Burns-bass

Amazon isn’t actually that efficient. It’s PR machine bangs out a load of BS about drones, robots and the like, but the majority of work is manual and performed by appallingly treated zero hours workers. We all have a choice (including apathy). Had we all shrugged our shoulders and carried on working for our feudal masters, we’d have no pension, welfare state, weekends or even paid holidays. Personally, when we have years of this (high prices, stagnant wages and energy poverty) people will act. And I hope it’s as polite and pleasant as the striking workers I met in Bristol. I don’t think it will be…

Totally agree! Alongside working as a writer, I also have a retail business and we solely use RM at the moment. Customers (did) prefer it. The alternatives are, by and large, awful. Sending thousands of parcels a year gives you a fair evidence base to work from.

There are screws I every job, although I'd never trust a second hand anecdote. Perhaps it happened, perhaps it didn't. One example of poor practice doesn't mean that the whole system is bad. (The conduct of Harold Shipman hasn't put me off visiting the GP, and my friend who is a builder hasn't killed 25 people that I know of.) RM wants to pursue an outsourced Amazon/Hermes model. The reliable service we grew up with is being stripped back and replaced by zero-hours contracts, with poorly paid van drivers who have to urinate in a bottle so that shareholders can get their well earned dividend each year. We can stand by and let a 500 year-old institution be asset stripped and destroyed or support strikers. I know which side I'm on.

This is veering into 1970s “er indoors” territory. If your wife is going to leave you, I’m not sure that it’s the guitars that’ll be the cause!

Solidarity with the working classes mate. Nobody likes a tattle tale, do they?

So, you spot him at work and watch him for half an hour? I'm not sure who the time waster is... Quick straw poll, how many posties or RM workers are posting on here during work hours? (Answers on a postcard, please...)

I thought it was hard but I’ve done 12 out the door and none back in and it’s all working out wonderfully. No more cases everywhere, wife happy, bit of cash (err, a lot of cash - all of which has been saved for 2023 and the craziness). I also have the money here if I ever see something I really want.

The same topic comes up in almost every hobby I have. “How much should I spend on a bike?” ”How much should I spend on oil paint?” ”Should I buy a top of the range Mac?” ”Will these £160 trainers help me run faster?” And the answer is almost always the same: Your equipment is less important than the commitment you have, the time you invest, and innate ability. Answers: - Between £1000-£2000 for a recreational cyclist - Student grade is fine until your skills justify it - No, unless you’re doing high end graphics, video editing, animations or running a super studio - Probaby not, but they will shame you into running more!

I traded up to a £10k jazz bass (1964, all original) which I sold on here. I’d always wanted one, and had the money to buy one. The reality is I get more use and pleasure from a Squier P/J I picked up for £80.

Double bass or electric?

To be fair, the Shorty I had was lightweight, but the neck was far too narrow to be suitable for a 5 string conversion. Attempting it would involve destroying a good entry-level bass in my eyes.

Having owned one I’d say there is no chance it would function adequately as a 5, and a conversion would be pointless and expensive. I’m sure there must be some cheap 5 stringers out there.

Fair enough. I’m not sure why anyone would take the lack of a response so personally…

Perhaps he (or she) is upset and embarrassed at being conned. They owe us nothing at all.

Having sold or given away 10 instruments in the last few months I’m financially and mentally better for it!

To add to this list, I hate it when private sellers attempt to charge shop prices fr gear when they have none of the overheads and offer none of the securities (the option to pay with a credit card, 3 month guarantee etc.)

Agreed. Bit of pentatonic bashing!