MacDaddy

[quote name='nick' post='361541' date='Dec 22 2008, 11:32 PM']A BDI21 vs. Sansamp comparison here, with soundclips: [url="http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=294957&highlight=behringer+vs+sansamp+blind+test"]BDI21 vs. BDDI[/url] Cheers[/quote] Exactly the kind of thing I was after. Thanks

[quote name='thegallery' post='361536' date='Dec 22 2008, 11:19 PM']Exactly... enough said... anyway back to arrogant shop staff.... alex[/quote] +1

I've heard a lot about the V-TONE BASS BDI21, without actually hearing it. I've checked this forum, and done the search, so apologies if I've missed something, but can anyone point me in the direction of some sound clips? ta.

[quote name='budget bassist' post='361482' date='Dec 22 2008, 10:06 PM']Anyone can have a bad day i suppose, though from the quick response to try and solve the problem, it seems the gallery are keen to keep a good reputation unlike certain other london bass specific shops. And of course, the good i've heard far outweighs the bad (the bad being what you said macdaddy, i haven't heard anything else bad!)[/quote] me neither, and that along with Alex's pm's are why I was happy to modify my posts.

[quote name='AM1' post='360619' date='Dec 21 2008, 11:49 PM']That almost sounds like an apology. Your initial post was very strong. Would you care to share the details of what happened? It is not acceptable to damage the reputation of a small business, upon whom, as musicians, we all depend, if potentially damaging comments have no proper basis. We are all too quick to criticise poor service and far too slow to praise good service. I have nothing but praise for the Bass Gallery, as already stated, they always go the extra mile and have a great selection of equipment. Regards AM[/quote] Hi AM Not an apology, details of what happened were expressed in pm to Alex from The Gallery, and in his replies he was genuinely concerned, so I would not want to dissuade anyone from going there.

I think Katie should attend a bass bash!

[quote name='MacDaddy' post='360548' date='Dec 21 2008, 10:39 PM']PM'd[/quote] my previous post has been edited.

[quote name='thepurpleblob' post='360547' date='Dec 21 2008, 10:37 PM']The Alexander technique?? This is for real, yes? [i]His major discovery at this time was that he did not need to depend on words to instruct his students but could give them information directly through the kinesthetic sense. By using his hands he found that he could prevent a maladaptive set from developing and could give his pupil the direct conscious experience of carrying out an habitual action in a non-habitual, easier, and more efficient way. This is a way that usually seems better to the pupil so that, in Skinnerian terms, he is reinforced for changing his old habit pattern.[/i] As they say here in Glasgow, that'll be right son [/quote] LOL! Not gonna win an award for plain English is it? Basically it helps you play your bass properly, with the least amount of effort. So you avoid RSI, strains etc. If for 10 years every time you did the washing up, you used your feet, by now you'd be pretty good with your feet. Maybe as good as some people using hands? But is using your feet to do the washing up the best way to do it, even though you are good at it? So people playing bass may be good, and using technique that's works for them, but it may not be the best thing for them (bad posture, RSI, etc.) It's all about who you choose to give your money to. My opinion, is that my hard earned will go to some that not only knows the bass, but knows the physical effects playing bass can have on the bassist. The AT goes a long way to addressing that. Maybe the feet thing was a bad anology

[quote name='thegallery' post='360465' date='Dec 21 2008, 08:38 PM']I'm sorry you had a bad experience at the shop, i'm sure we wouldn't have lied to you intentionally, Could you tell, or email me the specifics, so we don't make this kind of error in future. alex[/quote] PM'd

[quote name='Oscar South' post='360372' date='Dec 21 2008, 06:03 PM']Whats this Alexander technique? I'm pretty well educated in bass playing, had a few different teachers, been playing a moderate while and done some teaching of my own, and I've never heard of it.[/quote] Some info for you here, explains it better than I can. [url="http://www.alexandertechnique.com/musicians.htm"]http://www.alexandertechnique.com/musicians.htm[/url] [quote name='AM1' post='360494' date='Dec 21 2008, 09:19 PM']Is this for real? So anyone can teach music, even without any music or teaching qualifications???? Regards AM[/quote] Well obviously teachers' at school teaching Music GCSE (etc) are qualified, but anyone can stick a card up in the local muso shop saying [i]bass lessons[/i], or [i]guitar lessons[/i].

I pick mine up on Wednesday! [quote name='Lfalex v1.1' post='360198' date='Dec 21 2008, 01:12 PM']As for Mike, I can't speak highly enough of him. One of the nicest guys I've met. Nothing is too much trouble, and he'll talk bass for hours if you let him. He knows his stuff! Seek him out in his Witham Workshop.[/quote] +1

Sounds dodgy to me. If he(she) is a MU member they have public liability insurance. The area of musical instrument teaching is unregulated though. I wouldn't trust any instrumental teacher who couldn't read music, and didn't know about the Alexander technique.

[quote name='timloudon' post='360139' date='Dec 21 2008, 11:57 AM']I really don't get why these people feel they have to treat customers in this way - there is literally no advantage to behaving like this! These people complain of the internet ruining their businesses. It's not, THEY ARE![/quote] [quote name='ashgeezer' post='360115' date='Dec 21 2008, 11:31 AM']How do small music stores stay in business when they have staff like that on their books[/quote] maybe they are money laundering fronts for organised crime?

EDIT I've had pm's with Alex from the Bass Gallery. His concern is genuine, and I would not want to dissuade anyone from going to The Bass Gallery in Camden.

[quote name='Happy Jack' post='357162' date='Dec 17 2008, 05:16 PM']Cripes! Was that you? I was on the top floor with my tame amp-tekkie when the bailliffs arrived. Andy kept them talking by the main entrance (through the alleyway) while the staff smuggled the paying customers out through the back door (i.e. the one on Denmark Street - confused yet?) so the bailliffs wouldn't know anyone was spending money. Then the staff went round taking the tickets/price-tags off the guitars so that they could claim they were all being sold for customers on commission. I had a rather nice vintage valve amp on the bench upstairs, and I was seriously concerned that the bailliffs would seize the damned thing. They ended up going away empty-handed. You may be amused/irritated to know that Andy is now back, haunting his old shop (which is now part of Music Ground) and still wearing the same scarf! I have no idea what official capacity he holds, if any, but he's always there these days.[/quote] no not me, but all the business's he ran from 27 Demark Street had CCJ's against them. He knows how to play the system, had a few celeb clients to appear legit, and ripped off everyone else. He is a liar, cheat, thief, and scum. I think some of the Mods have my details but I am perfectly happy to give my address to Ped & Kiwi and take personal responsibility for these comments.

Apparently from what I've heard from friends who work at other music shops, [i]Andy's Guitars[/i] always had a reputation for been a bit dodgy. I tried taking [i]Andy Preston[/i] to court when he stole off me, but he declared bankruptcy. He got to keep his Rolls Royce though.

[quote name='Golchen' post='355373' date='Dec 15 2008, 09:16 PM']Hmmmn ............ I'd say a bit of the old rose tinted specs there! A fair amount of junk at above junk prices if you ask me. Oldies like me may recall The old Luton music centre over Westside, a junkshop with guitars just over the road (cheap stuff!), and the short lived guitar shop run by one of the Gittings brothers up Midland road (burned down sadly!) Actually there's one guy in Coda who is grumpy enough for all of them! Most of them are fine though.[/quote] PME had a lot of gear aimed at the beginner, but I wouldn't say it was overpriced. Sure they had a lot of junk, but that was half the fun. I bought loads from there, including my vintage Fender Bassman 130 head (stolen by Andy Preston of Andy's Guitars, Denmark Street), 500w Trace combo, Musicman Sub, vintage Guild B-301, and various cases, boxes, etc. I remember the music shop at the bottom of Bury Park, on Leagrave Road, but it closed soon after I came to Luton. It's always worth a haggle in Coda, and generally they will do a price match.

[quote name='waynepunkdude' post='355275' date='Dec 15 2008, 06:58 PM'] Genius.[/quote] +1

Petes Music Emporium up Hightown was the place Sadly missed

Despite some negative things that have occured on Basschat recently, there have been some fantastic threads that have made my day. This is one of them

Hey 3 months ago I finally escaped from Luton after 15 years! Hurrah! I'm often back though as my band Arnika are there. We're playing at the Beer Festival in February.

[quote name='waynepunkdude' post='354643' date='Dec 14 2008, 10:37 PM']Bloody hell, I better put a Spurs one on before it leaves.[/quote] I don't want to borrow it, but I have a Leeds Utd sticker to go on it!

[quote name='silky13' post='353461' date='Dec 13 2008, 11:44 AM']hey everyone! I was doing a few google searches for some ideas on rackmount compressors and came across this site so thought id join up! I'm 20, from Edinburgh and have been playing bass for about two years seriously, after coming over from the darkside of lead guitar! I'm currently playing in a band for a guy from Brazil, called "Alex Rech Band" which can be found at www.myspace.com/alexrech. My gear is at the moment is: Fender 40th anniversary custom shop p-bass Jackson KBX bass Peavey tour 450 head and TVX 410 cab in the near future am looking at filling my extremely spaced out rack with korg dtr2000 tuner and a compressor (of which I've not decided yet!) Oh forgot to put about the kind of tunes i'm into! which is anything really, but primarily 80's rock and metal like whitesnake, mr big, van halen, motley crue, skid row, iron maiden, extreme, etc to name a few! anyway, cheers for looking! Tom[/quote] Hey I'm gonna be in Edinburgh for Hogmanay. Can you recommend any pubs? Musically I'm into the same kind of stuff.

[quote name='Delberthot' post='352423' date='Dec 12 2008, 09:03 AM']There are a fair few of us north of the border. I know that I wouldn't have a problem going round to check something for someone living further away for the cost of the train/bus/petrol. I know there are guys on here who have done the same. Actually that might be a good thing to have somewhere. A list of people who would be willing to go and check out something, where they live and the area they are willing to travel in. That could also pose a problem in that what if the person checked the item and when it got to the buyer it didn't work or wasn't exactly the same. I suppose as long as the seller asked specific questions, the fact finder could answer them and possibly take certain pictures requested by the seller. we could have a disclaimer of some sort to cover this. We could work something out. Would certainly come in handy if I wanted to buy something from 'that London' but wasn't 100% convinced that it was what i thought it was.[/quote] +1 I had a similar idea, sort of a basschat independent opinion, thing? BTW my last sale, last month, was to a newbie and it went swimmingly. Top bloke an' all. I'd hate to think that was just luck, because every transaction I've done on here (and the previous incarnations) has gone well and I've met some cool people.