Marvin

[quote name='Spoombung' post='1080346' date='Jan 6 2011, 07:59 PM']I know what you mean. They do look like something like the Beckhams or even Michael Jackson, bless him, would have picked up on a shopping trip. Sort of Fabergé egg vibe...[/quote] I think you've hit it on the head there. Each to their own though, just not for me.

For me, just no. All that gold and glossy finishing, I'd always feel that if a Premiership footballer were to take up the bass this would be what he'd choose. *shudder*

I think I'd need all of them in all available colours.

[quote name='thunderbird13' post='1078304' date='Jan 5 2011, 10:11 AM']Over Christmas I tried brushing up on some technique and realised that I'd never really go to grips with playing ghost notes. After 2 practice sessions I still cant play them , it just feels so unnatural to not fully fret the note. Does anyone else struggle with these and are there any tips ?[/quote] You are not alone, I'm rubbish at ghost notes as well. I shall be reading any advice with extreme interest

[quote name='Pete Academy' post='1077849' date='Jan 4 2011, 08:40 PM']Oops, sorry mate...got confused. [/quote] I bet you say that to all the punters.

[quote name='Pete Academy' post='1077822' date='Jan 4 2011, 08:27 PM']Wow, those drummers must be into him in a big way![/quote]

[quote name='Pete Academy' post='1077836' date='Jan 4 2011, 08:33 PM']Thanks Marvin...didn't realise it was you. [/quote] Didn't you? Blimely, I must have been away longer than I thought [quote name='Pete Academy' post='1077836' date='Jan 4 2011, 08:33 PM']I always stress to the staff that emails need to be dealt with quickly. It doesn't always happen, especially if we're really busy or short-staffed, but I know it would piss me off, too.[/quote] And that's why you're a thoroughly decent chap. Treat others etc etc. Is the money in the post?

[quote name='Chris2112' post='1077476' date='Jan 4 2011, 04:31 PM']If it's someone round here (Pete Academy, maybe?) then the shop is excellent wih customer service and sells great stuff. An Ashdown MK500 combo for £500? Excellent! [/quote] That's the fella. Thoroughly decent chap.

[quote name='yorks5stringer' post='1077341' date='Jan 4 2011, 02:21 PM']I had something similar with "trim phones" which stemmed from a job I had when if it rang around 10.00 pm it was the night shift ringing to complain about something to me. It took me some time to hear a trim phone ring and not have my heart in my mouth![/quote] Part of my job was to find cover for people who went sick, my phone would only ring if someone was ringing in sick. Finding cover was a major headache.

All the best with this one mate. Anyone in the London area who doesn't attend at what is a stupendously low price for a ticket wants their bumps read.

[quote name='WalMan' post='1077232' date='Jan 4 2011, 12:57 PM']Always a good excuse to round up / add a bit more in the change [/quote] They've been adding a bit more than the increase in VAT. The stuff I was looking at would have increased maybe no more than £5 to £15, but has increased £50+. I know that January generally brings an increase in prices across the board (I got hit one year with building materials for an extension I was building) but, just but Perhaps there will be some heavy discounting in the coming months? Or is that me being cynical?

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!