Need to know budget and what style of music you play.

Don’t get hung up on wattage. How good the amps volume circuit is (if valve) is way more important than its size or wattage.
Consider second hand to get a better amp than buying new will get you.

I’ve worked from home for a long time and have had a few iterations.

Currently I have a reconditioned Herman Miller aeron and the ikea bekant electric sit/stand desk.
I don’t tend to work standing up much now I have a decent chair but do stand and walk round the house regularly on calls.
A standard non sit/stand bekant desk is a fraction of the price and is adjustable when you assemble it. I’ve got one of those too.

If you’re on a budget of sorts, spend most of your budget on the chair and get a reconditioned Herman Miller. For the desk, a standard Bekant is a great choice.

Just to dispel the estate car boot myth

BMW X3 550 litres
BMW 5 series tourer 560 litres

5 series tourers are lovely but prefer my X3 driving position

If you’re not doing any serious off road, you can’t got wrong with a Q5 or X3. Lovely cars.
I’ve had an X3 (F25) for 5 years and it’s a lovely car. I’ve no intention of replacing it yet.
I have test driven the toureg and a few others but even though they were newer, were not as nice.
If I was to replace it now, I’d get another but would test drive the Q5 and little Porsche for comparison.

Family of 4 plus 2 dogs and the size is just right. Easy to park, not too shabby in the running cost dept (although more than a 5 series tourer for a similar boot size).

I have looked at the Q7 and X5 etc but they are huge and don’t want the hassle parking or the massive tyres and higher running costs.

Chasing tone when playing at home pointless??!?

Speak for yourself man, I’ll have you know I play the O2 every night in front of thousands :D

Edit HNAD Mikey. I’d get an OD upfront to tighten it up for the D and drop C mastodon stuff.

I’m using a b&q cheapo circular saw and a home made track. It’s more faff than the bought options discussed above that I’m watching with interest but only use it to rip sheets down.

@footflaps – the rail on my Bosch table saw has adjustable tension to stop it moving located at the opposite end of the clamp. Once set It’s pretty good. I can’t fault it, any error is mine.

Thanks folks – will go with the Trav all

Tbh I’d go with your guitarhero’s recommendation in that case. Especially if budget is a concern.
It’s very easy to go OTT…

Go with the Boss – I’ve not played one but they seem to be widely regarded, especially if compared to the spider.

What’s your budget? is this for home practice or will you play out? What sort of music do you want to play?

Really impressed with these

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B074J3LMDS/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Edit – should add its build quality I’m impressed with. I use a flask for hot drinks, this for cold.

I’ll just leave this here

https://www.gear4music.com/Guitar-and-Bass/Line-6-Helix-HX-Stomp-Multi-Effects-Pedal/2OXM

It’s the price of a few pedals…..

Edit: buggerit! I think this one would be better. USB interface and looper included. Checkout eBay, should be able to find one second hand

https://www.gear4music.com/Guitar-and-Bass/Line-6-Helix-LT-Multi-Effects-Guitar-Processor/1XHS

Plenty of great mastodon tunes out there to learn. Blood and thunder is simple and in d standard. Lots in drop c too. Mastodon are awesome

I’d go with a looper as that is a useful practice tool. You don’t need anything flash – just a tc ditto or boss rc1 will do.
If you go down the interface route a focusrite scarlett 2i2 is plenty but would recommend you get some nearfield monitors too (in which case you can also start looking at VSTs and wotnot too). Again, if you go down the interface route, what DAW would you use?

TLDR, based on budget and what you’ve mentioned so far, it really sounds like a looper in your amps fx loop is what suits at this stage. Save the interface and associated kit for later when you’ve more cash. Getting one of those two loopers would leave you plenty of cash for later too.
Do you have Guitar pro? that’s another great practice tool

@Mikey74

A second hand kemper will cost £<1K, a helix <£800 and an Ax 8 <£800

Fractal kit is cheaper in NA so shouldn’t be too bad in Canada too. don’t forget you can get the Helix LT and smaller variants for much less now too.

Honestly, I’d save it towards something and resist scratching the itch. quality not quantity and all that boring jazz

Glad you’re keeping it in drop c – always fancied one. Do you play any periphery stuff? I can play jetpacks and have marigold on the go as a long term prospect. Sat here now taking a break from learning letter experiment on my RGD :)

What tuning do you have your Holcomb in?

Comes as standard in drop C I think.

Sounds like you have everything you need so would save it towards better gear.
As you asked for living room guitarist suggestions, I’d save it towards a kemper, axe fx or helix and a really nice set of monitors.
Alternatively, save it towards another guitar in another tuning or a 7 string.

My tastes go from maiden at one end to periphery and gojira at the other and have far too many guitars and amps.
If you were in the uk, I’d link you to my reverb shop as I’m heading the other way (less gear as I now know what I love and what I don’t after years of experimenting)

I wouldn’t link spend to how good you can play. Link it to much you enjoy it and want to spend

you never know, upgrading from a cheapo acoustic to something that plays and sounds nicer may motivate you to play more and improve faster.

While you could go for something radically different, you could also just get something you like and will play. Perhaps kept in a different tuning.

I tried Les Pauls and other single cuts and alsways went back to the superstrat style. I’ve got a few but only a Couple of them are tuned the same.

I’m enjoying having a clear out at the moment. Selling amps, pedals and guitars that don’t get used regularly. It’s liberating, I finally feel like I know what I like and am happy sticking to it. I sell most of my gear on reverb now. Hassle free so far so would recommend you check it out and buy second hand.

We get lots, they hibernate in the windows so if you open one in winter you have to clean up and reloacate a dozen docile ladybirds.

Same every year. Moreso at the back than the front. I put it down to the trees and one in particular that I think is a Norway maple.

Play little and often daily and the skin will toughen up.

If if there’s any pain elsewhere, ligament or muscle, stop and look at your technique. Don’t push through that.

Surgical spirit can can be used to toughen skin but wouldn’t recommend it. Playing little and often is a good habit to get into and the rest will come.

For 30k I’d want approved used as that’ll come with 2yr warranty.

Always fancied getting a RR myself but always bottled it due to the horror stories

There’s a commercial Disco 4 at the stables I ride at. The first was bought with 120k on the clock. After a year or so, she started getting faults with it so got rid for a newer one.

Lovely cars are when they work

I use a Stihl SH86. You can either vacuum or blow with it.

The best technique ive found is to blow them into a line in the middle of the garden then hoover them up using the mower. They then get bagged and turned into leaf mould

If I didn’t want the leaf mould, I’d just use the mower or a rake (I use the bulldog one linked earlier)

depends on the model year. Target display mode is only on the older macs. From 2015 you need to use Remote Desktop like vnc (there are many others). Downside of this approach is lag and size limited to 17”

Getting Things Done is a great methodology but I prefer to use a ‘lite’ Take Back your Life approach (Sally McGhee).

I use a system that’s a hybrid of both but absolutely everything goes into outlook and if it needs to be followed up on, it goes into the calendar and is categorised (using only a half a dozen categories).

Its a a great system and works pretty well. My job can be very interrupt driven. By being organised I can focus on the long term goals and strategy while still being able to juggle other stuff.

Another top read (or listen in my case) is Covey’s 7 Habits book. Helps you to focus on important stuff.

I was really looking forward to seeing this tour. Bought tickets to see them next week but can’t go now :(

Maiden fan for the past 30 years and beyond gutted :(

tixketless gig as well so don’t think I can offload me tickets

As you’ve read First Light, I’d recommend Brian Kincome’s book, A Willingness to Die

A work of very good and well researched fiction is Len Deighton’s book, Bomber.

I’ve been using nematodes for a few years and they really help keep the slug pop down. The trick is timing.

One application in spring has done so far as the local hedgehog etc pop seems to prevent their numbers recovering too much

just bear in mind it’ll be many weeks before you see a decline in numbers.

Auto bean to cup machines are pretty consistent at delivering great coffee once tuned.

Beans are variable so grind and tamp pressure all influence flavour.

I went for one of the sage barista machines and have had the best coffee I’ve ever had out of it. It took a while to learn but it’s been well worth it.

Another vote for Bulldog

Eg

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bulldog-Long-Handled-Digging-Fork/dp/B004NT3CRM

https://www.coffeebeanshop.co.uk/

Great service, they can recommend various bean types to you

I’ve been wearing lenses for 28 years now but am finding as I’m getting older longsightedness is also kicking in and seems worse with contacts than my glasses on. I’ve never had an issue with lenses but am finding my tolerance is decreasing and have been looking at lens replacement.

OP and others who have had laser treatment. Why chose that over lens replacement?

I had an espresso for years but the last couple it didn’t get much use.

Just before Christmas I bought the Sage Barista express I think it’s called. I decided not to go full auto as I wanted more control over the outcome.

I’ve had some mediocre coffees out of it where I’ve been learning but not many. Each bag I’ve tried required a different grind and firmness of tamp to get the espresso just right. I’ve been full on geek taking notes and can honestly say I’ve made the best coffee I’ve ever had with it.

Within two weeks of having it, I can honestly say I’m getting great, consistent results and would highly recommend it.

I’ve had a selection of beans from here as it’s relatively local and the service is excellent.

https://www.coffeebeanshop.co.uk/

A proper vr headset like the rift with the additional cameras and space to use it is absolute amazeballs.

I’ve spent a few hours on a mates playing flying, driving, shooting and horror games (and a few others I couldn’t categorise – wii like). He has both the PC headsets.

They can take a little while to get used to as it’s messing with your senses but nothing too bad.

They’re not like 4K quality due to IPD (distance from eyes), where they excel is gameplay and immersion. I really enjoyed a shooter that was like counterstrike..the games are very reasonably priced.

If I had a PC capable of running one, I’d have one in a flash (oculus would be my choice)

Op – have a look for reaper on pc, for Mac, garage band is free.

Focusrite interfaces come with Ableton or pro tools lite or the suchlike I think. I use logic so can’t help

I spent an evening on an Oculus setup with motion cameras and was completely blown away.

Shooters, flying and driving games were on another level from a gameplay perspective. What I saw was mirrored on the pc screen/tv.

If I had time to regularly play games, I’d buy a new pc and headset in a flash

Mikkel – if you’re after rc gear, I have an old Futuba FF7 kicking about and I’m sure I can rustle up a couple of rx

Keep meaning to eBay it because if I do get back into it (I’ve a half built from plan typhoon that I want to finish and fly), I’ll go 2.4 because my local site can be a bit noisy.

I preferred acrobatic planes. If you’re experienced, the Cougar and PAnic were both lovely planes. They could go from sedate pondering to sheer lunacy.

Mine also had a 91fs. I’d go leccy now though

If you’re less experienced and don’t want to spend too much time fixing, I learnt with one of these

It’s a jp prangster dont get the 3D version, get the one with some dihedral in the wing.

Then move onto a sportier plan like an acrowot.

I’ve owned all the above.

Prangster for learning. Acrowot for acrobatic learning and crap weather – a lovely plane and takes a bit more build too so should be on your list. Panic/Cougar for 3D

HTH

Edit -just seen you’re looking to take it up. Join the bmfa and a local club. Being on a buddy box will save money and time on repairs etc. Also make sure you have insurance and fly somewhere where it is allowed.

Ifatfirstyoudontsucceed.com?

Ios11 is alright now. All the household devices that can run it are now upgraded and even the older ones are ok.

What I really like is that I can share iCloud now with the family. Much better value. 2tb of off site backup and storage.

get an iPad, go for a pro and it’ll last you years. Apple refurb – well worth the extra 100 for a refurb Pro over the air.

If you’re thinking of shipping them be aware they’re likely contain controlled wood like rosewood.

https://blog.andertons.co.uk/guitars/cites

Zoom

Or google hangouts

I’ve a 42mm s2 so not much help. Battery life is pretty decent. I find it very useful not having to be glued to my phone as much. Some of the apps are quite cool.

Only negative so far has been how easily the screen scratches but my old watch had sapphire glass and was near indestructible