jacko

This'll make you smile (well maybe not but I did). I've just received the July 1997 bassist magazine through the post. It has an advert for the Embassy in mansfield with 8 Wal basses ranging from £900 to £1500! If only I had a time machine. The reason I bought the mag (on ebay) was for the Alembic Rogue review. This model had just come out in 1997 priced £1800! Mine was near enough £4500 in 2005

[quote name='silverfoxnik' post='638199' date='Oct 27 2009, 05:25 PM']Hi John Good advice above but just to add a few more thoughts... 1. Use parcel tape when packing the cardboard box (or boxes if joining more than one) BUT always go around any joins and the ends of teh box with Gaffa or Duct tape as it's much stronger 2. Make a small ball or sausage-roll shape out of bubble wrap and put it underneath the headstock to support it, especially if there is a large gap between the headstock and the bottom of the case 3. I used DPD recently to ship a bass to Germany and they were excellent..well priced too! Hope that helps and good luck with it! Nik[/quote] I don't want to start an argumant here but I've always found that gaffa tape doesn't hold the cardboard as well as proper parcel tape. The tape may well be stronger but that's not much use when it's hanging off the package. (This is speaking from bitter experience - not all gaffa tapes are neccessarily as crap as the ones they sell at homebase). On reflection, I think this makes sense - we use gaffa tape to hold cables to stage floors and whatnot. We don't need it to hold for too long or leave any residue.

Just thinking we ought to try to find a way to identify ourselves as Basschatters this year. Even a sticky label saying "Basschatter Jacko" would do. I see the same faces every year and I'm willing to bet alot of them belong on this forum.

[quote name='Born 2B Mild' post='626721' date='Oct 15 2009, 10:04 AM']If I'm not too blissed out from the previous Sunday's Bass Day in Manchester, I intend to drive up from Harrogate to the Geordie Bass Bash [/quote] So who else is going to both? There ought to be some way we can make ourselves known to each other in manchester. I'll be the good looking one helping the very tall blind american 'see'

It's in the calendar.

and again... Whistlebinkies Edinburgh Oct 16th 7.ish

Just realised I'm on call the 15th and it's bass day on the 22nd so before or after those two weekends for me I'm afraid.

I'd be interested in coming down for this. i have gigs on the 14th and 20th but could maybe manage the 21st anyway. I need to visit the folks in Blyth sometime soon anyway so it would be a good excuse.

Cheers guys. Still have two years of saving till my big birthday trip to santa rosa. Hoping Mica will talk me into something pretty Jake - you need to come to manchester for bass day and meet some Alembic club members. There's always a few of us making the trip.

£3200 sounds pretty cheap to me for a "hand made" custom built bass. Always liked the sound and feel of Wals but didn't have the cash when I first tried them back in the late 70's. May take a punt on a new 5 although it would put my next Alembic custom back another year.

bumping in a vain attempt to entice some basschatters along... PJ Molloys dunfermline Oct 9th. Late Whistlebinkies Edinburgh Oct 16th 7.30.

I know what you mean shaun. I was off work two days after the last one. Mind you it's a long day for us - up at 6 to drive to mancheser then driving home straight after. It takes it out of you.

I'm desperately needing a neck heat bend on my main gigging bass so I'm looking for a bass/guitar tech in or near edinburgh with the neccessary kit. Any recommendations?

October gigs coming up... PJ Molloys dunfermline Oct 9th. Late Whistlebinkies Edinburgh Oct 16th 7.30.

Thanks for the pointer Gary . I'll give them a call closer to the date.

Hey gary, we'll be coming down from Scotland as usual but we'll be needing to access the disabled parking at the back of the building. Any chance you could add a contact section to the website so we can book it in advance? The receptionist was a bit sniffy last year about letting us in without a prior reservation. cheers graeme

having watched the triplet slappers in all their glory at the last few bassdays I'm afraid it's going to have to be a fretw*nk of bassplayers.

The Royal, Coatbridge. 10pm. Be there.... I will

Just a bump for the Royal in coat bridge this friday 11th sept 10pm til 1am

[quote name='Pete Academy' post='588420' date='Sep 3 2009, 11:18 AM']<sob> No... In those days I was taking out the Alembic and a 5-string, so I decided to sell it to buy a Tobias Classic 5. I regret it to this day.[/quote] Not surprised you regret it. I bought my first Alembic after trying (pre gibson) tobias, warwick, Status etc and nothing could compare even to Alembic's base model (the Epic). 13 years down the line I've added 2 custom builds and I'm planning for my 50th birthday pressy (in 2 years) which will need a visit to the factory. I chat online with the makers via the Almbic forum and they're just like a big happy family. Customer care is second to none so I guess what I'm saying is, sell all your worldly goods and get back on board

Count me in. And don't forget Bass day in Manchester, also in November. i'll be heading down from Edinburgh and will have a couple of spare seats n the car if anyone is interested.

Will try to get to Bannermans. If I do I'll say hi.