Marc S

[quote name='Japhet' timestamp='1474716218' post='3140025'] I have too many guitars and to pre-empt further threads I also have too many basses, amps, cabinets and effects pedals. [/quote] same here

I've liked Tenor guitars since seeing Seth Lakeman use them. Great sound, in the right hands, of course I haven't got one (I recently bought a Bouzouki - so I need to learn how to play that!) But I did fancy trying Tenor guitar. A pal loaned me an Ozark TG for a few weeks, earlier in the year. It wasn't expensive (sub £200 I think), but I thought it looked to be great construction (came with a nice hard case too) and the sound and finish on it was lovely. Go on, treat yourself to one

[quote name='Chris Sharman' timestamp='1470569330' post='3106749'] .....I know EA basses are quite prone to feedback anyway but certainly my HB seems particularly sensetive. I would appreciate anyone elses experience on this front. [/quote] I had an Ibanez Electroacoustic bass, and it was lovely. I only got rid of it because I had too many, and my son liked it so much... So I gave it to him - he now plays it all the time. I have to say, I didn't gig the bass all the time, but I never had any feedback issues from it whatsoever. A mate has the same Ibanez bass, which he gigs regularly, and I've never heard his feedback either. I know EA basses can't "keep up with" acoustic guitars volume-wise, but they are great for jamming along to CD's, to work out tunes etc. And just a small, portable amp makes them much more prominent. I used mine at unplugged jams, with a small battery powered Ashton buskers amp (15W 8" speaker) and it was great.... The Harley Benton does look similar to the Ibanez EA bass (though the Ibby was a 4 string) and for what the OP has bought it for, I'd say it's a brilliant instrument. If it sounds anything like my old Ibanez when plugged in to a decent amp - it'll be great. I'm sure the issues with them are sorted easily enough, and when you consider what you used to get for low money years ago - I think this is a great price EDIT: The preamp in the Ibanez was pretty good too. The bass looks so similar - I wonder if there are several "common" parts? Small blemishes in finish don't worry me - guitars get bumped about anyway, unless they stay in glass cases.....

Sorry to hear of this happening mate. Sincerely hope you get it back, and they catch the scumbags who stole it... BTW. Might be helpful to other BC'ers on the lookout for it, if you could let us know what city / town / area it was stolen from? EDIT: Other BC'ers might then be able to keep an eye open in Cash Converter shops and similar places in that area.... Good luck in getting it returned

[quote name='cana.dan' timestamp='1472554375' post='3122008'] It's ready! It will be in my hands tomorrow! [/quote] Oh lovely..... just lovely

I recently had 2 Precisions converted to P/J. Firstly, my Squier Classic Vibe. I was so impressed with it, that I had my Fender RW P done too. Both conversions were done by the superb luthier Dave Dearnaley, in Cardiff. I'm not quite sure which "position" the J pup is in actually - I left that decision to Dave, as he's so knowledgeable & experienced. I had him put Entwistle PBXN and JBXN pickups, and instantly loved the sound. Then I got him to put a JBXN into my RW. The fitted Fender pickup then sounded a little "wishy-washy" compared to my Squier, and so I fitted a PBXN to that bass too... I'd recommend the Entwistle pickups - they're very punchy, while still sounding vintage, and they're cheap

[quote name='bartelby' timestamp='1473760149' post='3132784'] ....and TJs in Newport. I got to play several gig in TJs before it closed. So I'm kind of happy. [/quote] I also got to play TJ's in Newport - and it's one venue I'm really glad I played in. It's unlikely to ever open again. Last time I passed, the whole block of buildings looked in such a state - almost ready to fall down. I know there were several people who wanted to save it, but my guess is some developer is waiting for it to become a dangerous structure, and will have to be knocked down Re the OP; Don't worry! I had a playing break of over 20 years! My 1st gig was in a Punk band, in a now demolished venue at Lavernock, near Penarth in South Wales. We supported Psychobillly band "Demented Are Go" - it was a wild night - we ended up sleeping on a small deserted train station, in an open shelter, and didn't get much sleep. My "ambition" such that it is, is to keep playing, and keep enjoying playing bass. Though I had such a long break - I'm enjoying my playing more than ever, and I'll keep doing that for as long as I can - play till I drop lol I don't care if I never play anywhere "really big" (though I've played some big-ish gigs, to quite big crowds) The big one upcoming for me, is that I'll be playing the Porthcawl Elvis Festival in a couple of weeks Really looking forward to that EDIT: Just realised that 1st gig was 34 or 35 years ago...... when I was young.....

Anyhow, rant over - I've calmed down

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1473339394' post='3129277'] And while the reported attitude of the employee you dealt with leaves a lot to be desired, there has been plenty of information posted here on a regular basis about import and handling charges so there shouldn't have been any surprise on your part in the first instance. [/quote] Er... what has the first half of this sentence got to do with the second half? Regarding my "surprise" it may be due to the fact that I had not read of anyone else's complaints on this matter - after all, who has time to read every thread on BC? My surprise is also based on not just my own experience of paying duty, but that of others - having mentioned this experience to several pals (EDIT, I was at a gig last night), none of whom had paid an amount so high, for such low cost goods Incidentally, the chap behind me in the queue was also collecting goods from the US, his parcel was rather larger (+ heavier) than mine, and he said the contents were valued at over £40 (while the PO guy went into a back room muttering and grumbling) - yet his charge was slightly less than mine! Another mistake? As I was leaving, that gent whispered to me words something like "what a miserable git!" (not aimed at myself, I would point out) My OP was not a rant at all Post Office staff, indeed, I did say that the service had always been pretty good in the past. But this behaviour is unacceptable..... I'm just pleased this guy wasn't working in the NHS - he'd have lasted less than a week.....

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1473336240' post='3129222'] To the OP: .....4. Just because you've got away with not having to pay import duty and VAT on an item over the threshold on a previous delivery doesn't mean you'll get away with it again. Sometimes you just get lucky..... HTH. [/quote] I didn't "get away" with anything, the value of the item was printed on the postal label, and I paid the charge I was asked to at the time... If it was incorrect, that would have surely been the fault of whoever worked the amount out? The only person to "get away" with anything is the idiot who thinks he can deal with the public in any manner he sees fit.....

[quote name='RhysP' timestamp='1473333230' post='3129157'] I worked for Royal mail for ten years. I did some time in the parcel collection office & the unrelenting sh*t you have to take from the public is truly horrendous, and it's nearly always for something that was the customers own responsibility to find out. [/quote] I'm sure the collection office staff do get some nonsense from time to time, but that doesn't justify treating everyone in a frankly rude, ignorant, obnoxious manner. Working for the NHS, over the years (and in a rather stressful job at that, I might add), I have had to deal with the public a lot too - some of whom are in pain, are undergoing treatment, or have just had awful news about their health, or health and / or life-expectancy of a relative etc etc. If I ever had spoken to a patient or one of their relatives in such a manner as that guy yesterday...... I'd have been out of a job!

I recently ordered a set of "Weed Whacker" synthetic gut strings for my double bass. I want to try to do some more slap style playing on upright, and though my preferred Spirocore Weich strings are fairly low tension for a metal string - I thought at just over £16 sterling a set, I'd at least give these a try, or put them on my EUB to try them out in the 1st place. Ordered them from a shop on ebay, who quickly messaged me back, and the postage cost from the US seemed reasonable enough to me - though there was that usual phrase at the bottom of the postage section about possibly incurring customs charges - fair enough, I would expect that (though many US music shops now work that out and incorporate it in to your final total). Having recently bought something else from the US, at around £50 sterling, I paid about £6 or £7.... But this time, an item costing just over £16 incurred an £11 charge! I was gobsmacked So I proceeded to ask the guy in the Post Office / Parcelforce collection depot how I might go about complaining, all I got was "I couldn't care less SIR!" and "Look, do you want this, or shall I chuck it in the bin?" The more I tried to speak with the guy, the louder and more aggressive he got. His suggestion was that I find a brick wall and talk to that - I've used this depot before, and generally always preferred to use Post Office and Parcelforce, as I've found them to be OK. Is this the friendly face of our now privatised Post Office I wonder? The guy's I.D. Badge was turned around and tucked into his shirt, and there was clearly no way he was going to tell me his name - but I've complained by email - now wondering whether my mail will go missing in future? How do I go about complaining about such a massive surcharge on imported goods? Or are we to expect this sort of customs charge at over 60% of the value of the goods in future? I've often felt uneasy at using couriers for sending things like instruments and amps in the post, but I'm now thinking I don't ever want to send anything, or order something by post again. I think I'm gonna stick to buying from a shop I'm actually physically stood in.... Cheers all PS. Are there any UK shops that sell these Weedwhackers, for future reference?