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Has anyone ended up buying a bass from themselves, and if so, how was the haggling conducted? Did you have to drive to a distant motorway service station in order to conduct the transaction in front of a mirror?

With this picture underneath it. 😁

Some people thing they're pointless but my favourite thing about the xmas and new year downtime is the opportunity for reflection and to gain some perspective. Over three last two or three years I've managed to make some real progress following a 10 year hiatus from the bass guitar. This process followed some challenging but realistic new years resolutions: I found a terrific teacher and took some lessons, listened to lots of new and old music, attended local open mic gigs and because of the networking opportunities these offer joined a gigging band. I videoed myself playing and was able to address my duff stage presence and miserable demeanor. I finally smashed my confidence barrier and started singing backing vocals and later took over lead vocals on one song. I've taken a few singing lessons to improve my technique in this area as well. I am now in a new covers band with some great players and I've also taken over bass duties in the local open mic house band which is every week. So finally, my new year resolutions for 2020? 1 I want to become accomplished at reading chord charts so I can open up more varied gigging opportunities; 2 I want to make original music. Covers allow me to scratch one particular itch but I'm craving some deeper creative satisfaction. I think these are realistic aspirations. Does anyone else plan to set themselves any new challenges on 2020? Merry Christmas and happy new year to all BCers 🍻

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OK so, first impressions are almost all positive. I buy B-Stock whenever i can so I don't worry about the first ding, it's already done for me! In this case it's a small mark to the back of the neck. Not a problem, I'll soon add more to keep it company. It balances beautifully, as has been said above, both standing and sitting. The neck goes all the way from the bottom from to the top which I always like in a bass. Seriously though the double cutaway makes the neck look like a landing strip. It's only 22 frets but looks way longer somehow, Extremely comfy to ply up the dusty end which i like a lot. This was bought for it's looks, that's subjective so no point going into how utterly gorgeous it is, those who disagree will only get shirty with me. Neck is straight, plays very nicely. Pick ups are pretty punchy. Not up there with my BB or my Bruce Thomas but those are freakishly powerful pups. Bidge pick up pleasantly pokey (I usually dislike them - often too weedy) and the tone pots actually have a noticeable effect throughout their travel - not just on/off like some. Bridge seems solid and easy to adjust, pick cover not in my way but that's either going to clash with your playing style or it isn't and it's only a couple of screws if you hate it. No buzzes or hums, tuners firm and responsive and accurate. No sharp fret ends, no buzzy frets, no dead spots, intonation is good. Downsides? Well it came set up and in tune (those crazy Germans) but the action is set way too low for me and the strings are zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzingy rounds which I dislike. I get why it's set up to within a half a thou of the fretboard - many people like a low action and often give a positive review of a bass, based partly on how low that can be. Makes sense to ship it really low and have everyone saying Wow the action was great straight out the box rather than I had do a bunch of work to get it right which is off putting for those who can't adjust stuff themselves. But that is literally all I can fault it on. I prefer a higher action and less lively strings - not exactly damning criticism is it? Oh - is it chambered? Well I rapped my knuckles on it and frankly that highly scientific test was inconclusive.

I get it now! Chinese Rickenbacker = chickenbacker! I honestly thought it was something to do with chickens!!!

Just leave the bridge as it is and play the damn thing. 😁👍

Mine would be: Spend more time on Basschat Buy more basses Practice less That way nobody is disappointed.

Seasonal Greetings to All S-W Bashers from Scrumpymike and the Scrumpettes! Not long now until we meet again - preparations are well under way 😊

One resolution is that I’m going to spend more time practicing, and less time on basschat (like that’s really gonna happen🙄) 😁

Merry Christmas, everyone!

how about "G'DAE mate" ............has to be read in an aussie accent

Flats on everything for me but when I do need a bit more zing I break out my reserve set of Elites Groundwounds. More zing but none of the cheesegrater twangy metallic horribleness I associate with rounds

You actual can’t win here cant win here can you?! These are familiar shapes that people en masse do like and are ergonomic, and have stood the test of time. If they look and sound great, have a high QC control and feel better than a ‘Fender’ at a great price, have great customer service especially with a hub in the U.K. - then is that not a victory for us as consumers? Why not trade an official Mexican Fender knock off for a UK/USA fender knock off? If they designed something different which look like a child drew a melted candle with a chubby crayon, then you may all silently applause, but the likelihood is y’all wouldn’t rush to buy one and support the venture no matter how good it sounds. As an example So much gets discussed how a P sits in the mix, so a company reproduces that bass that a metric tonne of people use, and they get panned for it. The proof is indeed the fit and finish, rolled neck, neck profile, neck and body feel, pick ups, pre-amp etc. Who knows good be a bloody good set of basses or an absolute turkey, but you know what - they look alright, not offensive in the least

Why, oh why do we get just another round of fenders. Sorry to say that I expected something more and novel. Great amps should equal great and original design in basses, too.

Elixirs all the way. Round and coated. Gimme zing over dull thud every time.

Seasons greetings and festive felicitations to one and all .

It does - you can pluck both of them 🙂

I can think of some on here that would seemingly happily argue with themselves, but now's not the timr......... time, I meant time, definitely time 🤣

Stone me ! We're outta here !

I think we're living in the golden age of great quality, inexpensive instruments. Long may it continue. 😉

Anyway, call it what you will, I loved it the moment I saw it, it plays beautifully, and I don't regard it as a cheap instrument - except in terms of it's price. I have moved on 'better' basses over the decades which were not as good. Not nearly.

You're a genius! Also: "Listen, love, this was way too cheap to let pass. The seller lost 800 quid on it, ya know..." 😀

Its just sublime and Steely Dan always take me by surprise no matter how many times I hear there albums .. Denny Dias/Elliot Randall on solo guitar, Chuck Rainey on bass, Bernard Purdie on drums. What a groove they lay down. 😮 imo.

Our IT team are tracking them down at this very moment. The highly trained BC stealth commando unit, have had Christmas leave cancelled and are on standby.

Having more than one account so you can express different views seems a bit underhand to me. You might find you're arguing with yourself. No wonder there are frequent threads about mental health!

Dont blame you. I also remember the toilets having a step up in to the room. Quite amusing watching people trip up it lol.

I FOUND A FAULT! There you go, for anyone who really doesn't want this bass to be any good. One of the five allen bolts used to raise and lower the bridge takes a different size allen key than do all the others. How's that for cheap crap!

I like it a lot. But you know, we all like different looks. Some people play basses (out of choice) which make me want to take up the oboe.

...and a peaceful non-denominational unspecified winter festival to all.

This came up a very, very long time ago - my suggestion was : "All Your Bass Are Belong To Us". No-one liked it then, no-one'll like it now...

No disrespect to your singer, but we all know that a singer carrying less than usual is moving into the realms of the impossible.

Do it, you’ll only regret it if you don’t. I did the BMus at ICMP, I graduated in 2015. It really opens your eyes, not only about your playing, but other aspects of music too. I’d never written any music until the second year of the course. We had a composition module, run by a very inspiring tutor. I graduated with a Masters in composition in 2018, I’m now in the second year of my PhD. I’d never have been doing this if I hadn’t studied music. Bear in mind I originally went to improve my bass playing.

That's unfair, some rickenbackers sound ok!

Yup, for the first time since I was a kid. I'm gonna turn more and more of my walking into running, and plan to "compete" in an autumn hill forest run, where I should be able to make the list in the age group 61-65. This year, a guy over 80 was as fast as I was. Next year I wanna run like a 75-year-old, and the year after that like a 65-year-old.

Got a chance to use this yesterday and, after some improvisation, it did the trick. I found that the wax in the tiny ports had hardened and didn’t want to get sucked out by the Headphone Vac, so I had to think outside the box a little. I borrowed a friend’s hairdryer to warm up the tips of my UE6s and soften the wax - then reinserted the Headphone Vac and the wax was much more willing to come out. Turns out I had lost a bit of treble response due to the wax but post-vacuuming they sound great again. Good times!

There, fixed.

Nice to see the word 'Christmas' being used. I'm fed up with getting 'happy holidays' said to me.

This will do the trick - massive bang for your buck! Audio input, headphone output, looper, drum machine and a zillion amp models and effects to play with. Use it on its own for silent practice or plug it in the amp jack input if you want to run it thru your amp. https://www.andertons.co.uk/zoom-b1on-bass-multi-effects-processor-b1on?lgw_code=16284-B1ON&gclid=CjwKCAiAi4fwBRBxEiwAEO8_Hrn9uksjr01rece3FvilmWxBpUyBM4gIeG5Pkh_RG-NVA7RxAXfvbBoCIjYQAvD_BwE

Bought some ABM parts from Flavius. All went fast, smooth and easy. Even got a superb sticker as a free gift. 😉 Flavius is another credit to BassChat, for sure. 👍

Beautiful bass mate - I took the plunge too. So far my Aria has held up, great to actually gig it in comfort at last.

You may also remember The Victoria Club in Aylesbury. No legal parking in front of the club, and the hall is up two flights of stairs, requiring a quick load into the entrance hall downstairs - while keeping an eye on parking wardens - followed by carrying everything up the stairs. Same in reverse at the end of the night. *shivers*