Mykesbass

Son of a Preacher Man - Tommy Cogbill/Dusty Springfield

Another satified cable customer - thanks Dave. Mike

[quote name='Chris2112' post='1084624' date='Jan 10 2011, 06:50 PM']He's a relic of the 90's, how strange that he doesn't just retire![/quote] Wow, that's just made me feel VERY old

The website lists Wood & Tronics as a user, may be worth asking Mark at Bass Direct about them - he's been getting some glowing praise for customer service on here.

[quote name='martindupras' post='1081003' date='Jan 7 2011, 01:09 PM']Well yes and no. If a 12 year old asks for an electric guitar for Christmas, the parents are going to look for the cheapest thing, and they will go to a shop and expect to be shown the merchandise, given expert advice and still get the lowest price. It is ultimately up to the retailer whether they will price match anyone. They don't have to, and personally I think that the ones that offer personalised service and aftersales care are in the win for perceived value. No one is able to undercut the competition by 20% on brand new items (excluding demos and clearance stock.) More generally the variation in price between retailers is in the order of less than 5% which is really marginal. When you factor in shipping the hassle of returns, the shop doesn't seem such bad value. One last thing: I own a lot of guitars and several basses. That's a lot of strings, but since I don't play them all at once I don't change them often so I tend to buy 10-12 packs of guitar strings at a time and 4-5 packs of bass strings, maybe once every 15 months. I would very very very happily buy these at full price at any of my local stores if only so my money goes to them and not online retailers. Guess what? No one stocks Ernie Ball Blue Steels 11-54 or Warwick Black Label 45-135 sets within driving distance from Bristol. I'm not however prepared to go to the store once to place an order and pay a deposit, then come back again at some undetermined date in the future to collect them and pay for the balance. Not when I can order online cheaper and faster. In other words: I would like to give £250 a year worth of business to any of my local stores, but there is zero incentive for me to do so. - martin[/quote] I had a small music shop a couple of years ago, just as the internet was starting to bite. The previous owner used to come in to pick up repairs once a week - he couldn't believe how quickly things were changing. First point - I don't think a lot of the parents of a 12 year olds do go to the local music shop. They go online or pick something up in Argos or Wilkinsons unless they have had some friendly input from a teacher or friend who knows a bit about music. Second point, RRP mark up on most main lines is around 35% - enough to make a comfortable (but not stinking rich) living for an independent shop once all overheads are taken into account. I was getting asked to price match to a point where the mark up would have been 15% - bang on your 20% difference. Thirdly, yes, they are very, very daft - OK, I stocked neither of those but would have bent over backwards to sort them out for you just like I did for my one seven string guitarist and for one guy who had gauges - i.e. heavy top and light bottom strings that no manufacturer made as sets. I think the car dealership is a bit different as they are working on some very strange schemes with the manufacturer so may only seem like they are working on a couple of hundred quid mark up on a £40,000 car.

[quote name='Johnston' post='1080817' date='Jan 7 2011, 10:43 AM']The stock issue was one thing I brought up on the business course we done. Now it's all Govt' funded, run and I presume all is taught to a set of guidelines set down so that each agency countrywide teaches the same thing. One thing we were told was to keep stock as low as possible. For financial reasons, stock control and to lower overheads. with the appearance of 24hr next day delivery the say there is no point in having a lot of stock. Just order it as it's needed. Now if this is a business model being pushed countrywide to anyone looking advice to set up or to help recover a failing business is it any wonder the country is going tits up. I could get A squier CV not only cheaper, Last I checked it was around £250 free P&P verses £330 but quicker from Thomanns in Germany 6weeks lead time locally verses 3 days. Too me it's backwards, if you walk into a half empty shop you'll likely think things aren't going to good and of course wonder why. Then notions of bad service or indeed maybe no aftercare if things are going bad. who would use a hop that you can't guarantee is going to keep the strings you want, the first time they run out you'll likely use something else. If you order online and hit 24hr delivery but it takes them 24hr to get it to then send to you would you be happy and use them again? People are used to using Asda and Tescos and getting their whole shop in one place and it being there ready to lift, even the groceries you can get everything with a click online with no waiting for the bottle of Smirnoff whilst they order it in. and IMO it's going to be a "want" that filters down into everything.[/quote] I think you've hit at least one nail on the head here; people have become used to convenience and low prices courtesy of supermarkets, major DIY and electronic chains and the internet (I know, I love Amazon), however, there are certain things that really should have more expertise behind the selling of them - musical instruments being a prime example, and here the business plan doesn't work as people are not prepared to pay for that expertise. I'm sure most of the retailers on here are used to doing the whole pitch, demonstration and try out only to be faced with a print out from one of the box shifters and a request to match the price.

[quote name='bubinga5' post='1080593' date='Jan 6 2011, 11:37 PM']My particular favorite is Maze...[/quote] Now that's why we needed you! "Joy........"

[quote name='molan' post='1080175' date='Jan 6 2011, 05:41 PM']Ask BB5 to screen dump the list of albums on his Ipod - that should give you a good idea of what to look out for [/quote] "You've really opened a big fat can of worms..Bubinga..ATTACK!! laugh.gif laugh.gif" Where is he??

You can imagine some of the elements of his work filtering through into the mainstream - the finish of the one with the Bokote fingerboard for example. Also the grain in some of the necks are stunning. Got to agree with Silldx here, it's the Princess Isabella guitar which has the real wow factor.

Perhaps we should have a special thread for good service - I'd quickly add Status - ordered some strings during the Christmas closedown and got an error message as well as a confirmation email. Rang them on Tuesday and they had it sorted in minutes. E mailed later to confirm strings had been posted. (sorry if this is a bit of a hijack).

[quote name='silddx' post='1078942' date='Jan 5 2011, 06:30 PM']But, it's a bloody good advert, professional. What do you want, a piece of torn off paper with handwritten scrawl on it like one I saw in my rehearsal studio claiming to be from a touring pro band??[/quote] Just goes to show how different opinions can be. Having been one of the naysayers of this ad I still stand by mine, which is that the original ad had more than the faintest whiff of BS, and yes, fair play to the band being out there and doing there thing but using the lawyers and management angle imo was just a ruse to make themselves look more credible, and once again, to me, it failed. The original criticisms were all quite mild, esp by intenet standards! Furthemore, it is illegal to age discriminate. All those that are defending this, what will you defend next - racism as your skin colour doesn't fit the all so important image? Finally, the band have benefited from "there's no such thing as bad publicity" as a couple of days later this, again my opinion, far better written ad has yet to have a reply: [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=115251"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=115251[/url]

If you get a gig in Sussex let me know - liked what I heard on your Myspace. Hope you've got the privte jet chartered for Canterbury - Edinburgh and Hull - Weston Super Mare! Have a great tour.

[quote name='BurritoBass' post='1077107' date='Jan 4 2011, 10:42 AM']I agree it is annoying when live stock updates are incorrect. I had this with Guitar Village and Soundsdirect so certainly not exclusive to GAK. It's also proof that phoning ahead first is essential when buying online. Pleased you were able to find one [/quote] I had the same problem with Soundsdirect - they seem to list EVRYTHING! They had a Yamaha cab that I knew had been obsolete for over a year, saved it to bookmarks so that when I had the spare cash I could get it, put the order in and surprise, surprise, email the next day "sorry, this item is currently unavailable from the manufacturer". What annoys me as an ex retailer is that if these people are not going to stock the stuff (other posts on here asking where you can try certain bass gear as opposed to the shop being able to order it in) the distributors may as well start selling direct and we could all save one level of mark-up. Not so sure Johnston about the legality of it but it certainly goes against all the dealership contracts that retailers have to sign up to IIRC.

That's a horrible blow and you have my sympathy. I'm going to be a bit radical here and suggest taking up a completely different hobby - i.e. photography. Never going to replace the music but would partially fill the gap and give you something else to gas about! Lovely bass BTW, hope it gose quickly and at a good price for you.

I'd be tempted to take the Ashdown, especially if there aren't even mic's. If nothing else, it shows you're making the effort to fit in. As for the muso's in the audience, you're the one with the gig that night Enjoy it, play well and report back!

Sold mine just before Christmas for £550 - it was the one with the extra pick-up. I know Clarky sold his the week before as well. Cheers, Mike

Had flats on my VMJ but got a set of halfwounds for when my new fingerboard comes back for my Cort, but then I'm looking for a compromise, less finger noise but a little more oomph when needed. Will have to hold fire on voting until then!

[quote name='Delberthot' post='1073264' date='Dec 30 2010, 11:14 PM'][url="http://everythingelse.shop.ebay.co.uk/Other-/88433/i.html"]Right, so what were you really looking for then?[/url] [/quote] I think I looked at 'speaker box' hoping to find some empty cabs! Never tried your suggestion - looks like it may reveal more about you than you intended Thanks for the info on the Vox, Im waiting to get a couple of dealers to appraise this one.

Went all the way to Seahouses from Gateshead on a night off on tour with two fish & chip mad Texans! The receptionist at the hotel reccomended going and when we got there we saw why! Have a great gig!

[quote name='EssentialTension' post='1072516' date='Dec 30 2010, 10:19 AM']Jack, you forgot to mention: 'I will try and answer any questions in as much detail as possible'.[/quote] Like "where did you research £1,500 for a Yamaha SG3000?" for starters!!

Well this is getting more interesting than I thought! I've now taken some more pictures in daylight (or what passes for daylight with today's drizzle and fog) and uploaded them to photobucket. Hopefully included any details which might lead to a definitive identification: [url="http://s1137.photobucket.com/albums/n512/Mykesbass/#!cpZZ1QQtppZZ20"]http://s1137.photobucket.com/albums/n512/M...;cpZZ1QQtppZZ20[/url] Thanks for all your help so far, Mike

[quote name='umph' post='1071383' date='Dec 28 2010, 11:40 PM']looks like an older matamp[/quote] Blimey, now that would be a turn up for the books!

[quote name='Mr. Foxen' post='1071308' date='Dec 28 2010, 09:59 PM']I'd ask about on a vintage amps forum, some of them love Goodmans speakers, but might be only certain ones.[/quote] Yes, will do when I've got some daylight to take better pictures - trouble is, their seem to be a lot of variants all using the same name. Seems like the Shadows crowd love them. Will see what I can find out.

Bump for new info and request for help.

[quote name='Grand Wazoo' post='1070914' date='Dec 28 2010, 01:04 PM']The Squier CV 60's Precision in Fiesta Red is a classic that in the years to come will be REALLY big. Galaxies better than a VM[/quote] Got to agree with this - and I own a VM (I needed a reasonably priced fretless). When I tried it I also tried a whole host of CV's and VMJ's in GAK and, although the VM's are very, very good for the money, the CV's are simply very, very good. As GW says, get out there and try some.