chris_b

My speciality is tap dancing whilst soloing.

Very sad news. I didn't get on with much of his music but I listened to it just the same because of his brilliance on the instrument. This guy was a stunning bass player.

I'm an entertainer.

That was in the early 70's. Willie Weeks is still pretty S-hot today.

I would die if I had to play scales and arpeggios over and over again. I play songs. In lockdown I decided to keep my chops going by charting, learning and playing every song on every Stevie Wonder album. One instrumental defeated me but I learnt the rest. That project really improved my playing, and gave me a lot of ideas I could incorporate into other songs.

Good gear leaves you nowhere to hide. It puts your playing and technique under a microscope. You hear stuff that average gear covers up. That's one part of becoming a better player. You've raised your standards, what you expect from yourself, and your fingers and brain haven't caught up yet. That's not a bad situation. Some players are born at the top of their game and playing an instrument is no effort, others have to work harder to get there. It's always better that your expectations are ahead of your abilities. That's how we improve. Be impatient, but don't beat yourself up! Just look at yourself a year ago, 2 years ago, and if you are better now than you were then, you are progressing. You're in a band? What do they think? You don't have to ask outright, that might be embarrassing, but check out if they are happy with your playing on particular songs.

Surprising what an improvement a well designed cab will make to the sound of a bass. Makes you realise how much other cabs are just a bunch of speakers thrown together in a box.

That "old bass" is not original. It's been fitted with a Badass bridge and a Bartolini pickup. All top of the range mods when they were done.

Long shirt sleeves turned up twice. A glimpse of forearm, drives the ladies wild. The peak of my sartorial elegance was a canary yellow suit with royal blue velvet collar and pocket flaps. . . . and flares you could get lost in. God I looked good!!

Good luck with your next chapter. I'll stop when the phone stops ringing, they take away my driving licence or I peg out. . . . whichever comes first!!

I wouldn't accept a brand new custom made bass with any of these issues. As the builder is pushing back and making excuses I'd name and shame.

I was using D'Addario NYXL's and I was changing them yearly. What with Covid and a few other things the current set has been on my Jazz bass since 2019. They still have a little top end left but have mellowed into a really nice full, warm almost flats-like tone.

Tommy Tedesco was a bit of a lad. There are different versions, I read that he didn't touch the guitar but just changed his playing position. It's a similar story to the "producer" switch on Lee Sklar's bass. It's not connected to anything, but if he's asked to change his sound he flips the switch and the producer is happy!!

I spent years with DR LoRiders and HiBeams. I'm not a fan of "zinggg"and after they "settled in" each set lasted at least a year.

If your Precision has a "dullish" low mid thump you need a different bass. The better Precisions have a lively and resonant low mid thump.

Unless you are very lucky, when someone is paying you to play the sound in their head is the one they want. It's pointless going into someone else's session with your sound. The real pro's know that and start by giving the producer what he wants. The focus is then on the real objective of a session players day, playing faultlessly and coming up with memorable lines. The sound in your head only becomes important when its your project.

I do. In fact I don't see many bass pedals on local gigs at all.

. . . also check out Renaud Garcia-Fons. He's an amazing bass player and even got his own Tiny Desk concert.

Check out Francois Rabbath The Sound Of A Bass I bought this album in the late 60's. As a bass player it stopped me dead in my tracks.

There was nothing "curt" in my post. The guy "in the shop" might be a better judge, which is why I put "seems to me", as an indicator that this is my opinion and I could be wrong. The fact remains, in this thread several people have taken their business elsewhere "due to poor communications". He may know his business, his business might be thriving, but it still seems to me, clients going elsewhere because they simply didn't get a reply, is not good thing for a business.

I've bought from the Bass Gallery, Bass Direct, Andertons and most of the shops in the West London, but so far not BB's but it seems to me that, no matter what the form of communication, ignoring your clientele is not a sensible way to do business.

Try again. . . . this bass is now for sale in Reverb, via the Guitar Broker, Ft Lauderdale Florida.

To answer the OP's question, bank transfers have no safety net, so there is always a risk. You have to judge the person you are dealing with. So with homework and a dose of intuition, you can be as safe as you can be. I had a guy in Europe wanting to buy my bass, but he kept messing me about, several times trying to renegotiate the price and juggling the postage and price. This went on for over a week. In the end it didn't feel right and I backed out of the sale. You always have to be prepared to walk away if alarm bells ring. I only buy and sell from proper shops or Basschat members with a track record. I've used bank transfers, for buying and selling in the UK and Europe, cash and meet up within a 100mile radius, I've also bought and sold on the way to far flung gigs, and once I sold a bass on instalments! So far (touch wood) I've not had any issues, with Basschat members or with carriers. I always use Interparcel and whichever carrier on their list has the best terms. I insure myself, ie I'll stand any losses. I pack basses in a gig bag or case, place in heavy duty bicycle boxes and pack with polystyrene sheeting for extra protection. As I say, so far I've been fortunate and had no bad experiences.

Wow! Gut punch! If the fundamental technique isn't right the gear doesn't matter a jot.