Fond Farewell

matta

Hi Guys,

Some of you may already know, particularly those that are on my Ashton Audio newsletter mailing list, but the time has come to bid farewell.

My family and I are relocating to Sydney, Australia. The reasons are varied, but at the top is as a dual national by birth my rights don't pass onto my children unless I move back there for 2 years, so we've decided to take a bit of an adventure down under while there are still young.

The kicker in all of this is that I'm not allowed to offer my tech services there. They are VERY particular about things and it means doing an internship, working for the state and then only moving int private work, which could/will take years, which I'm not willing to do.

I'll still be able to make up cables, work on low voltage projects, modding pedals etc, but anything mains related is a no go, unless the work is overseen and signed off by a qualified technician... I'm not even allowed to change a plug, I kid you not... not without a qualification to do so, though I can change a light bulb ???

I've been run ragged over the past 2 months since the word got out and am now starting to wind down, shipped my last custom build to Nashville earlier this week and now getting through a bunch of repairs.

All this to say, if you need anything thing done before we move, best get in touch ASAP: cables, mods, builds etc. But outside of that just to say a big thanks for all the support over the years.

In some ways it feels like a blessing, closing this door allows me time to focus on actually PLAYING guitar rather than BUILDING things, so I hope to see still be around, offering advise where I can. I've culled much of my gear, down to a simple floorboard, an amp and taking a few guitars, scalling back to a very small/portable recording set-up.

The suburb we are relocating to, Surry Hills, is a hot spot for open mics and I hope to be playing out more once I settle into the swing of things.

Since we are packing light, you can expect to see a few bits and bobs popping up in the Classified, mostly tubes, spare parts, great books & DVD's on electronics and tube amps etc, for those budding enthusiasts.

Again, thank you, it's been an honour to serve the greater community and I've made many a friend and connected with old ones through this invaluable resource.

Cheers

Matt

warrenpridgeon

Good luck man! I've been keen to get into some electronics stuff for a while as I once built a way huge red llama fuzz pedal that I lost... lol. So I'll keep my eyes open.

Have you got a job lined up there?

PeteM

Cheers Matt... I'm sure you will keep in touch with GFSA. It will be good to hear about the music scene there.
All the best.

matta

warrenpridgeon wrote Good luck man! I've been keen to get into some electronics stuff for a while as I once built a way huge red llama fuzz pedal that I lost... lol. So I'll keep my eyes open.

Have you got a job lined up there?

Thanks Warren,

RE job, nothing concrete my end, my wife does however. She's making a sideways move within her firm and relocating to the Sydney office, they've been very generous and are covering most of the move: container, air tickets and settlement costs, so compared to many others, yes, a very smooth transition.

I'll be freelancing again, back in graphic design/illustration, which I have a diploma for and also completing my interior design diploma as well, radically different from tech work ?

Cheers

Matt

matta

PeteM wrote Cheers Matt... I'm sure you will keep in touch with GFSA. It will be good to hear about the music scene there.
All the best.

Thanks Pete, yes, I'll keep in touch and look forward to sharing what's going down, well, down under.

Matt

Keira-WitherKay

well it's NOT farewell matta ... they do have internet in oz ?

stay in touch and hope we see your builds happening soon ....

good move and congrats on the courage to uproot but it's all for the better

Big-G

Take care Matta, and all the best! Hope to see lots of performance pics of you playing out and about from there! And if you have time for another coffee before you go, let me know. ?

Its a real shame, and I guess a loss to Aus for you not being allowed to dabble in your 'true calling', so I do hope you find a way around that in the future.

Many Regards
G!

MoJo-JoJoe

Hi Matt. I am about to place an order for valves so please let me know what you have and prices. I'm sure to be taking some. Then I'll also do my add-in for the pedals which I'm embarrassed to say I have not yet done even though it was my idea.
I guess these sorts of moves are always bitter-sweet.

racman

Cheers Matt, I wish you many happy days in Oz. I still miss my Ashton Audio 808 that you built, probably the only one I always regret selling.

Pity we never got to have that cuppa though ...

AlanRatcliffe

Fare thee well friend. I know exactly where you're coming from on the building/repairing not leaving anything for the playing.

So all the best of luck with the new life. ...and we'll be here if you get homesick.

Manfred-Klose

Exciting stuff matt!

thanks for all the help and countless replies to my emails over the years! :goodtimes:

Stoffeltoo

Goin' to miss you sorely. Keep the beers cool in the esky and such, we might just pop in for a barbie some time.

NorioDS

Oi! No farewell allowed ? Like Keira said, Oz has internet ?

matta

Hey Guys,

Thanks for all the well wishes! I'm leaving tomorrow, we still have 4 months to go, but felt after chatting to another forum member today they felt, as did I, that I should let you all know so it wasn't some big shock/surprise, this after my 4 year blurted out that 'We're moving to Australia!' before I could break the news, a little more, um, tactfully.

Yes, Farewell is probably over dramatic, more like, bon voyage, Aus has internet indeed ?

Roy, there is still time for that cuppa if you're around, still would to give you those CD's, if we can't get together PM your address so that I can mail them off to you!

Gareth, yes, always have a time for coffee, let's make it happen, got your PM, not much in the way of output valves I'm afraid, but do have couple pre-amps tubes in different forms.

Joe, had a couple guys ask about tubes, will need to spend time going through the boxes, I'll just be keeping a spare set for my Blues Jnr and parting with the rest, don't have loads of stock, but a fair bit inc. some NOS.

Might take a week or 3 to get there, still sooo much cleaning, packing to do, and that's before we even load the container in 2 months... it's amazing how much stuff we accrue!

Cheers

Matt

Riaan

Good luck Matt and stay in touch. You'll never regret the things you've done in your life, but you will regret the things you could have done but didn't.

Psean

All the best Matt.
Btw, any plans to continue the urban farming side of things?

Attila

Bon voyage Matt

Show them Ausies how to BRAAI not that barbie bs

Shalom and safe travels

matta

Psean wrote All the best Matt.
Btw, any plans to continue the urban farming side of things?

Indeed! I've already volunteered at my local community garden and will be assisting with the food garden at my son's school... you can take the farmer out of South Africa, but not the Farmer ?

Cheers

Matt

Psean

Great stuff ?

Btw: Still really enjoying that Fuzzsilla. The only dirt pedal I use ?

rikus

Cheers Matt! Good luck on your adventure down under!