@DemonDave

The worst part about that is how common that is!!! My uncle was a fairly successful doctor and businessman who loved music. He had a music room with a drumkit, PA system, guitars, keyboards, bass etc...so that he could play in bands at his place with friends without anyone having to lug anything around. He also owned a nightclub where he would occasionally jam (early nineties, late eighties I think, before my time). Anyway, he was also one of the most down to earth, unpretentious people you were likely to meet. He went looking at a well known music store that is still around for a new piano, wanting a fairly good new instrument. However, he went into the store in shorts and t-shirt and was treated lke crap by the sales assistant, who went out of his way to imply that he could not afford it and was waisting his time. My uncle decided that he wanted one of the more expensive instruments and the assistant said something to the effect of having to contact the bank to make sure that they would honour a cheque of so large an amount. He went to the back, called the bank and came out beeming with a new attitude as he realised that he was about to make a substantial sale. My uncle asked if he could see the cheque and promptly ripped it up and walked out of the store and took his business elsewhere.

If you're wanting a high gain sound (I'm assuming that from the EMG's), the try Dimarzio Deactivators. High gain, much better dynamics than EMGs IMHO. Obviously it's a matter of opinion, but the bonus is you won't have to do any modifications for a battery pack with the Dimarzios.

I think a lot of people tend to find Ibanez stock pickups to be the something that it is worth replacing almost immediately. I find them to be decent, if a little indistinct. Am currently deciding on replacing the pickups in my RG7620 as well, deciding between a few different ones currently...

I remember being 16 and playing on marginally expensive gear when I couldn"t afford it. I grew up and, things being what they are with stock tunrover here, bought some of those items I lusted after for years. Getting to play them, and handling them with respect while getting respect from sales assistants, helped fuel me to eventually buy them.

that said, I never bugged anyone when they were too busy. And, for some reason, now that I have a fair amount of cash to actually spend in music stores (being a pseudo-adult), I find that I get treated worse than when I was a teenager in a specific big name store, despite having spent a fair amount of cash with them over time and actuall trying things I want to and have the money to buy. Go figure.

all the video reviews I have seen show it to be a beast of an amp. And even though you aren't thinking about it, the clean is pretty good too. I would totally pull the triger on that one, would love to get one too!

The low end is very tight, which is good of you're playing modern metal...

Nick Cave is amazing, truly amazing...lyrically, musically, everything...

Is anyone here going to distribute it or do we have to order from Fractal?

I was actually put off more than one guitar store here in CT due to the poor quality setups. I was looking at buying a tele or a PRS and played quite a few ones and, although I realised that the setups could be better done to improve playability, they actually made me not enjoy playing the guitars I was trying out. As a result, I went elsewhere and got amazing service. Marshall Music, both Cape Town Stores, seem to have really well setup instruments.

Remember, this was before Satch was that well known...This is pre-Surfing with the Alien, as far as I know. He had played poppyish rock with "The Squares" as well...

Satch is one of my fave guitarists, but Keith Richards is just one of those guitarists that exude more "coolness" than anyone else, which can't be replaced ?

There are also a tone of great guitar magazines that can help. A magazine like Guitar Techniques often has stuff on technique and theory, plus an audio cd so that you can hear the examples. That way, you also have a month time table to master one or two things without becoming overwhelmed.

Also, one or two lessons with a teacher is always a good way to start and can often do way more than a book or cd can do...many guys, at all levels, take lessosn occasionally. If that's too formal, find a friend who plays lead and jam with them and get some tips.

hey Plazma

No worries and best of luck. With that, have you considered a decent noise gate as well? It may be best to get a strat you like and then replace the pickups, i reckon...

Thanks guys, lol, it did take me ages

It's nice that they went for an emg 707 and an 81-7...most companies just put on 707's! Reckon that combo may make for quite a tight bass response despite the scale length, Chad.

is it wrong that I want that? :-[

Have had my MiM strat since 1998. Never had any problems from a tone point of view, they are great guitars if you set them up properly. You're probably going to get a bit of noise from any single coil guitar, so that itsn't really a problem specific to them. I don't know some of the pickup brands others have suggested but you can't really go wrong with Dimarzios or even the Fender Noiseless series. The amount of noise can also be related to the other gear in your signal chain. What kind of music are you playing and what other gear are you running?

Hey guys

Just discovered the forum! really cool that there is actually something local!

I am 28 andfrom Cape Town, have been playing since 1997, play and love a variety of different kinds of music, though mostly progressive rock, blues, rock, classical and metal. Not currently really playing in any bands, but hope to rectify that soon enough....

My guitars are a Fender Strat (mexican), a Fender Tele Thinline, A Squire Stagemaster 7 and an Ibanez RG7620, as well as a beaten up yamaha fg acoustic! Running everything through a hopefully soon to be replaced Marshall AVT100 and various pedals!