Musicman20

[quote name='Grand Wazoo' timestamp='1406231196' post='2509656'] You don't listen do you Gareth? I said already I'm not even contemplating making money on my Dingwall basses, they are here to stay, besides I'm good enough with money and I don't need to make more [/quote] That's great. Just enjoy what you've got. I spend less time on bass forums because of these types of outcomes. Probably a good thing because I've realised none of this actually matters.

[quote name='Grand Wazoo' timestamp='1406179271' post='2509018'] Gareth, it might not matter to you, but if you set on a search for the ultimate bass, [b]knowing well in advance[/b] that this will involve buying and reselling lots of basses, by getting rid of those that didn't meet your expectations, you don't want to do that at a loss do you, you clever clog? Which is why it makes sense that you must try and get most of your money back if not all of it. That my friend, it's simple mathematics and the only way you keep afloat in the game of buying & selling for the purpose of the search which I've described above! One of the [b]many[/b] differences between me and you Gareth, is that I would flog a bass that I've bought and not liked, while you would send it back because there is a scratch on the cardboard box it came in or the box was the wrong colour and the shipping label was glued at a funny angle, or maybe because Strings & Things didn't include Nectar points for your loyalty card. [/quote] I don't think anything I said was a personal vendetta, but I didn't expect anything less from you. Get a grip man. You sold all your basses that you praised because you fell out with the company. You praised the Bongo for years. End of. I wish you well with Dingwall but they are boutique instruments, and rare. You will not make money on them. That isn't the point. Money is not everything in life. I'll tell you what the difference is between me and you, I'm polite and I don't bring things up of forums that I don't understand. I'm probably too nice for my own good. Please don't try to belittle me; it won't work.

My home town is Grimsby, where my parents etc all still live. I have some good friends in Immingham! Welcome!

Pete - I've had mine for 3 years now and still find great tones. The middle P pup on its own is amazing is passive, the back bridge pup is a really nice tight snappy tone. I still find great tones. It sounds great iin anything from funk to heavier styles of music. Personally, I love it. Not sure whether it matters whether you 'make' money on a bass....that isn't why it do it personally. The UK market is quite 'conservative'.

Musicians pay tax? .... I thought they just 'avoided it' (note I didn't say evade).

[quote name='molan' timestamp='1406034171' post='2507677'] £50K a year each is less than most lawyers I know but the lawyers do put in more hours than the musicians [/quote] Depends on the region, which again makes the differences with the fees paid for gigs. Northern gigs pay (usually) less than southern gigs (not sure where the lines stops) but thats probably obvious. Much much much cheaper cost of living up here. I think most people would be suprised at the usual salary for a solicitor.

[quote name='molan' timestamp='1406031609' post='2507635'] OK - maybe I'm just being too literal. When I said "I have a good friend who is in a jazz covers outfit with his wife who earns - they pull in about £100K a year" it was a simple statement of fact and not an opinion so I didn't understand the reference. This was a direct answer to the OP who didn't ask about lifestyles so it seemed a simple answer. The couple in question are married with one kid, own a flat in North London (which they rent), a house in Bedford (where they live) and another house fairly nearby that they bought as an investment and also lease. They drive a Merc and live a pretty decent lifestyle that's funded by playing covers around 4-5 nights a week plus some additional income from teaching during the day. They are very good at what they do and have built up a strong client base for weddings, corporate functions and cafe/restaurant type gigs - hence the relatively high income for a duo working as covers players [/quote] I'm in the wrong game hahah! They seem to be earning more than a doctor/lawyer!

I think they are rare because of the difficulty in breaking any guitar market, and in this case the UK, with something completely different with a lot of options. It is a quirky shape, but ergonomically, it is very comfortable. It just 'works'. I now have the guitar version (albeit the Albert Lee HH) on order.

The other route is to build up a good non-music related career, get to a good position financially, then cut back the hours once you are closer to the top of the rung and play more. Whether that is playing for money or the sheer fun of it, whichever way, it is money. There will obviously be a huge difference in expectations of financial rewards for playing gigs. I know plenty of good hard working bands who get paid petrol or nowt, but they play some decent festivals now, and have their own albums/EP's and a big following. That's gotta be where it's at for me. Cash as well? Well I won't say no... People singing along to your bands songs that you wrote? Priceless. If you can, I strongly suggest everyone tries the DIY approach of writing your own music, booking your own gigs, getting in a van, and just touring the UK for a week playing shows every night with your closest mates. I've only done it a few times but I would highly recommend it. It's basically like a holiday but with music and meeting new people night after night. Brilliant. Then of course you could go back to covers as well. Why not.

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1406022876' post='2507505'] +1 think a fair number of people on this forum would aspire to that, or something like it. [/quote] Don't get me wrong, as much as I think work is a necessity in life, and its healthy to have a busy work life, but man, I would love to only have to work 2-3 hours a day and get the same money!

I love the Streamliner. It is very well built and feels very high quality. I really hope the ex-Genz guys stay in the bass amp business and come back.

[quote name='CamdenRob' timestamp='1406016158' post='2507437'] It depends what the venue is... round here covers bands play regular pubs, paid to entertain a regular clientele on Friday / Saturday nights. We also have a good Thirty odd live music venues with nightly gigs, where a covers band would look very out of place amongst all the original acts. So on a Fri/Sat night in Camden alone I recon there are a hundred originals bands of various styles playing. [/quote] Agreed. I tend to find from living in my small home town in Lincolnshire, then Leeds, Nottingham and now Newcastle, that the covers scene is totally different and attracts a hugely different crowd. My home town is a quiet weird place, but it is rife with music. The same guys have countless original bands writing quite obscure underground styles, (and I've been there with them in the past) and yes, plenty of covers bands. The thing is, I personally never get hugely excited to see a covers band, unless its full of old mates (and one particular band who treated a gig like a party and covered lots of modern pop/rnb). I'd much rather go see a band I aspire to be in and sound like. That is the whole reason I wanted to play music. Covers scenes and function bands (I've been in plenty of covers bands in the past) seem to attract 'mates and family' plus the locals who are just there anyway. There isn't the buzz and excitement. It also comes down to genre. Seeing bands I like who write their own music is very accessible, whereas bands that may not exist anymore would make covers more acceptable. I don't know really. I've enjoyed cover bands but it just doesn't have the buzz or excitement. Especially playing in a local normal bar that isn't really setup for bands.

Aye - TKS cabs are REALLY nice and are very well priced.

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1405926717' post='2506458'] Would I have to order new without trying one first though, does anywhere stock them in the UK? [/quote] Nah, not that I know of. However, Promenade Music offered to get me any EBMM guitar or bass in from the suppliers (if its in stock) to demo with no obligation. I'm certain they have both 4 and 5 string models available in the UK. Shame you aren't closer to have a look at mine!

If I'm being honest, the other 2x12 options you are looking at won't add that much more than your Genz already provides. Maybe a touch more volume (possibly) and a different tone, but tone is subjective. The Neo X 212 is a very well respected cabinet. Even the high end cabinet designers seem to think Genz got it right with that cabinet. You probably won't lose much weight or bulk, but spend a lot more.... Totally up to you though. You could get two CN112's and have a very modular setup. That would make sense.

Have TC confirmed price of repair? I know they have a repair centre who have been very good in my experience. Very quick!

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1405881960' post='2506131'] What do you think of them JapanAxe? Can mm20 really be the only person on bass chat that has one? I need to rectify that [/quote] Gary at Promenade Music has great prices on EBMMs!

4 hours is way too long for one band...especially when it comes to the modern party/clubbing culture. The longest gig I've seen was Pearl Jam. 2 and s half hours ish. You lose a lot of the punters at 10/11 when they move on. 4 hours is a lot of music! Well done

Mine is still a favourite in my collection!

I can honestly say that Gary has given the best service I've ever had. Trustworthy, polite and good prices.

Sorry! I probably didn't post very well! I just want to order one guitar when they are in, and maybe go from there

I've never met a musician who does it purely as a living. I imagine there are plenty who do...but it doesn't seem a very safe way to ensure a living. Purely my opinion. I personally could not do it full time. It's fun, but writing and playing your own music is the reason I started.

I've seen a few bits on Thomann I'd like to try. Not expensive, and more guitar related, but has anyone had issues returning items? Cheers

I don't buy into the 'longer scale makes a B better'. It doesn't. See Sadowsky and Musicman. I've played a few 35" scale basses and found the B to be fairly loose feeling.

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1405620783' post='2503787'] I don't tend to rely on pickup configurations or settings, it's all in the fingers, it really is. With double bass having a massive come back a lot of innovation has gone into electric upright, most people still want a full size DB though. [/quote] It is, but it's fun to have lots of things to play with. Then its nice to gig a Classic Ray 5 and just used pick/fingers/mutes and get all sorts of tones. Too many pickup settings can be tiring though. I tend to think it has more effect on an electric guitar, hence the Gamechanger seems to have been more popular with them (much more noticable in the mix).