Billy Apple

[quote name='Mr. Foxen' timestamp='1318688998' post='1405245'] Did you pay them for delivery to your door? Or did the seller pay another courier to deliver it to your door? Important contractual difference they'll pull if they lose or destroy it. In this case, I'll cheerfully pay for it, if they invoice me for it, because I have no contractual obligation with them currently. [/quote] As far as I was concerned I had paid the shipping on top of the purchase price, and the seller thought as much as me, that it would arrive at my address. Maybe I wasn't clear, when I paid the admin charge they sent it on its way with no additional postage. But if I had gone up to Customs and excise direct and paid them, parcel force would have not touched it again. Although there is no method of paying the VAT over the phone to customs, which is what customs want, so parcel force do it all and sting you £8. The amount is such you end up thinking 'I can't be bothered with this', so you just end up paying to get it over with, and parcel force know this. Call me dumb, but I thought paying for something that you had not asked for, or entered into a contractual agreement for, was extortion. And the bit where they said pay the admin fee or it stays here, was blackmail. But don't get me started, when I renewed my car insurance I discovered that Broker makes a commission from the policy, and then charges an admin fee too! But, the insurer will only deal thru Brokers. Just a f**king racket..... Anyway, I digress. I hope you get this sorted soon, really looking forward to seeing the new acquisition in all her glory.

I had this issue when I got a guitar from the states off eBay. They told me that they had paid the taxes already on my behalf to customs and excise, and the admin fee was for doing this. I said I'd never asked them to do this, which they said I was welcome to travel to Coventry and pay customs directly myself, thus avoiding the admin fee. When I said I've paid for delivery to my door, they said I had only paid for delivery into the UK, and it was down to them if they then carried it onwards to my address. Just felt mugged. Rip-off Britain.

the tele looks cool as. the jags not bad either

[quote name='steve-soar' timestamp='1318360378' post='1401191'] Rainy from Discharge. [/quote] Always loved the quote from the first (I think) Discharge album.. 'Cal Rainy Bones, thanks to no f**cker!' Pure Class. How about the bass at the start of 'The Serenade is Dead' by Conflict? Not sure who played it, but a classic.

[quote name='daz' timestamp='1318361922' post='1401231'] Glen Matlock only played on two Never mind the bollocks tracks. Steve Jones played the others (in a power chord root and fifth fashion, as per his guitar work) when it became clear that Glen was not going to turn up, despite being paid up front by Malcom Maclaren. It was Glen's two fingers to the people who never stood by him. He spent those two days in various pubs staying out of the way so he couldnt be found. He admits all this himself in his autobiography. For several years the rumour was that he had turned up and played on the album, because everyone knew Sid didnt do it. Even Johnny Rotton thought this had happened, as he was only there to put his vocals on top, he just assumed that Glen had turned up, and slagged him off for it. But it was just a dumb rumour the same as the one that stated that [color=#000000]Chris[/color] Spedding played on NMTB as well as behind a screen when on tour playing live!! The truth of who played on the album is also confirmed on [url="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Classic-Albums-Pistols-Never-Bollocks/dp/B00007DWOQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=dvd&ie=UTF8&qid=1318361722&sr=1-1"]The Classic albums DVD [/url]for Never Mind the B0llocks, where the band and the producer Bill Price talk us through the album track by track. The [size=4]spünk[/size] bootleg has a few more of Glen Matlock's tracks with some early Denmark street recordings on it and a live track from 1976. Glen's work can still be heard on a load of early bootlegs though most are rough. [/quote] That seems a bit nit-picking, but, OK, He turned up and played on only two tracks of the 'Never Mind the Bollocks' Album. Which was certainly two more tracks than I (or anyone else, apart from Jones and Matlock)) did. I've not read his autobiography, I just got my information from what Glen told me himself, but maybe the truth got in the way of a good story. There was a guy around them at the time called Ed Tudor-Pole, he sang on a couple of post-Lydon tracks, who I did some work with, and his comments certainly concurred with Glens'. Anyway, still a great unsung hero in my book, and a bloody nice guy to boot.

I think the Logo looks kinda cool, in a retro-Space 1999 way.

I agree with Mr Tyne. They are going for a 50's Hot-Rod, Rock N' Roll type Custom Car design genre, but have only succeeded in making it look a bit cheap and knock off. I quite like the VU meter, but the chatty switches are bogging. The round-end chrome knobs are all wrong for this style, should be squared off alloy, and the graphics should have been chucked away with the paper towel that they were written on. This is the product of something that someone said looks cool, like a trendy teacher trying to be hip, and it fails miserably. I think Ashdown are striving to create a brand image when they don't need to. This box may sound the mutts nuts, but if it's about retro cool, I'd buy Orange, until Matamp get round to doing one

Ah-Ha! Satellite! The first Bass I ever played. She was a short scale finished in two-tone red sunburst. Not mine tho, bought for my mates' birthday, and he was knarked 'cos the noises I got out of it were better than the noises he got out of it! I was 13, so must have been 1979. Not a bad piece of kit to start on. Later on his Mum got him an Ibanez Roadster, and I had that off him too! But the first proper Bass I bought was a Westone Thunder 1A, although the Ibanez p**sed all over it. Yes, the Satellite's are now fetching £1k, and once you've been to the Bank of Toytown to withdraw the reddies, Noddy will give you a lift to the shop.

Is that a photo-flame finish, do you think?

I've got a Hipshot fitted to my TBird, and it makes a load of difference. Gives a much richer fuller sound, and much more adjustable. I bought mine off eBay, and it came in around £80. I think I was lucky tho, as it turned up at the door with no added tax on UK entry. If you get one, get it fitted by a pro luthier. They can be easy to over tighten which pulls up the thread spigot in the body as the mahogany is quite soft. Plus the lower shaft carries the earth lead, which you wouldn't want to disconnect. I taught myself truss rod adjustment from you tube, and it surprised me just how much movement you can get out of a TBird neck with very little nut movement. I always leave over night to settle in, but once done I find she is rocksolid holding the tuning.

Coolio. Big up Simmo, and big up yerself

[quote name='Mr. Foxen' timestamp='1317468100' post='1390974'] Make the neck right and not bendy and you don't need a truss rod to correct it. Truss rods are for mass production where you can't watch your materials. See first post though, it is an optional. Double basses and classical guitars don't have truss rods. [/quote] I thought it was to do with the tension across modern electric strings as opposed to acoustic classical ones. Say if there is movement in the neck (humidity changes, etc.) would it just be a case of nut and bridge adjustment?

What's all this about no truss rod? How does that work?

[quote name='Johnston' timestamp='1317464484' post='1390918'] I hate doing this. But I think it looks "Amateur" . The afore mentioned bridge pieces. But Something about the edge of the Fretboard doesn't look right. As if it's not straight on the 'E' side it looks like the string is off the fret board then comes back in around the 5th fret and then tons of room on the 'G' side. I really hope it's just a bad photograph making my eyes go funny though. The body and woods I actually like. I didn't think I would but I do [/quote] I think it's the picture composition. The bass is leaning away from the camera, and at an angle. The window frame is straight and vertical behind, along with the shadow make the neck look a bit curved. I'm very impressed Oli, hats off to ya. I'd never come across these before you posted. Believe it or not I used to see posts of the word 'Wishbass' and thought folk were just talking about their ideal wish-bass! Durr! I'm looking at singlecuts, maybe fretless, and have been checking out ACG's, but you've expanded things a little. Although I once finished a bass and it took me f**cking ages! Never again! Cant wait to see her finished... and love the shape, very brave!.. Keep on posting!

[quote name='Muzz' timestamp='1317058353' post='1386167'] You [i]are[/i] strange, it's just there's two of you now... [/quote] Ahem... Three. (The TBird is a wonderful aroma)

Again, less contemporary, but here goes.. Lemmy. Turn it up till everyone complains, then hit it as hard as you can. Way more talented than he ever gets credit for. The consummate rock dream, where he has used all his shortcomings and turned them into something great. Paul Simmonan. Someone posted Norman Watt-Roy played his best lines. According to Joe Strummers' biog Simmo hated the studio and was more than happy to let Norman play on the later albums, while he got on with painting. I love the fact the he picked up a bass and let Mick Jones point out the notes. Just how I started. Look at the cover of 'London Calling', iconic, pure and simple. Glen Matlock. Look at his playing on the show 'So it Goes', very dexterous and strong. Who said punks couldn't play? Testicles, I say. And no matter what folk say, he turned up to play on 'Never Mind the Bollocks', just the album that stopped everything, and started it again. Stuart Morrow. New Model Army. I'm trying to think of something earth shattering here. This guy was just a powerhouse live. melody, speed, the lot. NMA lived off his melodies and style for far longer than they should have been allowed after he went. Finally, in list formation.. David J. Bauhaus The Bloke from Stump Erm..all unknown Basschatters... especially me!

This is a seriously cool bass. If you ever fancy giving her to a numpty to loose in the post again, I'm your man.

Hi. I bought a Surfcaster from the States a year ago, and this was the story. The seller despatched the guitar via courier and sent me a tracking number. It arrived in the UK and stopped at a customs warehouse. I received a letter from Parcel Force outlining the import tax (£11), VAT (£90) and a handling fee (£7). I rang the customs people asking how they could charge VAT on something that was not new, and they explained as VAT had never been charged on it in the UK, they were entitled to do this. But, they also said they had used a nominal value to assess the VAT, and this amount was considerably lower than what I had paid. I coughed up with my debit card and she arrived soon after. Also the seller had put a lower value on the declaration value (but a higher value than customs had used). If you seller says it is a gift, or 'parts for repair' sometimes it avoids all this. I bought a Hipshot bridge from the States, and asked if the seller would mark it as a gift, he refused, but it arrived on my doorstep with no extra charge anyway, although I think this only works with small packages. If you ring the inland revenue helpline, the first thing they ask is 'What did you pay?', and if you were to appeal, you would have to show evidence of this. I felt a bit stung, and at the end of the day could have bought a similar guitar in the UK for a similar price. But the truth was. I was drunk and hit the buy it now button by sort of accident. You live and learn. Although the guitar was what the seller said it was, and very pristine and well packed. If this is the bass you want, then the price becomes less of an issue. Contact the seller prior to bidding and ask what the delivery charges will be and your intention to bid, and ask if the seller will help with the value declaration should you win (and make sure the seller states the age of the bass). But expect to pay something toward HMCR if you do. Good Luck!

I forgot to say, the stand out talent of Nirvana (IMHO) was Dave Grohl. As I remember he was not with them the first time round on bleach, but at the second gig he was immense. He created a huge, huge sound. I think this elevated them up from others around them. And clearly post Nirvana he is an immensely talented guy.

I saw Nirvana 3 times. First at Newcastle riverside on the Bleach tour. It was OK, but at the time the Sub Pop label did lots of tours, and they were just another band. I much preferred Tad anyway. The second time was at the Newcastle Mayfair on the Nevermind tour, just prior to them becoming a Stadium band. It was packed and the media were everywhere. All I remember thinking was where were all these c**nts at the Riverside, and how come the place was full of 16 year olds? They did however produce a mighty big sound for a three piece, but when they smashed up their instruments I lost interest. The last time was at Reading festival, and they were close to the top of the bill, and it seemed like everyone had come to see them. I couldn't have cared less and thought they acted like K**b-heads smashing everything up again. I've always thought that there were loads better bands around at the time, but they must have made a pact with someone, so all the camera's were pointed at them. I think the article from the OP is true. Whether it killed grunge off, I'm not so sure, but it certainly became another pop genre and a vehicle to sell loads of units. Also if ever I hear songs from Nevermind I think it sounds really dated and has not weathered well. Thought the whole thing was Emperors New Clothes.

I bloody love mine! And I'm not that rock. I ditched the OE bridge and got a Hipshot, which makes her much fuller. I don't find them heavy, they are very slim, and not that neck-divey. Feels great in my hand.