Annoying Twit

I've got the Zappa plays Zappa DVD. It's done very, very, well in my opinion. Dweezil really has learnt to reproduce his late Dad.

[quote name='Geek99' timestamp='1394022646' post='2386976'] Use much longer screws ? It can't be THAT soft that a deeper mounted screw won't sidestep the issue [/quote] If I recall correctly, the discussion was that Paulownia was used for very cheap basses, where the makers may not be too concerned about making the thing last. Obviously if someone wants a quality light bass, then they can make adjustments and replace bits to address any issues. I first heard of Paulownia after running across a cheap no-brand p-bass which weighed absolutely nothing. I don't know if it was Pawlonia, but I picked it up, and the first thought that ran through my head when I felt how light it was was 'balsawood'. Someone suggested it might have been Paulownia based on that. (Edit: Actually that was my second thought, the first one was "WTF?").

Very interesting reviews of an audiophile ethernet cable on Amazon. http://www.amazon.com/Denon-AKDL1-Dedicated-Cable-Version/product-reviews/B000I1X6PM/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?showViewpoints=1 [quote] A caution to people buying these: if you do not follow the "directional markings" on the cables, your music will play backwards. Please check that before mentioning it in your reviews. [/quote]

There is someone selling Pawlonia p-bass kits on ebay. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/P-BASS-KIT-PAULOWNIA-WOOD-BODY-NECK-BRIDGE-TUNERS-PICKUP-STRINGS-AND-PARTS-/231168129249?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item35d2b1b8e1 I looked into them, but found someone online (can't remember where) who said that the wood was too soft, and that items such as strap buttons may pull out if subjected to too much force.

I read a high end Audiophile mag once. In it was an article where an audiophile contributor became concerned that the 'window' on his CD player was letting in light which might interfere with the reading of the 1s and 0s from the CD. So, he used tape to cover up the window. 'Did it improve the sound - it sure did.' There was then a big description of all the ways that the sound had improved. Nowdays people who have network music servers will claim that certain servers will sound better than other servers etc. However, in the same issue they had a blind test of different amplifiers, and found that their testers couldn't tell the difference between a moderately priced amplifier and a high end amplifier. I agree with the previous statement that any specialist audio equipment such as (e.g.) £500 digital cables should be double blind A/B tested against moderately priced cables to see if there is actually an perceptible difference. If people actually wanted better sound quality when listening at home, then they should acoustically treat the rooms that they are listening in. However, to do so actually requires them to learn a whole lot of specialist knowledge. It's easier for a certain type of audiophile who can afford it to simply spend a whole lot of money on an audiophile power lead for their audio equipment, and then sit there being smug believing that they are getting a perceptible benefit from it. Some audiophiles are an excellent example of how we as a species are particularly prone to superstitious beliefs. Edit: I've had a quick look at an audiophile forum. http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?fcabl&1118611066&openflup&57&4#57 I'm not surprised that there is considerable discussion of double blind testing, much of which shows a considerable misunderstanding of double blind testing.

Ibanez Roadster. Price seems about what they go for. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1980-Ibanez-Roadster-Roadstar-Vintage-Bass-Guitar-Made-in-Japan-MIJ-/231172802617?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item35d2f90839

It's almost as if a teenager's mother has called his bluff. "Mum, I'll get rid of the guitar if you appear nude in the ebay listing."

Early on I learnt the two octave scales from "Bass Guitar for Dummies" which require quite a trip up the neck and back down again on a four string bass. On my six string bass (*) I practice three octave scales up the neck and down again. I've not yet really found a use for such a wide range yet, but I think the practice has helped me be able to change hand position better and more smoothly. For a two octave major scale in G, I start on the third fret of the low E string and the highest note is the twelfth fret on the G string. Certainly helps me get used to going all over the neck. (*) and on my six string guitars since I have them tuned in all fourths tuning now.

[quote name='waynepunkdude' timestamp='1393711845' post='2383720'] The op said [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]"Marmite bass?[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]I quite like it. I was just amused by how much stuff it has on it. "[/font][/color] [/quote] Thanks. I'm not sure what I've written actually criticises the bass. There's just a lot on it. There have been some other posts saying that this bass isn't as high specified with stuff as I suggested in the first post, so I'd quite like to hear about other makes/models of bass that have even more stuff on them, e.g. the bass posted by HappyJack. BTW: @ambient, originally I mistook the ramp for a third pickup, but I was corrected early on.

I had a quick go on one of these in a shop today. I also played a USA Standard Precision as a comparison, as well as Classic Vibe and Affinity Squier basses. In my humble opinion, the Modern Player feels excellent, and to me felt as good quality a bass as the USA Precision. It was a slight applles and oranges comparison with the Modern Player being a Jazz with a maple fingerboard, and the USA being a Precision with a Rosewood board. But in terms of quality, I think they were much of a muchness. The neck and fretwork felt very nice to me. I thought the satin black finish both looked and felt really nice. The two Squiers both felt nice, but the two Fenders really were a cut above. Though, it's possible that a proportion of the improvement is due to better strings. I tried these instruments at Sheehans in Leicester, who set up all their instruments before putting them out for sale. So, it is possible also that the setup had an equalising effect between the MIUSA and MIC Fenders. As far as I'm concerned, this certainly answers the question as to whether there are very high quality basses being made in China.

My copy cost her £1.24. New. 2nd edition from 2008.

Mine has no pictures at all on page 48, and a picture of Jameson playing bass on page. The only reference to Wal in the index is page 117, which is a mention in the section on MIDI basses. There are no pictures on page 11 of my copy. My copy came from 'The Works', but our local Leicester branch is closing down for renovation. Hence while I don't know how much it was, I'm guessing my partner paid much less than the £4.99 sticker price. The book is available online at their website, but for £5.99, and you need to spend £10 to get free postage. (I'd presume that the identical looking copy on the website is the same edition as what I have, but obviously that's not guaranteed. The cover picture in the ebay listing posted by funkgod is identical to my copy.

[quote name='icastle' timestamp='1393532512' post='2381647'] Nothing whatsoever, it's on my 'list of things to do at some point'. [b]We've been together for about 7 years and always get plenty of work[/b] so we don't really see it as that important tbh. [/quote] But for new bands that haven't yet established sufficient contacts and/or following, the social media side may be far more important. [quote name='andydye' timestamp='1393534268' post='2381689'] how much is a website nowadays? ...and what's involved in getting one as I've no clue but we'll probably need one at some point... [/quote] I would think that any reasonably intelligent person should be able to read a few how-to pages, and create a passable website. In the worst case, you could have a single page with text and graphics made in a word processor, and just uploaded to some free web space. Here's a BBC page on it. http://www.bbc.co.uk/webwise/guides/building-websites

I once attempted to buy a MIDI guitar thing (non-traditional). The guy twice said to me that I'd be able to visit after 8pm after the kids were in bed. Both times, he wouldn't respond at 8pm, wouldn't answer his phone. Then, when at 9pm or so I gave up and went home (he was closer to my work), he'd contact me about 9:30pm or so and say 'you can come over now'. I suppose I could have planned for that the third time and worked around it, but I just couldn't be bothered any more, so gave up. Once I enquired about a bass case on gumtree that was for sale, for £25. The person selling it said that I wouldn't be able to come around right now, as he was busy. Lo and behold, the same case turned up on Ebay. I was a bit miffed, but I bid £20 on it. Right to the end of the auction I was winning, and then I was outbid. After the auction, the gumtree seller got back to me and said that I could come around and buy it now, which I found suspicious since it had just 'sold' on ebay. I sent him a link to the ebay auction and said 'sorry, but in the meantime I bought this one.' I wonder what he made of that.

Marmite bass? I quite like it. I was just amused by how much stuff it has on it.

My partner just gave me one of these. A local bookshop is closing down for renovation and is selling of all its stock. This book certainly has some GAS inducing pictures. Edit: I have no idea what that thing on Jameson's bass is.

I've got no idea if I will be there. The other event for the 10th that we committed to may not actually happen, or may happen on May the 17th instead of the 10th. When is the cutoff for deciding whether to go or not?

[quote name='Shockwave' timestamp='1393496450' post='2380914'] Lacking midi. [/quote] And LED lights on the fretboard too. But that gives whoever buys it at least some options in terms of adding even more stuff to it.

[quote name='Geek99' timestamp='1393402173' post='2379696'] Fanned frets took five minutes to get used to No biggie [/quote] Really? I look at fanned frets, and they look quite tricky to me. I've never seen them in real life though, let alone tried them. On the other hand, I once thought the same about fretless basses. I've only played two fretless basses, but my opinion changed drastically when I did.

[url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/RMI-Neutrino-II-6-String-Bass-Guitar-28-Frets-32-Scale-rare-custom-Mark-Ramsay-/191083477840?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item2c7d767b50"]http://www.ebay.co.u...=item2c7d767b50[/url] Six strings, active electronics, 28 frets, five knobs, not sure if those are three double coil pickups, ebony/ebonal fretboard, zero fret, through body stringing, active/passive push/pull pot, three way adjustable bridge pieces, who knows what I have missed. It looks a bit like someone decided that they were going to have a bass guitar with EVERYTHING on it.

There are 18 Gear4Music damaged acoustic bass sold listings, and another 7 which are currently running. http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/Bass-/4713/i.html?_sop=10&_from=R40&_nkw=electro+acoustic+bass+gear4music&LH_PrefLoc=1&LH_Complete=1&rt=nc How does one company end up with twenty five damaged acoustic basses in such a short period of time?

[quote name='Lee Carter' timestamp='1393431952' post='2380252'] yep, and someone could afford more then me as well ;-) [/quote] I could say 'Be bold! Put £100 on it!'. But, that's how I ended up with my Ibanez SR760.

[quote name='Bassassin' timestamp='1393418834' post='2379939'] Quite correct, although I seem to be doing OK with my own dependency issues. I walked away from that Black Eagle (which was still available when I enquired) with only some minor shaking and only a brief panic attack. It's important to remember no addiction is ever beaten, and recovery lasts a lifetime. J. [/quote] With Ebay, surely you can beat the addiction just by bidding ridiculously low sums on instruments. Here's a Japanese Fender for you. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MIJ-Fender-Jazz-bass-guitar-/301107782355?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item461b6c22d3 All you need to do is bid, say, £25 on it. Much of the fun of actually seriously bidding, without the risk of large pieces of carved wood arriving in the post.

This came up on my regular search, an Epiphone Les Paul bass for £50. I thought that ws cheap, so clicked through to the listing. It was already sold! http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Epiphone-Les-Paul-Bass-Guitar-w-gig-bag-strap-and-cable-Ideal-first-bass-/221381936152?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item338b644418

[quote name='Phil Adams' timestamp='1393336404' post='2378871'] Pretty though. [/quote] A ton and a half plus a bit, and you can have a new one. http://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_hbz2004.htm Though, if I could know that the technician who did the thorough setup/refinement on the ebay one is a skillful technician and has done a good job, I'd prefer the ebay one even at full new price.