Steve Browning

The Aukland jam is still going. Run by Andy Broad. The thing that puts me off that one is the fact that the room is so small they don't usually have a drummer, as such. There is a general dearth of opportunities in Pompey it seems. You're right, the metal scene seems to be thriving but then that's primarily a few bands on one bill and with no money at the end of the night. Is there any particular genre you want to get involved in?

Just bought a Mesa Subway DI from Dave. Lovely, easy transaction with good comms and lightning fast delivery. Highly recommended. Good Basschatter. Steve

As it happens I think it would be great to talk to him about the gear he has used. On the early tours he had a monstrous Acoustic/Hiwatt rig and I'd love to know about that. The rack distribution unit he used and why the various Pbass variations over the years. Not everyone's cup of tea I grant you, but I would love to talk to him about the gear he has used.

So, to paraphrase Father Ted, put the louder one further away. 🙂

I have dealt with Mark (visiting his place a couple of times to collect instruments). I can only endorse the praise he is receiving already. A very fine gent and a pleasure to deal with.

It was the not looking so bohemian bit. I only look online.

Thanks. I need one for my Walkabout. The first ones had a flimsy slip cover.

By the way, your gain/master settings are pretty much my gig level.

A picture of John in today's Daily Mail. Please leave the guy alone. I would kill for an hour with him to talk basses etc but he has no desire to delve into any aspect of his past and he deserves that privacy. Much less the fairly mocking tone of the opening lines.

Lovely set-up. You can't ever go wrong with that. Luckily I got my Subway cabs when they were just expensive and not extortionate.

My #1 bass (in my signature), in the hands of its previous owner, has played with BB KIng, Freddie KIng and a whole load of Blues greats. I haven't (mind you, David Gilmour isn't bad).

Can you put together a business case for a bank loan? That's not a facetious answer. I played in a band in Brighton and got a bank loan to cover the full costs of our first album, using gig income, projected sales etc.

Nostalgia clearly is what it used to be.

............... and mullets.

No point you saying that, he says he can't hear ambient sounds. 🙂

I'm positive the basses were upstairs. It's the drum bit I am unsure of although I'm pretty sure.

As I recall it was basses upstairs and drums on the ground floor (but my memory could easily be wrong). Obviously I never went into the drum bit so I have no evidence it was there.

An awesome shop. Miss it tremendously. Bought some amazing stuff in there in the past. Receipt for 0189 and part of the certificate I got from JE as it appears in the Haynes manual.

No. You can register for VAT voluntarily as long as you are in business. The registration threshhold is the compulsory registration figure.

From the VAT perspective you would have to apply the Lennarz principle (used to be used for mega yachts and aircraft). You would have to demonstrate that you were actively seeking to rent out the equipment and pay commercial rates for your own use. You could do it as a partnership as opposed to a company. The VAT registration would apply only to partnership activities and not anyone's personal activity. VAT on all gig fees (you would lose 1/6th as VAT), the same on all other UK sales. If you were to sell in Europe you would have to register in each country too. Gig fees would be VAT free. Unless you are buying big I would suggest it's probably not worth it for the VAT you would claim back.

The triangle in Everlasting Love.

I reckon it's stage fright/confidence. The drummer is not buying the cymbals because to do so removes his 'excuse' and the singer is saying the band isn't ready because he doesn't feel ready. As for what you do, you probably need to weigh up how they'd respond to you going ahead and booking a gig. They're going to stick with their excuses and so I reckon it's whether or not they'll pull out if a gig is actually on the horizon. Personally, I think your only hope here is to book the gig and see what happens. You're in a Mexican stand off until then.