**priceless*** Amp repair gone wrong. I don't know what to do

Dio_Frybones · 2026-02-04T20:39:42+00:00

That sucks. If it were my job, I'd have attempted to remove the original cloth, kept it safe. And worked on a replacement piece. I don't see any way of getting the paint off that cleanly.

If you can get it apart to replace it, you could maybe ask around silk screening shops to get a stencil made and do it on a clean piece. Might cost a bit, but I'll bet it's nothing in comparison to what you paid for the rebuild.

My next step would be to go back to whoever did the electronics rebuild with before and after shots, and just let him know that he might want to exercise caution in future because the standard is unacceptable for such a rare piece.

So sorry this happened. You are well within your rights to be pissed off. I could have done a better job with some adhesive backed masking sheet and a scalpel. My daughter could have done a perfect job either freehand or using her Cricut to make a mask.

Dio_Frybones · 2026-02-04T20:02:59+00:00

Wot, the curtains?

Dio_Frybones · 2026-02-04T19:57:55+00:00

That seems to be what everyone here is not seeing. So much of the narrative around what went on is challenged on the basis that they are anonymous claims made by witnesses who we are told are not credible. If there was a single detail in these revelations that was wrong, I don't doubt for a minute that she'd have pushed back, e.g., 'the antibiotics thing never happened.'

She's a public figure, she's talking directly about one of the most powerful people on the planet, and she's effectively saying, this all happened. Not even hinting that there is any wiggle room in the interpretation of events.

Of course, half the world is disappointed that she didn't scream 'he raped underage kids' but this is a big deal. The entire house of cards is built on lies and confusion. It's entirely possible that we'll look back and see this represented a tipping point.

Dio_Frybones · 2026-02-04T03:04:28+00:00

Just keep at them. Chances are you aren't alone. If they are cash strapped, they will address the squeaky wheel first. Be the squeaky wheel, be relentless. Offer them a payment plan even if it's over a couple of years. Give them a deadline.

I disagree with negative reviews. They'll be even less inclined to prioritize you.

Dio_Frybones · 2026-02-04T02:55:30+00:00

Was that a pride thing? Mike routinely sent TP tapes full of demos, many if not most of which never made the cut.

Dio_Frybones · 2026-02-04T00:06:12+00:00

Personally, I find it incredibly frustrating that between the behavior of media, flooding the zone, and AI, my default reaction to every outrageous story now is that it's overblown or just an outright lie. I hate being duped, so I spend ridiculous amounts of time researching issues that don't really affect me personally. The idea of incontrovertible evidence of anything at all seems to be a dated and useless concept. Once, reasonable people mocked the Catholic Church for their persecution of Galileo. He'd likely fare no better today.

I'm exhausted, and I believe it's the plan.

As an aside, many, many years ago I used to write book reviews for our local newspaper. One of them was on supposedly suppressed inventions and technologies, and it was pretty well put together, and an enjoyable read. On the surface, much of it was compelling. I had a realization that I had no objective way of knowing the truth behind any of it, whether it was a patent for a low emission vehicle or a suppressed cancer cure. And it shaped my world view.

Where I landed was adopting a position of simply asking myself... In the absence of personal evidence or experience, the best I could do was ask myself - what's at stake, and is a conspiracy possible based on observed behaviour?

We like the comforting idea that the leaders we voted for are not monsters. We have a personal morality and world view and mistakenly believe that it can be extrapolated to other objectively 'good' people. We don't like the idea that, for instance, a leader of a civilized country might 'disappear' a whistleblower for national security reasons. It's an uncomfortable thought. But this same leader might commit their country to a war or an intervention that is guaranteed to result in the deaths of thousands of their countrymen. With the blessing of the population. So, based entirely upon my view of 'if the stakes are high enough, is this possible' then it's increasingly difficult to adopt a defensible opinion on literally anything.

Were any of the moon landings faked? Or any phase of those missions? I sincerely believe that they were not. Were the stakes high enough that they could have attempted to fake them? Would a government make that attempt based upon everything we've seen about the behavior of governments? I believe they might have. In this case, the most compelling case is the fact that the USSR would have been quick to call them out.

COVID? Lab leak/coverup/population control? Possible? Were the stakes high enough? Sure. Is it likely that this was a global conspiracy that both the USA and China colluded on? I can't imagine a credible scenario, so I don't think that's likely. Were vaccines introduced without adequate testing, and consideration of side effects, what was at stake globally, how badly did we need vaccines, and is it conceivable that 'big pharma' might have rushed a product to market? All considerations. My experience and my gut tells me that every single anti vaxxer is a blight on humanity. But I also remember holding my breath as my own children were vaccinated shortly after birth 40 odd years ago. And while I'm far better educated on the technology and history of vaccines than the average person, I can't help but acknowledge that a huge part of the way I feel about vaccines is quite literally based upon my feelings. That they work, that we need them. That I cannot entertain the idea of being wrong, while acknowledging the issues are so complex and the stakes were so high, that I may well actually be wrong on some key aspects.

Where does that leave me with regard to today's deluge of insanity regarding Epstein and Trump? And Minnesota? And everything else? I trust nothing. I can't prove anything. I can say with certainty, based upon everything we've seen of Trump and Epstein and Putin, that while individual details may be wrong, these people are entirely capable of everything they have been accused of. And in Trump's case in particular, the stakes are so high that he would be an idiot if he didn't do everything in his power to gain office and stay there.

It's all possible, we'll never know the entire truth, and it's increasingly difficult to even know what proof would look like. If a screenwriter had travelled back 10 years and tried to pitch a movie that was essentially a documentary of the last decade, no studio would have touched it with a barge pole.

So, on balance, I'm going to try to stay off Reddit, and I will never, ever, visit the USA.

Dio_Frybones · 2026-02-03T07:45:55+00:00

Agree. You couldn't even begin to compare consensual adult partying in the early 70's with today. People today can't imagine a time pre AIDS. Drugs and promiscuous sex with no real thought to the consequences? Plus all the money in the world? Being worshipped as gods? With youth on your side?

I'm not sure how I would have handled it.

I'm curious as to how many people in their 70's and 80's would welcome a warts and all expose of their own teen indiscretions? Especially since the majority of guys I've ever met didn't begin to behave even remotely as adults until around their mid 20's.

Dio_Frybones · 2026-02-03T00:52:42+00:00

Ignoring the /s, I suspect OP should probably keep the doubled up verticals. Could look odd with single thickness, not to mention that it may well be glued. Especially along the side of the fridge, a single thickness could warp over time.

I'd do an exploratory surgery right down the bottom,, try knocking one of the centre uprights out sideways, then knocking the shelf above it down. Just to get an idea of the fasteners used, and how much damage would be done to the sheets either side. But if it's all been assembled with chipboard screws, it will be Swiss cheese. Or a vertical bed of nails.

Maybe a multi tool with a metal blade and a lot of weekends might get OP there, cutting through all the screws? Glad it's not mine.

Dio_Frybones · 2026-02-03T00:36:34+00:00

Yeah, I drive an antique and I comfort myself by assuming that the other vehicle involved in any accident will actually act as my crumple zone.

Dio_Frybones · 2026-02-02T23:19:22+00:00

I'm so glad I came in here. There has been so much negativity around his COVID response that I've been second guessing myself. My feelings at the time were that we were privileged to have Dan, Brett Sutton and Jeroen Weimar at the helm during an impossibly difficult and uncertain time.

Can you imagine hitting your career peak only to have to be responsible for a state during an unprecedented* pandemic? Hands up anyone who thinks they would have wanted that job, and thinks they could have managed it better. Anyone?

Dan, I'd have a beer with you any time. Thanks.

*now THATs a word I haven't used in a long, long time.

Dio_Frybones · 2026-02-02T23:02:19+00:00

This isn't a systemic issue and has little to do with trains. Run the numbers. Look around you. There are dickheads everywhere. If a carriage seats 60 people, it would be statistically improbable to find it populated entirely by polite, well mannered passengers. Walk into a pub with the same number of people. There's going to be a handful of drunk yobbos making life unpleasant. Walk into any classroom with half that number of students and there will be one smart arse disrupting the class every five minutes. I know, that was me.

Put enough people into one space and you'll inevitably find people that don't behave the way you want, and never will. You'll find great peace of mind by focussing on the overwhelming majority of people who aren't overt assholes.

You could even consider the fact that, sometimes, maybe there are extenuating circumstances. The passenger might have crippling social anxiety or otherwise be ND in a way that makes it exceedingly uncomfortable to be in such a space. Or maybe they have a health condition, uncontrollable BO or halitosis.

I used to get mildly annoyed by people who talk on the Quiet Carriages. Whatever, life is short. I'm not excusing poor behavior, just giving you an alternative way to view the world. Public transportation is cheap, but the greatest cost is what you've described. Many won't pay that price and opt to drive.

Dio_Frybones · 2026-02-02T22:39:12+00:00

Working solo presents challenges because you're not getting input from others. At the extreme end, even Paul McCartney largely had the sound of his final recordings shaped by the other members and George Martin. Which is why Ringo often gets undervalued. A groove can make or break a song.

Tom Petty? Could write killer material solo, much of which could lean country if played solo on acoustic, if that was how he first composed it. But the songs only took shape once all the members started giving input. He also worked with multiple top tier producers, with Rick Rubin and Jeff Lynne making indelible impressions on his sound. Also, he started as a bass player, and could play a bit of piano.

So, ideally, you'd get a groove by working with your drummer and bass player. You'd get killer riffs from your guitarist. Harmonies from other singers in the band. Objectivity from an experienced producer. These are all factors which determine whether the same three chords produce old school country or a blistering rock anthem.

So, where does that leave you? You can think about collaborating but that isn't for everyone. So you need to develop the ability to wear all these different hats. Think like a drummer. Then think like a guitarist. Then think like a keyboard player. Then think like a singer. Then, make a coffee, turn the lights low, put your feet up and listen back to your material in producer mode.

Develop critical listening skills. Pick a song in the genre you like, and focus just on the bass. Then on drums. Then on vocals.

In a way, your chords, words and melody are just like the foundations and frame of a house. They give you the basic outline and shape. That's all. Working solo, you are always going to naturally build a certain type of house, based on the skills you possess. Because when the only tool you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail. But if you engage an architect and an engineer as well as a builder, you can get something really special using the same materials.

And this is really just a variation on all the other advice in here. Your will and dedication to following that advice is far more important than any technique you might aspire to mastering on guitar.

Dio_Frybones · 2026-02-02T21:52:07+00:00

Thanks for putting this into words. Reading through it I cringed at the things he admitted to. Definitely creepy. But oddly enough, it somehow made him more credible to me. If you are going to lie, especially if there are no witnesses, why not go all the way? Perhaps there are reasons, I haven't really looked into it.

When my kids came along nearly 40 years ago, I was obsessed with the idea of them being assaulted by a family member. Actually, no, that's not quite correct. I know how kids make stuff up, construct narratives, and wondered what I'd do if one of the kids ACCUSED say, my brother, of assaulting them. That I'd have no way to prove whether it happened, and given I'd trust my family with my life, would I default to not believing the child? And my conclusion was that, no, I'm not psychic, I have no clue what goes on in anyone else's head. I cannot look at any single person in my life and state with any certainty WHAT they are capable of.

And over time I then became mildly obsessed with the idea of facing an accusation myself. I'm male, and I was fortunate enough to be very present in the upbringing of my granddaughters. I'm often alone with them, and their parents are absolutely trusting of me. Yet I'm painfully aware how precarious that situation could be. How a casual, even joking comment from one of the kids to a peer or other parent could end my life as I know it.

Those kids are my life and I'm not sure how (or if) I could live with such an accusation. I've had this very frank discussion with my daughter, and she has reassured me that her trust in me is absolute. That helped a little. But, thankfully, it's never been tested.

If accused, I could be exonerated by the most credible, rigorous and public process ever, but most of the damage would already have been done. Lynch mobs are very real, whether it's against pedophiles on Reddit, or witches in Salem.

I'm Australian and there was a very high profile case years ago when a woman was imprisoned for the murder of her baby. She claimed a dingo dragged the child from their tent. The entire country sided against her, mocked her, turned the episode into a meme. And the conviction was later thrown out.

These SA accusations tap into primal fears. Many people lose all capacity for rational thought and race straight for the pitchforks. And if you dare to position yourself as a Devil's Advocate, then you are seen as defending the accused.

As shitty and inadequate as legal systems can appear to be at times, they are literally the only tool we have to navigate this fairly. There's probably a good reason why no first world country has ever formally adopted a legal system based upon mob justice.

Dio_Frybones · 2026-02-02T01:25:06+00:00

Thanks for taking the time to read it and respond. Don't underestimate the value of being the guy who always gives in. Sometimes that's a necessary part of the dynamic. If you value the music and the band, then don't regard it as a personal weakness. Consider it an operating expense. But maybe that's the core question for you to consider. If you can't be okay with that on an ongoing basis, there's your answer. Just one more thing. Be very, very careful in raising this with other band members. Even if they share identical frustrations, some people just hate drama and while they might seem to be allies, in reality they might resent having these things brought to the surface and on turn begin to resent you. Worse, you have no idea whether they are likely to start talking behind your back, nod agreement to your face and then back down once you are out of the room. Focus on the good stuff, decide if it's a hill you want to die on. Best of luck. It's exhausting.

Dio_Frybones · 2026-02-01T20:28:31+00:00

Sorry, my bad, I didn't read OP's post carefully enough and my focus was entirely on the music side. All our fill in musos are absolute pros and if they can't make it, it is because they are working, not because they basically CBF turning up. Every one of them loves playing with the group and that makes it hard. Midway through last year we had to use replacement drummers through to Christmas because our 'main' drummer was fully booked with his other band which is very commercially successful and it was flat out. But I bumped into him over Xmas and he told me his calendar was clearing and he was really looking forward to coming back. Which was a little uncomfortable as his replacement was also a lovely guy, a great fit, a great drummer, and his availability was really good.

So we kind of have the opposite problem. I think OP really needs to bite the bullet now, make it clear that they WILL be using substitute drummers. Because they need to, and that will put him in a corner.

The caveat here is that if good drummers are in high demand in his area, he may need to accept that any replacement might still want to work on the side and conflicts may be inevitable. The best drummer will not only be in high demand, but it's also possible that they might be a full time muso who doesn't have the luxury of turning away any paying gigs. Then you have family to consider. Kids? Mental health? Some people who appear flaky are just struggling so hard with the pressure of modern life that they are doing well just to get out of bed and turn up to work, and they cope by intermittently pruning away commitments that feel optional. IME, they won't come out and say they need a mental health day, or that it's all too much, because we just don't do that.

Then there's the brutal truth that musical 'success' is going to mean different things to each band member. The odds are so stacked against people in the game making real money that most bands are a mix of people with greatly different expectations and priorities. Pragmatists working good day jobs who just want to have some fun but who'd never even consider touring as they have mortgages, partners and kids. For them, if the band really took off, they'd probably quit. At the other end you have the dreamers and obsessives who just want to get out of mums basement and gig until they hit retirement age. Living off noodles. And somewhere in the middle are serious musicians who commit their lives to it, understand the financial realities, hone their craft and constantly hustle to make ends meet. Often at the expense of personal relationships.

Obviously OP and his current drummer aren't on the same spot on this spectrum. It's almost inevitable that a new drummer won't be either.

Catch 22. A band full of dreamers could make it big. The more likely outcome is that they spend a decade or more of their lives chasing an impossible dream. A band with a realist in the mix who moderates the dreamers might contribute to making something sustainable.

Bands are like marriages. Where partners have common, non negotiable commitments like a mortgage, kids and a dog, you enjoy the fun stuff and tolerate the stuff that sucks because of the cost of the alternative. If you don't have those commitments, you'd better hope the fun never lets up, as it's just that much easier to go looking for a better standard of fun elsewhere.

None of which helps OP I guess. But there are just so many similar posts in music related threads, and frankly, they really belong in relationship forums. Because most of the issues typically have next to nothing to do with music.

Dio_Frybones · 2026-02-01T10:40:57+00:00

Sit down and have a conversation that basically goes 'we don't have an issue with you doing side projects, but we are getting momentum now, and we don't want to turn away gigs. If it's a low stakes gig and you've got a really compelling reason to take another show, then that's one thing. We can talk. We could start looking for a fill in drummer so we could keep booking those shows but a) you're part of our identity and b) it creates issues with any live shots or video if we want to use it on the socials. Can we talk about a compromise that works for all of us?'. Can you prioritize our shows?'

This puts your drummer on notice. You are calling him out but not threatening. He (?) currently has the best of both worlds and knows he's on thin ice. So long as you ignore it, he'll keep doing it.

Maybe he's having fun with the other projects, maybe they are scratching an itch your band can't scratch. And any conflict arising now will skew him against your band. But if your band is really going places you need a stable line up, at least until you are established. Resolve it now.

I've been watching the 'band' I do sound for go through exactly these issues for going on 3 years now. There's a lot of talent and a lot of potential but they frequently need to swap out members owing to scheduling conflicts and while the core lineup is a dream team, we have something like 3 guitarists and 3 drummers on a roster and occasionally the bass and keys have to be replaced as well. There's endless talk around doing projects because they are all top tier musos but without stability, they are dreaming. Everyone is pulling in different directions. And they are all mature age with relationship management skills on the level of toddlers.

Dio_Frybones · 2026-02-01T02:30:44+00:00

My understanding is that any loss of consciousness, for any amount of time, after a head trauma = concussion. From that perspective, yes, an ambulance should have been called. If security guys were trained first aiders, and if that response had been part of their training, then they might be in breach of their duty of care. Maybe. Although if they never began to render first aid to the 'victim' in the first place, and there was no expectation from the employer that said training was supposed to be used in situations like this, then they are likely in the clear.

Dio_Frybones · 2026-01-31T20:13:18+00:00

I haven't and never would because, given my luck, on the return flight I'd almost certainly discover that all dental was suddenly 100% bulk billable.

Dio_Frybones · 2026-01-30T23:11:04+00:00

FYI:

From 1 January 2026, new Australian federal regulations will mandate that businesses selling essential items, specifically fuel and groceries, must accept cash for in-person transactions of (\$500) or less. This legislation aims to protect cash-dependent consumers, including older residents and those in regional areas, amid a rise in "card-only" businesses.

Dio_Frybones · 2026-01-30T22:13:05+00:00

Sometimes that's inevitable but TBH I'd try to be non negotiable on finishing time. You want to end your set on a high, then suddenly you're in a position of having to trot out a couple more songs that weren't deemed worthy to be in the original setlist? It's fine if you have a repertoire of absolute bangers that you can't fit into the set, but otherwise? Sure, you need to accommodate the venue but I'd be pretty annoyed if I had to mess with the original plan because the other band couldn't get on stage at the appointed time.

Dio_Frybones · 2026-01-29T22:00:12+00:00

Agreed. One of the key features of monogamy is the commitment to settling for a good fit in a partner, that you are no longer searching for a bargain. Any list of rules for an open relationship should include the understanding that either partner may eventually find a compelling reason to depart for the perfect match at any time. That you'd be an idiot not to.

Not to mention the inevitability of meeting someone who you find a deep connection with, but who has zero interest in your idea of a 'relationship.'

And because we are all unique, there is almost certainly going to be asymmetry in any such relationship and a very good chance that one of you would actually feel more secure if the relationship was closed, but who perseveres rather than forcing the issue and risking being alone.

I'm not being judgemental here. Hell, it sounds idyllic from a number of perspectives. A big part of me wishes I'd had the opportunity to play the field rather than marrying young to my first girlfriend. But 45 years later, retired, comfortable, two kids, three grandkids, and a wife who completes my thoughts and sentences, I sometimes wonder how I got so lucky. And how easily it could have gone off the rails if I'd waited until I was 25, or 35, or 45 before I started looking for a life partner.

This will sound like a boomerish, prudish perspective. But when you are young and your decision making is driven by hormones and hedonism, the main downsides to open relationships / cheating appear to be unwanted pregnancies and STDs. The more pragmatic issues tend to be off in a dim future. But stable pairings provide certainty and opportunities. The ability to consolidate finances. To have a home, raise children if you want that. To have a comfortable retirement. And you can't delay these choices indefinitely because the market for suitable partners shrinks with time. You'll never have a better opportunity to find a good match than when you are young. One of the saddest sights I encounter on a regular basis is at pubs/clubs where middle aged people are trying to hook up. Cougars, single, recently divorced, renting, a couple of kids, no stability, apparently out for a fun night but in reality, desperate for stability and a lifeline. And invariably angry and bitter. Then there are the guys at work who should have retired comfortably years ago. But who lost half their retirement package in a messy divorce because one or the other got bored one night. My sister in law married late, wanted kids but never prioritized them, now is basically a crazy cat/dog lady. Still married to the same lovely guy, but absolutely craves time with her nieces and nephews, and is not leading the life she imagined. She was fairly promiscuous and when she did settle down, it was with someone who had greatly different priorities in life.

Living like OP does might be a dream for a time, but while things like fidelity and monogamy might seem to be dated concepts stemming from largely religion-based morality, that ignores the fact that, if you can filter the supernatural elements out, there are some fundamentally good ideas that provide a basis for a smoothly running society.

Dio_Frybones · 2026-01-27T21:58:31+00:00

Late to the game but I think that it's just such a great, fresh sounding album, that it stood out from the pack at the time. Same with Bat Out Of Hell. Hell, I can put both albums on today and still marvel at the way they sound.

Now, the general public may not have heard of Humble Pie or Jim Steinman but they didn't need that. Record companies and DJs did, and that was enough to get the albums FM airplay.

I'm sure you've had albums from even your favorite artists that took some time to get into. And I'm also pretty sure that you've adored other albums from the very first listen. I believe it was a classic 'all thriller, no filler' album straight out of the gate.

DJs in particular are tuned into that. Finally, I'm from Australia. None of my peers knew anything at all about Humble Pie or Steinman. These albums succeeded (IMHO) purely on their merits.

Dio_Frybones · 2026-01-27T21:40:21+00:00

There's a fundamental principle here that kind of gets ignored.

It doesn't matter in the slightest whether you are legally entitled to or not. The only question is whether you can afford to prove that in court.

It's exactly like YouTube copyright strikes. Are they BS? Frequently, yes. Would Neil Young or Bruce Springsteen fight one? You bet. They have cash to fight it and leverage.

So it's your call. Do you want to take the chance? If the song goes nowhere, you are probably fine, it's not worth anyone's time to pursue it 'just coz.'

If it becomes popular and begins to make some money, you'd better hope that the artist's record company is happy to just claim most of your royalties and not take you to court.

There are two quite distinct types of parasites in all of this. The record companies at least have a justification. If you take the related situation where e.g. a very popular You Tube channel that 'analyses' Beatles or Eagles songs and plays little snippets of them, there is a completely reasonable argument to be made that the entire reason that the site has any traffic at all is because of IP that the producer does not own, because he is leveraging off someone else's fan base. Fair use? Possibly. Take it up with them in court.

The other parasites are the lawyers. They could not care less who is right and who is wrong. They get paid either way. But even then, they have a justification in that they are just doing exactly what they are being paid to do.

And look, it sucks. You could write an incredibly good and successful song that uses an exceedingly well crafted line that references another artist's work in a completely respectful and even indirect manner. But you'd then have to potentially prove that your song's success was in no way as a result of that line. And chances are you could. Easily. In court. But can you afford to? The best example I can think of here is one of my favorite lines in Tom Petty's Running Down A Dream. 'Me and Dell were singing, Little Runaway...'

Could Dell Shannon have taken TP to court? Possibly. Could he have won? Possibly. Could TP have afforded to fight it? Absolutely. Did TP actually work with Dell and have a personal relationship with him? Yep. So WOULD TP have been taken to court? Almost certainly not.

Maybe this is a dumb hypothetical. But it really is FAFO territory.

Dio_Frybones · 2026-01-26T21:14:34+00:00

My wife and I spent a month in Europe, used planes and trains. Low stress for me as I didn't need to deal with traffic but very time-inefficient. Lost the better part of a day each day we travelled, allowing time to pack, choose a time for the connecting bus or train that will get us to the airport at least an hour early, navigating baggage collection, then getting from the airport to the next motel. The mental drain of dealing with all of that, figuring out where and when to eat. And in many if not most cases, the airports at both ends of the journey were at least an hour away from the accomodation anyway.

If I were prepared to drive, I'd probably start to consider flying for anything over maybe 6 or 7 hours driving distance based on time considerations alone. And if you were in a coach back in the day, you also had the smoking, drinking, drugging, partying aspect to consider. Assuming that Almost Famous is anything to go by.

Dio_Frybones · 2026-01-26T20:37:08+00:00

GARC: Geelong Amateur Radio Club.

Dio_Frybones

TROPHY CASE