BottomE

Yes, yes. Its the player not the gear. Took me years to realise this

I guess the analogy is the huge supermarket chains eating away at the specialist shops on the high street. Anyway i thank them for making this baby...

[quote name='Wolverinebass' timestamp='1357059430' post='1916949'] Interestingly, a mate of mine got a 2nd hand Cruise bass a few years ago. He flogged it making a not entirely substantial loss on it and got a MIM Jazz which I thought was although a bit less in theory was miles behind in terms of feel and how it played and sounded. He then went mad and bought 5 Danelectros all of which are mince. I thought the Cruise bass was brilliant. What a mug. Look at this. [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/170962227167?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649"]http://www.ebay.co.u...984.m1423.l2649[/url] It's just ridiculously nice and I wouldn't say stupidly pricey either. If I had the cash it'd be worth a punt. Yet, no more to come. Thank you for closing them down Fender. Go back to your mass produced, "we haven't changed anything about our design at a fundamental level for more than 50 years" tosh. It's just so wrong. [/quote] That does look nice. Love to have a play of that one.

[quote name='RhysP' timestamp='1357057381' post='1916892'] But doing that would do away with everything that made Hamer such superb instruments - they'd just become another range of fender mass produced questionable quality sh*t. [/quote] Exactomento my friend. Even a child can tell the difference in quality between my Fender Jazz Bass and my Hamer Cruise. The fit, finish and quality of the Hamer are leagues above the Fender. Its not even close.

Dunno about the guitars but the basses (US Cruise models from the early 90's in particular) are stunning. I am always shocked that they don't fetch more money. Feeling the love for the Hamers.

These debates always end up in a childish "I am right and everyone else is wrong" type mode. Pointless. Maybe you are all correct. Maybe not. My take is that i don't really care what substances people stick in themselves. Its up to them (if they are adults). The law is an ass and hypocritical when it comes to laws relating to illegal drugs if you compare them side by side with alcohol. From a musical perspective whats the problem? I just want someone who can do the job. If they aren't pissing anyone off and can play then great. I've known many great people who take drugs. I've known a lot of tossers who take drugs. People need to be more mature around this conversation.

Cool - no chance of seeing it as no Sky here but full power to you!

Its a taste thing innit. Not my taste but its up to the owner. I remember it was quite cool to relic a new pair of jeans. My mum tells me she used to sit in the bath with new jeans on to relic them. Wear and tear depends on a lot of variables. I have a 20 year old bass that looks new. I have a 4 year old bass that looks tired.

Wired! Just got in and done the last gig of three in a row. People were in a very festive mood tonight - almost scary. Great reception though and dished out loads of cards at the end of the night. Time to chill a bit. Merry Christmas Basschatting gigsters.

Thursday night was at the Chewton Glenn Hotel. Very posh place in the New Forest used by the celeb circle. Last night was at a very busy cocktail bar and we'll be playing there again tonight. JUGWATCH!

One of our regulars is a cross-dressing guy. He gets tackled up in a skirt, blouse and high heels and boogies like crazy. I am so used to him that it doesn't seem odd any more. Another guy we have is "Acid Jeff" - completely whacky dance moves and always off his head. And finally i give you the fan that we have called "Prog Rock" who regails us with tails of prog bands he saw in the seventies.

[quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1355939913' post='1904852'] I find I am ignoring threads more and more..... but the flip side of that is you can let things go more easily.... and don't bite or care so much. It is what it is... [/quote] ^ this + Merry Christmas

[quote name='Dingus' timestamp='1355165878' post='1894930'] Down Down has to be one of the greatest singles of all time by a British band . People think of Status Quo as a bit of an institution and a bit of joke nowadays , and have done for a long time , but around the mid to late seventies they were a massive cult band in Britain . They were the choice band of kids from council estates wearing Doc Martens and denim jackets with hair past their collar and ready for a ruck at the school disco . Yobbos had better taste in music back then , I suppose . Who could be cooler than Status Quo ? I'm off down the off licence to get 10 Embassy Regal and a bottle of cider so I can enjoy this properly . [/quote] see where you are coming from. I remember those days though we were strictly 10 Number 6 and a bottle of cider. Thing is, we were obviously under age but the woman in the offy used to give us a conspirational wink and always sold us whatever we wanted.

[quote name='bubinga5' timestamp='1354840632' post='1891249'] who says youtube vids are bad? [/quote] Nice one Bubs. Great sounding bass. If i was being fussy i would say that .......only joking

Well done. Where was it? At the Arts Centre?

Well done.

Head west along the coast for about 40 miles...

[quote name='oldslapper' timestamp='1353607536' post='1876580'] Well, as a result of playing Tommys Stingray at the bash, I'm a Ray convert. The next day I bought a Ray 5 string fretless. Pretty bass that ... [/quote]

Lovely pics Captain Rumble

Some more terrible quality pics

It truly was a great event. Thanks so much to the organisers - slapper and yorkie. What struck me apart from all the lovely gear was what thoroughly nice people you all are and how easy it was to schmooz around the room and try out bits and pieces. I got some pics that i'll load up when i get a minute. Thank you all. Jerry

[quote name='oldslapper' timestamp='1353176860' post='1872488'] Aaaargh Shrewton, the "Helmand Province of Wiltshire". Tough it out guys, and see you Sunday Jon! [/quote] Funny cos i go through Shrewton a lot and rarely see any sign of life. Gigging tonight in Bournemouth on a late one and then got signed off by Mrs BottomE for tomorrows BassBash