ok... don't offended here... but...

[clothsnake]

just how many people on here can actually profess to some expertise in 'working with' an upright bass..?

i don't come here very often now... and the primary reason is that i have had people tear into me about the technical aspects of bass management and repair in the past, and i am sure on what basis... but it has been to the point of being mocked..!!


...i had a luthier in the UK who i would seek advice from and would try and see where his ideas fit on here... but they seldom used to...

so... c'mon... who actually knows what they are talking about on here... and who doesn't..?
what qualifies you to mock and tear into someone..?

*waits*

i am curious...seriously

[In Absentia]

I once held an upright bass....that's about as far as my expertise goes. I'd love to have one and learn to play it.

[Uncletoad]

Are you asking who among the TBDB contributors are working double bass luthiers?

Are you asking a serious question or are you picking a fight?

There are several highly qualified bass luthiers that participate here. There are many more that used to but don't. Some of them have been chased off by political or business concerns within the double bass community. Some got tired of defending the things they did to people who were critical but uninformed. Some just don't have time.

I suggest you're opening remarks have an attitude or posture that is not useful if you are asking a serious question and trying to confront what you see as an issue within this community.

Perhaps you'd like to rephrase.

[forester]

i have run out of fingers and toes and continue to count.
expertise is not professed,it speaks for itself.
..stick around..

[Joe Nerve]

I'm bored so I'll plug in.

[Paul Warburton]

Hey, Joe. Good one. That about says it all, IMO.

[Cody Sisk]

I see absolutely nothing positive or constructive coming out of this thread and am casting my vote for it to be closed.

[Febs]

I'm confused clothsnake. I just read the more than two years of your posts, and I don't see anything negative directed to you at all, let alone anything that could be considered to be mocking.

[reedo35]

Originally Posted by Uncletoad

Are you asking a serious question or are you picking a fight?
Perhaps you'd like to rephrase.

That's what I'm wondering... Generally, it is relatively easy for an experienced Player/Repairman to spot a poser, and yes, when outed, they have been chastised publicly for giving bad or pretentious advice. The degree to which they are cyberspanked/Mocked/Humiliated is generally proportionate to the B.S Level of their bad advice, and their willingness to accept comments and corrections from more experienced people. Generally though, respect is returned with respect in kind around here, and with the right attitude, it's possible to learn something.

[clothsnake]

hmmm...
no i am not picking a fight... sorry if the phrasing of my question implied that...

i was taken to task on here (and as a result of posting on the 'violins forum message board) easily more than two years ago, and over the possible techniques on removing the belly of a bass.

i have tried to be a 'non-controversial' member here... and i do not see anything wrong with allowing me to make a fair judgement between the advice posts offered on here... and that is all i am seeking to do here.

if it annoys you... by all means close the thread...

[Greg Clinkingbeard]

I'm sure most, if not all people here are more than willing to respond helpfully to you.

I considered it, but honestly couldn't understand your question.

Maybe you should start over. What are you asking?

[Uncletoad]

Originally Posted by clothsnake

hmmm...
no i am not picking a fight... sorry if the phrasing of my question implied that...

i was taken to task on here (and as a result of posting on the 'violins forum message board) easily more than two years ago, and over the possible techniques on removing the belly of a bass.

i have tried to be a 'non-controversial' member here... and i do not see anything wrong with allowing me to make a fair judgement between the advice posts offered on here... and that is all i am seeking to do here.

if it annoys you... by all means close the thread...

You're question or comment is still not clear. So I will guess a bit.

If you have a resentment about the way you were treated in the past on TB get over it or do something else with your time. I personally have no desire to discuss a problem you had on talkbass 2 years ago, if that's what you want you'll see no more from me on this subject.

But perhaps that's not what you meant. From here I'll assume it's not.

If you are asking "how do I evaluate the advice given here on talkbass about procedures or techniques of repairing or restoring basses" I suggest you google the poster and/or check their references. I would explore their overall respect in the double bass community offline. Anyone posting with that kind of advice must have some history of doing that kind of work to be taken seriously.

If they are a home hobbyist or a blooming up and comer you can view their advice with skepticism, however don't disregard the possiblity of someone new coming up with something new that doesn't suck. It can happen when you aren't entrenched in habit as some established practitioners can be.

If they are posting with advice behind the mask of a screen name and do not make themselves easily identifiable I generally assume that they are unreliable.

Overall keep in mind there are many ways of approaching DB lutherie. There are many strong opinions about right and wrong and very few absolutes.

[clothsnake]

Originally Posted by clink

I'm sure most, if not all people here are more than willing to respond helpfully to you.

I considered it, but honestly couldn't understand your question.

Maybe you should start over. What are you asking?

cheers clink... i will...
i am not seeking to question anyone's legitimacy here... far from it.. although i can see why some would be reticent in treating my question as valid.

i value two things overall...
1. the experience people have with their basses, and the problems that can readily occur with them.
2. an actual professional/artisan role in basses and the problems that can readily occur with them

i consider myself without much of either... there are things i am prepared to do to my bass, and do so with no ill effects... and i guess... the experienced bass player will allow me to make a decision about whether or not i am being sensible in doing so.

there are however...things that my bass currently needs by way of 'attention' that i would just not be happy compiling a list of advice for, as i could do more damage to it..?

am i making sense here..?
i do not now have ready access to a good luthier... my location prohibits this... and this leaves me in a quandary.

if there are people on here who are eminently qualified to advise... then they are difficult (for me) to spot, and i could in fact be taking advice from anyone... and if you want to know what this might look like... consider taking advice from me on here... i am not well qualified to give it... but free to do so... if that makes sense..? i have an opinion on things... but that is not the same thing

i guess people just see a topic such as this as an attack on them... it is not...!! no-one need feel threatened by this... but hey... like i said... delete it or whatever... i will go elsewhere...

you know... i pop in here from time to time... and do find the place useful... but nor would i want to make anyone here feel uncomfortable in responding to this... so please don't feel you have to...

i am done here i guess..?
thanks

[clothsnake]

Uncletoad....
that is actually a very useful response for me... thanks.
i might concede that i could have put this better.... but hey... i am a lot of things that i might not want to be at times... and i do not preclude being an arse amongst them.

[Uncletoad]

Originally Posted by clothsnake

am i making sense here..?

No.

Loose the dots, try complete sentences that frame complete thoughts.

If you want to be taken seriously then compose your communication that way.

[Greg Clinkingbeard]

What basic "luthery" do you perform yourselves?

Maybe this will help some.

[clothsnake]

Originally Posted by clink

What basic "luthery" do you perform yourselves?

Maybe this will help some.

thanks again clink... appreciated.
i have asked admin to delete this

[Bass]

Originally Posted by clothsnake

...so... c'mon... who actually knows what they are talking about on here... and who doesn't..?
what qualifies you to mock and tear into someone..?...

I have no idea what I'm talking about, and usually if you read one of my posts, you will realize you would've been better off not reading it in the first place. Remember, posts can be read but not unread!!

Regardless, I am eminently qualified to tear into others. If there's one thing I'm good at it's telling others what they're not good at.

[clothsnake]

Originally Posted by Bass

I have no idea what I'm talking about, and usually if you read one of my posts, you will realize you would've been better off not reading it in the first place. Remember, posts can be read but not unread!!

Regardless, I am eminently qualified to tear into others. If there's one thing I'm good at it's telling others what they're not good at.

well... i can appreciate that...
you must sometimes use 'dots' do you...? i understand they can completely remove the meaning from what you say.

[Bass]

No, I only used dots for a couple weeks. Then once I figured out where everything was, I was okay after that. Probably enough to reduce my Talkbass credibility anyhow.