Silvia Bluejay

Hey I'd rather not be carted off from something I've bought a ticket to! I'm a non-drinker too, so hopefully we'll find some nice non-alcoholic fruity/smoothie-y thingy to quench our thirst - failing that, good old H2O...

LOL and yes I'm up for it to all the above!

Hi Giamma, and welcome to the community. You say you're coming to London to work, so I assume you're no longer a student. However, you may like to have a look at Tech Music Schools' website as they have some info on coming to live here and finding accommodation with other students. They are based in Acton, west London. [url="http://www.techmusicschool.co.uk/student-life/accommodation.php"]http://www.techmusicschool.co.uk/student-life/accommodation.php[/url] Good luck!

Will do! I'm making a list of stands to visit to say hi as well as to check out the gear.

I'm sure they are only trying to help you. Don't be self-conscious - even the greatest virtuoso was an all-thumbs beginner once, and absolutely everybody I've spoken to says that it's always bloody hard to start out, no matter how talented you are. Even the guys at the music store were beginners once! Hang in there and get them on your side.

Wait until you decide to walk to your bass class carrying a damn upright on your shoulders! (Been there, done that, not keen or a repeat - too laborious to dismantle and reposition the bridge every time). Congrats Seashell! I've been in this a little longer than you, but feel the same and agree with what you say. In my case, I have an addtional thank you: Thank you to the ex for walking out, taking his guitar gear away, leaving a huge void in my life and inspiring me to fill it with bass gear and bass playing (as opposed to curling up in a corner and dying). I wouldn't go back to being a 'musician by proxy', and it doesn't matter that I'm rather crap on my five strings while the ex is/was very good on his six. As Len said, onwards and upwards.

Haha, we can team up and see if two bassgirls manage not to be patronised by anyone this year. I only had one occurrence last year, down from several at each event in the past, so I think times may be a-changing

I'd like to add that I've just had an exchange of emails with Jason regarding a query of mine (nothing to do with the topic of this thread), and he's been very helpful and fast in replying.

So we'll be visiting the stands where you guys are helping out, both to meet you and obviously to check out the gear, and hopefully by then we'll be able to know where the after-show drink will be held, and whether the rest of us can attend, if I understand correctly. Any other thought or suggestions?

Sounds good! So we are opting for visiting your stands or bumping into you (in Ped's case) in a casual way at the show, and then, will anyone else be up for going to the pub after the show? Whether or not there will be an event organised for the exhibitors is irrelevant - if there isn't one, we can still meet up somewhere, if we so wish.

If there is a similar event this year too, and it's again open to all, I'll be happy to join you guys - and pay for my own food and drink, no prob!

You bet I will! And if the pub night is open to us ordinary punters too, I'll be happy to come along to that too. The reason why I thought we might arrange to meet up both at the show and after it is that the performances and masterclasses schedule may not allow all of us to be free at the same time, or for long, during the day. The evening should be all right from that point of view, instead, except for those who have to rush to the station to get home (they may prefer to say hi during the day). Happy to hear any suggestions from other ticket holders!

Heh...

I've started a dedicated thread for our meetup. Please let me know your opinions on how we should go about it. As far as I remember, there isn't a bar at the show, only a cafe. I don't know if this year there will be differences in how the show is run.

Sooo.... quite a number of us are going to be at the show, and it would be great to meet up, either during the show itself or at a pub after the show closes. I have a ticket for Saturday 03/03; my intention is to get there reasonably early, grab tickets to the performances and masterclasses I'm interested in, then basically walk around, visit the stands etc. as normal. What do you guys think, should we try and meet up somewhere during the show, or outside in the evening, or even do both?

Further update - full refund received from Thomann, with exactly the same exchange rate as when I bought the bass. I've decided not to make a complaint about Thomann Customer Service inefficiency, what with it all ending well, but will make sure I remember to use the phone much more than the email if I happen to have to deal with them in the future. Calls appear to be much more effective than any email messages. The latter are either ignored or answered with a 24+ hour delay, while calls seem to do the trick immediately, or at least they did in my case. What to say... thank you all again for being so helpful. And thank you, Mr H, for starting this fit of GAS in the first place! I'm very happy with my purchase.

Argh! at the time I voted I had four basses, now the total has gone up to five, but I can't update my vote. Anyway, good to see we all seem to like having a lot of gear, what with repressed GAS etc.

No prob! They could at least have placed the text more prominently and in a less tiny typeface. Anyway... will see you guys there. I'll start a special BC meetup thread in a few days.

From the ticket page: [quote][size=2]We use Amiando Ticket Management which guarantees your security when buying tickets online: Your data is being transmitted via SSL encryption and stored securely on our systems and handled confidentially. The ticket system is embedded which therefore means you will not see https or a padlock on your browser but still has the same security.[/size][/quote]

Update for those who are curious to know how it ended. The second bass I ordered arrived in perfect condition, was immediately re-strung with flatwound Daddario Chromes and is now a cherished part of my bass family Thomann have confirmed receipt of the scratched bass and issue of a full refund. Despite the hassle, I love my new baby to bits! Thank you all for following this saga, and giving me your opinions and advice and support.

Using an upright redefines the concept of 'playing open strings' and makes it cool! Regarding fingertips, I find that alternating between playing the upright and the normal electric prevents blisters and excessive toughening of the skin even if you play hard and practice long hours.

I know how you feel! I'm determined to improve too, little by little, at my own pace. Keep up the good work!

Heh. I got a cheap L/H RB Corvette 5 as a result of a fit of GAS instigated by Mr H and his post on this forum a couple of weeks ago. Forget about the initial hassle (the first one I got was scratched and I had to return it) - the second one is perfect, I've put Daddario Chrome flatwounds on it and absolutely effing LOVE it. I'm hooked. Best £150 I've ever spent. So, indeed, welcome to the club, AM!

Welcome Mal! Great to hear you have now been able to get back into bass playing. I've been told that it's a bit like riding a bike, in that you never completely forget how to do it even after years, so hang in there!

Thanks guys - I will hopefully find that elusive B and also, I'm sure, something else I'm not looking for just yet but which I'll decide I MUST have as soon as I see it/them