icastle

[quote name='Tripehound' timestamp='1328469367' post='1527612'] Thanks - I have phoned every major music shop in Notts/Derby and Brum to no avail. Will definitely try that. [/quote] Well if nothing else it'll highlight to Fender that there's a gap in the Midlands that they need to do something about if they expect to sell product through their dealerships.

[quote name='crez5150' timestamp='1328474217' post='1527768'] finding these are really popular with Keys players [url="http://hhelectronics.com/products.php?range=Queensberry&product=QBC825"]http://hhelectronics...&product=QBC825[/url] [/quote]

[quote name='lettsguitars' timestamp='1328477431' post='1527863'] S houlda mentioned, It's the barrel type that i use. If you put pressure on the side of the plug, you lose the signal. As i say, I'm pretty sure it's a cable/socket compatibility thing but just wondered if anyone had any info. There are 6mm plugs and 1/4" plugs which seems daft to me. [/quote] Same thing applies, I think you still need that lateral movement for the spring to move in or else it'll not have enough space to make a positive contact. I guess the nearest analogy is like trying to punch someone hard when you've only got a 1/2" gap between you. I'm not sure about this 6mm plug thing either. I've always known 1/4" jacks as being 6.35mm and I suspect that someone has 'rounded off' the .35mm from the description - I've found one website where the 'headling description is "6mm Jack Plug" but when you look in 'More Details' it states 6.35mm. Just to add to the general merriment, I've even found a 6.3mm one listed.

[quote name='Mr. Foxen' timestamp='1328467345' post='1527561'] Only slight risk with a stereo socket is you get two clicks as you push it in, as the tip bumps the ring conector, important you don't think it is in when you feel that and keep going until the second click. [/quote] Very true. You could pull the centre contacts out with a pair of pliers if that becomes an issue.

Just a thought, and I'm not sure it would work, but have you considered contacting Fender in the UK and asking if they can tell you the nearest stockists that might have them in stock? In the days before computerisation distributors had a pretty good idea of who was likely to have what so it might be a real easy task these days. mail: [email="[email protected]"][email protected][/email] tel: 01342 331700

I've not tried refinishing a neck but my experience of 'matt' or 'satin' finished necks is that they always just gloss up within a couple of months of playing anyway. My gut reaction is that it's easier to go for 'gloss' in the first place. Starting off with a gloss finish also makes it less obvious that the owner tends to avoid going up the 'dusty end'.

[quote name='flyfisher' timestamp='1328463610' post='1527466'] It was a simple enough job to bend the contact back into place and it now works perfectly and noiselessly, though it'll be interesting to find out how long it lasts. [/quote] Yeah, that sounds about right. I generally bend them back as well when they start playing up, but each time you do it the weaker the metal gets and the time between 'failures' gets shorter. I usually give up and replace it if I'm on my third go.

[quote name='TRBboy' timestamp='1328463183' post='1527456'] Can't see myself ever buying an "off-the-shelf" cable again! [/quote] I've never actually bought one. Ever. I've been given a few over the years as part of various 'deals', but all the rest have been home made. I'm a Neutriks and Klotz man. The biggest catch is always going to be soldering proficiency though, so it's not a solution for everyone.

[quote name='lettsguitars' timestamp='1328462824' post='1527445'] hmm. dunno. With the sealed stereo sockets There just seems to be a bit of wiggle right from the off. [/quote] I'm no mechanic but I'd guess that you need a little bit of lateral movement or else the contacts won't have enough 'travel' to be able to push against the plug.

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1328462576' post='1527438'] Get OBBM cables. They are much better than cheap cables and in most semi pro playing situations they're better than most expensive cables; because you're not spending your money on something you're not going to hear. [/quote] +1 OBBM is using the exact same components that you'd expect to find on a good quality pre-made lead. The big difference is that you're cutting out a 'middleman' by buying direct from a manufacturer and can be sure that there won't be a 'production line' defect because he's making them as he needs them - so essentially 'one offs' each time round with the care and attention to detail that bulk manufacturing has a tendency to remove.

[quote name='lettsguitars' timestamp='1328462333' post='1527433'] I use neutrik jacks on my guitars. The thing is they are 1/4" (6.35) and as far as i know, most cables are 6mm which creates problems with the stereo sockets. WHA GWAN? Should probably put in a new topic but what the hey, as they're seems to be some cable knowledge right here. Am i wrong? or am i wrong? [/quote] I thought the usual problem was with the shape/profile of the tip bending the +R contact so it loses it's 'springyness'.

[quote name='flyfisher' timestamp='1328461172' post='1527393'] Good quality cable and connectors are a good start but they're only the start. Much depends on how the cables are handled, coiled and stored - that's where I'd say 99% of the damage is done. [/quote] I reckon you're spot on there. I'm generally a 'loop loosely and velcro it' guy, but the temptation to just shove everything into the lead box after a gig is pretty high. Every month or so there's a pile of leads with duct taped 'CR*P' labels that need to be checked and repaired.

[quote name='clashcityrocker' timestamp='1328460744' post='1527382'] i could go back and swap it for the 'correct' item, do you know what that would be? [/quote] You could get a 1/4" unswitched mono socket but in all honesty, it'll take you longer to go out and swap it than it would to use it as described (you're making two extra solder connections is all, and those two extra connections are there purely to remove any ambiguity in my description). It'll make absolutely no difference to the sound or performance of the cab.

Not really 'wrong' just a little bit excessive for the task. This is going to be a solder job obviously. What I'd do is strip the speaker cable back about an inch, tin it and then feed it through both holes (as described above). Once you've done that then it's just a case of soldering the prepared wire across the two contacts and then repeating for the other cable.

The ready made 'brands' are pretty immaterial IMO. You want Neutriks jack plugs and a good quality piece of cable inbetween (Klotz or Van Damme).

OK. Youve got a stereo switched socket there. The easiest way to wire it up is: The two contacts [b]nearest [/b]the plate - connect them both together and that becomes your negative speaker connection. The two contacts [b]furthest[/b] away the plate - connect them both together and that becomes your positive speaker connection. Ignore the two middle contacts. HTH

[quote name='RhysP' timestamp='1328435335' post='1526745'] Bellowhead are an awesome live band. Are Moving Hearts still going then? I know Christy Moore & Donal Lunny tour together sometimes but I had no idea they still all played together as Moving Hearts - is Davy Spillane still with them? [/quote] Bellowhead have won 'Best Live Act' at the BBC Folk Awards four times now - nobody has ever managed to do that. Shame they dont have a 'Logistics In The Face Of Adversity' award - getting 4 msicians together for a band practice is hard enough sometimes, but having 11 of the b*ggers must be a total nightmare! Last I heard, Moving Hearts had Donal and Davy but no Christie.

[quote name='thunderbird13' timestamp='1328395424' post='1526535'] This week I've been listening to : Little Johny England Leatherat The Demon Barbers Unfortunatly I cant find anything on most of the live You tube clips sound really rough ! [/quote] Yeah, the quality isn't great. Have you come across these yet? Bellowhead: Biggest folk band in the universe [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_5bMrKgLxig&feature=related"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_5bMrKgLxig&feature=related[/url] Moving Hearts: Nearly as many band members as Bellowhead! These guys have been knocking about for years - interesting blend of styles going on. [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwtWeJHBShQ"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwtWeJHBShQ[/url]

The bass player from that time was a guy called Tony Reeves who worked with the likes of John Martyn, Davy Graham and Sandy Denny (and a stint with prog rock band Curved Air). Another quite distinctive bassist from that era was John Edwards when he was playing with Judie Tzuke - he's better know these days as the bassist with Status Quo though.

[quote name='Nibody' timestamp='1328366056' post='1526051'] There's Crack Converters just down from the church Cash Creators (Which has a nice Pre-CBS Mustang bass in the window for £799 - is this a bargain?) In George Street near the Peel Statue and does a fair few instruments And Evans is the one near the Pizza place (PizzaHut delivery only) [/quote] I have a bit of a personal ethical dilemma with Crack Convertors and it's rivals so I tend to stay well away. I'm not sure that £799 for a pre CBS Mustang is a particularly good deal. Although there's been a bit of an upsurgance of interest in Mustangs over the last few years, back in the 60's they were just a lower quality entry level product.

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1328321295' post='1525635'] Jingle bells?? It's the new Moondance! [/quote] I've already decided that I'm going to do that particular one again - in August...

If tapping the casing eventually stops the buzzing sound then the likelihood is that you've got a loose connection in there somewhere. Without experiencing the fault first hand it's, unfortunately, impossible to diagnose whereabouts that loose connection is.

[quote name='loweringthetone' timestamp='1328301524' post='1525316'] Thanks icastle for the response. Youre right I think, the wiring seems undisturbed and the other components are very clean - the bass has hardly been out of the house since new Im told. The IC is a JRC 4558D which is thankfully still available cheaply on ebay (£1.20 each). Its the same chip as in a Tubescreamer I understand and no doubt in other Ibanez basses. I've ordered a few - should arrive in a week or so. Now if I can find a man who can solder ICs safely ..... Many thanks again for your help [/quote] 4558's are really common, the electronics version of Magnolia emulsion paint. If it helps, I'm in NW Leicestershire (about 10 mins from M1 J21) - if you can get the bass down to me at a mutually convenient time then I can solder a new IC in for you in a couple of minutes - with a 100% BassChat discount of course, provided you provide the IC. PM me if you want to go down that route.

[quote name='thunderbird13' timestamp='1328270395' post='1524670'] Roots was the song that got me into SOH it reminds me of New Model Army .I've been exploring a lot of folk music recently ( well as much as spotify will allow me to ) and I'm quite suprised how much modern folk I'm finding that I like. I'll post a few links tonght if I can remember and if anyone is interested [/quote] I've been amazed at the amount of folk there is on YouTube - people have just uploaded complete albums of it. I saw SoH playing as support to Fairport a few years ago - three people on a stage making an absolutely ridiculous big sound. When Fairport came on stage, Simon Nicol simply said that they were really going to have to work 'bloody hard to match that'.

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1328276429' post='1524794'] Sex on Fire is the new Bown Eyed Girl!!!! [/quote] I don't actually mind playing Brown Eyed Girl. I never seem to play it the same way twice and it's become an expected game (both with the band and our audience 'regulars' to see what I can do to it next - I sneaked 'jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way' into it at xmas. Most of the songs we play in my covers band are things that I have no strong feelings about in either direction, but Sex on Fire... absolutely hate it.