Beedster

Pretty much since I can remember I've wanted a self-contained studio. In the past I've had the odd spare room with a music workstation, but it's not really the same, and with kids, there's no such thing as 'private space' in the house. So, last year was a bit crap, and around November I thought "If I don't do it now, I never will", so decided to just do it. It's as much about the kids learning to love and play music as it is about me recording my own stuff and that of my mates, so it's not a 'studio' in the true sense, bit I thought I'd keep y'all posted on how things develop over the coming months. First things first, the wrecking crew. We had to get rid of a rather old and rather rotten shed on the site, and it was pretty clear that the roof weighed a ton, so I got some strong-arm in. From let to right pedal steel, idiot (me), fiddle and, looking rather menacing with the crowbar, not only a great mandolin player but one of the UK's top acoustic guitar builders (who almost lot his right hand when the roof of the old shed came down somewhat prematurely). Shed down in about 4 hours. A couple of days later, three extremely hard working chaps arrived and did the below in two days And at the end of day two I had this.. It's around 20 feet by 15 feet (although it looks much smaller), and is bloody lovely... ... although it looks like a giant sauna, so I got to work with a paintbrush This the undercoat, and whilst it doesn't show well in the photo, it's translucent so shows the grain of the wood really nicely, in fact I have something of a boutique shed. Also had to get to work with a spade to get the electric in, trench had to be 24 inches deep. Next instalment will be the interior, followed the gear, and you never know, in the fulness of time, a few recordings i'm gonna need a name also, as I was recently living in Aberystwyth Greg (Shaggy) suggested 'Aber Road', but I guess if geographical it's now gonna have to be something more Canterbury/Kent/South-East. But hey, doesn't have to be geographical. Suggestions on a postcard please

With Basschat and eBay as options I cannot see any reason to sell a bass in a shop. Fees are higher, risk of damage is higher, market is far lower.

Bad day?

Most of the large scale online retailers are simply not close enough to their stock to know what they've got, they have to go by what's on the screen and bar codes, which can be wrong for so many reasons. The amount of times I've bought and paid for 'in stock' gear online only to get an email saying something like "Good news, your amp will be with you in July" is simply ridiculous. The only online dealer who can be trusted are Thomann, who are also generally the cheapest, most efficient, and most polite if you have to deal with an issue.

[quote name='Muzz' timestamp='1452791395' post='2953565'] "Can play a myriad of styles, basically speaking Jazz..." Calling Bilbo... [/quote] I've not met Bilbo so can't be sure, but whilst I can't quite put my finger on a specific reason, I'm guessing it might not be a trouble-free relationship?

[quote name='Beedster' timestamp='1452781119' post='2953435'] Perhaps you have your own tribute act? [/quote] We decided to advertise one of our gigs as a tribute act to our own band and got more punters in than normal (7)

[quote name='Twigman' timestamp='1452781420' post='2953440'] Have you been sacked but don't yet know it? [/quote] Ha ha, the infamous 'Lemmy Manoeuvre'.

[quote name='Twigman' timestamp='1452780648' post='2953427'] Another band operating with the same name? [/quote] Perhaps you have your own tribute act?

[quote name='Twigman' timestamp='1452780556' post='2953425'] That must be the least inviting ad for a bass player I've ever read. Whoever wrote it comes across as a right ****. [/quote] To be honest, I think they know what they're looking for and have made the terms pretty clear. I'd rather than than what happened to me a few years ago which is that a band advertised for me, seriously, I met every criteria they stated, including the exact taste in 70's funk rock. I turned up to the audition to find a bunch of 16 year-olds who realised they'd forgotten to put 'must be 16' in their ad. I was 45 at the time. Shame, their setlist was awesome, but not only did they look like Hanson's kid brothers, they sounded like those f*****g awful cartoon chipmunks. Good luck to the band in the link, as Jack suggests, there'll be plenty for whom that is a great opportunity

Frankly Jack, I think your attitude stinks, I would have paid good money to see you in that band

This http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mackie-Onyx-1220i-mixer-/181969980941?hash=item2a5e418e0d:g:QS0AAOSw3KFWeaK~ seems like a potentially good bet?

[quote name='stevebasshead' timestamp='1452703622' post='2952645'] Cheers Beedster, I'll watch out for the Mackie's on eBay but I think the RME is out of my price range [/quote] I think the RME is not what you want though, sounds like a Mackie would be the answer to the question at the top.

...RME Fireface 400, which I thought I might use more given its smaller size and ease of access etc (sits in a desktop rack), but it really doesn't get much use with the Mackie around.

There are some pretty good deals on USB mixers on eBay at the moment, IIRC there's a Mackie Onyx 1220i going very low. The whole Onyx series is very good (I use the 1640i which I love and which, once I got my head around getting it to talk to my iMac, has been trouble free for years). I also have a