Jump to content
Why become a member? ×

sammybee

⭐Supporting Member⭐
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    488

  • Joined

  • Last visited

 Content Type 

Posts posted by sammybee

    First gig played, where and when.

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    2 hours ago, ubit said:

    @sammybee  playing live is the ultimate goal of learning to play. There is no better feeling than performing and making people enjoy themselves. Getting a cheer after a song makes all the rehearsing, lugging of gear and sweat worthwhile!

    I'm happier jamming with others, without an audience - or recording. For me, the learning is about the journey rather than the destination.

    Sire V7 dual pot broken

    in Bass Guitars

    Posted

    17 hours ago, vmaxblues said:

    Andertons are the main distributor, contacted them, very helpful.

    Any part of the pre amp broken means full replacement preamp.

    £50 and a few weeks wait

    Does that mean you can buy the preamp separately (arguably the best bit of the bass) for a mere £50? This could be very interesting!

    • Like 1

    SIRE Marcus Miller V7 5 String Alder 1st Gen

    in Basses

    Posted · Edited by sammybee
    update

    I bought this at a very decent price (£383) from Thomann to dip my toe into the water with a 5 string after exclusively playing 4 strings for about a decade. It arrived quickly, and the bass looks stunning out of the box. The tobacco sunburst is a really stunning finish with the maple neck (10/10 for looks). I had read that these had a reputation for being quite heavy, so I was pleasantly surprised that mine was a very manageable weight (a shade under 10lbs). She balances nicely on the strap - either sitting or standing. Action was low from the box, but intonation was slightly out when you get up to the dusty end of the fretboard (nothing that a quick tweak wont fix). Being used to rather slender Jazz necks, I was surprised how comfortable I found the Sire to be when playing & very quick to adapt to. Overall the bass felt very comfortable and familiar to play unplugged - which was a relief for my first five string. The tuners and bridge (both top and through loading possible) do a good job - but we'll have to see about the longevity of the finish.

    On to the pre-amp and electrics. WOW, just wow - this thing has power. 18v preamp, with a master tone, 3 band eq and sweepable mids. You can get a real variety of tones from this bass. Even small adjustments make a big difference. I understand that all the sire V7's have the same preamp, so you will get the same if you go for the 4 string. Sound wise, I can't fault the electrics, but the knobs are built to a price point and there is a couple millimetre gap between the bottom of the knob and the body - which is a bit disappointing.

    Overall, I would say - as others have, this is a good bass 'for the money'. When I get my American Vintage RI 75 Jazz out alongside (or I recall my Jap MM signature Jazz), they cannot compete with the quality or fit and finish. The pre-amp is awesome sounding though, and you get a very playable bass for not much ££. For me, I'll keep it for awhile, but if I decide to stick with 5ers I'll be saving my pennies for a Sadowsky or a USA Fender Marcus Miller 5.

    UPDATE. I've been playing this for about a month now, and while it is really comfortable and I enjoy playing it, I know that 5 strings are not for me (nothing to do with the SIre - I just prefer 4s). The small niggles I mentioned before, I've learned to live with. As a lifelong gear snob, I never thought I would see the day I'd own a Korean bass - but this Sire is staying in my rack.

    Musicman Stingrays - Overrated ?

    in Bass Guitars

    Posted

    When I first bought my Stingray, it took me a long time to 'gel' with it, having only played Jazz basses. I'd say for the first year I would have sold it if anybody had made me a serious offer - I was that unimpressed with it. Fast foward a few years and now I'm in love with the playability, the build quality and the sound. Try and stick with it.

    What do you value about your local music shop?

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    18 minutes ago, Maude said:

    If I had something like that nearby then I'd use it. 

    My last experience at my closest shop was being told when asked if he had any flats in stock because I wanted to try them on my P bass was, "Don't bother, they'll sound like stinky poo". 

    Not naming names but Craig's Music in Bodmin will know who I'm on about. With service like that the Internet is a godsend. 

    I think my local shop know what they are up against (internet sellers), hence they will go the extra mile to give excellent service and get the sale.

    What do you value about your local music shop?

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    I've also got no excuse not to use the local shop (PMT Northampton), they price match anything on the web & if they don't have it in stock, they'll get it for me. For my last 2 (largish) ticket items, they price matched the first & gave me interest free credit, and for the second, they were a hundred quid cheaper than anyone on the internet.

    • Like 1

    What do you value about your local music shop?

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    1 minute ago, josie said:

    On principle I'll pay over the odds to buy from local independent shops to help them keep going. We're lucky enough to have a local bookshop, and I always buy from them even if the book is cheaper on A#####n. I want to be able to see, hold, physically try something before I commit to buying it. And I want to be able to walk in and have a friendly chat with someone who recognises me and can advise me based on knowing me personally. And know that I'm contributing to keeping my neighbours in employment. 

    My most local (easiest to get to) music shop is Johnny Roadhouse in Manchester, which I walk past on my way to and from work. I've bought four guitars from them over the past four years (my first guitar, a Faith Venus; my son's electric, a 1996 MIM Fender Strat; the bass I keep at work, a cheap Encore P; and my Michael Kelly acoustic 5, which pretty much jumped out of the window and bit me in the leg 🙂 ) All second hand at prices ranging from reasonable to cheap. Also a couple of 2nd hand bass amps and a few guitar stands, cables, & string sets. Convenient, but I'm not impressed enough with the stock or the staff that I'd go far out of my way to get there. 

    Promenade Music in Morecambe, on the other hand, is well worth the 2 1/2 hour train ride each way. I bought my first bass from there - had no idea what I was doing or looking for except that it had to be a 5 - spent two hours narrowing down their huge range with endlessly patient help and a couple of cups of coffee from Gary - who refused to let me buy my (still favourite) GMR until he was certain I'd be happy with it, and then gave me a lift back to the train station! So of course I went back for my Jazz+V and later my Michael Kelly fretless 5 - on which he changed the stock strings to flats free of charge. These days I'd be more confident walking into a place with indifferent staff, and I've bought three on BC, but for a complete beginner that level of support was priceless. Long may they thrive. 

    Likewise, I happily pay a little over the odds for much the same reason. I think it's important, not just for my own selfish needs - but for the younger kids and those who don't/can't want to order from an anonymous German box shifter that we keep our local music shops viable and open. They're a resource that the local scene needs.

    • Like 1
    • Confused 1

    Recommendation Sought

    in Amps and Cabs

    Posted

    I was wondering if anyone could recommend an active PA speaker with a built in mixer that could take a bass, guitar and mic. Just looking for something to sit in the corner of our extension, that we could plug in for a jam/small parties. I really dont want to lug a bass rig and guitar combo out from our 2nd floor music room when we just want to jam for an hour or two.

    eBay seller

    in General Discussion

    Posted · Edited by sammybee

    No you can definitely cancel the sale after - I've done it several times (normally because the item got damaged, couldnt be shipped etc) . Once the sale is cancelled, neither of you can leave feedback, you get your final value fees back - and everyone moves on.. cut and paste from my ebay account...
    [color=#333333][b]
    Hello,[/b][/color]

    You've sold this item.

    If the item is lost, broken or out of stock, or the buyer requests a cancellation, select [b]Cancel order[/b] below and issue a refund.
    If the buyer paid using PayPal, their refund will be issued automatically. Once they receive their refund we consider the cancellation complete. If they didn't use PayPal, please issue their refund manually within 10 days. The buyer will need to confirm that they've received their refund in order to complete the cancellation.
    Orders can be cancelled up to 30 days after the item is sold. Once the refund is successful and the cancellation is complete, you'll receive a final value fee credit.

    eBay seller

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    You won't be able to give negative feedback, and there is no such thing as a negative seller strike. As a seller you can cancel the transaction at any time (and get your fees back) - you just have to say the item is no longer available for sale. Just as, as a buyer, you can choose not to pay for items you win and no one will/can force you to pay.

×
×
  • Create New...