another possible source of trouble is the enormous dynamic range of a guitar, and the difference between strumming it and picking it. This is where what you hear onstage, and what your audience hears can be very different indeed. You may turn the pot on your guitar down just to avoid a harsh sound, and become inaudible to the audience. However if you hear a harsh sound - you can bet your life some other poor sod is hearing it as well, and they've just bought a drink so they can't even walk out to avoid you, without getting it pinched. another potential fan lost!

like I say, avoid extreme settings on those eq knobs.

One guy I know(Tony from No Fixed Abode) went through a stage of using a compressor on his acoustic guitar to get a more even sound. He gave me the compressor to try - so I guess he found some other way - but he thought it would help my sound avoid its nastier peaks. As I'm not gigging at the present because of health problems, I can't really be sure.

The Baggs system that Richard is talking about is fitted to some very moderately priced Yamaha models - I am a big fan of Yamaha. In fact the new CPX900 (I've seen it for less than £500)has a three way sound source, which someone told me they have nicked in essence from the very expensive taylor models. I wouldn't know if that last is true.

I see looking at my diary, I had a booking for this next weekend - a real one with a noisy pub audience to subdue and impress, and a fee. However like I say cos of health problems I had to blow it out.

So whatever happens - if your whistle player punches the landlord, theres a fight over the money, the customers complain about your filthy lyrics, the neighbours complain about the noise, the car breaks down on the way there and the way back, and the bass player runs off with your wife - remember, these are the good times!

all the best

al