Silvia Bluejay

I counted at least 10 lefty basses at the show, including two acoustic, so it wasn't too bad, especially compared to last year.

Fender, Yamaha, Ibanez, Status Graphite, Rotosound were some of the big names missing from this year's LBGS.

[quote name='Scooby' timestamp='1393846926' post='2384882'] Agreed, I would hate to see a show disappear. However, I really do think the organisers need to do some serious thinking to make the show a success. Everyone I spoke to, and certainly there are lots of comments here as in previous years, that the noise levels were stupid. I'll repeat what I said in an earlier post, insist that exhibitors use headphones for folk wanting to try out their gear. Quite a simple improvement but a huge one. [/quote] I'll see if I can find a way to contact the organisers - perhaps a word with Joel McIver, who I spoke to at the show and who's in my FB friends list? - and let them know what a large section of their target audience is thinking.

[quote name='skelf' timestamp='1393846587' post='2384874'] Were the exhibitors that were not there up in Birmingham instead. [/quote] Rotosound were in Brum and not at the LBGS this year, and I suspect others who sell to guitarists as well as bassists may have done the same.

Yes to all you say. My point was that, in the absence of something more attuned to our needs, this LBGS is better than no LBGS.

Any event that allows people to check out gear you wouldn't find even at large specialised bass stores, and mingle/network with like-minded companies, buyers and sellers is worth saving.

Seems to be a vicious circle: as the cost of having a stand at the show rockets, only certain manufacturers and distributors find it economically viable to exhibit, be it because they can sell enough units to justfy the outlay, or because - like us - they treat the show as an excellent PR environment, and so worth the effort in terms of gained brand awareness. The fewer manufacturers exhibit, the more punters will complain about the lack of variety and not attend next time. And so it goes on. I don't know if there is a solution to this. I only know that, unless someone finds a different, winning formula, I'd rather support the LBGS as it is than lose it altogether.

I guess haters will hate, and the rest of us will continue to enjoy meeting fellow BCers, lusting after gear which we are able to see and touch at the show, talking to manufacturers, distributors and luthiers and generally being social. I do agree that it'd be lovely to have stands selling small accessories, or selling affordable basses etc., and I loathe the slappers as much as anyone else. BUT - I wouldn't want to be without the LBGS. Regarding stands selling small or affordable gear, guys, if we keep buying things online, it'll never be viable to sell them on stands at fairs that cost a packet. I bet that if there had been a stand with cheap leads, tuners etc. some of you would still have refraind from buying anything, cos it's so much cheaper to get them from Amazon or GAK or wherever, innit.

No tickets for the masterclasses, and ticket to collect one hour before each live stage show

It was an awesome day! And then I had an awesome night covering the Junkyard Dogs' gig (another billion photos to sort and post). Now well and truly knackered, and ready to go to bed. Roll on tomorrow! \m/ \m/

It's not too bad, honest. I'm now in the queue for Frank Bello's masterclass \m/ \m/

I have the original Main Course LP the Bee Gees track comes from, and the sleeve says "Maurice Gibb - bass" (and other instruments, as well as vocals). You sure they would have been able to use a synth bass and get that sound in 1975?? In any case, there is no mention of that on the sleeve.

Doors at 10am tomorrow too! Noise has subsided a bit. Waiting in the queue for Roger Glover's masterclass

Noisy but tolerable without earplugs so far, so we haven't complained yet. I've taken around a million photos already but I'm on the tablet so I'can't upload them here. Blog to follow after the weekend!

Kathryn! Yay! I spotted a lefty Warwick Streamer at their stand this afternoon, and I'm reasonably sure others will appear as if by magic. Last year there was one lefty Hofner violin and a couple of other models were spotted randomly. Oh, and one lefty acoustic bass! All is not lost

We-e-ell, dunno about Candi's version, but the original is by the Bee Gees and I don't mind [i]that[/i] bassline at all (Maurice Gibb). [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=geoOlQcJe_4"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=geoOlQcJe_4[/url]

LOOL do say hi to us, in theory there should be 45 minutes of no-slapping for every 15 minutes of slapping, and we are determined to tweet iratedly at the LBGS if the rule isn't adhered to

"Lee Skylar" is exactly the way it's spelt in the masterclass list in the LBGS 2014 guide I picked up this afternoon

This is how our corner currently looks - tomorrow the t-shirts and sweaters will be moved a little out of the way and I'll put up my music stand with the BC poster.

I'm at Bass Gear's stand, waiting for the lights to be fitted, then we'll build our displays. I've checked the area around here and there are eateries of all levels a few meters from the main entrance, from an Argentinian steak house to a pizza place, to a Tesco Metro, to pubs.

LOL @ bass names! I started naming mine as a joke when I only had three - two guitars and one upright - but by the time the fourth had arrived I had reverted to "the fretless 5" or "the upright 5" etc. When they had names, they were all male Back on topic - that bass is gorgeous and the bridge reminds me of that of a Baby Bass, but yeah, it looks weird in this case.

LOL, Paul! I bet there'll be very few lefty models anyway, so I'm safe!

Good. That's absolutely not going to create any trouble at all...

There is a Tesco outside, and a pub, and a small arabic restaurant IIRC, and a cafe at the venue (to be avoided). You are given a wristband and can come and go as you please (unless they've suddenly changed the rules). I'm going there this pm to help Bass Gear and to carry part of my load, including the awkward cardboard tube with the posters and backdrop, tamed with a bit of ingenuity

Even grumpies like you guys are welcome - see you there