Guitar

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TC Electronic Nova System In front or in the loop?

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Here is a short video on the TC Electronic Nova System, explaining the differences between using it front of an amp, or in the loop. I get asked this question quite a lot, so I thought I would put together a little video explaining the differences between each, but at the end of day, it comes down to you as a player and the sound you are after as to where you place it. Or you could just get two Nova Systems, as I mentioned in this post and it is still cheaper that a G-System! PeaceNeil

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Ibanez RG550 White - 25 Years on

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Well christmas is the time to spend with loved ones, and I was fortunate to spend mine with one of my most precious things (children!).....my Ibanez RG550 WH, which I have owned since 1988! It wasn't my first guitar, but it was my first 'proper' guitar, and I do love it more than anything! I am aware that I have butchered it by removing the original paintwork, but that is a long story. After playing my original guitar, which was a dubious Strat copy, but equally important as I know what effort and struggle went into my mother purchasing it for me, but two years in and with the influence of Satch and Vai and just how f*****g cool Ibanez guitars looked when compared to Fender's and Gibsons, I knew it was the one for me....well kind of. I was also a massive fan of Iron Maiden's Adrian Smith, and he had a white guitar and he played it on Stranger in a Strange Land....and that was cool. Anyway, I did briefly look at getting a BC Rich Warlock (thankfully sense kicked in, plus you couldn't play it sitting down!), but after saving my pocket money for years, and with a little help from my mum, the RG arrived, and I was instantly in love, a love which is still the same today as it was then! I am not ashamed to admit that I have fallen asleep holding his guitar, we have been through so many gigs together over the years, good ones, bad ones, one where guns were fired, strippers and cream, ho downs, Blues Brother tributes, originals bands, metal bands, funk bands, soul bands, school bands..and I think it shows a little bit on the neck, I think it really needs some TLC, and it will get it!Ibanez RG550 White 1998 NeckSo why did I strip the paintwork? Well, firstly as an idiot I thought it would be cool to write on it with marker pen (ala Joe Satriani and Tom Morello), but i am a s**t artist! So that was really bad, and also Nuno Bettencourt at that point in time was becoming one of my favourite players (funk and metal combined...now that is where I am coming from!) and he had an natural guitar....and I thought...cool. But at the same time I was studying for my degree in Acoustics, and we had a module on musical acoustics and I was fascinated about the natural resonances of wood and it's properties and how this affects the string. I do strongly feel that a cellulose paint drop dampens the natural resonance of the instrument and reduces it's tone, particular in the HF. I feel, in a more hippy sense, that the natural wood breathes and breathes life into every note, and this was my prime motivation behind stripping the the guitar....just which I had done a better job!!Ibanez RG550 White 1998 Neck WearSo why don't I currently play a natural finish guitar.....good question, well I am still waiting to find that dream guitar, I would probably love a Suhr or a Godin, but they are prohibitively expensive as a 'working' instrument, being thrown around at gigs etc. I am sure it will appear one day, and who knows, recently purchasing a Telecaster....maybe I am changing.....nah...Ibanez still RULE :)PeaceNeil

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Cornford Roadhouse 30 Combo Review

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Now this is an easy review as this is simply a most fantastic amp. I really, really love it, but I say that with a cavat or two. This amp sounds awesome and it has one of the most organic sound overdrives I have ever had the fortune to play. It feels like you really are connected to the sound coming out of the speaker, it is so responsive to your touch and you can so easily coax as note into the most glorious feedback and sustain.

The character of your guitar really shines through, the amp to me has a vocal like quality and the best thing I find is the boost function.

To quote Spinal Tap, it really does give you that push over the edge when you need it, but is a way you couldn't imagine, it adds a kind of velveteen shimmer to the sound and makes you want to play for ever.

So why is this not the top number one amp ever of all time?

Well, having said all that, it is kind of only really applicable to the rock/blues fraternity. Yes it does clean, but not much of it before you get a glorious break up tone, so if you want clean, then go back to Fender, if you want headroom get the 50 Watt and still probably go back to Fender. If breakup is your thing, then welcome aboard.

The open back cabinet seems to fill space gloriously, with real bass meet to the sound, the cabinet and speaker (Celestion V30) work in perfect harmony). Then when you kick in the boost, wow you are like a tone king. The is the first amp I have used at a gig where the other guys in the band went....wow that was awesome.

The amp also takes pedals really well, I used it in conjunction with a Rothwell Audio F1 Booster and this sounded fantastic. In effect creating three levels of boost, with the existing boost switch, giving crunch, distortion and lead tones.

So why don't I gig with it?

Well, the clean is an issue, I do need Fender cleans to cover the material I play with Groovething but it is not just that, it is a very heavy beast (especially when you live up stairs), and the cabinet is slightly deeper than most cabs, and that extra depth makes it difficult to carry over distances, side handles would have been very useful indeed.

Whilst, I love this amp very much and the mere thought of it makes me want to play through it, it saddens me to say I think it is primarily a one trick amp. If you need an amp to cover many bases, then perhaps you need to look else where. If you need an amp to do one thing and do it so so well, then check this baby out!!

Pros

  • For Blues/Rock, you would be hard pressed to find a better sounding amp (in this price range!)

  • It sounds amazing, and when you kick in the boost...wow!

  • Fantastically crafted and sensitive EQ section which is extremely responsive and well tied together

Cons

  • It is heavy (not Fender Twin heavy) but quite a bit when you live up three flights of stairs and as the cab is deeper than most combo cabs, it is a little tricky to lift over long distances.

  • It is a bit of a one trick pony (and it pains me to write that), the trick it does it does totally amazingly though

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Neil

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A new music video - California Gurls- Katy Perry (Live) - Groovething North West Party Band

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So here is a live version of Katy Perry's California Gurls from the recent Moon and Stars Charity ball in Cheshire. The great thing about playing in a function band is the variety of material you have cover. I have to say that this is actually quite enjoyable to play, and quite tricky as the original part is sampled and edited into place!Enjoyand if you are looking to book us then pop over and visit the website here.PeaceNeil