benadrian wrote: Sun Oct 05, 2025 9:59 am Boss TU-2 and SD-1. I just leave them laying around the studio. Need a tune or a quick boost? Right there. Good enough, never fails.

So my band had our first band practice in a couple months yesterday. Just for kicks I brought the SD-1 to practice. I set up and it was guitar, SD-1, modded traynor head, cab. The SD-1 had a battery in it, so there were no power supplies, no pedalboard, and not even a tuner in the chain. It worked great. It sounded pretty good. I didn't notice much differencs from other boosts with my earplugs in.

One thing that is great is that the Boss switch leaves so much margin of error. I can kinf of step in the general direction of the pedal and I always hit it. When I'm singing and playing guitar, I sometimes hit a classic stop switch a little funn and miss the engagement of the switch. I suppose there's a reason these have stuck around for so long.

benadrian wrote: Mon Oct 06, 2025 5:22 pm One thing that is great is that the Boss switch leaves so much margin of error. I can kinf of step in the general direction of the pedal and I always hit it. When I'm singing and playing guitar, I sometimes hit a classic stop switch a little funn and miss the engagement of the switch. I suppose there's a reason these have stuck around for so long.

I'll add that I think I've only replaced one Boss switch in like 30 years. I bought a 2 pack in like, 2007 and still have the second one sitting around somewhere waiting. Can't say the same for 3PDT switches.

benadrian wrote: Mon Oct 06, 2025 5:22 pm One thing that is great is that the Boss switch leaves so much margin of error. I can kinf of step in the general direction of the pedal and I always hit it.

Whole thing is a switch!

Dr Tony Balls wrote: Tue Oct 07, 2025 9:24 am

benadrian wrote: Mon Oct 06, 2025 5:22 pm One thing that is great is that the Boss switch leaves so much margin of error. I can kinf of step in the general direction of the pedal and I always hit it.

Whole thing is a switch!

I had the phaser like that. You could turn the knobs with yer feeties!

Yeah my former bandmate had the phaser version of that, sounded incredible. One of the knobs was labelled "balls".

Also +1 for the Boss switch.

Squier VM '51s are really cool guitars. I heard that when they were discontined years back, Guitar Center was selling them for $60 and a lot of folks bought them as modding platforms, only to find that they were actually pretty great stock. The wider necks on these really work well for me and both the humbucker and the strat-style pickup both sound really nice. When I picked mine up I was also looking for a cheap guitar to learn about wiring/pickup swaps/etc, but it's proven to be a mixed blessing because there's nothing I actually want to change.

Nico Adie wrote: Mon Oct 06, 2025 4:56 pm Mosky ISO 10 power supply - a truly isolated power supply with 10 outputs for £40. I’ve used 2 for 4 years now with no noise and no issues.

Yeah the ISO 10 rules, works every bit as well as my more expensive power supply... wish I'd just gone the Mosky route to begin with.

The right drum throne

reliable guitar cables

a reliable band van (this is just a myth though innit)

post-show sliders

Ampeg SVT

dolly/cart that fits in your vehicle (working casters and well-placed handles on amps/cabs for that matter)

venues on the first floor

tilt-back legs or "sound wood"

Drum/amp/gtr cases, big fan of the hillbilly road case for amp heads I don't take out much. Basically cardboard cut to fit & I use hot glue instead of tape as holds up better. I bet wood glue would work really well too but you'd have to wait a lot longer. Saw some DIY bands use these w/ their amps on tour. Surprisingly effective, keeps your tolex clean and free from major dings and cost is some scrap cardboard and hot glue sticks. Also takes up a LOT less space if you're touring in a minivan or whatever you can get your hands on. I went for a deluxe version for my little champ and put affixed some small bubble wrap on the inside for additional protection.

solid, portable guitar stands

*updated post because I apparently forgot to finish my thought on the hillbilly road case

Garth wrote: Fri Oct 17, 2025 6:27 pm
venues on the first floor

Jesus bleedin’ Joseph yes

I admire FM Garth and Nate’s commitment to the SVT. Once I played the V4 and YBA3 I basically saw god and stopped looking. Those amps are cool but I feel like the SVT is really reaching for the stars - why stop at a 6 or 7 tubes and a hundred watts?

Garth wrote: Fri Oct 17, 2025 6:27 pm"sound wood"

???