Rich

Train To Skaville gig at Bradford Town FC (Bradford-on-Avon), a good sized crowd all in good voice and had all brought their dancing shoes. Considering we hadn't played a single note together since New Year's Eve, we were on fire... good performances all round and we were offered more future bookings on the spot. Result First time out with the Spector since fitting the new active EMGs in place of the passive EMG-HZs, and my god what a difference. The 35P4 in the neck is a proper beast, and really cuts through in a way that the HZs failed to do.

Marathon - Rush

Fields of Fire (400 Miles) - the wonderful Big Country. Stuart Adamson, a truly distinctive voice both vocally and on guitar, still sorely missed. Tony Butler's tone here is massive. Love that Aria bass.

Just when we thought it was full steam ahead, our keys man has had to drop out... so we're after a replacement ivory-tinkler to complete the core of the band alongside the vocalist, guitarist, bassist & drummist. We're one rehearsal in and the current songs we're kicking around are by It Bites, Frost* and Fish. Other names in the potential to-do list are things like Porcupine Tree, Steven Wilson, Quantum Pig, IQ, Hogarth-era Marillion, etc. Our regular rehearsal haunt is Firebird in east Bristol. Please give me a shout if you are, or know someone who might be, interested. Thanks

Yes Sir, That's My Baby - Walter Donaldson/Gus Kahn

Me Myself I - Joan Armaplating

Single(ton) Life - Cameo

Likewise. I think the kindest thing that could be said about the bridge is 'rough and ready' I would echo BRX's comment, unless you have the cover and are intent on keeping the bass 100% original I'd replace that bridge straightaway.

Oh my word, this is wonderful. https://www.facebook.com/Gypsyguitaracademy/videos/277701971735917/

I did that, and luckily the ridiculously talented and absolutely thoroughly bloody nice bloke @Jakester answered

And you're just going to leave us in suspense? You evil man. I hope your next barber accidentally gives you an 80s hair-metal poodle perm. Hah.

Absolutely crackers. It's like the London Symphony Orchestra deciding that they don't need violins.

A drummer/producer mate of mine has developed quite a flair for writing trip hop stuff; for his most recent piece he wanted to write about AI and thought it might be interesting to get AI to write lyrics about itself. Imagine his alarm when the lyric it produced had a chorus refrain that went: It's a ticking time bomb Just a ticking time bomb As ever, I remain in awe of you guys, coming up with good original stuff month after month. I'd be ecstatic if I could do it just once.

Cuddly Troy - Roachford

Yes, it's a bit of a monster innit! Ah well.

Eddie, you're obviously a far more patient man than I (and I do mean that as a compliment). All I can say is that I hope it works out for you. Given what you've just said, my instinct would be to close the thread for now and await further developments -- as I said, it can always be reopened if you wish.

Whilst I wait for my programmable helicopter to arrive in the post another vague question has floated into what I laughably refer to as my mind... have any of you folks ever transplanted the guts of an Ashdown stomp box into a smaller more board-friendly enclosure?

Agreed, with the slight amendment added. Personally I'd be looking for closure via cash rather than an instrument that has the quite real potential to be a} shonky and b} unsellable once you get (as hiram said above) tired of being reminded every time you look at it of all the years off ballache you went through to end up with something that isn't what you wanted.

That's good (tentatively) news @EddieG, let us know if/when a resolution is found and we can lock* the thread. * but it can always be unlocked again if it all goes tits up...

Sorry to read your news NFF. I offer my condolences, my best wishes and a big BC hug. Rich

Are you assuming that's the only thing I took away from it...? What I was actually doing was comparing and contrasting it with the altogether more restrained (dare I say British?) nature of the discussion here.

Just had a glance at the TB thread... I don't know whether to be amused or alarmed by the bloke who said something along the lines of "you're lucky you didn't do that to me, if you had I'd have come over on a plane and {strong suggestion of violence}".

I rather think that ship has sailed, under the name 'RMS Titanic'.

Holy crap, he must have sinews of piano wire. Next time I'm about to complain of aching wrists/fingers, I shall think of him and then shut up.