Skybone

Edited

Voivod: Tribal Convictions Voivod: Astronomy Domine Not forgetting.... Napalm Death on kids TV programme "What's That Noise" 1989

Loop: Collision Loop: Arc-Lite

Motorhead: Ace of Spades (1980) Discharge: Realities of War EP Rudimentary Peni: The Cloud Song

The Cult: She Sells Sanctuary Sisters of Mercy: Alice Fields of the Nephilim: Moonchild

Likewise, never played one, but always fancied having a shot on one.

We'll have to think about that, we'll get back to you in time...

Mikel, Danelectro's "Masonite" is basically the US term form what we know as Hardboard (high pressure compressed cardboard?), which again is derived from timber. So although it's probably less wasteful than using wood, it takes a lot of energy to produce. I'm all for the use of modern materials in instruments, but the thing that gets me is the processes and raw materials used to make these products. Some of the glues used to make things like carbon fibre aren't very environmentally friendly, and some of the processes used to make carbon fibre itself are very energy intensive. You could argue that timber IS a renewable resource, though many exotic species take longer to grow, and the plantations need to be managed. All of the main manufacturer's use timber from plantations that are managed (or at least that's what they tell the consumer). Remember a few years back when Gibson had all their wood stocks seized and they couldn't produce anything? We now have the new CITES rules on some of the popular timbers used in guitar manufacture, so the manufacturers have to utilise timbers that conform with CITES. Although the trend on guitars & basses is for exotic figuring on tops, we may see that this will tail off as the prices of the exotic timbers rise, because they'll start to become less available in managed plantations (unless they have figured out a way of managing the woodland in order to produce the figuring). And after saying that, I'm still in favour of luthiers making instruments that utilise any and all materials for their craft, and I'm pretty sure that any luthier using these materials will do their damnedest to make a playable instrument.

We're still trying to decide on a band name, nearly a year and a half in.

Definitely have one of these on my radar.

I've been thinking about this one as well... it's looming in the future (though not as soon as rmcki), and it would be nice to get something to mark the occaision. Rickenbacker 4003 or 4004 or Thunderbird with a wide nut or Something else... ??? Though the Ric is definitely top of the list.

Pre-amp valves are pretty robust things with long lives. An orange glow is a healthy valve (generally speaking).

Do what you need to do, so that you keep it as a "player". However, don't make any physical alterations to it, and keep any parts that you remove.

Retrovibe have just announced a new set of pickups, including a new bridge pickup, with chrome surround & cover.

The PRS SE range are pretty darn good, and have a 'wide, fat' neck profile. Great for big handed d bass players. I've had a few of the SE Singlecuts (the ones with the P90's). Great players, great sounds, and seriously good build.

Was just going to post that I was pretty sure his name was Dave Pybus (met him a few times, sound bloke).

There's a few options available at a few price points. At the lower price end, there are the Retrovibe Hy Gane pickups. £25 + £5 p&p They also do a humbucking 'toaster' style pickup with 4 wires. £29 + £5 p&p Email them if you want more than one, and they'll send you a PayPal invoice, combining the postage. Higher up the price range, there's the Seymour Duncan humbuckers. Gemini Pickups in the UK hand wind replacement pickups, iirc, they're about £130 a set. Nordstrand have just released the 'Nordbocker' neck pickup. Don't know how much they are. Then there's Classic Amplification in the US, but they'll be quite expensive.

No idea unfortunately, give them a call. www.matamp.co.uk

Although not strictly in the North West, Matamp are worth a call. They're in Meltham near Huddersfield.

The Damned: Evil Spirits

I'm a bit too young to have ever experienced The Stadium, like many other great venues, it "progressed" into a car park for the Royal Insurance. Never knew about the Last Trumpet either. Interesting piece of music history.

We work out an arrangement during rehearsal, I record it & send it out to everyone. We will possibly rework it but we let everyone know. Is the singer responsible for the music as well? Are the rest of the band having difficulties keeping up with the changes to the songs? Sounds like you're best off out of it, the singer sounds like a nightmare.