Jackroadkill

Coolest car ever.

I find this incredibly frustrating; it's simple good etiquette to allow the previous band to vacate the stage before bringing any gear onstage.

I think the cables are steel, Bill. Not sure if that makes any difference? Still, thanks for the tip; all knowledge gratefully received. I managed to clean the grille cloth today. After some umm-ing and ahh-ing, I took the agricultural approach and pressure-washed it, which worked a treat!

No worries, Richard; I was hoping to have something more exciting to show you by this evening but have encountered issues with my soldering iron (as in, it's knackered) and so I've had to order another. I have, however, come up with a plan for the connection of the drivers - tin the cables up, run them through the spring connectors and then heat-shrink them (carefully) into place. Cheers, JRK

Ha, yeah, I didn't think of that..!

Right, the new speakers are here and I've degunked the internals of the cabinet in preparation for fitting them. Whilst doing this I looked at the cabling and wondered if it's going to be up to the job or potentially going to melt under the workload. It wouldn't be a big job to replace the existing wiring with some heavier-duty copper, after all, so I may well invest in some for this project. What do the BC hive mind think? Once it's all together I'll get the Tolex cleaned up; the grille cloth is also disgusting (it's had 40 years - minimum - of spit, beer and bodily fluilds rained down upon it, so that's coming to work for a pressure wash and trauma counselling before it goes back on. Side by side comparison. A (nearly) clean interior; whatever has caused the splashes in the bottom port isn't keen on coming off with water and elbow grease so I may have to get a bit medieval on it. This is the wiring; do we reckon it's up to the task? 800w each at peak power should be enough.... Sprung connectors, though. I might need to do something about those to ensure that the wiring stays attached. So, things are coming on, and hopefully I can get the drivers (which actually fit in the holes cut in the baffle!) fitted soon. Cheers, JRK

To be fair, I'd have been effing raging, too.

Thanks all, that should get me going!

Hi all, just wondering if any of you have any tricks up your sleeves when it comes to cleaning 40-odd years' worth of nicotine stains, beer and dust out of the Tolex on your amps or cabs. I'm in the process of giving an old cab a new lease of life and although I have all of the functional aspects of this well under control I'd like to get the exterior cleaned up a bit, too. Years ago I worked in a music shop and we used a foaming cleaner for this, but I don't remember it being particularly effective, even when combined with a good helping of elbow grease and a scrubbing brush. If anyone has any tip, I'd be very grateful. Cheers, JRK

Having previously moderated an internet forum I can quite categorically state that it can be a monumental ball-ache, so thanks very much to the guys who give their free time to herd the cats, push the fog up the ditch and plait the yoghurt in order to make BC the welcoming, friendly and wallet-hazardous community that it is.

Funnily enough I was guessing Basingstoke would be the initial answer!

Where will you be getting the secret tattoo?

Crucially, the new drivers will not be blown, either!

Okay, so a long time has passed, but I had an email from Blue Aran to say that the Lavoce speakers mentioned above by @Bill Fitzmaurice were finally in stock, so I've just ordered two. This cab, which was rated at 125w, is on the way to becoming an 800w monster! When the speakers arrive I'll make any modifications needed to fit them and then repaint the white on the inside of the enclosure. I'm hoping to have some fun with this cabinet and my TE Elf, as well as my Ampeg PF500.

I really like this; a video with an actual concept and something to say is a rarity, these days.

I'm more of a musical vandal than an artist.

Walking Down Madison - Kirsty MacColl.

In my last band the singer used to introduce me as "the long-haired, soap-dodging, sandal-wearing friend of Jesus on the bass", and despite none of it actually being true it always got a laugh.

I really like these basses. They look superb.

Ha, thanks - you've just reminded me i need to order a reel of PLA and another of TPU....

Goliath And The Vampires - Pist.On

Yeah, also very true. Strange little man in many ways.

I've never knowingly heard Rush.