uncle psychosis

[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.

Honestly, I'm not very keen on the idea of paying to place ads. I'd rather see regulars contribute to the site because they want to---perhaps, before implementing such massive changes, it might be worth contacting the whole membership and saying "Look, we can't continue to run basschat as it is for free. If you enjoy the site, please, contribute some cash to the pot, otherwise we'll have to start charging for placing ads" or similar. I'm aware that you already (sort of) do this, but I think a much more explicit request might have some sway. You've got nothing to lose, either---you could try it and see what happens!

[quote name='SlapbassSteve' timestamp='1354727659' post='1889682'] but at the time I thought the £70 I was asking for basically a new amp(the loose connection was a two minute fix with some molegrips that I didn't have time for at the time) was fair. [/quote] See, this kind of thing grinds my gears far more than someone trying to haggle a price. If its "only a two minute job to fix" or "its missing part $Y but you can get one on eBay for a few quid..." then major alarm bells start going in my head as a buyer. If a seller can't be bothered to spend the "few minutes" to fix whatever the supposed "minor" issue is, or won't spend a couple of pounds to replace a missing part on a bass worth hundreds then I start to have major doubts as to whether or not I want to deal with them.

I have no problem with someone offering me less than I asked for, so long as they are polite about it. The worst thing that happens is I say no.

[quote name='bobpalt' timestamp='1354629970' post='1888364'] Not really sure why there are any objections at all to paying something to sell on BC? Maybe for items less than £100 there might be a case, but £20 to register as a trading member is far less than it would cost to sell just one mediocre bass on Ebay, let alone several a year. [/quote] People know what they're paying for with eBay. To random internet passers-by, basschat is a totally unknown quantity. Why risk paying basschat to sell your bass when you can pay eBay and know exactly what you're getting into? Yes, basschat regulars might have no problem paying to use the classifieds (I'd be happy to)---but you have to ask whether or not the long term health of the site might diminish (I reckon a fairly large number of users only join initially because of the marketplace and then hang around once they get to know the place).

Being honest, I don't like the new classifieds at all, and most people have already listed the reasons why so I won't repeat them. I also don't really see whats wrong with the current system. If the site needs to make some money to continue then lets try and raise some funds---but I'm not convinced that charging a yearly or one-off listing fee will help the site long term. Lots of people only join the site initially so they can sell something, and then they stick around. If they have to pay a fee up front, they'll probably not bother. Basschat has a great "community" feel to it. The classifieds are (fairly) self-moderating as it is. I think if the site needs more money coming in then a large number of the regulars will help out, without needing to be forced to, so long as they are asked in the correct manner.

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1354536894' post='1887018'] No buts it's 90% more of a fair test, same body wood, same pickup windings, same bridge settings, same strings, same tone controls etc. [/quote] Yes, but if taking a neck off and replacing it changes the sound just as much as taking a neck off and putting a different one on then your test is 100% pointless. Unless you have a baseline for your test then you can't make a comparison.

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1354534386' post='1886979'] Have not watched the clip but did they swap the necks over onto the same body and everything that goes with it or just compare two basses with different boards? Means nothing if its the latter as far as science is concerned [/quote] Even the former isn't necessarily very rigorous science. Does taking a neck off, then putting it straight back on again make it sound different? Does replacing one neck with a nominally identical one make a difference?

As a new user I think I'd look at the classifieds and think "oh, its a bass gumtree". With the current system I know that I looked at it and thought "there's a LOT of traffic in here!!" which was a definite attraction. Also, how do I access the new classifieds from the mobile version? I can't figure it out...

Buy a second hand LS2. You won't get better for less. And don't worry about the true bypass.

[quote name='stoker' timestamp='1353875721' post='1879303'] Started putting together a small board for live gigs and I've got a chorus on the way and a SYB-5 that was a gift from our drummer. The thing is what else should I get? One of my bands is a rock/pop band with a very '60s feel and the other is a blues band so was thinking maybe an overdrive or fuzz? Any advice or tips would be much appreciated! [/quote] The best advice I can give is not to buy pedals just because you think you need them. Loads of people (myself included) have spent small fortunes buying expensive gadgets they thought they needed but in fact didn't. If you feel a sound is missing, then try to replicate that sound. But don't buy a chorus/phaser/compressor etc just because everyone says they're essential pedalboard kit! As for ODs, I'd definitely recommend something with a clean blend. Or get a Boss LS2 and use that to blend in clean signals with your own choice of pedal.

I was a guitarist before I got a bass, but I bought a bass because I wanted to, not because anyone else asked me to or to join a particular band. Nowadays I think of myself as a bassist who also plays guitar a little bit, but I suppose if I want to get properly pedantic I'm a flautist who dabbles a little in bass and guitar!

[quote name='Ancient Mariner' timestamp='1353796498' post='1878632'] Well, having finally decided what to buy etc etc (Reecho, Elec lady, compressor, trelicopter plus 3 Joyo preamp pedals) tried to place the order only to find key pedals out of stock. Grrrr. So the 3 Joyos and an elec lady are ordered from WTF accessories. The Trelicopter etc will have to wait. [/quote] Really interested in the Elec Lady. Please review it when it arrives

One of the advantages of playing originals is that its harder for the audience to spot "mistakes". The songs have the "correct" bassline and I suppose quite often I deviate from that accidentally, but only very rarely does it sound totally wrong (I hope!). Interestingly enough, there's a "mistake" on my bands EP in one of the bass parts--- I played the wrong line at the wrong time--- but it sounded good all the same, thankfully. I think I'm the only person who knows its wrong!

Sounds good ...but I genuinely don't think I could perform "time after time" live. I hate it *that* much

[quote name='Beer of the Bass' timestamp='1353944322' post='1880029'] I'd broadly agree with this, but the players who prefer a big amp barely ticking over are usually the ones who like to keep the power stage clean, either for a big clean sound, reproducing modellers/effects, or in amps that are based around high gain preamps. They're not usually the same ones who insist that they have to run the volume on 7 to get their sound. Myself, I don't play any louder through a Twin or similar than I do with my little Princeton, but I can appreciate the difference in sound between the two, even with very similarly voiced preamps. I enjoy the smaller amp with a bit of compression and hair to the tone, and it's enough to sit in the mix with my drummer on stage in the venues we play, but some may prefer something that breaks up less. [/quote] I agree with you---but I was just pointing out that its not fair (or just plain wrong) for us bassists to suggest that a guitarist should never turn up to a gig with a 100W stack because a "mic'd up 15W combo is more than enough...". I'd have no issue the guitarist in my band wanted to use two 100W stacks, so long as he kept the volume at a sensible level! Just to reiterate: There is no such thing as inappropriate [i]power, [/i]only inappropriate[i] volume.[/i]

Whilst I agree with the "they sound like prats, you did the right thing" comment there are a lot of misconceptions in this thread as well. Small guitar amps pushed hard do *not* always sound as good as large guitar amps. Some of my favourite guitar sounds are for large, high power amps, but with the volume turned down to a sensible level. I guess what I'm trying to say is that there is nothing inherently wrong with using a 100W marshall for a pub gig, so long as you use it at an appropriate volume. Volume is the problem, not power. Your guitarist could be using a 30W amp and it still be too loud for the occasion.

[quote name='hollywoodrox' timestamp='1353361222' post='1874299'] Aw I didn't know he had a book gonna have to get that now as it sounds a good read [/quote] Its brilliant. One of the most interesting music bios I've ever read.

[quote name='4 Strings' timestamp='1353343679' post='1873956'] Our issue is in replacing the mics, who pays for those? The singers are my favourite as the rest of us have our gear. In the end though my bass will always be more useful to me than a mic will be to a singer. Tricky one. [/quote] Everyone who sings should own their own Mic. If only for health/cleanliness reasons.