Rikki_Sixx

How did you find the Blackstar Fly 3 Teebs? My mate's brother is a guitar teacher (he kept that quiet) who recommends them to his students. Quite tempted to try some, but from a shop with a good returns policy just in case they're crap! That said, my little bluetooth speaker has great sound quality and it's a very similar size.

I hadn't thought about this kind of thing! Do they just connect to a computer? I'll have a look into it, they look really affordable and I've got really good PC speakers so could be an option

There looks to be plenty of choice even under £60 on eBay, including a 20W Stagg right around the corner from me. For some reason always had a soft spot for Stagg (never owned one, but liked the [unrelated] Stagg chilli ads). I forgot about Facebook Marketplace, might be worth re-activating my account for a few weeks to browse!

My trusty 30W Laney Hardcore practice amp sounds to be sadly on it's way out. I've had it for probably 10+ years now but it went mostly untouched for a year or two after I moved in with my other half. There's always a quiet hum and it crackles when you so much as look at the pots. I think it's time to bite the bullet and replace it. I only really play at home, so I'm still looking for something small - I could even get away with downsizing a bit as I never turned the volume on my Laney up past 4 or 5. In fact I almost exclusively play with headphones these days where I can crank it without irritating (or embarassing) anyone with my noodling. I was going to ask for recommendations for a small home practise amp, but with that in mind does it really matter what I replace it with? I know I don't want a tinny 1W pocket piece, but there seem to be plenty of entry-level home combos. Loads of older used gear too. Should I be avoiding that kind of thing? I've never really immersed myself in amps and that kind of stuff. Edit: Budgeting probably around £100 - for now!

Is that in case you see a shiny new pedal in there?

Thanks @Grangur! I'm pretty sure that it's the A string vibrating in the nut when unfretted, but I hadn't thought about other mechanical bits up that end. @Teebs suggested looking at the action and checking the neck bow which seems a good place to start - after I've checked the tuners and string trees!

I haven't tried it at full blast but had a go this morning when the house was empty. I wasn't playing loud but it sounded great for home practising. I can imagine it getting a bit reedy on a big studio cab, did the HP/LP switch help at all?

In fact, in off to try it cranked up loud before work! Fingers crossed!

I got a Mosky Obsessive overdrive pedal yesterday and at low volume theres barely a noticeable effect, but cranked up with headphones on its brilliant. I'm hoping it works out loud, sans-headphones!

Do Pino a special video too! (not like that, you creeps!) Maybe the sheer number of comments the video would get will pursuade him to get involved

These look great, I really wanted to track one down when I was shopping for a new bass without any luck. For £130 it's an absolute steal! Was it reduced because the store is closing? Leopard strap is definitely needed for this!

Oh and I can't stop looking at the close-ups of the fretboard after you went at it, it looks so good! Got me wondering whether I should do the same on my JM Jazz's maple fretboard... you bugger!

Brilliant end result mate! I've never been keen on 'Rays but I'm dying for a noodle on this! The quality of the finished piece is amazing!

Have you now taken that maple fretboard down to bare wood? Or just taken the shine off that lacquer?

Can't believe how that brass bridge has come out, it looks better-than-new! Amazing what can be done with elbow grease (and petrol 😆)

Whatever it is, it looks very cool! I've never seen one of these before.

That's beautiful! Love the burst colour, and the red tort pickguard goes really well with it! Plus you can't beat block inlays on a J-style bass!

I'm glad I saw this, I'd been considering one for a while and I have a VM Jazz myself. Considering the extra routing and the cost, I think I'll definitely go for something on the pedalboard instead!

Almost certainly an Alpher for me too, hopefully with enough change left for a weekend away!

I still haven't been in to the "new" Northern Guitars, it looks amazing! I'll have to try and pop in. Jam sessions sound cool, I wondered if there were any around.

At the end of the day, as things get older and rarer they become collectible. It's no different from someone buying Detective Comics #1 for silly money, or a '60s Triumph. Obviously it's not for everyone, those that want them clearly want them enough to get their wallets out - especially when it's an object of good quality or craftsmanship!

Welcome and ey up right back, I'm also from Leeds! Your Staggberger sounds interesting, for some reason I always fancied having a go on a Stagg. I remember eyeballing them when I was 16 and they were tantalizingly almost affordable, plus they remind me of the ads for Stagg chilli on TV years ago! Anyway, welcome again! Rik

It's not really answering the question but I got a used metallic red Pacifica last year that had a chip knocked out of the thick polyurethane paint layers. The previous (otherwise very careful) owner had covered it with red nail polish. I still toy with the idea of sanding that chipped patch back so that it's smooth (the paint layers are thick). Its a cheap beater so nothing to lose, but it does feel a bit like"fake mojo"

What're they playing at with that pickguard on the LPJ? The whole body and pickguard are rounded and then there's that flattened bottom part of the control area. The rest of it looks cool but that bit looks like a mistake from a design intern that got missed.