Gust0o

I've seen these before, and they look like a neat bit of kit. Is it just for the E-string, or should you install an entire set? Sorry if that's a very amateurish question!

Sadly, all I own is crap! I do think the loan-around 5-string is a genius idea - does anyone know if that's still running? I've never tried a 5, and that would be a fantastic way of doing so.

Barry Ollocks. I've managed a pub, and you can make £300 with your eyes shut - it doesn't take a busy night with a band on. You've been short-changed on this one.

Les Claypool, surely?

His blog makes mention of some medical problems, amongst a general theme of problems slowing the work down. Recession? Overstretch? External issues? In any case, he should mention them - you are a paying customer, after all. Let us know how you get on with this one.

I've seen people do this a few times - I've even seen some wannabe try it in Fibbers, only for it to go horribly wrong. Who would have thought it wasn't something for small venues?

This whole thread reminded me of the scene from The Mighty Boosh - glam rock folk band, anyone?

I took up playing bass again to help iron my hand out after an accident - so I've already started from the basis that I'm knackered anyway! I broke my right arm twice across the forearm, and once over the elbow. This did the nerves no favours, which were already damaged from break in the hand - which broke two bones and pushed my knuckle to my wrist. I view any pain in the arm as a healthy glow - we're back in business! As for the shoulder. Laptop bag, man bag/briefcase, luggage, suitcarrier, golf clubs, kayak gear... the bass is only one small element of that abuse. I do read about a lot of injuries to peoples' backs, from long-term playing.

The Beast is a mad design! Badgerific had one on here for a smashing knock-down price, but it's just a little too pointy for sense!

[quote]A mate of mine at college was in a Descendants/Propaghandi type punk band and had a flourescent green BC Rich Warlock at one point. He said it was the best sounding bass he'd ever owned, but he had to get rid because it looked so bad![/quote] Ah, the danger of Warlocks! My mate has a reverse headstock Warlock, with a snakeskin paint job - real '80s rock!

There was an awesome Gibson Flying-V parts mash-up on here - that appealed, on the exact same basis (bass-is?), of having something a little perverse to draw people's attention. BC Rich would give you plenty of examples - Ironbird, Stealth, Bich... not all of them blacker-than-black, but with enough spice to flavour the looks.

I have Shockwave's old pink BCR Eagle - which raises eyebrows everytime it appears from the gig bag! I've played my BCR Ironbird at a few pub gigs where we've done nothing but pop/rock covers. That's probably been a bit of overkill!

[quote]Glad you're liking the Eagle as well; that is relatively light and balances perfectly I'm pleased to say and it sounds lovely too![/quote] I'll second this - my Eagle is the lightest of my basses, and is a fantastic player! They really do break through the misconception that BC Rich's are all silly points, and flat sounds.

I'm looking for a band for my wedding! Maybe I should save my pennies, with some cunning DIY? You're always going to lose the first set. It's not a gig, it's a wedding - and the couple and proceedings will be getting the attention, not the band. That's just something you have to face, having been there. If you're on again later, that's when you'll have some fun. People should be fed and watered (liberally!) by then, and looking for the music. I'm hoping, whoever we hire, might let me on for a token disco number... sobriety providing!

Nicely done chief!

[quote]C'mon - no one else find that funny?[/quote] Nuts make a huge difference, or huge nuts make a difference? Great minds

[quote]For a modern, agressive deathmetal tone I like basses with two big humbuckers like the Ibanez SRX and similar instruments. They sound big and fat but with a bright and agressive edge to their tone which really makes them cut through and gets you heard in any setting.[/quote] My memory could be failing me, but I seem to remember Sepultura being endorsed by Ibanez?

BC Rich are certainly worth a call. I think people tend to overlook the fact that they're decent instruments, once you go beyond the entry level and the copies. They're not all pointy! You can pick up good 80s-90s NJ-series instruments cheaply, and they're often available via Ebay or BCRichplayers.com. That should leave you plenty of pennies for the Badass bridge and EMGs! You don't fancy an Ironbird import, do you?

[quote]By strange coincidence, I think they did, recently...[/quote] In typical noob-with-five-mins-before-a-meeting fashion, I'd missed that one - puzzling, very puzzling. You can understand some frustration on the behalf of the retailer, but there are much better approaches. Good to see some signs of improvement, but you'd hope for more dialogue - starting that conversation is at the heart of every effective relationship. Anyway, logging off from work...

[quote]These gentlemen have been represented as curmudgeons and gobsh1tes. I think they're just bored.[/quote] You'd be amazed at how common this affliction is, especially amongst the larger music stores - I wonder if it's somehow linked to the "don't play with the stock" policy so many seem to have? I remember my student days at Toys 'R' Us - all those lightsabers, and not a single Jedi to fight with! Kudos to the kid who eventually took me up on the offer The quote about, to paraphrase, no business ever winning an argument with a customer is spot on. In retail you will live and die by your customer service, and the ability to generate and maintain that business - it doesn't take a genius to note that the value chain is largely dependent on you selling something! Which is why this is so disappointing. I would be inclined to aim Bass Cellar at this thread. Someone there needs to see it. I've worked in customer experience for a number of years, for a large insurance firm - and you will have instances where the experience doesn't work, for one reason or another; but you cannot tolerate people looking to sabotage the process. Whether he's bored, hates the company, stressed at home, or whatever. If he turns out to own the place, more fool him. This is your brand value - see what it's worth!

Hysteria by Muse, recommended above, would be a nice little work out. I'd recommend a few more - Knights of Cydonia, especially, if you fancy the tap. I'm a little harder in my personal tastes, unfortunately - would suggest half the RATM back catalogue, but I don't think that remotely tallies with your Radio 2 suggestion! [quote name='mrcrow' post='562802' date='Aug 7 2009, 02:39 PM']summertime girl from ipanema the A train Satin doll all easy and chordally interesting...one can improvise for ages[/quote]

6'2 and 12 stone is pretty light. I'll admit, I first got into bass as I looked ridiculous with a guitar - I'm 6'3" and have played prop since my youth, so I'm still dwarfing my basses!