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Dear Abby,

I think my wife is cheating on me. I'm a working musician and travel a lot, and recently strange things have been happening when I get home. Her mobile rings and she steps outside too answer it or she says ' I'll call you back later'.

Sometimes she goes out with friends and comes home late, getting dropped off around the corner! I once picked up the extension while she was on the phone and she got very angry.

A mate of mine plays guitar in a band. he told me that my wife and some guy have been to his gigs. He wanted to borrow my amp. That’s when I got the idea to find out what was really going on.  I said that he could use the amp but I wanted to hide behind it at the gig and see who she comes in with. He agreed.

Saturday night came and I slipped behind the half stack to get a good view of the crowd. I could feel the heat from the back of the amp. Crouching down behind my Marshall, I noticed one of the power stage valves wasn't glowing as brightly as the others.

Is this something I can fix myself, or do I need to take it to a technician?

Very concerned, Norwich.

i don't remember whee i found this -- maybe on this site.

but if you think you've got it bad -- well, i play several instruments besides guitar, and i play in a couple of bands.  my wife -- a real music hater (can you believe that?) --thought i used to practice just to aggravate her.  she's gone now ...

sounds like most of us are old goats.  55 here, i am from 1952.  been playing most of my life.  can't stop now.

I bought a masterbuilt, aj500rns in january. i put my martin dm in the case, and haven't taken it out.  the epi gives me deep, rich warm lows, and bright , clear highs.  i love this guitar.  still, my '45 gibson j45 has a sweeter sound -- but i don't play it much either.  I got a really great deal.  musician's friend advertised it as a discounted "blem" model.  it came through perfect -- not a scratch -- for a SMALL fraction of the cost of a new gibson, and seems to stand right alongside the newer gibsins as far as quality.  I originally was under the impression that epiphone made cheaper, lower quality guitars.  boy was i wrong.

you can never have enough guitars

for a few hundred dollars more, i suggest you look into the epiphone Masterbuilt line.  these are top-of-the-line epiphones and apparently they put a lot of effort and quality into them. they stack up well against the gibsons (which I can't afford either).  i was shocked and amazed when i tried them, and landed on an aj 500 rns,  soild soruce top, real rosewood sides and back, etc (look them up).  plays and sounds great. loud, bright sound with rich,deep base tomes.  i like it a lot better than my more expensive (cheapy) Martin DM -- which has laminated sides and back.

the parkwood is also a good suggestion, and might be my next guitar.

i know it's a stupid question, but don't you think i went through all that before i asked?

royal palm beach, florida -- where i started an acoustic musicians club

are you nuts?!!??  i put my guitar away after college and let it gather a lot of dust.  i took it up again at the age of 53, and i have never been happier.  had to almost start from scratch again, but i love it!  can't put it down. only wish i could sing well -- then i'd be on the road.  I bought guitars for both my kids (14 & 19) and i'm teaching them to play too.  good luck.