Maude

I fitted some to my Vairiax which I reshaped the headstock to a Tele shape, it is slightly smaller than a Tele so I had to sand the top of the G and the top of the D as it just protruded into the cutaway part, it was no big deal and doesn't look horrific in any way, unless you are particularly OCD, I could only use three screws per tuner on the two I trimmed but the screws only stop them from rotating under string tension so no problem at all.

I ordered a couple of sets of Fenders nylons from the states, they were on the door mat one day with a label on the packet saying I have to pay about four quid VAT and £8 Royal Mail handling charge before it can be handed over. The postie just put them through the letterbox, I guess he was in trouble when he got back. Me? I haven't received any package . Remarkably I haven't ever had to pay for anything and I've had all sorts from USA, Australia, the far east etc.

[color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]A bit of a long story but essentially someone I know has been badly let down and is looking for a band to play this Saturday (28th), it's for a private 50th party held on the birthday boys farm a couple of miles from Whitesand bay (Rame peninsula, Cornwall).[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Paid gig (although I don't know how much) and more than likely some BBQ and beer thrown in, you will probably be able to camp there if you wanted to have a few beers. The host is very accommodating.[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Ideally he would like a classic rock covers band but anything is considered at this late date.[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]The gig is outdoors in a marquee.[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Please PM me if interested and I will put you in touch.[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]The background story if you're wondering why, the hosts son has a friend who is in two bands so the natural choice was to let them do the party, both bands were due to play but the sons 'friend' let them know yesterday that he has decided to pull out with no explanation.[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]The host contacted me as my daughter is friends with their son but all three of the bands I'm connected to are busy, I've said I'll see if I can find a band as the family are a really decent bunch, I really can't see that the other bands pulled out because of problems with the host as apparently the other band members are really pissed off with the sons friend for doing it.[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]So anyone want a fairly informal 50th party to play where they'll be welcomed as friends as well as the entertainment?[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Fingers crossed [/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif] . [/font][/color]

Sorry if this should be in the gigs section but I thought maybe it would get more traffic here. A bit of a long story but essentially someone I know has been badly let down and is looking for a band to play this Saturday (28th), it's for a private 50th party held on the birthday boys farm a couple of miles from Whitesand bay (Rame peninsula, Cornwall). Paid gig (although I don't know how much) and more than likely some BBQ and beer thrown in, you will probably be able to camp there if you wanted to have a few beers. The host is very accommodating. Ideally he would like a classic rock covers band but anything is considered at this late date. The gig is outdoors in a marquee. Please PM me if interested and I will put you in touch. The background story if you're wondering why, the hosts son has a friend who is in two bands so the natural choice was to let them do the party, both bands were due to play but the sons 'friend' let them know yesterday that he has decided to pull out with no explanation. The host contacted me as my daughter is friends with their son but all three of the bands I'm connected to are busy, I've said I'll see if I can find a band as the family are a really decent bunch, I really can't see that the other bands pulled out because of problems with the host as apparently the other band members are really pissed off with the sons friend for doing it. So anyone want a fairly informal 50th party to play where they'll be welcomed as friends as well as the entertainment? Fingers crossed .

GAK are still doing the Digtech Bass Synth Wah for less than £35, maybe not 'out there' enough but a great fun pedal with usable sounds for that money, I can't see why everyone wouldn't own one .

I don't want to live with anyone who has green balls!

I would sand it back until the colour has gone but try and leave the sealer coat intact, that way you won't have to worry about wood grain and it being porous. It doesn't really matter about the colour being gone as you could apply your new colour over the top if prepped properly, but there is a risk of reactions between differing paints and the fact that if you chip it then the old colour will be revealed rather than the wood. If the sealer coat is intact then primer is not needed. I've always used a spraygun so not sure about the amount of coats needed using an aerosol, as a basic guide only use enough colour to actually colour it evenly, any more is just a waste of paint and could cause problems when lacquering. With a gun, two even coats is what I aim for with both colour and lacquer. With aerosol, light even coats until you have a good, wet look shine to it, obviously without overloading it. Another advantage to using the baton to hold it is that it's very easy get runs forming as you try to get a good shine on your lacquer, if you see a run or sag developing you can just turn it over or around and make it flow out until it has tacked off. Use nitrile gloves as you will spray your hand . If you are going right back to bare wood then you will need to prime or seal the wood a lot to stop all the grain showing through your finished paint, unless that's a look you want. Another choice you need to make is wether or not to let the colour coat dry completely and flat it before lacquering or wether you are going to 'wet on wet' it. Both options have their pros and cons. If you let the colour coat dry thoroughly then you can flat out any imperfections before lacquering, but you risk rubbing through on the edges if you're not very careful, not the end of the world as you can just blow them in with aerosol and let it tack off before lacquering. If you 'wet on wet' it is quicker and more risk free as you won't be touching the colour coat, but you need a good finish on the colour coat, any 'orange peel' will be amplified with consecutive coats of lacquer. Another tip regarding the insects if done outdoors, and another plus for the baton lollipop, is to do the spraying outside but bring it in and hang it between coats and for final drying. Obviously dependent on the constraints of your house. HTH

That made me recoil from the screen when I scrolled down! What is it and is it broken? I was going to offer up the Line 6 Variax but it all seems pretty pointless after seeing that half sucked lump of toffee.

Also, to help get an even coverage, and avoid runs, don't try to follow the outline of the body when doing the front and back. Imagine the body as a rectangle and spray that rectangle in nice even passes, if you try to follow the outline you will overload the areas where the spray passes inevitably cross, especially on the front around control cavities. You will use more paint this way as a lot will be overspray but it will achieve a more even coverage. Please don't think I'm teaching granny to suck eggs as I realise you've sprayed before, just helping if I can ................ BTW, where the hell does that 'granny sucking eggs' thing come from?

I've found by trial and error that the best way for me (by no means the only way) is to screw a piece of baton on as a 'replacement neck' and hold it around the 7th/9th fret area for control whilst spraying, have a hook screwed in the top to hang it from between coats, hold it up like a giant lollipop as this is more natural for most people than trying to hold it in the air and spraying from underneath. Spray around the sides first and then do the front and back, it will give a better finish than the front/back and then the sides as the overspray from the sides will make the front/back dry or peely if the sides are done last. I have been a panel beater/sprayer for 25 years so this is based on some knowledge. But whatever works for you works . Be careful if using the baton 'neck' idea when hanging between coats not to knock any dust or whatnot off what you're hanging it from, it will land in the top horns and make you go "Gosh darn it!"

I have some wackers on my Harley Benton EUB. Obviously everything is going to be personal preference and dependent on style of music ........... but a quick pro's and con's from my point of view, playing rock'n'roll / folk / country / bluegrass type stuff. Pro's, A very good 'old skool' thumpy sound, nice slap (but you will need a fingerboard pickup), super easy on 'new' fingers, cheap to try. Con's, A bit too floppy for my liking, when you really get going they are a little uncontrollable. Not very defined top end if you want to do jazzy type stuff, very little sustain. I think they actually work really well with an EUB, I think the very low tension almost counter balances the rigidity of an EUB to help it sound more DB-esque (if you're after a gut type of sound).

Nylon coated strings are very popular for acoustics. I use Fender 9120 strings and love them, they are round wound with a nylon wrap, they have a sound somewhere between new rounds and flat, could be likened to old rounds, quite mellow but still have a bit of 'bite'. You'll like the feel as they feel very slick, more so than some flatwound nylons I've used.

[quote name='Telebass' timestamp='1402820112' post='2476946'] Ah well, I manned up and totally ignored that irritating [b]guitarist[/b] at yesterday's gig. Result! [/quote] Fixed it for ya!

I have the White ones on my Variax, makes no difference to the sound as the processor overrides everything but they feel sexy and have a higher tension (I'll call it tension and most folks will understand so can the 'Compliance Police' give me a break) than other nylons I tried, which I like. Had to file the nut though ........................ I filed it under 'P'

I just checked all the basses I have at home and the only one to have a first fret dot is the VM Bass vi. It must be a VM thang. Only time will tell if it will bug me ................ now you've bleedin' pointed it out!

He's better than a lot of guitarists I've seen, I didn't hear a bum note from him and no extended solo

A bass is the only clothes I need

Cool, thanks Phil, and everyone else . I'll probably make up a pair of cabs and try it out, my son wants to help with a home project after getting into his D tech at school, if it doesn't work out then we've still had some fun and got some fire wood ready for winter .

Speaker cabs have feelings too you know, if left feeling unloved they can develop a condition which causes them to fart .............. go on, give your cab a hug http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Tc-electronic-bass-stack-bh500-2x210-cabs-/291158689545?pt=UK_MusicalInstr_Amplifiers_RL&hash=item43ca690709

[quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1401779683' post='2466657'] Damn! That was the good bit. [/quote] As I said, I don't plan on [i]just[/i] sawing the cab in half ...................... I plan on sawing it half, whilst standing on one stilt, holding a pig under my arm which is playing the 'Dukes of Hazzard' theme on a banjo, and I'd better do it quick as after 60 seconds all the pyrotechnics are rigged to go off!

The original post should have read [i]not [/i]interested in buying new drivers, sorry. The amp and cabs sound fine but I wanted a two 1x10s rather than a 2x10. The two 1x10s are 16 ohm where as the 2x10 is 4 ohm and the 1x10s are narrower than the 2x10 so the bigger head won't sit on top. I don't want to mix and match anyway as I will sell whichever rig I don't use. I don't plan on just sawing the cab in half, that was just a simplified way of asking about the volume. The wood is free so no cost involved, if it doesn't sound good I will just house back in the original cab and sell on, keeping the two 1x10s. Another way of asking the question would be if you were to build a single cab with any given driver, would the internal volume need to be double for a twin cab with a pair of the same drivers. Or is there a rough rule of thumb where volume goes up or down in ratio to the number of drivers. I just want general guidelines to cab building,

[quote name='JapanAxe' timestamp='1401654081' post='2465612'] Of course this is [i]completely[/i] different from boy racers lighting up the road underneath their hot hatchbacks. [/quote] Of course it is

Evenin' all . This may have a really simple answer but probably not, or contain too many variables, or maybe it won't, but probably will . In short can I just cut a 2x10 cabinet in half and the resulting two halves be the correct internal volume for the drivers? In long, I use an Ashdown Perfect Ten mini rig (head and two 1x10 cabs) for monitoring when I go through the PA, really useful as they can be placed behind or in front of me, or one of each, or one to the side, you get the picture. Very small venues I have used just the one cab. They are easy to carry as singles, blah, blah, blah! The head is 60w and I've recently picked up a Five Fifteen mini rig which is 100w but uses a 2x10 cabinet and I was thinking of making it a twin 1x10. The woodworking is not a problem and I may make some nice bespoke cabinets and rehouse the head but I wasn't sure if one driver needed half the volume in the 2x10 cab or if they 'shared' the volume, so to speak, ie would one driver need a bigger internal volume than half of the 2x10. I'm interested in buying different drivers so none of the 'Ashdown drivers are crap' please, it was cheap and it sounds how I need it to but I could do with the versatility of twin 1x10s. Another question is, does the shape of the internals matter, within reason? I mean would a cab just over 10" wide but taller or deeper to make up the volume be the same as a cube, the present cab is not ported so no port tuning depths to worry about. I realise a tall, wide, pancake cab with the driver almost touching the rear panel would be probably bad, or maybe not, here I go again. Anyway, I look forward to your helpful replies . Edit: Forgot to say that the 2x10 cab is not seperated in two by an internal baffle, that would answer my question

[quote name='fun size nick' timestamp='1401613277' post='2465140'] Now if you could get it to modulate with signal volume... [/quote] Loving the cab effect, but ^this^ must the next mod ............ way cool

Forgot to mention something which I hadn't considered before doing mine, and I can't guarantee it was definitely from the reshaping, is dead spots. I did a makeover on a Variax and reshaped the above head and fitted 'elephant ear' tuners instead of the rectangular Line 6 ones. I also fitted La Bella white nylon strings afterwards and now have a slight dead spot on the B on G string (5th fret), classic dead spot area I believe. It could be the strings changing the tension on the neck, but I don't think so, more likely is the change in mass of the head, I was hoping that shaving some of the wood off but fitting heavier tuners would counteract each other, but I now have a dead spot that definitely wasn't there before. But I do have a Variax that doesn't look like sh*te . Just something to consider and there no way of knowing until you do it.