Frank Blank

I think it's the member of staff you get to deal with rather than the shop as a whole. When I use PMT in Southend I always ring first and see if a particular chap is in and talk to him first because he's extremely knowledgeable, helpful and, above all, friendly and polite. I've had good service at Peach but I've only been there twice. Also, if you walk into a shop and people and get cr4p service complain about it! I've received bad service in a few music stores and I've asked to see the manager and asked them why their staff are being rude and belligerent when I'm trying to give their business money. Occasionally the manager arrives and it's clear they are the Head Tw4t of many undertw4ts and then you are simply left with the satisfaction of some florid swearing and finger gestures as you leave. I think they get into this I'm the big I am mindset because they are (possibly) decent musicians in a shop full of goodies, it's easy to snap them out of it with a few choice words. I agree about withdrawing custom but let them know why.

Yup. There hasn't been at any I've attended but I'm a relative newb, 2018 was my first (I think). I think I saw one guitar, once. Some. We specialise in those.

Well, you turn up whenever you like, after 10am usually. Bring whatever bass equipment you like, pay your £10, find a place to set your gear up and then show other people your gear and check out other attendees gear. You can spend all day chatting about bass with other people as enthusiastic about bass as you are! I remember going to my first with one small amp and one bass and I was foolish enough to set up next to @cetera who has a gazillion beautiful basses and yet he, and everyone else, made me very welcome to the point that I now try to attend all the Bashes wherever they are. Believe me, it's the best tenner you'll ever spend!

Sod it, shall we make it a full house?

...and, as usual, I must reciprocate...

Late night depressing rant now redacted so it doesn't put a downer on the thread 🙃

Good luck @Zang

As long as it doesn't clash with any other bashes I'm in.

Sorry, Newtones here too, they are that good.

Cor, that's a corker!

This is dependent on how sharp your nails are.

a) sorry to be flippant b) really enjoying this thread even though it's all way beyond me c) carry on

Could we then program Super Trampa to play Dreamer?

I am very lucky to live just under three miles from Strings Direct, whenever I've dropped in the service has been top notch.

This is very true. A friend of mine bought a cheap Washburn semi-acoustic years ago, about £200 worth (at least I think it was a Washburn?) We dropped in on the rehearsals of a reasonably well known band at the time and the guitarist wanted a look at the guitar. It was quite odd to see him swap his beautiful antique Gibson ES-295 for the little Washburn and plug the it into his rig, "It'll sound much the same" he said as a monstrous sound almost lifted the roof off. Funny how when my mate got it home and plugged it into his Marshall it sounded much like any other guitar played in any other bedroom.

It was one of the very few times I was happily (and luckily) tongue tied by L'esprit de l'escalier. Vicars looking for beverages can jog on.

About 35 years ago I was informed by an 'acquaintance', about 15 minutes before a gig, that I was "A s*** player with a s*** bass". He was absolutely right on both counts. Rather than chinning him I consoled myself with the fact that I'd been banging his Mrs for the past year and had indeed been doing just that, in his house, in his bed, that very afternoon.

The whole album is a masterpiece...

Christ, 00:17 and I've got effing Eloise by The Damned running round my head and I despise that song!