Jacqueslemac

There's one hanging on the wall in my local shop. It's even more garish in real life (although I think the one there is a kind of sunburst). The gig bag looks pretty odd as well.

So who is making Futurama-branded instruments nowadays, then? I've seen the branding on the headstocks, so someone is!

I popped into my local-ish bass shop today, just for a nose around. I mentioned that I was on the hunt for a Fender Jaguar bass, but had been told they'd been discontinued because of the enduring strength of the Yen against the US dollar. His reply was that the scarcity of Japanese Fenders had little to so with exchange rates, but more to do with the fact that a long-term deal between Fender and Tokai had come to an end, so Fender's Japanese manufacturing capability has been severely reduced. Apparently, Fender had outsourced their manufacture to Tokai, but that when the deal came to an end, Fender had neglected to extend use of the copyright on their designs. As a result, Tokai has continued to make Fender-type Jazzes and Precisions, Strats and Teles that are almost indistinguishable from the real Fender "crafted in Japan" thing (as they're being made on the same production lines using the same materials). However, Tokai isn't using its own brand. It owns the Futurama brand and that's what is on the headstock. I was told that the sticker (the font is very, very close to Fender's own - the F in particular!) is applied on top of the lacquer, so can easily be removed, should you so wish. The shop didn't have any basses in stock, but the guitars looked very convincing to the untrained eye (and £249!). How much of this is true and how much a sales story to shift budget instruments?

I'll bring my Mike Dirnt signature Precision too. It's got a big fat neck profile that many people won't have tried. Plus my Stingray if I haven't managed to sell it by then. (I went to a 25th wedding anniversary party a couple of weeks ago. I mentioned Slepe Hall and apparently it was where the reception was held. Odd that. 1985 was the first and last time I've been there.)

Put an ad up in Earth Studios on the Salhouse Road and in Plug Studios close to the Halfords superstore and new Go Outdoors place. You could also put ads up in a couple of the larger shops - Norfolk Guitar and Bass Centre in Watton and (excuse the weak excuse for humour) PMT in Anglia Square. Norwich Darkside seems to be populated mainly by metal-loving teenage boys, so your music is certainly catered for there. Keep trying and don't give up hope. Demand for bassists seems to wax and wane. If there are too many around at the moment, wait a couple of months and everyone will be complaining they can't find a bass player for love nor money. Gender shouldn't matter. Our band has a 20 year old female drummer. She's a good drummer and that's all that counts.

And that all the bad 1970s Fenders (i.e. virtually every single one if some experts/sources are to be believed) have vanished and only the very best ones are now offered for sale.

Happy to bring any of my gear for (careful) people to play with. The Variax can sound like a duck quacking if that floats anyone's boat! Dood - I'm happy to pick you up on the way past if that helps. I'm in Costessey.

9th January is fine for me. I'm happy to stump up a tenner, bring a couple of basses along and try to look like I understand whatever seminar someone is giving!

[quote name='bobbass4k' post='1024898' date='Nov 15 2010, 05:32 PM']Neil Mahoney of Amplifier if he counts, they've been around a fair old while but still only on their 2nd full length (although the third is on the way).[/quote] Agree with that. It's a hackneyed description, but "sonic soundscapes" fits his playing! Third album on its way, you say? Excellent! (I'm almost 50 and was introduced to Amplifier by our 19 year old drummer. Who's a girl. Good music knows no ageism.)

All are clear for me at the moment.

My diary is empty on 16th January at the moment.

Is it possible to add the date and venue to the title? I haven't trawled through the thread to find it and others may be even more lazy than I am. I do know where the Forty Foot Drain is, though.

[quote name='spongebob' post='1021719' date='Nov 12 2010, 05:35 PM']My covers band is trying to fill the diary for 2011. We've got some re-books from this year, but trying to get new venues....phew! I appreciate pubs get overrun with demos, but for the most part, their attitude stinks. I can't believe how rude and off-hand so many are! There just must be an easier way to get a gig....once you're in, that's fine, but it's the getting in at first! I'd love to try a different approach.....but what? Maybe an agent or something, but I wouldn't have a clue where or how to go about it. We were thinking of doing some originals in the new year, but some places I spoke to actually asked if we were an originals band - and if we were, forget it! Really looking for some advice for others on this and how you get on securing bookings in this climate.....help![/quote] I'm subscribing to this thread in the hope of soaking up some good tips! (No pun intended.)

[quote name='Sarah5string' post='1021721' date='Nov 12 2010, 05:37 PM']Hello! bottomendian grassed you all up asking about me... Thought I'd quickly check in and say hi, my bassiness is kind of on hold at the min after both my band and lessons went balls up for totally random reasons. I'm not fulltime at work in a really stressful job, and currently battling generalised anxiety disorder and bad panic attacks. Other than that life's peachy I keep meaning to come back and say hi but I've been feeling sh*te recently so haven't been doing much of anything other than work! I will be back soon when I'm feeling more 'me'...[/quote] I'm a SAD sufferer. For me, music helps. Hope things get better for you soon.

Justin Hawkins has had a Les Paul made the same way.

I got hold of a Boss CEB-3 via eBay for about £30-£40 from what I can remember. It seems fine to me, but I've not used another so can't compare it with anything else.

Have you seen the You Tube [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6Cd98DH__U"]comparison of Squier versus Fender[/url]? Food for thought!

I'm sure I've posted a picture before, but here's a couple taken last weekend: Does anyone else's have this change in colour between the back of the neck and the back of the headstock?