Stub Mandrel

If your thumb is painful or uncomfortable a tip I got recently (which works really well and fast) is to get an elastic elbow support and wear it rather low down so it compresses the upper part of your forearm. My brother was advised to do this by a physio.

Might help you relax the thumb and press less hard.

There are lyrics and lyrics is the answer. There are deep and emotional songs, there are entertaining songs, amusing songs and there are those where the lyrics are effectively meaningless.

And some prog has wonderful lyrics:

There was a time when I wasn't sure which band I had seen most often - Hawkwind or the Stranglers 🙂

Still with Berxit I suppose it will be Euroman Go-eth...

Hawkwind at Glasgow 02 for my birthday on Friday.

I used to work with a guy who had lived in the house with black and white tiles on the bathroom walls that inspired the Two Tone logo, some time after Jerry Dammers had moved on.

No, you're never too old to Rock'n'Roll if you're too young to die

After a 23-year gap for the purpose of generating  a family and getting into debt, I'm back in a band again.

And it's great.

And my playing has transformed over this year.

19 minutes ago, Dan Dare said:

All of the above illustrate why the drummer needs to check the tempo with a metronome, app or whatever before giving the count. I find it hard to credit that a anyone would argue against doing so. It's the only way to guarantee you start at the correct tempo.

Sorry, I think it's just introducing more faff for minimal benefit. Plus, in a live context there are times when you want to change the tempo to suit the way the gig is going; if everyone's up and dancing but you still want to play that ballad, pep up the tempo a bit 🙂

If someone can't count accurately maybe they need help, but I've never been in a band where we couldn't judge tempo accurately enough.

2 minutes ago, spectoremg said:

For all my yap I've been persuaded by a friend to go tonight. That song's one of my favourites. 

And one of mine.

26 minutes ago, KevB said:

I've played with one or two drummers who do the count in at a different tempo to what they actually go on to play at.

It's the drummers who can't count at all you want to worry about...

27 minutes ago, ambient said:

Surely the drummer should just count in, communicating the tempo to everyone else, even if he doesn’t actually start the song? Or am I missing something? It’s surely one of the basics of playing with an ensemble.

Only if the other band members can't be relied on to get the right tempo.

We all make mistakes but we all ought to be able to get the tempo right 99 times out of 100?

<SOB> I confess, I've bought a Stagg Uke. It cost £13(!) for an all-wood one, less than the cost of my clip tuner. Sounds tinny and thin compared to my bro's £30 plastic bodied Makala (which sounds almost as good as his Gretsch Uke), needed lots of work on the nut  and the strings won't settle down. He says get decent strings.

10 hours ago, Bassassin said:

They weren't. The Squier name comes from the string manufacturer VC Squier, which Fender acquired in 1965. They've always spelled it correctly.

My mistake - I know the origins of the name, but I was under the mistaken impression the first JV guitars were branded "Fender" with a small "Squire Series" decal, but apparently it was spelled "Squier" on those too.

14 minutes ago, stewblack said:

How you getting on with yours Stubby?

Interesting question. In practice 99% of the time it's 'transparent' and you wouldn't notice it's there. What does notice is that low frequency handling noise, like placing your palm over the strings or thumping the body is drastically reduced or eliminated. So it definitely protects the rig against those low transients. I don't know if it gives much extra headroom as at home the master volume on the Trace doesn't get above 1.5 and the Ashdown 500 at the rehearsal studio doesn't even get to 12 because we are old farts who don't want to damage our hearing (further).

5 hours ago, Bassassin said:

Have you read through the thread and the info & articles linked to? Short version - 80s Japanese Squiers, particularly those with the JV serial prefix, were exceptionally high-quality replica-standard instruments, weren't produced in huge quantities, and comparitively few survive nearly 40 years later. This means they are rare, collectable and therefore highly desirable to some people.

Also Fenders being produced at that time had dire quality control issues so there's a real chance that any random contemporary Fender made in America won't be as good...

<edit> A bit more detail... it seems that QC problems in the USA led to major factory changes which meant supply couldn't meet demand. The manufacturing in Japan wasn't originally aimed at producing inferior 'copies' but rather making up up for the shortage of US-made instruments while they sorted things out, which took several years. Follow the links above for more details.

3 hours ago, Rich said:

I'm a bit late to the party, but this may be of interest...

https://circuitswiring.com/20hz-to-200hz-variable-high-pass-filter/

 

Handy suggestion, although the slope wont be as steep as it's only a 2-pole instead of 4-pole filter, could have other related uses or be cascaded with a 2-pole filter.

Also, it's a passive filter followed by a boost stage rather than an active filter, but that probably wouldn't make a big difference.

52 minutes ago, prowla said:

Specially when the ignorant sod can’t even spell its name properly. 

In this case you are correct but I think the first batch of MIJ guitars were branded 'Squire'...

Saw Phil Campbell and the Bastard Sons last night, the Tramshed in Cardiff.

Well, they did play three Motorhead songs, but the crowd sang along from start to finish for a set crammed with their own material - including two songs from his new solo Album that's only been out for about a fortnight. Probably one of the most enthusiastic and joyous crowds I've ever been in, and a complete and balanced age range too. Funnily enough the song that went down best was probably Silver Machine though! They completely avoid the trap of just being a backdrop for Phil showcasing as a solo guitarist - all solos were short and too the point, and equally shared with Todd Campbell whose grimacing was as entertaining as his playing (he doesn't half look like the late lamented Maartin Allcock too!)

Support was King Creature, who describe themselves as old-school metal but have a touch of thrash about them. They were bloody good too, very confident and polished, really know what they are doing.

In another thread there was much discussion of headliners giving support bands a less favourable sound/lights etc.  King Creature not only got an excellent mix, but the full lightshow (although it was fairly unsophisticated for either band) and although maybe not quite as loud in the round their kick drum was definitely the loudest thing all night. A definite case of letting the support give their best paying off with a totally pumped crowd when PC&TBS came on.

One thing I did notice was that Neil Starr was a lot less sweary than when I saw them in Glasgow. Probably explained by his mum (and I suspect Mrs Phil and others) being in the audience!

I don't think I've bounced around like last night since I was in my early 20s and I woke up feeling like I'd been beaten up. Interesting that few years ago some 'rock journos' were suggesting that Phil was destined to spend the rest of his days as a Motorhead tribute/novelty act - definitely not!

End of the night I went to the Merch stand and who should sell me a t-shirt other than Tim Atkinson, bass player with leader of Down, who were support on the previous tour 🙂

& King Creature:

3 hours ago, missis sumner said:

What is this?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/UN-NAMED-38-LONG-SUNBURST-ELECTRIC-BASS-GUITAR-WORKING-BUT-KNOCKS-W0-20676/273878437041?hash=item3fc46d4cb1%3Ag%3AvRkAAOSwbrlc-Snb&LH_ItemCondition=3000

Guyatone? Kent? Gem short scale?

I notice all the similar pictures on Google show quite a bit of black paint on the body contour.  This one doesn't seem to have a contour and the number on the back would suggest it's a little older than this one:

https://reverb.com/item/10618653-gem-short-scale-bass-guitar-1960-s-1-pickup-sunburst-case

It also looks as if it's been de-fretted.

 

Almost K-like, although the bridge looks a bit too well made...

23 hours ago, AndyTravis said:

Looks like Michael Bolton.

I see no evidence of a thin-lipped, grey estuarine pescid...

On 09/11/2019 at 10:19, LukeFRC said:

for a bit of wider reading this is also good: https://reverb.com/news/interview-fender-visionary-dan-smith-on-how-to-turn-around-a-faltering-guitar-brand 

I really don't know what offends people about JV Squier being appreciated.

That's fascinating - from the horse's mouth that Fujigen were knocking the spots off Fullerton.

Also some more interesting background on the Performer; I reckon it is going to get either copied or re-issued at some point.

On 09/11/2019 at 11:26, Hermy said:

Solid spruce top doesn't mean expensive at all. Spruce is basically just a very thin piece of wood the same as the pine in your Ikea furniture. The piece of spruce on a guitar would literally cost pennies.

To have an acoustic which sounds good acoustically, I would recommend it too.

Small bodied composite top guitars sound like toys (quacky/plasticcy). I know because I have one, which I enjoy for intentionally getting a toy guitar sound.

Solid spruce may not be expensive per se, but it adds a premium that's better directed to better tuners or other aspects of playability. It's a long way down the list of what I would prioritise in a first guitar and when a salesman is using it as a way to push someone think is uninformed towards £400+ guitars rather than ~£150 ones I question their ethics.

What matters for a beginner is a guitar that is comfortable, well sized, easy to fret and pleasant sounding. The Fender fills all these categories, certainly doesn't sound like a toy; lack of bass is more down to body size than a laminated soundboard.

If someone asked you what to look for in a beginner's guitar would the first thing you recommend be a solid spruce top? I doubt it, it's like telling someone looking for their first bass that a through neck is essential.

That said, there are some nice, affordable solid spruce parlour guitars - the Gretsch Jim Dandy is my favourite, even if it looks like the lining was painted by a three-year-old. Could be a good beginner guitar although they generally aren't as well set up as Fenders, and the look can put off people who want a 'traditional' guitar.

4 hours ago, sbrag said:

Dont know if it has been listed on here but my brother has just bought a Vox AC15 which he loves which gives something different from his old Marshall, and I've seen good reviews of the AC4 as well, although they are very simple.

 

My valve addicted brother has an AC4 as his 'living room amp' it is very nice.

1 hour ago, Meddle said:

If they are truly great instruments you wouldn't need to trowel on the histrionic responses. Good quality speaks for itself, and Squier owners are perpetually punching upwards for some reason.

I have three Squiers. The guitar is mediocre, the two basses, both Indonesian, are very good.

Wheh I bought the Jaguar SS I tried it out immediately after a Warwick which had a price tag seven times as high. The Jag's pickups aren't the worlds best, but playability wise it made the Warwick feel rough (and I like long scale 24-fret basses).

Is that a histrionic response?

12 hours ago, NancyJohnson said:

This was like watching Jeremy Clarkson.

And like Clarkson, his opinions are delivered in a cartoonish, exaggerated way but do contain a genuine opinion underneath.

We have to accept that if your YouTube  channel is going to be followed by more than five people (your mate, you cat and three bots trying to get you to subscribe to a service to get more followers) it has to be ENTERTAINMENT front and centre.

As I think i said earlier my brother has a similar opinion of  my Vox Valvetronix emulating amp. If I was a guitarist in a band, I'd be looking for one decent amp to give me 'my' sound on stage. But I'm not, I just want something to have fun with in the living room - small modelling combos are ideal for this.

That said, I am regularly tempted to add a speaker out to it and put it through a 2x12...

On 06/11/2019 at 08:56, attackbass said:

The neck is maple with block inlays, I don't think planing will be an option as the neck is coated in a thick poly coating, without stripping the neck of the finish and refinishing

Then that's what must be done!