thebrig

[quote name='gjones' timestamp='1360437511' post='1970539'] I really doubt a warmoth bass could ever be that cheap. Remember you have to factor in postage and duty at at least 25%. I imported a bass from the USA which cost £323 on ebay. By the time I got my hands on it, it cost me £510. [/quote] The £750 total is [u]including[/u] duty and taxes, but if when it's finished, it looks the part, and more importantly, plays and sounds great, then I wouldn't be too concerned about resale value, as I would probably keep it forever.

Has anyone put together a [b][i]Warmoth bass[/i][/b], or does anyone own one? I keep getting drawn to their website, as I believe their bodies and necks are really top quality, and their finishes are supposed to be fantastic. The bass I have in mind would cost me around £600 with duty and taxes, that's everything including the paint job, except the pickup and tuners, which will probably cost me another £150. So all in all, it would cost me about £750, which is a lot of money for a guitar that I put together myself. I do have a fair bit of experience with self builds, but now I want to start a top quality project. What I want to know is, how good would it be, and how would it compare to a production line bass of similar value?

I started the post because I was surprised that we had timewasters on here, because as I stated earlier, I have made many transactions, both buying and selling on BC in the past, and they have ALL been pleasant transactions, so this was the first time it had happened to me. As for pictures etc, I always ensure that the photos I use are of the highest possible quality, and my descriptions quite clear as to condition etc.. [size=4]But what do you do when someone sends you a message titled "[font=arial, sans-serif][b][i]I'll take the fretless!!![/i][/b]" and in the message it says, "[b][i]f*** it. I need it, [/i][/b][/font][b][i][font=arial, sans-serif]How do you want paying? [/font][/i][/b][font=arial, sans-serif]and you reply immediately, and you get no response.[/font][/size] [size=4][font=arial, sans-serif]I like to give buyers the benefit of the doubt, because they may have had to go out, o[/font][font=arial, sans-serif]r gone to bed or whatever, after sending the original message, so I hang on for a while, but in the meantime, other potential buyers contact you, and out of courtesy to the first person saying they want it, I tell them it is sold pending, meaning you might lose a buyer.[/font][/size] [size=4][font=arial, sans-serif]I don't mind anyone changing their mind, but out of courtesy, all I'm asking is for them to let you know, and I would reply back saying, "no problem, and thanks for letting me know".[/font][/size]

I usually do once they reply back, but if someone is asking me how I want paying, then in the first instance, I tell them, and when they come back to me, that is usually when I normally strike up a conversation with them. That's how all my other transactions have been, whether buying or selling, and I have to say that everyone I have dealt with on here, have been absolutely great, until now of course.

I'm happy to say that I have just sold a couple of basses on BC, but I am rather surprised how many timewasters there are, gassing over the '[b][i]for sale[/i][/b]' section. Here is one message I had: [b][i][font=arial, sans-serif]f*** it. I need it.[/font][/i][/b] [b][i][size=4][font=arial, sans-serif]How do you want paying?[/font][/size][/i][/b] [font=arial, sans-serif]I replied immediately, and told other potential buyers that it was sold, pending.[/font] [b][i]He never came back to me.[/i][/b] Another BC'er even went as far as arranging to meet to do a trade, I cancelled a prior arrangement I had, and sent him a message back saying that's fine, but again, [b][i]he never came back to me.[/i][/b] I sent them both messages asking if they were still interested in the bass, and again, [b][i]NOTHING![/i][/b] I know they have the right to change their mind, but to leave me thinking a sale/trade has been made, means I am telling other potential buyers, that the bass is sold pending, and therefore possibly losing a sale. Anyone else experienced this? I would like to say that the two sales I made were very pleasant, with great communication from the buyers.

This great little number is now in our set, I have no problems playing it, but any ideas on how to achieve the sound? I play a Fender American Standard Precision bass through a Genz Benz Streamliner 9.0 and Barefaced Super Twelve.

[quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1359057920' post='1949288'] Have to agree there, in The Daves we won`t play anywhere that charges people to get in, and we earn £200/£300 a gig, as the increase in bar takings more than covers that. On this subject, a mate of mines band played Leisureworld in Hemel last year. The "promoter" didn`t do any advertising, not even a poster in the venue - which didn`t usually put bands on btw - and was overheard, by me, saying "I thought these guys brought a crowd". So they were charging a fiver on the door, not paying the band, and expecting to cream the rewards. So I know exactly where you`re coming from. This is the same reason I won`t play The Horn is St Albans. My old band played there one night supporting Guns 2 Roses. We took 40 people with us, £8 on the door, and each of those 40 would make Oliver Reed & George Best look like amateurs. We must have generated nearly £1500 that night, and got paid £50. Each of the bar-staff were probably paid that. [/quote] The thing is, my band is a "new" band, we've only been together about five weeks, and we are looking to get out there around April time, so you could say that we might be desperate to try anything, and to be honest, we are more than happy to do any charity gigs, or jam nights for nothing, to get a bit of exposure, and some 'live' practise time into the bargain, but once a venue starts charging at the door, and it's not a charity, then that's a different matter, if we are the entertainment, then we should get a cut of the takings, without having to bring 20 people along. Mind you, most of the gigs I've done in the past with other bands, we've usually had the wags plus a some friends with us, so in total (including the band), there could be between 15 and 20 people anyway, all spending money over the bar.

[quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1359055472' post='1949217'] Having been there, and played - not for these guys, we were doing a favour to someone - I wouldn`t want to be in there with another 119 people. I think many communicable diseases would be spread with that many people in such a confined space. I`d put actual capacity at around 50 or 60 max. The way to get good gigs is to play proper music venues, that have their own crowd. In my punk covers band, The Daves, hardly anyone travels to see us, aside from the regulars at the venues we play, but they are proper music pubs, with good crowds, who spread the word when decent bands are on. These pubs do put originals bands on as well. I go to these pubs a fair bit, and there is always a large crowd, and usually the same faces. Those are the gigs that are worth doing. That said, if you don`t have to spend any more than the cost of a rehearsal to get there, gigs at the type of venue we`re discussing can be used as a rehearsal, to practice stage-craft, setting up/breaking down, getting used to going through FOH, working with a soundman, and playing under lighting (so getting blinded every now & then) so they aren`t that bad. By the time you get to real venues, you should be ready to do things professionally, and make an impression for the right reasons. [/quote] I wouldn't have a problem with it Lozz, if they weren't charging at the door. They know full well, that without these bands (usually young), bringing their mates along, hardly anybody would turn up. Like you, I go to many local pubs and see some excellent bands who are being paid ([i]average £200/300[/i]) per gig, it costs me nothing to get in, my only outlay is for the drinks, and they are normally full of regulars who are there mainly for the bands. For me, these are real music venues, which are patronised by regular music lovers. These so-called promoters are just exploiting bands, they don't even mention sending them a demo, or links to the band's music, so the unsuspecting punters who aren't connected with the bands, are paying £6 and taking pot-luck on what sort of standard they will be, whereas, with your usual music pub, you can check almost all the bands out on Lemonrock first, and if you do take a chance on an unknown band, it's not going to cost any more than a pint.

I can't see anywhere in their ad, where they actually say they are going to promote you. If [b][i]yours[/i][/b], and [b][i]four[/i][/b] other bands turn up, and [b][i]you[/i][/b] and [b][i]them[/i][/b] only play to [i][b]yours[/b][/i], and [b][i]their[/i][/b] mates, what are they actually doing for you, other than get you to play for nothing, for a maximum of 20 minutes? One thing is certain though, if all five bands get twenty mates to pay £6 to get in, they are £600 richer, and the bar takings will go through the roof. Mind you, they might put you forward to [b][i]play for nothing[/i][/b] at all their other venues like these! [b][i][color=#000000][font=arial][size=3]Barfly Camden [/size][/font][/color] [color=#000000][font=arial][size=3]Proud Camden [/size][/font][/color] [color=#000000][font=arial][size=3]The Underbelly [/size][/font][/color] [color=#000000][font=arial][size=3]Camden Rock [/size][/font][/color] [color=#000000][font=arial][size=3]The Enterprise [/size][/font][/color] [color=#000000][font=arial][size=3]The Road Trip & The Workshop (Old Street) [/size][/font][/color] [color=#000000][font=arial][size=3]Rattlesnake (Angel) [/size][/font][/color] [color=#000000][font=arial][size=3]Acklam Village Market [/size][/font][/color] [color=#000000][font=arial][size=3]Surya (Kings Cross) [/size][/font][/color] [color=#000000][font=arial][size=3]Heroes (Camden Town) [/size][/font][/color] [color=#000000][font=arial][size=3]The Luxe (Spitalfields) [/size][/font][/color] [color=#000000][font=arial][size=3]Babalou (Brixton) [/size][/font][/color] [color=#000000][font=arial][size=3]Nambucca (Holloway) [/size][/font][/color] [color=#000000][font=arial][size=3]The Horatia (Shoreditch) [/size][/font][/color] [color=#000000][font=arial][size=3]Mass Club (Brixton) [/size][/font][/color] [color=#000000][font=arial][size=3]The Bridge House II [/size][/font][/color] [color=#000000][font=arial][size=3]The Hideaway (Archway) [/size][/font][/color] [color=#000000][font=arial][size=3]Annies Bar (Kentish Town)[/size][/font][/color][/i][/b]

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1358980332' post='1948197'] This type of gig has been around since I first started playing in London in the mid 80s, and I'm sure that they were around even earlier than that. Back then there were the same doom and gloom attitudes about how all the small gigs would be pay to play, and guess what? There were still paying gigs available for those bands who merited them. And there still are now. The venue names change but overall everything remains as it has always been. [/quote] I'm sure you are right, but it still worries me all the same!

I see what you are trying to say, but there will always be bands willing to do these type of gigs, and if they do catch on, then what seems like [u]plenty[/u] of [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]paying London gigs, might soon become [u]not[/u] many [/font][/color][color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]paying London gigs![/font][/color]

Trouble is, with more and more of these type of so-called promoters stating that, [b][i]"due to the music industry being hit so hard",[/i][/b] and making out that they are doing us a favour by staging these type of events, then if we go along with it, eventually ALL the pubs and venues will go along with it too, and then we might as well all call it a day! Just take a look at how many venues these promoters have already got their claws into, if this continues, we are all in big trouble. [i][b][color=#000000][font=arial][size=3]Barfly Camden [/size][/font][/color] [color=#000000][font=arial][size=3]Proud Camden [/size][/font][/color] [color=#000000][font=arial][size=3]The Underbelly [/size][/font][/color] [color=#000000][font=arial][size=3]Camden Rock [/size][/font][/color] [color=#000000][font=arial][size=3]The Enterprise [/size][/font][/color] [color=#000000][font=arial][size=3]The Road Trip & The Workshop (Old Street) [/size][/font][/color] [color=#000000][font=arial][size=3]Rattlesnake (Angel) [/size][/font][/color] [color=#000000][font=arial][size=3]Acklam Village Market [/size][/font][/color] [color=#000000][font=arial][size=3]Surya (Kings Cross) [/size][/font][/color] [color=#000000][font=arial][size=3]Heroes (Camden Town) [/size][/font][/color] [color=#000000][font=arial][size=3]The Luxe (Spitalfields) [/size][/font][/color] [color=#000000][font=arial][size=3]Babalou (Brixton) [/size][/font][/color] [color=#000000][font=arial][size=3]Nambucca (Holloway) [/size][/font][/color] [color=#000000][font=arial][size=3]The Horatia (Shoreditch) [/size][/font][/color] [color=#000000][font=arial][size=3]Mass Club (Brixton) [/size][/font][/color] [color=#000000][font=arial][size=3]The Bridge House II [/size][/font][/color] [color=#000000][font=arial][size=3]The Hideaway (Archway) [/size][/font][/color][/b][/i] [color=#000000][font=arial][size=3][i][b]Annies Bar (Kentish Town[/b][/i])[/size][/font][/color] No one is saying we have a [b][i]right[/i][/b] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]to be offered a better deal, but we should have some pride in what we do, and at least try to get some reward for what we do, no matter how small.[/font][/color]

Our five piece band use Dropbox to share files, and on it we have a [b][i]Song Suggestion[/i][/b] list in [i]Excel[/i], where we add songs with the YouTube link beside them, and we all have a column where we cast our votes. We have a choice of [b][i]Yes[/i][/b], [b][i]No[/i][/b] or [b][i]Maybe[/i][/b], if a song gets five [b][i]Yes's[/i][/b], then obviously it's in, if a song gets mainly [b][i]Yes's[/i][/b] and a couple of [b][i]M[/i][/b][b][i]aybe's[/i][/b] then it will be discussed, and any song with just ONE [b][i]No[/i][/b] will be binned, as we are playing for sheer enjoyment, and we don't want anyone in the band playing songs they don't like. With millions of songs to choose from, there should never be a need to upset anyone in the band.

[quote name='dannybuoy' timestamp='1358968931' post='1947916'] Seems fairly standard to me, generous even, offering £5 per head after 20. Welcome to London. [/quote] But I think it is only £5 per person after the twenty people you brought along, [u]who have come to watch you[/u]! Not EVERY person over twenty.

This is what Green Roadie Promotions posted on Join My Band a couple of hours ago. I have to stress that I am not against playing for free, like jam nights/open mics, where there is no admission charge, but I do think that if people are having to pay £6 to see you, then that's a different ball game altogether. Just my opinion of course, and I stand to be corrected, if I'm out of order for thinking this. [font=arial][size=5]Green Roadie Promotions[/size][/font] [font=arial][size=2]London[/size][/font] [font=arial][size=2]Posted: Jan 23, 2013 5:08 pm[/size][/font] [color=#000000][font=arial][size=3][b][i]The only reason you would not get paid, is if you mislead us to believe you can bring 20 attending fans. All bands get paid from the 21st person attending to see them, unless agreed otherwise. Unfortunately due to the music industry being hit so hard, venue's have become strict about what they want. Otherwise we would be more than happy to offer a free reign. Admittedly it does make it harder for new bands, but there are ways of building up your fan base before taking the step into demanding gigs.[/i][/b][/size][/font][/color] [i]This is my reply:[/i] [b][i][font=arial][size=3]We NEVER demand gigs, we POLITELY ask for them by going to the venues (mostly pubs), and offering them a demo CD to assess us before booking us, or giving them references from other venues if we have not played there before. [/size][/font] [font=arial][size=3]We do expect to be paid a fair rate for providing the music for their customers, who would normally expect live music, if it is a venue that attracts customers, by advertising the fact that they are a live music venue. [/size][/font] [font=arial][size=3]We sometimes get gigs by doing a couple of numbers at jam nights for free, but none of these venues charge people to get in. [/size][/font] [font=arial][size=3]But if like you, they were charging £6 at the door, then surely, some of that should go to the people who are providing the entertainment, without having to bring along 20 people, just to get £5 for every person after that. [/size][/font] [font=arial][size=3]I notice that you have worded it very carefully by saying, [/size][/font] [font=arial][size=3]"All bands get paid from the 21st person attending to see them, unless agreed otherwise". [/size][/font] [font=arial][size=3]Does that mean if there are a 100 people there, and only 21 of them have actually come to see us, we only get paid £5? [/size][/font] [font=arial][size=3]If so, that's a total of £1 each for my band! [/size][/font] [font=arial][size=3]Or is it the TOTAL amount after the 20 people we bring along, meaning we would get £200? [/size][/font] [font=arial][size=3]I think I already know the answer to that![/size][/font][/i][/b]