chriswareham

[quote name='Dingus' timestamp='1384447754' post='2276855'] Your dad looks a bit like Ross Kemp, and that photo is crying out to be used in a caption competition .[/quote]Could be worse. My Dad looks like Regan from the Sweeney and has no interests in common with me, in fact I'd go as far as saying he despises musicians :-(

I played in a Cure covers band that concentrated on their 1980s material. I was amazed at how well attended the gigs were and it paid well so there's definitely a good market for bands covering songs of that era. I'm based over in Enfield, not all that far from Hemel and might be interested in helping out on the programming side of things if you're thinking of doing the more electronic 80s stuff.

Those Benson Musicmasters look a lot closer to a Stingray than the Vintage ones do. The silver one is particularly decent looking, and reminds me of the 'Ray I had before my current one (although that had a silver headstock as well).

It's going to be one of those nights - the insomnia's already kicked in, so here's a piccie and description of my pedal board to while away a few sleepless minutes: From right to left: Demeter Compulator compressor Darkglass B3K distortion Electro Harmonix Clone Theory chorus / vibrato Electro Harmonix Electric Mistress flanger As I mentioned in my review elsewhere on Basschat, the Compulator is an optical compressor that's simple to setup and doesn't colour your sound. The B3K is great for harsh distortion, overdrive or a simple boost without sustain - which is what I want as I usually play fast stuff when it's engaged and want to hear distinct notes. The Clone Theory is Peter Hook's "secret weapon" and has a metallic, chiming kind of tone. The Electric Mistress is also quite metallic, and doesn't lose the bottom end (which is what the Boss pedals I used in the past used to do, even the Bass Flanger model). The EH pedals have since been converted to run from external 24V DC, and the whole pedal board is now supplied by a Voodoo Labs Power Plus PSU.

[quote name='Johngh' timestamp='1383605056' post='2266612'] I do get on with the neighbour, but it's getting to the stage where I'm going to have a word. I have a Hartke Kilo and Ashdown 1x15 and 4x10 cabs, so I suppose I could re-run the pipe the hi fi through it gig. [/quote] Did something similar at college. Guy next door had an alarm clock feature on his stereo, but almost always got up early and forgot to turn it off. The result was Deacon feckin' Blue on repeat all day as I tried to study while he was in lectures. I honestly believe he only owned one CD ... Anyway, I got my revenge by putting a tape of the Reptile House EP by The Sisters of Mercy on repeat. Through my bass amp, which was against our shared wall. Just as he and his fat arsed girlfriend came back pissed from the student union for their once-a-week five minute sex session.

As others have mentioned, bass really travels. My solution when I lived in a Victorian house that had been badly converted into flats, was to get acoustic underlay for my music room. Cost about £120, but with my amp away from the wall I could play at a reasonable volume without disturbing the neighbours. By reasonable volume, I mean that I could play along to a drum machine or work out bass parts from a computer playing through a stereo.

Err, the last *Pro* I saw was around the £220 mark. I guess that was without the case, but it was certainly not the bolt on neck model. I was intrigued by the shape, and it played very well.

Not bad. Only £50 more than they cost new ...

That track's the dogs doodads - if Primus are in a similar vein I'll have to check them out!

I prefer the simple approach. I'd be quite happy with one control on my bass - a mute switch - since I don't even use the EQ on my active bass. As for amps, I'm happy with just gain, bass, mid, treble and volume controls. If there's a graphic EQ it gets switched off or left flat. The only effect I really need is chorus, and a Small Clone is ideal with its depth switch and rate knob (I now use a Clone Theory, but never go near the edge or vibrato modes). When gigging, I only take one bass as the only need for more would be if we used multiple tunings. Always amuses me when bands change instruments as much as every song, despite playing their whole set in a single tuning...

[quote name='Marvin' timestamp='1382366722' post='2251244'] I don't work for the courier companies and neither am I defending certain 'work practices'. However, I have on occasion spoken to quite a few drivers and their call rate is quite stupid. The number of items per hour they're required to deliver is just impossible...it possibly explains why they drive like maniacs etc. Combine this with inadequate training and low wages...it would also explain the high turnover of staff for these companies. [/quote] A drummer from a previous band worked as a delivery driver, the kind that effectively works freelance using their own van. His comments on the expected delivery rate were along the lines you suggest - the rate seemed to be based on an assumption that there would be no traffic on the roads at any time of the day and that getting from each drop would be in a straight line!

[quote name='Marvin' timestamp='1382364270' post='2251195'] Just to point out you never dealt with any Parcelforce staff. You were sold the service by Post Office Counters staff. The two are different companies (Parcelforce is neither owned or run by the Post Office) with PO Counters acting effectively as an agent for Parcelforce. I should imagine your complaint would have to be focused on PO Counters for not making clear the T&C's of the service. [/quote] My understanding was that both Parcelforce and Post Office Counters are part of the Royal Mail Group, but it appears that changed early in 2012 as part of the run up to privatisation. So it would be Post Office Counters I'd have to take to the Small Claims Court, which is probably a better option since they missold the services to me.

[quote name='steve-bbb' timestamp='1382361610' post='2251144'] this sounds pretty much like the synopsis you will need to write on your small court claim form [/quote] Small claims court. Now that's a thought. As a contract computer programmer I once made a claim against a client who failed to pay their final invoice. On the allotted day neither they or their representative bothered to turn up in court (more of an office really) and the result was a default finding in my favour. If I claim against Parcelforce and they fail to turn up then they can shove their incompetent staff and T&Cs somewhere dark and hairy :-)

[quote name='RhysP' timestamp='1382360542' post='2251119'] It's clearly stated in the Parcelforce T&Cs (or it certainly used to be) that musical instruments are only covered up to a certain amount. I've used Parcelforce for pretty much all the guitars & basses I've shipped without any problems, which is more than can be said for some couriers (UPS for example). Unfortunately using any courier to send a musical instrument is risky unless you ship the instrument in a proper hardshell case, and even then it's not 100% sure it'll arrive unscathed. [/quote] But if they have no printed copy of the terms and conditions, nor do their staff know them, then how can the sender be at fault? As I stated above, the Post Office counter staff were aware of what the item was and still sold me the enhanced compensation. Also note that even with a hard case they will not honour enhanced compensation claims. The definition of hard case is somewhat open to their interpretation as well, not that even a full flight case would have prevented the degree of impact damage to my bass.

Hi folks, I've just had a claim for compensation refused by Parcelforce. They will only honour insurance claims for musical instruments up to 100GBP, even if you take out enhanced compensation, and only if the instrument is sent in what they judge to be a hard case. In my experience they will sell you enhanced compensation at the Post Office counter - Parcelforce are owned and operated by the Post Office - even if they are aware you are sending a musical instrument. The terms and conditions are not explained to you, and on checking with the branch I used the Post Office do not have them in printed format. In my case, the appeals centre responded with what I now know is their standard refusal that allegs the item was "inadequately packaged". This is despite the box I used being a double thickness corrugated cardboard one, with bracing pieces and packing to ensure the guitar could not move once inside the box. Even with this packaging, it arrived with impact and pressure damage that resulted in a smashed scratch plate and dents through the finish that exposed the wood on both neck and body. The worst part for me is that the guitar had arrived unscathed from Slovakia in a much flimsier box only a few weeks ago. The box I then used to send it from London to Manchester was one that Fender had used to send a special order to a local dealer via the US Postal Service - the box was immaculate, and that's despite the USPS having a fearsome reputation for mistreating parcels! Cheers, Chris PS - Could we make this a sticky topic on the General Discussion forum as a warning to others?

Two basses sounds like a sensible approach, particularly when one's a fretless. I could get away with one bass if it was a five string, since I play stuff in both drop Bb and normal EADG tunings. The only five string I played was too difficult to adjust to, so I stick with two four string basses (plus one I keep for sentimental reasons like someone else in this thread).

One of mine loves to claw the grille cloth on my 15" cab. He has a look of sheer contentment as he does it, eyes half closed and purring. If I shout at him he just seems to dig his claws in a bit harder in anticipation of being unceremoniously removed from the room ...

Beauty in the eye of the beholder and all that, but I think it's pig ugly.

That Alembic five string they have is very nice - I don't normally like Alembics or five strings aesthetically so that's quite something.

[quote name='Spike Vincent' timestamp='1381083908' post='2234206'] I played a "venue" called the Dew Drop Inn somewhere in the depths of London back in the '90's. It was tiny. The "stage" was in front of the entrance to the men's toilet. You can figure the rest out for yourselves.... [/quote] The Dew Drop Inn - that wasn't in New Cross was it? Scary pub, about five minutes walk from my student house back nin the early 1990s. I came back from a visit home at some point to find it had closed down after a fatal stabbing and a drugs raid by the police. The pub that is, not my house.

[quote name='Dingus' timestamp='1381089909' post='2234316'] I was merely making the point in a cryptic manner that Blitzkrieg would have failed as a tactic had the Gerrmans relied on neepheid's rickety old MK2 Fiesta and typical British workmanship. The upshot of all this is that I am going to buy a Warwick , but preferably an old one made in West Germany before the Wall came down . Make of that what you will. . [/quote] For some reason I'm now thinking of Lieutenant Gruber from 'Allo 'Allo ...

[quote name='Dingus' timestamp='1381086022' post='2234247'] I remember that advert . I always thought it would have been better if he had said " Just like a Panzer." , but maybe that's just me being cynical. [/quote]

[quote name='Roger2611' timestamp='1381084158' post='2234209'] I would have to disagree, the bass you sold me has a sound that I cannot get out of any of my other basses a real glassy piano type sound, it just seems to have a "different" sound which I think has to be down to the construction, the size and mass of the bridge and the size of the bass itself, when I tried the genuine article I think it had a less pronounced version of the same sound [/quote] Hi Roger! I'd suspect that the Rockinbetter sounds the way it does because of the scale, longer than a Rickenbacker 4003 I believe, and the pickups which are nothing like the ones in a real Rick or my Hondo. I guess I should point out that I'm not knocking anyone for choosing a bass with an exotic wood or anything like that, but if you were to stick the pickup from a Musicman Stringray into the same position scale wise onto a Wal for instance, then I'm pretty sure the sound would be the same. Now semi-acoustics versus a solid body, or something made from a aluminium (Travis Bean?) I would expect to sound notably different even with the same electronics.

I've always assumed that the type and placement of pickups are the only thing intrinsic to how a particular bass sounds. Strings have a impact on the sound, as flkatwounds clearly sound different to round wounds, but that isn't an intrinsic part if the bass itself. All the stuff about different woods or body shapes sounding noticably different is bollocks in my humble opinion, at least on solid body basses. For example, my Hondo Rick clone sounds indistinguishable from the real Rick I played in a shop last week, and the Hondo is plywood!

Oh yeah, and I've also literally played in a toilet. It's a converted Victorian public convenience on the edge of a park somewhere in Kent. Struggling to remember exactly where, but Maidstone springs to mind and I'm sure someone on here can name it.