BassTractor

Stop giggling at our expense even if that's on-topic! 😠

Always willing to help, but Steve was rather clear about the purpose of the thread, and as a classical musician, I'm not savvy in these things (I always bought an extra seat for my 65 stop pipe organ on one side and for the other organ on the other side, and that was that). That said, If there's anything I can do, @Steve Browning, just send me a PM. You could also have my mobile phone number just in case. Oh, and if you happen to be in the extreme South of Norway, then I'll buy you an extremely expensive beer! (not as expensive as the £15 pint I bought next to the Notre Dame - they should've burnt that café to get even, not the goddemn church!)

My BC-approved stage name Bergen aan Zee Mother India might to some degree explain ticket sales...

Sad news once again, and my condolences to his friends and family. At the same time I do have to ask: who are you guys talking about? I don't know a user John Green or similar, or a user Secret Police or similar. What was his user name on here?

That is just ultra cool. Love it. ( BTW, similarly, a band I was in has unexpected references everywhere one listens or reads. Just google "The Group" and be convinced. 😁 )

With you there. Have never done it and will never do it. The opposite for me. I'm not even remotely interested in anyone's signature if they're famous, but if a friend releases something and wants to give it to me and make it personal through a little text ("Happy birthday, Bert" or similar), then I'd appreciate. Ha! In the 80s, when I tended to play with some famous people, not because I was good but because I was available, I broke the ice a few times when saying hello the first time, by handing out deliberately shoddy pieces of paper with my signature on, and when they asked what that was, I shook my shoulders and said I thought they probably wanted my signature. Loud laughter followed. This was max ice-breaking deluxe coupé, but the second time already felt artificial, so I dropped it after that. Nice to remember that first time though. 🙂

Indeed it's what really happened. It was an older upright piano, but was built so its height was low. Thus the piano fitted in a Ford Sierra estate - just.

Yeah, indeed that seems to be the general idea permeating this endless line of threads. I appreciate the thinking, but can't agree. One look at the names of the most successful bands seems enough. I was in a band called The Group. Awful name, for sure, but they/we got to record two albums, and the band was highly appreciated by its natural audience if not the pop station listeners. BTW, just to be sure: I'm of course not propagating the idea that one should use 0.0117 seconds on finding a band name.

Oh, and: The cOvertones (I hate that one, so it's probably good).

Boring Suburban Mum. A Plethora of Good Ideas Performed Badly. Several Species of Small Furry Animals Gathered Together in a Cave and Grooving With a Pict (just kidding!) Reverend Bell-end. Evidence Is Not Proof. Gharzoch Glawyth Bow Before Your Underlord. How Hard Can It Be? That last one is a band name proposal, BTW, coz really: how hard can it be? I used exactly 0.0117 seconds coming up with these, and used several minutes trying to grasp how it is possible for people to struggle with band names. I'd seriously be happy to be enlightened in this, BTW, coz I do see I might be missing something here.

Kevazingo5 of course.

Ah, but then that is a reasonable answer to a not unreasonable question. Point in case: When we bought a piano, we were offered transportation by the shop, but I said: "No thanks, I'll just take it in the Sierra", and I did. (Yes: short strings.)

I'm shocked! Name calling like this? I think you should've realised he's ye big slim spammer now!

Well thank you, Carl! Or should I call you Bobby, or Robert or Frank or Johannes or Simon or any of the hundreds of other names that are used in conjunction with your photo? BTW, I saw most of your testimonies on ze innerwebz. Congratulations with reaching a weight loss of more than 80 kg! Maybe I shouldn't mention your successful penis operation which added a whopping two inches to your length! Congrats! I imagine you're very proud of having a 2" penis now! Oh, and welcome to BC!

YT comment: "Before it was damaged - the classroom uke was worth $1.50. After Pete smashed it - $1700!" 😂

You evil, evil man! 😄

Research may have been a headache, but IMHO you've managed to nail it. Yamaha: secure buy, whether online or in shop. The cheapest one will serve you well (I suppose that is a TRBX-174). Ibanez: secure buy for the right models. Ask BC. IMHO, comparing with Yamaha, they were not competing with Yamaha at all for the cheapest models, but competitive from roughly 250 or 300 quid. Squier Affinity: have not tried one that I would actually buy, even when priced well over the cheapest Yamaha. Squier Vintage Modified offered some very nice basses, but had to be tried in person. Squier Classic Vibe long was a safe buy even online, but I now read that the new ones are less good - dunno how much less. I mention these more expensive ones because it should be easy for you to find a 200 quid used one that is a few years old. If you want to buy online, I'd say that from your list of brands, I'd buy a new Yamaha or a used mid-price Ibanez or Classic Vibe, but taking a fellow BC-er along to a shop would probably widen your possibilities. Good luck!

That is very recognisable. I found it helped talking myself into a state of mind that is directed towards the future. There's a certain freedom to be had when the collector in me, or the completist for that matter, is not allowed to govern my actions. It helped when the money went to something else I felt was important, like certain books. Truth be told, after selling 15 basses, I don't really miss them, though admittedly a certain Neptune Blue StingRay crosses my mind every now and then, whilst my beloved Bongo Dargie Delight doesn't. Other people's mileage will vary.

As an organ player, I stopped smuggling popular tunes into my improvisations during services at one specific point: a little child loudly sang along with the popular kids tune that was my contraband that day.

From what I've read, the Chinese government officially recognises copyrights, but is not active in this, prioritising export revenue. Then there's the structure of production. Thousands upon thousands of little factories in the hinterlands that are moved to other unfindable places in those hinterlands as soon as they become wary of any pressure. Reportedly, one only has to move a few miles away from the East coast before being in the middle of this, but it's said the government does not have the overview or control. From own experience within Hi-Fi and kayaks, there's also an endless stream of info, plans, tools and copies of molds going between family and friends, this complicating the matter further.

Reminds me of the yearly polls held in Holland when I was even younger. One year, the supergroup consisting of the "best" ones for each position was: Best singer: Jon Anderson Best guitar player: Steve Howe Best keyboard player: Rick Wakeman Best drummer: Bill Bruford I just wish I could remember who the best bass player was that year! 😂

What a cheat, taking a 27-year head start. You just keep practising, and you'll be as good or better! 😉 Great story. Thanks for posting it.

Yep. Essentially true, in that our gun/capita ratio is amongst the highest. Last year's statistics stated that Norway was on the 14th place globally, with 0,29 guns per private owner. The USA at that point had more than four times as many guns per private owner (1.20), and those guns were more dangerous. Here, it's all about hunting in your own forest, and you'd use different guns for elk, roe deer and fowl.

Exactly. My firm IEM BassHanger Ltd. already have many orders coming in. Follow this space! 😁

As any professional archer can tell you, only the arrow matters. The bow doesn't come into it at all. 😐