Leaderboard

Ever since I was a young boy, I've played the silver ball From Soho down to Brighton, I must've played 'em all But I ain't seen nothin' like him in any amusement hall That deaf, dumb, and blind kid sure doesn’t understand the complexities of possible multiple visas or work permits when travelling and performing in Europe which some industry experts say will be expensive and potentially prohibitive - especially for musicians at the start of their careers.

Hmm, I need a buffing wheel. Dirty... Well, it’s been 20 years... And now I’m going to set the bugger up. bit of a klonk on the fingerboard at fret 1. Anyhow, it’s really well put together.

I'm waiting for a special edition 'Landlord Magnolia'. Repainted about twenty times in multiple shades of heavily chipped cream emulsion, complete with authentic brush strokes, cat hair and cigarette ash and a random assortment of screws in various sizes and shapes holding pieces of hardware on. Because: 1) The asking price doesn't reflect the actual cost of making them any more than a Louis Vuitton handbag price tag is justified in the cost of a bit of printed leather, some polyester lining, some chinese made faux gold hardware and about half an hour of labour. 2) The asking price doesn't reflect inflation. 3) They get to charge more for their mid-level instruments because they have turned their previous mid range instruments into halo models. The only justification for increasing the prices is because they want to and they are going to continue raising prices until they see a significant drop off in sales. And when that happens, it doesn't really matter because most of the brand-related interest will then focus on the mid level instruments where they'll be arguably making more money anyway because they're cheaper to produce. I think they don't care about a small number of people complaining about prices. If a small number of people DIDN'T complain, it would suggest they're not charging enough.

I never sit when practicing. All my serious playing (in front of an audience) is done standing up so that's how I practice.

It seems that Daltrey has become the person who is trying to put us down and stop us getting around. Given the lyrics of "Substitute", of course, geography wasn't really his thing. I don't want to see noted vocalists getting into questions of government they don't understand, for the same reason I don't want to watch senior politicians trying to dance. It's always clumsy, their timing always stinks, you always respect them less, and it's always a moment that haunts them forever.

Whilst him being shown to be an utter hypocrite is funny. It’s also distracting from the point, that this farce that’s been foisted on an already struggling creative industry, is anything but funny. It was dismissed in parliament two days ago. We can’t give up though, and need to keep campaigning - hopefully until this whole dark and utterly pointless project has been reversed - but at least until those working in the creative industry are able to carry on working unhindered across borders, as they have for the last twenty or more years.

I sit on the floor.

They’re factory built instruments made to a basic design that apart from a few tweaks hasn’t really changed in 30 years, which is why people are comparing prices (and used prices are still around the £800-1000 mark for a US model). I’ve recently had a 2020 special (it was returned as I really didn’t like the changes to the tone) and it was well made but it’s no boutique custom build. The side by side comparison is valid when you compare the current std colour black models - £1999 vs £2899. It’s not a Christmas discount - Andertons even had the aqua sparkle 5 HH at the same price months ago. It’s an identical bass (aside from hardware colour) at a 45% markup. The cold hard facts are no customisation options at all, no fretless or left hand (unless they’re not advertising them on their site and are available as a custom order, because I’ve not seen one in a shop for a long time) and a reduced set of (IMHO) not very nice colours for a massive price increase. I think that fits the description of mass produced, even if they are hand finished.

New strings on the Masterpiece for the first time in about a year... this thing roars!

As a point, the new rug irks me. but...I let her get the rug to soften the new Bass arrival...

Directing the band is a skill. I do a lot of deps and the gigs that go well are usually lead by a band leader who is good at communicating. I play with one guy who will change the song as he feels and it rarely goes wrong, because he is giving directions all the time. Never a dull moment. The shambolic gigs are usually those where the band leader is trying to direct the band by using a long stare and attempting thought transference.

Can I join please? After 14 years, I am back with Ibanez

True but I'm sure there will be a hell of a demand for live music, when this thing is over. People will be desperate to party like it's 1999. I know I will be.

There was a video of Daltrey shared by JOB on Twitter. He quite clearly has or had absolutely no idea whatsoever about how the modern creative arts industry works. He came across as a totally arrogant fool. I never liked his music anyway.

A new reissue of the non-reverse Thunderbird. Colours sound great, chrome hardware too! Not sure about the headstock logo. https://www.gearnews.com/namm-2021-gibson-official-line-up-revealed/

I love this thread - it's like a thousand thousand Hail Mary's for those of us who've ever felt a tad guilty about our Bass Acquisition Programme over the years... 😁 @Merton - that Status Groove was a quality bass! Wish I still had it (famous last words round here of course). Naturally, I blame @ped and @Kiwi for setting up this cloud based porn shop in the first place ... "I'd have never, ever purchased all that bass gear if it weren't for them, your Honour..." 😩😁 Back on topic, I can't remember all the basses I've had since I got my first Woolworth's special as a Xmas present when I was about 14... 🤔 ..But I'm guessing it's at least 10(0). 😉

He’s really handy - particularly if you love Japanese gear. Absolutely spot on guy. And it was packed well enough to survive a fall from an aeroplane. Heads up guys - he’s called Denis and he’s absolutely sound. https://reverb.com/shop/denniss-gear-bazaar-167?utm_source=rev-ios-app&utm_medium=ios-share&utm_campaign=shop&utm_content=929219

It’s top quality - like the Godlyke I sold to @bassfan (they’re deffo from the same factory - Deviser/Bacchus) playability is great too now the mange is off it... it’s had a life though - for sure. Swirly 🙄 One of the switches may need cleaning out as a bit intermittent. But it’s magic. May tweak the setup as I did it all in haste.

A long spell of rain can have a devastating effect on the farming part of the business. All the ink gets washed off the subsidy cheque. I’ll get my smock.

So what is Andyjr1515 up to now?? I will reveal tomorrow (assuming it's worked - or in a day or so if it hasn't ) And polished frets and rounded fret-ends:

The eagle has landed...

My wife may just want us to trade places... 😂

Rather than different hands, it's normally fingers up for sharp keys (1 finger= G, 2 fingers=D etc.), and fingers down for flat keys (1 finger=F, 2 fingers=Bb etc.). You don't see it as much anymore, but it's common with old school bandleaders. It's easier to see 4 fingers point up and know it's in E, than to mouth E and have half the band mishear and start in a different key.

That is very easy to say when you have visa-free access to the whole of the EU should you want to gig more than 50 miles away from your home.

Whenever Mrs Shaggy has a go at me about the number of basses cluttering up the house, I usually show her cetera’s list to show her there are bassists with a worse problem than me...... (I’ll now include Hellzero’s list) Mine; in roughly chronological order, so starting back in 1977, those still with me in bold: mid-‘60’s Kalamazoo KB1, black/white pg / rosewood (cost me all of £25, paired with home-built amp) Columbus Jazz bass copy, 3TSB/ tort / rosewood (urgh......) 1979 Ibanez MC900 Musician, natural stained ash / ebony (the only one on list bought new) bitsa fretless P, natural ash/maple (only bass for the next 16 or so years......) 1980’s Graham Crook custom neck- thru fretless, natural sapele / ebony 1980 MusicMan Sabre, natural alder/ black pg / maple 1977 Ovation Magnum 1 fretless, natural mahogany / ebony A couple of self-build bitsa P’s OLP MM5, natural quilt maple / maple 1973 Rickenbacker 4001 (Jetglo) 1990’s Listerud Totem 7-string, natural wenge / maple 1972 Fender P (modded P/J & fretless conversion, 3TSB/tort/ebony) 1978 Gibson RD Artist (modded passive, natural maple / maple) 1980’s Gordon Smith Galaxy bass (semi), cherry sunburst / rosewood 1990’s USA BC Rich Eagle NT Custom, tobacco sunburst / ebony 1997 Rickenbacker 4003 fretless, mapleglo 1980’s Steve Smith long-scale “EB-2” (semi), Cherry sunburst / rosewood 1978 Gibson RD Artist, Fireburst / ebony 1965 Fender Precision (L-series), 3TSB / tort / rosewood Paulman Custom 5 string, natural quilt maple, rosewood 1985 Wal Mk 1 Custom fretless, American walnut / ebony 1969 Gibson EB-2DC, cherry / rosewood 1976 Alembic Series 1 (long scale), birdseye maple, ebony 1975 Travis Bean TB2000, natural koa / alu neck 1965 Gibson Thunderbird IV, sunburst, rosewood 1972 Rickenbacker 4001, flameglo 1958 Gibson EB-2, tobaccoburst, rosewood Custom Warmoth Fenderbird, cocobolo, rosewood 1977 Kramer 650B, American black walnut / alu neck 2000 USA Fender Jazz ‘75 AVRI, natural ash / maple 1985 Gibson Explorer bass, Ferrari red / rosewood 1983 Wal Mk 1 Custom, wenge / rosewood (acquired in modded state and restored by Wal to original spec) 1966 Vox Wyman bass (made in England), tobaccoburst / rosewood 1957 Fender Precision, tobaccoburst / white pg/ maple 1982 Wal mk1 Custom, amber flame sycamore / rosewood 1979 CF Martin EB-18, natural maple / rosewood 1977 Kramer 450B fretless, American black walnut / alu neck 1981 Gibson RD Artist CMT, vintage sunburst / ebony Bitsa P (“Sid Vicious” tribute), Oly White / tort / maple 1998 Warwick FNA (MIG), amber flame maple / wenge 2001 Warwick LX Streamer Jazzman (MIG), French violet flame maple / wenge Two things apparent to me when making the list- 1. I’ve kept too many of them, and 2. how many basses I’ve traded with a certain Mr Chris Beedster (there were a few amps and acoustic guitars too....)

What’s low supply, the number of basses from EBBM (due to covid etc) or the materials used? Either way, all mass produced bass builders will have the same issue, so if we don’t see huge price increases across the board, I’d be quite interested to know what unique issue ebbm is facing that can justify this. And, all the while, keeping US prices reasonable.

Update on the pink bass. It’s all wired and has all hardware installed and is just awaiting the neck Jon

I sure hope so mate, And hopefully we still have talented support crews, and they haven't all been forced to permanently change careers in order to survive.

I posted this on Talkbass Well, I was gonna get a Special 4HH, thinking it would be roughly £2200 tops. Not getting one anymore at this actual price. They’ve lost me as a customer. Now, you could be like “who cares”, and think they’ll still have loads of customers to buy their instruments.... fact is: they won’t. It’s 2021, we’re in the middle of a freaking pandemic, and some of the most impacted people are musicians. What we love to do, which is playing music for audiences, cannot happen. Some of us (not me) do that for a living. There’s no job in that field at the moment. So, how can you justify a 43% price increase on an instrument which has NOT evolved since last year (except new colors)? What has changed in their building process and costs, to justify that increase? Consequently, how can you expect severely impacted musicians, who have no idea when live music (or even practice) will resume, to swallow up a 43% price increase when.... well it’s the same instruments as last year!!!! Again I don’t consider a new color as innovation. So yeah, they won’t have my money, but they won’t have a lot of people’s either, because it’s the worst time in years to be forking out 3 grand on an instrument. Again; had they been more reasonably priced, I would have made the effort probably. But I cannot accept the idea of spending 3 grand on a kind of mass-produced instrument that gives me ZERO customisable options. For the price of one Stingray, I can get two fully customised to my specs Maruszczyk basses. Not mass produced in Poland. Or even, a Valenti bass, with great advice from Nino himself, and options available to choose from. And that leaves me with another grand to go on a nice holiday when it’s doable to do so. Yes. I’m frigging annoyed at this policy of ramping up prices like mad. I know they’re not a charity and their aim is to make money. But not to that ridiculous extent.

Mmm, a tiny bottle of full fat milk that had sat in the sun for a couple of hours. How to turn someone off of milk for life, lesson one.

Not sure history is on your side: Women's Suffrage, Black Suffrage,...... School Meals?

So - Here's the last 2 years worth of them in alphabetical order! No Name 1 ACG 6 2 ACG 9 3 Aria FET Elite 4 Aria P-bass type 5 Aria Pro II Mad Axe 6 Aries Bajadera 6 7 Aries Senes 6 8 Aries Senes VS 6 9 Bee Bass 10 10 Bee Bass 5 11 Benson Strat Type 12 Chantry Dreadnaught 13 Conklin GrooveTools 8 14 Cort A6 - 1 15 Cort A6 - 2 16 Cort AD880CE BK 17 Cort Banjo 5 18 Cort Banjo 6 19 Cort C5H 20 Crafter Anniversary Cranes 21 Crafter Anniversary Dragon 22 Crafter Anniversary Moon Light - 1 23 Crafter Anniversary Moon Light - 2 24 Crafter Anniversary Peacock 25 Crafter Anniversary Pegesus 26 Crafter Anniversary Salmon 27 Crafter Anniversary Sunrise 28 Crafter Anniversary Twin Birds 29 Crafter Anniversary Windsurfer 30 Crafter BA400 EQ - 4 31 Crafter BA400EQ/N - 1 32 Crafter BA400EQ/N - 2 33 Crafter BA400EQ/N - 3 34 Crafter GAE-1 35 Crafter GAE15/N 36 Crafter GAE-8 37 Crafter GAE8/VLS-V 38 Crafter SJC-420EQ 39 Crafter TGAE06/N 40 De Gier Elevation 6 Aguilar 41 De Gier Elevation 6 Glockenlang 42 Dean Matt Heafy Razor 43 Dean Super Strat type 44 Eastcoast Acoustic Bass 45 Eastcoast Concert 46 Eastcoast Strat - Baby Blue 47 Eastcoast Strat - Natural 48 Eko Ranger 12 49 Encore Dreadnaught 50 Epherial Custom 8 51 Epiphone Black Beauty 52 Epiphone Dot Natural 53 Epiphone Dot Studio 54 Epiphone EL-00 Pro 55 Epiphone J200 Black 56 Epiphone J200 Natural 57 Epiphone J200 Natural - 2 58 Epiphone LP Black 59 Epiphone LP Blue 60 Epiphone LP Tobacco burst 61 Epiphone Thunderbird 62 Epiphone Thunderbird - 3 63 Epiphone Thunderbird Pro 64 Epiphone Wildkat 65 ESP LTD 6 66 Fender DC-5CENAT 67 Fender Highway 1 P 68 Fender Strat MIM Wine Red 69 Fender Telecaster Acoustisonic 70 Fender USA Jazz 5 71 Fender USA P 72 Fenix FAE-2 73 Fodera Type AJ6 (forget the luthiers name!) 74 G4M Dreadnaught 75 G4M Roundback 4 76 G4M Roundback 5 77 Gibson Explorer 78 Gibson Thunderbird 79 Godin A6 80 Gould LP Type 81 Gretsch Rancher 12 82 Harley Benton PRS Type 83 Harrier P-Bass 84 Hokada Dreadnaught 85 Hondo P-Bass 86 Hondo SG type 87 Ibanez 70's Hummingbird 88 Ibanez Acoustic Bass 4 89 Ibanez Acoustic Bass 5 90 Ibanez ANB306 91 Ibanez ART Custom LP 92 Ibanez Artcore semi hollow 93 Ibanez EWB205WNENT1201 94 Ibanez Roadstar 95 Ibanez Roadster 79 96 Ibanez SGGR 97 Jerzy Drozd 7 98 Keiper Jazz Bass 99 Keiper Roundback 100 Keiper Super Strat type 101 Lakestone custom 7 102 Martin 000 USA 103 Martin Concert MIM 104 Martin DCX1KE 105 Martin Smith Roundback 106 Megatar 14 string 107 Michael Kelly Fretless 5 Acoustic 108 MTD 246 Fretless 109 Noguera 8 110 Ovation Celebrity Deluxe 111 Overwater Progress 7 112 Overwater Progress III 7 113 Ozard Resonator Bass 114 Ozark Banjo 6 115 Ozark Resonator 116 Peavey Millennium AC BXP 117 Peavey Millennium BXP 118 Performer 4 Bass 119 PRS Custom 22 120 PRS Custom 24 121 PRS SE Custom 24 122 PRS Se EG 123 Rainsong Jumbo Carbon 124 Reiver 7 125 Revelation 335 type 126 Revelation LP P90 127 Revelation SG type 128 Rockwood P 129 Sandberg Panther Special 5 130 Sei Custom 6 131 Sei Headless 6 132 Shuker custom 6 133 Spector USA NS6XL 134 Squier Jazz 135 Squier Strat 136 Squire Mustang 137 Stagg Classical 138 Takemine C-128 139 Takemine EG52 140 Takemine G Series Acoustic 141 Tanglewood Baron 6 142 Tanglewood Crossroads 143 Tanglewood Parlour 144 Tanglewood TVC 12 N 145 Tokia Thunderbird 146 Tom Anderson Strat 147 Unbranded 12 string dreadnaught 148 Unbranded Blue dreadnaught 149 Unbranded Strat type 150 Unbranded Through Neck 4 151 USA Conklin 8 152 Vintage V300MH 153 Warrior 7 String 154 Warrior MD 6 155 Warwick Alien 6 156 Warwick Custom Shop fretless 157 Warwick LX 6 158 Warwick Rockbass 5 black 159 Warwick Rockbass 5 Red 160 Warwick Streamer 5 161 Warwick Streamer NT 6 162 Warwick Thumb BO 6 163 Warwick Thumb SC 6 164 Washburn EA180TB 165 Washburn HJ402 166 Washburn Les Paul 167 Washburn MG34 168 Wesley Acrylic 5 Bass 169 Wesley Acrylic LP type 170 Yamaha AP Acoustic 171 Yamaha APX-5-12A 172 Yamaha BB White 173 Yamaha BB1100s 174 Yamaha Classical 175 Yamaha JM6 176 Yamaha RG series guitar 177 Yamaha TRB1006J - Black 178 Yamaha TRB1006J - Natural 179 Yamaha TRB1006J - Orange 180 Yamaha TRB6 181 Yamaha TRBJP6