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Grangur

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Posts posted by Grangur

  1. I've had this issue on other bridges too. It's weird. 

    What I did to sort it was go back to basics. The position of the saddles, in relation to each other, should be in a diagonal line going from the G being the shortest string length the the E being the longest; with the saddle closest to the end. Set the line to do exactly this. Don't worry about the intonation at this stage.

    Then re-tune the bass to the open strings. Then intonate and "hey presto" it all works. Sometimes I think what happens is we start with tuning the open string with the saddle in a wrong position and then no amount of adjustment will do it. I can't explain the science, except it has worked for me on a few basses.

  2. 1 hour ago, Woodinblack said:

    That is handy if your MP is someone who cares about their constituants. Mine has litterally said he doesn't, he is not interested in people who haven't voted for him, and as a member of ERG, he not only won't listen to anything which could be taken as a critisism of brexit. In addition to that, he is actually rather thick.

    Exactly! My MP is parachuted in from another part of the country, and simply votes on party lines. No interest in constituents at all. And she's a new MP; replacing another MP who was exactly the same!

    Democracy!?!

    It's a dictatorship by another name.

  3. 14 hours ago, Al Krow said:

    The irony of your example is that China trades with the EU on WTO terms i.e. with customs barriers and taxes which importers in the EU and exporters in China (and vice versa - as you rightly say they will need to have stuff to take back to make the several thousand mile trip worth while) have totally got their heads around.

    But EU trading with the UK with ZERO tariffs on goods over much shorter distances is going to be a massive issue? Nah, I don't buy that line of argument at all.

    You do realise the UK already does more trade with rest of the world than it does with the EU and often on basic WTO terms? Those businesses involved in import / export have all managed to get their heads around the relevant Customs forms.

    I think you are massively underestimating the ability of businesses to learn and adapt. And if they don't, others happily will.

    It's going to be just fine.

    EU & China have recently announced a trade a trade deal. If WTO is so great, why did they bother?

    UK international trade Everything you might want to know about the UK's trade with the EU - Full Fact

    But it's wrong to say that all non-EU trade was done on WTO terms. Through the EU we had over 140 international trade agreements. Most trade was done through these.

    As a past leader of the WTO has said; UK has chosen to go from Premier League to 4th Division.

    As far a Thomann is concerned - If Thomann can't get a carrier to take your Yamaha bass from Germany to UK, then your changing to a Ibanez or Fender still leaves them with the same problem to get it to you. Germany can still get them. It's UK that has chosen to go to 4th Division.

    • Like 3
  4. 6 minutes ago, Al Krow said:

    What had you got in mind in relation to items coming only via the EU?

    But if EU retailers really don't want our money, I'm sure I'll be able to find something else to spend it on...apparently Yorkshire Gold tea is a good way to deplete our bank accounts.

    Not all goods coming into the UK are consumer goods. You need to think about the wider picture.

    My employer, a electrical equipment manufacturer based in Leeds, buys components from China and the East, but they get shipped in, in containers from the EU.

    The other issue is many UK manufacturers and suppliers of UK made/grown goods will be depending on EU carriers coming to UK to take their goods over to Europe - this is because carriers don't only take goods one way. They bring goods and collect British goods to take back with them to make the trip worth doing.

    Sure you can buy a different brand of tea. Have you tried finding an alternative source of electronic assemblies that needs to be of a given design and size  as well as fitting a budget?

    • Like 4
  5. 4 hours ago, Al Krow said:

    Their loss. If our money's not good enough for them, I'll buy elsewhere. End of 😉

    This will also include items coming from around the world that may come VIA the EU, not always FROM the EU.

    UK based manufacturers may not have a great number of options available when buying components.

    In short, the UK has shrunk it's access to the world's market, not expanded it as promised.

    • Like 4
  6. 30 minutes ago, peteb said:

    I suspect that it isn't sustainable and will be quietly changed at some point 

    Totally agree. This "deal" is a rush-job. BJ was banking on a deal with Trump, until Biden put a wrecking ball in the mix for them.  :D
    So the past month has seen BJ on his knees for a deal, any deal!

    • Like 4
  7. I'd go for a decent replacement/alternative neck.

    I've had/played a few cheap fretless basses and found them to have "interesting" undulations on the fingerboard, which does have an influence in the mwaa in the tone. There's clearly more to a fretless neck than simply a standard neck with frets ripped out.

  8. Yes I appreciate that Mick.  In some respects its not even that. The labels try to pigeon-hole people, but the brain doesn't fit neatly into those predefined categories. It picks slices out of all sorts of areas.

    Some folk are dyslexic in some areas. One person in our family is quite severely dyslexic, and dyspraxic to the point of being allowed to have a personal help at Uni. Yet she's the most prolific reader I know. She's got a degree in English and American Literatures and is finishing off writing her first novel and started on her 2nd, whilst working as a freelance copywriter. But then there are other people with the same label, in the same pigeon-hole, who can't read. 

    Thanks all the same.

  9. Hey @Nail Soup good to know I'm not alone. I was the same.

    For me the only hassle is when the missus talks to me, sometimes half way through I'll ask, "what was the 2nd part of what you were saying just now? My mind went walkabout."

    She's understanding and accept it. Besides, she's dyslexic and I help her with her issues.

    • Like 1
  10. 2 hours ago, Bassfinger said:

    Go see a Doc Grangur.  As helpful and encouraging as I'd like to be im a rock hound on the verge of retirement, not a doc or a pshrink.

    If it's not too sensitive for you as time goes by,  please let us kmow how you get on,

    To be honest, I've got this far without drugs and unless I'm stressed, I don't sleep too badly most of the time. So I'll get by.

    All I really wanted to do here was, not get folk labels, but to raise the awareness to these issues and get folk to realise how there's more to this than simply poor parenting or attention seeking naughty kids. It's even worth teachers simply being aware that some folk may have mild issues going on that mean they might have difficulty.

    Some folk may have a mild dyslexia issue, for example. They don't need a label. Yet they might just need a bit more patience than some others, or a different approach than the "one size fits all", "this is how I teach modes and it always works..." type of attitude.

    Thanks for reading and posting.

    • Like 2
  11. Fair comment Mick @TheGreek. TBH I may not actally be ADHD, but I thought it could be useful to some to at least be aware of how certain folk can have issues going on under the hood without them knowing. It's easy to assume certain things and you may not be seeing the whole story.... as you know, of course, knowing your background with a variety of folk.

    • Like 2
  12. Some time back I was paying some bass genius in the USA silly money for lessons. What stopped me was when he made some comment about "you're not listening".

    "Yes, I am", I thought, "but how can I help it if my brain, when you're talking, goes off on a tangent and I lose track for a few moments?!?!"

    What I didn't know then, but I'm getting to accept now, at the age of 61, is I may be ADHD. I can lay awake at night, kept awake with my brain going on 3-4 subjects all at the same time like a tombola drum. I don't run around the room or anything, but my brain never rests: This, it seems is ADHD.

    What is scary is how so often the rest of the world only sees a few symptoms and they get spoken about, but teachers might find it useful to know about all the other complications going on underneath that you don't know about and few talk about it.

    I hope this is helpful to some here.

    ADHD iceburg.jpg

    • Like 3
  13. I think the OP needs to think more about exactly what it is about the Fender sound that for him doesn't deliver.  Sound and tone is a personal thing. We can make suggestions, but the exploration we have to make for ourselves.

    I too am not a fan of Fender. To my ears the sound is mushey. The notes aren't as crisp and distinct as with a Warwick. I don't mean I'm after a crisp clang. To me that's too aggressive. So I'm not wanting a MM humbucker.

    In short, to me the Warwick delivers a dark solid note that I like. All I can put it down to is Warwick neck/pocket joints are tight. Fender pockets are comparatively lose fitting. With a Warwick, I can remove the screws and pick up the neck and the body comes with it. This won't happen with a Fender. You can't shim a Warwick neck without damaging the body; there's no space for the neck to tilt.

    I put this down to the needs of Fender's high volume production factories. When dealing with wood in a production line, Fender couldn't operate with tight tolerance necks. They simply don't have time to hand-pick, or hand shape and neck. That said I don't like new Warwick's as much as the old ones.

    Fender do a great job at what they do: high volume production of affordable instruments. It's their business model and long may it last, as millions of musicians want exactly that and it works. I think I'm developing expensive tastes.

  14. On 27/08/2020 at 22:36, Heimrich said:

    @NancyJohnson very interesting video, that's definitely a work beyond my poor skills... Seems like I'm going to plan a visit to the luthier 😊

    Ehm.... Forgive me for another dumb question but... When you say "to ensure the neck is straight", do you mean completely straight after removing the strings and eliminating the tension they generate? Watching the video I'm assuming that in order to be considered perfectly straight the neck must not be under any tension at all, neck relief is only to allow the string to vibrate properly...What if the neck is bowed even without the strings but just a bit (let's say 0.15, 0.10mm)? Couldn't it be considered as "normal" relief once the strings are on? Or must the neck be absolutely straight without the strings to be considered ok and not bowed/damaged? 

    Sorry, thanks for the patience! 

    As @NancyJohnson says, your bass looks good for fret levelling. With a setup it will take a tech about 1-2 hours. If you were here I'd be happy to do it, but there must be many good people near you. I'm sure it will play well when it's done.

  15. On 18/08/2020 at 22:18, Stub Mandrel said:

    I never had a problem with a small Antex iron, since the 70s, I just used to fit a bigger bit and be patient when required.

    These days I have an Antex rework station with thermostatic hot air gun and low voltage temperature controlled 40W iron the size of my old 15W one.

    It's the dogs, but will set you back the price of a decent bass (or two if they are Hardly Bent-Ones).

    https://uk.farnell.com/antex/760rwk-uk/rework-station-60w-230v-uk-plug/dp/2422171

    I have, the pointed end bit on mine gave up and got all useless after the first 35 years!! What a let down!!

    Not buying another iron from them!  (I bought new tips and it's better than ever :D

    • Like 1
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