skankdelvar

[quote name='Beedster' post='380160' date='Jan 14 2009, 12:15 PM']Lots of resonses to the first part, but the second part (i.e., if the first option, how is this verified) seems ito be escaping scrutiny?[/quote] Ask Musky. Or immerse yourself in various Fender books and resources until not the slightest and tiniest detail escapes you. "That's one of Manuel Padilla's neck joints!" you'll cry, "Probably a Thursday, cause his missus always gave him one on a Wednesday night between 1967 and 1972" Dating a guitar by it's components is one thing - but even if they're all contemporaneous dates, you still won't know for sure if it's an contemporary [i]assembly[/i] or a modern bitsa, particularly since people started stripping down perfectly good axes and selling them piece by piece on the bay. And given that it's only an accident of fate that one particular 74 neck went on one particular '74 body, does it matter? About the only way you could be (reasonably) certain is to buy your axe from the Archbishop who bought it new and who swears it's provenance before the Almighty.

[quote name='matt_citizenbass' post='380011' date='Jan 14 2009, 09:47 AM']... can't afford to keep changing the valves etc.[/quote] You won't need to keep replacing valves if you get a tech to give it a precautionary once over and sort any potential faults, which, barring big issues, shouldn't take more than a couple of hours. With old amps, the problem isn't valve failure so much as other component failures which might then cascade into blowing a valve, such as a dodgy capacitor, wiring or transformer. If the transformer goes, that can be the expensive one, depending on availability of replacements or modern equivalents. Valve failure in isolation is comparatively rare these days, as long as you avoid the cheapo brands - go for JJ's, EHX, Sovtek, and you should be OK. NB, I'm not sure, but the GE-100 may have a solid state pre-amp...check this out, as it may impact on the 'sound' you want - and £250 is not particularly cheap. The thought also occurs that while gtr heads of the 70's rarely topped 100w, there were a number of 200w PA heads, which might give you the 'oomph' you're looking for, plus a bit more clean headroom.

[quote name='tauzero' post='380099' date='Jan 14 2009, 11:10 AM']I have a Telecaster Custom, a Telecaster Thinline, a 1959 Strat, a 1958 Les Paul Standard, a Les Paul Junior, a Firebird, a Gretsch, a Rickenbacker 360-6 and a 360-12, Gibson ES-335, ES-175, and Super 400, an Epiphone Casino, a Martin 6-string and 12-string, and a Dobro. That's what the manual for my Variax 300 tells me I've got, anyway.[/quote] Those Variaxes any good - that's to say, how 'realistic' do they sound?

That would be #1, while agreeing with Musky. But interpreted by some to mean "None of the above, but then I'm a scamming 6@st@r0, me"

Welcome and enjoy!

Welcome indeed. Much of a live scene in Dubai? Easy to get gear? Enjoy the forum!

Though some may disagree, lots of older guitar or PA valve heads work fine as bass heads. For years all I used was a 50w Mk2 Marshall and a 2x12. Just loud enough in small venues to get over an AC30, an MM Guitar combo and drums. When it were all fields round here the most you got were bass, middle, treble and a volume knob (and 100w if you were lucky). Real simple and easy to dial in a good tone. You may wish to think about 70's names like Sound City, Carlsboro, Simms Watts. There's usually something weird and wonderful lurking on the bay, but be prepared for remedial repairs and a hefty outlay on power tubes which could add another £50-150 to the deal, if you're unlucky. The good news is that old valve amps are generally easier to service, but somewhat more temperamental. I just brought an old '66 Bassman back from repairs to find that the car journey home had loosened up some components - so back it goes again!

He also had lots of R&D input in the early days, along with Freddie Tavares (who did the opening steel guitar swoop for the Loonytunes theme) and was responsible, in part, for the brilliant 50's-60's ad campaigns. Came up with the name "Stratocaster" and, later on, founded Randall Amps (say Ta, all you metallers). Unsung hero.

For a cheap, loud, if clean-toned solution, have a look at eminences. Other than that, the trad approach is celestions. If you're going to be using it for both guitar and bass, you might want to look at four x G75t12, which would give you 300w. The celestion site's got lots of info IIRC.

[quote name='Mr. Foxen' post='379132' date='Jan 13 2009, 03:13 PM']I'd use one for high side of biamping.[/quote] Hadn't thought of that. Smart move.

FWIW, and playing the Irish angle, I'm informed that both Ronan Keating's MD and his 2nd guitarist swear by them. As guitar amps. Not particularly giggable for bass, I'd have thought, but you never know...

[quote name='waynepunkdude' post='379021' date='Jan 13 2009, 01:54 PM']I dislike the sound and 90% of guitarists who play them are pretentious douche bags IMO.[/quote] Ouch! (Agree Tele sound can be a bit marmite, partic if too much treble on back pick-up)

[quote name='waynepunkdude' post='378950' date='Jan 13 2009, 01:09 PM']And buy a decent guitar I HATE TELE'S.[/quote] Why?

Commodore "Im-Precision" S/H 1976 Then: £50 Now: £289

[quote name='Bassassin' post='377612' date='Jan 12 2009, 12:59 PM']Jack might have a point, though. It could be argued that Fender make a lot of bad copies of their own instruments. Jon.[/quote] It could be a good copy of a bad instrument

Here's a shareware drum programme. Free unlimited evaluation, donation if you like it. If you import your own drum samples, it's a corker, with exportable wav loops. [url="http://www.leafdigital.com/software/leafdrums/"]http://www.leafdigital.com/software/leafdrums/[/url]

[quote name='bremen' post='374866' date='Jan 9 2009, 10:30 AM']I have the same problem. Could be we're gripping too tightly?[/quote] Could be. Have you tried a bigger pick with a surface area large enough to use thumb and [i]two[/i] fingers. Less 'grip' required. I reg use a pick but if I've ever had any time off from playing, my hand cramps up about 10 mins in, partic if it's a gig and the adrenaline's flowing a bit. If you stick at it, with sensible breaks to let pain subside, it'll sort itself after a while.

* To skirt the terminological minefield ('noob', beginner, born-again etc), * To acknowledge the view that most of us are still on the journey * To optimise 'signposting' for new arrivals May I suggest any new forum, resource, Wiki or whatever be titled 'Learning'

[quote name='NancyJohnson' post='375687' date='Jan 9 2009, 10:10 PM']Andy I work in retail ...etc....back into stock, then credited/refunded to the retailer).[/quote] That's an interesting perspective on this pricing stuff - I always wondered how it worked... naively assumed retailers bought stuff at a price and then decided for themselves what to charge the end-user. re: The relicing thing - while it's a bonkers concept - if it's well done, then not a problem. But most relicing isn't well-executed, even at 'Custom Shop' level - e.g. Rory Gallagher Strats. And I love the cheek of Vintage (the mfr) chopping out reliced cheapies for a £200-300 quid

[quote name=':amaze:' post='375821' date='Jan 10 2009, 12:22 AM']well on my amp, there is a light for DDT, and a separate red light for clipping. the clipping light usually comes on first, and the sound is distorted before either of them turn on.[/quote] I'd def get your amp checked before you spend any more money on new gear. If it's just the pre-amp tube, we're not talking big bucks to supply and fit...min £10 for the valve to buy retail.

There's a gorgeous story about Ted Nugent firing up his colossal touring rig in the studio, hitting [i]one[/i] apocalyptically loud chord, passing out and falling backwards to the ground. As he lay there unconscious, the feedback was bouncing his (semi-acoustic) guitar around on his chest. The engineers found this hugely amusing and left him in there for some time before grudgingly pulling the mains power.

If loud noise makes you want to drink more, then presumably there is some (unascertained) db level where you want to drink less. (So, to reduce alcohol consumption, we presumably need silent pubs that continue to dispense cheap beer). Typical of the 'Little Professor' approach to government. Armed insurrection. It's the way forward.

[quote name='Dr.Dave' post='373099' date='Jan 7 2009, 02:38 PM']When I decided to be God I recall blowing your local pub up. I didn;t think at the time how much harm this may cause you. I've just had it rebuilt so for Christ's sake get out and get down there [/quote] Thanks for that; but I'm off the p*55 in January. I've got a button collection as well. Would you like to see it?