solo4652

Three of my friends have put together a band, and an associated website. When I looked at the website I was immediately concerned and suspicious: 1. The person singing on the audio files has nothing to do with the band. 2. Of the three people pictured on the website, only one is in the band. I have no idea who the other two are. 3. There are a number of "gigs" being advertised in the form of event posters with the band's name on them. On closer inspection, these are fraudulent - the band's name has been digitally added to the posters in place of a band that is actually booked. Being cautious, I checked with the event organisers and my friends' band has definitely not been booked for the events. I sent a very carefully worded email to my friends accusing them of nothing. I asked who was singing on the audio samples and I pointed out that there seemed to be a mismatch between the posters on the band's website and the events' own posters, adding "I'm not sure what's happened there..." The reply I received confirmed that the audio samples were not of the band and that the posters were false; "Haha - well spotted, Steve! We put the website together in a hurry and the content is temporary - we'll put our own stuff on there as soon as we can". Good, I thought - they now know it's been spotted and they'll do something about it. That was a week ago. Today the the band has advertised themselves on a gig-source portal with the website completely unaltered. Given that I know for certain that it is, at best, misleading and, at worse, fraudulent, what's the best thing to do? Ignore it because it's none of my business? Contact the band again privately and say something like "It might be a good idea to have another think about the website contents in case anybody finds out that the important information is false..."? Report the band and its website as fraudulent to the gig-source portal? Steve

The Baton is clearly in good hands.

[quote name='Donnyboy' timestamp='1365175419' post='2036402'] Great pic! Bystander bemused by ant chance? [/quote] Yes - I think so! We decided not to go into detail about what we were up to apart from saying; "It's alright, we're not nicking it or anything...", which, of course, only made it look even more shifty.

Slightly furtive-looking handover completed in car park at Macclesfield train station, as captured by a pressganged bystander. I'm on the left, chrismuzz on the right. Sounds like chrismuzz is going to make The Baton earn its keep. [attachment=131851:001.JPG]

[quote name='chrismuzz' timestamp='1365108125' post='2035574'] I'm not sure what time I'm about on Saturday yet, but are you free Friday afternoon? [/quote] PM'd you

[quote name='chrismuzz' timestamp='1365103904' post='2035478'] Bugger Well I'm gigging on the 13th so if nobody else has anything sooner I'll have it next! [/quote] As it turns out, I'm not going away this coming weekend. So, when's a good time for us to meet up for a handover? Just about any time is OK with me, apart from Sunday when I'll be sailing.

Fate is against me on this one. It's just been confirmed that my gig tomorrow night (5th April) has been cancelled. Apparently, the venue closed two weeks ago and didn't inform the bands that had been booked. So - who's having it next? Steve

Nice bassline here: [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0tGE2N3NKE"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0tGE2N3NKE[/url]

In theory, I'm playing The Baton this Friday, 5th April. I say "In theory" because the venue is not returning calls or emails, and it cancelled last weekend's scheduled gig. It's possible our gig may be cancelled. I'm away 6th - 7th, so I'll be able to hand over the bass anytime after that. I'm surprised that nobody else in Manchester has put themselves forward. Steve

[quote name='eude' timestamp='1364465676' post='2026786'] If you can get hold of a good Ibanez Promothean 5110 Combo you'd be laughing, it'd suit your needs perfectly! [/quote] Well, I got a new P3110 from Thomann and it lasted 20 minutes before dying. Its replacement lasted longer but wasn't loud enough - 150W or so on its own (300W with an extension speaker. So, I'm sort of off Prometheans at the moment.

EEEK! Bit of a problem with the bass this morning - now fixed. The bass needed a bit of a wash and brush-up, and some routine maintenance. So, this morning, I; - Sorted out the loose jack socket. - Quick squirt of switch cleaner into the pots and jack socket - electrics are much quieter now. - Removed the strings to clean and oil the fretboard with lemon oil. Smells like your mum's kitchen now. - Tightened all tuners - they were all loose and rattling - Cleaned the bridge and removed nearly all of the rust. Putting the strings back on, the nut cracked and half went flying across the kitchen! Oh sh*t. Panic phone call to Steve Robinson guitar tech in Manchester. "Bring it straight over" he said. While I waited, he fitted a new nut and he tweaked the truss-rod to get rid of the fret-buzz at frets 1-5. Since it's the BC relay bass, he didn't charge anything. He's a good man. Here's his website: [url="http://www.manchesterguitartech.co.uk/"]http://www.manchesterguitartech.co.uk/[/url] Anyway, the bass is now much fitter and healthier and ready to get back out on the road. All's well that ends well. Steve

Pictures from kev's gig at the Golden Eagle in Chester on 28th March: Kev explaining the bass relay before playing: [attachment=131320:Kev 1.JPG] Kev playing and singing: [attachment=131318:Kev 3.JPG] Kev hands bass to me in the interval while eating his pick: [attachment=131319:Kev and Steve.JPG] I'll be playing with my old band Ask Anyone at Madisons wine bar in Rawtenstall on 5th April. Anyone in the area, please do come along and say hello. I'll then pass the bass on to Vinny for his gig on 13th April. Cheers, Steve

Just back from Chester. Kev "lurksalot" and his band were rocking the Golden Eagle - people singing, clapping and dancing. Good, tight band! Kev handed the bass to me. Pictures to follow tomorrow. Steve

You mean it [i]doesn't[/i] weigh 12 Kgs!? Really!?

[quote name='KiOgon' timestamp='1364473813' post='2026924'] I would be more worried about the quoted weight - 12Kg suppose it's a concrete body [/quote] Crikey - hadn't spotted that. So, 12 Kg (26.5 Lbs). It might even be heavier than my mahogany-and-brass Blazer. Surely not.

[quote name='Lee Carter' timestamp='1364469956' post='2026849'] Just my two-penneth but I to tried one of these and found the neck to be bloody awful. Hard to put my finger on why, it just felt very unwieldy in my hands, could of been my hands of course ;-) [/quote] Well, that's interesting - you're echoing what cocco was saying, above. Pickup seems to be a little dubious too. I'm losing interest..

[quote name='OliverBlackman' timestamp='1364424919' post='2026462'] I love mine. But be warned, apparently it's not an American standard pickup in the 60th anniversary. According to a post from a rep at fender uk it was instead a mex made 60's reissue pickup. I cannot remember what forum it was on as it was a long time ago but it's worth a google search. He went on to say it was a catalogue mistake that was never changed. I must admit they lacked a bit of low end. I replaced the pick up with some fralins and it's now so good that it is the only bass I will never sell. [/quote] Hmmm - that's interesting! I'm hoping to try the bass out in the next few days, but it will only be in the seller's house, through my practice amp - so, not a good representation of gig-level tone and volume.

[quote name='Vinny' timestamp='1364426666' post='2026498'] solo4652 in Rawtenstall on the 5th, then me in Bromborough on the 13th. Next? [/quote] On to Chrismuzz in Stoke??

[quote name='lurksalot' timestamp='1364428683' post='2026539'] On the plus side , its all plus , on the minus , I am also gigging on the 13th so won't be able to come and enjoy the craic young Vinny- my-lad , ah well , as a mr green once said . the party is still on tommorrow night for y'all . [/quote] Great! I'll come over tomorrow night (28th) and pick up the bass from you. I'll then pass it to Vinny after my gig on 5th April. See you tomorrow, then. Steve

[quote name='Vinny' timestamp='1364424014' post='2026444'] I've PM'd solo, I don't want him to miss out if (as it appears) he's only got the one gig to play it at. [/quote] Thanks Vinny - PM replied to. I saw that the relay looked as if it might be stalling, so I offered to do something to keep it going. I'm not in a band at the moment, but I contacted an old band of mine and they graciously offered me 1 song at their gig in Rawtenstall on 5th April. I'm happy to pick the bass up from Kev and then hand it to you after the 5th if that helps the relay at all. If it over-complicates things, then I'll simply stand aside - it's not a problem. Steve

[quote name='lurksalot' timestamp='1364410385' post='2026154'] Excellent news ,we have people queing for it now Latest from me is that Vinny has been in contact and will happily take it on next and I have tentatively given him the OK ,though I am not sure he can attend on thursday, or what his gig diary is like, but I will point him to the thread now and get his input with regard the other kind offer from Steve . Kev [/quote] Hi Kev, Not a problem at all. I can take the bass if Vinny isn't able to, and play it for 1 song at Madisons in Rawtenstall on 5th April. Apparently, I'll be playing Sweet Home Alabama.... Just let me know, Steve

[quote name='chrismuzz' timestamp='1364384809' post='2025641'] If you have it next, I'm only an hour's drive away so I'll come get it after you. I've got 3 decent gigs in April Unless somebody closer wants it before me? [/quote] I've just emailed my old band, and they're happy to let me do one song at their gig on 5th April. So, if I pick it up from Lurksalot, play it on 5th April and then pass it to you, would that work? Steve

I'm happy to be a link in this. I'm in Stockport and I can pick up the bass this Friday or Saturday. I'm not gigging at the moment, but I'm off to a jam night on Sunday, if that's any good. I might be able to blag a guest spot for one song with my old band who are gigging on 5th April, but I'd need to know soonish if I'll have the bass at that time. Don't want to get in the way of its journey to Scotland with mcnach. Steve

[quote name='cocco' timestamp='1364372657' post='2025440'] I had one of these, I'd recommend playing before you buy, I didn't like the neck at all. [/quote] What was it about the neck you disliked? I see you have a Blazer - I have one too. If I buy the MIM P, either it or the Blazer will be my gig back-up and the other will have to go. Which do you prefer, and why?

Folks, I have my eye on an MIM Precision 60th anniversary, just like this: [url="http://www.soundsliveshop.com/p/Fender_-_60th_Anniversary_Standard_Precision_Bass/FEN-0146102355"]http://www.soundsliveshop.com/p/Fender_-_60th_Anniversary_Standard_Precision_Bass/FEN-0146102355[/url] Will the American series pickup make a noticeable difference compared to a standard MIM pickup? Steve