Marvin

I personally have a phone phobia. I hate phones - this stems from a job I once had whereby if my personal line rang it was always a problem, hence I associate phones with problems. But I digress.

There was that as well

[quote name='Chris2112' post='1077187' date='Jan 4 2011, 12:17 PM']I've never really bothered with emailing shops, but I did buy my Ashdown MK500 amp from a shop called Academy of Sound. I ordered it online, but when I rang up to ask about the shipping they were very on the ball, excellent customer service. However, the top luthiers in the country like Rob Green, Alan Cringean and Jon Shuker are excellent at replying to emails with the answers you seek![/quote] Apparently there's a very nice man who works at the Academy of Sound . I tend to email as it's more convenient for me - by the time I'm back from work and the kids are asleep etc most shops are shut. Responding to customers in whatever form, promptly, makes a huge difference - I think The example you give of the top luthiers is a good one, part of their reputation is built on that personal touch I should imagine. (I'm guessing a bit now ) Having been someone on the other end who has had to say "I'll get back to you as soon as possible" as I've not had the info to hand, the surprise you get from a customer when you get back to them promptly always struck me as remarkable, and probably says a lot about the state of many companies attitude's.

[quote name='ShergoldSnickers' post='1077188' date='Jan 4 2011, 12:17 PM']That's most of the battle. Not looking at it. [/quote] It's a terrible affliction [quote name='ShergoldSnickers' post='1077188' date='Jan 4 2011, 12:17 PM']Heard good things about the Rumble - let us know what it's like. [/quote] It'll be here on Friday (hopefully), I'll see if it makes the neighbourhood Rumble

Anyone else noticed some prices have rocketed. I've got a Fender Rumble 350 on its way to me. Before Christmas a lot of the well known online retailers were selling these weighty rocks for about £350. Now they're going for between £410 and £470ish. I've also noticed some of the Squier range of basses have seen a good £30 increase in price at some retailers. Just blimey! You may also notice that I don't look at expensive gear

I have on a couple occasions contacted music shops, in the southwest, via email, enquiring about whether they stocked certain items (a bass or an amp) or whether if they didn't stock it, if they could source it and if so how much. I have never received a reply. Which in these difficult times, so we are told, is to their detriment as I've gone elsewhere to buy what I've wanted. It would seem to me that some shops have an online presence but don't either know how to use it or it's potential. Come on guys, get with it please.

[quote name='JamieBenzies' post='1075953' date='Jan 3 2011, 12:54 AM']Me too, it's a lonely life for a bass player if you live near Dartmouth :'([/quote] Not much cop up here in North Devon either :-(

I seem to remember there being a tutorial that comes with it but I can't find it. Personally I find the whole the a complete mystery to the point of insane annoyance. It's probably the most user unfriendly software that I have installed on my computer.

[quote name='REDLAWMAN' post='1076073' date='Jan 3 2011, 09:45 AM']Marvin: not sure what you mean by MM's Bootcamp- did you mean to post a link? Thanks Pete; I've checked it out and there's some really helpful stuff there. Not sure what Tux & Guitar Pro are (PC software, I presume), but great material. Apologies Greyparrot for thread-jacking![/quote] Yes I did mean to post a link, sorry - my addled brain Here it is [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=78653"]Major Minor's Boot Camp - Creating a Walking Bass Line[/url] Tux and Guitar Pro are incredibly useful pieces of software I find. [url="http://tuxguitar.herac.com.ar/"]Tux Guitar [/url] especially with this site [url="http://www.911tabs.com/"]911 tabs[/url]

[quote name='REDLAWMAN' post='1075625' date='Jan 2 2011, 07:24 PM']I've got to say Greyparrot, I think that's fantastic! I'm a beginner and I understood about as far as the root/5th, but when you starting doing what to me sounded like R/5, but moving up & down the neck (as if pumping a Remington shotgun), I lost it, sadly! Just up my street music-wise though: I'd love to be able to play like that one day. Great sound, too. Thanks very much.[/quote] Have you found this on BC yet? A lot of members rate MM's boot camp.

I always lusted after Warwicks when I first picked up the bass (about '91). But these days I don't know. I quite like the Corvettes and a couple of the less flamboyant sigs, but otherwise I think they may be loosing their way. I'd probably buy a Fender these days

From a personal standpoint I find the whole subject of what amp to buy an absolute minefield. There are just so many permutations to consider - combos, heads & cabs, output, watts, speaker size, spl etc etc etc. I must have spent literally hours looking at what amp to buy and have finally plumped for a Fender Rumble 350. There are many on here that'll say I've bought the wrong thing, but it's a 350w 2x10 that I think will do pub gigs adequately, and that's all I need it for and I can't afford anything more expensive (I would have liked a second hand Trace but live too far from anyone selling one). Being on a budget and having limited storage space available precluded me going down the head and cab route. It's all just a mind boggling nightmare

[quote name='pantherairsoft' post='1074601' date='Jan 1 2011, 06:25 PM']1st year in ages that I didn't watch. I only found out this year that it's not live and it ruined it all for me! I know it's common knowledge after everyone I've discussed that fact with over the last few weeks has had the same response - "How didn't you know it wasn't live!?" I really didn't know. I hate the fact they all celebrate and countdown to New Year falsely... And it's filmed mid November! It shouldn't bother me... But it has so much I doubt I'll watch I again![/quote] You're not alone I didn't know either. I feel robbed I caught just a few moments between getting back from the pub and falling asleep on the sofa. Very unimpressed. Roger Daltrey made me cringe, Alison Moyet sounded odd and I can't remember the rest.

[quote name='Bloodaxe' post='1073261' date='Dec 30 2010, 11:12 PM']Something I've stumbled upon in the last few weeks is this... In Guitar Pro go to View > Hide Tablature (in Tux it's much the same except you un-tick Show Tablature in the View menu). Viola! No more Tab! So that means I have to start entering notes on the stave, which thus forces me to learn both the Bass & Treble clefs. This does make transcribing take longer, admittedly, but I learn best when I have an application for the theory. Speed will improve with knowledge. P.[/quote] I found this a few days ago on TuxGuitar completely by accident - darned twitchy mouse fingers . TuxGuitar is great!

That's a whopper Wayne! Of course there is an art to playing with some picks [attachment=67479:images.jpeg]

I don't know what it is as all the writing has worn off. I've only got one pick, I think it's about 1.5mm and sort of looks like a pick.

[quote name='steve-soar' post='1073163' date='Dec 30 2010, 09:09 PM']Not an awful bassist but a truly awful piece of music. [/quote] Crikey! I hope silddx doesn't see that, it'll send him all strange

[quote name='skej21' post='1070895' date='Dec 28 2010, 12:35 PM']Or the "million notes to four people, or four notes to a million people" jazz versus rock joke lol. At the end of the day, the truly awful bass players are the morons who think they know best. Making comments about how you could "play something better on the fly" or putting other bassists down because they play something "simple/easy" (such as Clayton) is just a mixture of jealousy, sheer arrogance and naivety. Being a great bassist is not about how many notes you can/cannot play or the standard of your playing. It's about being humble, respectful to fellow players and setting yourself challenges to improve your playing. There will always be someone out there who has achieved more than you (regardless of how "easy" there playing appears) and who is a more complete player than you and similarly, you will always be better than someone else. A truly great bass player realises this and uses his acquired skills to help players who are behind them and respectfully seeks similar help from players who are ahead of them.[/quote] This [quote name='Pete Academy' post='1073062' date='Dec 30 2010, 07:48 PM']The good bassist plays for the song. The bad bassist plays for himself.[/quote] and this. Both good points A casual reader may be appalled at some of the snobbery and latent jealously of some of the posts on this subject. With regard to the subject of U2 I've never understood the moaning about Clayton's playing. Most of the whinging seems to emanate from people who don't even like U2. It's not bass driven music so it doesn't require 'look at me' lines. Anything more 'colourful' wouldn't fit in, there's no space for it - the focus of U2 are Bono's lyrics/voice and Edge's guitar playing. Arguing that one could play a better line is a mute point, and somewhat irrelevant as only the 0.0000x% of nerdy bass players in the general populous would be listening to it anyway. If the bass fits the song the player is doing their job.

No longer looking. Going to have a long rest from bands.

[quote name='bobbytodd' post='1060107' date='Dec 15 2010, 10:20 PM']hi just a quick question.now my band have sorted the onstage volume issues i was wondering if any of you lot just run direct into the desk and not bother with a bass amp.our gig on saturday is up four lots of stairs and to be honest im not looking forward to carrying my amp up them.[/quote] silddx, on here, does via a Line 6 Pod. He'd probably be happy to give you the detail.

the tumble dryer

I'm thinking of jacking it in. I'm not sure I enjoy playing, I like the idea of playing and being in a band but not particularly fussed about the reality. Although I think the main reason is my playing is so poor I struggle with simple straightforward stuff regardless of how much I practice, I just don't enjoy it as a result.

[quote name='karlfer' post='1060005' date='Dec 15 2010, 08:35 PM']And I had 2 barbel off the "Officer Dibble" (River Ribble) 10 days ago Karl.[/quote] wish there were waters like that around my way. It's trout or nowt

[quote name='gary mac' post='1059917' date='Dec 15 2010, 07:28 PM']Not at this time of year mate, the lakes are frozen and the fish aren't feeding. [/quote] A good point

[quote name='paul h' post='1059928' date='Dec 15 2010, 07:41 PM']If you wear leather trousers...when you decide not to any more. If you don't wear leather trousers...when you decide to get some.[/quote]