Silvia Bluejay

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1362345075' post='1998775'] If you could post what you have up here at some point, that would be great. What ever you have will doubtless be more informative than the single small photo on their website. [/quote] Some photos from the LBGS are here, including those basses - although they may not be as useful as I had hoped. I mean to write a blog for Basschat in the next few days, and order, caption and add more photos; this is just a provisional upload. (James with the BC Baton!)

OK, last post before I exit this discussion. I spent 16 hours at the show this weekend, in two chunks of 8 uninterrupted hours. I didn't set foot out of the venue. I didn't wear earplugs. I'm not deaf now, nor was I before yesterday. But I didn't find the noise impossible to live with, I didn't get bored, I met one of my bass idols (David Ellefson) and got his signature for Basschat, I could have attended other awesome masterclasses and gigs if I had chosen to, I gassed and drooled over fantastic equipment, I spoke to a lot of friendly people at the stands - as well as to a lot of Basschatters... and all that I had to endure was a bit of a headache last night, which could have been caused as much by my continuing cold as by the slapping noise. Remember that bad publicity, appropriate or unfair, on this site or anywhere else, may lead to dwindling attendance and cancellation of the show in the near future. When that happens, don't come complaining that you can't see decent basses or gear in the shops anymore and you have to order blind online.

It was huge fun, and those of you who snubbed it just don't know what you missed, and I don't mean the slapping and the showing off. Incidentally, kudos to Alex Lofoco, who demonstrated his double-thumbing slapping technique at the Rotosound stand [b]in a consistenly low volume[/b], so that listening and watching in awe was a pleasure as opposed to a torture.

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1362309760' post='1998105'] I don't suppose I could ask a favour of anyone at the show today with a camera? Would it be possible to take some photos of the [url="http://www.squareoneguitars.com"]Square One Bass[/url] particularly details of the neck joint and the pickup assembly? And then post them here? Thanks! [/quote] I've taken a few photos of both models on show, but only from the front. I have informed the guys at the stand of the existence of Basschat and the interest their basses are receiving - they may sign up and join the conversation soon.

Steve, it has been - and is - my pleasure, and great fun. As always, the people are the best part even of such a gear-oriented event as this

Well I did get home with a bit of a headache from the slapping noise, but nothing as bad as what is described here. I don't see how people can choose to give a miss to a collection of extremely GAS-inducing bass-related stuff you can see, touch and ask about - if not exactly test for sound - and decide that a total of five masterclasses and five performances a day by big names, as well as visits to stands by other stars you can approach and talk to, simply aren't going to be worth their time and money once a year. Strikes me as a bit sad, to be honest, unless you're travelling from the back of beyond and have to go through a lot of inconvenience just to get there.

Just back from a Junkyard Dogs gig - thank you all who came to the BC corner earlier today to have a chat! it was great to see many BC friends again, and put faces to many other screen names I hadn't met in person before! I'm loving this weekend Big thanks to James (Jimryan) for taking the BC Baton to the show and passing it on after taking photos of Steve Lawson and Yolanda Charles holding it. Excellent work. As Steve says, more tomorrow!

Great to meet you too! Awesome day

I'm gassing like mad!!!

I'm posting from the BC corner at the LGBS - we have already seen and given lanyards to aroud 30 members, talked to them, met them while we were walking around the stands gassing like mad, and now I'm sitting here waiting for the next meetup. James and the BC Baton are here too, waiting for someone to come up and collect the bass for the BC Bass Rwlay! Come forward if you're around

See you at Olympia shortly

[quote name='molan' timestamp='1362183913' post='1997033'] Late update on stand layout After some friendly negotiation with the organisers we've extended the width of the stand by a few metres and should have a nice big pop-up stand with a BassChat logo on. It's right by the entrance to the main hall on the left as you enter. Even more exciting is that, due to a relatively late cancellation there's now a big empty area in front of the stand. Late this evening the organisers put four large sofa-type seats there. Might help give people a place to rest in between trudging around the stands It's directly in front of the Bass Gear stand. Also a quick plug to confirm that Jens Ritter will be around to chat to people at 15:00 on each day and we'll also co-ordinate with Dave Swift to come along around some BC meet times in case anyone wants to chat to him about the life of being Jools Holland's first call bass man for 22 years! Looking forward to seeing you all there [/quote] FAN-FRIGGIN'-TASTIC Barrie! I'll be in early - or, to be more precise, I'll be queueing from early so I can get in at 10am sharp - and set up the remaining bits and pieces. It's going to be unfeasibly awesome!

I don't remember seeing it there this afternoon, but I hope I simply missed it - I'd love to have a look too

LOL! We'll have plenty of space for our meetup(s), so make sure you all get there and stay as long as possible

[quote name='DogHammer' timestamp='1361802471' post='1991071'] Nice. As long as I get to see Andy Irvine then I'm happy. And hoping that the Warwick stand is extensive. Still haven't tried a Streamer in left handed, wanted to hear and feel the difference to my Corvette, as was in 2 minds when I bought it! [/quote] I have bad news for us Warwick-mad lefties. Their stand appeared to be well ready this afternoon when I was at the show. They have a good number of basses there - but NOT ONE OF THEM LEFT-HANDED. I saw a nice lefty Corvette 4 waiting to be put in place at another stand, and several lefty Höfner MacCartney models - but not much else for us. Edit: forgot to mention the Wood&Tronics lefty Barrie showed me, which is for sale at the Bass Gear stand. There will also be another lefty model at our stand, a Carvin, arriving tomorrow.

[quote name='Jimryan' timestamp='1362154796' post='1996557'] So the Baton will be at the London Bass Guitar Show tomorrow. Who fancies stepping up to the plate and taking the bass home with them? [/quote] James, I'll be waiting for you at the BC corner (check out the meetup times). We can take a few group photos with the Baton, and then I'm sure someone will come forward to take it home.

I spent part of the afternoon setting up the BC corner together with the guys at Bass Gear. This is how our banner looks like, although the corner will be organised a little differently - Barrie texted me after I left, to say that we will be allowed to use some of the space to the right of the banner in the photo, after all, which is excellent news. There are also a few seats right in front of the Bass Gear stand. The cafe is also a few yards from the stand, out of shot to the left of this photo.

I'll make sure to come say hi to all of you! I'm also hoping to be able to keep tweeting on my netbook (haven't got a smartphone) from the venue. (They should have some sort of wireless service on offer, I hope.) In any case, if you mention us on Twitter, please use the hashtag [b]#BCatLBGS[/b]. I'm soo looking forward to this weekend! \m/ \m/

[quote name='Skol303' timestamp='1362066211' post='1995253'] Just thought I'd reiterate what I've said before - that the BC community is by far one of the most friendly, inclusive and helpful on the Interweb, in my experience. It is disappointing that things like the monthly composition and mixing challenges don't attract more interest/feedback among BC'ers. Currently we have something like 30 votes spread across both competitions, which is frankly pathetic given the size of this community - especially given that probably half of those votes are from people who've entered! [i]But...[/i] this is very typical of music forums and certainly not a symptom of BC in particular. As strange as it might sound, it's not uncommon for musicians to have little interest in the music of their contemporaries. We're usually more keen on chatting about the work of established artists, people we perhaps aspire to, rather than those on a similar level. That's not a criticism, it's just how it is. I guess somewhere deep down we're hard-wired to focus our attention on things that other people also show interest in, as opposed to seeking things out for ourselves (I am of course making a wild generalisation here!). But it's human nature I think. Personally, I try to buck that instinct as much as possible and keep my ears open and my head 'fed' with new music whenever I can. But then I used to review new music for a living, so for me it's an old habit that dies hard Whatever. The point is, we shouldn't be listening to new music made by fellow Basschatters [i]just[/i] because of camaraderie... we should be doing so because some of it - in fact a lot of it! - is simply brilliant and well worth taking the time to explore. Here endeth the sermon. [/quote] I see your point, but in my case, when I fail to listen to the tracks in the Composition comp and vote, there is a simpler reason: lack of time. In order to choose one song, I usually need to listen to all of them more or less at the same time, or I won't be able to remember which one I prefer. I can obviously get back to each of them more than once - and I tend to do just that if possible - but that again takes time. I have also been suggesting we get a collection (either online or on CD) not just of each month's winners but of all the tracks that have been posted in the comps, if their authors allow. Choosing a winner doesn't mean I don't like the other tracks, and it would be good to have them all at hand rather than having to dig them out of the online jungle one by one. From that to sharing links on FB or wherever, or getting friends to listen to the songs in real life, would be just one small step.

[quote name='Truckstop' timestamp='1362007654' post='1994539'] And, you simply must seek out the Philadelphia Cheese Steak Emporium and tell me what it's like! [/quote] Er, sounds a bit yucky to be honest...?

Right. Go to as many BCers' gigs as possible - check. Take photos and share them on as many platforms as possible - check Take videos and let the bands have them for their own publicity uses - check Listen to the tracks on BC's competitions - only manage that occasionally, unfortunately. I have been very busy in the last few months. But I do tweet to our currently 438 followers about all of BC's non-Off Topic comps...

Up to date PDF showing public transport planned engineering works for this weekend, just released by TfL: [url="http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/emails/worksandclosures/Planned_closure_WE_3_MARCH_A4.pdf"]http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/emails/worksandclosures/Planned_closure_WE_3_MARCH_A4.pdf[/url]

The horrid scrachplate ruins it all.

Thanks Garey - sounds promising. I've emailed their further info address, let's see what they say

Ha! I was going to post this too! I'm again very tempted, and mightily annoyed at not having been able to attend last year. Garey, I've emailed them asking whether they have any double bass and/or EUB masterclasses lined up. If they had any, I think I'd throw caution to the wind and book myself in almost immediately