DavidMcKay Posted October 16, 2015 Share Posted October 16, 2015 [quote name='Billy Apple' timestamp='1444997850' post='2888001'] I'm sure a knob could come off a £Godknowshowmuch Fodera. Implies nothing more than a loose grub screw. Nothing dodgy at all, how do people think they get the things on in the first place, Magic? [/quote] At the price Fodera charge I would expect so! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy Apple Posted October 16, 2015 Share Posted October 16, 2015 [quote name='DavidMcKay' timestamp='1444998060' post='2888006'] At the price Fodera charge I would expect so! [/quote] Having picked up Si's Fodera I can assure you in many ways it is very ordinary, but by that I mean it has no flashing lights, sirens, diamonds, pearls or gold plating. What it does have is absolute perfection in its simplicity. Like a raindrop, but just try making one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davo-London Posted December 1, 2015 Share Posted December 1, 2015 I would say that the stock is exceptionally good. Where else will you find Fbass, Fodera, Rob Allen, Sandberg, Roscoe, Spector etc etc. So I tried the BSX Allegro today with the Rob Allen and other fretlesses. Every single bass was beautifully set-up and easy to play. That said, the main guy completely ignored me. I mean there was 2 customers and 2 folks running the store. Mark completely ignored both customers - it was like we didn't exist. Weird Davo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davo-London Posted December 1, 2015 Share Posted December 1, 2015 Reading through the whole thread - it would seem that Mark's a Jekyll and Hyde character. And you never know which one you'll get. The more I think about my visit the more bizarre it seems. I don't think I'll be going back. Davo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
No lust in Jazz Posted December 2, 2015 Share Posted December 2, 2015 [quote name='Davo-London' timestamp='1449012042' post='2920159'] Reading through the whole thread - it would seem that Mark's a Jekyll and Hyde character. And you never know which one you'll get. The more I think about my visit the more bizarre it seems. I don't think I'll be going back. Davo [/quote] Sorry to hear that - I've used Bass direct a lot and would have no hesitation in doing so in the future. I'd say the same for Bass Gear too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SICbass Posted December 2, 2015 Share Posted December 2, 2015 (edited) My only buying experiences with Mark (an MM Stingray, a Genz Benz 112 and various cables) were excellent. As for his 'prejudices' regarding some equipment, frankly I'm glad of a salesperson who has opinions and doesn't just tell me that whatever it is I want (i.e. whatever it is he can sell me) is the business. I don't have to agree with him, but discussing it with someone else can help me check my own motivation and see if I'm not barking up a wrong tree. A GAS-filter if you will Edited December 2, 2015 by SICbass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skol303 Posted December 2, 2015 Share Posted December 2, 2015 Just bought some hard-to-find strings from them. Great service! Friendly and efficient Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy Apple Posted December 2, 2015 Share Posted December 2, 2015 I like being left alone in a shop. If I want help I'll ask Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassfunk Posted December 2, 2015 Share Posted December 2, 2015 I bought my Sandberg from Bass Direct. Mark responded to me pre-visit emails very quickly. We came to an agreement on a Fender Deluxe bass I wanted to PX. I made the 2 hour trip, tried some basses, bought the Sandberg I'd made the trip for. A year later the Sandberg dupplied gig bag had come apart, I emailed Mark to say I thought the gig bag should last a little longer than 12 months, I got a new gig bag in the post the very next day. My experience was a positive one, Mark was efficient and helpful, I would always recommend Bass Direct to other players. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGreek Posted December 2, 2015 Share Posted December 2, 2015 [quote name='Billy Apple' timestamp='1449061726' post='2920424'] I like being left alone in a shop. If I want help I'll ask [/quote] Agree...nothing worse than pushy staff..(well maybe dying in excruciating pain is, but YKWIM) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DBerriff Posted December 2, 2015 Share Posted December 2, 2015 I have always found Mark very friendly and helpful, but sometimes stretched to the limit by his busy business. If he is on the phone he can appear unhelpful, but when I have been in he always comes out the shop floor afterwards for a chat. He needs those assistants on my experience; I don't know how he coped before. I sometimes think he has too much stuff in stock - it can be overwhelming and you need to be focused! So a thumbs up here. I wish the website had fewer errors though. The copy-and-paste approach isn't always successful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobthedog Posted December 2, 2015 Share Posted December 2, 2015 I just bought a Roscoe from them. The younger guy was superb and patient in getting out the basses I wanted to try, no pressure at all. I did find the older guy (Mark?) a little less friendly and perhaps felt a little pushed out of the door once the deal was done. There were no other customers in the shop, although the phone rang. I think he is a typical businessman so no real damage. I will go back due to the range of top kit they have. By not going I am only limiting what is available to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chiliwailer Posted December 2, 2015 Share Posted December 2, 2015 Another positive post from me about BD...I bought a pedal from them online on Sunday night, Mark took time to acknowledge the sale and reply to my comments about the pedal, he didn't have to of course and that makes me a fan of the shop even more. Having never been inside the shop it's good to hear from Davo that the basses are well set up, if only other shops cared in the same way, or even bothered to learn how to do the basics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldslapper Posted December 16, 2015 Share Posted December 16, 2015 Another satisfied bassdirect customer. Emailed BD Sunday afternoon to check stock of some strings (which were £14 cheaper than anywhere else in the uk!). Not expecting a reply until Monday sometime. Mark got back to me that afternoon, strings arrived this morning. I've bought a 5 string Warwick and a genz combo over the past few years. And it's the same excellent service no matter what you spend. John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldslapper Posted December 16, 2015 Share Posted December 16, 2015 Another satisfied bassdirect customer. Emailed BD Sunday afternoon to check stock of some strings (which were £14 cheaper than anywhere else in the uk!). Not expecting a reply until Monday sometime. Mark got back to me that afternoon, strings arrived this morning. I've bought a 5 string Warwick and a genz combo over the past few years. And it's the same excellent service no matter what you spend. John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTUK Posted December 16, 2015 Share Posted December 16, 2015 Anyone popping in the next few days..? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Machines Posted December 17, 2015 Share Posted December 17, 2015 You won't ever get a massive bargain there, but good luck finding anywhere else in Europe as well stocked. If you want 'average' products, there are many retailers already box shifting these, online or in warehouse style shops. I am biased as I have known Mark since BassDirect was being run from a converted garage in a farmyard (2008), but i've seen the business grow and evolve in what it stocks and believe I am very fortunate having such a range of top end gear and expertise only 25 mins down the M42. I am as whimsical as anyone else, and have definitely wasted his time via email and shop visits but he's never made me feel unwelcome. Even when I could see he was busy he was happy to chat to me for 10 mins, asking how my family is, or discussing the merits of the novax fret system etc. As others have said, he isn't going to tell you what you want to hear and may challenge everything you think you knew about basses - but only so you don't buy the wrong product and end up selling it on a bass forum a few weeks later at a big loss. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted December 17, 2015 Share Posted December 17, 2015 (edited) [quote name='Machines' timestamp='1450340978' post='2931751'] I am biased as I have known Mark since BassDirect was being run from a converted garage in a farmyard (2008), [/quote] I bought my first Bergantino cabs from that place. Wasn't it his band's rehearsal space as well. That was a very productive 4 hour round trip for me. Totally changed my playing life. Edited December 17, 2015 by chris_b Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moooper Posted March 17, 2016 Share Posted March 17, 2016 My experience is mixed I bought an amp from them which on the whole was a good experience etc like others. I bought some strings online, not so great they sent an incorrect set for what was listed. I have to send back the strings at my expense (which I suppose is ok) but they wouldn't send the correct set until they had received the incorrect set back and I had paid the "£1" difference for the different/correct set. I did mention that I needed the strings asap as I had a weekend with loads of work etc but deaf ears I suppose. Had to suck it up as mistake to buy from there. Shame as I was about to make a few big purchases from them in the speaker department. Now I think ill try elsewhere, i'd be stupid to mess around with them with big money when they do that over something that is pure customer service issues. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassace Posted March 17, 2016 Share Posted March 17, 2016 A few years ago I bought a Phil Jones cab from them which turned out to be many pounds heavier than given on their website. When I brought this up there was not a great deal of concern and no offer of redress. I sold it on soon after with a significant loss. Most of the time deals go through ok, but that's business. Would they let me have a £5k bass to gig on appro? Probably not, but the that's service. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amnesia Posted March 18, 2016 Share Posted March 18, 2016 I like Bass Direct - all my specialist bass kit comes from there now. Living about 80 miles away a couple of us turn it into a bit of a road trip. Drive down on a Saturday morning, pop next door for coffee and bacon...then its bass porn for the next couple of hours. Mark has strong opinions, which differ from mine in a lot of respects but that's cool. We've had a lot of conversations in which I have learn't quite a bit and although he is busy, he's always made time to at least say hello. It's all Mark's fault I play mainly Dingwall now. I've spent a long time in that shop and spent a lot of money. In three years I've bought an amp, a cabinet, two pedals, three cases, two Dingwalls and a bucketload of strings from there. I'm due another run down actually... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keefbaker Posted March 18, 2016 Share Posted March 18, 2016 I keep meaning to make a pilgrimage to this shop and having played a Dinger at the bass show hasn't helped. I hardly noticed the fanned frets after a few seconds (except the bottom F, that still felt weird) I have GAS for a Dinger now but I have 2 basses on order so it'll have to stay in the pipe for a year or so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Machines Posted March 18, 2016 Share Posted March 18, 2016 [quote name='bassace' timestamp='1458243534' post='3005983'] A few years ago I bought a Phil Jones cab from them which turned out to be many pounds heavier than given on their website. When I brought this up there was not a great deal of concern and no offer of redress. I sold it on soon after with a significant loss. Most of the time deals go through ok, but that's business. Would they let me have a £5k bass to gig on appro? Probably not, but the that's service. [/quote] Did you buy it online ? If so you had the right to return it for a full refund. If from the shop you had the opportunity to feel it's weight there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassace Posted March 18, 2016 Share Posted March 18, 2016 Thank you for your valuable advice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ambient Posted March 18, 2016 Share Posted March 18, 2016 [quote name='bassace' timestamp='1458243534' post='3005983'] A few years ago I bought a Phil Jones cab from them which turned out to be many pounds heavier than given on their website. When I brought this up there was not a great deal of concern and no offer of redress. I sold it on soon after with a significant loss. Most of the time deals go through ok, but that's business. Would they let me have a £5k bass to gig on appro? Probably not, but the that's service. [/quote] I would always get that sort of information from the manufacturer. You could've sent it back though, especially given that the advertised weight was wrong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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