt, but it was definitely next door to the end of that row of houses.

Just a brief heads up. Just ordered the Harley Benton GPA100 - £78.00 shipped. I could have done without the bass/mid/treble knobs, but I'll just set those to noon and see what happens. At present it's not going to see much (if any) live action, but it'll do for the odd times I just want to have a noodle on the bass or EUB at home; I'll squirt the GED or dUg into it and report back. I do miss not having an always available set up in the house.

I was going through some old SD cards last night; all the photographic content should be on a PC and backed up elsewhere, opening one drive and there was a a folder containing a video clip from a gig I played for BBC Introducing at Reading's Purple Turtle in October 2017. My wife must have filmed it and I'd never seen it until yesterday. Even though the band all ended very badly/abruptly, I can look at this and take some joy that we were a very tight punky/alternative unit and on fire that night. I wrote the music, singer the lyrics.

Brother Toboggan

Yes, I know it's only been a few months since the last one, but is anyone thinking of dates for this year? I was royally narked at missing the 2023 event.

It's odd, I mean I love the Lull, but that white one was the first; bought it in through Ishibashi, somehow I avoided import duties (the bloke at the depot where I picked it up from was a bass player, he asked what it was, I told him, he went, 'Aaw, maaaan,' and nothing changed hands!).