Silvia Bluejay

But really, do we need blocks or dots on the fingerboard?? I mean, the dots on the side of the neck are more than sufficient for me, and if I'm playing a tricky bit, I'll need to look at the damn individual frets, and a block (especially) would be of no help whatsoever. I agree with those who say that, just from the point of view of aesthetics, blocks or dots of the same colour of the pickguard are preferable.

[quote name='foal30' timestamp='1338093328' post='1669487'] 100% turnout, surely a BC record? [/quote] YAY! I'm tempted to organise one over there in the middle of our long, cold, dreary winter In the meantime, our London cell spent 5 hours in the sun on Saturday and loved every minute of it.

I would like to organise another meetup before summer's out, if enough people would be up for one. It would be lovely to see all of you who couldn't make it today.

I don't wear makeup! I'm useless at putting anything on my face, so I don't...

[quote name='billyapple' timestamp='1338051175' post='1669054'] The perfect afternoon, spent with fine company. [/quote] Sean, I don't know if you're on FB - if you are, feel free to friend me so I can tag you in the photo.

Photos! Our lovely Shelley (Seashell) with cool bassist bag Sean (Billyapple), Nigel (silddx) and Shelley Yours truly trying to "spread herself out" on the bench, as requested

Loved the afternoon and got a serious tan!! Thank you all who attended! Uploading photos as we speak

I'll be leaving home soon. Lovely sunny day in Chiswick, same expected on the South Bank - Met Office forecast is for a max temp of 24 degrees, alleviated by occasionally strong breeze. Hope to see you there!

@Sean - @Nigel - yes, reminder in my (recently edited) first post in this thread and photos - for good measure! - a couple of pages ago. (Great to hear you're coming, by the way!) @Douglas - We'll do our best and take some photos...

You'll be spoiled, pampered and hand-fed grapes by two beauties, in the sunshine, by the river. Can't beat that

Deb, I think that's a very good routine. I did something similar when I was attending my courses: each lesson had some theory and the notes to a song that applied the theory, and we had to learn both for the following week. I kept up my scales and 7th chords etc. for a while after I finished attending the courses, but now I tend to spend most of my time finding the basslines to my favourite songs by ear, jotting them down in chord charts and similar, and then playing along to records, all of which I absolutely love doing. I try to play bass (all types - guitar, upright and acoustic, although usually not on the same day!) for at least half an hour a day, but preferably longer if I'm not snowed under with work or going out in the evening.

If anything, looks like Thomann are quite inconsistent in their customer care, I would say, rather than 100% bad. Incidentally, everything I have ever bought as new from them has been brand new and "normal" for real, not B-stock, including the scratched bass guitar (which was otherwise perfect).

I assume that a few lurkers might turn up too. I'm going to be there, as planned. All welcome, and if it's just Shell and I in the end, we'll have a girly afternoon

[quote name='Grand Wazoo' timestamp='1337949056' post='1667874'] So is this Sat 26th being cancelled? [/quote] No, why?

Loving this thread, Sarah! Well done, and all the best to your band. I'm sure the cynical rhythm section can hold its own, both musically and aesthetically!

As I said before, my experience wasn't so negative - item collected from my doorstep, returning it was absolutely free to me, and they didn't even take that long to issue a refund (in Euros, obviously, on my credit card, because I didn't use Paypal - maybe that's one of the reasons for the delay?). It's a hassle, definitely, but tolerable in my case (and I LOVE my replacement bass). Also, Thomann use Parcel Force for smaller items and a dedicated heavy haulage company for bigger items.

Don't worry, guys, it's a pity you can't make it, but it's just the way it is. I hope to organise another drink reasonably soon, if this goes OK, so we'll have another opportunity to meet up. As we were saying on FB, those of us who will attend will have to [b]slap [/b]on some serious SPF and carry bottles of water

What a pity, Dave... but I know what it's like to be asked to work with practically no notice at all, and not have the choice to say no. Hopefully you'll be able to make an appearance, if not, next time.

Welcome, John! I agree with Bremen re the D'Addario Chromes. Smooth to the fingers but bright in sound, which to me is the best of both worlds. They work fine on fretless and fretted basses, including 5-stringers. Feel free to ask for any bass- and amp-related advice on here, as the community is infinitely helpful and patient - they surely have been with me, for one, from the start!

Dave - if those two tributes bands are decent musicians, it shouldn't be a bad night (although having to go on stage past midnight definitely sucks for you guys). Kiwi, you must return to visit us one day! Chiswick and surrounds look lovely in the sunshine (we're having our three statutory days of summer right now)

I see. Sounds good - I used to have a client in Hayes years ago, they were near the Nestle factory, and whenever I visited there was always that inviting chocolatey smell! Post pictures of the gig if you get any taken!

Where are you gigging, Dave, and with which of your bands?

[quote name='seashell' timestamp='1337854528' post='1666327'] Looking forward to it now, should be fun I reckon we should have a BC drinking game, based on whenever someone mentions the following: pre-amp = 1 sip truss rod = 2 sips clutterbuck = 3 sips impedance = 4 sips That's what I'll be doing anyway, if you all start going all 'techie' !! [/quote] I'll be on H2O (I'm teetotal!), so I'll happily mention, and add to the list: Low/high action - 3 sips Intonation/saddles - 4 sips Pickup height - 2 sips Nut adjustment (only on Warwicks and a few other clever basses!) - 3 sips

They're still changing it as we speak! Lots of building work due to several festivals, the Jubilee, etc. Dave, I agree. I got the impression that only the tables under the parasols are part of the bar area, while everywhere else seemed to be free for anyone to stay even without buying drinks. So, I will aim for the grassy area first of all. Sean, I'll be there at 12 o'clock, everybody else feel free to come along when you can.

GAS!! I was already a victim before I joined this forum. Then someone (step forward Mr H!) pointed me to a Warwick lefty fretless 5 going cheap which I was absolutely sure I'd play a only couple of times. Some two months and a set of D'Addario Chromes later, it's my main instrument, and I'm a happy woman GAS immediately continued with a new upright 5 and a new acoustic... hey, we only live once, right? And - as a Tuscan saying goes - Death needs to find us alive