skelf

Based on my own experience yes I do think 20% can be accounted for through expenses mentioned and things like the exchange rate.

As far as I am aware these costs apply to imported items into the UK someone has to pay them. Different codes apply to different goods but charges apply to everything as far as I am aware. As a general rule the end customer picks up the costs. The example you gave and that VAT does not account for difference is not taking the other costs into account. Even the import duty alone makes your calculation wrong. I would also assume the distribution via the rep must add a cost as well. The link does not appear to work.

Having imported a fair bit of wood from various parts of the world VAT is only the starting point with regard to the costs so allowing for 20% does not in anyway cover the import costs. There is import duty which on guitars runs at 4% which they add VAT on top of. Nor does it cover the transport costs to the port nor from the port in the USA and the various taxes applied. Equally when you see the list of charges that bringing anything into a port in this country which include things like a security charge, a fuel charge a DTI charge for what I have no idea. On my last import there was a VAT adjustment which meant they add £1600 to the value of the goods then charged me the VAT on it. If you are unlucky to have an inspection of the container then you get charged for that. If you are in a part container you get charged with unpacking your stuff from it. The list is almost endless. So 20% does not even begin to cover it. As I said if you don't have any idea of the actual process then it appears that people are making loads of money. This is my experience of importing into this country it is not cheap and cheerful at the level I work on. Most of this experience comes from bringing in a full container so I assume it represents the general approach to all containers. The part containers are worse.

45% profit margin is the land of dreams. If the margin in retail is bad it is the promised land compared to builders. Again there is a huge disconnect between the perceived money made by the builder and the actual amount made by people who have no understanding of how a business actually works. With regard to trying gear. For eight years I have run the Moffat Bass Bash which will be the largest and most diverse selection of bass gear in Scotland which you are free to try out at your leisure. Amps and cabs that you can fully crank up in an actual live setting. Over 70 basses last year all available to try. But the number of people from the central belt that turn up to take advantage of this is pretty poor. So while I see on the forum much complaint about lack of opportunity to try stuff particularly in Scotland the one event that gives that chance struggles to attract any punters.

If you hold of a couple of days the reason for all the donations will become clear.

Not embarrassing in the slightest. Posted on my phone so victim of auto correct.

Basschat the next to step up and have donated some polo shirts which is very much appreciated.

[color=#141823][font=Helvetica, Arial,] Another update for the Moffat Bass Bash. [url="https://www.facebook.com/nick.wells.3150"]Nick Wells[/url] editor of the iBass Magazine has kindly donated 5 yearly subscriptions for us to give away at this years bash. [url="http://www.ibassmag.com/"]http://www.ibassmag.com[/url][/font][/color] [color=#141823][font=Helvetica, Arial,] [/font][/color]

SIT Strings now on board with some merchandise to give away.

Good to know. I mentioned in my previous comments that being able to use it within Digital Performer would be my first choice.

I am currently working on a loner bass to allow people to try out the flat board/asymmetric neck and the filter pre-amp. Thinking that a security deposit would be paid via bank transfer. Agree time of lone with carriage both ways deducted from the deposit which would then be returned on the bass being returned. The bass is a 5 string Recurve with a RFB in the bridge and a PB in the neck. Pre-amp will be a DFM 3K. I will post details on my website once the bass is completed. This will be a UK only deal. Alan

I can now confirm Overwater will be along with a selection of basses.

Still tickets avilable.

If you like weird stuff it is excellent but can do a lot of the more standard stuff. Like the octave shift and the distortion. I would like a tremelo added since it is one of my favourite effects. I wish I had an excuse to get a new generation iPad to run this but I barely use the mini as it is so not likely which is a pity this is a monster if you want to push the sonic limits.

Having a great deal of fun with this. Like the individual effects as good as anything I have tried. Only downside is my iPad mini is really struggling to run it. The more interesting sequence relate patches are clicking most if the time and it does hang up. Not a criticism of the app more an observation on what you need to run it. Would be great on my iMac into digital performer, hint hint.

Look at the East BTB. Single stacked pot bass/treble/pull bright. Internal settings for the frequencies. There is also another version of the P -Retro in the works which will be cheaper.

Another vote for the P-Retro.

Just finished one which will be about the 5th one in total. [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/247379-acg-krell-sc-e-type-5-string/"]http://basschat.co.uk/topic/247379-acg-krell-sc-e-type-5-string/[/url]

Westside Distribution will be coming along with a selection of Dunlop pedals to try out and some Dunlop freebies.

Confirmed attending. Steve Lawson. Haydn Williams from Williams Guitars. Colin Cunningham from Cocos Basement. Hopefully more companies will be confirmed as we move along.

Special guest for the whole weekend is Steve Lawson who will be providing a demo/masterclass on the Sunday. Limited number of tickets so those interested in coming along please don't wait to long this in particular applies to the full weekend ticket. Tickets are now available for the full weekend and just the Sunday. Full details can be found at: [url="http://www.moffatbassbash.co.uk"]http://www.moffatbassbash.co.uk[/url] This is the week after the London show so if you can't get down and feel the need to try out a pile of gear then this is your chance.

I am with you I don't like slap but having tried our experiment last year the majority seem to like it even though the majority seem to complain about it. The show is excellent you don't spend the whole day in the exhibitors section there are plenty of other things to do. So you can spend short bursts in the main hall that way it is not really a problem. The noise and the slap are only a problem if you spend the entire day in the hall then it gets a bit wearing. The guys that I see as the problem are the ones that have a party piece and play the same thing on every stand and go to every stand over the day they don't appear to be there to try gear more to show of. Might be totally wrong but having been there for three years you get time to watch what is going on. First year I was there I hated it there was a constant barrage of slap and widdling from a nearby stand and it just wore me down. However the last two years have been much better and hopefully that will continue.

I see complaints every year about slap but if you want a crowd of people to stand and watch a demo then wheel out the slap. We tried what would be regarded as normal bass playing last year and there was little to no interest. Kicked of with the slap and audience straight away. So while everyone seems to complain about it they also seem to stand and watch/listen. Solution no idea,I have accepted that it is the nature of a bass show it gets loud and there is slap bass. The quiet period every year starts of quite well but as the day wears on it is steadily ignored by stands and customers. I bring along a decent headphone setup and found last year more people where interested in using that than the amp.

Most of the standard blocks are around 70mm wide you need something nearer 92mm for the end of a 6 string. I got a custom block make up for the wider finger boards but most of my finger boards are flat so it has not been used to often. I would be reluctant to put a 16" radius on a 6 string board. By the time you sand a 16" radius on to a normal board of between 5/6 mm deep there will not be much finger board left on the edge at the 24th fret. Quite a few have a compound radius to avoid this problem. 16" at the nut but nearer 25" by the 24th.

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1416746906' post='2613088'] I find the straps too close together at the top and because I'm only 5' 6" tall the bottom of the case slaps against the backs of my thighs when I'm walking. The chaep Ritter gig bag it was supposed to replace was far more comfortable to wear. Also the zip has fsiled near the bottom of the bah so I have to be careful not to zip it open all the way anymore. [/quote] Have a look at the Fusion F1 I think it has a better back pack setup than the Mono. I use both and they both do an excellent job.