Hi chaps. Thanks for the great comments and advice.
Jim, I'll check that man out, thanks

Uncle John, It's not for sale ). Great encouragement, thanks and passed on to Tom, who I've suggested should join CBN. Your point about strengthening the corners...I had way too much resonance from the plate, especially B 4th fret, which I've managed to dampen with part of a beer mat jammed in under one of the corners. I guess new plates are flatter but they miss the character. Corner brackets (like on old suitcases) holding it to the box might be the answer - and look good, too. Nice suggestion.

Fomhorach, that's really the point, isn't it; make the machine and the music. I've written quite a few songs but never played an instrument. When I go back to the songs I can't remember what sort of tune I had in mind. My son built this and said I would be able to play it; he's right-ish. The thing is that I'm learning a new language with it and the play-along stuff in riffstation is a great way to improve my vocabularyand musical grammar; what chords/notes work well in a sequence or repetition and so on. Working on Bob Dylan's "Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid main theme" at the mo and that's giving me ideas about sequences and stuff. Thanks for your response; that's my objective, too.

Bobby G and Derek Rose, thanks guys

Hey Grandpa; it sounds beaut, but I'm having some trouble with the pots. Took them out, blow dried and cleaned them but still not optimal. Part of the fun, though. Red oak sounds good.