INFRFRsD: Gotta Pay To Play
Posted: Sat Apr 05, 2025 3:31 pm
Good morning,
My brother is a cheap motherfucker. He insists on using only entry-level gear, and not spending any money on upkeep of the good gear he does own. He has a FANTASTIC 1973 P-Bass, which needs a new nut, tuners, bridge and frets, yet he will not spend the money to make the necessary repairs to make that bass more workable. His Ampeg SS-30, which I was tasked with buying him, is stuck in between the two channels, and wont put out any sound. Will he take it to the only Ampeg service center near him, Full Compass? No.
When we jammed at his house most recently, the amp went ka-shit, and, he had me run my QC into a cheap-ass karaoke machine, while he used his Line 6 Pod Express - while I don’t love the controls, I will admit that it sounds pretty good - though an old soundbar for his television. While I admire the willingness to salvage the jam session, we still had significant problems with the amplification that I don’t believe it was worth it.
I kept insisting he get working gear, and, to do that, he needs to spend money. I kept showing him the Headrush FRFR Go, or the Spark offerings, but he would have nothing to do with them.
I don’t have the heart to refuse to jam, because his gear doesn’t work, so I’ve taken the matter into my own hands: I bought two FRFR Gos last night, which may have been a smart choice, given certain current political and economic occurrences that I will not discuss. This should solve the problem. The amp problem, not the political thing.
So, in keeping with a sense of thrift, I am $300 out of pocket, but we can, at least, play.
Thank you.
My brother is a cheap motherfucker. He insists on using only entry-level gear, and not spending any money on upkeep of the good gear he does own. He has a FANTASTIC 1973 P-Bass, which needs a new nut, tuners, bridge and frets, yet he will not spend the money to make the necessary repairs to make that bass more workable. His Ampeg SS-30, which I was tasked with buying him, is stuck in between the two channels, and wont put out any sound. Will he take it to the only Ampeg service center near him, Full Compass? No.
When we jammed at his house most recently, the amp went ka-shit, and, he had me run my QC into a cheap-ass karaoke machine, while he used his Line 6 Pod Express - while I don’t love the controls, I will admit that it sounds pretty good - though an old soundbar for his television. While I admire the willingness to salvage the jam session, we still had significant problems with the amplification that I don’t believe it was worth it.
I kept insisting he get working gear, and, to do that, he needs to spend money. I kept showing him the Headrush FRFR Go, or the Spark offerings, but he would have nothing to do with them.
I don’t have the heart to refuse to jam, because his gear doesn’t work, so I’ve taken the matter into my own hands: I bought two FRFR Gos last night, which may have been a smart choice, given certain current political and economic occurrences that I will not discuss. This should solve the problem. The amp problem, not the political thing.
So, in keeping with a sense of thrift, I am $300 out of pocket, but we can, at least, play.
Thank you.
