Sean

I managed to get there unscathed however almost stuffed the car on the A53 between Leek and Buxton trying to avoid a quarry truck that stopped sharply in front of me. I managed to slide round it and up on a snowy verge. Very scary! The course was superb. Two of us turned up and Jon took us through fret dressing, levelling and crowning; truss rod adjustment; getting the action right; intonation; setting pickup height; replacing frets; recutting the nut. I'm sure I've forgotten some. I learned loads and had a great day and now feel much more confident about getting instruments playing better. The results I had with the new BB424 I took with me just blew me away; I'm staggered at how well it plays now. I also managed to do a complete fret job and set up on my 1987 US Strat and that's playing beautifully too. Taking it apart gave me a reminder of how well made it is, the neck pocket is snug. I would recommend the course to anyone who is interested; Jon's a natural tutor and has lots of patience.

Everyone knows I love these Super BBs and Peter's the daddy of them all.

That missing Mike Lull review and duplicate cheap Fender acoustic review is the last straw for me. It's inexcusable and amatuerish. I received a subscription renewal letter this week and then read one of the shoddiest issues they've done yet, sorry chaps, after having all 87 issues to date I've had enough now. For £40 a year it's not up to muster.

[quote name='noelk27' timestamp='1358537402' post='1941195'] No, maple and ebony touchboards are special order. I've got a ebony fretless due in April. Also giving thought to a sunburst/maple fretted. [/quote] Can't wait for the pics.

[quote name='noelk27' timestamp='1358465367' post='1939947'] Well, the model in the OP's post is the SB-B&G I, which was introduced in '83. It's the 30th anniversary, hence the reissue. [/quote] Ah, I see. Thanks.

Noooooooo! Outrageous! I'm to struggle to keep my plastic in my wallet!

This weather thing is getting to be a bore. I wondering if I'm going to be able to get there - the forecast is dire but it doesn't match what's out the window

I love the retro black and white effect.

Why now?

I've also booked the build course being run in April as a birthday present. This is the one with two other people where you can build a P or J type bass or a T or S (I assume) type guitar.

I'll be travelling up there Friday evening so it should be entertaining to say the least. I'll be wearing my motorcycle layers in the workshop; I hate the cold :-)

I'm doing a Shuker Bass/Guitar maintenance course this weekend. Anyone else going? Anyone else been? What's it like? What did you learn that you weren't expecting to? Any advice?

I'm not allowed to say negative things about iconic religious figures so I won't say anything. I don't play christian or satanic music. Religiously.

I'm giving Howard a bell tomorrow to progress work on one of my BBs - I've no reason to think there's any delay as I told Howard up front that there was no rush. I'll let you know if there's anything to report.

Fender. Get over it. Buy a decent bass and stop kidding yourselves; they are over-priced and under-built, in short an absolute rip off but they have legions of brain-washed clones queuing up to defend them because one in a hundred of their instruments is as good as an Ibanez. Fenderphiles make Ernie Ball Forum frothing fanboys look like non-agressive shrinking Violets. I've had two good Fender instruments out of dozens and dozens tried and owned. One was an MIJ P that I sold back to the original owner and that was seriously modified (would still have it if the sentimentality thing hadn't got the better of me although disappointed when said P was subsequently moved on without me having first refusal but I have got the pickup out of it again through a convoluted route and the magic of Basschat) and the other is a heavily modified '87 Strat that I bought new and still have and it always gets very positive comments from people who try it, I was very lucky with that one.

[quote name='NancyJohnson' timestamp='1357994561' post='1931501'] If you're anywhere near New York Public Library on the weekend you should check out this guy busking and give him a couple of dollars. I'm not sure whether the guy is only let out on the weekend, but he's very entertaining (and this isn't a dig at people with learning difficulties or anything...I know it's 2013). We saw him several times during our sojourn in September and he was pulling people left right and centre. He's fearless. P [/quote] I wonder if he wants to join my band

[quote name='The Admiral' timestamp='1357949833' post='1931102'] Oh yeah - you can also go to Umanov's on Bleeker St and drool over the vintage Fenders etc : http://umanovguitars.com/store/old-stuff/old-basses/ [/quote] I'll be like a Jew at a pig farm but if I'm passing by it's worth a nosey :-)

[quote name='BurritoBass' timestamp='1357950525' post='1931104'] Small crossover as I'm there with my girlfriend until 16th. Didn't fancy dragging her around the music shops but this link may be of interest http://www.newsday.com/travel/new-york-city-rock-and-roll-landmarks-1.1569369 [/quote] Very useful. Bookmarked.

Colin's a top Basschatter. Deal with confidence. Sold him a strap, easy, no messing about, just like it should be.

[quote name='The Admiral' timestamp='1357856401' post='1929746'] If you are going to be there on the Sunday - go and check out this guy at The Red Lion on Bleeker Street. 11 p.m. Every Sunday. [url="http://www.jerrydugger.net/"]http://www.jerrydugger.net/[/url] [/quote] Wow! That's a must. I've got a lie in on the Monday morning too. Sorted.

[quote name='louisthebass' timestamp='1357854710' post='1929700'] What about this?: [url="http://www.sadowsky.com/welcome/directions.html"]http://www.sadowsky....directions.html[/url] [/quote] Closed at the weekend

[quote name='Dingus' timestamp='1357854091' post='1929678'] It might all have changed now , but during my time in NYC in the late 80s / early 90s the big guitar shops in Manhattan were mainly on 48th Street - Mannys , Rudys ect - but musician friends who live there often tell me that when they come to London they think the music shops are much better than in NYC , and from my limited experience I would tend to agree . 48th St is great for looking , but the prices are geared towards rich tourists and investment bankers rather than genuine enthusiasts , but it's still well worth a visit and just off Times Square so easy to get to . Sam Ash on 48th St has got a specially designated bass lounge with some interesting stuff in from all accounts . That street is where it all happens . [/quote] That'll be Saturday afternoon sorted then! I've managed to get a ticket to see Soul Asylum play at The Bowery Ballroom on the Saturday evening