spinynorman

I wrecked an SX P. I didn't like the orange varnish on the neck, and tried to remove it with chemicals. The varnish came off, but left the wood a dirty brown, with dark streaks in the grain. So I took the frets off in the hope I could sand it clean. But sanding didn't help, and I couldn't get several of the frets back. In the end Rich (Ou7shined) bought the neck off me, worked some magic and made a nice new bass, so it wasn't entirely wasted, but that was my last attempt at refinishing anything.

My listening habits have entirely changed since the 1970s, when I would regularly sit down specifically to listen to music. Now I never do that, when I listen to music it's either bass practice via mp3s on my laptop, exploring via Youtube, or listening during car journeys. I have a 32gb SD card as additional storage on my phone and that serves as my travelling mp3 player. For that reason, I wouldn't want a phone that didn't have extendable storage. I can't explain why my listening has changed, and I wouldn't say it's a good thing, it's just the way it is. But then, even in the 70s I was never serious about hifi to anything like the level that some people are. I can't explain that either, my ears just seem unable to detect differences that really bother someone else.

Shouldn't the bass player be looking at the audience?

Interesting that Yodel disputes the MoneySavingExpert poll, on the grounds that their TrustPilot reviews are better. http://www.theguardian.com/money/2013/jan/26/fake-reviews-plague-consumer-websites

The problem is, if the guitarist isn't allowed a Strat, what is he going to play? A Les Paul? A Telecaster? Some out-of-fashion super-strat? Have a heart, it's like telling the bass player he mustn't play a Precision.

I'm interested in how this turns out. I have an old shape Ripper that I think must be 1974. When I got through the black paint someone had sprayed over everything, I found the body was Alder, which was a surprise. It's good though, lovely grain and 2lbs lighter than the 1978 maple one.

I won't trust streaming services until network connections can be guaranteed everywhere. I tried streaming on my phone in the car and it was hopeless. Mind you, we struggle to pick up Radio 4 in these uncharted wastelands of rural Warwickshire. My experience of streaming video hasn't been encouraging either. It's ok so long as you want to watch what the industry wants you to watch. Anything else is either not available on Netflix, or rental only on Lovefilm. My point about Amazon's cd/mp3 pricing and the Amazon cloud is that, in that model, either the CD or the mp3 has no value. I think it might be the CD.

[quote name='flyfisher' timestamp='1391533076' post='2358259'] of course, you'll be deleting the ripped copies from your mac when you sell the original CDs . . . . . [/quote] In the wider context of where CD buying is headed, would you have to? Yesterday I was looking for a track on Amazon. I had a choice, an mp3 of the one track for 99p, the entire album as mp3s for £6.50, or the CD of the album, plus all the tracks as mp3s, for £4.50. I went for the latter. Along the way I downloaded the Amazon Cloud Player and found that every album I ever bought from them is there on my account as downloadable mp3s. I remember I did have an email about it a while ago, but didn't really take on board what they were offering. For all they know, I could have sold, broken, given away or lost all of those albums. Not sure I understand the box set problem. It's just packaging.

[quote name='yorks5stringer' timestamp='1391182386' post='2354280'] Just to be peverse, why does this even exist? [url="http://www.promenademusic.co.uk/brian-may-bass-cherry"]http://www.promenade...may-bass-cherry[/url] [/quote] You're not the first to wonder that. It's a bit like having a Cheryl Cole signature range of hair care products including a beard trimmer.

Love the Rolling Stone Interview Intro - "Ginger Baker's life has changed since he starred in the 2012 documentary [i]Beware of Mr. Baker.[/i]" Interview .... [b]"Has your life changed at all since [i]Beware of Mr. Baker[/i] [Jay Bulger's 2012 award-winning documentary] in any way? 

[/b]" "No." and then .... [b]".... a lot of practice helps though, right?"[/b] "No, it doesn't." [b]"Do you still try to get better though? Are you still trying to do new things?"

[/b] "No. You can play what you want to play. What's the point of trying to play things that are difficult just for the fact of doing it?" [i]

 [/i]I feel so much better now. Vindicated.

How did I miss this for nearly a year? There will be more pictures, won't there? You can't tease us like this.

Our SRM450 didn't cut out, but over time we seemed to get less volume out of it. Replaced it with a 12" active Alto, which has been very reliable.

They've got some strange colour ideas. I've taken the yellow pickguard off my black Casady because it looks cheap and really isn't needed.

[quote name='xgsjx' timestamp='1390689835' post='2348420'] Are you saying the bassist in Roy Buchanan's version isn't a natural player? He does a few variations on the bassline. [/quote] Even naturals are only human.

Probably the best thing you could do to help smaller venues outside the cities would be to repeal the drink/drive laws. Can't see it happening, though.

After reading a previous thread about natural aptitude, I wondered if there was a test for natural aptitude for bass players. My conclusion .... If you can play along to "Green Onions" without the slightest temptation to vary the bass line, you're a natural. If you can do it with Booker T, try the versions by Al Kooper or Roy Buchanan.

[quote name='neepheid' timestamp='1390522239' post='2346527'] A bass is either good or it isn't. Only you can decide, and it's got nothing to do with its country of origin. [/quote] That's true as long as the manufacturer doesn't deliberately use inferior materials and components in basses made in certain countries.

Years ago I heard a radio discussion with a music professor who said some people do have a natural aptitude for a certain instrument. Like some people find it easy to learn foreign languages. I tried trumpet and guitar before I came to bass. It's never easy at the start, but you should be enjoying it and making some progress, however slow. The question is how long you keep going before you realise it's not the one. I struggled with guitar for 30 years on and off.

Yes, the Formby connection is a problem. But I used the newer one of my father's on a version of Clapton's "Motherless Child", and it works really well. I'm having a problem with strings, I don't like Nylgut, I need to find some good old fashioned nylon.

Or Ukelele Banjo. I've recently inherited the two that my father owned. The oldest he acquired during WWII in exchange for a Luger pistol. The plate on the headstock says "Down South" "J. T. C. - L" "British Manufacture". Unfortunately my mother kept it in a cupboard that was flooded, and some of the chromed back plate and the tailpiece is coroded and rusted. It's playable, but I think cosmetically it's beyond hope, which is a shame. The other is newer, a label on the headstock says "John Grey & Sons, London" and on the back "RM Made in England". I used to play the older one when I was about 14, until I got a guitar. I know there's been a revival of interest in the uke, but how about its banjo-like cousin?

No Android version. I guess real musicians all love Apple.

I'm surprised you got caught out, as the fees are quite open. It would be useful for others to know how it happened.

Bought Gareth's CIJ '62 Reissue Precision. It's a lovely bass, and plays well straight out of the case. The transaction was very easy to complete, at a great price including shipping, and it came very quickly. I'd confidently recommend smaz to anyone on Basschat.