Mykesbass

Local Facebook groups - didn't realise before how many of these, and how active they are!

[quote name='wateroftyne' timestamp='1421444539' post='2661460'] I'd have no problem with these if they were in addition to stuff people have been asking for for years. A better selection of colours, more PJs, P's with blocks.. But they just keep coming out with nowt-nor-summink doggerel that no-one is going to buy. [/quote] [quote name='deaky' timestamp='1421445372' post='2661467'] Is that what the majority of people want or what you would personally like and how do you know no one will buy them? [/quote] Having sold Fenders for a couple of years a few years back I tend to agree with WoT - Fender buyers are relatively conservative. They want the classics. Now Fender are lucky in that they have a great catalogue of classics which they really don't exploit well - all those lovely colours, binding, blocks, the different period shapes. Use those but then throw in some updates - a few more 5 strings looking like the old classics, different active options, do limited runs of the great old colours (could re-do this every couple of years, keeping people's interest. I'm sorry but that highlighted sandblasted bass looked like someone's DT project, and yes, clueless does seem to sum it up nicely (as backed up by their current financial woes).

[quote name='leftybassman392' timestamp='1421349643' post='2660294'] *Sigh* I promise not to tire of saying this: it's not that simple - people are not simply Right- or Left-Handed. It's a continuous spectrum with most people nearer one end than the other. Any attempt to provide definitive statistics is likely to prove very difficult. Handedness can manifest in a whole bunch of different ways with different activities (and sometimes even in the same activity - there's at least one case of a professional cricketer who bowls with one hand and throws with the other). This is complicated by the numbers of musicians who are Left-handed in many areas of their lives but have chosen to play their instruments Right-handed. You're right about one thing though - it is very unusual! [/quote] Sorry, was trying to give a concise answer in a lighthearted manner. But this did lead to some quick research (always been interested in lefties as my old mum had a torrid time of being one, and my youngest is very ambidextrous) & thought this piece was particularly fascinating: [url="http://www.livescience.com/19968-study-reveals-lefties-rare.html"]http://www.livescience.com/19968-study-reveals-lefties-rare.html[/url] The piece on left handed musicians did very much centre around what you are saying: [url="http://www.rightleftrightwrong.com/issues_music.html"]http://www.rightleftrightwrong.com/issues_music.html[/url]

[quote name='Beedster' timestamp='1421334426' post='2660031'] Information is thin on the ground at what particular benefits this particular African hardwood offers..... Cheaper to source and more profitable? [/quote] [size=5][b]Uses[/b] [color=#000000][b]Okoumé is one of the best timber species for plywood[/b]. It is a major commercial timber in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea, representing more than 60% of timber production, while it is of lesser importance in Congo. It is made into blockboard, particle board and veneer, and is widely used in boat building for decorative interior panelling and for exterior applications. The wood is also suitable for light interior construction, carpentry, furniture, sports equipment, cigar boxes and packing cases. Logs are traditionally used to make canoes. The wood can be used as firewood and is suitable for the production of pulp for papermaking.[/color] [color=#000000]Bark resin is used for torches and oil lamps in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea, and also for cosmetic applications in skin care products and nail polish. It is also applied to treat superficial wounds and abscesses, and as a water disinfectant. [b]The astringent bark is used to treat diarrhoea[/b].[/color][/size] [size=5][color=#000000]So Fender are back to making Japcrap?![/color][/size]

10% of population are left handers, rising among musicians to 13% so chances are pretty slim (unless they're all related, but you're not posting from East Anglia so let's presume not) [size=4] [/size] [size=4]Interestingly, the group where there is a disproportionate number of lefties is in athletics.[/size] [size=4]Oh, and I think the answer is 1 in 2401, but my probability days are long behind me.[/size]

[quote name='miles'tone' timestamp='1421314319' post='2659635'] O Brother, Where Art Thou? [FULL] (soundtrack): [/quote] Hope to be doing Man of Constant Sorrow soon [size=4] [/size]

Added brilliantly to the feel and tension of the film: [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpqDW1XbGpU"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpqDW1XbGpU[/url]

[quote name='wateroftyne' timestamp='1421180434' post='2658200'] ...but so right! [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46ZPzgPTmho[/media] [/quote] Fabulous, and what a distinct sound!

[quote name='AndyTravis' timestamp='1421156483' post='2657722'] It's a pre owned black 5 string jazz, seemed cheap? Oh, gone...hmm [/quote] The listing had it as trans red - another mistake possibly [size=4] [/size]

Transparent red.....

A few years back I had a Cort GB75 made into a fretless and somebody on here very sensibly pointed out that I would get some horrible tones when stopping strings on the block inlays, so I had the board replaced. I would imagine the same problem happening with the sharkfin inlays too.

[quote name='Truckstop' timestamp='1420888491' post='2654545'] Ooh, Don't Stop Believin might work if we can somehow get past the piano intro. My brother suggested 'I wanna know what love is'. Cracking song, but might be a bit too ballad-y? Thanks for the suggestions, keep them coming in! Alex [/quote] Wouldn't worry too much about ending on a ballad - in my Dylan based covers band we often finish on I Shall Be Released - always goes down really well, including in regular pub gigs.

[quote name='Roger2611' timestamp='1420828527' post='2654031'] Where the mark up prices are made to look bad is when you look to trade something in and the dealer starts quoting "I only pay this much for a new one so can only offer you a quarter of that" Perfect example, I recently wanted out of my (totally mint) Hiwatt High Gain 100w head (current sale price between £900 and £1100) I wanted to trade for an Ampeg Pro 7 SVT (current sale price around £699) I was expecting to chuck £200 at the deal.....not a chance, PMT offered me £300 for the Hiwatt against an ex demo incomplete head, Richtone could only manage £200 against an ex demo, both shops quoting "it's what we can get them for and recent sale prices on Ebay" so exactly what mark up had they got in a £1000 head that only allows them to offer £250 as a trade in? Neither shop got my business, I sold the Hiwatt for £400.00 and brought a mint used, fight cased Pro 7 for £350.00, not been back to either shop since and now have no plans to, a big loser for PMT as I have spent close to £10.000 in there over the past five years (I know that because the guy inadvertently showed me my account screen!) [/quote] I must admit, even when I was on the other side of the counter I couldn't understand how other shops thought they could get away with earning full whack twice out of a trade-in deal - OK, a little margin on the traded in item to cover overheads, but if you don't think you can move it easily turn it down! I did take a couple of pieces that I wasn't too confident of shifting and made a good price on them, but both times the sellers were very keen to offload.

[quote name='Cameronj279' timestamp='1420806085' post='2653616'] A lot of people can't really afford to pay a premium on things though. There are lots of factors. I do however get the OPs point that the mark up is quite drastic at times. [/quote] Bit of a moot point this as we are talking about music gear that people don't actually need, but want. Therefore, if they can afford the £850 bass, say it has taken them a year to save for it they only need to carry on saving for another 3 months and then they can pay the premium, which then means that good music shops can continue to provide great service like the one that Grangur enjoyed.

Welcome! Hang around here for too long and we'll soon have you become a bass player who dabbles on guitar [size=4] [/size]

I gave up after just two years of running a small music shop (2004-2006) as even back then I was faced with the, at the time, fledgling internet sales boom and was having to work on 15% if I wanted to compete. Also, backing up what shops are finding with Thomann pricing, I could buy a Gibson Les Paul for £1400 trade when at the time they were available across the board for £1299.

[quote name='bertbass' timestamp='1420629022' post='2651416'] Isn't he related to Jack Plug? [/quote] Yeah, couple of old dogs - you can't teach 'em Neutriks....

There are some scary purists out there that do them super accurately and making it all a bit naff, but there's a lot of fun to be had with the Shadows/Ventures repertoire.

[quote name='neepheid' timestamp='1420499521' post='2650140'] In my opinion, people and companies should be given a bit of latitude in the time between Christmas and New Year. God knows I am doing hee haw and enjoying it. [/quote] This, especially as one of the days was Sunday!

[quote name='gapiro' timestamp='1420463290' post='2649557'] I was just wondering who Mike Leads was [/quote] He's that bloke who's really good at plugging stuff.....

Sold Russ some vinyl following his Wanted post - great to deal with!

Although I usually champion brands such as Cort as being exceptionally good value for money, I'd suggest in your situation going for a Squier Classic Vibe - main reasons being you get a lot of bass for your money and they are really easy to move on (compared to Cort, Aria, even Yamaha) if/when you feel you need a change or an upgrade. They should also be easy to come by - well stocked unlike some of the other brands. Then you have a decent bass and plenty left for lessons/ Mrs Badsign [size=4] [/size]

Two classic Freddie Green tracks made famous(ish) by John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers - Hideaway was Clapton's the Stumble Peter Green - here are the originals: [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54HwF8mVlaw"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54HwF8mVlaw[/url] [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JcF2zWhNdHA"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JcF2zWhNdHA[/url]

[quote name='karlfer' timestamp='1420057751' post='2645314'] On all our behalf's, nice work Pinball and thanks! [/quote] [quote name='Pinball' timestamp='1420058146' post='2645320'] Thanks and you all for contributing to something positive-Happy New Year all. [/quote] Yes great work Pinball - over the 100 now and a little catching up to do so thanks everyone!