Search results for:

Yeah, a sub 250 is the easy way to grab shots wherever people may be - the trade off is stability but, if you go for the latest DJI mini, not picture really as it does a really good job from what I've seen, got very close to pulling the trigger on one myself!

That an 18 watter?

Temptation for one of those Mustangs is real...! Wouldn't mind a nice short scale guitar to load with some spanky pickups...

In other news, I swapped the cheap Sovtek EL84 + Ruby ECC83 valves from the AC4 and replaced respectively with a Mullard and a JJ. The verdict is: it sounds... a bit different. More body, less top end. I think most people would prefer it but I wouldn't advise anyone to spend however much they go for on a vintage valve.

Will try a Russian EL84 equivalent + Sovtek ECC83 later while the chassis is out...

Yeah, you want to have a decent foundation if you're going to put your hands to it. Ultimately once you are aware of the main precautions you're golden and the risk becomes pretty minimal but I'd say it's perhaps one step more, ie not just knowing what the safety measures are, but understanding why they are what they are if that makes sense.

Considering I nearly pulled the trigger on a kit exactly a year ago I'm glad I took the time to look into it and understand more. It's made the process more fun, I feel more confident getting stuck in and I was able to come up with a couple of designs that actually suit (or at least should!) my needs for what I want from an amp.

It'll be a slow process but should be fun nonetheless.

Speaking of old valve stuff, tomorrow I'm going to put the old Mullard that came in the radio into my AC4 and a JJ I have lying about in the pre to replace the cheap valves it came with - curious to see how much difference it'll make and if the cork sniffers are onto something...!

Absolutely winging it, more or less anyway. I’ve had the itch to build a tube amp for a long time and in the past year I’ve done a lot of reading and trying to understand how things work, at least to a point.

Far from being an expert at this point but have a pretty clear idea of what I can expect and a few pointers about best practice.

This build’s planning was made a little more challenging by the fact I’m reusing the transformers, which work fine but have a couple peculiarities compared to your standard modern center tapped ones, but nothing major ultimately.

The plan was to start with an AC15/Matchless type build from scratch but I then started looking at old radios and fell in the rabbit hole of conversions. The fact it’s a smaller single ended design and it comes with transformers, chassis and cabinet makes it a slightly easier first step, or at least so it feels!

I might not be consistent enough to keep a thread alive...! I will post some updates as I go though, and if you're interested in the whole journey (from idea to buying the radio, working out its transformers and coming up with a new schematic) I can point you in the direction of this thread on the EL34world tube amp forum

The gutting has gone well, few bits to go but mostly clear, it will all need a little scrub. It's amazing how gunky time is - had you seem my hands you'd have thought I just finished taking apart my bike's drivetrain...!

Starting to clear the rat’s nest inside this radio to turn it into an EL84 powered BF Champ…

Should be fun!

Having a rejig and moving this on as no longer needed. Have used with no screws in a rental apartment and has served me well.

I can only see the Topeak equivalent for sale at the moment and that’s £80/90 so how does £40 sound?

In good nick bar the off nick which can only be seennup close due to pedals against the pole when picking up/storing away bikes, see pictures.

I’m in Crouch End N8

Unlikely second dibs on wheels

Dibs the Microtech bars, PM incoming!

I think these are a little more affordable and very good nonetheless. There are a few on eBay as well, depending on what you're after, can't remember their name but they have a cat's skull them? They definitely do a Red Llama which is why they were on my radar...

I've got the Hudson Broadcast PCB staring at me and a half done Box of Rocks waiting for pots, but also have a half gutted 1950s radio which I'm turning into a silverface Champ... Too many projects, too little time!

I’m going to go against the grain and echo @rodan’s suggestion of a Rat. Many of those multi fx are guitar toys that most players will end up outgrowing or never get excited anout.

I had thought about a Zoom 505 when I was a teenager but couldn’t be happier I didn’t. I bought good pedals little by little and 90% of them I still own, play and love 20 years on.

If budget allows the T Rex Mudhoney II is an absolute cracking pedal, quite Rat like but with two presets effectively, ranging from crunchy OD to fuzzed out distortion. They go for under 100 second hand. I love my big box Vintage Rat but the lower gain is harder to nail as it’s all bunched up in the first step or two of the dial (Rats are awesome at low gain!); the Mudhoney is so versatile and covers a similar ground sonically and the switchable preset make it two pedals in one effectively.

Edit: scrap that, the Mudhoney II is a hair below 100 new! Most guitarists could use owning one for that much...!

Any bike boxes going possibly in the north London area?

Thanks!

I know there used to be a consolidated thread for offering/looking for cardboard boxes for bikes but wasn't able to dredge it up, so here we are.

As per the title, I'm going to be flying and will need a cardboard box I can dispose of at the other end and have had no luck with LBSs at the moment. Ideally in/around north London!

Also looking to go 32T at the back on the bike which has a 6800 short cage RD, and will therefore need a medium/long cage RD. 5800/6800 or R7/8000 should all work and would be happy with.

Thanks!

Thank you @krutipedali_ for a quick and easy transaction when I sold my Topstone - nice to meet you earlier on!

Now sold! Thank @krutipedali_

Selling my criminally underused 2019 Cannondale Topstone. It's the aluminium model and comes with a 2x9 Sora groupset with a sub-compact chainset.

Got this as a replacement after my Synapse's frame cracked and had planned to use mostly for commuting having built a new road bike in the meanwhile, but Strava tells me it has only done 267.8km and it's probably sensible I move it on to someone who'll enjoy it more.

It's a beautiful deep metallic green colour and comes with full SKS mudguards mounted, 36mm WTB Exposure tyre with hardly any miles on them, Fabric line saddle, flat/SPB dual sided pedals and Supacaz bar tape with matching green stars. I also have the stock WTB Nanos it came with which I'll happily include for a knobbly option.

Was thinking £500 which is nigh on half the price of the new equivalent for a pretty much brand new bike with a few upgrades, but shout if I'm out of whack with the asking price. I'm based in Crouch End N8.

Been stuck at home with the flu but will take photos as soon as I can take it out! For reference though, it look like this

Yeah I saw their post about not renewing the lease. I'd found the whole crowfunding thing weird when they launched that and the fact they never made the target I guess meant this was on the cards.

Velazquez and van Wenzel over on Park rd do nice coffee if you're into lighter coffees (which LoFi also did well at), otherwise the old school Armoni a few doors down from LoFi roast their own beans and do a good, old school Italian espresso if you like stronger stuff.

Sourdough Sophia is said to have nice coffee but I've never tried it. Their croissants are some of the best I've had, but it's all pretty ridiculously expensive in there. Great for a treat though!

Dreary winter weather is well and truly upon us and the idea of riding indoors increasingly sneaking in.

I have a Elite Crono Fluid trainer I no longer use and am happy to pass on for free - it will only need a front wheel block and it's ready to go (these can be had under a tenner).

No fancy functions but will work with Zwift/SYSTM etc with a speed sensor.

I live in N8 but would be happy to deliver it within a reasonable distance - it's quite heavy so not brilliant for bike or public transport.

Will try and post photos soon.

Having a bit of a clearout and have two 15" G4 Powerbooks and a Core2Due MacbookPro (non with a HDD in them and admittedly in fairly shabby condition) to scrap - are there places that take them for parts? Happy to let them go for free but would rather see if Mac enthusiasts that work with old stuff are around rather than simply scrap them all..!

What’s the most affordable option for electric single dose grinding for espresso these days? Those Timemore look great but at post kickstarter prices aren’t quite in the affordable category at the moment.

I’m very happy with my 1Zpresso JX Pro but since my girlfriend has gone caffeine free the different settings and double rounds of grinding (we defaulted to a double each while we used to have singles) have felt a bit faffy but not really in a place where we can justify chucking a few hundreds at the problem… 🤔

Got to hope he keeps a gap until close enough to the end for the chase to start bickering. Probably too far now with 30k still to go...

Will keep tapping my foot frantically for now and pray for that 30k mark to go down and time gap to stay put at worst... 😬🤞

Bettiol off the front with nearly 40 seconds in shit weather and on a chase-crippling course.

Do I dare to dream?!