flyfisher

[quote name='EBS_freak' timestamp='1380637784' post='2228249'] Err... you gave him a second chance? 3 years? Err... what is wrong with you? [/quote] A second chance AND in the heat of the moment. Perhaps luthiers should write reviews about their customers?

Indeed - good advice for ANY insurance policy. I'm pretty sure most household policies will only cover for theft and maybe accidental damage in the home. Some policies allow a certain value of 'all-risks' for items taken outside (cameras, phones, laptops etc) but they often need to be specifically listed, expecially if they're above a certain value. Any item(s) used to earn money are almost certainly not going be covered by a household policy. But all that's OK by me. The chances of my gear being stolen or damaged at the sort of places I go to is very low so I'm prepared to take on the risk myself. I've not needed to claim for 30 years so I'm probably up on the deal anyway. Plus, the absolute worst case would be a total loss of about £1500 - annoying as hell but not exactly life-changing.

True, but I have him down as a musician and not a gear head.

I don't bother - they're just part of the household insurance, so probably not covered outside the house while gigging or rehearsing.

[quote name='4000' timestamp='1380629724' post='2228046'] And it could be argued that if sometime with enough aptitude puts in enough work on a Sue Ryder then what's the point of a Fender? [/quote] Is this an appropriate time to mention Macca's cheapo violin bass? Really held him back didn't it?

That's where I've been going wrong then . . .

[quote name='xilddx' timestamp='1380617433' post='2227776'] Seems to me a custom bass is simply a vanity indulgence for most people, their time and money would be better spent on learning how to set up their instruments, learn about sound and eq. I think half the problems they think they are addressing with a custom bass could be solved more simply if it's not just a vanity project. Probably should get some lessons on how to play the thing too [/quote] +1 Seems a bit like flash cars vs a working tool for doing the job. Sure, some tools are better quality than others but they quickly plateau after a certain price point. Anyway, what happened to the 'it's all in the fingers' sentiment?

The longer something takes to make, the more difficult it is to accurately estimate how much elapsed time it will take to find that time. People who are great craftsmen are not necessarily going to be great at running a business. My bet is that if someone says it will take, say, three months to build a bass then that's how long it will take - in man-hours. The problems arise when they get distracted and diverted from spending the required time on making that bass and are not good at managing that inevitable aspect of their business, so the timescale goes out.

Some people just can't handle other people making a success of something.

What an evocative image and, as xilddx has said, so many ways to interpret it. I listened to them in order and, to be honest, found the combination of the excellent soundtracks and the picture a bit too depressing for comfort (and rightly so) and it was only theboy's track that gave me some ray of hope for the future of the guy in the chair amid all that chaos and destruction, so that's where my vote went. But top marks for everyone's interpretation and creativity.

That's my feeling too (though you might have been generous with the £100 figure ) but these sort of things take on a life and mystique of their own and it's all down to waht people are prepared to pay - and it's usually nothing to do with the item itself and all to do what crazy collectors/investors can afford. How about splashing out $140m for this when it has absolutely no intrinsic value whatsoever beyond a few hundred dollars of oil paint and canvas. Funny old world. [attachment=144917:No._5,_1948.jpg]

In my experience smokers rarely understand how the smell lingers. I guess their sense of smell becomes seriously impaired. I've been to gigs where all the smokers go outside to smoke but when they come back inside the smell can be overpowering when they're chatting away in the close proximity of a crowded pub. Then, when I get home Mrs FF immediately comments about the smell of smoke in my hair.

I hang mine on the wall, not as art particularly, it just seems the most convenient place to keep them - out of the way but easy to access. [attachment=144874:Guitars.jpg]

What do we think of #3 ? Is the bassist really supposed to be the timekeeper rather than the drummer? (I appreciate there are no absolutely hard-and-fast rules, I'm just thinking about the norm)

Interesting question and I think I can honestly say no one, in particular, has really influenced me. As far back as I can remember I've always been drawn to the bass line in a song rather than the melody and I hum along to the bass as other people hum along to the melody. I've got loads of favourite bass lines but they are by a wide variety of players so I guess it's the line itself rather than the player that does it for me. I don't know why that should be but I think that's what led me to pick up a bass guitar, rather than any particular player. That doesn't mean I don't admire any players, far from it. I greatly admire anyone who can play better than me . . . unfortunately that doesn't help to narrow it down very much!

Absolutely. I hope I haven't come across as trying to say how people should run bands (or lives) as that was certainly not my intention, but it's very interesting I think to draw out the various feelings of different people and different bands. I reckon the clear conclusion is that there is a very wide range of approaches to this music thing and they're all represented on BC, which makes your point about finding like-minded people all the more pertinent. We've had a gazillion posts BC about conflicts within bands and it's not too difficult to see why.

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1380229791' post='2222688'] You mean you aren't being paid for your contribution? [/quote] Damn! Stitched up again.

This is an interesting read . . . although maybe not if you've just spent a lot of dosh on an antique paper in oil capacitor. http://www.aqdi.com/tonecap.htm

[quote name='Adrenochrome' timestamp='1380224894' post='2222621'] Yes, most of us do. I just can't afford to run at a loss, it's that simple. [/quote] Fair point if you're a professional musician but otherwise don't we run all of our hobbies and interests at a 'loss'? It's beginning to look like some musicians won't get out of bed unless they're being paid for it.

[quote name='bonzodog' timestamp='1380227019' post='2222650'] Music is a form of entertainment meaning that its for other peoples enjoyment as well as the provider. No a photographer wouldn't charge to take photos, but he would possibly charge if one of his or her photos was in a gallery where people were paying to visit. You are right that music is unique in this respect but on the other hand isn't it amazing that we do something we enjoy and can make money from it too. [/quote] I'm beginning to think I'm a soft touch. I've had a couple of photos published in a book that a friend wrote, but I didn't charge him for them and was happy with just an acknowledgement. I've also provided photos for other publicity purposes, though some of those were for a charity so that probably doesn't count. I must learn to become more mercenary! Hey, I wonder if we could start charging BC for the benefit of our posts - without us it wouldn't exist!

[quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1380222532' post='2222600'] Don't know if it is unique or not, it is just that [b]I have done enough gigs and they aren't the be-all and end-all for me.[/b] It has to be more than just a gig... as it is a lot of hassle. Even a pub gig is 4-5 hrs of our time so we are now picky about which pubs....so not enough room, wrong audience, not enough money, too far, bad load-in are all reasonable excuses.. [/quote] I can understand that, but if it was me then I think I'd just give up gigging at that stage. We have turned down gigs for some of the reasons you mention, except the money one.

[quote name='Marvin' timestamp='1380217661' post='2222498'] Not when/if someone else is making a profit out of it. [/quote] Somebody else is making a profit everytime you buy a bass or an amp or a cab or pretty much anything really. Same as somebody else makes a profit if you buy a camera but I've never heard amateur photographers saying they won't take a picture unless someone pays them for it. There seems to be something about music that many people believe they must be paid or they won't play. It's a point of view, I suppose, but I'm interested in why music should be so unique in this respect?

Doesn't anyone here just enjoy playing for the enjoyment of it? mercenary lot!

Wonderful stuff. Great to see the sense of fun involved. [quote name='Fat Rich' timestamp='1380195544' post='2222103'] Great, now I'm going to waste this afternoon watching T&J cartoons on youtube [/quote] I think of worse ways of spending an afternoon.

[quote name='grandad' timestamp='1380196186' post='2222124'] Some soldering tips. The tips of soldering irons are copper, but plated with iron to extend tip life. Don't scrape it to clean it. If you expose the copper the flux will eat away the tip. Just wipe it with a sponge or cloth. Don't move the finished joint until it's cool otherwise you'll get a dry joint. A desoldering pump is very useful. If you make a bad joint, usually because you've taken to long & the flux has been used up leaving the solder 'pastey', remove all the old solder & start again. Agree with above, lead-free solder is a pain. 60/40 tin/lead is easier to work with, just wash your hands in soap & water afterwards. The fumes can rarely cause a reaction if you're asthmatic. Blow the fumes away gently as you solder. If you need a vice use a rubber band around the grips of a pair of pliers. Most irons run at about 400 degrees Cecius. Take care, if you burn yourself the flesh is seared & takes ages to heal. Have patience, practice makes prefect. [/quote] Excellent advice. All I'd add is: - for anything other than very infrequent soldering, a desoldering pump is pretty much essential, rather than merely useful - A small fan can be useful to blow flux fumes away from the workbench. An old PC fan does a good job. - The old 'rubber band around a pair of pliers' trick was a welcome bit of nostagia down memory lane