uncle psychosis

[quote name='RhysP' timestamp='1357231700' post='1919508'] You obviously aren't aware of what actually happened - Fender actually started the process of closing Hamer down almost as soon as they bought them. They stopped Hamer producing guitars to supply to shops & turned them into a "special order only" outfit. How the hell is a guitar maker supposed to keep up a profile & sell guitars if the owner stops them supplying shops with their instruments? [/quote] For all we know, Fender bought Kaman, got a proper look at Hamer's books, and just thought "hmm, maybe this isn't going to work..." ? [quote name='Gust0o' timestamp='1357233913' post='1919554'] Perhaps they had prospered nicely, as you say - but their original operation clearly didn't fit with Fender's wider business plan, or their intents if they made the decision so quickly. The above sounds like a rationalisation exercise, from what you've said RhysP - Fender pulling them back to what is, perhaps, a core strength. Others have noted their boutique nature and quality, so why not? In terms of the mass market, they weren't a brand fit to compete in the way that Fender itself does - perhaps Fender thought the spare production could be better utilised for other purposes, or assets sold on to recoup on costs. And, in any case, would Fender want a Hamer sub-brand challenging their main lines? I'm not so sure, unless there were some real differentiation. There are a whole host of reasons why Fender might make that decision very early in the deal, and not simply to put a 'competitor' out of business. This type of move is very common in business. Just musing, maybe shedding a light on some decisions which might otherwise seem bizarre - I'd quite like a look at Fender's strategy, mind, out of professional interest [/quote] This sounds far more likely than "big bad Fender spends large amount of money acquiring profitable competitor purely to shut them down". Fender completely rejuvenated the Gretsch brand---why not put them out of business too? Recent Hamer models compete more with Gibson in terms of spec than they do with most Fender designs. Fender would be perfectly happy to own a profit-making brand that competed directly with their biggest rivals. Its a real shame that Hamer have gone, and I could totally believe that its because of poor management on the behalf of Fender or Kaman. But the idea that Fender acquired a profitable business purely to shut them down is just too far fetched. Thinking about it, in fact, perhaps the Kaman parent group sold the musical subsidiary to Fender precisely because it [i]wasn[/i]doing all that well? I was a bit bored, so I just checked out Kaman Corp.'s share price---plummeted in early 2009.

[quote name='Gust0o' timestamp='1357229685' post='1919449'] Maintaining the methods of mass production for small volumes is the killer. Works for craft production, in the small-volume/high-end space, but you have to cut your cloth accordingly - you can't have production sat idle. I think the market killed Hamer. People were likely just not buying them in the same volumes as in previous periods, and someone made a commercial decision. [/quote] Precisely. I've heard that Hamer made great guitars---but I don't think I've [i]ever [/i]seen one in the flesh. Not at a gig, not in a shop, not at a mates' house.

[quote name='RhysP' timestamp='1357229773' post='1919454'] But Fender have a long history of using underhand bullyboy tactics with smaller companies - look how they threatened Rob Green at Status when his first basses went out under the "Strata" name. Fender absurdly made him change the name as it was supposedly too close to "Strat" & people would obviously confuse the two & accidentally buy a high end carbon fibre bass guitar thinking it was one of Fenders sh*tty bolt together guitars. [/quote] yes, but Fender didn't own Rob Green's company. People who buy Status basses weren't giving money to Fender. People who bought Hamer guitars (since 2008) [i]were[/i] giving money to Fender. Companies don't voluntarily close down parts of their organisation that make them money. Its not like its a fly-by-night thing, either---they bought them four years ago. Why buy a company to close them down and then keep them going for four years? I think the adjective you used to describe Fender's own products suggests that you're perhaps not being entirely objective here...

[quote name='Wolverinebass' timestamp='1357219828' post='1919254'] You are quite correct of course. Nothing wrong with Fender making stuff that people want to buy. It could be argued that Fender (like Rickenbacker) can't deviate too much from their tried and tested formula. Nothing wrong with that. What is totally wrong is them closing down a company which makes better instruments than them and also them giving me some sort of crap about "they're too similar" to Fender basses and therefore not allowing them to be sold in the UK. Surely it's Fender that have the bizarre attitude and not me? [/quote] Lots of Squiers are now (supposedly) outdoing "proper" Fenders, but Fender are still maintaining the Squier line...If enough people wanted to buy Hamer basses then Fender would quite happily sell them. They've survived decades in a tough business, you don't do that by throwing away money. I've worked in manufacturing and maintaining small volume products isn't particularly easy or profitable. A lot of the time it just doesn't make financial sense. Its always sad when instrument brands go under, but I don't think its particularly fair to assign some kind of underhand motive when its far more likely to just be because of simple economics.

It's so cheap I'm tempted to get one even though I don't need one!

[quote name='Wolverinebass' timestamp='1357059430' post='1916949'] Thank you for closing them down Fender. Go back to your mass produced, "we haven't changed anything about our design at a fundamental level for more than 50 years" tosh. It's just so wrong. [/quote] A bizarre attitude. Musicians want to buy Fenders. Not only that, but musicians want to buy Fenders that are the same as they were 50 years ago. You can hardly blame Fender for making what people want to buy...

This guy is really good, has a lot of stuff on youtube etc: http://www.justinguitar.com/

I think its incredible. But I don't have any moneys

One bassist can be "better" than an other---in terms of technique. Some bassists can play lines that others can't. So technically, they are better players. Of course, player A may be better than player B at style C, but player B may be better than player A at style D. Where it all becomes subjective and murkier, however, is when you start talking about songwriting and musicality. I'd much rather listen to Nirvana or The Clash than Victor Wooten or Rush. Its all a bit pointless, anyway. Music isn't a competition, its an enjoyable experience. There are only two types of music, music you like and music you don't. Worrying about who is best at it seems to miss the point somewhat.

I only have one bass. I'm happy. I have neither the space nor the spare cash to have £100s of pounds wrapped up in basses that would just sit around not being played very much. I may get a second bass at somepoint, (purely because I want a backup for gigging / a 4-string to accompany my 5) but I'm quite content with a single bass.

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1356894193' post='1914867'] I have a CAR Jazz that I reckon could be used in any situation, its only a four so solo noodle stuff might be hard but I can't play like that, punk, jazz, rock, funk, indie and blues can all be played on a CAR Jazz with a black pick guard I'd say? [/quote] Yes, but my point is [b]not [/b]"there are [i]no[/i] basses that are suitable for all gigs", it was "not [i]all[/i] basses are suitable for all gigs"

Like it or not (and on the whole, I do like it) image is an important part of many forms of music. Turn up to audition for a punk band with a 6 string single cut coffee table bass and you probably won't get the gig. Turn up to audition for a smooth jazz band with a beaten up BC Rich warlock, with skull and crossbones stickers all over it and "f*** the police" scratched into it and you probably won't get the gig. Yes, some people have got stupidly snobbish about it---and these people should just be avoided (and at least you find out early)---but any bass player who thinks "I will be able to turn up to [i]any[/i] audition with [i]any[/i] bass and get the gig" is simply not living in reality.

[quote name='KingBollock' timestamp='1356729171' post='1913080'] I got mine from Strings Direct. http://www.stringsdirect.co.uk/p/914874/jim-dunlop-nylon-stubby-3mm-single-guitar-pick-445r3/ [/quote] Great, thanks. I use the older style ones, but the. Nylon ones look like they've worth a try. Cheers :-)

[quote name='KingBollock' timestamp='1355168478' post='1894985'] For over 15 years I used the Dunlop, Lexan (material) 3mm Stubbies. I recently switched to the new Nylon 3mm Stubbies. They don't wear as quick and they are easier to hold. I use the for both Bass and Guitar, the shape of the tip makes them massively versatile. After a recent thread I covered one of my old Lexan Stubbies with thin, dense felt and it sounds amazing. I do have a ton of different thickness picks made from different materials, including steel, and I do use them, but I mostly use the Stubbies. [/quote] where do you buy the nylon 3mm ones?

I keep everything in a plastic under bed storage box. Its got a big surface area so its easy to find things- they don't get buried. I just take out a couple of cables (one for plugging in, one spare) and stick them in my case when I'm going out.

The number one trick to getting Reggae to sound good is to absolutely nail the feel. The lines are quite often simple and repetitive, but they don't sound right unless you nail the phrasing. Listen really carefully to the note lengths and the emphasis on different beats. Have fun! Great version of Summertime btw, never heard that one before. Think I'll learn it myself...

[quote name='mcnach' timestamp='1355959569' post='1905156'] name? I'd love to check them out if they have something online. [/quote] Exit_International, I think.

[quote name='Stroopy121' timestamp='1355931733' post='1904652'] Thanks for the advice guys! Any other recommendations for other pre-amp/DI pedals? Looking at the Hartke VXL just now as well. xx [/quote] In the last few years I've had a sansamp BDDI, a DHA VT1-Eq-Bass-Drive, and a Hartke Bass Attack. The BDDI got moved on quickly, I liked the DHA but it did a lot more than I needed it to, and the Bass Attack is great. The Bass Attack is what I'm using now.

[quote name='xgsjx' timestamp='1355924348' post='1904531'] [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hG940DEAazQ[/media] That's Pantherairsoft's band. [/quote] Not the kind of thing I normally listen to, but thats astoundingly good. Thanks for posting it, and serious props to mr Pantherairsoft

[quote name='mcnach' timestamp='1355925505' post='1904548'] that's true, I always say there's not enough bass [/quote] We played with a Welsh band that had two bassists and no guitarists. They were really good

So, during the summer I decided I wanted to try flats. Mcnach of this here parish was kind enough to let me try some of his basses, and pointed me in the direction of status hotwires. I ordered some...and they've sat on my shelf ever since. Tonight I put them on my TRB...and.... Why have I not done this before? This is what basses are supposed to sound like!! (plus they feel nicer )

[quote name='Rumple' timestamp='1355909449' post='1904185'] There is a way around it that my mate used once to get a Custom Shop Strat, I'm not sure I'd do it but it worked for him, basically there are companies in the US that will forward on a purchase for you, you temporarily register your credit card billing address with them so the goods get dispatched to a US address, the company then send it on to you for a fee with whatever customs info you supply to them. [/quote] Yeah... The thing that really puts me off ordering overseas is the hassle if you ever need to send it back under warranty. Add a third party into the mix and you're probably entering a world of pain...

[quote name='mcnach' timestamp='1355915137' post='1904285'] The upright move seems a very cool one, by the way. I keep thinking about getting one but I feel it would be too hard and I'd get frustrated quickly. Let us know how you find it, once you can start playing it a bit. [/quote] I really want an upright. Not convinced there are enough upright-bass friendly gigs in Edinburgh for two of us though---how's about you take odd weeks and I take even weeks?

[quote name='JimBobTTD' timestamp='1355905325' post='1904130'] To stir things up a bit... I can see how someone can feel insulted by a very low offer. It suggests that the seller doesn't know the value of the item and is a mug. [/quote] Well, either that or it suggests that the buyer is a muppet, or not very clued up on what they're buying---they may not realise that the item in question is a particularly rare finish/spec/year, for instance (many people will not be aware that a JV Squier is worth a lot more than a Squier affinity). Given the number of threads about flakey/weird/odd band members I'd be reluctant to attribute to malice something that may just be caused by sheer muppetry---lets face it, lots of muso types are just on a different planet to the rest of us