View Full Version : Guitarists: (Sypathy Required)
Mooster7
31 Jul 2002, 13:01
There are a lot of really good amplifier brands on the market. For me though, there is only one - Marshall. What's more, the Marshall JCM 800 series. To that end I have two. A 100 watt stack, and a 50 watt combo.
In all honesty, the combo is all I need. I can play any pub venue in Kansas City with it, but sometimes it's about looking cool. Standing in front of a stack which is taller and wider than you has more audience power than the amp itself. In fairness, you could mic the combo, run it through a PA and play the MCG. You would still take the stack for that.
At any rate, I was playing out a few months ago, was wheeling one of the stack cabinets, ran over a concrete lip and broke one of the wheels off. Haven't fixed it yet. I've been playing through my (more than adequate) combo.
So just the other day, I was playing at home. I went for a beer and leaned my guitar against the couch. My cat was chasing after something imaginary, bumped the guitar and tipped it over. The headstock of the guitar ripped through the frontal fabric, and ruptured the speaker. :mad: :( :(
The Celestion speaker inside isn't a cheap one to begin with. However, finding an older one which will give it the perfect JCM 800 sound will not only be difficult, it will be even more expensive. Even after I get it fixed, I'm sure my ears will play tricks and it will never sound "right" again.
At the moment, I am without an amp. And once I fix them, one of them won't ever be the same. Sorry for the self-indulgent horror story, but I needed to vent it out. Before this thread sinks into obscurity on page eleven, I'll gladly hear the sympathy of the guitarists (and anyone else). ;) Peace,
Mooster
Rusty Brookes
31 Jul 2002, 13:07
I had a great little Fender speaker box for playing bass (using either a Fender Bassman head or my fave the Marshall 100 watt). I came home from rehearsal one night and having parked the car a mere 3 metres away from my bedroom window decided to leave it in there till the next morning. Woke up 6 hours later and found out some bastard had broken into the car and stolen it. I was playing in Sydney that weekend. I has to take a morning off work to report it to the coppers and buy myself a replacement-a Peavey box which is OK but I miss the old Fender box.
Sh*tty luck guys!
Is your cat limping around with a caved in arse now Mooster?
I aint no shredder, but i respect the Marshall! I've played with a heap of guitarists over the year, but i always get excited when whoever it is i'm playing with loads into the room with a Marshall!! That gets them a certain amount of respect straight away!
As far as horrow stories go, a coupla years ago i was playing a residency at the old Razor Back Bar in Frankston, Vic (now an Irish pub.. and yes, it really was called that!!). Gig was finished and i was loading out. Had a Chad Smith signature series Pearl snare which was just a beautiful drum. Anyway, was moving my stuff to the front of the stage, turned around with my back facing the stage to pick up more gear, turned around and my snare was gone in a flash. Some muthaf*cka had swiped it!
Very dark.
A year or so later, different venue, same deal. Gig finished, Packing up and about to load out and got my whole cymbal case pinched, packed with Sabian AA's and AAX's (14" Hats, 20" ride, 17", 18", 19" crashs, 18" China and 2 10" splashes) All up about 3 and a half grand's worth stolen. Only recently finished replacing it all (and am now insured!!).
I feel your pain Brooksie!
Rusty Brookes
31 Jul 2002, 15:01
Getting equipment nicked while loading out????? My God, remind me never to play a gig in Frankston.
Like Carlos, I've insured all my gear now.
Briedis
31 Jul 2002, 16:34
Originally posted by Carlos
A year or so later, different venue, same deal. Gig finished, Packing up and about to load out and got my whole cymbal case pinched, packed with Sabian AA's and AAX's (14" Hats, 20" ride, 17", 18", 19" crashs, 18" China and 2 10" splashes) All up about 3 and a half grand's worth stolen. Only recently finished replacing it all (and am now insured!!).
Man, that sucks! No wonder you hate Frankston so much!
Stealth bomber
31 Jul 2002, 17:01
Carlos gets my sympathy, being a fellow skin-basher. Not that you don't Mooster, because as any muso knows, we have an expensive habit regardless of our instrument.
But Carlos story is especially worrying because I have some Zildjians that I brought over with me and I have just started playing gigs with them. I had forgotten how staggeringly expensive Zildjians were down here until I went into Billy Hydes yesterday to buy myself some hardware. $500, $600, $700 for hi-hats; I couldn't believe it.
I assume they have to be imported? If so, then I would guess not a lot of drummers in Melbourne have them, and so I should probably be extra protective of them.
Originally posted by Stealth bomber
...because I have some Zildjians that I brought over with me and I have just started playing gigs with them. I had forgotten how staggeringly expensive Zildjians were down here until I went into Billy Hydes yesterday to buy myself some hardware. $500, $600, $700 for hi-hats; I couldn't believe it.
I assume they have to be imported? If so, then I would guess not a lot of drummers in Melbourne have them, and so I should probably be extra protective of them.
Hey Stealth!
I'm hearing ya! The price of cymbals is bullsh*t these days!
I'm now lucky enough to have an endorsement through DrumTek in Northcote (High Street) and they are awesome for Sabian and Ziljian. You will probably get Sabian cheaper as they are a distributor for them but they are champion guys who have the best deals in Melbourne when it comes to drum gear.
Billy Hydes are great if you are after Paiste (dunno why you wouyld but whatever gets ya through!!) as they are one of Australia's main distributors for them, but not much good for anything else!
I'll try and find out who the main distributor for Ziljian is. I'm pretty sure its the Electric Factory.
gPhonque
31 Jul 2002, 18:41
Never NEVER EVER leave gear in your car!!!!!!!!!
It took somebody elses car being broken into out the front of my house for me to realise that i shouldn't do it!
Just on that story, my friend had parked his car out the front of my house one night (Carlos - you'll find this even more amusing.....i'm talking about John....) and had TWO bass heads (an Ampeg and a Fender from memory), his Ampeg speaker box, a bag of effects/leads/etc, and his bass (maybe 2 basses, i can't remember) in the boot of his car. He came over at about 11pm, and when he was leaving at about 3am, he noticed one of his rear-door windows had been taken out.
Luckily, all they took was the slab of beer on the back seat.
My friend liked beer. He wasn't happy. lol
Bad luck guys about your losses/damage. I'm sure we all know a billion simlar stories. In fact, Mooster's story reminded me of the friend who accidentally snapped the head off his beautiful old Les Paul one night....... (d'oh!)
Mooster7
31 Jul 2002, 18:57
Originally posted by gPhonque
the friend who accidentally snapped the head off his beautiful old Les Paul one night....... (d'oh!)
That exact thing happened to my Les Paul & my SG. That's why I play Strats these days. BTW, after the incident with the amp, the Strat in question wasn't even out of tune let alone broken in any way.
I appreciate everyone sharing their horror stories. Makes things better. I've never had anything of value stolen...yet. I've had people get stealthy and swipe picks taped to the side of my amp between sets. Now I bring extra picks and leave a sign, "Free, take one." Sorry to hear some of you have had high-end gear ciped.
Peace all, :)
Originally posted by Mooster7
That exact thing happened to my Les Paul & my SG. That's why I play Strats these days. BTW, after the incident with the amp, the Strat in question wasn't even out of tune let alone broken in any way.
SG's always were prone to the neck snapping/cracking where the headstock meets the neck. Les Pauls in my experience never really suffered from that problem. I used to have an old '62 SG shaped Les Paul and it finally succumbed to the crack.....it was never the same after that even tho' the luthier I took it to was the best in the business.
Otoh, the CBS strats that only had 3 screws in the heel were also a pain what with neck movement. Always use a strat with 4 screws I say for stability.
As for Marshals, my first Marshall was one of the one's that The Who discarded after their 67/68 Tour of Australia (white plexiglass in the rear). It was suitably rooted.....the guy who bought it from me for $200 in '74 had the guts completely rebuilt and then it "sung".
My Marshall that is gathering dust in my music room is a 9000 series rack amp and separate preamp that runs in stereo with two half stack boxes....sounds great (most people who have heard it cream their jeans *grin*).
Savatage
31 Jul 2002, 21:45
Got my beautiful Marshall combo back after taking it in just for a bit of regulation servicing, you know- check if everything's running well etc.
Get it back, 2 of the volume pots are bent, virtually broken. No big deal.
I play through it, after a few minutes the sound just DISAPPEARS!
My gorgeous amp is ****ed thanks to that bastard **** mongrel pig!
Hey stealth, is that the billy hydes on mt alexander rd?
They have some good **** in there. Recently got an acoustic from em'.
Stealth bomber
1 Aug 2002, 01:38
Yep, Mt. Alexander Rd.
I'm happy with the drum selection there; especially on the Drum Workshop drums. It looks like the prices have really come down on the DW's, so when the time comes I may have to get myself one of those (ultimately I want a set of DWs, and if I go anywhere in this industry I'm getting some) so I've kept it in the back of my mind.
But it is not a good place to buy cymbals though. I think if I go anywhere in the business that I ought make a point of it to get them back home, whenever I can, because $700 for a pair of hi-hats is ridiculous. You can buy an entire kit for twice that!
I love there acoustic room. I'd love to work there.
If only I could play. :(
Originally posted by gPhonque
Luckily, all they took was the slab of beer on the back seat.
My friend liked beer. He wasn't happy. lol
I dunno whats funnier: the fact they only took his beer or the fact that i know John would have probably been equally as cut about them stealing his grog than he would have been if they had taken his gear!!
And John likes beer? That is the biggest understatement i've read on this site!!
Savatage
1 Aug 2002, 20:33
Originally posted by Carlos
I'll try and find out who the main distributor for Ziljian is. I'm pretty sure its the Electric Factory.
Think it's music link.
gPhonque
2 Aug 2002, 00:07
Originally posted by Carlos
I dunno whats funnier: the fact they only took his beer or the fact that i know John would have probably been equally as cut about them stealing his grog than he would have been if they had taken his gear!!
And John likes beer? That is the biggest understatement i've read on this site!!
It was all funny.
You don't take John's beer.
Originally posted by Carlos
Hey Stealth!
I'm hearing ya! The price of cymbals is bullsh*t these days!
I'm now lucky enough to have an endorsement through DrumTek in Northcote (High Street) and they are awesome for Sabian and Ziljian. You will probably get Sabian cheaper as they are a distributor for them but they are champion guys who have the best deals in Melbourne when it comes to drum gear.
Billy Hydes are great if you are after Paiste (dunno why you wouyld but whatever gets ya through!!) as they are one of Australia's main distributors for them, but not much good for anything else!
I'll try and find out who the main distributor for Ziljian is. I'm pretty sure its the Electric Factory.
Nice plug Carlos!