solo4652

I googled "RFI Room" and I got this image. I'm serious!

I've just bought a Squier Vista Musicmaster. Stock pickup is 4-pole single coil job, and it sounds great - clanky and mids-forward - sort of reminds me of DiMarzio P I had in an Ibanez Blazer a while back. My understanding is the Vista Tone pickup is not a strat-derived guitar pickup like the Fender Musicmaster one - the Vista tone pickup is/was specially designed for the bass. But, it's not a humbucker, so it's noisy - it especially likes talking to my washing machine. And my amps (all of them). And my outboard laptop speakers. This is what I've done so far to try to shield the bass: Lined the cavity with aluminium tape. I made sure it was conductive tape. Same tape on the underneath of the pickguard. Resoldered the jack ground lead to the pot, since the original solder was only just hanging in there. Put some isolating tape on the bottom tip of the jack prong to make sure it wasn't contacting the cavity shielding. Installed an extra ground wire, soldered onto same point as bridge ground wire, then screwed into cavity tape. All this has helped quieten the bass, but it still hums and picks up various RFI no mater what room in the house I'm playing in. I don't want to replace the original pickup because it's just the sound I'm looking for. Besides, I'd like to keep the bass as original as possible. So - is there anything else I can do to help quieten the bass? Or does the fact that it's a single coil mean there's only so much that can be done? I'll just have to stop playing when I'm washing my smalls, I suppose.

Thought so......

The covers band I was playing with folded a couple of months ago, so I'm looking for a new project to throw time and energy at. Duos, trios, small acoustic set-ups, coffee-shop/wine-bar crews, full bands - all good for me! I'm into pop, soft-rock, soul, neo-soul, funk, motown, indie, reggae, chillout, cheesy 80's power ballads. I'm not into noisy-blokey classic rock, goth, rap. My main instrument is (electric) bass. I also play the cajon, but would regard myself as an "Impover" with it, being honest. I've recently been playing with an acoustic trio, switching between bass and cajon depending on the song. Unfortunately, the lead singer can't find the time for rehearsals, so we can't continue. I live in Stockport. Here's my Bandmix profile, complete with videos of me in previous bands: https://www.bandmix.co.uk/solo4652/ Here's the band I was in until very recently: https://www.facebook.com/replaycoversband/ More videos from the past:

Hi Mark, Please can you tell us a little more about the band. Specifically: Band name? Band line-up? How long have you been together? What sort of venues/gigs are you aiming at? Do you have any in your gig diary? So that we can appreciate the high standard at which you play, do you have any Facebook/YouTube/Website/Soundcloud links you can post here? Thank you, Steve

My original post was about a scam that was pretty obviously dodgy. I could see that, but I was gathering other people's views and experiences. Much more interesting is the information that's come to light about PayPal's (non)-protection. I've changed the topic title to reflect that. I'm sorry to appear pedantic, but I'd like to understand this as best I can, since I use PayPal fairly frequently. Let's say an item is sold via an online marketplace. The buyer pays for it upfront via PayPal. The seller organises and pays for a tracked courier. The item is duly delivered to the correct address, and is signed for. Then, the buyer claims not to have received the item and claims their money back from PayPal. Who is culpable? Who is responsible for the loss of the item, and for sorting things out? The seller? Should have been able to prove that the person who signed for the item was indeed the buyer? How does the seller do that? The courier? Should have been able to prove that the person who signed for the item was indeed the buyer? How does the courier do that? The buyer? Up to them to track down the item that was delivered to, and signed for, by somebody at the address they provided.

That's pretty worrying. Where does that leave us?

Itsmedunc's experience seems to describe a case where delivery was to the correct address, and was signed for. No collection in person.

Blimey - I'm learning lots about PayPal here. If a Gumtree buyer can claim never to have received goods, and then be reimbursed fairly easily, where does that leave us paying for goods from other websites such as Preloved, Ebay, Facebook Marketplace, and Basschat?

Thanks for those links.

Well, I've learned something very useful there about PayPal. As for the Gumtree scammer, I've deleted and blocked him, and reported him to Gumtree.

Two weeks ago, I sent a £650 bass to Belgium. Up-front payment via PayPal. EU, of course, so no concerns about VAT or import duties. Very helpful buyer who volunteered all necessary information without being asked for it. Smooth and worry-free transaction. This is most certainly not how I'm feeling about our friend the "Operating Officer" who is currently "On board..."! If/when he replies, I'll politely tell him to get lost.

Really!?. And there's me thinking that payment via PayPal would give me some protection...

I'm also slightly intrigued why somebody would want to pay over £300 to import this bass - nice as it is - to the USA, when something like a MIM bass would be a much easier and simpler buy for him.

I'm in Stockport. Ball's in his court to send me his private email address for PayPal payment request to be sent. I'm also waiting for him to ask for my address and phone number to pass onto a courier. I rather think I'll have quite a long wait!

I have my Fernandes bass on Gumtree. This morning, I had an enquiry from somebody who describes himself as: "...from London, UK" and "...i'm a very busy man working all day, am an (Operating officer) am presently on-board, i'll be looking forward to the total cost of the shipping and buying i dont mind adding extra £50 for helping me please i really need to get them send to [my son in Texas] as a birthday gift..." Hmmmmm. My antennae are in full twitch mode here. I've said that I will only proceed if he pays me for the bass up-front via Pay Pal. He'll need to send me his email address so I can send him a payment request. He will need to pay for and organise a courier and insurance. He will be completely responsible for any US import/sales duties. I am happy to pack the bass securely, and drop it off at a courier, or wait in for collection. What do we think, people?

Yes, you're not the first person to say that to me about the bass! It is curious, isn't it. People do seem to gravitate towards different headstock shapes. Pointy headstock = Rock (?), or 4 in-line vs 2 + 2, or "that silly hook-come-bottle-opener" on G&L basses, or ....

32" MIJ Fernandes PJ-45 here. I bought it to see if I could/should switch from 30" to 32". I've decided to stick with 30", so I've put the Fernandes up for sale in the For Sale forum .

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fender-Japan-Squier-Silver-Series-Precision-Bass-1992-93-plus-hardcase-MIJ/362673418016?_trkparms=aid%3D777001%26algo%3DDISCO.FEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20160801204525%26meid%3D925b665c11704dfa93d35f860d92ae71%26pid%3D100651%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D1%26%26itm%3D362673418016&_trksid=p2481888.c100651.m4497&_trkparms=pageci%3Ab8f06d6a-8f84-11e9-b66c-74dbd1809639|parentrq%3A5bd1716f16b0a68d5f80b540ffdc7750|iid%3A1

Bit of promo information here, but can't actually here the head.

https://www.thomann.de/gb/kustom_de_1200hd.htm Anybody have hands-on experience of these heads? I'm looking for something that sounds as good as my Hartke LH500, but is easier to cart around.

Aha! There's the answer to my question, nicely demonstrated.