uncle psychosis

Mostly at the moment I'm learning that a 9 month old baby and regular bass practice don't mix well I have, however, set my sights on learning "better living through chemistry" by Queens of The Stone Age so I want to get that done before the New Year.

[quote name='tredders' timestamp='1355908225' post='1904163'] Problem is, it's a very small range that they are prepared to sell & ship to the UK. Unless their policy has changed recently, they only sell a handful of basses to International customers. No Fenders for starters, and none of their used stuff. I remember seeing that they were shipping to the UK earlier in the year and got quite excited about the prospect, until I checked it out. Shame really. [/quote] Hmm, thats a bit pants. I guess thats probably imposed on them by Fender---who probably don't want you bypassing their own European distributors/vendors.

The Yamaha Pacifica is probably the best beginner's guitar of all time. I don't find them very "exciting" but they are great quality, reliable instruments at a silly price (especially second hand). The resale value on them is terrible though.

GuitarCenter will ship to the UK now as well---and last time I looked they claimed to deal with all the taxes etc up front so it should all be transparent and hassle free...

[quote name='Big_Stu' timestamp='1355850207' post='1903660'] Aaah, I see. In that case substitute my previous post with..... "I full respect your inalienable right to believe that homeopathy works ............... but you're still a knob". [/quote] Why use a paragraph when a sentence works perfectly

[quote name='jezzaboy' timestamp='1355848983' post='1903630'] I have an Sr300 as well one of the 2012 models with the different pickups. It cost me £250 from Guitarguitar and I havent had to adjust anything at all with regards to the set up, it is exactly the way it left the shop. I prefer the Ibanez pickups and pre amp in this to the Bart`s that are fitted to the Sr 500 and 700 models, both of which I have owned. [/quote] Funnily enough it was GuitarGuitar in glasgow that I tried them out!

[quote name='Big_Stu' timestamp='1355849046' post='1903631'] Not odd at all; many thousands of people have died to give you the right to form & hold that opinion; whether you want that right or not. Similarly there also hundreds of people right now being tortured, maimed, disappeared or just plain murdered for not having the same opinion as those who govern them. It doesn't make yours or anyone else's opinion more right or wrong than any other, but it's how folk respond to different opinions that's the crucial thing; with a shrug or a bullet. [/quote] I think you've misunderstood me. Of course everyone is [i]entitled[/i] to an opinion---and like you say, being able to freely hold an opinion is a fundamental human right. But my point was that people seem to have fundamentally equated "the right to have an opinion" with "all opinions are of equal value" or "all opinions are right". They think that saying "its my opinion" is some kind of valid argument as to why they should be taken seriously and think that having an opinion on something gives them a seat at the table---like homeopaths demanding a say in how the NHS is run. Some opinions---"the earth is flat", "drinking 16 bottles of cola can cure cancer", "ducks quacks don't echo", "there's no evidence in favour of evolution" are just [i]wrong[/i]. The person is completely free to [i]hold[/i] that opinion, but the rest of us don't necessarily need to give that opinion respect or pay any heed to it.

[quote name='MiltyG565' timestamp='1355843172' post='1903519'] HAHA! normally, "Noah fence" is followed by some of the most offensive things that have ever been said to you, but because of the rules, you just have to smile It's the same thing as on Jeremy Kyle when somebody says "I'm not a racist, yeah? but...*Insert small minded racist comment*". [/quote] That one always makes me laugh. If I'm feeling brave enough I normally point out that seeing as sober people don't need to start sentences with "i'm not drunk, honest, but..." people who aren't racists don't need to start sentences with things like "I'm not racist, but..." either. The other variant you hear on it is "$insert bigoted comment here$ ... but I guess its not PC to say that anymore".

[quote name='fumps' timestamp='1355844309' post='1903552'] It's a real shame about the set up being poor, the dude in PMT was pretty good & set it up in a few mins for me. Well worth the money [/quote] If I'd been seriously buying, I would have asked them to. But I was just trying out some basses to get some ideas, so I didn't want to waste the shops time!

Browsing Thomann and came across these; http://www.thomann.de/gb/gretsch_g2210_junior_jet_bass_black.htm I think they look great...anyone tried one?

[quote name='fumps' timestamp='1355841143' post='1903465'] It's the best bass for me that i have ever owned.......I gush even now about my lowley budget Ibanez. I know most people will laugh at my £280 bass but I am still besotted by it. [/quote] £230 at Thomann now There is something really drool worthy about the white ones too! Great story, I love hearing about people's love affairs with instruments I tried a whole load of Ibanez basses last time I went shopping---and was put off all of them by horrible setups. All of them had horrific fretbuzz, the actions were set far too low, and it was just impossible to demo them properly. Yeah, I could probably have complained and got the shop to fix them, but I shouldn't have had to. A pity, because I'm sure underneath they were good instruments (and some of them were orange! orange! How awesome is that!!)

[quote name='Stacker' timestamp='1355840267' post='1903444'] Ok, how about respecting my right to have the opinion that £500 on a 1973 4001 was a low-ball offer? I think that opinion should be respected, given that someone eventually bought the bass for close to the asking price. [/quote] Yes, you are probably right that that was a "lowball" offer. But if you genuinely got upset about it then you probably shouldn't watch the news or read the papers, because you'll be in for an emotional rollercoaster...

[quote name='flyfisher' timestamp='1355840138' post='1903440'] Well, neither are worth getting offended about for a start. [/quote]

[quote name='Stacker' timestamp='1355838256' post='1903372'] An opinion is just that and everyone is entitled to one. [/quote] Yes, but you seem to be under the (mistaken) opinion that all opinions should be respected. I was pointing out that thats not true

[quote name='Stacker' timestamp='1355835715' post='1903315'] As to being offended, can't you get it though your head it's MY opinion and you should bloody well respect that instead of calling it 'ridiculous'! [/quote] One of the oddest aspects of modern society is that everyone seems to have gained the idea that calling something "their opinion" makes it sacrosant and of value. Its the same nonsense that leads to homeopaths being allowed "their opinion" on the best ways to cure cancer and creationists being allowed "their opinion" when it comes to the teaching of science in schools. Not all opinions need to be respected. Some of them are just too silly.

Probably my favourite Christmas tune, and definitely one of my favourite bass lines: [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1mUHHDBN6w[/media] Another Christmas bass classic: [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0NoalRsk5w[/media]

I hit the very first note of the very first song... And my E string snaps. Luckily a very nice bass player from another band spots it, gets his bass out, tunes it for me, and hands it to me just as my bemused bandmates make it to the end of the number. :-)

I'm really not keen on the slade/wizard/mariah carey "now thats what I call Christmas" numbers but there are some truly great alternative Christmas songs out there that I absolutely adore. I'll post some links when I get home tonight (where I can get on youtube).

[quote name='JimBobTTD' timestamp='1355473142' post='1898715'] I have one of these, but the headphone out is far too noisy on mine to be of any use. I occasionally use the DI from it to a small mixer and then the headphone out on that for quiet practice. [/quote] I had the same problem and ended up using the same solution. Now I'm using a Hartke Bass Attack and a mixer---lets me play along to music on my PC, feed the signal back into my PC, all sorts of fancy things. The Bass Attack (Second hand) and 6 channel mixer (Cheap) cost me less than £100 all in.

Finally tried out the Phase 90 and the Shimverb the other night. The Phase 90 is very, very nice indeed. I love it. I think you'd have to spend a lot more to get a better phaser. The Shimverb is OK. The room and spring modes sound pretty good. The shimmer---which is what I bought it for---doesn't really do it for me. I'm in two minds as to whether or not to keep it (not sure I need "normal" reverb). Anyone fancy swapping my shimverb for your something else? (not dirt, I have lots of dirt).

Personally speaking---I don't mind buying an instrument if its been on the shop wall. In fact, if I go into a shop and demo an instrument then I want to walk out with the same instrument that I've been trying, not some random one boxed out the back. On its own, the fact that they didn't polish/clean it before they sent it is not very cool and I'd maybe try and get some free strings or something from them as an apology... HOWEVER, with all that said, having the case candy missing is totally unacceptable. If they supply you with the correct stuff and a suitable apology then I'd maybe let it slide, otherwise it'd be going back or I'd be asking for a serious discount.

I don't care where I am relative to the drummer, but the guitarist in my band is left handed, so I prefer to be on his left so that we don't clash headstocks.

[quote name='mcnach' timestamp='1354820239' post='1890902'] there's a variety of "lowballers" that do get annoying 'though. a while back, around the time I sold you that black Vintage Jazz bass (now back with me, thanks! ) I was selling quite a lot of things: guitars, basses, effects... I advertised them all on Gumtree. I received emails from the same person for just about every single item, offering 50% of my asking price trying to entice me by saying they would collect on the day. After I replied to three of his emails I just got bored. There was one particular item he seemed to want, and he kept insisting, always offering 50% and starting to become a little offensive, not just pushy. what was he thinking? Clearly someone with too much time in his hands trying his luck at anything. [/quote] Yes, that would be annoying---but more annoying because of the persistant rudeness rather than the lower offer though, right?

[quote name='ped' timestamp='1354731453' post='1889775'] We already have a message to every seller to ask for a donation, and unfortunately it doesn't work. Shame, but there you go!! [/quote] well, yes. But my memory of that message is that its a bit flowery---"it would be really nice if you send us a donation...". What I'm suggesting is more of an upfront "We cannot continue doing this for free, please help us out". FWIW, I will be hitting the donate button at some point this month (I'm utterly skint and waiting for an expenses claim to hit my bank account...).

[quote name='bigjohn' timestamp='1354809800' post='1890691'] Someone offers less that you want. You can decline it. The offer is their risk, not yours. I don't understand people complaining or feeling insulted or annoyance at the sheer thought of a haggle. If you're selling something, that's the deal. That's the way it is. If you sell stuff, someone eventually is going to offer you less than you want for it. Get over it. Or don't sell stuff. If you're really incapable of entering into a conversation on price, then maybe put "strictly no offers" in the advert (for simple courtesy) then don't reply to offers. Or deal with it however you like, I don't care really but getting annoyed or feeling insulted by someone offering you an exchange (be it cash, sex or magic beans) for something you want rid of is pretty strange behaviour in my book! Doing nobody any favours, especially yourselves. [/quote] +1. I cannot comprehend how anyone could be "offended" or "upset" by a politely worded PM offering less than they're asking for. Just say no. Its no more socially awkward than someone saying "would you like a cup of tea?" and replying "no thanks". Its just not a big deal. Fair enough get a bit annoyed if your ad says "Firm price" or "no offers, please" but if it doesn't then just deal with it like an adult with functional social skills and move on.