misrule

[quote name='Hell To Pay' post='957275' date='Sep 15 2010, 03:12 PM']Thanks for the reply Mark, all our actual posts do have that header. This is merely a thread to find out where we've been going wrong with our ads[/quote] Fair enough. I didn't see the original but I thought I'd make the point. People often leave vital info out of the header. Hope you find somebody. Cheers Mark

... and in the header, I'd write "Hard rock bass player wanted, Manchester". "Help wanted" looks too much like a begging post. Good luck. Cheers Mark

When I was nicked they had a huge, leather-bound book listing makes and serial numbers. They were able to tell me that my guitar was made within the last three months and my story that I bought it via the newspaper classifieds was unlikely. B*stards BTW, if you declare it they're very unlikely to question your estimate of its value. They'll know a rough figure anyway but they'll probably trust you given that you've come clean. Cheers Mark

By the way, if it helps the OP, the UK customs helpline is 0845 010 9000. I've called before about taking a bass abroard and they say it would be classed as a personal possession "so you shouldn't have a problem" bringing it back into the country. But to avoid any doubt, they said you could get a receipt from customs at the UK airport before boarding your flight. Obviously, the OP bought his there so that won't apply. As to getting a valuation from a US music shop, customs have in the past been very suspicious because stores used to write them up for people who planned to avoid paying tax and duty. I'd gather as much evidence as you can from the sale -- like a printout of the Craigslist advert, traveller's cheque stubs or receipts to show you converted £500 to dollars for the purchase, plus the seller's address and phone number, if he's happy with that. Cheers Mark

[quote name='lanark' post='954482' date='Sep 13 2010, 10:44 AM']But how on earth will they prove that this old bass didn't go with you when you left the country?[/quote] They will ask to see a UK receipt or proof that you took it out of the country, like their own export documents. They don't have to prove anything. They confiscate what they like and keep it until you prove to them it's exempt from tax. Cheers Mark

[quote name='project_c' post='954295' date='Sep 13 2010, 06:41 AM']Let's say I do this - if they do happen to pick me out, wouldn't that mean I'd be in the sh!t? I can pretend to be stupid / forgetful / ignorant about laws ("I thought I wouldn't need to declare it as it's old and knackered" etc) but I doubt that would wash with customs tbh. Best case scenario, I walk and nobody notices, worst case, confiscated bass and a criminal record, no?[/quote] If I were you, I'd go through the red channel and declare it. They're usually so surprised to find somebody honest that they give you a break -- or, often, there's nobody in the red channel so you quietly walk on through. Customs people aren't interested in how old the bass is nor how many owners it's had. They tax you on its value -- either from the bill of sale or their estimate. They know all about musical instruments and can easily look up what they don't know while keeping you waiting in the interview room. The "confiscated bass and criminal record" thing happened to me once -- though it was a g****r that time. I ended up buying my own stuff back from the Queen before it was auctioned off. I wouldn't mess with customs -- they know all the tricks and have too many nasty powers. Cheers Mark

Sorry to be a pain -- but it might help to give an address for the venue. It's only mentioned in passing. Cheers Mark

[quote name='Hamster' post='948455' date='Sep 7 2010, 04:26 PM']............. and you have to go into the strip bar to get to the toilets - terrible layout...........[/quote] They've changed that, I think, as an avid frequenter of strip ... er, as I noticed when our metal band played there in May. The sound and soundman were good but there wasn't much room to stash our kit while other bands played and punters were thin on the ground. We had trouble shifting our batch of tickets under their sell-these-to-play rules -- but that may be because we have no fans Cheers Mark

Welcome Cheers Mark

I always get a bloke who wants to shake my hand, when I've got a bass in one and a tool box in the other. It's happened at the last three gigs. Also, as an aside, everywhere I go I get asked by tourists and passers-by to take group photos of them. It happened twice during the first morning at Reading festival. I must be the only bloke they can find who looks like he won't run off with their camera Cheers Mark

[quote name='bluesparky' post='939132' date='Aug 29 2010, 01:22 AM']Mumford & sons were incredible.[/quote] Folk is the new metal My nephew dragged me there but we couldn't get within viewing range. So we staggered back to QOTSA, where I'd have happily stayed Never listen to young people Cheers Mark

[quote name='Hamster' post='939095' date='Aug 28 2010, 11:02 PM']I'm meeting up for a beer tomorrow with a couple of guys that used to play in UFO (Clive Edwards & Lawrence Archer) who still keep in touch with Pete & Phil so I'll find out for you [/quote] Is that Laurence Archer, as in Wild Horses? I loved his band Stampede in the Eighties -- they were great but never seemed to get anywhere. Cheers Mark

I was there. They sounded huge but the set seemed short. Then f-ing Guns 'n Roses kept us standing around for an hour. The bass heads looked like two Ampegs to me, one a vintage thing, but I was a fair way back. Cheers Mark

Thanks, Bassman. It was a pleasure doing business with you Cheers Mark

I just bought a drum kit from Bassman101. The comms were great, the deal was easy and he helped me load my car I haven't set it up yet but everything looks in good order so far -- I reckon it's a bargain. He even threw in a set of pads. He's a straight-up guy, buy and sell with confidence. Thanks, Bassman. Cheers Mark

Love it -- I want one Here's an Iron Maiden cover [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SsJamk8S-xs&feature=related"]YouTube[/url] Cheers Mark

Levys do 65-inch versions of their straps. I've been trying to get a suede one but can't find it in this country. Their Canadian website will only ship to the US -- so I'm planning on having one sent to a relative there. [url="http://www.levysleathers.com/music"]Levys here[/url] Otherwise, I had a long strap custom made by Eyeland in Washington State. They'll ship here but they're expensive. [url="http://www.eyelandenterprises.com/"]Eyeland[/url] Good luck. Cheers Mark

[quote name='TimR' post='865512' date='Jun 12 2010, 08:42 PM']Going on experience from the last 2 bands, I will ask that question before I put the phone down.[/quote] You're immediately giving away the problems you faced with your last two bands. I'd go positive, like Prime_BASS suggests. Cheers Mark

[quote name='Prime_BASS' post='865361' date='Jun 12 2010, 05:11 PM']Indeed there may be quiet spells (winter?) when not much in way of gigs is happening and the guys looking to hire you still want to meet up occassionally to keep things tight. Also it might be the negative nature of the word "not" if I was looking, i'd have moved on as soon as I saw "not interested in weekly practices" regardless what the next few lines said. I'd either leave that part out and divulge it if you get contacted or word it with a more positive attitude, " prefer topractice during a healthy gig shedule" maybe I dunno?[/quote] Yup, I'd lose the third line. You can discuss that once you're hired. Cheers Mark

Somebody's arsing around with his Wikipedia listing -- but this is the link it's based on: [url="http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20100524/NEWS/100524023/Police-Slipknot-bassist-found-dead-at-Urbandale-hotel"]DesMoines Register[/url] Cheers Mark