Horrorhiker

Yes I get what you're saying. My first job was in Tescos. Tescos at Christmas really shows you what humanity is really like. I suppose I try and take the same attitude I have at work everywhere but not everyone is the same. I do argue that the care industry is in a bit of a state because of the low pay and bad conditions not attracting the right people so I guess I'm contradicting myself there and being a bit idealistic, but when I hear people moaning about having poor pay and a bad job, I often have to bite my tongue so i don't blurt out a load of poo related horror stories. 'still think your job is bad'? ha ha. Ideally, everyone would treat people with respect but I fully appreciate that this doesn't happen very often these days. Without wanting to get too political, the buy now, pay later, have whatever you want without working for it, disposable product entitlement culture has led us to where we are in my opinion. And I've been as guilty as anyone else on that score in the past, though am trying to resist it now as much as possible. Bit like a reformed smoker ha ha.

You should either treat or pay people well, preferably both. If someone does neither, I try not to go there.

Hear hear.

Yeah, there was also Girlschool who should have done better really. Sorry to continue the off topic. ha ha

My perspective comes from working as a care worker to supplement my rock star income. We all get paid nearly minimum wage, but any cutting of slack, undercutting or cutting corners can basically result in the company closing, everyone getting in the news, me going to prison and people I'm caring for getting abused. Because of this, the 'cut them slack as they don't earn much' argument doesn't hold much water for me, and I can't really sympathise much with a similarly paid shop worker unless they have daily contact with other peoples bodily fluids... Saying that, it is true that a lot of people don't have manners and respect, but if I was an employer I'd try make sure I kept the ones that do. My local shop is quite good actually and their staff turnover is very low for a music shop I suspect. This is from smart employing I'd assume. I think you're right by saying its a balancing act, pleasing people though. There are definitely some people that expect a bit of 'arris kissing. Some of it is having the skill of gauging that when you meet someone, which is easier said than done. I must say, I feel very uncomfortable when being given the smarm, and have said before 'please talk to me like a normal human or I'll have to go'. I'm not sure about average service keeping a company going. Certainly online, the ones that go beyond the basics seem to do better. With guitar/bass shops, in anything other than bigger places, there is often only one. I suspect if there were two or three, just average service would quickly start to not cut the mustard.

Yeah I can imagine. I was watching a doc about the band Vixen the other day, think it was Bands Reunited. They mentioned that in the late 80s, 90s, they would have the other males on the tour having a look round their stuff and spying on them to make sure it was them playing and not a backing track.

I have to disagree there. If people accept bad service it legitimises it. It's then more and more acceptable for other poor practices to creep in, such as hanging onto deposits, repairs being late etc etc. I agree that wages are too low, but you shouldn't have to put a price on good manners and consideration..I let people have mine for free.

Oh dear, glad to hear that sort of thing is rarer. That would wind me up no end. There has to be some sort of alpha male thing going on with sales.

Yeah I can imagine it must get soul destroying. I really hate the sales thing..I imagine its a fine balance to not be in your face while still being available. I've definitely been unwittingly talked out of spending money before, both with guitars and other things. I used to have a pretty obvious heavy metal look, for want of a better term, when I was younger. I've twice walked out of car showrooms due to not being taken seriously by the smarmy sales people. Money burning a hole in my pocket and everything. I wish they knew it actually. The other complication is that I suppose some people want and expect the smarm to make themselves feel important.

Ha ha, dodgy poetry? I can't tell if that's a rock and roll way to get sacked or not! Yeah it must be frustrating as one bad experience can make someone never go in the shop again.

I keep ending up back on this thread when I see something mentioned on it. These Cort basses look nice and well spec'd. A very gassy thread this one.

Yes totally. I think it's ok to demonstrate instruments to beginners but it'd be more sensible to show them something dead simple, and better still, teach them to do it, instead of their first impression of a bass in the flesh being.."I'll never be able to do that".

Yeah at best my guy was a bad listener. I went to PMT in Norwich a couple of times and found the staff to be quite good. I was after an electro acoustic guitar and the only weird thing was when I remarked that I'd need a ladder to get to the fretboard on most of the guitars, and I don't think the guy saw the funny side. Ended up buying one though and was fairly happy overall.

I know. Do they expect a round of applause? Sometimes I feel myself in the ridiculous position that I dumb my knowledge and playing down a bit to not come off as competitive with them, which I know is pretty stupid. It's a famous, age old, stereotypical problem too. I really wonder why shop owners don't pull their new guys aside on day 1 and say "Don't do X, Y and Z".

The cynic in me just sees the name as a means to add 20% to the proper price like you. Sometimes it works for people, but I myself am put off by signature models. Like 'road wearing' it strikes me as a bit faux and unoriginal, no offence to anyone who likes that stuff. I like the Sire/Marcus Miller approach a lot more where the signature is more like a general stamp of approval.

Yeah its ok if you're someone looking for their first instrument but that's the only time you'd want it. I see it as an attempt to assert their dominance from the offset, which is enough on its own to make me go elsewhere. After I left it really started to sink in what a poor experience it was more and more throughout the day.

I went to Peach Guitars in Colchester the other day after browsing the website a bit. Very impressive complex with lots of guitars, separate rooms for acoustics, a whole floor of custom stuff, a room full of pedals. First impressions..this will be amazing. You have to buzz to be let in, like an office block/block of flats intercom thing, which kind of puts you off guard from the off. That may just be me. The guy answers the door asks what I was after. I said I was an experienced bass player and was looking at basses £500-700. Leads me to the basses and grabs a MIM precision, explains to me that 'This is a Fender Precision bass', and gives me basic, slightly inaccurate, suitable for a 12 year old beginner, Fender history lesson and promptly sits down on a stool and furnishes me and the wife with samples of his playing. He finally hands me the bass that I take out of politeness (I'm not actually interested in a MIM Fender) and the guy disappears for ages. I put the bass I didn't really want to try in the first place back myself after awkwardly sitting there with it for a while thinking he'd soon be back, and looked around the sparse (in comparison to the guitars) bass choice. Guy eventually comes back, half heartedly asks how I liked the bass literally while checking messages on his phone. I said I was after something passive, but not keen on the P. "Stingrays are popular". Righto thanks. I said I'd have a think but will check out the pedals on the way out. (A separate room upstairs). He followed me to the smallish pedal room and stood so close I could literally hear him breathing the whole time I was in there. No talking, just breathing. And It didn't feel like: 'I'm just hanging around in case you want something'. Very much: 'I'm here so you don't nick anything'. I'm not exaggerating that I felt properly tense while in there and tangibly relieved when I got out. IMO a potentially great and impressive shop held back by either paranoia or a lack of cctv, and a definite lack of staff interest. Hopefully it was an off day. I had a look on the site when I got back and they have staff biographies. The guy that saw to me is on there. They make a big joke out of him being an enigma, something about him always wandering around and eating. Quite funny. I even chuckled to myself as I considered where I would go next time instead of back there.

Ha ha, cheers for that. If anything I'd have to try the Model T to get the gas out of my system first. I'm probably going to try and get somewhere soo to try one out tbh.

Superb, cheers for that. £100 less than the session series, passive and great rep online as far as I can see. Will have to start calling this thread 'the gasworks'.

Ooh I was looking at the natural CV-4 at one point. Did you buy blind or try them out first? I read they come well set up direct from the factory, is that true?

I wonder if they could sort a voucher code for BC members on certain brands they want to push or something like that. It'd be a good way of generating interest. I'd be much more likely to take a punt if these were a bit less. There must be someone from Andertons on here surely?

Sorry.

Hello! I'm looking for a band (or two) to join or form in the Suffolk/East Norfolk areas. (Bury St Edmunds, Stowmarket, Newmarket, Thetford etc). I currently play with the well respected old school hardcore punk band, Volunteers. This band only gigs two or three times a year now though so I need something more regular to keep the old creative juices moving. 25+ years experience, (almost 40 years old), with mainly a metal/punk background, but also experienced with function bands, covers and some soul, from my earlier years of playing. I also play guitar to a good standard and do an open mic every now and again. I am very flexible time wise for rehearsals and gigs am very experienced with writing and recording (can supply links to samples if anyone wants them). Now that I have more free time, I'm hoping to get into music more seriously, whether that be original material or possibly covers/tribute/functions. I'm committed, dedicated, have my own transport and always turn up on time. Happy to drive things forward or take a back seat depending on the dynamic. I'm easy going and like a laugh while taking the music seriously. Anyone knows of a good spot for me, I'd love to hear from you. Cheers!

Yes! Though I've been talking on another thread and now several other possibilities have cropped up. Am going to Bass Direct early April so may well see something there to snap me out of it. I have a feeling that after going there I might be a little 'financially challenged'.

Wow. Looks like something Pinhead from Hellraiser would play that if he were a bassist. Looks amazing.