Misdee

Just let me know who it is and I will blame them quite happily. Give us a clue.

That's about accurate -I bought a JV Squire in 1983- but inflation -based figures don't take into account that on the whole people were poorer fourty years ago than now.

As horse racing enthusiasts would say, there's very little value to be had in the market at the moment. What bass could you say offers good value for it's current U.K retail price? The other day I was contemplating a Mexican-made Fender JMJ for £1250. Still a lot of money but might be an affordable treat if they are as good as people say. I could buy one and pretend I am still trendy and "with it". Then I read on Basschat that I would have to shield it myself to stop incessant electrical hum. I have enough problems already. The higher up the price range you go, the harder it is to find a good deal when it comes to new basses. All this with the caveat that in many cases it's the exchange rate which is killing it. Even with British-made basses. Companies like Wal can charge whatever they like and then close the order book because they are inundated with orders from the USA taking advantage of the weak pound. Other less feted bass makers are having to pay more for parts and materials. Everything has gone up, and prices won't be going back down in any foreseeable future. I remember back in the 1990s being shocked at how much imported basses were in Australia compared to the UK because of trade tariffs. Now we are like Australia was in terms of prices and I'm not sure who or what to blame.

How true that is! There's no doubt that less expensive basses are better than they were. Consumers are also better informed about what to look out for when they buy a bass. Back in the old days you learnt by buying problems you ended up being stuck with.

I'm one of those people who has to get things at least a reasonable price or I can't enjoy it. In the new bass market everything seems to cost a bit more than it's worth at the moment. New pro-level instruments have gone up in price across the board, and then subsequently gone up a bit more on top of that. It's enough to take all the sweetness of anything you buy. Those most effected are actually those people who have got a bit of money to spend but who now have to decide whether to spend it. If you couldn't afford a new bass before the prices all went up, now you really can't afford it. That's one thing. But if you could afford it but hesitated then now you have to decide whether to pay through the nose for what you slept on previously. And while you're deciding the prices are going up more. I think the German-made Sadowsky basses have had two price rises since last autumn. Music Man basses have gone up a bit more too. Both factory-made guitars (albeit really superb quality ones) now at handmade boutique prices . And boutique basses at prices that make it seem like common sense that you can easily live without them, however lovely they might be.

Sounds plausible, but would actually classed as a hate crime nowadays. Switzerland's winning entry made history by being the first victory for a non-binary contestant. Yet another reason to celebrate.

That's brilliant. I can't compete with that. Okay, you win.

The usual tired and predictable default denigration of Britain as a nation and it's stature in the world. It's not a controversial statement to say that Britain is a great country with an extraordinarily rich history and culture. Or at least, it shouldn't be. "There is no resentment felt for Britain across Europe..." None at all? How would you know? You have your own agenda, regardless of what is actually true, and you have created a false narrative around it, namely that Britain is in a state of crisis whereas the rest of Europe, by comparison, is both more rational and thriving in every respect. A complete fiction based on feelings not on facts. "This lie you have been sold by multiple governments and media sources..." ect. You sound like a spotty student handing out leaflets outside McDonald's about the evils of corporate capitalism. Do actually believe this half-baked twaddle? Like all conspiracy theorists, the fundamental mistake you make is overestimating the competence and ability of the supposed conspirators. Multiple governments and media sources can't even sell the truth, let alone a lie. And how you can possibly conflate Brexit with anything in my post is symptomatic of your one-dimensional viewpoint. "He's critical of other European countries so he must believe in that." Brexit or no Brexit, every single country in Eurovision is a non-entity when it comes to making popular music compared to Britain. That is not really up for debate. We all know it and so do they. What Brexit has to do with that only you can tell us, but I would point out just how bad European pop music has always been. Brexit is only a recent phenomenon. We should show some respect by coming up with a better entry? Why do we owe respect to anyone? I think we show ample respect by participating. Oh,hang on a minute, I see what you mean. Maybe we should get the Beatles or Led Zeppelin to reform in time for next year's competition in Switzerland. This is Eurovision after all. Only the best is good enough. Just for your information, I don't mind at all that the rest of Europe is rubbish at pop music compared to Britain and the USA. I enjoy their inadequacy. All countries and all cultures are not equal in terms of achievements. I'm sorry if you find that idea upsetting but that's just the way the world is. And by the way, Ibiza relies on tourism. Without tourism it would be still be an island of poor peasants and fishermen. They should be grateful.

Never underestimate the bitterness and resentment felt towards Britain by so many people across the world. To us Eurovision is a joke. To a lot of the other nations it's a serious matter of national pride, such is their cultural poverty compared to our own. Those hapless Eurovision entries that we tune in to laugh at really are the best they can do when it comes to pop music. They can't forgive us for that. That said, the UK entry was indeed crap. He got what he deserved. Thank goodness. Do we really want to have to stage Eurovision ever again now that it has become this ridiculous political football? Switzerland was the default voting choice because of it's famous history of political neutrality. I'm sure Eurovision will now find a way to try and drag them into World War 3.

That '71 is a beautiful bass and it sounds good, too. Lightweight, B-neck, just about perfect for me in every respect.

And if the new owner has paid £6000 for this bass, in the current market he has done very well indeed. If it was my bass I would have expected at least a grand more than that in my hand before I would let it go. I hope he has a lot of pleasure from playing and owning it. Very special basses for sure.

The point is not so much "it cost less in the past" so much as that Wal basses were much more available. They were always great instruments, but they weren't Holy Relics like they are now. I remember Barry Moorhouse at the Bass Centre in Wapping saying how they had sold 11;Wal Basses in a week and then sent the van up to High Wycombe collect more. They had a display stand with several Wal basses every time you went in the shop. I don't think the new Wal basses are particularly overpriced in relation to the competition like Fodera ect. But you can't buy one anyway. They are definitely proportionately more expensive than they were,though. In a discussion abou the used price of Wal basses that is perfectly relevant. And as to this bass being costing less than a new one...it isn't a new one!

The moral of this story is, if it seems too good to be true then it probably is. I remember when a new four string Wal cost £880, and you could get a deal on that price for cash. Allowing for inflation, that's £2560 in today's money. (GigSounds in Streatham did them for £729 without the case, which would set you back another £90.) I also remember when used Wal basses were hard to sell, and you could pick up a decent one for £600, no problem. Mid to late 1990s. They are without doubt magnificent-sounding basses, but definitely a niche product and not likely to suit everybody. Anyhow, I hope the new owner is delighted with his purchase. Nothing sounds like a Wal, you've either got one or you haven't.( I haven't.)

Just checked, I ought to be able to get it. But I still can't despite retuning ect. Hmmm.

Thank you! 😊

Sky Arts is indeed great, but as I mentioned previously, it's disappeared from my Freeview a couple of weeks ago. Please can anyone tell me if it's just me or if it's not included on Freeview anymore. Thanks.

Sky Arts has disappeared (again) from my Freeview channels. No channel 36 listed. Tried retuning a few times but to no avail. Anyone else got the same problem? (Or a solution). I'm really missing it. It's my most watched channel by far.

The thing about Eurovision nowadays is it's become too self-conscious. Put simply, it's not quite good enough to be good, but it's not quite bad enough to be entertaining either. Eurovision used to be captivating because of it's unintentional quirkiness. Now that it's contrived to be that way it's lost that unique charm it once had. I

Nostalgia for Stock Aitken and Waterman. I never thought I would see the day.

Have a listen to Electric Rendezvous by Al Di Meola from 1981. It's a superb example of AJ and Steve Gadd rocking out a bit and letting their hair down. Al Di Meola is tearing it up on guitar too. Thoroughly recommended.

If you are after a decent preamp pedal with distortion something like a Tech 21 Bass Driver is a great choice. You really can't go wrong with one. Built to last and there's plenty about on the used market if that's your preferred option. They are simple in terms of controls, but sophisticated at the same time in how the controls interact. If you are playing rock and metal music then I think a Bass Driver or similar Tech 21 bass preamp is perfect for your needs.

Jason Newstead played a 5 string a lot when he was in Metallica. I couldn't tell you which songs, though. I'm not really a fan of their music, just remember the basses. He's a very good bass player though, for sure.

I never thought of it that way. I'm sorry if you have taken offence That was never my intention. I'm certainly not associating him with Gary Glitter. It's just he was part of the same era of popular culture. I was thought I was making a lighthearted point about how abjectly crap stage gimmicks were back in those days by today's standards. I only mentioned Alvin Stardust because I vividly remember him and that glove during those days. I could just as easily mentioned how people thought Roxy Music had such a glamorous and futuristic image at the time. Nowadays they just look like students on a fancy dress night out.