BS: This Thread Is Open.

Subject: RE: BS: This Thread Is Open.
From: Rob Naylor
Date: 20 May 15 - 04:37 AM

I'm with Will ....I have a couple of guitars that cost over £600: both made by the same luthier who makes most of Will's instruments. One custom-made for me, and the other acquired second-hand from its original commissioner.

They both get taken to open mics, sessions and singarounds. One is showing a few signs of wear. The other is only a few months old so still looks pristine. But the idea of having them and not taking them out to use wouldn't cross my mind.

The newer one is here:

The Scoop

Subject: RE: BS: This Thread Is Open.
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 20 May 15 - 06:45 AM

i used to dream of having a watkins dominator. in the cataloguethey looked a bit like John Lennon's rickenbacker.

mind you they were 39 guineas - as i remember.

those fucking copycat thing were a nightmare. in the end i gave up and just used the reverb on my carlsboro marlin.

i suppose they were a cheap imitation of the much more expensive echoplex - as used by Hank Marvin.

the first time i saw a Roland Space Echo being used live was a Tom Robinson concert. Tom came onstage and said i just bought this thing. listen to this , i keep having these fantasies about being Sting...and with that he did the Eee oh bit from Walking on the Moon acapella - sounded just like Sting.

Subject: RE: BS: This Thread Is Open.
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 20 May 15 - 07:48 AM

The Watkins Dominator was an amp, Al, not a guitar! It had a 'wedge' shaped front. Its output was 17 watts IIRC.

Subject: RE: BS: This Thread Is Open.
From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker
Date: 20 May 15 - 07:57 AM

My first amp around 1975 when I was 16 was a 2nd hand vintage 1960s Vox AC30
my parents paid 50 quid cash for.
The vox was so cheap because they were old hat boring Beatles amps
that nobody serious wanted any more.

It'd do because the whole band could plug into all the input jacks.

We did our first proper gig like that, all on stage playing through that old loud Vox.

Unfortunately it died within a few months, and the music shop strongly recommended
instead of repairing that unreliable old fashioned beast,
parents should take out HP on the brand new cutting edge technology HH 100wat transistor combo
with the space age green glowing facia panel.

Wilko Johnson used one on the telly - so that was that - HP contract signed.

The HH was impressively loud, but sounded dull and lifeless,
and I was stuck with it while mum and dad were still committed paying HP for it,
for all my following years of punk / new wave gigging
until I was 22 and packed in being in bands to go to Poly to do a degree.
I donated the HH to a west country community music collective.
That's the last I ever saw of it.

Vox AC30s however, were coming back into fashion, and the prices for the old 1960s originals
starting to skyrocket .

Letting go of the AC30 is my biggest guitar gear regret....
I was young, inexperienced, and very naive.
I bet all the repair it needed was new valves and maybe a some replaced capacitors ???

Annoyingly enough, those mid 70s HH amps are now cult collectors items
praised for their tone ???

I'd actually like to have a go on one, to see if I've now learned enough
to try to finally get a decent sound out of it ?????

Subject: RE: BS: This Thread Is Open.
From: Spleen Cringe
Date: 20 May 15 - 07:58 AM

Plethora of Quatrafoils

Norwegian death metal band?

Subject: RE: BS: This Thread Is Open.
From: Rob Naylor
Date: 20 May 15 - 09:59 AM

No, with a name like that it would have to be a *symphonic* metal band!

Subject: RE: BS: This Thread Is Open.
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 20 May 15 - 11:16 AM

yes its the vox dominator i'm thinking of .....i think!

Subject: RE: BS: This Thread Is Open.
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 20 May 15 - 11:24 AM

I've got one of those H/H combos. Almost a shame I don't play country, they're good for that. But the cloth was totally cattle trucked so I put new speaker cloth - AC30 style - on it, but alas not totally accurately.

Subject: RE: BS: This Thread Is Open.
From: Will Fly
Date: 20 May 15 - 01:03 PM

I had a Marshall valve amp that decided to take a holiday every time I did a New Year's Eve or Christmas Eve gig - so I changed it for an H&H VS Combo.

I also had a Watkins Copycat - which, to me, gave a very authentic '50 sound. I was playing in a rock'n roll band at the time. I sold that and bought an H&H tape echo unit.

Eventually, I got tired of the rather thin sound of the H&H gear and sold it all off for a 100w Gallien-Krueger which, at the time, was a stupendous amp with a stupendous sound in a small, portable metal frame. However, the speakers wore out so I sold that about 2 years ago and now I use a 40w Roland Cube for both acoustic and electric guitars. Suits me fine.

Subject: RE: BS: This Thread Is Open.
From: GUEST,Pete from seven stars link
Date: 20 May 15 - 01:29 PM

Nice one, will fly, bend those notes !.

Subject: RE: BS: This Thread Is Open.
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 20 May 15 - 06:46 PM

I associate the Gallien-Kreugers with metal music. Interesting choice.

Subject: RE: BS: This Thread Is Open.
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 20 May 15 - 06:55 PM

My wife has a Gallien-Krueger bass amp which she uses with her Fender Precision. Small, light enough for her to carry, 150 watts, very nice-sounding amp. Highly recommended for a small, 'plugged-acoustic' band.

Subject: RE: BS: This Thread Is Open.
From: Musket
Date: 21 May 15 - 03:10 AM

I got rid of all sorts of pa gear a while ago and these days, guitars plug either direct (via DI box) to my mixer or via an effects box, (Korg) and I bought two Alto 15 800W active speakers on stands. The sound quality of the speakers is rather stunning and being able to control the mixer from an iPad attached to my mic stand works for me.

Of course, the authentic " back line" is missing but the audience get a well balanced sound. It's just the artiste who lets it down 😝

I have an old Tanglewood acoustic amp that I plug into when noodling, especially when programming the Korg. I got rid of an old Marshall combo as my back plays me up and it was a heavy beast.

Subject: RE: BS: This Thread Is Open.
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 21 May 15 - 08:16 AM

Mither, that is I think the first time I've seen you say anything with proper English self-deprecation. I must be having a good effect on you. Maybe it's the S&M.

Subject: RE: BS: This Thread Is Open.
From: GUEST,Guest from Sanity
Date: 22 May 15 - 12:32 AM

backwoodsman, in a thread about 'folk music' I posted a link to Rybak's 'Fairytale' of his Eurovision win.....you said you thought he was 'good', so, I'm posting this link, just to show you another side of him, 'Foolin' ' by Alexander Rybak

....AND, another performance of 'Fairytale' that might interest you....this one he is backed with an orchestra....enjoy!!!

Alexander Rybak, Nobel Prize Concert, 'Fairytale'

GfS

Subject: RE: BS: This Thread Is Open.
From: theleveller
Date: 22 May 15 - 03:13 AM

After an accident to my right hand in January which severed nerves, I can neither fingerpick nor hold a plectrum. The surgeon says I may get up to 70% feeling back in my index finger in a year or so if the nerves regrow but until then the big old Lowden and the Fylde cittern remain in their cases. But 15-year old daughter has commandeered the beautiful Brazilian rosewood cutaway Avalon (with soundhole pickup bought from Backwoodsman) and plays it even better that I did. Plus ca change as they say in Euro land.

Subject: RE: BS: This Thread Is Open.
From: Spleen Cringe
Date: 22 May 15 - 04:20 AM

Especially for this thread:

I'm Open

Subject: RE: BS: This Thread Is Open.
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 22 May 15 - 06:47 AM

Sorry to hear about your accident, Leveller. Hope things improve for you soon!
Just got my own Lowden back from George's place - new truss-rod and fingerboard. She's better than ever!

Subject: RE: BS: This Thread Is Open.
From: theleveller
Date: 22 May 15 - 10:36 AM

Thanks, Backwoodsman. To be honest, I don't miss it that much - I'd more or less already stopped playing in public. Now I've even more time to spend in the gym in a vain attempt to regain my youthful six-pack, writing (first poetry chapbook finished and half way through second novel), walking and on my volunteer Tree Health Survey work for the Woodland Trust - and to marvel at just how brilliant my daughter is (and i didn't teach her a thing).

Glad to hear the Lowden is in top fettle - mine needs resetting but I probably won't bother. Daughter wants me to take her to Acoustic Avalon in Leicester in November. Have you ever been - last time I went I had a nice chat with George Lowden, Paul Brett and James Patrick Eggle.

Subject: RE: BS: This Thread Is Open.
From: GUEST,Guest from Sanity
Date: 22 May 15 - 08:21 PM

thelleveler, YOU CAN DO IT!!

That guy that I just posted the link of, smashed (broke)a couple of fingers, in a fit of rage, with a sound man....and by golly, he can still smoke on his ax!!

Go for it!!

GfS

Subject: RE: BS: This Thread Is Open.
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 23 May 15 - 01:49 AM

Leveller, I haven't made it to Acoustic Avalon yet, hoping this will be the year!

I'm astonished that your Lowden needs a reset - one of their big claims is that their bracing-pattern, with a kind of 'A' bracing which extends into the neck-block, makes the likelihood of needing a reset virtually zero. Mine's fourteen years old, the action's a perfect 7 and 5, and plenty of saddle left. Maybe you're just unlucky?

And it's good to hear that the Fishman Rare Earth is still doing its stuff! 👍

Subject: RE: BS: This Thread Is Open.
From: fat B****rd
Date: 23 May 15 - 03:32 AM

I hope things improve for you, Leveller.
Best regards from Charlie.
(Who sounds just as bad on a Martin as on any other guitar :)

Subject: RE: BS: This Thread Is Open.
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 23 May 15 - 03:42 AM

Me too Charlie!
I have a theory that great guitars show a bad player up - mine certainly don't make my playing any better! 😳

Subject: RE: BS: This Thread Is Open.
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 23 May 15 - 04:47 AM

when i lived in the midlands acoustic avalon was a must. i saw Eric Roche there, and Ralph McTell and loads of other people. i bought a cedar topped yamaha there one year, which i still love.

i'm really sorry for you leveller. is there any way tuning your guitar to open chords would help? i would think maybe a bit of strumming could be frustrating but good therapy. but anyway i'm sorry for you.

the food at avalon is crap. however if you go up to the roundabout where the race course is, turn to the left istead of the tright into leicester. there is a big supermarket with a nice cafe.

Subject: RE: BS: This Thread Is Open.
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 23 May 15 - 05:00 AM

To speak of a nicer affliction - my GAS seems to have returned.

Subject: RE: BS: This Thread Is Open.
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 23 May 15 - 05:22 AM

Mine's never gone away, I'm pleased to say.

Subject: RE: BS: This Thread Is Open.
From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker🎸
Date: 23 May 15 - 09:35 AM

my GAS was in remission for about 5 years but has unfortunately returned since Black Friday,
with additional complications of MAS and EMFBAS...😣





Microphones and Even More Fuzz Boxes...

Subject: RE: BS: This Thread Is Open.
From: Musket
Date: 23 May 15 - 10:25 AM

I tend to step on the GAS too for that matter...

Out of boredom I just lowered the action on an Eastman dread I bought recently as a reserve stage guitar and tried 011s instead of 012s. It's changing my mind somewhat over how much you need to pay for sound quality and playability. It'll never be the Rainsong and one day I will replace the ubiquitous D41 I had many years ago (but with a HD28) but a rather pleasant surprise a couple of hours ago.

Sorry to hear about your accident leveller. I actually started playing the guitar as a result of buggering up my hand... (Couldn't twist it round enough for the violin after the accident...)


🎼🎶🎶🎸🎸🎸🎸🎵🎵🎤🎤🍻🍻💩💩💀👻

Subject: RE: BS: This Thread Is Open.
From: Donuel
Date: 24 May 15 - 12:26 AM

Leveler,
I fell/jumped into a whirlpool from a canoe and injured my hand on something sharp at the bottom of that strange lake in Maine. It severed nerves and tendons. After microsurgery and 3 years of stretching the shortened tendons there was little to no disability.
Expect 90% improvement with surgery.