The What's Pi$$Ing You Off Thread

[Guest XR09]

Oh and now for my mini rage

Could be a long one so grab a cuppa. Even if your not into music, I am sure you can relate.

I started late....like eight years ago. Had a little nylon Yamaha for a year. Got no where and told myself to buy a good one and get lessons or give up.

Bought a Washburn WD32SCE. And fell in love. Never got the lessons lol. But can hide in the background and play ok.

Always loved the acoustic, unplugged sound. Bought a Kustom KAA16 and retroed some LR Baggs active pick ups into the Washy. If you want a great unplugged sound this set up is brilliant, and maybe some change from $1,500 of you shop well.

The Kustom makes a great vocals, harp or piano amp too.

I was never going to go the electric route. I really wanted to perfect the acoustic and do prefer the sound.

Anywho life and it's twists.

I don't have many people I call close mates. I expect a lot from mates like that. Total trust being one. And not just the truth, but yeah having your back...or maybe just being plain mad a s me and knowing they wont quit.

So one mate like this, a lifer....have been close for twenty eight years. Well he was a roller and then lost it all. Wife, Porsche and penthouses gone.

He's my mate because he has nuts and make me laugh...while yes I loved when we played his lifestyle, but best laughs were over a beer anywhere.

I helped him out mentally and financially while he was down. If I give a mate money it's give. I don't loan mates money. Even if they say that's what it is.

If you get it back then beawty. It's not worth losing a good mate over.

So he is back on his feet and looking like he is going to kick another goal. I'm pretty happy for him. He has done it all off his own bat. His family has a fair bit and he has never dipped. A good bloke.

He has been trying to give me the last five G back for a while. I know he is still living with his bro so I haven't taken it.

He use to play Guitar many many years ago.`Played in a few bands as a kid and was pretty bloody good. I always loved his guitar. Nothing else sounds like it.

An Original 59 Gibson Les Paul custom with triple pick ups.

For the last fourteen years it has been in it's hard case. And it's hard case wrapped in plastic. And it is still not opened.

And he has given it to me ? Cause I wont take the last five G

I'm not sure what they are worth. But I know when he was young and playing it guys had offered 8G for it. I'm pretty stoked and will never sell it. Not into money, not when you have something like that. History, art, science and function.

He's flying up with it in nine more sleeps...still unwrapped.

Like I said I haven't played , most of the others I jam with do. But little old washy and Kustom smash out a nice rhythm and I hang in the back like I'm meant too.

I got's to thinking I will play the Gibson. But no way would I take it to a beer swilling jam session. And all the sessions I go too are beer swilling.

So I made a few calls and ended up with a Epiphone LP STD, two years old and $300

One of the reasons I didn't want to get into an electric guitar is the cost, and all the sh*t you need or end up with.

So now I needed another amp. And or some pedals.

I tried the Epi through the Kustom...not bad, btu in my house you couldn't stress the amp anywhere near enough to get a decent sound. And stressing the guitar just gave mud not muddy.

So today I went out to buy an amp....for non musicians think buying toothpaste. So many types sizes kinds sounds. $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

I live in a small flat. Most jams are at mates houses with no sound rooms and I will never make a cent playing guitar.

Bloody hell I was in the shop for three hours. Luckily about the only customer in that time. And I taught and licensed the guy that owns the shop...so yeah they were really helpful and let me try anything I wanted.

So the line of thought was a practice amp... A good one.

The three top runners were

The Fender mustang I.

The clears were great, but made the Epi sound cheap. Fuse is great but I'm not lugging my laptop to parties. TBH it did everything well. But think it needs a better guitar than mine.Or maybe a Fender?

The Vox V20.

I loved this and it was the one I was taking. It's more of a party machine than a guitar amp for mine. My worry was things going wrong. It's really complicated but when you know it not that hard or long to set up. It does have the nice milky Vox tones and really gets down when you need it. It's not ever as hard as the fender. Maybe the creamier sound. The fender is sharp. The V20 suited the LP for sure.

The Roland Cube20

I liked this thing. It looked tough. It was farken loud. It rocked.

And it hissed and hummed. It was easy and it was basic. And it was dearer than the V20

All could be had for $160 the most

Out of the corner of my eye while testing all these amps I kept seeing a bloody kitch..white little box. Finaly I asked Al...WTF is that. It had Vox on the screen.I thought it was some kitch trendy little amp.

Well Brett it is a trendy little amp. Has been since 61.... Now why did he have to go and say that. I was born in 61.

Howmucheeeezit?

$400

To Me ??

Let me think about it. Why don't you go plug it in....

If an amp is well, almost three times you budget...don't go and play it. It's that simple isn't it?

The three above were 50% over budget...I can live with that....I'm not good at self control with my toys.

The V20 was so complicated. Maybe 33 amp styles, had to be fifteen buttons and fifty lights. Awwww pretty. Don't get me wrong it is a good machine. The different sounds just in the different amp modes is amazing.

This little white sh*t box has a tone knob. A volume knob and a wattage selector switch. Oh and a little chrome flick switch for power and one little LED light for on.

Oh and it only has 4 watts.

I put it on the lowest setting first... that would be 1/4 of a watt. I kid you not. Set the volume at 8 oclock. say 2

I rolled up the rhythm volume to 1/2 on my guitar. The uglier of the pick ups on my guitar.

Set the tone to a qtr Rolled an A and holly muther of god............

I was looking for a nice cleaning sound. Hoping my guitar didn't fall through like a drunk elephant...lol It's actually pretty good. Got a heap of sustain in it.

I fell in love. My poor little Ephi went from crusty and tired to a smooth talking young man. The amp is a Vox AC4TV

I played with the tone and volumes between the amp and guitar. While I cant say it has the range of the digital amps. It has its own sound and it can stretch that sound very well. The old way.

Got to luv the tube.

So I walked with it new and the last one...the shelf one. For $300. Three times what I wanted to pay and twice the price of the fun and games amps.

I raced home with my little heart pounding. I had been bad. I spent way too much. But I only have to answer to me.

Kicked the door in. Mulled up and plugged it in.

I sat there for a few minutes stage struck. I had no idea what to play.

Had already played jelly legs and that sold it.

Double dropped D and started picking Going to California. Thought it might be a good test for the clarity..clear

It was sounding pretty dam good and the money worry was evaporating faster than my house fund..lol. Actually was going to buy a banjo.

And the phone rang. Grrr, but it might have been the kids so I got up.

Freeken telly mutherseller. Just smashed the phone down.

Blew some more bubbles and sat back down.....nothing.

Lights on? leads in? Volumes? mmmmmm

New lead?

Another guitar?

Other amp and everything you have tried works.

One more plug in and try of everything because you cant believe this is happening.

Ring ring.

Hello Al.

Yes?

Farkenrottenfarken bloody stupid tubes friggen machine.

Hang on.

sh*t mate at least a week before I can get another one of those. Bring it in and will have a look at it.

Sob cry sob poor me

Ok bring in your Ephi and I will set it for you on the house.

sob sob so nice but I'm so lonely without an amp

Ok bring it back and I can have a Ibanez 5 watt tube screamer here Friday.

Buying an amp is a very personal and mind farking experience. Especially for someone like me who isn't labeled.

Any guitar heads out there that can really save this quandary for me.

I cant go back to a normal amp now. And I haven't played the Ibanez.

For the guitar I have and the one I am getting I think the Vox has the sound. Not having heard the Ibanez but from Al it leans way more towards a Fender/Marshal amp than a Vox.

Or will I love the LP more with the more punchier style of amp. Oh and $300 is it. no more cash

[Dagabond]

Trying to scroll past XR09's posts....

[bossmang]

did you copy and paste that from somewhere

who has the time to type up that much lol

[Shyfrd]

Lol fun fun it sounds like. Or not so much for the next wk haha. If you love the one you had and it stuffed up, wait for a replacement/fix whatever's cheapest. Played the Lisa Simpson in school for 2yrs, lost interest lol so nothing near as good as what you play. Always wanted to learn geetar or drums. Best mate is a freak drummer. 5 figure $$$$$ gretsch drum set. Looks sweet all set up. Hats set up above/behind his head. Then he has all his trick hand moves between hits on the drums lol. Love watching him play, doesn't play often now as it hurts his back after awhile.

Love music, go crazy without it each day. Always had respect for a good guitarist and can sing. Too much thinking to do for me I reckon haha. Put up some pics of your collections man

[Ciaran]

waaaaay tl;dr

[Paulie2256]

+1

[Mrs Jeturbo]

did not read anything above 2256

Edited 04/09/12 02:16 PM by Princess Fluffy

[The Outsider]

read and enjoyed, I love music, dont playing anything but would love to learn guitar or bass.

I see you started later on, so maybe there is hope for me yet.

I can really appreciate the whole feeling attached to the amp, im the same with bikes.

some ppl will never understand and they are the ones losing out.

[Pazzo]

The wisdom tooth that's keeping me awake this time of the morning.

[XR6menace]

Microsoft telling me my hotmail account has been hacked and all the stupid ways it wants me to verify who I am screams of scam .. how do I fix this?

Virus scan didnt pick up anything ??

I cant access my e-mails :(