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I try to adhere to a simple rule of blogging, if you can't say something nice, don't say anything defamatory, legally actionable at all.

There is some good logic behind this way of thinking, including allowing for the possibility of being wrong.

As a result, I have kept pretty quiet during my recent struggles to get a crucial piece of technology repaired.

As you, Dear Reader, may recall, our TASCAM US1800 died during our location recording sessions at Bawley Point (horror! The Horror!).

So instead of complaining about the Distributor being a tad slow (2 months) on dealing with the issue and/or coming across as a grumpy person (Hulk SMASH bad customer service!!), I'd instead, like to give fair praise to the diligence and follow up of the retailer who sold us the gear.

Bravo Nick Bava, bravo Bava's Music City - 

http://bavasmusic.com.au

If I limit myself to minimal ranting about poor performance, I can at least sing the praises of folks that give a sh    care about customers.

Nick and his guys were on the case for months getting our stuff squared away and we're grateful. Thanks guys.

That doesn't make me a happy chappy about the whole process, but my theory of trying to purchase from local retailers was borne out.

I could have bought the unit online more cheaply and I agree that sometimes the web represents a reality price, as opposed to a 'retail' price. But this is where your risk profile comes into play.

When buying gear that might go wrong, is a large(ish) investment or may require future support, buying from the other side of the planet could prove tricky. That said, you can have the same problems with the shop down the street.

In our case, I chose to buy from a local retailer precisely because I wanted to be able to increase my personal participation in resolving any issues.  The price differential was worth the reduction in risk.

I didn't expect the gear to blow up and from my googling, the TASCAM US1800 has the occasional USB interface problem (the chip goes bung) but on the whole, i still think it's a grand piece of kit.

However, when the unit went Kaplooey (under less than ideal circumstances) I was lucky to get such good help from my local retailer, bolstering my opinion that maintaining local connections to your supply chain is a good thing.

Paying for stuff from bricks and mortar stores can prove more expensive and I am not adverse to a good ebay bargain, but when I look at a purchase like the recording system, I also try and think of what might go wrong and who will I need to stalk chase up to get issues resolved.

So in short, the distributor could lift their game but the retailer went into bat for us with alacrity. Bravo Bava's.

Editors Note: Anoher moment from the production of the current album, as Mr Wizard and Pete started looking at the interplay of instruments on Light In The Distance...

Hey Sliders.

The Dobro was out of tune? No, must be the bass. Pete checked the notes on the Upright Bass (double bass) that Mike Rix played on the location recording and check out his tuning.

This is #G

That line is the note and you can see that Rixie is scary accurate esp. considering how variable the DBass is.

Mike u r a legend. 

Bugger. that means it's the dobro. I'll have to fix.

Howdy Folks.

We're due back on deck on Saturday 12th May at the Bald Rock in Rozelle. More details to follow.

As soon as I can think of some.

Ah! We start at 8:30 ish.

Depending,, or...um

Err..

Aha! IThe gig's in Rozelle!

Near that old white bay power station thing.

Sort of.

Well, around the corner really.

 More like up-the-street-and-to-the-right. 

Oh.

That's if you're facing balmain.

Of course, if you're facing the other way, it's on your left.

From Victoria road I mean.

Um..

Let's just assume you use a GPS and we'll see you there!

Hey Sliders. My fave vinyl house is the vintage record in annandale (www.vintagerecord.com). People often ask how come their records are so clean. Here is the answer.

The only Vinyl cleaner in Sydney, as far as I know. They even use a super secret cleaning formula to get their vinyl squeaky clean!

Wiz.

Q: You write a blog about the making of your album and you take this picture in the studio.

How do you explain it:

A: WOW! Rosie went berserk during his solo and played so overwhelming brutally that he snapped the head off the guitar? Deathclok await!

B: Mr Wizard tried to tune this guitar to C#

C: One of the unnamed guitarists had spent the night doing controlled substances and watching Pete Townshend Videos?

D: Thor, god of thunder was jamming with us and spotted a cockroach

E: REDACTED DUE TO NATIONAL SECURITY

F: It fell over.

I leave it to your imaginations as to the true cause of this mishap.

Rosie was back for another session at the temple of guitar and I felt it best not to get in his face with a video camera. Have I mentioned how fearsome he can be? That sounds way better than saying i didnt want to cramp his mental space  whilst he tried experimental parts for his solo.

I think we'll stick with the hard core explanations, as opposed to any unfounded suggestions that we are a thoughtful lot. I prefer the idea of a bad-ass Rosie.

Much guitar stuff was attempted as Rosie with the help of Pete and to a lesser extent, some degree of "help" from me (LOL) tried solos for Feel So Blue and did other exciting guitar stuff.

We've now locked in the final set of sessions over the next four weeks and after that it's mixing time, we're definitely in sight of the end of this production. We think.  Maybe. Fingers crossed. We may yet have to sacrifice more guitars ;-)