chickencole

Hi Everyone, Many thanks for the input from everyone regarding a suitable bag for my sons double bass. It's been a long time but I thought it might be worth telling everyone what I chose and why. I bought a Westbury bag from Bassbags. I chose the one without wheels because it was lighter after some sound advice from Bassbags. I pretty weedy and I think it was the right call. It's been in use now for a little while and fits the bill for me exactly. I can now get the bass in and out of the car by myself without help if I need to, which is brilliant. I too cannot speak to highly of the advice I was given before purchase as well.

Thanks again for all the input everyone, its been very informative for me. Interesting point about the wheels, Henry, I can see how useful they could be. On damage to bags from the spike front my eldest son plays the cello and the spike (quite sharp) sits through the bottom in between the zips. Not ideal but okay. Seems to be a bit of an issue there too. Figured the only way to sort it would be to go for a rigid bag, (not that we have done this as yet), would be more like a coffin for a double bass! I can see me investing in a bag pretty soon.

A good point well made, this is something I'll need to check out since I have no idea the precise type of double base Alisdair now has I guess I'll be there with the tape measure! Thanks for everyones input.

My thoughts exactly, I really really appreciate the time and trouble people have put into this, thanks very much

Hi There, The i10 is indeed a hatchback. Thanks for your feedback

Wow, thanks for the input folks, much appreciated! I can get the bass in the car but without something to grab onto it's hard for me to manoeuvre it into position, hence my leaning towards a bag with handles.

Hi everyone, What are your opinions on double bass carry cases? Worth it? Carry / grab handles? Cost? My middle started to learn the 3/4 double bass at school at the beginning of the summer. He is loving it but complained because he could only sometimes access the school double bass because it is kept in the locked practice rooms and he couldn't always find a member of staff to let him in. I have just taken the plunge and bought him a ply double bass second hand for £420 to practice on, seemed to sound okay to me and it had a pick up on the bridge. It has been given the once over by his double bass teacher who has declared it sound and suitable to grade 4 possibly 5. Indeed he declared it streets ahead of the school double bass so we might want to transport it to and from school more than I was expecting. It didn't come with a bow, so I have bought one (£40), and I have also bought a stand (£55) because I am afraid of knocking it over when it's in the corner of the room, so we are currently looking at £510. This is quite a lot of money for me. I am rather short at 4ft 11 and find that although the bass isn't heavy its difficult / impossible to get into the car single handed (Hyundai i10, very small). It's okay if there is a willing helper but today I was on my own when I got home. I have looked at BassBags web site and like the look of the Westbury case £96 but largely because it has more grab handles. What do people think? Is it worth the extra on the cheaper bags, given my short stature?

Hi Bigyin, very interested in your post since my middle son has just started to learn the school double bass and would like his own instrument. I have posted to this effect on the newbie section but would really like to know how you are getting on. The school have leant us the double bass over the summer for practice (and in fairness he has practiced!). The school double bass is not in great condition which is part of the course for school string instruments (no end pin severe rattle from head and when you move the double bass about there is something loose inside!). My eldest is learning the Cello (another school instrument), and we had to get the bridge repaired at the Bristol Violin Shop. Now they were brilliant, sorted out the cello including some other issues with instrument even lending a load instrument so he could play in the summer concert. The Cello is now playing better than it has ever played. I asked for a ball park figure for a new double bass. Essentially they said buy one from Gear 4 Music and then get it to them ASAP (within the return window). They would then check it over and they would then do whatever was necessary to get it to "playable condition" and if it was a dud tell me and get me to return it. The phrase they usually come in and just under £1000 was the bit that made me anxious although I guess I wouldn't need to do all of the work at once. So I am very interested in how you are finding your new double bass.

Many thanks for the responses from everyone, and apologies for the tardy response, the summer holidays! I will look to putting a similar post on the Eub (electric upright bass?) and double bass section as recommended by BassBunny. Would also be interested (from a practical point of view) in the merits of an Electric Double bass.

Hi SpondonBassed, Thank you for your quick response. It would be fair to say he is loving it at the moment!

Hi There, My middle son (13) of 3, has decided to start learning the Double Bass (upright), and is currently using the school double bass which they have kindly leant us for the holidays, normally it stays at school and he has to practice after school. He has only been learning since June, 4 lessons to date. He is covering bowing and plucking (probably not the right terminology sorry) in his lessons. He is currently practicing regularly at home and I know getting access to the instrument to practice, when it's based at school is sometimes difficult. He would like his own instrument! I have joined this forum to get as much information as possible in terms of how much? what to look for etc. I don't want to get an instrument just yet since I want to be sure that it's not a passing phase! I have started to look at Double Basses on those well know internet auction sites to get a feel for what instruments go for. We will be looking at the budget end! Does it matter if an instrument is being offered without a bow? Will the set up be wrong for bowing? Given the fact that he has only just started would it matter? Any advice would be gratefully received.