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Just to make you think about it, DPD is a branch of the French Post and DHL is a branch of the German Post... I don't think there is anything else to say.

I have a PC and it’s drives all named after fantasy swords. I have another PC and it’s drives named after ships from the Alien franchise. Three of my basses also have names (one of which is named after a fantasy sword…).

Most of my prejudices are perfectly rational to me, but maybe people think otherwise. Hans Peter Wilfer - A man who would claim he invented anything and everything regardless how obvious it was he didn't. However, nu-metal is over and nobody really plays Warwicks anymore. Unlucky. People who do the Darkglass/Dingwall combination just so they "can have everything just like Nolly!!" It sounds awful. Mark King fan boys. Moving from every era of bass he plays as he does, just so they can play Mr Pink with whatever bass and amp he's chosen to endorse for 3 months. People who do that weird slight bendy note thing whilst looking like they're having a hernia. Janek Gwizdala and Phil Mann are hilarious for this. Ashdown thinking they're amazing. All their main endorsees are either dead, retired or not far from either. Don't pretend you're forward looking when everyone who has an endorsed product is over 60. Manufacturers making sub 42mm nuts the norm. Just pack it in. Hofner basses. You know they're crap, we know they're crap. People who use tablets on stage for the music. Either practice more or prepare to be bottled. People who say the word "pocket" as regards playing. Seriously, just no. Influencer/Youtubers. Get in the bin. All of you. Scott Devine - Happy, plastic, Americanised optimism at it's finest. He should be a sales assistant at an Apple store. Obviously, my therapist says I'm "doing much better" with my misanthropy these days.

All my basses get female names but I generally keep quiet about it. Would never mention that in a sales ad for example. My guitarist friend also give his axes female names 🤭

1976 Aria Pro II Precise Bass I picked this up on eBay around 2007 for 180 quid – last year Jack's Instrument Services in Manchester did some work on the bass: new scratchplate, fret job, Delano pup, replaced old wiring and fitted a push-pull mod that makes it sound like a Wal (only joking) – it's a bass boost kind of thing, still passive. The neck is the chunky baseball bat style and it weighs around 8lbs with a super-low action, all in it's cost 600 quid and is the equal to any of the Fender I've owned from any period.

What I'm enjoying about this thread is learning how many gripes that I didn't even know that I had until someone else mentioned it 😄

That bass was looking nice until I saw the back of it - looks like a Ferengi ear. Can't unsee it...

This forum needs to upgrade the "Ignore User" function to a "Launch the Drones" function.

I'd be on the phone, get a name of who you are talking with, and send a follow up email, daily... Explain what YOU want to happen A replacement pickup sent, or do you want RTM to receive the guitar back?

Just leave it! The body won't mind...

With chocolate or without?

Maybe I'm in the minority, but my dealings with Bax have always been positive... The last things I bought from them - a Warwick Gnome Amp and Cab were both 'B' stock, but arrived boxed and in immaculate condition. Initially, all was good. However, after a couple of gigs, the DI on the amp developed a fault, meaning that the signal from the amp to the mixing desk sounded horribly distorted. As I bought the gear about a week before all the recent shenanigans, I was a little trepidatious when I got in touch with them about a returning it. I quickly received a free postage label and sent it back. I was told that the turnaround time was 11 weeks, which didn't really fill me with hope. However, I was kept informed all through the process and after just under four weeks, I received an email to say that a brand-new replacement was on the way which arrived promptly. So far, so good. I'd use them again.

My mistake.

Straight into S/C. DI's that aren't clean are just another FX unit and I already have those. I want a DI to just be able to drive any reasonable load, to any reasonable level with no signature.

Pork and Pickle by Way Hige which is basically a pork loin plus a fizz circuit. Really satisfying low gain drive with a nice character especially live with the band. Genzler 4 on the floor is another nice lower to mid gain with the added filters which really help sit the drive where you want it in your sound. You can open up the top end or tame it right down to just the right amount of bite and similarily with the low end keep it ‘tight and tidy’ by filtering where the lows get the drive. I’m using both on my board currently and they gain stage really well together too making a very versatile range of gain individually or in combination.

Playing at light speed a la Mohini Dey - Yes I can't do it but it doesn't sound musical in the slightest. Multi effects pedals Brightly coloured straps Sound of a fretted jazz bass when it is played by me.

Plug then fill.

Bought another book from Mick - as smooth as always.

Not really a prejudice, but I’ve never understood why anyone would wear a hat when someone else has taken the trouble to provide a perfectly good, weatherproof roof over their heads. Ungrateful, I call it 😂

Many thanks for all the helpful replies and comments…very much appreciated. The dealer in question is Rich Tone Music, located in Sheffield. Problem is, I live in Luton, so I can’t really turn up at their premises. Paid by debit card, so no protection there. I have phoned them, but was told someone would get back to me the same day. A local guitar tech has confirmed that it’s the pickup that’s faulty, but is reluctant to do any work because of warranty issues. I’m actually in my 70’s, reasonably poor health (completely my own fault due to a lifetime of pro bass playing!) and still working about four nights a week. Once again, very many thanks to all.

That looks good, SM. I keep wondering what the little round dents are supposed to be, or what happened to Flea's '61 from which these basses were copied?

My biggest gripe is primary coloured instruments - was it Fender himself who questioned who on earth would want to play a blue/red/green etc guitar? Someone high profile of the time did, anyway. I heard it recently on an episode of 5 Watt World. Instruments should either be black, white, or some kind of wood grain/natural finish - like classical instruments - if someone turned up with a metallic red trumpet you'd think they were a right clown... And headstocks should always match the body, no matter what. What's especially bad is when you have a primary colour instrument with a non-painted headstock, rosewood fretboard, and coloured pickguard. 🥲 Like this fella here... Four different colours going on and none of them really match, just tacky. No style, no consistency. it would look more acceptable with a matching blue headstock and a white pickguard. (but still wrong) /