So what frivolous things have you bought lately? Why?

MartytheMartian

MartytheMartian

Legendary Knight
Oh dear @Scrappy and so it begins. I have one of those Vox valvetronix outfits. I think mine is a VT40 but I can't remember and it's been at the back of the cupboard under my stairs for about a year as I've not been playing much and, when I do I use a wee ten watt valve head into a 4x10 cab that I have up in the bedroom. Ten watts of valve power into a 4x10 cab is bloody deafening in the house and, if I want to use my 50W head I need to keep it turned all the way down or I am guessing cracks would appear in the walls!

I found the Valvetronix to be a great wee amp and used mine for playing when I was in the living room although I tended to feed a Zoom effects unit into mine rather than monkeying about with the onboard effects. The Fender Jazz King isn't an amp I'm familiar with. I take it you bought it for playing Jazz? I really much prefer valves for my sounds as there is absolutely something warm and fuzzy rather than dry and crispy about their sound.

For myself I'm waiting on an old, but looks pristine, Boosey and Hawkes Regent in silver plate to arrive which will bring my trumpet total to six so far. I am always keeping my eyes peeled for cheap classic and vintage trumpets online these days, particularly art deco ones. I'm also trying to find a good, genuine rather than ornamental crappy fake, bugle on the cheap. @Sarky B’stard you wouldn't have any contacts for cheap, fell off the back of an army lorry, bugles by any chance?
 
Scrappy

Scrappy

Legendary Knight
My Vox is a VT20+ I got that for the ease that it can mimic various other amp models, and because I like the warmer sound it has compared to other similar modelling amps. Not that I know much about amps, but I'm impressed with it so far.
The Jazz King is basically just a simple clean sounding amp, although its named as a jazz amp it apparently is a good platform if you prefer your effects using pedals. I got it for its simplicity and because I like clean sounding guitar... and because I think it was a bit of a bargain 🙂

So currently I'm at the "all the gear no idea" stage 😂, but working though some online tutorials and may look to get proper lessons in a few weeks 🤔
 
Scrappy

Scrappy

Legendary Knight
MartytheMartian said:
For myself I'm waiting on an old, but looks pristine, Boosey and Hawkes Regent in silver plate to arrive which will bring my trumpet total to six so far. I am always keeping my eyes peeled for cheap classic and vintage trumpets online these days, particularly art deco ones. I'm also trying to find a good, genuine rather than ornamental crappy fake, bugle on the cheap.
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I'd be interested in seeing your trumpet (and other instruments) collection, it would be good if you post some pics when you have time Marty (y)
 
chas

chas

Legendary Knight
Capt. Drunkey said:
Nothing but a good sounding guitar but my frivolous music equipment looks more like this 😉 :

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I always was one for turning knobs and flipping switches 😜
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I haven't seen a 'patch lead' synth for a long while :D

For my own GAS I'd like to try a similar setup to @MartytheMartian 's rig with a low output valve amp that you can make 'sweat' through a 2x12. I sold my last valve amp as it was a 120w Peavey twin combo (similar to the amps that Skynyrd used on the road) but you needed to have it hot, at least 50% headroom to get the tone. And then it was too fucking loud this side of an auditorium.

I'm mystified about the cause of my tinnitus incidentally :D
 
MartytheMartian

MartytheMartian

Legendary Knight
I shall endeavour to take some photos of my musical instrument collection @Scrappy and post them up. At the moment I am running at twenty odd guitars although some of them are in the attic and not really of much interest or value, four banjo's, five set's of bagpipes, a fiddle I had made for me, a cheap bass, cheap flute, cheap clarinet, the previously mentioned six trumpets and a trombone. I also have a handful of old penny whistles and odd old basic wooden fife's around somewhere oh and a Bodhran. I would love to live in a fairly comprehensive music shop as I love to tinker with most musical instruments although I have to admit that Electronic music, piano and drums have never really held much attraction for me.

In the past I had Soprano, Alto and Tenor Saxophones, numerous Clarinets, numerous Violins and Viola's, a Double Bass, Cornets, Trombones and I couldn't even begin to count how many guitars have passed through my hands.
 
Capt. Drunkey

Capt. Drunkey

King Of The Schnitzelwiesels
chas said:
I haven't seen a 'patch lead' synth for a long while
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I started my modular journey about 2 years ago when I read an article about Don Buchla and his different approach to electronic soundscapes; especially when compared to Bob Moog‘s philosophy. They call them the Eastcoast and Westcoast approach and I have to admit, that I like them both.
In Buchla’s world, the factors uncertainty and randomness play an important role while the performer still is in control of the system.

Lots of folks wouldn’t call all this ‘music’ anyway. And to me, it is not important whatever anyone calls it.
Literally getting lost in these complex machines is what recently keeps my brain (and me) alive. 🙂
 
Scrappy

Scrappy

Legendary Knight
Capt. Drunkey said:
I started my modular journey about 2 years ago when I read an article about Don Buchla and his different approach to electronic soundscapes; especially when compared to Bob Moog‘s philosophy. They call them the Eastcoast and Westcoast approach and I have to admit, that I like them both.
In Buchla’s world, the factors uncertainty and randomness play an important role while the performer still is in control of the system.

Lots of folks wouldn’t call all this ‘music’ anyway. And to me, it is not important whatever anyone calls it.
Literally getting lost in these complex machines is what recently keeps my brain (and me) alive. 🙂
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Very impressive kit (y), just looking at it makes my feeble brain hurt 😵‍💫
 
GaleForceEight

GaleForceEight

Legendary Knight
Scrappy said:
As @Capt. Drunkey predicted GAS has set in, I've Just bought a huge amp ;)

View attachment 13671






Well not so huge, but pretty loud at 140w with a 15" speaker

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I have just repaired two of my speakers, replaced an amp modules on one of my RCF Art712a and DIY repaired the amp modules on one of my Art710a. Picking up another two speakers later today, RCF Art745a which with 15 inch diaphragms and 4 inch voice coils will become my primary FOH delivery system for the evening parties.

My complete sound system will now comprise of 2 each of RCF 745a, HD32a, 712a, 710a, and 702as
So total wattage potential is 7000 watts RMS (14000 watts peak). I do need to cater for audiences of up to around 2500 people though; and I give my speakers an easy time of it (I tend to run them at just over half capacity, and place more speakers so the venues are filled without deafening the people at the front!). If I needed to I could fill a far larger venue than we use just by turning them up a touch. I do have a couple of 150 watt stage monitors by Behringer. They aren't expensive but with Behringer you get a lot of functionality for the money.
 
GaleForceEight

GaleForceEight

Legendary Knight
Don the Don said:
Lucky they did not want you to play the piano
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piano.jpg
My thoughts exactly.

Then again wind instruments could be as scary.
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