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Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Making The Sidecar Sing
Sidecar Dog Spring Training continues as I develop my skills by working on sidecar dog essentials. Today’s drill: Spending money I don’t have instead of wasting invaluable time on jury-rigged, half-baked solutions that might or might not work.
The morning started with total failure. There is just no way make the sidecar sing with what I have here. Using the Bosch boombox won’t work. I was hoping to use a Y-adapter to join two into one miniplug stereo input but I guess the instrument input requires a preamp because that channel doesn’t produce sound on the boombox.
In the case of Pignose, the name used to be associated with something interesting. The Pignose amp was the first battery-operated guitar amplifier. But the first in line is often the last in quality. My Pignose doesn't work and there is no solution short of taking it apart, finding the short-circuit and resoldering it, all probably in vain because it’s sure to break again at the first bump in the road. Yes, all you consumers out there, do not purchase a Pignose based on its it’s cool name because these products are slapped together using third quality pine blocks in China and use absolutely the crappiest components available. Simple equation: Pignose = Not Good. Take it from me.
After a few deep breaths, more drills on an important essential skill: perserverance. At 10 AM I decided to chuck the Pignose and started surfing the web for something that works. The criteria were:
An hour later I’d decided on a Crate TX15. It has a sealed lead acid battery, two channels a six-inch speaker and even a tweeter. I called every music store in the West Palm Beach area but noone carries Crate amps and noone had anything good to say about them. That’s when I ran across this.
This is called the Amp Can. It’s made by Fender. You may have heard of Fender. They are best known for little trinkets called the ‘Stratocaster’ and the ‘Telecaster’. If you’re not familiar with the name, put on any Jimi Hendrix or Bruce Springsteen record and you’ll recognize the sound. Another hour and a dozen more calls to all the major music stores later I still hadn’t found one in stock. Close to tears and about ready to bash my head against the wall (again), I googled ‘music store’ to see if there were any I’d hadn’t called yet.
The only music store I hadn't called yet was a Sam Ash in Margate, about an hour from here. At that point I was ready to even buy a crappy Crate if I could find one. I asked the young man (I love being old enough to call people “young man”) at the instrument department if he had a Crate and he said, “No.” My heart sank. But then he said, “…Wait a second…yeah we have one.” We don’t sell many of them. Most people buy the Amp Can instead.”
Two hours later I was the proud owner of a Fender Amp Can. I will now tell you why this product is good. You will be able to use this information in the future so don’t leave yet!
Electronic devices have to be plugged in. Most portable devices use an adapter of some kind with a little round plug at the end of the cord. If the little plug doesn’t fit snugly into the jack, it will wobble when the cord moves. When it wobbles, the connector on the device wobbles too. The more wobbling, the more weakness. Over time and use, eventually the connector will wobble loose from whatever it is attached to inside the housing of the device. At that point, the device stops being a device and starts being landfill.
Take a look at the connector on the Pignose. Yes, the plug protrudes from the jack. Yes, it wobbles like a weeble. Yes, it came loose. Yes it is crap. Another 16 pounds of landfill for your dumping pleasure.
Now, look at the connector on the Amp Can.
Yes, it is recessed. Yes, it fits snug as a bug in a rug. Yes, it is an excellent design. No, it cannot wobble. Yes, buy this product and spend your time playing music using instead of taking crappy products to the dump.
So finally at 4 PM we’re ready to move on. Next essential dril: getting stuff done.
And finally, finally, we’re off to Palm Beach where I hoped to find a vibrant town center full of promenading couples. See you tomorrow!
The morning started with total failure. There is just no way make the sidecar sing with what I have here. Using the Bosch boombox won’t work. I was hoping to use a Y-adapter to join two into one miniplug stereo input but I guess the instrument input requires a preamp because that channel doesn’t produce sound on the boombox.
What’s In A Name?
In the case of Pignose, the name used to be associated with something interesting. The Pignose amp was the first battery-operated guitar amplifier. But the first in line is often the last in quality. My Pignose doesn't work and there is no solution short of taking it apart, finding the short-circuit and resoldering it, all probably in vain because it’s sure to break again at the first bump in the road. Yes, all you consumers out there, do not purchase a Pignose based on its it’s cool name because these products are slapped together using third quality pine blocks in China and use absolutely the crappiest components available. Simple equation: Pignose = Not Good. Take it from me.
How To Make A Sidecar Sing
After a few deep breaths, more drills on an important essential skill: perserverance. At 10 AM I decided to chuck the Pignose and started surfing the web for something that works. The criteria were:
- Size – It has to fit in the front of the sidecar
- Construction – It has to have a good design and solid construction
- Availablity – It has to be available within 50 miles of here.
An hour later I’d decided on a Crate TX15. It has a sealed lead acid battery, two channels a six-inch speaker and even a tweeter. I called every music store in the West Palm Beach area but noone carries Crate amps and noone had anything good to say about them. That’s when I ran across this.
Amp In A Can
This is called the Amp Can. It’s made by Fender. You may have heard of Fender. They are best known for little trinkets called the ‘Stratocaster’ and the ‘Telecaster’. If you’re not familiar with the name, put on any Jimi Hendrix or Bruce Springsteen record and you’ll recognize the sound. Another hour and a dozen more calls to all the major music stores later I still hadn’t found one in stock. Close to tears and about ready to bash my head against the wall (again), I googled ‘music store’ to see if there were any I’d hadn’t called yet.
The only music store I hadn't called yet was a Sam Ash in Margate, about an hour from here. At that point I was ready to even buy a crappy Crate if I could find one. I asked the young man (I love being old enough to call people “young man”) at the instrument department if he had a Crate and he said, “No.” My heart sank. But then he said, “…Wait a second…yeah we have one.” We don’t sell many of them. Most people buy the Amp Can instead.”
Two hours later I was the proud owner of a Fender Amp Can. I will now tell you why this product is good. You will be able to use this information in the future so don’t leave yet!
It's In The Jack, Jack!
Electronic devices have to be plugged in. Most portable devices use an adapter of some kind with a little round plug at the end of the cord. If the little plug doesn’t fit snugly into the jack, it will wobble when the cord moves. When it wobbles, the connector on the device wobbles too. The more wobbling, the more weakness. Over time and use, eventually the connector will wobble loose from whatever it is attached to inside the housing of the device. At that point, the device stops being a device and starts being landfill.
Take a look at the connector on the Pignose. Yes, the plug protrudes from the jack. Yes, it wobbles like a weeble. Yes, it came loose. Yes it is crap. Another 16 pounds of landfill for your dumping pleasure.
Now, look at the connector on the Amp Can.
Yes, it is recessed. Yes, it fits snug as a bug in a rug. Yes, it is an excellent design. No, it cannot wobble. Yes, buy this product and spend your time playing music using instead of taking crappy products to the dump.
So finally at 4 PM we’re ready to move on. Next essential dril: getting stuff done.
- Making the Treats boxes.
- Feeding Miles, Ella and Bo.
- Attaching the guitar to the sidecar.
And finally, finally, we’re off to Palm Beach where I hoped to find a vibrant town center full of promenading couples. See you tomorrow!
Monday, March 2, 2009
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