neepheid

[quote name='4 Strings' timestamp='1368220785' post='2074724'] Does all this apply on second hand goods? The import on a $750 bass is £19, but the VAT £110. Do we pay VAT on importing 2nd hand things? [/quote] Yes

[quote name='BassBus' timestamp='1368185337' post='2074160'] By making mistakes and that's why Graham should take it to a luthier if he doesn't know how to do it. [/quote] I was aiming for the positive aspects of "having a go" rather than dwelling on the (often necessary) negative aspects of the learning process

But how did the luthier/tech learn how to do it?

That's how we kicked off in the Inevitable Teaspoons. For reference I guess we're like an R&B/Rock/Blues band. We sat round the table and asked each member for a song that they'd like to do in the band - anything goes sort of thing. The list: Me: Gary Numan, "Cars" Drummer: U2, "Angel of Harlem" Trombonist: Kiss, "Crazy Crazy Nights" Saxophonist: The Isley Brothers, "Harvest for the World" Keys: Joe Cocker, "Delta Lady" In the end only Delta Lady stuck and has remained in the set list. Admittedly we haven't made much of a change from the original, horn section stabs instead of backing vocals and the drumming's a bit more energetic. We messed about with Cars, played it in swing time and all sorts of nonsense but at the end of the day there just wasn't enough in the song to work with. We had fun messing about with it though, and we might return to it one day, if I can graft some kind of middle bit into it. Maybe a mashup with something else. Hmmm. We do a cover of Cream, "White Room" with no guitars. That's quite different I suppose. Overdriven bass, drums, keys (with phasers set to stun), sax and the secret weapon - wah wah trombone. Whether it's change of genre or just wilful weirdness is another question, but we like it

[quote name='Gust0o' timestamp='1368049395' post='2072658'] Agree - they have to make a call as to whether the goods are worth more than £135, which isn't always clear if they're not labelled up; also, if the amount of duty, once calculated, is under £9 they will waive it. It's a lot more certain with the big ticket items. [/quote] +1, they can't inspect everything. In general the smaller the item, the more likely it will pass through undetected. Import duty is one thing, but remember that if your item gets intercepted you can rarely dodge the VAT, the allowances are quite paltry (£18 for commercial goods and £36 for gifts if memory serves).

[quote name='NancyJohnson' timestamp='1368022943' post='2072154'] Have you not got those pots yet? I posted them from work on Friday. P [/quote] Not yet, was hoping they might arrive today - bank holiday on Monday probably messed things up a bit.

[quote name='timmo' timestamp='1368022096' post='2072133'] What has that got to do with asking about basses being so low? [/quote] Err, nothing, it was offered as part of an explanation as to why prices on the whole are low rather than taking exception to the question. Or did I read it wrong?

[quote name='The Bass Doc' timestamp='1368019465' post='2072099'] I've found 3 black speed knobs among my spares if you want them. I reckon they are to fit oriental splined pots however rather than USA types. [/quote] Sounds like those might not work then, I believe my incoming 250K pots are from a USA Gibson and the 300K pot that I have yet to get will almost certainly be this one from Thomann - [url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/gibson_potentiometer_300kohm.htm"]Gibson Poti 300kO Linear Taper Short - Thomann UK[/url] and again will be the USA splined pot, which means I might as well get these and hopefully ensure a happy and harmonious fit - [url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/gibson_gisk010_potiknoepfe.htm"]Gibson PRSK-010 Potiknobs - Thomann UK[/url] Cheers for the offer though, it is appreciated

Not much happening at the moment - drumming my fingers waiting for exciting, project advancing items to arrive in the post. Don't suppose the bank holiday helped much. Stuff incoming: Pickguard/screws 1 pickup Machine heads and ferrules (from different sources, stars aligned with mere hours to spare) Pots Chicken head knob TRC Laser waterslide paper Got some household expenses to take care of this month, so I think that's all the acquisitions I can handle for now. Will hopefully get lacquer sorted out next month. Are you listening, eBay? NO RIPPER PICKUPS FOR THE REST OF THE MONTH, PLEASE.

Someone in Aberdeen is selling a T40 for what seems like a reasonable price. I am not affiliated in any way with the seller (although could go run the rule over it if needs be) and have no idea if the seller will ship it (again I could assist with this), but if you don't ask you don't get... [url="http://www.aberdeen-music.com/topic/52966-peavey-t40-bass-for-sale/"]http://www.aberdeen-music.com/topic/52966-peavey-t40-bass-for-sale/[/url]

I owned an Ashdown ABM 4x10 cab for a few years, used it with a Hartke 3500 head, that combination sounded really good to me, weight got to me in the end and I went neodymium and micro head.

Basswood is a relative of pine? How?

I have one: I don't give much care to a pan pot - I use them like a switch anyway. What does it sound like? A more modern L-2000 would be the glib response. Lots of mids available on the EQ if you want it - and more pertinently it's controllable - that's the crucial difference for me over the L-2000, not the pan pot. Speaking of the EQ, the frequencies at which it operates complement the MFD pickups beautifully and there's virtually no hiss even if you turn the treble right up and it sounds way better to my ears than the treble boost option on the L-2000, less scratchy and finger squeaky. It's nice and simple to use. The pickups are perma-wired in series, but a little less hot than the L-2000. And the neck is lovely - slightly thinner than the Tribute L-2000 all round (but still not too thin - 41.2mm at the nut and a nice profile). Don't get me wrong, I've got no issues with the Tribute L-2000 neck, but this one I can fairly zip around on. Sometimes I like the tone of the L-2000 with it being basically a passive bass (the "active" thing being a simple signal boost), but sometimes this more hi-fi sounding one hits the spot. Found another vid: [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1PWtOM84V9c"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1PWtOM84V9c[/url]

I use the edge of an old t-shirt - slip the edge under the knob then wrap it round, grip the two sides together and pull up. Knob comes off and doesn't fly across the room because it's contained within the t-shirt.

[quote name='mcnach' timestamp='1367717764' post='2068744'] I very much doubt I'll get the gig, and I think in the future I'm just going to assemble bands and be the one auditioning other members! [/quote] You're kidding right? This week we're auditioning a couple of singers and I'm right keyed up about it, because I picked them out, I arranged it all, I've wasted everyone's time if they turn out to be no good and it'll be me who's got to tell one (or both) of 'em that they didn't get the gig. Doesn't sound like fun to me

[quote name='captainhaddock' timestamp='1367704247' post='2068674'] I would try fretsonthenet.com for the trussrod cover he does one off pieces at a reasonable price! [/quote] Interesting, have made contact to see if he could work from a scan of an original TRC. Cheers for the info

[quote name='umcoo' timestamp='1367685161' post='2068418'] Tasty. Where did you get the bridge cover from? [/quote] [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290910503061"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290910503061[/url]

If I'm going to have to use a three point bridge for now then I sure as hell am going to cover it up!

[quote name='Damonjames' timestamp='1367619704' post='2067767'] I forgot to post back on this, I ordered some acs er20's for the whole band off the overwhelming positive feedback. The other two guy in the band are happy, but for me they fit like any other earplug I've tried, if I move my mouth/face they work their way loose, not good as I do backing vox. Wish I'd tried the noizezz ones now but oh we'll, they cut the noise down really well though and can hear the mix just fine so +1 for effectiveness but -1 on the fit [/quote] There are two sizes, do you have the ER-20 or the ER-20S? S=small. I needed the small as I found the larger ones to be uncomfortable during extended use. Maybe you have the small ones and need the regular.

It is probably just poorly worded in that it implies a direct control where none exists. It is fair to say that if the Colour control is turned on and all the way anti-clockwise, I don't think the tweeter would be doing anything, pretty old school thump by that stage

I always thought the reversed P sounded a bit more "balanced" than the regular P - a little less bassy on the low strings and a little more bassy on the high strings. But that's probably what the "science" is telling my ears to hear. It's probably all complete tosh.

I'll say something positive about it - at no time has the seller claimed it is an ancient Fender that was found in a loft/under a bed.