neepheid

That, I cannot argue with.

Classic Aberdeen mentality, thinking it can charge "London prices" for things

It was a joke... does not stand up to scrutiny - what absurdity based jokes do?

I'm a big advocate of self-sufficiency, at least up to a level of doing basic setup (relief/intonation/action) work. Setup is personal - and it's really not difficult. Of course when you get into territory like what is being discussed here, it's player's choice if they want to stretch themselves and learn these other skills. Me personally I do all my setups, I'm OK with the electronics if it's not too taxing, replacing hardware is fine, and I'm currently at the grinding back ratty fret ends/knocking down proud frets kinda stage. Mostly using improvised tools, because I'm a cheapskate.

I don't have much data to go on when it comes to Ramjam - the only time I engaged their technical services was over 2 years ago for a full rewire of a bass, which cost £50, which I thought was pretty reasonable at the time. But who knows what it would cost me today, sorry.

If you don't mind naming names - which local establishment have you been going to at which you have noted the price rise?

I find a good old wireless walkabout goes down well. I also get up to no good during songs which have long, bassless sections - I pretend to sleep, or I naff off for a sit down and pretend to be on strike. Just clowning around basically. People seem to like it. Plus the basics - engagement with the audience - making eye contact with folk and nodded along with them bopping around - sometimes my hat gets borrowed - let 'em - I don't get precious. And for the final coup de gras - if the police come in for a venue check, be ready to play something like Breaking The Law or I Fought The Law etc...

Well it is in stock now, so I'm just waiting for them to get around to where I am in the backlog. If they ever do.

Happy to share a bill with you - there's only 2-3 duplicates on your set list vs. ours

Also - hello!

https://www.basschat.co.uk/forum/83-bassists-wanted/ - is the correct forum for this kind of thing - this one's just for saying hello

I should clarify - they sold out of the thing I wanted when I ordered it. Getting new batches of instruments can take months to get manufactured, not super bothered about it. I'm impressed that the idea that pre-bankruptcy orders would be honoured by the newco has even been floated - had written it off in all honesty. But it might still all come to nothing - that's what I mean by the wait and see.

Tell you when/if they fulfil my order from September last year...

The shelf! I had an Explorer bass, am well acquainted with the shelf. It's surprisingly comfortable.

Or they could have been replaced?

I say bring your most mental one. Vive la difference!

They've been using the H-expander truss rod since their original Swedish days... http://hagstrom.org.uk/expander_stretcher.htm

I see what you did there...

Mate, I'm coming down from Aberdeen - there aren't any regional eligibility rules, the only rule as far as I'm aware is "don't be a d!ck" - actually, they bend that one for me a little

Also, the notion that a gear list from March would stay current until October was frankly laughable. In my defence, I was attempting to do gear abstinence, but a white whale appeared which I had been chasing on and off for 12 years put paid to that but I've gone on a bit of a bender since. To balance things out, 2 off that initial list have been sold, got another one up for sale. TL:DR I'll let you know what's coming about a week before the bash - I think I can make it a week without buying or selling a bass...

Current plan is to stay over Sat night, location TBC.

Ach, book the Monday off - I will be. Let's scheme this out. I can feel a plan forming. I'll be in touch...

Ahh, mine's 2015 (if it wasn't obvious from the serial number). So, they mess with the programme whenever they feel like it, I guess - including changing which tuners they use.

That's the thing I don't get - those Wilkinsons were a straight swap for the tuners in my Epiphone Les Paul Standard which were a straight swap for the tuners which replaced the Gotoh GB7 in my Burny (serious downgrade - dunno what the previous person was thinking). 1mm is enough to cause you bother. Perhaps the tuners vary from year to year. TL:DR - drop in replacement is never guaranteed. Have or learn the skills to recover the situation.