MilkyBarKid

[quote name='visog' timestamp='1394482026' post='2391856'] Well I'll pitch in for a plain old fashioned desktop PC. Pound for MIP, they're the most cost effective bang for your buck computer-wise - assuming you don't want to move around. A desktop will power a whole host of DAWs and SoftSynths. And for lengthy editing and composing, a mouse is better than a finger IMHO. I'd consider what DAW and music software you want to use routinely, and from where you want to use it, then work back to your platform from there... [/quote] +1 Definately choose software first then find out which platform it works best on.

looks like EAD are no longer in production too.

[quote name='Greggo' timestamp='1386362469' post='2299415'] Someone is interested in swapping my unused Ibanez guitar for a Vintage les Paul copy. Now, if it were the current range with the Wilkinson pickups I'd be all over it. But the one on questions is an older version from late 90s so non Wilkinson pickups or hardware. Anyone know if they are still any good for what they are or avoid? [/quote] I tried one a couple of years ago and was really surprised at how awful it sounded - was buying for my at the time 10year old. I wouldn't have had it if it was free quite frankly. Ended up buying an Epi Les Paul - which was / is so much better.

I always liked his tale about him and Mick Jagger sneaking off for a round of golf, and being terrified that journalists would find out, and ruin their bad boy images.

I've had good service in the past from Parcelforce but in the last two deliveries they managed to snap the side of a 2 x 12 marshall combo in two, and put a hole in an abs bass case (and refused compensation). There was a report that Deutsche Post is thought to be likely to buy parcelforce - I hope not - they managed to lose a 1100cc large touring motorcycle of mine for about six months years ago and delivered it quite badly damaged (at a time when I was unable to inspect it). UPS - everything I've ever ordered with them has arrived damaged and they seem to be masters at evading any liability - I've never managed to get a penny of compensstion out of them - even if I desperately want something and the only delivery option is UPS - I'd rather not buy it than use UPS.

[quote name='MiltyG565' timestamp='1389303222' post='2332725'] Yes, it's very unfair. But, I think there's something about being a high-profile musician. Quite a few seem to have very large egos and a very "I can do what I like" attitude, and it makes me wonder if it's the money and fame that corrupts the person and makes them like that, or are people with that mentality just more likely to go further in the music world? It's all very peculiar, I think. Of course, there are some very altruistic and honest musicians out there with great personalities. It's awful to say, but I think I would pass on the opportunity to meet any musician that I really looked up to. [/quote] Probably quite a good axiom to abide by, but in the case of someone like Allan Holdsworth who is well known for being incredibly modest you'd probably find he was delightful in person; but his playing is so stellar that it's pretty demotivational, I suspect that quite a high percentage of the audience give up playing their guitars after seeing him. I know I did for years - I just thought what's the point - I could never play like that.

each item will have a commodity code.Duty varies for various commodity codes .I think it goes up to about 15%, but for musical instruments / electronics it's probably around 2-5%. Duty is charged on what Customs decide is the value of the item, not on what you paid for it. VAT is then calculated on the total of item value + shipping charges + duty. Handling costs are usually about £15 if coming via USPS / Parcel force; this is added to the piece after vat.

Just had a stagepiano shipped from northern ireland - to mainland uk. DHL fully insured cost about £79 (couldn't lift it alone). Parcelforce have attempted to destroy the last two shipments they've made to me. They've managed to inflict serious damage to a 2x12 marshall combo - snapping the right hand side almost completely though.

Pacifica

Depends on the service you paid for - I think the standard service is by sea. If there's any weight to it and you've got the cheapest service it can take six to eight weeks. By air and you'll probably get it in a fortnight.

I've always been puzzled by the conventional music lessons we had at school which pushed German and other European composers at you, they seemed obsessed with Beethoven, Schubert, Brahms, Liszt, Bach etc. I personally can't see how any of them are in any way comparable to any of the music mentioned here. I'd be interested in hearing if any one has any ideas how and why this might be? Is it regarded as inferior to more modern classical music in music circles? I love this music but I find it quite intense and find it quite difficult to listen to for any length of time (unless live). I absolutely love the bass, but find it doesn't move me in the way this music does. There is something magical about the voice which other instruments don't have.

There are two basic options as far as I can see, either increase ventilation and heat, or reduce ventilation and use a dehumidifier. I'd guess the second option will be cheaper. If the room gets very cold you need to buy a dehumidifier which works at a low temperature - many of them give up the ghost at around 4-7degrees. The moisture content of the air in this country is very high terrible for keeping exposed steel corrosion free. To virtually eliminate rust you need to get the relative humidity below 45%. If you don't want to use dehumidifiers then what about building an airtight wardrobe like box and sticking some dessicant in the box to reduce the moisture content of the air immediately around your instruments, and put a humidity gauge in with them to monitor how well your solution is working. Putting your instruments in big plastic bags with dessicant would have a similar effect. You can get sealing rods for the bags from the people who do veneer presses for woodworking.

As far as I can see they are massively overcharging. The total should be about 20-23% on top of the total of total of shipping and cost of goods - my quick calcs put it at around 50% more than that. Someone is making a tidy profit. Probably ok for small items but for big ticket items definately opt out.

[quote name='bartelby' timestamp='1371049794' post='2109131'] and the authorities weren't bother you sold your kids? [/quote] No, after mine destroyed 5 speakers they were quite understanding, destroying epos speakers is worthy of selling into slavery. I seem to remember a horror story on the old The Bottom Line newsgroup where one member described how he was trying to show his little one how one uses sandpaper to sand down wood, unfortunately said little one found dad's modulus and decided not get some sanding practice in! Sill makes me wince to think of it.

Bought a bass from Andy - he was very helpful in spite of several changes of plan (on my side) and returned home to allow me to collect the bass when I rang him ten minutes before I arrived. Very easy transaction - nice chap.

[list] [*]The value of the wood would depend on the species - there are a lot of woods people call mahogany which aren't true mahogany but rather things like sapele - I seem to remember true mahogany is called something like macrophilia swietiana or something similar. The thickness would probably be ok for a luthier who wanted to face the guitar with laminates of another type of wood. I don't know what cut of wood luthiers favour but quartersawn is the most stable (as far as I remember) and I guess that's pretty important in a musical instrument; look at the direction of the rings on the end of the plank and you should be able to work out how the plank was cut (look up pictures of quartersawn planks on the internet) [/list]

My experience is that the duty is charged at something between 2 and 5 % for musical instruments, then 20% vat is charged on the cost of the item + the shipping cost + the duty. Yes that's right tax on tax.£ Then you may face a handling charge of £9 and £14. My experience is that you will [b][u]always[/u][/b] be charged vat & duty if using Fedex, UPS etc. but you have a fighting chance of not paying duty if using the American post services USPS (United States Post Services) at least for smaller and lower priced items. If you want to find out the exact rate of duty you first of all have to find out the commodity code (from some customs department) of the item you want to import, then call another department with the commodity code and ask them what the rate of duty is on it. They will issue you with some form of binding quote on duty rates. Duty isn't really the problem it's the vat on shipping which is a bit of a killer - so it pays to shop around and reduce your shipping charges and perhaps use surface shipping for heavier items and be patient it can take 6-8 weeks surface.

[quote name='icastle' timestamp='1366821871' post='2057710'] So how do they cope if they sell a bass via eBay? I think they're spinning you a line mate. [/quote] I'd be forwarding the letter you got from them to ebay for evading ebay fees.

[quote name='EBS_freak' timestamp='1366282837' post='2050428'] This may help - [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/72529-string-wrap-colours/"]http://basschat.co.u...g-wrap-colours/[/url] [/quote] There appear to be about 4 different strings with purple wraps, so perhaps the best thing would be to see if you can get your hands on a micrometer or vernier gauge and measure the string thicknesses and compare them with the various makes listed on the above thread. That should help you narrow down your choice. Aldi or Lidl quite often have some quite good value digital vernier scales - I bought a couple a few weeks ago for iirc around £7 each. Perhaps there's a basschatter near you who might lend you one or measure your strings for you. They are very useful if you've got a few stringed instruments around and forget which strings you've got on.

[quote name='risingson' timestamp='1364857914' post='2031987'] Worth it though, the view is quite spectacular. [/quote] I'd agree - I've driven over it, taken the train under it and sailed under it - but the view of the bridge from the water is absolutely amazing - it's a breathtaking piece of engineering,

[quote name='steve-bbb' timestamp='1364804312' post='2030932'] but you CAN drive to Sweden [/quote] Have you seen the price of the toll to go over that massive bridge. :-(

Oh God - I'm an idiot. Where's the delete thread button?