Doctor J

Two amps. Guitar amps, though. The first, we stumbled across in the mid-90's. My mate Big Al was looking for an amp and we came across an Ampeg guitar amp, a 2x12 combo, in a shop. Neither of us had heard of an Ampeg guitar amp but tried it out anyway. Within seconds, we knew there was some kind of witchcraft going on and Big Al told me to stand guard over it while he legged it to try to find an ATM to get the cash. Years later, after he had stopped playing, I bought it from him for 50 quid more than his asking price and still have it to this day. When I was gigging as a guitarist, I used it at a couple of gigs. Combos are not the done thing in the world of Metal. One sound engineer was particularly sniffy when he saw me lugging all 35+kg of it in. "Don't worry" I told him, "it's nice." When it was soundcheck time he spoke to me through the montor, very mockingly "Well... let's hear this nice amp then." After the gig he came up and asked me what the model number was so he could try to get one himself 😆 I've never seen another one. The second was the head I bought to save me getting a hernia from carrying the Ampeg. I bought a Fryette Deliverance, based on a few sound samples but mostly because it had sacrificed features for pure, delicious tonal goodness, and a switch which offered you a simple choice. More or less? I always want more. I gigged for a few years with it, always getting compliments from lads carting the obvious Mesa Rectifiers, Peavey 5150s and Marshalls around. When that band split, I figured my guitarist gigging days were behind me and would have no use for an excruciatingly loud 60W amp, so I put it up for sale. The guitarist in a band we had done a few gigs with over the years offered me asking price and I was happy for him to have it. A few years later, I got a call from the singer of that band. They had split up a while before and he was putting that band back together but without that guitarist and wanted to know if I would be interested. Life is more interesting when you say yes, so that's what I did. Shortly afterwards, we were offered a gig supporting COC. I would need an amp. I checked the local ads but nothing really appealed. The week before the COC gig what should I see but an ad for the Fryette. Yer man would never have sold it to me, things being sa they were, so I had to ask a friend of mine to buy it on my behalf. I used it for the next couple of years with that band before I quit gigging for good after I used it at Bloodstock. I see it as providence that I got it back, so have invested in a power soak and still have it at home, using it for recording these days.

Here's one you may not know about, which I just stumbled across. It appears FMIC licenced instruments under the Fender brand in the early 90's, to be made in sunny Brazil, which were known as the Southern Cross series. Despite the shonky looking headstocks and cheapo parts, these things appear to be legit. https://www.fuzzfaced.net/southern-cross-stratocaster-en.html

One for those who must be seen with the appropriate logo.

What an idiot. He didn't actually log the acidity of whatever it was he used to get rid of the paint in order to have somewhere to log the acidity of whatever it was he was going to use to get rid of the paint.

Beast of an instrument.

Serious business. Lovely 👍🏻

No, no, hang on... if you lie on the floor... on your back... and you play the guitar bit... and the bassist lies on top of you... no.... hang on... if you're on a hammock, face down... you play the guitar underneath the hammock and the bassist lies on the grass... no... hang on...

Amazing looking thing, would love a go of it.

Ooooh nice. I wouldn't be able to wait until Christmas.

This thread is about one.

It's not the original finish on the body, either, which they don't mention. Gerry's not playing a burst in the picture and there is wear in the picture which doesn't appear on the instrument now. A complete refinish, shonky wiring and the seller really isn't disclosing everything they should... but it's old, so ten grand? I assume this shop has big windows 😂

It means your guitarists are tuned C# instead of E but their lowest string is tuned down an extra step to B, so across the strings is BF#BEAbC# It means they can barre the bottom three strings and get a power chord easy peasy. Most of their stuff will probably be in the key of B as a result, in which case you should be fine. If they do any riffs off that open F# string, it might call for some dexterity on your part but it shouldn't be anything you can't find a way around.

Kingdom Clone

I remember reading a review of this album when it came out. They described it as "the best AC/DC album since Back In Black"

If you don't own it now, there's probably a good reason you don't own it now. Remember that reason. It's got to work for you as a tool for playing music on, better than both your Lulls. If you're craving this out of sentimentality, kill that feeling because you'll arrive at the same point where you got rid of it the first time, only this time you'll also be down two Lulls.

Could be worse, he could be singing about cat food.

I'm very fond of the D'Addario 74T000. It's wide and padded, very comfortable. https://www.thomann.de/gb/planet_waves_74t000_gitarrengurt_nylon.htm

Whatever you have is probably just tuned to E. You need to cover the other keys, too, just in case doom band asks you to sub the same day as a sludge outfit. Fail to prepare, prepare to fail.

Wouldn't have a clue how you'd find the same plug, unless there's a code or part number stamped into the old one somewhere?

This kind of thing, to help you visualise what you're looking at

The wire ends are usually crimped and the crimped metal is then clipped into the plastic plug. It's possible, with a little finesse, to push in the clip and extract the crimped end from the plug. You could then see if it's soldered in or retained by the crimp only and act accordingly.

Since birth, you've been programmed to think that consuming goods is the path to happiness and contentment. It isn't, of course, but every advertisement you're subjected to is telling you that life will be better with more stuff in your life. If it wasn't a bass, you'd be looking at cars, mobile phones, TVs, washing detergent, meat or whatever. When you feel the irrational urge to buy more stuff, try to understand what it is you're unsatisfied with which is causing this feeling of needing to buy something which you already know won't kill the craving. Play more, buy less.

Those B&Q screws aren't what originally held that neck on. Ouch 😖

If you wanted to take your playing to the next level, that's why. You fellas must be happy with the level you're already on. This is not the bass for you, only for those looking to move to the next level.