dmccombe7

Sometimes you just know its time to make a change. Dave

I drove down to Bass Direct circa 200 miles each way looking for a decent 5 stringer. I had some in mind like Spector and a few others. The ones i tried i wasn't over the moon with and they just didn't have the feel i was looking for. Mark suggested trying a Dingwal so he gave me the Combustion and the NG2 and i was sold on the NG2. It was the best feel and the neck was excellent. I had never thought of fan fret basses before but he assured me i'd get used to it very quickly and he was right. Price wise it came in under the Spector i was looking at. He sold me a cheaper bass than i was originally looking at. He wasn't pushy but after i had decided on the Dingwall he was happy to share his thoughts on the various basses i tried and was surprised i didn't like the Spector neck as they are regarded as one of the better ones but he waited until i had made my decision. I'm a fan of Bass Direct, i've never had any issues at all but i'm aware others have had some problems. Maybe i was aware of Mark having strong opinions and was expecting that when i went there but that never happened. Dave

I might want to avoid it.

Mine is on route to delivery depot overnight and guess what ? Parcelforce are on strike tomorrow. How lucky can i be. I wait 3-4 weeks for an amp and the day it will get delivered there's a strike on. Unbelievable, just unbelievable. Its times like this i just want to cut my bloomin wrists and have done with it. Dave

Do you mind if i ask what the bass was ? Dave

Superb @Clarky loving the looks of it. Hopefully mine will arrive soon now that its in the UK hub. Obviously it needs to be trucked up here too so probably be next week before i see it as they dont deliver at weekends. Enjoy and keep us posted on what you think once you've got the hang of it. Dave

I've been playing 46yrs now altho i did take a break due to work commitments. Have to say since i retired and now have lots more free time (apart from the many chores i now have) i'm enjoying being in bands far more now than i ever did. Its more relaxed. Just nicer. Dave

Good News mine is now in the UK International Hub. Dave

Like most have already said "don't give up just yet" I'm 62 and play in a 70's Glam covers band and a 70's punk covers band. I love both bands and altho i was into Glam back in its hey day and was my first step into buying records its not my favoured style of music. Punk was never a music i was really into and was surprised just how much fun it was to pay. I'm into Prog and classic rock but you can play in any style of band and just take the songs for what they are. I put a lot into both bands. I've tried the originals prog bands but they came to nothing for various reasons but if i came across a band doing something i liked i might give it a try but would never give up what i have as its just so much great fun in both bands. You'd be surprised how difficult punk is to play at 62. The stamina required really surprised me. I play fingetsyle. Its like Iron Maiden with attitude LOL Take a wee break, keep the gear in storage somewhere and let yourself relax and think about options. Dave

Mine hasn't move but it left Poland 2 days after yours so hopefully i'll see some movement this week. Keep us posted on progress and different stages to give me an idea of what to do LOL Dave

From what i've gathered a shop can set up paperwork to pre-pay any import taxes to allow an easy flow of goods. No idea how it all works tho. Dave

A week ? something's definitely gone wrong with the amp delivery. Who did it ship with and if customs costs due was it pre-paid from the Polish end. ?

What was the item and who did you buy from. There's a lot of different things determine how long it takes. Latest update i contacted HMRC Customs yesterday who couldn't help with just the tracking number. They suggested i contact Parcelforce International and gave me the customer services number. Called Parcelforce today and they explained how it all works. The parcel leaves Poland and goes direct to Parcelforce who then assign a UK tracking number. From there it goes thru cutoms and once cleared and payments made it gets delivered. Parcelforce have not yet received it into UK and suggested i contact sender to chase from his end. I can only imagine its sitting in Poland awaiting enough parcels to fill a flight to UK. I've sent Leszek a message about it as it seems to be in limbo. Leszek sent one to US on 12th Aug and the guy received it on 18th Aug. The International Parcel tracker that is announced on the phone while you wait and it states that based on other parcels coming from Poland it is expected at Royal Mail between 24th - 28th Aug so this is the week i need to see something happen. All a bit worrying for both myself and some others in UK and certainly for Leszek. Dave

I see you've gone for the Doug Johns look there albiet a different bass. 😂 Great pics from the gig. Proper camera used by looks of it. Nice one. Dave

Found another tracker that states the parcel will arrive with Parcelforce between 24th - 28th Aug so hopefully delivered not long after. The estimate is based on other packages from same country. Looks like UK customs are " processing" it. Dave

Problem is that it just shows it left Poland but doesn't say its arrived in UK so its kinda in Limbo according to the tracking. From what Parcelforce tell me it wont show anything on their system until it has gone thru customs and is allocated a GB tracking tag which i'm guessing just means they change the PL to UK but the number remains the same. Dave

Its the Parcelforce International tracking service i'm using. It just states it left Poland on 8th but not arrived in UK. Leszek from Handbox checked from his end and was told it left Poland on the 8th and is sitting in a warehouse in UK. I'm assuming its awaiting processing thru customs. Parcelforce said once its cleared customs it is given a GB rather than PL tag at the end. Few others on here have said it takes 2-3 weeks to get delivered because of customs checks etc. Dave

Thought that was the case and it makes for an easy trip into UK by-passing Customs delays. Thanks for letting me know. Dave

Did you have to pay import tax etc on it or did Thomann adjust the price for UK buyers to avoid taxes Dave

Did you pay import taxes etc on them Dave

R-400 amps will begin in a couple of weeks, Currently amp cases are hand built but HB have purchased a CNC machine to cut down on build time and currently Leszek is setting up the programming for it. He says the time consuming part of amp build is the wooden cases at the moment. Seems the WB-100 amps are in limbo. Checking from Leszeks end the amps left Poland on 8th Aug but Pracelforce say they have not arrived. From what Leszek can find out as the sender the amps are currentli in a warehouse in UK awaiting to be processed thru customs. Unfortunately i'm guessing customs are over whelmed since Brexit. Hopefully at some point i will see this amp. Dave

i used to always prefer on thedrummers RHS. It allowed me to easily glance at my neck while still looking at bandmates on stage whereas i am now on the LHS of the drummer and cant glance at the neck and left hand positioning without it being obvious. I guess that's a good thing 😂 Dave

3 week break from gigs due to holidays within both bands but still fitting in the occasional rehearsal with the Glam band. Quiet weekend fro me. End of the month is our next gig with the punk band. Dave

Cheers for the heads up.

Its like the blinds leading the blinds with you lot. 😂 Dave