fretmeister

I like Hi Beams but they are expensive so I swapped to Mark Bass Advanced "Soft Touch" rounds for, err, roundwound needs and it turned out I like them a lot more.

In the past I've found that couriers manage to find things once they've been provided with a crime reference number after it's been reported to plod as theft.

Anyway - back on topic... what is the colour of that bass? It's lovely. I don't usually do blue but that looks like sheet ice, especially with the relic job, and it's just so.... Cool. [/not even sorry]

Even when insurance is regulated if the insurance is provided by a third party but merely arranged by the one in between (EG if the PF cover was actually an insurance product from an insurance company like AXA or something) then a disclaimer stating "you agree we have not advised you as to the suitability of the insurance product you have asked us to arrange and you have made your own determination as to whether it meets your needs: we do not offer advice on this or any other financial products and we do not offer to arrange any alternatives" is usually enough to avoid liability - or at least make it such a ballache to pursue it that 99% of customers don't bother. This is also why I refuse to accept any offers of "Free Financial Advice" even if it comes from my own bank. If it's free then the advisor doesn't owe me as much care as whoever it is that is paying him. I always pay for professional services so they owe me the duty of care and not someone else.

Absolutely! TOP TIP for home insurance - some insurance policies even give cover for damages won at court from others who then go bust! So you sue someone and win (the usual type - shoddy small builder type) and they go bankrupt once you get your official Judgment. So you can't get the money anymore. Some Home Contents Insurance will actually pay out the same sum as the Court awarded! It's not in every policy but certainly worth a look if anyone needs to go after someone likely to go bankrupt in response. If it is there, it's usually called something like "Unsatisfied Judgment Cover" or words to that effect.

It's my experience that means I never use PF for anything worth more than £200 even if it isn't the subject of a limit or exclusion! RM Special Delivery is fine for amps so I use that. For guitars I'd go with Overland Express or buy a separate policy - but mostly if I want to buy an instrument that much, I'll go and get it!

Lawyers don't really do "no-win no-fee" for Small Claims stuff because in the Small Claims process there is no ability to reclaim legal fees from the other side if you win. Each side pays their own legal fees irrespective of the outcome, so a person suing over something with a value of under £10,000 either has to pay their own lawyer win or lose, or do it themselves - or with help from Cit Advice or the FRU and so on. On the other hand RM/PF will walk in with a 20 year experience barrister and they won't care about the expense as long as they do win.

I did 20 years in insurance related litigation and other stuff. It stands up in court. The only time they ever have a problem is if it's done over the phone or counter and a RM/PF employee doesn't answer questions properly. If it's online it is actually impossible to pay the money until the customer has stated they have read it and accepted the exclusions and limits. They have been very careful in the drafting of the terms - setting compensation amounts at zero would be a lot harder to defend, so they don't do that. IIRC the amount is £200 no matter what. In doing so they already admit they have liability BUT the customer specifically agrees that the amount is limited to £200. RM/PF do not lose these cases: the customer bought a service that was clearly explained and the customer accepted that explanation. They specifically tell the customer then specifically ask the customer if they agree and they don't take payment until the customer says they agree.

I did all the circuit plug swaps when I had a 5 string, but there's only so much you can do with those pickups. I put Aguilar DCB pickups in mine in the end. It was a close choice between those and Nords but the 5 string needs 6 string pickups due to the slant frets. It's a lot easier to get different pickups for parallel frets - and now EMG even do some Bart sized options.

No - the terms specifically exclude enhanced compensation for musical instruments. When you buy it you tick a box saying that you fully accept the terms as presented - including confirming you agree to exclusions and compensatory limits. They did give the information and they get the customer to tick the "I read it all and agree" box before paying. It's just that customers never bother to read it. It's not PF's fault that the customer decided to not read it, especially as the act of ticking the box saying "I've read it" when they haven't is clearly a lie. I never use them for instruments.

Well that sounds excellent! If I ever did a gig that actually had a PA, just that and a compressor would do me fine.

Both Aguilar and Darkglass amps have lost something since they were bought by Korg.

If this thread demonstrates anything, it is that there are too many bridges that require the strings to be threaded through rather than just be top loading. Threading strings through can damage coated / nylon tape strings and even scratch up others. It also takes longer. The only time I change a bridge is to get a top load / quick load option that avoids that threading nonsense. Hipshot do some vintage looking ones that have a top load system as well as more modern options. I swap strings for different genres so being able to put on and take off without damage or twisting is a big plus for me.

One time I had mic stand thrown at me because apparently "Black Horse and a Cherry Tree" doesn't need a bass solo between each vocal line. I beg to differ Ma'am!

I'm a big fan of Ernie Group flats (I don't like the Cobalts at all). They are easy to play and have a really nice non-grabby feel under the fingers. Quite bright to start but that settles in to the best old sound I've ever had from a string. I like them so much I've even done the E45 cream thing with them to get them there faster!

Nah. You can still hear overdrive / modulation etc. You just can't hear small differences that only listening in a studio would reveal. Not being able to hear the difference between 2 types of chip in an overdrive pedal or whether the sound is from an analogue chip or a software emulation when the drums are playing is a lot different to hearing whether the pedal is on at all. That's not even the same subject!

and as the saying goes - once the drums start rolling, it just doesn't matter.

This is why every firms "Plexi" amp model sounds different too - they all used a different favourite plexi to model and as we know even plexis made next to each other can sound very different. Then there's different approaches. Fractal have always presented a "perfected" version of a model for ease of use and Line 6 went for warts and all accuracy but that needs a bit more experience to dial in and leads to some people thinking the models are wrong. The new L6 stadium apparently has both options. And then of course finally you get those who say "That doesn't sound like a real XX" even though they've never been in a room with a real XX. Plexi and Dual Recs get that the most. Complaining that the plexi isn't high gain (FFS) and complaining that the Dual Rec is flubby and not a metal super amp (it isn't. Not without boosts and drives).

The HX version is a Mk1 without a mid control. And as always - models of the same thing but on a different modelling platform sound different due to different approaches to the task.

ah, I just saw you are selling. I already have one and love it. The temptation for another is very high but I'm not gigging at all at the moment so all it would do is annoy my lovely wife. I haven't quite reached the stage of joining a band just to justify buying more gear!

I had the same rig for a while. I really liked both cabs alone but never together. My 102P was a combo so I kept that bit and sold the 15.

I don't like mixing cone types - not even different models of just 10s or just 12s etc. I always find that the perfect EQ for one cab / speaker is not the same as for the other so there's always a compromise that cannot be dialled out - at least not without cross overs or a completely different amp feeding each cab. If it was me, I'd pick the cab I liked best and just get another of the same. No compromises then and also no option paralysis in choosing which one to take on a smaller gig when only 1 is needed. It's not going to sound awful by any stretch of the imagination, but it might not sound exactly as you want. If you are relaxed about that - then no problem. Give it a try and see what happens - nothing will go wrong and your band mates won't even notice as long as they aren't asked to help you carry!

I admire your optimism that he won't have started WW3 by then.

Interesting though - Tech21's entire thing has been how analogue they are. The price makes it a lot more realistic but may also alienate the "digital is crap" brigade.

NAMM Not Available Maybe May.