LukeFRC

[quote name='icastle' timestamp='1360510101' post='1971421'] I think it's about proportion. If I went off to a car boot sale and picked up a pre CBS Fender Jazz Bass for £20, cleaned it up, stuck a new set of string on it and then flogged it on here for £400 would there still be a complaint because I'm making 20x what I paid for it? As long as a price is fair (and that will undoubtedly be assessed by potential buyers) then I don't really see a huge problem. If it's not fair then it just wont sell - that's how sales work. [/quote] I would not complain at all, thank you. do you want to do paypal or bank transfer? [quote name='Dingus' timestamp='1360510567' post='1971432'] I have never bought or sold a bass on Basschat , but back in the days when I had less money than I do now I bought and sold loads of used basses , mainly out of neccessity . Some I broke even on , some I lost money on , some I made a modest profit on . The crucial thing is to be[u] honest [/u]with people and let them make their mind up made up based on truthful and accurate information about what you are selling .Things have a market value , and if someone sells a bass under the market value because they need or want to realise the cash value of their asset ( i.e the bass ) quickly then it is not neccesarilly unscrupulous or immoral for the person who has bought the bass cheaply to try and get the full market value of the bass . I agree wholeheartedly that , I would sincerely hope at least , the spirit of Basschat is one of genuine enthusiasts who want to go out of their way to be fair and helpful to each other - that is certainly the way I would want to conduct any business of my own on here - but ultimately if people think a seller is being exploitative then , as others have said , no one is forcing anyone to buy from them . [/quote] good answer there Dingus [quote name='Musky' timestamp='1360513923' post='1971514'] Good to hear. I was about to say I thought this is exactly what the Affiliates forum was for. If someone is one here to trade then that should be made absolutely clear. AFAIK dealers have to declare themselves when selling secondhand cars (and for all I know other products) and there are laws that apply to dealers that don't to private sellers. If someone whats to deal on these boards they should be posting in the appropriate section. [/quote] there are some folk on here who have a higher turnover of basses than many dealers! [quote name='Johngh' timestamp='1360586280' post='1972655'] The only time I think it's acceptable to sell a bass on for more that a member paid for it is if new strings have been added or if a bass has been bought and then had some luthier work done on it to make it straight. In other words if a buyer has had considerable expense in getting a bass straight. Even then there is a market value. Just my opinion. Some of the basses I have bought on here at some time or another end up with Jon Shuker for a good set up and fret dress to get them spot on. Also, the last bass I bought on here was delivered to me with no strings on it at all, and were talking a high level bass. When i opened the case I thought the seller had taken them off for transportation and they were in the compartment in the case....nope, nothing there. The word gobsmacked come's to mind. There has been a few sellers on here who seem to buy basses from ebay for example and then try to sell them on here for a profit. They are being watched. While it is not against forum rules, there must come a time when when if someone does it once too often they have a danger of being classed as a trader, or an amateur one at that. If it becomes too regular with any one individual, we will look into it. [/quote] I picked up my Warwick from someone 5-6 years ago when the prices were low. He was emigrating to america in a week and needed shot of it. It didn't cost much. I spent over the years some money on a fret dress and some on different pickups but you are going to add maybe £100 of work to the price I paid for it. Are you saying if I sold this bass, A brilliant 1991 Streamer Stage One, I would be selling it for what I paid then plus £100? Because that would make it cheaper than some secondhand mexican fenders! (and no Warwickhunt you can't have it - it's a hypothetical example!) I get what you're saying but I don't think it's that simple - like when I see folk offer a bass and tell me they have spent silly amounts on set up and that makes up 20% of the price that's equally mad as I can set up a bass myself - just because you've spent £80 on a set up doens't mean the bass is necessarily worth more - if the bass IS worth more then I would prefer it was just sold at what it was worth as- I mean how do you work it out, I found a beaten up Peavey T40 a few years back at a very low price - kept it 6 months and spent ages stripping it down and doing it up, replacing the broken parts etc. How should I have added the bill for my time onto the price? In the end I sold it for market value.

[quote name='wateroftyne' timestamp='1360540592' post='1972187'] Ha ha - I found a crappy video of it... [url="http://www.facebook.com/video/embed?video_id=501373121321"]http://www.facebook....id=501373121321[/url] [/quote] the guy on the video... walks towards the camera and covers his face.... Dave Grohl?

[quote name='lettsguitars' timestamp='1360576258' post='1972406'] There's nothing worse than a band who's 'guitarists' can only play a few power chords. Very limited. [/quote] wasn't that part of point of punk? [quote name='lettsguitars' timestamp='1360576258' post='1972406'] Sorry if I seem to be a bit of a fascist. But I am [/quote] one for a t shirt there.....

you know basschat twenty years ago, there were folk saying the same thing. Everything is derivative of something- but that's not the end of the world. I also find it odd the amount of people who were into all these cool genre defining bands back in the day - when record sales suggest that the 60's and 70's were full of middle of the road crap as much as any other period.

[quote name='karlfer' timestamp='1360571949' post='1972326'] Sorry Luke, you are missing the point, which is very unusual for you. They advertise price match. They advertised the bass was in stock. They still advertise price match. They still advertise the bass is in stock. In fact none of the adverts have changed, it just seemed that the only time they didn't have that bass in stock was when I asked about price match. It doesn't matter what field and wether big or small retailer, there are advertising codes. If you have no intention of doing something, do not advertise to the contrary. If you advertise to the contrary, you may have to at least take some criticism. Karl. [/quote] Good point.

and... innovation of music yes. innovation of how a band works yes (see myspace,DIY, in rainbows etc) innovation of bass guitar playing... I'm not holding my breath. I would ask BigRedX - where would you see inovation coming from? New techniques, or changes to the instrument somehow?

Dizzee Rascel /Wiley - or whever came up with grime.... hip hop meets faster pop beats and suddenly London has it's first genuine urban music style- the speed of which US pop acts picked it up shows you how influential it has been.

So you have this party, and invite all your friends.... and spend more time than anyone else in the room being unable to talk to them???? balls to that - if it were me, book a band you would want to hear and dance to - and then enjoy the day with your wife!

[quote name='Bassman Sam' timestamp='1360538036' post='1972133'] Fixed. [/quote] - I didn't like anything he played there! odd way to play. Maybe in his band it makes sense

So locking tuners lock the string? I always presumed you tuned up and then it locked the tuner post so it didn't move at all....

[quote name='Roland Rock' timestamp='1360536109' post='1972088'] I know what you mean, and I actually detest a hard sale approach. In this case, I tried to get chatting, telling him I was down in London for the weekend, had heard good things about The Gallery, how old is that bass etc. Nothing but the bare minimum of a reply, and in one instance I was just ignored (when I said goodbye) [/quote] It's London, no one likes anyone. If you wanted banter you should have gone north of Nottingham!

[quote name='lettsguitars' timestamp='1360534202' post='1972055'] There is that. There's nothing more annoying than overkeen shop assistants. A lot of folk just like to be left to it. The gallery's been there a long time and must be doing something right to be still trading when a lot of guitar shops are dying out. [/quote] I used to sell high end food stuffs, and the higher end you go the less you go pushy, you smile and are friendly but you let the customer make the choice - you don't get much more high end than some of the stuff they have in the gallery.

[quote name='Roland Rock' timestamp='1360533945' post='1972049'] Maybe it's me! What I forgot to say was that for most of the time, I was the only customer in the shop, which should have been more conducive to a chatty exchange between enthusiasts, but instead, because of Alex's frosty manner, just made for a really uncomfortable and awkward atmosphere. [/quote] nah if you work in a shop, especially a closed door shop like the gallery just having one customer is way way more akward - you don't want to be too pushy or sell, you don't know the person or what they are into or anything - or know what they are after - for something like basses if it were me I would be happier letting the customer have a look and strike up a convo if they wanted- expecting the poor fella to do a starbucks style 'how are you, whats your name' with every idiot who comes off the street is unfair. Yeah they could be better at the banter - but they don't trade on the banter. [quote name='karlfer' timestamp='1360533983' post='1972052'] Mixed feelings, Martin built me a SEI. Long gone in financially challenged times. Two weeks ago, emailed them re Lakland 44-51. On price match. They were advertising them at £1049, Guitar Guitar at £699. Asked Bass Gallery if they would price match as would prefer to buy from them. Reply from Alex was they had none in stock. strange as they were advertised as in stock, top of the Lakland list of in stock products! Oh, and they still are. Mind it was the day before Geddys Nose's Alembic Epic came up and the rest is history. Still, poor show from The Bass Gallery. [/quote] Hi small independent shop, one of your products was bought en mass by a major chain store competitor so they can offer it cheaper, and they've had their stock for ages to slashed the prices to try and shift it.... will you match that price by lopping off 30% off the price (ie your profit) for me? - no, you don't have any in stock, oh poor show

[quote name='chrismuzz' timestamp='1360533194' post='1972024'] I just had a look on their website. Prices are a bit ambitious [/quote] Not true in all cases, there are a few basses on there cheaper than you would find them in the basschat sales forum.... [quote name='peteb' timestamp='1360533415' post='1972035'] Last time I went there I was talking to Alex and made it quite clear that I was doing nothing more than tyre kicking (thru I did buy a cheap stand) and when I asked about a Fodera they had there he handed me a lead and said 'plug it in mate'! I've never had a problem there at all... [/quote] I got the impression that they must get a lot of idiots in (infact one came in while I was there) but chatted briefly to the guy and he warmed up a bit. Some people just don't do small chat and small talk (and for non londoners everyone seems unfriendly!) so I wouldn't hold that agianst them. I went in and asked to play something (cheaper) and genuinly think I could have asked to play anything. If you don't ask... then you don't get.

So plywood japcrap... rubbish eh? Good enough for this fella to use on a product advertisment video! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXrMPRtQ7Z4

[quote name='cytania' timestamp='1360486573' post='1970977'] Thanks LukeFRC you're absolutely right about the Fender sound, it's why I keep considering one even though there are some 'difficult' aspects to them. I should really take my own advice that 'every guitar has something to teach you' and the Fender style is on my list. Maybe this year... if I still have a day job in April... The other GAS driver has been the realisation that although my Spear S2 singlecut is a Korean maker trying to 'do boutique' it is actually well above spec compared to what they make now. There's an inch of walnut top and an inch of mahogany back, now they just put a 5mm walnut cap on. The electrics were 18v now they're 9v suggesting the 'is it Aguilar?' preamp is something else. Suddenly I realise that whatever it is I won't be able to get another one easily or cheaply. Must keep an eye on it at the pub gig next week [/quote] I thought wood didn't impact on tone?

I think the bass player you heard should have turned down a bit! I think it's easier to swap gear than think abotu waht would make you/your band better musically. GAS is a funny thing - I think partly it's us wanting different things, and partly it's knowing that we havn't found what we want quite yet and playing around with it. For me it's been a fun journey of trying everything I want to try (bar two basses*) playing lots, and ending up with basses and rig I'm happy with. I think it's ok to want to get to that sort of place - but for me that has been a process of finding out what I want, and working out how to get there on a fairly methodical journey, I'll be honest I don't understand the kinda GAS that seems to want something new and often utterly different every week. More specifically to your question - I think the beauty of a lot of high end gear is it lets you control what you do better. My fingers can do things on my warwick they could never have done on the Stagg bass I first started messing with - mainly because it's a much better instrument. Likewise a great cab gives you options on shaping your tone that a cheap box of woolyness maybe wouldn't. BUT if you've all the gear an no idea it doesn't matter what you play - you need to learn how to shape your tone to the music - I don't think great tone and fitting the music are mutually exclusive - if anything they are the same thing! anyway ramble over. *a warwick thumb and a ray if anyone was interested. I'll probably build a ray myself sometime.

I think there are three things here... one - they are constructed differently. I think your bass has through body stringing and a stiff neck, all that is going to affect the feel - imagine it like a mountain bike's shock absorber. Your bass is a hard spring with no dampening, and a fender is a slightly softer spring with dampening. Both good but will ride differently. This analogy in basses- they will sound different as the different construction will effect the character of the attack and sustain of the note. two they (usually are passive) - if your bass is active - I'm my experience, in my opinion etc - they sound slightly differently and react to your playing technique slightly differently. If you are used to one then the other will be odd to begin with. and lastly. A lot of Fenders are crap, dull sounding rubbish. I've only found one or two new fenders that I would even think of buying- (one mexican, one Highway 1 and one american vintage) the rest have been just flaccid. A flat sounding fender isn't fun. I am aware this may just be down to the set up in shops. So they are different... but you know that sound on that record you grew up listening too? That bass tone. That was a Fender bass tone, and yeah they are different - but what they can do - no other bass design can.

[quote name='Skol303' timestamp='1360417066' post='1970015'] Spot on, cheers Luke! That's exactly what I'm going to do. Thanks also for the heads up about Aaron Armstrong p'ups, I'm going to check those out. And a massive thanks for the offer of trying the ACG on your Warwick!! (I love BC for this sort of thing ). 'Tis only a short hop from Mancunia to Leeds as you mention, so I may well take you up on that offer mate - I have relatives over your way so could make a round trip of it. I'll let you know. [/quote] coolio

I always get stuck when picking up a drum stick, how do you hold it. Then someone shows me something to play, and I can play that well and then try and vary it and it all falls to pieces. I guess I have awful rhythm which is odd for a bassist. It's odd, I lived with a pro musician for a bit, and we would muck around with basses and guitars and so on in the house- he pointed out that I picked a guitar my timing was spot on, I strum and it goes all over the place. Really odd, I never had to work on timing or rhythm much on the bass, I could just pick it up and make it do what I could hear in my head without thinking. Other instruments - man they are hard. Drumming is a skill though, I couldn't do it. Mind you it's also one of those instruments that unless you learn to keep time well you are better off staying at home.