L.W. Badger
New member
Happier New Year everybody! Well after bustin' my hump day and night working around the Holiday Festivis facility closures....I got a chance on the last day of '09 to stop at a pawn shop to hopefully pick up a Laney 35 amp I've been eyeing.
Wouldn't you know it......it was literally sold a couple of hours earlier. The Mgr looked it up for me to verify how close it was....I've bought some gear from them and service their store......so he wasn't pulling my leg.....drats!!!!!
I should've put in on Lay-a-way when I first saw it......so much for Carpe Diem........
"you foreigners have no concept of the American system of credit" - Hunter S. Thompson
So slightly miffed at myself for capitalist slacking.....I drove across town to our northern Guitar Center (Denver), who was also advertising their "end of year sale"......double-drats!!! However I was on a mission to get a smaller amp...so I sucked it up and went forward........knowing this meant impending debt.......
Told them I was looking for something small in-between 15W & 50w..somewhere in the 25-30W range...... I already have a stereo twin 50 2X12 combo-cab....looking for something small and simple with appreciable tones........a modeling amp............ and under $200 USD.
Played a few Line 6 III and IV spider amps (to many switch options, and didn't like the free rotation-no detents, of the knobs......and that phone connection for the foot-switch........no way Jose!
The decent Vox's edged out of price range...those within.....nah!
So I went with a Fender FM25 DSP SS amp--25W ($130 USD) seemed like a good compromise........it's light and portable, simple controls. Not the greatest, but OK for what I need.....it sits 5 ft away on the other side of my Man-Cave...headphones with company present....not too loud to tick off neighbors at night when everyone else is out.
Of course this is Guitar Center, and the buying doesn't stop there! Went to check out what they had for SD pickups.......talked to the guys for a bit........they had a good selection of Invaders, Alnico II Pros, Distortion sets, Dimebuckers and whatnot........ and ended up with a Gibson Dirty Fingers for the bridge on my Schecter......and I'll move the JB to the neck position. Also picked up a CTS 500K pot and generic foot-switch for the amp....since they have to order the "Fender part".....bah!
THEN we get to talking about stringings and such for Schecters, since the guy I'm talking to has a Hell-Raiser....I was thinking about moving up from 9's to 10's........so I'll give the Ernie Ball Hybrid Slinkys' a shot (9/11/16/26/36/46) with a minor twist.....gonna try a wound G string in 18w.
So I go in looking for a $150 amp, and walk out spending twice that much.......typical day at GC!
P.S. After trying several guitars chosen at random off the wall....I had to tell the sales rep that all the actions were way too high....they sucked! So he goes and gets one of their precious PRS' off the wall behind the counter here! It was a dream to play.....I want a PRS so bad now...even if I do an immediate PU swap......that neck!!!!!!!
Wouldn't you know it......it was literally sold a couple of hours earlier. The Mgr looked it up for me to verify how close it was....I've bought some gear from them and service their store......so he wasn't pulling my leg.....drats!!!!!
I should've put in on Lay-a-way when I first saw it......so much for Carpe Diem........
"you foreigners have no concept of the American system of credit" - Hunter S. Thompson
So slightly miffed at myself for capitalist slacking.....I drove across town to our northern Guitar Center (Denver), who was also advertising their "end of year sale"......double-drats!!! However I was on a mission to get a smaller amp...so I sucked it up and went forward........knowing this meant impending debt.......
Told them I was looking for something small in-between 15W & 50w..somewhere in the 25-30W range...... I already have a stereo twin 50 2X12 combo-cab....looking for something small and simple with appreciable tones........a modeling amp............ and under $200 USD.
Played a few Line 6 III and IV spider amps (to many switch options, and didn't like the free rotation-no detents, of the knobs......and that phone connection for the foot-switch........no way Jose!
The decent Vox's edged out of price range...those within.....nah!
So I went with a Fender FM25 DSP SS amp--25W ($130 USD) seemed like a good compromise........it's light and portable, simple controls. Not the greatest, but OK for what I need.....it sits 5 ft away on the other side of my Man-Cave...headphones with company present....not too loud to tick off neighbors at night when everyone else is out.
Of course this is Guitar Center, and the buying doesn't stop there! Went to check out what they had for SD pickups.......talked to the guys for a bit........they had a good selection of Invaders, Alnico II Pros, Distortion sets, Dimebuckers and whatnot........ and ended up with a Gibson Dirty Fingers for the bridge on my Schecter......and I'll move the JB to the neck position. Also picked up a CTS 500K pot and generic foot-switch for the amp....since they have to order the "Fender part".....bah!
THEN we get to talking about stringings and such for Schecters, since the guy I'm talking to has a Hell-Raiser....I was thinking about moving up from 9's to 10's........so I'll give the Ernie Ball Hybrid Slinkys' a shot (9/11/16/26/36/46) with a minor twist.....gonna try a wound G string in 18w.
So I go in looking for a $150 amp, and walk out spending twice that much.......typical day at GC!
P.S. After trying several guitars chosen at random off the wall....I had to tell the sales rep that all the actions were way too high....they sucked! So he goes and gets one of their precious PRS' off the wall behind the counter here! It was a dream to play.....I want a PRS so bad now...even if I do an immediate PU swap......that neck!!!!!!!
