SpondonBassed

There were several agencies involved and no apparently not. I was not aware of an issue until you mentioned one.

Welcome Cjord.

Welcome Keith.

Sounds like a soft case with hard bits in it. Can you show us an image so that others might avoid suffering the same way please? As for your neck, a refinish may be possible using the slurry and buff method. Again, a few high quality images of the neck will help you to get some suggestions. @Andyjr1515 might then assess for you whether the damage to your neck can be reversed.

Refer to the part of my post that I have already had to repeat above: Finder's Fees. Also bear in mind that I was doing this thirty years ago, before contractors had rights to holidays and such. That is all. There are many other posts on this topic. I think I've been here long enough.

Welcome Bas.

It's just that the agencies don't want the companies they supply subbies to to poach "their" people.

Just wait 'till The Tall Faeces meet the fans... it'll be a BIG hit.

That's not what I said.

You've made a good job of the polishing. May I ask what you used?

I know... he really shouldn't wear shorts at his age. (winks in @skankdelvar's direction)

A bit fussy for my liking, sorry.

Strangely Brown? From the web log Blackadder Scripts.

I may reproduce that colour scheme for my next build. (PS: I missed the large model of the moon when it was on display at Derby cathedral recently. Bummer.)

Ouch. If you, with your experience and contacts, can still feel like that what point is there in amateurs like me practising? Another way of looking at it is; if you, with your experience and contacts, can feel like that, I'm not the only one... My sympathy. I have periods when I feel the same way. One of them lasted for thirty years.

The Soup Dragon had every reason to be sweary... When the rest of the froglet race discovered string pudding they ate so much of it that Michael Bentine had to invent Potty Time otherwise the Moon would become a swamp consisting mainly of partly digested soup and stringy froglet droppings. Without potty time for the froglets the whole Moon would be a fetching shade of brown by now. How's that for a re-railment?

Congratulations on your NBD (New Bass Day). It is similar in shape to the Fender Jaguar. Stray dogs sometimes follow you home but they don't usually leave a hole in your wallet until you've taken them for their first visit to the veterinarian. That's GAS for you.

Just for you and all the other Moon Froglets reading, here is some String Pudding:

I'd say that little gem belongs on a list of top tips for prospective builders. It makes perfectly good sense... after it's been pointed out. It isn't something you see very often. I wonder if it's because it's easier to work around flaws in the timber by making wings than to look for the "perfect" slab. As always, the results of your work are a joy to behold.

This is something that has gone on for many years. There might not be a written law but there are several unwritten ones to do with recruitment and employment agencies, finder's fees etc. In many cases these become formal agreements and they can be considered as contractual obligations. In the late eighties we had the situation, already described above, where we (the dozen or so sub-contractors) were invited to join the permanent staff, of a major international aerospace company for which we already worked, to do the same job that they paid us for by the hour via an employment agency. We were told initially that employment was assured as most of us had proved our worth over a period of time. A couple of days later however we were told that the jobs would now have to be advertised in the national papers to avoid ill feeling among the employment agencies. Since these agencies are a major resource for companies of this stature, it was agreed that we all had to apply as if we weren't already employed to avoid the company being accused of poaching by the agencies. It was a formality however and the company interviews were very brief. The vacancies were mostly filled with experienced sub-contractors such as myself. I stayed as a sub-contractor for the money. I wasn't bothered by job security so much at that time. Even with a mortgage, I was assured work anywhere in the world with my qualifications. Now of course, there aren't any jobs for life whether you are paid by the company you work for or by their agent. You are probably as secure working as a sub-contractor as you would be working as an employee in many cases What with Internet recruitment policies and such, I bet it's even more of a minefield. I'm happy to call myself semi-retired. @ped; I'm sorry you suffered a sort of non-rejection Dear John letter. It's hard to know how to file that one.

Please do. May I suggest that @skankdelvar writes the final draft from your manuscript and notes. It'll be a best seller!

Um... isn't that what Guitarchat is for?

Fixed.