Lfalex v1.1

[quote name='bertbass' timestamp='1365467021' post='2040091'] Why not burn them yourselves. Get printable CDs, http://www.amazon.co.uk/CD-R80-Inkjet-Printable-pieces-recordable/dp/B00AR0WOY8/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1365466888&sr=8-4&keywords=printable+cds and print them as well on a printer that prints CDs like an Epson photo R220. You might as well print out the back covers and inserts for the jewel cases, http://www.amazon.co.uk/100x-Jewel-Cases-Black-Tray/dp/B0011YDXPI/ref=sr_1_6?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1365466968&sr=1-6&keywords=jewel+cases while you're at it. It's a lot cheaper so more profit for you. [/quote] It's what one band I was in did. Turned enough profit to pay for the next recording session and covered its own costs in terms of production, too. All we did was pay for rehearsals and travel to venues (which we shared in two vehicles)

[quote name='ubassman' timestamp='1365410305' post='2039025'] CAPTION ? [/quote] Should have gone to Specsavers?

Thanks to all for the contributions so far. Staying off bass as it plainly exacerbates whatever I've done. Ironically, nothing else seems to affect it. Struggled to sleep because of it last night, but seems okay in general use....

[quote name='3below' timestamp='1365427083' post='2039376'] These days I tend not to worry about badges. Chinese rockbass £100 sounds just as good as my 'best bass'. Then again my best bass is only a copy precision, says something like made in Fullerton CA USA by Leo Fender on the headstock. Have had the why do you only have a copy comment several times. Seems like a waste of time trying to explain G&L to the uninitiated. [/quote] SB-2?! I'm not a badge whore at all. I buy what I like. I'd never heard of Vigier when I bought mine. I had sort of decided on a Thumb 5, but tried everything in the shop in my price range. Off of the wall came "the black one over there" and it never went back. I DO own an American Jazz. Jazzes suit/fit me very well. The one I bought felt and sounded better than a Warwick j/j Streamer and was nearly as punchy as a Ray on some settings. I own a Squier VMJ, too. Cracking bass. Super neck, and some better pickups will make it really quite formidable. Have funds? Try it. Like it? Buy it. Colour, style (unless that causes ergonomic issues) and badge aren't really part of the equation.

Had 3 Escorts. All did heavy band duty. The 1.3 ohv was the best. Basic as you want. Got myself, guitarist, singer and all gear everywhere. Now own a Puma, which is a bit of a statement of intent about my gigging future.... There isn't one. Even if I could find the time, there's no space!

I'm gently downsizing. Selling off cheaper instruments like an Ibanez, Ovation electro-acoustic, OLP and potentially Hohner B2A, whilst keeping more useful/ better instruments. Figure I'll keep the VMJ, MIA jazz, Vigier, Yamaha and two of the Warwicks. The fate of the Streamline and Infinity are undecided. In place of the 4 or 5 that go, I'll likely invest in an EUB. Has to be a fiver, though!

[quote name='Big_Stu' timestamp='1365367375' post='2038711'] Do you know for sure it's tendon issues? About half way along the outside of your forearm? [/quote] Almost. More like two-thirds of the way to the elbow and outside edge / slightly below. Only other thought is tennis elbow, though the pain isn't in/around the joint..

[quote name='MiltyG565' timestamp='1365361146' post='2038572'] What i can't understand is how a courier puts a hole through several layers of packing AND plywood. Was it a drill hole? [/quote] Forklifts. Stable, robust, powerful devices for a tough job. When clumsily (or mis-) used, the damage potential is simply enormous.

Thanks, and it's ok, I'm only canvassing for opinions and experiences. I'm not going to sue anybody over it!

[quote name='KiOgon' timestamp='1365339052' post='2038174'] Surgical spirits is good stuff for skin & strings, you can kill 2 birds at once by cleaning your strings off after every session with sugical pririts on a cooton pad or soft cloth, getting it on the fingers & strings at the same time + it will clean any dead skin & detritus out of the strings making them cleaner & healthier to minimize contamination or aggravation of any dermatic condition. First thing I do with new strings before fitting them is to rub them hard along the length with a pad soaked in surgical spirits, you might be surprised at the black muck that comes off some brand new strings, depending on the manufacturing processes, oils etc. used. [/quote] Or use coated strings.... Provided that you can get on with them in terms of feel or tonal qualities. Fortunately my job entails lots of manual work. My hands seem pretty tough and heal in two days when split/cut.

Whilst trying to remove a seized sump plug today (long story), I've found that I've strained some tendons in my right forearm from repeatedly applying a lot of strength when laying at a funny angle. Hadn't particularly noticed it until I picked a bass up, but now it feels like that arm (plucking, I'm right-handed) is on fire, especially when I play. That, and I've heavily bruised my fretting hand just from gripping something too tightly. I'm no weakling, nor am I Arnold Schwarzenegger, but I can't comprehend my ability to apply more force than my bones/joints/tendons can take through muscle power alone... Any ideas on recovery times. Fortunately I'm on holiday from work for 2 weeks.

[quote name='SteveK' timestamp='1362498997' post='2000214'] Listen to how Frank Sinatra sings well known songs, and how they differ from the original... that's 'phrasing', that is. [/quote] Or remember how the cylons in the original Battlestar Galactica spoke? Monotonous, without inflection or emotion? That's a complete lack of phrasing!

[quote name='Bilbo' timestamp='1364830364' post='2031375'] Learn to press the strings with lighter technique. You will probably find you working harder than you need to and slowing yourself down as a result. [/quote] As true for fretting hand as for picking/plucking hand. Strike the strings more gently, and turn up your gain/master if you're losing volume. Makes damping (with plucking hand) much easier and stops the string being "elsewhere" when you come to pluck it again... And I didn't read Damonjames' post!

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1365007615' post='2034088'] Are you sure it's long scale? [/quote] Jesus! If you look at the image, it depicts an instrument with 3 pickups. Yet the spiel lists it as having 2. If they can't figure out how many pickups the bass has, what chance do they have of getting the scale length right? It's not like either of these are remotely important, anyway

[quote name='Musicman20' timestamp='1365082864' post='2035015'] I would probably be more wary to sell now. I understand the site needs funds to run, but personally I don't sell or buy that often. I agree that the buyer should be charged some/all of the cost of the advert. Many WON'T agree with that though. There are certain basschatters who have, in my eyes, abused the for sale area and basically got 'tat' for a good price from Cash Converters/eBay/seller with less knowledge, then sold it on here for a good profit. I disagree with that. It isn't a shop. In fact, one item that was in no way tat was on here about a year back, I almost bought it, then realised it was actually on a gumtree type site for £150.00 less from a totally different seller in the same area. I found evidence that it was exactly the same item, pointed it out to the seller on here, and then it vanished apart from the advert on here. Literally as soon as I pointed it out. I mean, who honestly has 10 or more old Trace amps, one a week or so, and sells them on here. They were bought for profit purposes only, (I use this as an example). [/quote] I'd have thought that the mods might have spotted that and dealt with it... Will they be less likely to in the future if it generates income for the site?

[quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1363080722' post='2007906'] I see where you're coming from ( ), and I hear what you're saying ( ), but I'm struggling to see how I'll lose sleep over it. If the consequence is that a small number of people who only ever wanted to use Basschat as a cheap alternative to eBay decide to stick with eBay, that's their problem. [/quote] That's a big "IF". I've tried to sell 3 items on here in the past. All at what I felt were good prices (which was reflected in similar items being similarly priced in the BC Marketplace) One sold in the worst transaction I've had. Ever. The other items attracted offers which were simply not acceptable. Off to the 'bay they went and sold for the amount I asked for them. To local bass players (I don't do shipping) For my most recent sale, I didn't even bother listing it here, fees notwithstanding. [b]Edit- and now a second one has sold on Ebay almost immediately, for a little more than I'd anticipated. I strongly doubt it'd have made as much on here.[/b] So.. In my experience, Ebay works better for me. Why would I try BC first, pay £7 per item (for those previously described) , have them not sell, be forced to withdraw them, pay Ebay listing fees and sell them there? I simply can't afford to use a medium that doesn't work for me when selling. I have bought one item from here, and it all went swimmingly. From a philosophical point of view, why charge the vendor and not the buyer? If I were buying an item for, say, £200, I'd gladly pay a 5% surcharge. Maybe I'm alone and it would render the marketplace uncompetitive in a broader sense. The logic being; If I'm selling, I need the money, or I'd not be selling When I'm buying, I have the funds available, and there's always a few percent of "stretch" in the budget...

Graphite/carbon composites [i]can[/i] be lighter than traditional materials in many applications. They don't have to be, though. The primary goals in a graphite neck design might well be Rigidity Stability Adjustability - which will determine if a t-rod is used Profile Weight If I were manufacturing replacement parts, I'd aim to make them as close to the original in every way, including feel. Just better.

You'll need to be sure it's what you want. It's an expensive exercise otherwise. How much is the neck? £350/400? Bear in mind they come with blank headstocks- you've got to drill them for your choice of hardware. Or they'll do it for you. At a price. Factor in possible issues with fitting it to the body and it might hit £550+ if you're unlucky. That's another SUB's worth and then some! Would it be an improvement? That's a very subjective question. Have you tried one?

Mine's falling to bits! I treat all my instruments with great care, yet my Streamline's fretboard is delaminating and a hole is forming in the fretboard. Cracks are appearing beneath the tuners... It's not good. Getting strings is a pain, Setting the intonation is a bigger pain, and those symmetrical strap buttons are no good if you use Schaller locks, because the bass won't stand straight. Ergonomically, they're great, and they're east to transport. They play well, but sound a bit bland compared to basses with more "character". Good in recording environments, but ultimately, they seem to lack absolute bottom-end. I've had mine for about 3 years, and it's spent most of that in a cupboard.

Hope yours fares better than mine...

[quote name='Big_Stu' timestamp='1364853621' post='2031899'] To be fair it was from a pre-selected list of popular albums they regularly played; only one appearance by any artist allowed - and no greatest hits types. [/quote] So Macca gets in three times?

And if the polepiece to string alignment DOES bother you... P pickups with blades are available..

[quote name='uncle psychosis' timestamp='1364550693' post='2027967'] Personally, selling a bass that you really, really like just to get a bass that you [i]may[/i] like seems a bit silly. Given that its also a terrible time for selling stuff I would hold onto it and save up for a 6 string. Once you have the 6 you can decide what to do with the 5. [/quote] This is good sense. Do this! I have a Fortress MM5 and a Streamer LX6. I also use a Pandora... Spacing on sixes can be an issue. The LX6 is about 16.5mm. Quick with fingers. Clumsy when slapped. Well, when I'm driving it is!

DR Sunbeams sound great on my Jazz..

I have never and will never use couriers to transport any of my stuff. When selling, I always stipulate collection in person. When buying, I'll collect myself, partly because I want to try items for myself before I buy, but mainly because I'll take care of them in transit. I feel for you.