Hi Tom
Thanks very much for your offer and it's great to know there are others here who play Shads because if ever I get good enough I'd love to join in and play or just pick up some hints. That's a long way in the future though. I don't think I've yet been able to play along to backing tracks of the few tunes I know (a bit) right through without a mistake and haven't even learnt to play standing up yet! However I've learnt not to stop when I make a mistake so at least finish at the same time as the backing tracks!:)
I think it really is my technique (pressing too hard and perhaps accidentally bending a bit) causing the intonation problems as the pitch is fine on some and not others within a 30 minute practice session in any order. It's funny though that now I'm trying to press more lightly on the strings I'm also strumming too lightly so have to retrain my brain not to do that.
I'm also recording some practice sessions with backing tracks to see how they're going (amazing how many more playing faults become obvious that way!) and upgraded to a Shure mike but it has an XLR cable so I bought a Lexicon Alpha USB box which although installed and recognised by Windows doesn't produce any sound from the mike so I'll have to try to fix that on the weekend too. Hopefully it will just be a case of new drivers but who knows. At least I'm better with computers than with guitars and amps.
Anyway thanks very much again! Oh, and I'm in my 50s & my husband will soon be 60 so we're not that young either
Best wishes
Rosemary