s_u_y_*

One of the great things about buying/trading basses on here is that you often have a good idea of the history of the bass. My Fender Jazz started off in a shop in Sunderland (after being traded in with a Stingray), got sold to a BCer (forget the name) who retrofitted a finger rest and custom scratchplate, then got sold to niceguyhomer in Preston who retrofitted Fender 60's Custom Shop pups and now sold to me.

[quote name='Rayman' post='282818' date='Sep 12 2008, 06:08 PM']It's crazy. I sold mine for £650 and I thought that was cheap. They're unquestionably superb basses, I just don't get why they're out of favour right now, and Warwicks too, it's mad. Personally, if I was selling one now, I'd refuse to let it go for less than £600 minimum, I'd just hang on to it. Depends how desparate folks sre for the cash I guess.[/quote] It is crazy! I don't think that Stingrays and Warwicks are becoming out of favour per say. They are still selling. I think that people are just expecting to pay less for them, especially with the descreasing disposable income people are seeming to have these days.

[quote name='orangepeelneil' post='283237' date='Sep 13 2008, 04:31 PM'][size=3] I've never felt happy about the PA bass sound with either with pre/post selected on the Ashdown amps -it sounds sterile/clanky and weak with too much top end.I've noticed the same with many Ashdown players live.Good on stage sound means little if it the bass sounds poor out front.[/quote] Can I ask, how do you know that it sounds bad front of house if you're on stage?

Argh! It's in the exact colour scheme I wanted. Shame a) I've promised myself no more new basses until the new year and b ) I've got no money anyway!

Heya... anyone willing help me out. Just got one bass, and will be bring Alien's Compact Poweramp (so should take next to no space at all! ). Live in Battersea/Clapham Junction area. PM me if you can!

A bump for a free beer!

[quote name='benwhiteuk' post='280622' date='Sep 9 2008, 07:23 PM']Fair play, maybe my cynicism is slightly out of place and things are looking up?[/quote] I'd like to think things are looking up... I think I might may them a visit soon myself if this is the case. I need a new softcase anyway.

My band - Jamie West Band - are having an Album Launch party Monday 15th Sept in Central London at 7:30pm and it's gonna be big! Everyone gets a FREE DRINK and we got an art exhibition going on too. We're a rock outfit who has been compared to Queen and Bruce Springsteen, and have had some record label interest. If you want to hear some stuff, go to www.myspace.com/jamiewestband. People seem to really like "Plastic and Wine" and "Baby Wake Up". It would be great to see some Basschatters down there. Should be the first outing of Alien's custom compact poweramp... just RSVP with me first as places are going quickly. Check www.jamiewestband.com for a flyer and more info.

[quote name='chris_b' post='275450' date='Sep 2 2008, 02:28 PM']I've got a load of aging parts that I want to look new. How do I do that?[/quote] Swap with the OP.

Wow! This sounds really good!

Wals - I really liked the one that I played, but I think there's a lot of hype. I think lot of Justin Chancellor (Tool) fans think by owning a Wal it will take them to a place near him, which I think can in part explain the massive inflated prices for them. Rotosound strings - used them for years. When I decided to try other strings, I can't believe what I was missing. Nothing special for me at all. Neither of them are "I hate them" though. I guess I just don't have enough vitriol in me.

I've had to learn the set of a band called Victory Red whose bassist is out with tendonitis in his hand, so filling in for a bit. Quite fun... I haven't learnt any basslines in a while, though been meaning to learn some basslines of a Latin Bachata group called Aventura. Solid grooves with some cool licks all over the shop.

[quote name='jmesa' post='271452' date='Aug 28 2008, 12:13 AM']Fingerchat doesn't have the same ring to it.. [/quote] Try Googling "fingerchat". Obviously someone thinks it has a nice ring to it.

[quote name='Alien' post='271439' date='Aug 27 2008, 11:52 PM']Pre-production prototypes never get numbered Hopefully it'll be with you tomorrow, possibly Friday. It went out this afternoon via Citylink. Andy[/quote] Excellent mate... for some strange reason keep think today is Thursday. Wishful thinking I guess. Btw... just noticed how you packed it in the picture.

Alien Audio... sounds cool! Cool logo too. I hope you numbered it number "001". When you launch your successful amplification business empire, I wanna be able to retire on this baby. I'll be waiting patiently by the door (though I am away most of next week). Think I've got a gig next Saturday, perfect opportunity to test it out on the field.

I always try to change my strings every 3 months or so.

[quote name='silverfoxnik' post='268449' date='Aug 23 2008, 01:55 PM']Is that it then; you only get the enlightenment with the accompanying poverty??[/quote] Oh no... I reached the enlightenment first. It was travelling around the world which drove me into poverty. I got rid of my bass GAS, but now I've got SIMNPAS (Stamps In My New Passport Acquistion Syndrome). I guess a man has to have at least one vice.

[quote name='molan' post='268628' date='Aug 23 2008, 10:18 PM']Some thing that bought this home today for me was a simple trip to my local Waitrose. Let's face it, working in a high street supermarket isn't that exciting & the wages are generally rubbish. However, today every single person I came into contact with could not have been more helpful, friendly and genuinely appeared pleased to serve me with a smile. I have no idea whether this is because they have a really stringent employment policy, a great motivational manager or just that it's a group of people who vaguely enjoy their work.[/quote] Yeah... as a former Waitrose employee, they really do drill customer service into you focus on employee happiness (the yearly bonuses are great!) and make you feel like you are a "partner" in the business. Waitrose have a pretty tidy market share, despite selling brand stuff more expensively than Tesco and Sainsbury. A customer can request their shopping to be taken to their car or to the taxi rank outside. You can leave your shopping at customer service desk so you can pick it up later, or even have it delivered to your home later on. There will always be a market for good customer service. I hope the Bass Cellar learn this soon, or they might just go the way of the Bass Centre which is bad for choice for bassists in London.

Have your time of madness. I personally think it's healthy and you gain so much experience by chopping and changing. 2007 was a terrible year for me. I went through 13 different basses. Now I have reached a place of enlightment (and poverty) so I now know what I want.

[quote name='thedonutman' post='268167' date='Aug 22 2008, 09:58 PM']This is a little late, but I can't resist (Before you read this, please note that I do not mean to offend anybody while I am voicing my opinion. If you feel offended, you have misunderstood my post.) How is a "real conversation" different to an online one for this purpose? I don't know the figures, but I suspect a very large proportion of guitar/bass sales take place over the internet. I think it would be far more practical for everyone to voice their varied opinions all in one place, if ease-of-interaction is important to you. Also, everyone who is interested, but is perhaps too far away, can then find out the reasoning behind your policies. I also find that news (especially bad new) spreads fast on the internet, faster than through word-of-mouth or even guitar magazines. So this "Small proportion" of customers could quite possibly have a huge effect.[/quote] I may be wrong, but I do believe the Bass Cellar's post wasn't really an invite to come down, but more of them putting an onus on us to make the journey there for a meeting, which most of us are too busy with work and band stuff to do. Thereby them having one over us. I have been at the Bass Cellar before and generally my experiences haven't been favourable... which is a real shame. The only thing that shops like this have over internet shops like Thomann and sites like eBay is customer service. There will always be a market for musicians who will pay that bit extra to get a stellar service, who want to feel good that they're blowing a couple of hundred pounds expelling GAS. When I went to the Bass Gallery to look at lightweight cabs, Alex there was busy, but nonetheless took the time to show me and talk about cabs I might be interested in. Left with a deposit on an Epifani UL-110 cab. When I was a kid, I used to go all the time to a music shop in Putney called Ritz Music. They would always say hi when I entered, but never hassle me. Then when I started earning money, I would always go there for setups and to buy leads and stuff. I heard a story the other day about Richard Branson. He said he would seek an area where a quality service wasn't being provided, and then provide it. His reasoning is that there will always be a market for a quality service. By any music shop providing a bad service, you are removing the only advantage you have over stores like Thomann.de. Some people do want to do business with people, but they do want to be treated like people in return. I am geninuely sad at the prevalence of the Bass Cellar's poor reputation. If it ever goes bust, the only dedicated bass shop in London would be the Bass Gallery. We don't even have a Soundcontrol anymore!

lol.. that's pretty cool. Keyboard GAS... never thought that was possible!

Sorry to be random, but for a horrifying second I thought you said Tim Westwood. Holla!

I always stroll into those types of place like I'm minted, telling them I have a budget of how many hundred or thousands of pounds. That is the only way to get good service. Sometimes I buy the item, sometimes I won't. If you indicate them that you have money to spend (even if you don't), they will be more likely to give you the time of day. Of course, it goes without saying I never feel like I have to do this at the Bass Gallery.