thebrig

KingBollock, looks like you are spot on! I sent them a message asking, [i]"are you sure?"[/i] Reply: [i][size=4][font=Arial, sans-serif]"Hi there, thanks for the msg and really sorry about the confusion. We've had some stock problem and will adjust the price back to normal as soon as it's resolved. Many thanks and have a nice evening!"[/font][/size][/i]

You could well be right, but the ad does say: More than [u]10 available[/u]/[color=#0000ff]40 sold[/color]

[url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/New-4-String-Electric-Bass-Guitar-Package-15W-Amplifier-/230411529524?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item35a598ed34#ht_3570wt_952"]http://www.ebay.co.u...4#ht_3570wt_952[/url] Mind you, they are throwing in a 15W amp into the bargain, and [b][font=Times New Roman][size=4][color=#ff0000]The price has included VAT and there is [/color][/size][/font][font=Times New Roman][size=4][color=#000080]NO[/color][/size][/font][font=Times New Roman][size=4][color=#ff0000] extra hidden charge!!![/color][/size][/font][/b]

Just not the same without Terry Wogan's brilliant sarcasm!

Y[quote name='neepheid' timestamp='1337952570' post='1667960'] I think you're missing a link... [/quote] Yes, let us see the bass in question!

Great responses so far, which help me understand why people want such instruments. I am old enough to remember having the the '[i][b]Bells of Surbiton[/b][/i]' catalogues in my teens, that listed all these old classics, which included 'Fenders' for around [b][i]60/70 guineas[/i][/b], 'Gibson Les Pauls' for about [b][i]60 guineas[/i][/b], and I think it must be a Beatles thing, but I can definitely remember the Hofner Violin bass was [i][b]55 guineas[/b][/i]. Then there were the cheaper 'Watkins' range of 'Rapier' guitars which sold for about [b][i]15/20 guineas[/i][/b] (I think), along with the 'Copycat' echo. If only I knew then, what I know now!

Whilst I appreciate the 'nostalgia' thing, surely a guitar/bass made 50+ years ago, can't be better than modern guitars/basses that are hand-crafted by the top luthiers of today for a fraction of the price. So why do people want to spend so much money on a bass that will probably have dodgy electrics, worn frets, cracked/chipped and 'dodgy' paintwork, neck/truss rod problems, corroded hardware...etc...etc...? Of course, I am only winding you up, but surely if a these old classics are that great, why can they not be reproduced to the exact specs, and therefore sound and play just as good? I know Fender produce models based on so-called 62's, 63's and so on, but are they as good, and if so, do they not satisfy the craving for that classic sound and vibe, or is it just the 'original' thing that is all important? I really am intrigued (but don't understand) by this obsession with vintage instruments. I am ready to be slaughtered on this!

[quote name='KiOgon' timestamp='1337760271' post='1664899'] That'll be fine for me then [/quote] I might just stand it in the corner at 'The Dog & Duck' as a back-up to my Sue Ryder!

[quote name='KiOgon' timestamp='1337715332' post='1664502'] That is seriously the best looking bass I have ever seen underpriced? Where are you ever EVER going to find another like that? If I won a million or so on the Lotto I'd buy that in a flash & play it [/quote] It might play and sound rubbish!

[quote name='BRANCINI' timestamp='1337704099' post='1664293'] like this ? [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5topYmtUxlA[/media] If you look for it, theres some good Japanese Feelgood tributes on ebay - and some awful ones. [/quote] Cheers, I've just sent it to my guitarist!

[quote name='RichardH' timestamp='1337684494' post='1663850'] What a bugger you're a bass player too, as I've been saying the same thing to our guitarist/harp player. AND I'm in Herts. Mind you. sounds like you're getting there by slipping some in to your sets. [/quote] I advertised for a Dr Feelgood 'type' band on 'Joinmyband', in the Herts/Beds/BucksEssex areas, and managed to get together with quite a few musicians who all said they like Feelgood, but after a while they started suggesting totally different material to what I set out to do. We do three or four with the guys I'm with now, and I have a great ally in our lead guitarist as he is a huge fan of Dr Feelgood, and he's been dropping more hints by belting out the '[i]All throught The City[/i]' riff at rehearsals, so maybe we will be doing that as well soon. He's also into the 'Count Bishops' who were quite well known around the London area at the same time as Feelgood, there material falls into a similar catagory, so we have a few of their songs included in our set too, so we are starting to build up a set that is a bit different to what a lot of 'covers' bands do. The drummer is the main stumbling block (lovely bloke mind), who really likes all the old classics, but he is slightly outnumbered, so maybe he will come round to our way of thinking one day.

I actually emailed the seller with just a couple of hours left on the auction, asking him to point out to the bidder that the neck was badly aligned, but he did not get back to me, and the buyer has now shelled out £150 on a bass that is next to useless. I know most people on here are knowledgeable, and would recognise the problem straight away, but with a lot of the "budget" type basses/guitars, they are often bought as presents by unsuspecting parents for their children.

It will be interesting to see what sort of feedback the buyer leaves, once he receives the bass.

I think that it depends on what type of band you are in, to really make a decision on all this. I'm in a five-piece band and we only do pubs and small clubs, probably about once a month (for fun & peanuts), so we would never need a full/powerful/large PA system. In most of the poky venues round my way, we would probably struggle to fit everything in if we did, so a smaller PA is a better option for us. We have a couple of open-air gigs lined up in the summer, but the venues will be supplying the PA, and if they didn't, then providing we were being paid enough, we would hire one for that particular gig. We have all spent around £3,000/4,000 each on gear, so it seems reasonable for the singer to shell out less than £1.000 on a PA, as we will never need to go through it in a small pub/club. Lights and other effects would obviously be split by the whole band. If we were a function band demanding upwards of £1,000 per gig, and playing large venues on a regular basis, then the shared option would be the route to take. But because all us BC's have different needs, it is hard to come up with a solution. As for the OP, quite simple, the duo buy their own PA!

I started playing about six years ago at the very young age of 54, six months later some of the players at the football club where I was the 'physio', had played in bands in before, and wanted to play about six songs at an end-of-season presentation, and as they needed someone to play bass, they asked me. I told them I'm rubbish! but agreed reluctantly, and then frantically searched for tabs and played the songs over and over again relentlessly. When the night arrived, I was shaking like a leaf, I played quietly as I was frightened of making mistakes, but I suppose I must have done reasonably well, as we all became a band from that night on. It took a while to feel confident playing with them, but I went on to play many gigs with them, and I could tell that I was improving all the time. I have now formed a new band with some excellent musicians, and I don't feel overawed by them at all. I have no knowledge of theory, and can't read music either, but nowadays, I can learn most bass lines quite quickly, just by listening to the song. At the beginning, I used to play safe and stick mainly to the root notes, but now I can play most songs note for note, but quite often, I play my own interpretation on some songs, as I feel that I am putting my individual touch to the song. I will never be the greatest bass player around, but I must be decent enough, otherwise I think that I would have been shown the door by now. In short, what I am trying to say is, "[i][b]go for it, you will improve without doubt by playing with other musicians, there are are loads of people on 'Joinmyband' in the same boat, some will be slightly better, some slightly worse, but you will definitely benefit from getting together with them".[/b][/i] Just put an ad on there asking for people to jam with, stating that you are inexperienced, but wish to improve, and maybe try the odd open mic night with them to see how it goes. And as for your age, for most bands it really wont be an issue, especially if they are mainly doing covers. Anyway, a big hug from me , good luck, and let us know what you decide to do.

[quote name='spongebob' timestamp='1337522536' post='1661291'] Just joined an upbeat r'n'b trio to compliment my originals band. It's all Dr. Feelgood type-stuff, regular mix of r'n'b and rock 'n' roll. A couple of times, we've gone through 'She Does It Right'. Great song. I've been playing it really simple, keeping it as hard-edged as possible. At the last rehearsal, the guitarist said that on the record, the bass part contains some chords! I've had to go through the song on Youtube, etc, so the bass frequency isn't that great....so I can't really make out what's going on. Anybody played this one before? How did you play it? Any tips on this so I can nail it before next rehearsal? [/quote] You lucky man! must be great fun playing in a lively and energetic band like that. I've been trying to put a '[i]Feelgood[/i]' type band together for years, but just can't find enough interested musicians, although in my present band, our main guitarist loves Dr Feelgood and has all the '[i]Wilko[/i]' riffs off to a tee, our singer has nailed the vocals, and the other guitarist plays some mean harp! We do three '[i]Feegood[/i]' songs, and the punters love them, even if they are not familiar with them, trouble is, our drummer prefers a lot of the old classics. We only play pubs and some open-air events in the summer, and I feel that the punters are getting a bit bored with all the usual covers that most bands play up and down the country, seven nights a week. Just my opinion, of course!

If you all chip in for the PA, and then you pay back anyone who leaves, what happens when you audition a replacement, do you say, nice one mate, you've got the gig, all we need now is £??? towards the band's PA? Just wondering, as this was suggested in my previous band.

I still think it makes sense for the singer (if that's what he does, and doesn't play an instrument), should supply the full PA. As an example, in my previous band, the vocalist would turn up with his £95 mic in his pocket, after we had spent a couple of hours setting everything up, literally five minutes before our sound check, then once the gig was finished, he was home indoors while the rest of us were busy for the next hour or so, packing up more than £10,000 worth of gear. Obviously, things like lighting and effects should be split between the whole band, but for me, the PA is the vocalist's tools for the job, because if he did a solo gig, he would have to have his own PA then. And like I mentioned earlier, in my new band, we took on a new vocalist who went straight out and purchased a full PA, as he thought it was only right, as he will be the main user of it, and because he did not have to lay out anything on rigs and gear, like the rest of us have to.

In my band, my equipment exceeds £3,000, both guitarists about the same each, and the drummer has a £4,000 kit. So when our new vocalist joined the band, he went out and bought a full PA, as he thinks it is only fair that he should contribute a bit more than around £100 on a mic. It would be different if he played an instrument as well, then we would all chip in, but as he only sings, I think this is fair.

[quote name='Grand Wazoo' timestamp='1337374700' post='1659143'] THIS! [url="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bass-Aerobics-One-Exercise-Per-Week-Developing-Maintaining/dp/1423495632"]http://www.amazon.co...g/dp/1423495632[/url] [/quote]Sounds just the job, are there tabs included in the book? as I'm not a reader.

My main bass is an Ibanez SR1200, and it has an unbelievably fast neck, and it's been set up by a very good luthier, so the bass is fine, I'm afraid it's me that's the problem. My left-hand speed is fine, but because I cannot use the thumb on my right-hand, I have to rely on just my two fingers for picking with my thumb literally just floating in mid-air, and I'm finding it difficult to get the speed required for some of the rock numbers we play.

Thanks for the tips so far BassChatters, all sound advice, and much appreciated.

Some of you may recall that I had a thumb joint replacement last October, unfortunately it has failed, and now needs to be taken out. I mostly play finger style and have adapted to just resting my palm on the body of the bass, and use my two fingers to play, which is fine for most numbers, but as my speed isn't great, I tend to use a pick for the faster numbers. But after I have the artificial joint taken out, I wont be able to hold a pick properly for quite some time, so I will now have to play the faster songs with my fingers. I find that I am ok for a while, but then I find it hard to keep the pace going without it becoming painful, I don't think this is anything to do with my thumb problem, but just my poor speed/technique. As my new band have a few gigs coming up soon, I really do need to work on finger speed, so any advice/tips on the type of exercises I should be doing, would be very much appreciated.

Not so long ago, [b]£1,100[/b] came my way via [i][b]Her Majesties Inland Robbers[/b][/i], and I wasn't sure whether to spend it all on a nice [b]Ibanez SR1200[/b] which I had gassed for, for quite some time, or come clean and tell the missus. Luckily I found one on eBay which was just two weeks old, in mint condition with an original [b]Ibanez hard-case[/b] for just [b]£500[/b]. Problem solved, Mrs Brig got a few pairs of shoes, I got the bass I wanted, and we had a few meals out. Two happy bunnies, and no guilty conscience!