Rich

So, at what point does an expensive bass become too expensive to comfortably take to a gig? Let's say an ordinary gig at the Dog & Duck, rather than a big gig on a proper stage. Actually, to partially answer my own question, I guess the key word is 'valuable' rather than expensive. A £300 bass bought for you by a loved-one could quite easily be far more personally valuable than a £1000 piece of exotica.

You think using 'gay' as an insult is funny, but you're all sensitive about calling someone an idiot (rather than using 'gay' as an insult again) and you think 'chav' is offensive? Oh please.

[quote name='thisnameistaken' post='427808' date='Mar 7 2009, 03:02 AM']it pisses all over your Alembic and doesn't look as gay.[/quote][quote name='EdwardHimself' post='428064' date='Mar 7 2009, 03:59 PM']For a start it pisses me off so much people who use the word "gay" as an insult it suggests to me that you're homophobic.[/quote][quote name='thisnameistaken' post='428129' date='Mar 7 2009, 05:42 PM']I thought it fit the rant quite well, that's why I used it. Most of my friends work in theatre, if I was scared of gays I'd have nobody to talk to.[/quote][quote name='EdwardHimself' post='428218' date='Mar 7 2009, 08:48 PM']Yeah but what maked you think it would. You could have just said it looked crap or terrible. I just don't understand because you don't hear people saying something looks "n******" or "Paki" or "Spazz" so why the hell do you call it Gay? I just really don't get it.[/quote] I am firmly with Edward here. [b][u]The word 'gay' is not a term of abuse and should not be used as such[/u][/b]. If anyone wants to call something crap, say it's crap. If you want to call someone an idiot, call them an idiot. But if you simply [i]have[/i] to use 'gay' rather than crap or idiot, go to a Big Brother discussion forum with the other 14 year olds where you can type "OMG u r like so gay" to your heart's content.

[quote name='Russ' post='437959' date='Mar 18 2009, 04:54 AM']I was thinking of just bringing it onto the plane in its gig bag as hand baggage and getting them to stick it in the coat locker or something, since you're now allowed to bring more than one piece of hand baggage again. Plus having it in its gig bag would make it easier to carry around with me when I get there. Anyone got any experience of doing this? The flight is from Newark (USA) to Heathrow on BA.[/quote] I did this once on a BA flight, many years ago, with a bass I bought in Jakarta. They stuck it in the coat locker and it was fine. But that was 1994 and obviously things have changed. If you turn up at check-in with your gig bag and they say you've got to check your bass as hold luggage...

[quote name='thisnameistaken' post='436826' date='Mar 17 2009, 01:20 AM']Aria SB range - Bit plain, but the best suggestion yet.[/quote] So the Aria SB isn't a classic, but the Yam BB is? Hmm. This is all very subjective. [quote]Manson - Does he even make basses? Another boutique nobody - NO![/quote] Boutique [i]nobody[/i]? John Paul Jones would disagree! The Mansons have been making basses for decades. I would suggest that the Kestrel bass from the early 80s is something of a design classic: [quote name='thisnameistaken' post='437426' date='Mar 17 2009, 03:47 PM']But they were never cool. The only British manufacturer who had a distinctive shape was Status, and that literally was "too modern". It looks very dated now, not in a good way.[/quote] Define 'cool', define 'dated'. It's in the eye of the beholder.

[quote name='bilbo230763' post='437060' date='Mar 17 2009, 11:43 AM']I think the quantifiable 'success' of certain named individuals is no indicator of the best route to take. It is no more sensible than using blind chance as a justification of the validity of choosing to take the wrong route to get to your chosen destination because others have found it by chance. Relying on the good fortune of others to inform your decisions on how to best manage your own career seems a fools errand to me.[/quote][quote name='Eight' post='437114' date='Mar 17 2009, 12:23 PM']The argument that so-and-so never read/learned anything/practiced etc. doesn't mean you don't have to either.[/quote] No, you missed my point. What I was getting at was that with the viewpoint Jeff B appears to have, re: playing an instrument if you're not a reader or learning to read, means that Messrs. Karn and Palladino should not be playing at all. Which of course they can, and should be. It's not a case of "if it's good enough for [i]X[/i] it's good enough for me" at all.

Beverley Knight, 'Shoulda Woulda Coulda' Aretha Franklin, 'House That Jack Built'

[quote name='BigBeefChief' post='436186' date='Mar 16 2009, 03:16 PM']Also, Jeff Berlin seems to have the view that if your not learning to read then you shouldn't be playing an instrument.[/quote] Yes I always get this impression from him too. Well, I believe I'm right in thinking that neither Mick Karn nor Pino Palladino can read a single note. This being the case, Mr.Berlin can take his view and cram it sideways. He's the Clarkson of the bass world... says the occasional sensible thing, and then makes a cods of it all by coming out with some fatuous blethering crap or other.

I'm not wild about the plate shape, or the sloping-back tuners, but that's just personal preference. Overall it's a cool retro look. Very nice!

[quote name='escholl' post='435676' date='Mar 15 2009, 11:45 PM']what about using the cables you already use, wrapped in something like [url="http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=26849"]this[/url]?[/quote] Or [url="http://www.rapidonline.com/Cables-Connectors/Cables/Sleeving/Expandable-braided-sleeving/71513/kw/braid"]this[/url]? This is what I'm going to be using for my pedalboard send/return/power cables.

So if I played three basses all strung with DRs and all fitted with EMGs, they'd sound the same whether they were made of mahogany, ebony or balsa. Hell, why does it have to be wood if it has so little impact? So they'd sound the same if they were made of mahogany, ebony, balsa, concrete, fibreglass or jelly babies. Rrrrrright. Finally I see.

It's a valid argument yes, but we've done it soooo many times before... "Another tonewood argument, my god is it the 16th of the month already?" [quote name='BigBeefChief' post='436214' date='Mar 16 2009, 03:40 PM']Most important thing for me is how comfortable or "at home" I fell playing a bass. Some basses I pick up and they just don't feel right, even without playing a note. Other basses just seem to "fit". I don't mean purely on body shape, it can be neck length/width/depth, type of finish, pick up placement etc.[/quote] Absolutely. It's one of the very best reasons for getting a custom build.

It was getting bumped anyway. Or nudged or kicked or something.

BORRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR [size=1]pause for breath[/size] RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRINNNNNNNNNNNNNNG Move along folks, nuthin' to see here.

I'm a big fan of figured woods... like the burr maple facings on my Shuke... and there's something about the look of a nice deep quilted maple under a coloured lacquer that is soooo lovely. Especially when the light hits it and it goes almost 3D.

[quote name='BottomEndian' post='435874' date='Mar 16 2009, 10:42 AM']One here too. If this was Talkbass, we'd start handing out "Vegetarian Bassist Club" numbers... [/quote] Why not change your custom member title to [i]'Vegetarian Bassist Club Member #xx'[/i]? People seem to do that for all manner of daft reasons

A [i]herd[/i] of cats..??

What's so "dickish" about not wanting to get your stuff busted?

[quote name='thepurpleblob' post='416022' date='Feb 21 2009, 10:44 AM']I don't like his playing either... but who cares what I think? While I spend all my days slaving in an office surrounded by self-obsessed w*nk*rs in suits, he gets to jet around the world doing something he (presumably) loves doing. So good luck to the guy, I say [/quote][quote name='4000' post='416042' date='Feb 21 2009, 11:06 AM']Did I write this post???????? Crikey, we're leading parallel lives!!!![/quote] Can I join your club guys?

Calm down, calm down My mate's mate was the "author" of that quote, and all he means is that he knows nothing whatsoever about Yamaha basses (other than the BB feeling and sounding great), and so doesn't want to blow his hard-earned on what might have been an overpriced lemon. His bass experience is limited and that's why he was after advice. So thanks for yours too, but enough of the playground language

[quote name='dood' post='430691' date='Mar 10 2009, 04:43 PM']Ah Yes Pete! When Within The Void are up and ready for touring, I'll be sure to pop a post on the forum![/quote] Try to get a couple of West Country dates in there

Point out to her that of your two basses, one is highly sentimental in value and is therefore unavailable, and the other you worked damn hard to afford and as such is valuable to you personally and therefore also unavailable. Point out to her every single potential bargain bass that crops up, here and elsewhere. Tell/show her that you'll help her to get her own gear. But really, [i]don't[/i] let her use yours. Down that road lies broken friendships and all manner of trouble.

[quote name='chris_b' post='432438' date='Mar 12 2009, 02:15 PM']On the other hand, on several "tours" of American [b]basses[/b] in Germany, the Yanks were polite, friendly and enthusiastic music fans.[/quote] Was that USAF FenderJazz, or USMC Lakland..? :lol: