Son of the Wear

zero9 gets it exactly right: any good tutor will follow basic, sound principles: after that it is more about whether you and your tutor are a good 'fit' and you enjoy their approach. First - and most importantly - they should establish where you are now: work with you to understand what progress you have made to date, what your strengths and weaknesses are and what gaps there are in your knowledge and skills. Then they can start to plan your development appropriately and set out what you need to do to make progress. Pretty basic really, but being aware of this helps to spot those who are actually good teachers/tutors as opposed to those who may know their stuff but haven't really got the teaching skills needed to help others develop. I started out as a teacher and my current work involves developing and delivering a lot of training (not music!), but it still surprises me how often you see so called teachers/tutors/trainers who miss out this vital first step. How can you begin to help someone develop if you don't have a good understanding of where they are starting from?

Good idea - I like a bargain and there can often be some nice little discounts available: sharing them can only be a good thing!

They were excellent - great singer and a tight band. I hadn't heard them before but will seek 'em out now. Saw the mute on the bass - I was trying to work out what he was using and I think Budgetneil might have got it right!

Just did a little swap deal with Geoff - trading some bass/guitar magazines. Mags arrived really quickly - highly recommended as an all-round good guy!

Thanks for the positive comments, Geoff. In case anyone was wondering, they were bass magazines.........

I was about 12 and really just knew pop stuff and the charts - T. Rex, Slade, etc. - good enough in their own way, exciting for a kid but not exactly magic. I was kind of starting to be more aware of the fact that there was much more music out there and I was really keen to find out more about what seemed like a really intriguing whole world of music I knew nothing about. Trouble was, as a kid, I didn't know how to find out more: didn't hear it on the radio (during the day), couldn't afford to buy stuff just to try it out - and even if I had had the money I wouldn't have known what to buy. Anyway, I kind of heard about John Peel on the radio and decided to try listening to him. First few times I tuned in, nothing really jumped out at me and it all sounded a bit weird. I was about to give up - when he played something that definitely counts as a magic moment. It was 'Solid Air' by John Martyn and I remember thinking "What kind of music is this - I have never heard anything like it before". It was FM radio - so pretty good quality - and the whole thing just blew me away: I had never heard anything like it - it just sounded unbelievable and made me want to find more. And I suppose, all these years later every time I hear something new and good it kind of brings back a little bit of that amazement I felt when I first heard that song.....

I've got a few bass and guitar magazines ready to 'recycle' - mostly a few years old but plenty of good stuff in them (transcriptions, etc.). Give me a few days to list them (too busy for the next few days!) and we can see if we can sort out a swap. Maybe other people might want to join in? Neil

I think Stompbox has had a good idea. I have a stack of old bass (and one or two guitar) magazines and as we are hoping to be moving shortly I was just thinking about whether to shove them in the recycling or see if anyone else wants them. There are a few transcriptions in them and some decent interviews/reviews - and I know what you mean about the appeal of actually having a hard copy to stick in your bag to read on the bus/train/park bench. Postage might need watching as it probably won't be cheap - but still worth having a think about. Good thinking Stompbox - I'm off to make a list of what I have!

[i]Great job - thanks![/i]

Probably me being shallow - but I agree with Bilbo. A small part of the joy of playing bass is sitting down to play and picking up an instrument that you think looks attractive - and these just don't do it for me. Perhaps I should get over myself and try playing one

Friendly, helpful and quick to respond - and very patient when waiting for me to get my act together! Highly recommended. Neil

Thanks Scott - really interesting to see what goes on behind the scenes. Shame you didn't get more rehearsal footage (the bits you did get sounded great) but I suppose you were meant to be playing rather than videoing! 'Lets dance' cover was spot on - never heard of Tatiana before but will check her website out. Neil

Very straightforward transaction - no problems and good communication. Highly recommended. Hope you enjoy the flatwounds, Matt!

Superb: found a pretty obscure part in his spares boxes (Thunderbird saddle) fitted it, made a control cover from scratch and sorted out an electrical problem with 3 new pots. All this at a great price and 'while you wait'. Brilliant

Thanks to everybody who provided useful advice - very helpful and much appreciated. In the end, after a tip from Warwickhunt, the legend that is Howard the Bass Doc sorted this: new back cover made and fitted, replacement saddle found and fitted and a set of new pots fitted - all for a very reasonable price! Just a few minor tweaks and a bit of cosmetic care and attention left to do - but this is playing very nicely now..... Really good example of Basschat at its best

Thanks chaps - really helpful responses - and much appreciated...

Afternoon all, Helping a mate out restoring a battered old Epiphone Thunderbird and thought I would put in a request to the expert Basschat database for help and advice: It has the (slightly iffy) original three point bridge which works fine except it is missing one of the saddles and the intonation bolt that goes through the saddle (hope that makes sense - can put up a pic of what we are looking for if it helps). I have put an ad in the Wanted section ,but this may be a bit of a long shot: so, can anyone recommend a good source/supplier of Epiphone spares? We may have to buy the whole bridge (tried to encourage him to think about the Hipshot Supertone replacement - but can't persuade him to shell out for this mod) so I am hoping someone might know of a good stockist/supplier for Epiphone spare parts. Also, it needs a new cover for the control cavity on the back - don't know how he has managed to lose this! It seems pretty straightforward to make something to replace this but wondered about recommendations for what material to use? Any advice on this (and where to source the material) would be great. Any help finding the bits to resurrect the old 'bird gratefully received. Cheers

Thanks for these - you have come up with a few that I would never have thought of having a go at - keeps you out of your comfort zone Keep 'em coming!

Just bought a drum machine from Jim - quick and easy transaction and it arrived exactly as described (and immaculately packaged!). Highly recommended.

Is that a euphemism? (...but seriously, yes he is.)

Just bought a rack tuner from John (Warwickhunt) who suggested I set up a feedback thread - so here it is........