BassTractor

[quote name='Stacker' timestamp='1363527072' post='2013624'] [i][size=3][size=4]'......I'm working on behalf of your government on a legal matter in the North...' - [/size][/size][/i][size=3][size=4]Love it! An air of mystery to wrap around his cloak of megalomania.[/size][/size][i][size=3] [size=4]'[/size][/size][/i][size=4]Working' for HM Government? Doing what, one wonders?[/size] [/quote] Hey! Don't do that! Looking right through the esteemed J. Hall Esq? The nerve! Learnt you nothing from Ibsen's Wild Duck, lad? "Deprive the average human being of his life-lie, and you rob him of his happiness.” best, bert

[quote name='ZenBasses' timestamp='1363514866' post='2013430'] But I must add that just because I don't play in a band doesn't mean the passion isn't there. Playing bass is my hobby my outlet and my biggest passion. Some would argue that having £000s of pro gear is daft... But it makes Me happy... And that is all that matters when all is said and done. [/quote] Words from the Wise. b, b

First: best of luck with the shop and with your managing it. Exciting times! Have loads of fun doing it! As to your question, I'm far from in your market, but: As a starting point, I try to support local shops. They don't have to have much in stock, but they must accept that some items, like basses, must be checked and approved before money changes hands. For me the main thing is to be treated as a human, and with some honesty. I walk away when I notice the seller will say just about anything for a sell. I'm happy to pay at least 25% more than online, but for that I demand the shop does what a shop can do, and that's mostly on the service front. Looking at my gear, 70% was indeed bought locally; the rest from many different places for many different reasons. best, bert

Hey Simon, Welcome! You made the right choice. We have cookies on the dark side, rememba? A degree in MT and having played the bass for eight years, and not a lot to contribute? Howzat? I don't believe you, lad. I for one could learn a lot from a guy like you. Sounds great fun with an originals band like that. Concentrate on guys like Pearl Jam and Nirvana. They have the most comfy clothes! Nice set up you got. Saw the pic on your page. Nice blue on that Ray too. Is it a Pacific Blue Burst? Anyway, enjoy the company here! best, bert

Surely too late to wish you good luck, but let us know whether you enjoyed the experiment, eh? best, bert

... bu' ... bu' ... isn't it lejárt hirdetés? best, bert

[quote name='White Cloud' timestamp='1363457502' post='2013017'] Looks like a nice quality hardwood floor too. You are living the dream mate! [/quote] You're right! Have you also seen the fantastic tonewood and neckwoods that Dougie stores on that floor, North in the pic? I wanna read the build thread!

[quote name='thebrig' timestamp='1363457008' post='2013011'] [url="http://www.toolstation.com/shop/p23498?gclid=CKKT0oDpgbYCFeXLtAodnWMAdA"]http://www.toolstati...CFeXLtAodnWMAdA[/url] [/quote] Thanks! b, b

[quote name='thebrig' timestamp='1363445182' post='2012827'] I've just found a place online that sells 6mm bits that are 400mm long, so I will order one now. [/quote] Wow. Can you tell us where? best, bert

Hey Dougie, Welcome! This is starting to get scary: three Scots and a wannabee already on this thread! Don't mind Leen. He's just kidding, like always. He knows perfectly well the rug is from Ikea. Anyway, enjoy the banter, the info and the occasional family crises. best, bert

Lukewarm, me. The design is original, but for from great. Also in my mind this design is a vertical design that is much weakened when you hang the thing in playing position. I do love quirky though, so I'd probably buy it before the same P in the same quality with the regular design - if it was possible to play it, that is. best, bert

[quote name='swanbrook' timestamp='1363424600' post='2012505'] I am still going to take a look at pushing the pole pieces down ! [/quote] Oh yeah. Absolutely! Obviously the best thing to do. I just wanted to mention it in addition. best, bert

Then I'd say get the RockBass Corvette, and do indeed get the active version in your case. As said before: it's a beast - not too far removed from even the Bongo, the beasts' beast. At the price, even new, I feel it's a steal. The only drawback I can find is that the body wood is relatively soft and thus more easily dented than the expensive ones. It gave me a kick that straight out of the box it was almost perfectly tuned and well set up.. best, bert

How about the RockBass Vampyre? Seems to tick all the boxes from where I stand. best, bert

Another point mentioned somewhere, and I have no idea about its validity, is that some people, when confronted with this StingRay peculiarity, would raise the treble end of the pickup in an attempt to strengthen the sound from the G string, but that they actually were making for too strong a magnetic field which would instead dampen the vibrations in that string. As said I have no idea, but to me it sounds like a good point. best, bert

Living room player here. Right now, I have no desire to be in a band, though that will probably change, but I [b]am[/b] preparing to dep at some point. I just enjoy listening to my bass - even though it's me who "plays" it. A bass doesn't need a band for me either - the band in my head plays better anyway. BTW, why do the YT heroes actually sit in bedrooms? Is this a cultural thing? I'd feel stashed away there. best, bert

Hey Blinddrew, Welcome! You'll find there a lot of 'convertitists' on here - most from guitar, I think, but also from keyboards and whatsnot. Just shoot your questions. They're welcomed here. Just remember: There are no dumb questions - just dumb people asking questions. The diverse sections and threads can also be searched, and the total of BC is a veritable (meaning huge, not necessarily grand) source of info. Anyway, enjoy your stay! best, bert

[quote name='deaver' timestamp='1363355795' post='2011710'] Everyone knows that the best guitarists are ex-guitarists [/quote]

Yup! They must know, coz my basses litterally are in my shop. Was kinda taken aback, slighly shocked actually, that one of them would express he'd never thought that about me (as in: that I'd choose a bass rather than a real instrument like a guitar). Not joking either, see. WtF? And this is a guy who is in bands, and knows (should know) what the different instruments do. My only guess is he's used to root note bassists. Else I can hardly imagine what goes on in his head. Anyway, best, bert

[quote name='Big_Stu' timestamp='1363293027' post='2011256'] Spend too long thinking about Rickenbacker - and Fender and songs start coming into your mind........... [/quote] Bah! You only posted that because one of the YT comments goes: "I'm a better musician. Serious musicians and composers are not commercial I trained at the top music school in the US.. I'm a CREATIVE person. I am a vocalist, composer, multi-instrumentalist. I taught myself how to write music but I had extensive training. I sing advanced music and write advanced music. I can write simple music too. I need donations since the commercial world does not fund serious composers or serious musicians. I need assistance. All serious musicians do." best, bert

Hey Busccini, Welcome to BC! You are one lucky bastard, living in Munich. That's an awesome place. We understand your English, so no problem. Enjoy the site! best, bert

[quote name='bartelby' timestamp='1363264944' post='2010640'] My 3 year old daughter got a Uke for christmas, from grand parents. When I get a bass out to practice she runs off and gets her uke, sits next to me and strums. It's cute, but I really wish she'd let me tune the bloody thing... [/quote] Luverly! Enjoy it - it'll be gone before you know it. best, bert

I knew it! Lefty Ampegs! And here's me thinking I was joking when I made that Gauche-Krueger. best, bert

[quote name='kennyrodg' timestamp='1363216127' post='2010114'] "Jeez, he needs to work out a Blues track" [/quote]

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1363263720' post='2010603'] They provoke such a negative response because of the way they go about trying to enforce their copyright. [..] I'm sure we'd all be a little more forgiving if they could show that they were actually talking serious steps to stop the production [..] This makes them come across as a company that is petty and vindictive [/quote] [quote name='flyfisher' timestamp='1363269109' post='2010726'] they can't take on the big boys who are making these things so they're getting spiteful with the little people who buy them. Classic bullying tactics and inevitably unpopular. You have to deal with the world as it is, not the way you'd wish it to be. [/quote] [quote name='EBS_freak' timestamp='1363271154' post='2010778'] Nobody bats an eyelid about pianos, trumpets, violins, acoustic guitars etc all looking the same... but the second you slap some paint on your instrument and put some primative electronics in it, the world is up in arms... [/quote] ^^^^These. Must admit that my thinking is still on the fence on this one, but the foul taste in my mouth is not. I normally side with the copyright holder, the composer, the band etc... and will for example always pay for my music, and will pay a lot extra for an original medicine (at the cost of being looked upon as an idiot even by the seller of the expensive medicine), but I'm not likely to honour a company that goes about it in this way. I've long had this list of basses that I decidedly was gonna own, and a Rickenbacker was always very firmly on the top of it. However, I now own almost all of the other basses on that list, but because of the foul taste have not bought a Rick. Instead, my money has gone to Music Man three more times. Even though I could afford four Ricks, I'll probably rather have a copy that sounds good (if they exist). best, bert