thebrig

Great communication, instant payment, and a pleasure to do business with CamdenRob. Kindest Regards thebrig

[quote name='BigBassBob' timestamp='1382018782' post='2246738'] Just to clarify I don't mean to sound mean, my comment was a bit like, it's good but could be better. I'm sure those guys will grow up to be pretty talented musos. [/quote] I think they are already talented, and they do what they do really well. It's sharp and to the point, I love it!

They were signed to Elton John's Rocket Music Management, who said "[i]They have a knowledge of R&B and blues at 16 years of age that I have only amassed in my 65 years. They're just like a breath of fresh air[/i]." Personally, I think they are great, and I'm the wrong side of sixty. On their album [b][i]Snapshot[/i][/b], they wrote nine of the twelve songs, so not bad for kids so young. Here's [b][i]Blue Collar Jane[/i][/b] which was penned by them. [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZb8nEemK2k[/media] As for the way they dress? It's nothing new, bands have been manufactured for years, just take a look at the pics below.

I had a Ibanez SR500 a few years ago and I had La Bella flats on it, and it sounded awsome! And being active, you can really play around with the sounds you can get from it. I did try out a lot of different brands before settling on La Bella, they ain't cheap, but they are great strings, and you never really need to change them, I had the same set on for years, so in the long run they probably work out cheaper than rounds. I have now moved on to an Ibanez SR1200 which I absolutely love, I think a lot of people overlook Ibanez in their pursuit for the usual precision/jazz/stingray etc.. which are all fantastic basses I might add, but the craftsmanship, build quality and playability of Ibanez is far superior for less money IMO.

As old old git, for me "Old School" means 60's/70's, Bad Co, Pink Floyd, Led Zep, Deep Purple, Stones etc... But I would say go for it, as I can go and see a band playing Brown Sugar, Alright Now, Sweet Home Alabama etc, in a lot of venues every weekend, and although they are all great bands and great songs, I would go and see a band playing your type of material, not because it's my favourite genre, but because it's different, and I enjoy variety when watching live bands. Initially, it might be hard to get gigs, but once you do get on the circuit, and the word goes around about your particular brand of music, a lot of people might start seeking you out, and because you are different, you might find you actully get [u]more[/u] gigs!

[quote name='Mr. Foxen' timestamp='1380756734' post='2230321'] Think the Gryphon is 40 capacity. Still used a 2x15 and 4x12 for my set. [/quote] I hope the man at the back could hear you!

Don't know whether this has been done before, but as the title suggests, please tell us about some of the smallest and grottiest places you have ever played at. For me, one particular place that springs to mind, was at a local football club where there was a pool table directly in front of the tiny stage area, it was kicking off in the car park every 15 minutes or so, women were fighting on the dancefloor over their fella's, the toilets were behind the stage and could only be reached by squeezing past me as I was playing, mind you, it wasn't always bad, as there was a rather ample bosomed lady who kept rubbing her delightful assets on my playing arm, much to mine, and the crowds delight each time she had to pay a visit. Having said all that, it was a great night, the crowd loved us, and we had to do encore after encore! So come on, tell us about your awful/great experiences please.

[quote name='Shockwave' timestamp='1380628341' post='2228009'] My first custom built basses ever, I searched on here and there was nothing to suggest any major problems with time keeping at Lettsbass in peoples reviews beforehand. So there seemed to be no problems, it's just unfortunate I am one who seems to have been taken advantage of. Hence why this thread exists because I never had the advantage of reading up on possible negatives before putting in an order (If they existed). Maybe you could "Drop" the condescending attitude and baiting behavior? Which of course you'll deny and possibly say "I was only trying to help, what a terrible thing for a moderator to say". Reading between the lines it seems like you are saying I am a fool for thinking the best of people. Thanks for that, it's really appreciated. Maybe I am a fool for doing that, but I don't need you implying that. Of course, you would deny that as well. [/quote] This is the point I have been trying to get across to EBS Freak all along! If you are a first time customer, how are you supposed to know that you will get lied to over delivery times etc? You are not a fool in my eyes, and you deserve to be angry for having to put up with terrible service, and you definitely should not have to [b][i]put up and shut up![/i][/b] Only my opinion of course!

Can anyone recommend a good, and reasonably priced refinisher in the Herts/Beds/Essex/Bucks/Middx/North London areas? And would it be considerably cheaper to spray a new body, than to prepare and re-spray an older body? I can't afford to pay the earth, but I am prepared to pay the going rate for a decent job. Thanks in advance, as I know you people out there in "Basschat land" usually come up with great advice!

[quote name='oggiesnr' timestamp='1380568322' post='2227267'] I don't make instruments but I have done custom work in my own field. I've also ordered custom instruments. When I quote a price and a delivery date I do so on the basis that I will deliver in that week and to the spec as given me by the customer. Things can go wrong on my part and I would then tell my customer what had happened and agree a new delivery date. If it is absolutely time critical then it's my problem to beg or borrow what I need to get the job done (in one case I bought a new machine as the repair was going to take too long, it cost more than the job but that's my loss). I don't hold with any custom builder quoting a time they know they cannot make, in the squeezebox world I know two builders who are currently not accepting orders because of the length of their order book and no amount of pleading will get you on that list. I know another has, in a businesslike manner, rationalised how he makes boxes (even all his custom ones) and quotes two years as standard and always delivers (and charges top dollar). It is possible for custom builders to be professional and there's no excuse for them not to be, if (and it's one excuse I've had) they are taking on too much repair work to subsidise their building then they they should either put up their prices or give up! However customers can be equally bad, I've had changed specs a week before delivery, changed delivery dates, a total design change when I'd delivered and a refusal to pay the balance. So, customers also need to keep their end of the deal, the fact that you've just heard a killer new pick up or seen a great wood is just tough. When the equivalent now happens to me I say fine "The cost of the work done so far that will be written off is x, after you pay me that we will start a new contract with a new completion date and price". Usually we just proceed as we were. Steve [/quote] Totally agree with everything you say here, there is no excuse for not getting the job done on time, unless it really is unavoidable due to personal reasons, or a delay in parts etc.. in which case, there is no excuse for poor communication with the customer, they should inform them of what's going on, and telling them when they can expect the work to be completed, and if it's going to be something like an extra three or four months over the original quoted date, then a refund of any money paid in advance, should be offered to the customer if they can't wait that long. I also agree that it does go both ways as well, because if I made changes to the original specs, then I would expect to pay extra for the inconveniece I have caused, and maybe pay for any parts that are no longer required for the build. BTW, if you were a luthier, I would happily do business with you, as you understand how a good business should work, and show respect to your customers, and in return, you would be respected and recommended, making for a successful business. Good business ethics is what we should expect from any business as a matter of course, not just luthiers, and we shouldn't have to "put up and shut up"

[quote name='EBS_freak' timestamp='1380559426' post='2227087'] Are people not reading my comments properly? It's not about going elsewhere or chosing other vendors... I am guessing Shockwave's choices for going with those manufacturers are because they offer something that other vendors dont. Jon Lett's guitars are certainly unique looking and not something that is readily available off the shelf and are in a style that is not typical or other luthiers. SGD pickups certainly have a rep over on talkbass - and I don't know, but it wouldn't surprise me if Shockwave had ordered one of those Wal inspired pickups. Now you tell me where you can readily get hold of a set of those. I know another certain luthier was working on getting some manufactured, but I know he wouldn't sell them outside of his basses, as they form part of the unique selling point of his basses. I would certainly suggest that people do their homework. Find you perfect luthier. Find your perfect pickup maker. Great. But if you want a XYZ product that is only available from Mr ABC, then you are in a put up or shut up situation (there's that phrase again for me to be misquoted on again). There are many luthiers that have certain reputations... but the top and tale of it, you have to deal with them if you want their product that badly. Jeez. You want something like a Morgan car? You join the (long) queue... you don't know exactly when it will be made... you just sit and wait until your number comes up? Not good enough? Buy one second hand or put up and shut up? You aren't going to get a new Morgan any other way. Yes, you can buy something else and take your money elsewhere... but you won't have a new Morgan. It doesn't matter what stories good or bad you are told... if you want something, in a way, you have to play their game despite you being the customer (and of course, the customer is always right). Totally wrong I know... but that's how it is when the seller has something that you want that you can't just pluck off the shelf. Yes, you shouldn't have to play the BS games... just depends how much you want that final product. Do you get it now? [/quote] Nope, I still don't get it! I have never ordered a custom build, and until reading this thread, I would never have known that the chances are, the luthier I chose to build my bass would tell me porkies about how long it will take. If I am told it will be 6 months and it actually takes 9 or 12 months, I think I have every right to be disgruntled, so why should I accept it? If I was told in the first place that it would take maybe 9 months, but more like 12 months, I would then be in a position to decide if I am willing to wait that long, which is why I have every sympathy with Shockwave, and the others who were told otherwise. [u]My point?[/u] If we knew before we ordered that we would have to wait longer than we are told, and then decided to go ahead regardless, then I agree, we would have to "put up and shut up", but if we didn't know in the first place, then that's a different matter, which is why a thread like this is very helpful, as it has clued me, and others up, as to what to expect if we were to have a custom build sometime in the future.

[quote name='EBS_freak' timestamp='1380546143' post='2226790'] Speak with you wallet. Take your business elsewhere. [/quote] That's the point I am trying to make, we [u]will[/u] take our business elsewhere, and that's why we need people telling us about their bad experiences, so we don't make the same mistakes. By saying, "put up and shut up" it seems to imply that we should except it if you get shafted, and then take your business elsewhere, surely it is better to be warned first.

[quote name='EBS_freak' timestamp='1380542171' post='2226701'] just saying if you can't cope with it, don't go for custom builds... or put up and shut up cos nothing is changing! [/quote] I can't believe you can come out with that! How is Shockwave suppose to know that he would have to wait far longer than was quoted, and then have his enquiring emails ignored? And why on earth should we have to put up with such bad service just because some luthiers are like that, how are we to know who are trustworthy, and who are not, until you actually order from them? It's thanks to people such as Shockwave for highlighting the bad service he is experiencing from certain people, because it helps to stop others making the same mistakes.

I actually started off as a collector of basses and guitars, and have many hanging from hangers, and also have a few scattered around the room on stands, I just think they look gorgeous, and luckily my wife thinks they look great too! The reason I collected them rather than play them was because I never thought that I would ever be good enough to be in a band, obviously I would have a go on them by myself at home, but I never had the confidence to play with other musicians until about seven years ago, when in a slightly inebriated state, I volunteered to play bass in a make-shift band, it all went well and I have been playing and gigging ever since. If I was to pack up playing, I would still keep them displayed, and if anything ever happens to me, they would be worth at least £10,000 which would be handy for the wife and kids, and yes, I have told them what they are worth so that they don't get ripped off if they need to sell them.

The band I was in last summer was suppose to play a Jubilee gig on common land, standing on grass, with not even a tarpaulin over us, no PA, and taking the electricity from the nearest lamp post, there was no ambulance on standby, and even if there was, it wouldn't have been able to drive over the rough ground to get to any unfortunate person suffering a heart attack or whatever, never mind electrocuted musicians. Believe it or not, this was all organised by the local council who are normally health & safety mad, and they got the right hump when we told them we were not going to do it on safety grounds. By the way, we weren't even getting paid for it!

If you don't have adequate shelter from the elements, then DON'T do it! The damage that might occur to your bass is the least important thing, have you not thought about the fact that WATER and ELECTRIC don't go together too well? and please do ensure that you have proper isolation from the ground as well. Health & safety would never allow you to play in conditions where you might get rained on, whilst playing electrical instruments. And also make sure that you, and the event organisers have proper insurance in place too! I might sound a bit OTT, but I would like you to be around to tell us how the gig went afterwards.

[quote name='kevin_lindsay' timestamp='1380084705' post='2220524'] There's a couple of sellers who provide various sized shipping boxes for guitars and basses. Might be worthwhile getting one from them? [url="http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=281169544583"]http://pages.ebay.co...id=281169544583[/url] [url="http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=331015851610"]http://pages.ebay.co...id=331015851610[/url] [/quote] Just for future reference, if anyone ever needs guitar/bass boxes for shipping purposes, just pop along to your local music store, and you will probably find that they will be happy to give you some for [u]free[/u]. A lot of the shops unpack the guitars upon delivery and throw the boxes away, and if you look at the back of such shops on their delivery day, you will probably see them all piled up waiting for the refuge lorry to take them away. I have done it many times, in fact, they usually tell me what day they are expecting their delivery, and to come in later that day.

I have to admit that I have been through many different basses until settling on my USA Standard Precision, although I do have a soft spot for the Ibanez SR range. I've been pretty discplined with amps though, only ever had three rigs, and now play through a Genz Benz Streamliner 900 and Barefaced Super Twelve. I've only been playing for 6/7 years, but the one thing I have noticed is, as I practice more, gig more, and generally become more experienced, the closer I get to the sound I want, my gear is already "good enough", I just need to learn to play better to get the most from it. I'm sure that most of us on Basschat have gear that would grace most stages, and most of the great bassists would be happy to use our gear if they had to. And if they had to use mine, I'm certain they would sound so much [b]better[/b] than [b]me[/b], playing [b]my[/b] gear. Having said all that, I still can't resist looking at other possibilties though!

[quote name='Delberthot' timestamp='1379888554' post='2217988'] I've owned nearly every model of cab that Trace Elliot ever made, probably about 20-30 4x10"s, 2x15"s, 4x12"s, 1x15"s, 2x10"s, 4x5"s, maybe 30 amps. [/quote] Not sure whether that is a [b][i]good[/i][/b] or [b][i]bad[/i][/b] advert for Trace Elliot. I've never owned one, but I have used a few of them at rehearsal studios, and I've always thought the sounded good, do they not last very long?

Self-adhesive velcro!