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...so after a bit of detective work I think the Tolex covered GP12 would have been from about 1995, and the carpet covered from 1998 onwards. I don't think I previously realised there was this much variation in the SMX series, but it looks to me that while the preamp stayed the same the power section started off fairly similar to the older Series 6 amps and then they seem to have moved to a newer power amp design. The faceplates are identical. RE the cabs, I suspect the non-ported one is an older series 6 as both the SMX catalogues I have (tolexed and carpeted) show ports on all the cabs.

You rang?

I have some on my Lakland 44-PJ. I mirror the experience of them really not being what I was expecting, as others have mentioned, way more 'roundwound' in feel than they're perhaps marketed as. That said, for me, the texture wasn't really a make or break.....I mean as long as they don't shred your fingers right?! I would put them on par with a Nickel string, roundwound, but easy to play. My undertstanding is that IMA requested a little more left on the string than their Super Polished....so that makes sense. Tension wise, I experience them more in the realms of the La Bella RX Nickels than their RX Steels, with the latter being a little too stiff for my liking. I wonder whether the polishing process takes a little stiffness out of the string, which is perfect for my preferences. Sound wise I didn't experience them as zingy at all, I thought they were like nice played-in rounds, kinda like a slightly aged nickel (IME steels don't age as well as nickels). So I gigged them and they were great, really enjoyable to play. My main criteria was longevity, so we'll see where get to on that, IMA reckons he got a solid year out of one set, and he gigs WAY more than me....so I'm hopeful. Watch this space. Si

Yeah, I need new tips. Mine are custom, but a decade old. I'd love to get mine fitted into a full case, but... money lol I was looking at the 12 driver KZs... That price is so attractive

I'm receiving adverts from them since a few days and the Dutch branch seems to be back on tracks now as you can order what they have in stock.

I’ve used J-Tones (Reds and Big Twin) and found them to be excellent pickups providing you spend time to get the fit in the bridge wing ‘just right’. I’ve recently moved to a David Gage copperhead, which is a huge improvement over the J-Tones but I guess you’d expect that given the respective price points. So far I’ve had no feedback issues with the copperhead, but I’m playing a gig in a couple of weeks with a notoriously resonant stage so that will be the acid test. Do you used F hole blockers on louder stages?

It's as much to do with international economics as anything deliberate by Pirastro I'd guess? Since Brexity/Trumpin, it's simply crazy

WTAF is going on with Prastro Olivs? I had an idle look on Bass Bags, who are usually pretty reasonable value for strings, I've always found. A full set of Olivs are now £900!! I mean, are they made of unicorn gut or something? It does make you wonder who exactly they are marketed at, who is their target player? If you compare that with say Evah Slaps which are still less than £250 for a set on the G4M site. Olivs are maybe a bit nicer under the fingers. sound richer (to me, based on only having an Oliv A string!) and take a bow much better, but are completely not worth nearly 4 times the price. I have a friend who is a pro orchestral player as is his wife, and I know for a fact that neither of them will be paying the equivalent of a mortgage payment for any strings at any point ever. So I wonder who Pirastro are expecting will buy a set at that price?

Yes but the blisters pulling it off 😅 I've got dual lock ready to go on to it, but this board has had 27 configurations this week alone and I’m still not convinced by the Capo and Deco.

She stole my band name for a uni grunge project. I was going to call my next punk band Crooked Snout after our slightly wonky lurcher.

If it's standard pub songs you would probably know 20 of them already. And I suppose the potential for further gigs with the same band comes into play as well - if it's likely a one off you would be less inclined to put too much effort in. We had 2 dep guitarists and a singer that we used regularly (they probably did about 8 gigs a year each with us) and over a few years they gradually picked up the whole set. They really became valued extended members of the band, never needed to buy a drink and came out for a free curry at Christmas. We also learned a few songs off their wish list.

Same Old Song And Dance - Aerosmith

Heard It All Before - Mudvayne

Talk To Ya Later - The Tubes