Gazza 2905

Bought a Genz Benz soft rack and mounting kit from Brian. Top bloke, very friendly, such an easy guy to deal with, - an absolute pleasure.

Just bought some Dingwall strings from Jon recently. Great bloke, very friendly, and sent the strings really quickly. Excellent stuff, thanks Jon. Gary.

Just bought a lovely fretless bass off Stealth (Simon). At a great price too, I might add Simon agreed to meet me only a few miles from my house, as he happened to be on his way to an audition that night, at a place down the road from me. To put himself out; and to do that for me, on the same night as a much more important appointment, just shows the trust he is prepared to put in someone he hasn’t even met! Top bloke! That’s all I can say. Deal with confidence.

Just bought Dave's Dingwall Super J! He's a top bloke, - a real pleasure to do business with. Bass was fantastic, absolutely gorgeous, in tip-top condition, was very well packed, and arrived safely. And communication was great every step of the way too. You couldn't wish to buy from a better, more trustworthy person. If I could afford to, I'd buy from him again tomorrow! Highest possible recommendation! Gary.

[quote name='flyfisher' timestamp='1398522511' post='2434955'] I put them on my tongue to gauge their remaining strength (not a scientific test and probably not to be recommended for those of a nervous disposition!) and POW, I've still got a bit of a tingly tongue. [/quote] Probably better off to use a battery tester! I got one on Amazon for a daft price, about 2 quid inc. delivery, and it does the job perfectly. Check your batteries peroidically with one of these and you should be fine.

I'm gonna sign up tonight

[quote name='planer' timestamp='1398862375' post='2438382'] Whoever buys it won't know (or care) what you paid for it. [/quote] Oh believe me, - they will! Most buyers will 'do their homework' before making a purchase; I know I do! Personally, If I was moving something on, secondhand, (I rarely do!), I would probably ask for the same (ie. take the postage 'hit'), or slightly less than I paid for it. Of course, any seller is entitled to ask whatever price they like for something. But they shouldn't necessarily expect to get it!....

Well, it certainly feels instinctively correct when we righties pick up a right-handed bass. So perhaps the way we think about the roles of the two hands is not wholly correct?

Lovely bass, nice one! Everyone should treat themselves to a 'special' birthday present I think. I know I do!

[quote name='xroads' timestamp='1398586363' post='2435417'] Do not underestimated the role of the right hand! It basically makes all the timing and dynamics of your playing. [/quote] This! Although I agree, it might seem at first sight that the left hand has the 'harder job', all your attack, timing, rhythm, dynamics, control and so on, comes from the right hand. Meanwhile, your left hand [i]'just'[/i] has to fret the right note!

I [size=4]remember Billy [/size]making this same point on a VHS video (which I still have), some 25 years or more ago. The fact that a major scale can be played by using a mixture of just 3 finger patterns: A whole step & a whole step, A whole step & a half step, A half step & a whole step. And he advocates practicing these 3 shapes, the result being that you will then be able to play a major scale anywhere / all over the neck. But yes, a whole step & a whole step is far too big a stretch for me too. Billy's hands are [size=6][b]massive![/b][/size] [size=4]I get by with my [size=1][b] [size=2]tiny[/size][/b][/size] hands by pivoting with my thumb and a few well timed position shifts.[/size] [size=4]Bilbo's quite right in what he says (as always!)[/size]

I think it also depends to some degree on the shape of your thumb too. If you have a 'golfers thumb' ie one that curls backwards towards the tip, then you will have to strike the string slightly differently to someone who doesn't. Basically, you are trying to get the hard boney part of the knuckle on the side of the thumb, in contact with the string. I have been struggling with this problem myself, on and off, for a while now! My own personal conclusion, is that you probably need to keep your thumb [i]reasonably[/i] parallel to the string you're intending to hit. Thumb up or thumb down tends to increase the likelihood of catching an adjacent string, in my experience. Japhet is right too, how you 'wear' you bass will also have a significant effect on the angle of your thumb.

[quote name='CamdenRob' timestamp='1398693227' post='2436596'] I like having a physical magazine to read as opposed to looking at everything on a screen... I only buy it to look at the pictures / read the gear reviews really anyway, I've little interest in the interviews. [/quote] Pretty much sums up my feelings really.