Stuart Clayton

[quote name='Absolute-beginner' post='240389' date='Jul 15 2008, 09:16 PM']Am laughing! Sorry mate, your grammer checker aint workin' either! No offense meant. Matt[/quote] I'm tired! Stu

[quote name='Absolute-beginner' post='240385' date='Jul 15 2008, 09:10 PM']Hey Stu! has someone won the Hellborg rig already then????? Blimey, that was quick!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!![/quote] No, I don't know if it's been won already. I would think the winner will announced in the next issue. Believe me, whoever wins that is going to be a very happy customer! Stu

[quote name='silddx' post='240342' date='Jul 15 2008, 08:11 PM']Thanks Stu. Two comments. The page layout decisions of the BGM designer are sometimes very odd. There is sometimes a loss of continuity because of the decision to make some of the text appear as though it is in a boxout. The general design concept is a little confused and slightly different every month. There are clearly some ideas that have been appropriated from Guitar Buyer but BGM just doesn't look "slick", it looks more like a car owner's club quarterly. I can live with that but the poor spelling and grammar are unforgivable. Sorry to sound harsh. Number two, I think bass a growing and popular market, most bands with guitarists also have bassists.[/quote] Replies to your two comments: 1) I will pass your comments on to the designers. There was a time, I agree, when the layout and general design seemed to alter from month to month, but I felt that recently the magazine had found more of an identity. Criticism of poor spelling and grammer is not harsh, it's more than fair - it shouldn't happen. It bothers me immensely when I see bad typos in the magazine, mainly since I am absolutely baffled as to how they get there - we all have spellcheckers after all! I often wish I were involved in the production of the magazine at the proofing stage, as I firmly believe that the more people that can look at something the better. 2) I agree, the bass market is growing, and as the owner of a publishing company that deals almost exclusively with bass guitar books, I count on it! A brief disclaimer: I am not a mouthpiece on this forum for the magazine. I write for the magazine, and happen to like using this forum, and therefore feel justifed in commenting on issues that need commenting on. If anyone has specific comments/complaints, or dare I say it, praise for what we do, please email the editor on [email protected]. Everything that is mentioned on this and other forums is always taken on board. Believe it or not, we do try to keep the people that buy the magazine happy, but as we all know only too well, you can't please everyone! Stu

[quote name='silddx' post='240218' date='Jul 15 2008, 05:16 PM']For me, Guitar Buyer is consistently the most professionally written, designed and put together. It is also very good value for your money. I am sorry to say that BGM looks a bit amaturish in terms of copy, page layout and design. It's also very thin. Nevertheless I am a subscriber. Like someone else said on this thread, I wish there was a Bass Buyer.[/quote] Hmmm, I think the layout of BGM is actually pretty decent - uncluttered, straightforward etc. I do however wish the mag was thicker - it would certainly be more to read. I guess at the end of the day we all need to remember that the 'world of bass' is considerably smaller than that of the guitarist, and therefore there just isn't enough going on to warrant a nice fat magazine every month! Stu

[quote name='bassket_case' post='240198' date='Jul 15 2008, 04:50 PM']I don't know. Some of the reviews are good, some of the reviews not so. At the end of the day, I'm just taking my hat off to the guys for providing something for the UK bass playing public to read. It's better to be represented than not at all. At the end of the day, whatever people do, for example, write for bass magazines, they will always have their critics. It comes with the territory. As for the GB review, given the news here, it's become somewhat worthless as a review. Am I to believe that the bass is better than the review - did Stuart play it down because he plays GBs? Am I to believe that the bass is not as good as the review - did Stuart big it up because he plays GBs? Or is the review 100% fair? I guess we'll never know... and it wouldn't be in Stuart's interest to comment I am guessing. GBs always seem to get great press... and to be honest, of the limited exposure I've had to the things, they certainly sound impressive. (That was GBs with EBS at last years Bass Day I am presuming) So there you go... guess I'll have to see GB guitars myself if I want a clear indication.[/quote] I wouldn't like to think that you consider the review worthless. The review was 100% fair. The GB was an awesome bass to play, and I very much enjoyed my time with it. It's actually not my cup of tea in some respects - I prefer the Rumour bass to the Spitfire, but that's just me! I'd recommend anyone that is interested in a GB to go and check them out for yourselves. Stu

[quote name='bassket_case' post='239012' date='Jul 14 2008, 11:20 AM']Ah. I see - hmm. Tricky. The GB is good though right? I've heard amazing things about them - I'd love to own one of those but I can't imagine me having the money any time soon! I've just read the D'Alegria review. Ouch. Just a comment about the mag - could we see an upright bass section soon.. or a shootout of electric upright basses? I know nothing about them and would be intrigued to see something as there doesn't seem to be a lot of information out there. I can't recall ever reading a review or article about them in a bass mag? (Apart from that cardboard box one!)[/quote] The GB is fantastic, and I very much enjoyed it. I have two of them and play them all the time. Incidentally, no-one ever has the money for something like that - but eventually your credit card will get the better of you! I'll pass on the comments regarding the upright bass feature - I believe something of that nature is in the pipeline already to be honest. The cardboard box bass is the Bogdon bass (I think), and although I haven't tried one myself, I think it's a great idea! Stu

[quote name='BigBeefChief' post='239023' date='Jul 14 2008, 11:28 AM']I haven't read it yet, so will look forward to it. Its still too little too late. It seems the reviewers are to concerned about falling out with the manufacturers. I'm more than happy to write my own column though. Just drop me a PM.[/quote] I am in no way concerned about falling out with manufacturers. If I, or any of the writers were, it wouldn't be a fair review system, and would be quite pointless. I think the system is strong, and is a good reflection of a product's value. Stu

[quote name='BigBeefChief' post='238978' date='Jul 14 2008, 10:35 AM']Then the bar has been raised and the reviews should reflect this. Reviews have to be relative to modern manufacturing standards. Perhaps "FIT FOR PURPOSE" isn't good enough any more?[/quote] The bar has indeed been raised and the reviews DO reflect this. See the D'Alegria review in the current issue. Stu

[quote name='bassket_case' post='238997' date='Jul 14 2008, 10:58 AM']Why? I thought that GB was stunning![/quote] It certainly was stunning. It's just not good practice for me to have reviewed it as I endorse them. Stu

Hi guys, Although I have absolutely nothing to do with the running of the magazine, it's content, or anything like that, I thought I'd make a few brief points: In retrospect, I totally agree - I shouldn't have reviewed the GB bass. Believe me, I wish I hadn't. I agree with what some of you are saying regarding interviews, in many cases they are a little light on serious bass content for my liking. But then we can only print what the interviewee has to say. I hasten to add that I rarely do interviews, and if I do i focus it around the artist's new album, important moments in their career, what gear they use, their thoughts on various bass-related topics etc etc. Sometimes however, you really do have to nudge them in the right direction! On the review side, the powers that be have made a serious effort in the last 6 months to get the newest gear into the mag. We've had some great stuff to look at recently - The Warwick Hellborg rig - which we then gave away in a competition, the Streamline bass, two new MusicMan basses (for next issue I think) etc etc. If it's new, we get it and review it. If it's brand new, and not in the mag, it's because we tried to get it, and the company didn't send one in time! Regarding reviews, I have never seen a piece of equipment that has been so bad it warrants a truly dreadful review. Most gear these days is well-built and entirely FIT FOR THE PURPOSE IT WAS CREATED FOR. Like I say, MOST gear is good - there have been some bad reviews in the past. In fact, the D'Alegria review in the current issue is far from being a good review. On the transcription side, we've been trying to arrange transcriptions for every issue for over a year now. We have plenty of them done, but in almost every case the licensing is slowing it down. Hopefully that will happen at some point. Incidentally, I love the US Bass Player mag as well, and have all but a few issues. But if you compare the more recent issues with those from say ten years ago, you'll notice that the content has halved, and the advertising now forms the majority of the mag. The current issue of Bass Player is so light on content that it took me less than half an hour to read. Best, Stuart Clayton

I started out on an Axe bass, back in 1991. Mine was black and came with a small amp, a curly lead, and some sample basslines photocopied onto sheets of green paper. I still have the audio tape that went with it, and the lines were actually pretty decent. I sold my Axe back in 1993 i think, and hae always regretted it, and would love to get it back. Better check Ebay! Stu

[quote name='EBS_freak' post='209379' date='May 30 2008, 09:18 AM']This thread is getting quite interesting now. Thanks for sharing![/quote] Yeah, I am this close to ordering a Sei bass... beautiful basses. Look forward to seeing the finished instrument, I know Urb's looked awesome. Stu

I could do it. I live in Devon, and I have the right surname... Stu

[quote name='paul, the' post='196651' date='May 11 2008, 07:49 PM']Sparks :wub: my favourite Who piece, probably.[/quote] Thanks guys, keep 'em coming! Stu

HI all, I'm considering writing a John Entwistle bass book, and just wanted to put some feelers out there and find out what you would all consider to be essential tracks for such a book? Obviously things like The Real Me, Won't Get Fooled, My Generation etc will be in there, but any other suggestions would be welcome. Thanks, Stu

Thanks guys, I'm glad you all like them! Stu

Hi all, I've gotten around to recording some videos of me playing a couple of my solo arrangements, and uploaded them to You Tube. The Simpsons Theme: [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hcSYVEqVyVc"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hcSYVEqVyVc[/url] The Jazz Medley: [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbdZQSajNxc"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbdZQSajNxc[/url] The Jazz Medley is 'My Funny Valentine', ' Serenade To A Cuckoo', 'Take The A Train', and 'St. Thomas'. As some of you know, I'm hoping to get these pieces and a load more into a book later in the year - copyright permissions pending! I'll keep you all posted on that, but in the meantime, enjoy the vids and let me know what you think. Cheers Stuart

[quote name='phatbass787' post='176461' date='Apr 14 2008, 05:29 PM']Pretty sure they are not out yet?[/quote] I'm hoping to receive one for review in the next few days, along with the superfly cabs. Both are intended for the next issue. Stu

[quote name='EBS_freak' post='167205' date='Mar 31 2008, 08:09 PM']Absolutely. PS - made an impulse order on one of your other books based on the Funk Disco book... impressed... and thats why Im really hoping that the solo one happens![/quote] Haha, cool! Hope you ordered it from me (www.basslinepublishing.com) and not those thieving b*stards Amazon!! Stu

[quote name='Alun' post='167187' date='Mar 31 2008, 08:41 PM']Possibly slightly off topic, but how does the copyright side of things work when it comes to publishing written music? I sort of understand the process for recording but never thought of transcriptions/arrangements on paper. Do you have to approach the holder directly or do you go via the written equivalent of MCPS? Cheers Alun[/quote] Publishing rights to most pieces of music are held by one or two big companies - Music Sales, Hal Leonard etc. If you want to print a book with music in that is by artists whose rights they control, you have to submit a license request, together with info on the book including which songs are in it, cover price etc. Usually they approve them and you have to pay a fee based on the print run, but sometimes they don't approve them. This happens if what you want to publish conflicts with something they are planning. I just had a Dream Theater book turned down because the company that control their publishing is already planning something - probably won't even be a bass book, but there you go. Because the Solos book is intended to feature a CD, there will be a whole MCPS minefield to wade through as well... can't wait... Fingers crossed for the Solo Arrangements book... Stu