Sunday 20 January 2008

conditions of the race

Spent a large part of the day working through some of the 'backend' php code from kotn trying to track down a  race condition that was causing a problem with some files used for logging. It's just using a simple flat-file system as it doesn't need any complex database functionality, but the difficulties of finding and replicating the circumstances of a race condition can be an absolute nightmare! I did wonder if I should move it all over to SQL DB, but it's a little over the top for what's needed.

Anyway, I've re-written some sections of code in a number of files to see if it will (hopefully) improves things. Now, just hoping that it doesn't break anything else!

Saturday 19 January 2008

action man

LesPaul

Decided to lower the action on the Les Paul, so wound down the bridge a little and then tweaked the intonation to bring things back on track. It's now a much more playable guitar - well for my liking.

The guitar is a cheap, Gibson Les Paul copy made by Summco and at only sixty odd quid, is a fantastic instrument and extremely playable. It comes, like most off-the-shelf guitars do, with a reasonably high action, which for me was too high for lead playing. I'm also planning to try lighter gauge strings, probably a set of nines. Which is what I use on my strat (my main guitar).

I also fitted a Jim Dunlop Straplok, as I hate it when in mid session the strap comes loose and you're left stood there clutching the guitar and looking rather foolish. I know there are cheaper strap locking systems around than the Dunlop ones, but I've used them for years and have them fitted to some of my other guitars and they've never let me down yet. And it's handy to be able to swap straps over to one of the other guitars. On the subject of straps, I do find it difficult to find straps that I like. I do like the standard Fender straps, but I feel it's not really appropriate to put one on a Les Paul style guitar - although I do have one on my Epiphone acoustic - sacrilege!

Monday 14 January 2008

Layout

Well, just spent some time just trying to alter this layout so it looks a little better - this will have to do for now. At least it's a better width than it was.

First Post

The first post. Not very inspiring, I know, but got to start somewhere!