solusash's forum posts 241

Like I said, was a cigar (and hookah) smoker. Quite heavy. Heart disease and two heart attacks before I turned 35 put the kibosh to that real quick. Put the kibosh to a lot, really. Gotta try and stick around long enough to see my kid graduate, at least.

That is a lot to unpack about martinis, particularly after I've been drinking Stingers. Suffice to say what I meant by 5:1 was five parts gin and a moment of silence for the vermouth. When it comes to vodka martinis, I do the Bond thing. I mean, if I'm going to be a heretic, I might as well go full-blown and bruise the alcohol by shaking it, right?

As a former barkeep, I generally would cringe at the number of freshly minted 21 year olds coming in and for their first drink ever would order a "Vodka Martini, shaken, not stirred." Happened at least thrice a week. Normally, I could talk them down from it--"mate, if this is your first drink--and I'm going to assume that as this is your twenty once't, that it is your first drink, let me steer you in a better direction." And I'd suggest something slightly less... of an acquired taste? Like a proper Gin based martini, or a G&T, or a Stinger. Something easier drinking than bruised vodka (nearly always Skyy, Smirnoff, or Absolut) and cheap vermouth.

On beers, I can't stand Domestics. I just really can't. Just... No. They're watered down horse piss, the job lot. Give me Guinness or give me death! That's my go to drinker.

If you can find a Biltmore Malbec or Merlot, give it a shot as a sipping wine (or with cheese, or if you're a cigar man, with a nice whatever flavor you like--I'm a maduro (well, was) man myself). If not, get a Yellow Tail Merlot. I know, I know, it's like a £5 bottle, how good could it be, right? That's what I thought, too. It's actually surprisingly good for a table wine, goes pretty alright with some of the stronger cheeses as well. As far as blends, Bloody hell, what was that one? It was Apothica? Apocrypha? Apocalyptica? I can't remember, something like that was the brand, but it was "Inferno," blended red. Shockingly good for such a cheap bottle. Now, when it comes to the good wines, like I said, I'm a Biltmore kind of guy. They've got the best I've found for the cost/benefit ratio. And it turns out most of the wine snobs can't tell the difference after the £15-20 range anyway, that's why there are so few professional sommeliers in the world--since the final exam involves identifying the vintage of six different wines by the grape exactly, and turns out, that's not something many people can do. Anyway, that was just to point out that if it tastes good, it is good. Kind of like Josh from JHS says about pedals, "If it sounds good, it is good." And as we all know, Cues the cheesy music "He Has the Box!"

Now this thread has officially been derailed most epically. You finally did it Jim, you got me COMPLETELY off topic, so bad I don't even remember what the original was. Bloody hells.

Wait, there's t-shirts for 1000 points? Bugger me... I should start working on that.

...

Meh... can't be arsed. I'm kind of sad it got bumped from 303 (Feist has a song, Flight #303, so I was dead chuffed on that), so I guess my next goal is 666. >:D

Laphroaig if you want a peaty scoth. Or really anything from the Islay distilleries. Probably my favorite after Speyside distilleries. Not real big on :Lowland of all of 'em, if I'm being honest. Still, I'll take any single malt scotch over any blended, and any scotch at all over Canadian.

All that said, I take mine neat.

Jameson (Irish whiskey) is for whiskey sours, one of only a handful of mixed drings I bother with (the other few being Stiners, Brandy Alexanders, Vespers, G&T, and of course, a proper dry martini, made to Trapper John's exact specifications, a 5 to 1 ratio--you'll note with the exception of the Vesper, they're all duos, and no "trendy shooters," as a former bartender, I like simple, clean, and get you blasted quick).

Then there's wine and beer. That's a subject unto itself, and as someone who took the tour of the Pilsner Brewry in Czech Republic, as well as the Biltmore House Winery, I'm afraid I'm rather spoiled on that topic--answer, Malbec, the leggier, the better. As to beer? Stout or porter, dark and delicious, served at the proper temp. This American notion that a beer has to be ice cold to drink just ruins the flavor, you can't taste tne nuance of the grains used to make it!

Not had Mortlatch, but I've had Glenfidditch, which was founded by a fellla what split with Mortlatch back just before the 1900s. What I know of Mortlatch is Johnny Walker uses their stuff in a lot of their blended (i.e. heresy) stuff.

I'm a Glenlivet man through and through, Lagavulin if I can't get the Glenlivet. I've had a few other nice ones in my day. Right now, Glenlivet 12 is what's on the menu.

By and large I try and refrain from speaking in Scottish a whole lot online, as 90% of people are natty lumpkins who don't know a bawheid from a bawbag from a bawhair, and think a bagger is a banger is a barry is a belter, the ejits dennae ken feck.

That said,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxB_iGStPOo

100% fully accurate.

Aye, I drink scotch anyway. Hard to get blooterd, less chance I'll act a maggot. :D The older the better, scotch. I've a few Aussie mates myself, hate I didn't take 'em up on the offer to move to Alice Springs when I had the chance some 15 years back, .

Then again, I hate I didn't stay in Bonnie Wee, aye?

Ah well, spouse and the wee barra make it worth it.

vut terry some slack, he's australian, all the poisonous animals make them defensive

I'm Scottish, we're just down right offensive. I mean, come on, we invented GOLF. What kind of people do that? And why?

I'll tell ya: We like to see other people suffer. Have you ever met someone that actually enjoys golf? No. Oh sure, they say they do. But it's a lie. What they enjoy is getting away from responsibility, and golf gives them a way of doing that. Too bad it's a good walk ruined.

I'm so used to putting a /shrug at the end of a "I'm not sure" train of thought (I use Discord nearly every day for both work and general communications, and it puts a ¯_(ツ)_/¯ when you use it) that it's second nature. No idea why it's suddenly italics and deletes text when I turn OFF italics. Silly phone.

Wasn't a questioning of your amp, was more of a "Damn. If it don't have an effects loop, that has to be an older one, or something, I don't know."

We both misinterpreted a few things, text isn't a great medium for communications. No worries, sorry I flipped shite as well.

Right. Focus on the one throw away comment that was all of a sentence long after I'd given a full paragraph of how to narrow down what the issue could be, because that one comment negates everything else about that post. Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant.

That's totally alright. Completely fine. Like I said, I know how you roll now, I won't be making the mistake of chiming in on your posts again.

Have a good one. I'm out.

Is '83 old enough for you? Roland Jazz Chorus 50. Mono. 12" Plugs on the back are as follows: Phones; Chorus&Vib; Distortion: Reverb (as footswitch jacks) and a Chorus&Vib out. Unless you know something secret about an amp I have owned for over 30 years, then I will stand firm on the fact it doesnt.

Dang dude, there's no need to get snippy about it. I was trying to help and troubleshoot possible issues. Won't be making that mistake with you again. Jesus H. Christ.

From a Nightbird fan page, the only model of Guild Nightbirds to use DiMarzio pickups used what he's been able to identify as Super 2s (DP104s). DiMarzio says that's an upgraded Super Distortion, personally, I disagree (I much prefer the regular Super Distortion--but that's completely unrelated here).

I'm with Jim. Cable testers are essentially a money sink. If you think it's the PSU, try another one if you have access to one. If you do not, try battery power on the pedals you can battery power.

Othwerwise, take off half of all elements on the board that could be causing the issue. see if it's still having issues. If it is, take another 25% off. Rinse and repeat until you don't have the issue, then add back in one element at a time until you find the element causing it. That's the best advice I can give you on narrowing down the problem. And by elements, I mean everything. Pedals, cables, PSU. You name it, if it's on the board, and can cause any kind of electrical issues, it's an element that can be removed.

That said, a Roland Jazz Chorus with no effects loop... Must be an older amp, like, waaaaaaaaay older, because almost all the JC models I've ever used have had an effects loop. /shrug

And it rolls fine without pedals? Like running direct to amp runs fine? Have you tried running the effects in the loop instead of in front of the amp?

Just troubleshooting here.

OK, so after MASSIVE delays, major hold ups, all kinds of kerfuffles, and just... shipping nightmares... I finally have my Gear4Music Brooklyn Double Neck.

And guys? Outside of having to do some setup work on it, so far I'm pretty pleased. Haven't done said setup work yet--that's going to happen over the weekend, I'm tired, been having barometric pressure related migraines because of the damn thunderstorms for the past 5 days, and then having to drive out to the bloody DHL warehouse and pick up the instrument because of their bleeding incompetence just put a damper on my whole day.

SO. Preliminary thoughts: Fretwork: is fairly OK. On par with Firefly guitars. Both necks are bound, so there's actually no fret sprout I can feel. So full marks there.

Action: Like I said, going to have to do some setup work, but out of the box it is playable with only some light fret buzz near the nut, and it has a very pleasant action for a classic/prog rock/jazz man like myself. It's not set up for super fast shredding (super low action), but it probably could be.

Fit and finish: It's solid. It's well put together, the necks are both bolted on with no wiggle, all the knobs feel solid, the switches are passable, could have been better. Tuners actual feel pretty smooth, not sure what the gear ratio is, but they turn nice. Not sure about tuning stability as the strings are new and still stretching.

Sound: First impressions: On par with my ICX-120 Iceman. So ceramic magnets, at a guess, covered, not too hot, but you get a pretty good vintage sound. Haven't put it through any proper paces yet, so that's just from first impressions.

Not seen how well it drives pedals, either. Planning on buying a Joyo Tauren (dirt cheap Klon Clone) to see how it sound with my Pathfinder 15R and a touch of chorus. Methinks that'll be a real winner, honestly.

Thoughts on the Company: Gear4Music has been in CONSTANT contact with me from the start--when the shipping was delayed the first time, I hit them up asking if they knew anything, and while they did not, the refunded the cost of my shipping in full. Thereafter, twice a week they would email their findings to me, letting me know the results of their investigation. Absolutely top notch customer service. I cannot recommend them highly enough based on that.

Moreover, when I got the guitar, it had been missing in shipping and sat in a warehouse in Southern United States muggy heat for 3+ weeks. It was undamaged (full marks to DHL on that) thanks to Gear4Music's double boxing, but not only that, it was very nearly in tune with itself as well Granted, it was a full step and a half down, but that's not the point. I don't know if that will speak to the ultimate tuning stability as the string tension was much lower, but I feel it worth mentioning none the less.

SO. In summation, first impressions are for the money, it's worth it, just if you have it shipped DHL and have a PO box, have them ship it TO your PO box unless you know for a fact they deliver to your door. Because they may hand it off to USPS and you end up like me, with the package lost--but that's not about the guitar. Anyway, the guitar seems to be worth it so far. I'm going to torture test it this weekend, hopefully get a Joyo Tauren this week, and have what I hope will be a video review with full sound rundown by week after next.

If there is anything specific you'd like me to cover, feel free to check out my equipment page for the pedals and gear I have, I'm happy to run it through whatever combination of what I have for you lot.

maybe if we had a "desert island" styled box with three bits of gear in it?

Not that you asked, but I have to answer this... Because mine is so simple: 1966 Vox V241 Bulldog Guitar, Vox Pathfinder 15R Amp, and whatver chorus pedal I'm obsessing over at the moment unless I pull the trigger on the Collision Devices Black Hole Symmatry, in which case it'd be that one (I will be getting it. Probably).

With those 3 items, you can do anything. Any kind of music at all.

The ability to decide what gear goes under my name on the fourms! :D

Ah, but seriously, outside of like having some kind of a "Rig" setup where you could somehow show what was in your signal chain, I can't really think of anything. That way users could easily share how they craft their tone, how they got their sound for specific things, things like that.

I'm a pretty simple chap, so that's about all I can think of--outside of that, the setup now where I can easily link my gear to people who ask "so what kind of guitar do you play?" has been absolutely brill, so whatever you lot decide to do, as long as it doesn't muck up that functionality, I'll be golden.

Reporting in--for me at least--on the item page it has my selected star rating saved with the review on the item page displayed correctly. It also seems completely arbitrary as to what gear it decides to remove the stars from on my gear page.

Don't know if that'll help squash the bug or not, after all:

99 bugs in the code, 99 bugs

Take on down, patch it around

327 bugs in the code!

I have sold propane and propane accessories before. Taste the meat, not the heat.

https://equipboard.com/about/faq

About half way down, goes into being a pro artist, etc..

Will look into those, and was just advised on a Facebook "Enthusiast" group for Firefly guitars (yeah, they've an enthusiast group) that the bridge is the same size as Wilkinson, so that bridge cover should fit. Whichever (AllParts or Wilkinson) is cheaper is what I'll run first check on.

After that, it'll be changing out the control knobs and switch tip (not a fan of the switch tip--it's a barrel style, I don't like the Top Hat style either--going to go all in on one to match the control knobs I get--likely pearloid or abalone button cap, if I can find it, if not... well, I'm handy enough with tools), and that's about it. Much more to it, and I'll have as much in it as another Firefly would cost, and the whole point here is the spouse won't let me snag another instrument right at the moment, so I'm going to work on the ones I have.

"I'm sorry Dave, I can't let you do that." And that's why I believe "Thou shalt not make a machine in the likeness of a human mind," (from the O.C. Bible, after the Butlerian Jihad--pretty excited for Dune 2020).

As to nailing the part, the apps claim you can "hum a few bars" and it'll tell you what song it is. So being able to strum a few, as it were...

Anyroad, that's my 2 pence worth on it.

I don't know Rutters work. Just what I've seen on their site. I do know this shop's work. And I know the bridge saddles the current owner's dad made for my P-Bass have lasted 20 years.

Again, though--custom work is a last ditch effort. If I can find an off-the-shelf solution, I'm going with that.

Was hoping for a more "off-the-shelf" solution. I've a local machine shop I can hit up if it comes to getting a custom piece made--can take my guitar in to her, she can do the measurements on site to make sure it's a fit and there's no error at all (because let's face it--I will screw it up some how).

May can even talk her into doing the engraving on it (oh yes, engraving). Still, of-the-shelf solution first, because they're cheaper. Much. Much, cheaper.

So I'm about to start the upgrading process on thsi guitar, and one of the things I want for it is a bridge cover. Anyone know of any that'll fit it? I've googled it and can't seem to find a straight answer. I don't know the Fender "ashtray" style will, if they could, that'd be epic, so if anyone has any info on this subject, that'd be great!

That's the thing, the songs I picked are all just acoustic pieces (or intros) that if played properly should sound the same regardless of if I'm playing it from a CD, YouTube, Tapedeck, Record, or on one of my guitars.

That's the part that gets me. But eh, it's whatever. If I'm out and about and a song comes on I need to know what it is, I just google "What song is playing right now" and let Google do the work for me, no need to download an app.

There are so many subgenres of rock already, from Rockabilly (rock/bluegrass/countryish), to desert rock (sort of a blend of sludge metal and punk that came out of California in the mid 90s), and everything in between. You've got Alt Rock, Rap Rock, Digital Rock, Electronic Rock, Math Rock, Chaphop, Barbershop Rock...

Pretty sure whatever your looking for already has a genre associated with it. Just a matter of figuring out what one.

So... Shipping hit a massive snag. Supposedly DHL handed it off to the Post, who was supposed to handle the last leg. Unfortunately, the Post doesn't service my address, as I lack a box at my physical address. So they marked it RTS.

I've spent the past three days on the phone between DHL Customer Service and the USPS trying to track down my guitar, find out where it is, and see just when the hells it may possibly show up.

I've also contacted the seller and requested a shipping refund. No dice.

So the review may be a bit... well, delayed.

So these apps say "You can sing or hum to find the song in your head!" or somesuchsillynessasallthat. Well, I had a riff stuck in my head. Acoustic guitar. So's I says to myself "Hey, idiot, if you can sing or hum or play the radio, sure as peaches is poison you can play the guitar for it, right?"

WRONG.

No dice. I even tried Stairway, Dust in the Wind, and Sweet Home Alabama as controls. No bloody dice.

Point of this thread? To find out if anyone else had better luck with 'em than I did. Cause as it stands right now, they're not worth the data it took to download them. Though it was fun playing around to see if I could get them to recognize a tune. So far, nothing I've played has been recognized.

Oh, by the way, after playing it over and over, I remembered the riff--It's Stan Rogers, Mary Ellen Carter.

Well right now, tracking says it's been delayed until Wednesday. I'm going to assume something happened with the transfer across the Atlantic. That bums me out royal, but does give me more time to play with my shiny new Firefly Tele.

Anyroad, right now plan is as I said, fit, finish, setup out of the box, how long it takes me to give it a proper set up, how solid it's put together, how well it plays, how well it sounds...

I am no virtuoso player, though. I'm the Mediocre Musician. The Just Good Guitarist. So don't expect shredilicious licks. Plus, recovering from surgery on my pickin' hand, so bit slow at the mo.

Well, since it's been brought back from the dead, I'm'a throw my two pence in as a former salesman and occasional instructor of the absolute basics:

Budget guitars are better now than they've ever been before. You can get a kickass budget guitar for under $200 that absolutely rocks. I just snagged a Firefly FFTH Telecaster Thinline knockoff, that thing wails. The MSRP is $130. You can find 'em for that sometimes, but usually they're marked up a bit because people buy 'em then resell 'em to the people who really want 'em.

But seriously, the quality of budget guitars today is not what it was back in even the early 2000s. So yeah. You've basically got your choice of a lot of decent instruments for not a lot of dosh.

As to amps, the Vox Pathfinder 15R is about the best damn practice amp that's ever been invented. Not only that, it's a pretty fine gigging amp as well. Hell, if it's good enough for Feist to use on tour...

I actually (foolishly) sold a load of my comics back in the late 90s when I was in on furlough. Used the money to buy instruments back in Africa. Now some of those comics would be worth loads. shrug I used to really get into Marvel in a big big way. Not so much in recent years. Mostly been trying to focus on music when I have the time and the depression isn't soulcrushing to a degree I can actually record.

Speaking of, I've placed an order for a Firefly FFTH Telecaster knockoff, and a Kiso-Suzuki MR-150 Mandolin. The Midnight Wine Tele I wanted was sold out, which sucks and makes me sad. But I need a Tele style guitar, and Firefly has been getting rave bloody reviews on the YouTubes.

What this effectively means is that over the next 10 days I'll be taking delivery of a double neck, a mandolin, and a Tele knockoff. I really hope I can start tracking for this song I've had in my head since last August around this time, when Mary Spender posted a picture and some tool made a most predictable comment proposing to her (yes, she is gorgeous, don't misunderstand me). That comment actually inspired the entire song, lyrics and all popped fully formed. I just have to have the wherewithal to actually record it. And this past month that's proven difficult.

Still, new instruments always inspire at least a little time in the DAW, so I'll use that to my advantage.

In case people want to know, I got the BLUE Firefly. It looks the best of the colours for it in my opinion.

Our current count stands at a little over 1200. Have read most of. My Tolkien collection has many duplicate titles, but different editions (for instance, I have somewhere around 15 different editions of Lord of the Rings, 4 copies of the Hobbit (including a reissue of the First Edition), and nearly every edition released of Silmarillion).

The spouse also really gets into Manga, which if we include in the count puts it over 2000.

I need to build another recessed shelving system, but I'm waiting on A) if I'm renovating, or 2) moving.

My spouse and I are both avid readers (former librarian here), so there's really no argument about blowing as much (or more) money on books and shelving (I generally build it myself, Ikea sucks).

And they're also the kind of person who this year has basically let me run hogwild on buying gear. This year alone I've got a new to me Strat, Jazz Bass, the Kay acoustic, my Arturia Synth, and I ordered that el-chepo Double Neck. I'm about to order a Firefly Tele, since all the Midnight Wine Fenders are sold out everywhere. Which just SUCKS (ok, so there's an American Fender on Reverb, but it's more than I'm willing to pay).

Bit the bullet, ordered one. Was right at £300 with DHL freight costs. Not terrible. I got the SG Knockoff, which is the most expensive model. Just not too keen on the others.

Sure, I could have killed two birds and got the Tele and used that, but eh...

Anyroad, according to shipping, assuming no delays because of The Plague, I should have my new toy by Thursday, Friday, or Monday. If Thursday, that gives me the entire weekend to play with it (even with my hand being bork'd), and figure out if it's worth the dosh I laid out for it.

If Monday, then I'll take the week to figure it all out.

Point is, there exists zero reviews of this instrument/brand anywhere, and I aim to fix that. I am a fairly unbiased reviewer--but I also will be taking into account that it's £300 shipped DHL. And DHL is good freight. Like, the best shipping (IMHO). So. All that being said, those who give an arse's rat about such things, watch this space, and I'll be providing a fullblown, in depth review of the instrument for fit, finish, quality, as well as providing sound samples direct into DAW, and mic'd through my Vox Pathfinder 15R.

If there's anything specific you'd like me to review about it, let me know in this thread, and I will do my best to make it happen!

Don't have one yet. Need one for the lead in this song. Going to be running it through my Orange Amp simulation. The Strat goes through the AC30, the Tele goes through the Orange, and the Fretless J gets DI'd into this lovely tube preamp I have that I can shape the tone to almost what Bruce Hornsby has on "The Way it Is" for the bass in that.

I know exactly how each instrument has to sound for it, and how the vocals have to go. It's very particular. Rare that a song that fully formed pops in my head--even rarer that one pops in with all the lyrics with it as well!

I'm just glad the SO said "Sure, you can buy whatever you need to make it happen, just get me a laptop!"

Quite happy with my spouse. 13 years now, they've stood by me through all the ups, downs, ins, and outs. Absolute stone cold stunner they are, have to wear their ring every day at work or they get hit on by everyone of both genders.

And I'll just leave it as "I'm a very happy man" as far as my romance life is concerned. Only issue we really have is they're not a musician, and we occasionally butt heads on what music to listen to. They sometimes enjoy top 40 saccharine pop garbage, and I can't bloody stand it. I very much enjoy my jazz, prog, and blues in the style of Mary Spender, and they're not so keen on that.

Plus, they're the only person I know who can handle my health issues. And that's a big deal.

I'll keep an eye out. Likely going to be trying to lay hands on an Tele for now though (like I pointed out in the other thread). I've got this song in my head, see, and it needs a Tele.

Also, that'll give me a bit of extra dosh to get one of those Gear4Music Double Necks I asked after a few weeks back. I'll give a full review of it after I've played it a few weeks.

Kay Thin Twin... My main acoustic is a Kay KDG-70, that baby fairly sings, mate. I swear, it's the most magical acoustic I've ever played. I'm not kidding--it's... It's something else. Otherworldly, even. So I'll be keeping an eye for that for sure.

If I know the people, I'm good. They all know me, know my quirks, and actually have a grand ol' time ripping on me about certain things (one mate loves getting me worked up calling a bass a "4 string guitar"). I just don't do well with strangers/in large groups.

In fact... If a food joint has too many people, I will leave. Just not comfortable. Can't do movies on opening night for the same reason. Too many people, I freak out, panic attack, and no amount of Dream Theater will calm me down.

my wife was so bipolar she's dead now

I'm the one with BPD1 in the family here. BPD1, PTSD (I grew up in Darfur... yeah, that Darfur), ADHD, and have Asperger's (DSM V rolled it into ASD). There's a few other alphabet soup disorders in there, but I've learned to live with 'em, rather than "I suffer from," know whta I mean?

Great thing about my ASD, it seems to benefit me as a musician. Downside to my ASD? I'm not so great at the socializing in person. Interwebz? I have time to think and process, so I can do a bit better. Either or, I don't suffer from or struggle with any of my mental health issues. I live with them, and while the Black Dog is an ever preseant bitch waiting to tear my throat out (some days closer than others), I keep going. And I hope that in my living with them, and moving forward through what I have, I can offer a bit of hope to others who may not have got out of the "Struggling with" stage yet.

Or something deep and philosophical sounding like that. nods sagely I'm like fuckin' Plato, dudes!