BassBus

[quote name='bigjohn' post='1144501' date='Feb 28 2011, 02:27 PM']Doesn't Paypal offer cover?[/quote] I may be wrong but I'm not sure that PayPal gives the same cover outside Ebay. I seem to remember hearing that somewhere a while ago.

Lots to guide a beginner here but there are so many variables. The question always comes up "how do you get [so'n'so's] sound"? If this is to be of any use to beginners these variables have to be set out clearly. Player (fingers/pick) Bass (active/passive) Bass (strings) Leads/Radio system Effects Amplifier Venue (size) Venue (height of ceiling) Venue (furnishings) Venue (number of audience) I'd say never stick with one set EQ. I change mine all the time depending how the room sounds. Every room is different. Even the same room can sound different with larger or smaller audiences. Carpets soak up sound so mids might need to be boosted. No carpet might call for cutting mids. Experiment, experiment, experiment.

[quote name='algmusic' post='1103849' date='Jan 26 2011, 03:28 PM']The feel is the most important thing. I played with a drummer was excellent at reggae, it's a feel thing, the bass much the same[/quote] I never realised how much swing has to go into reggae. That Ed Friedland clip was like listening to a jazz bass line being played without any swing. Something you have to learn from listening.

I've been throught them all. I hate the sound of flats on a wooden neck, but then I like a zingy tone on a fretted bass. However, I have used flats on my graphite necked Status fretless and they sound good on that. I also use halfwounds on that. Always rounds on fretted basses. As has been commented, simple supply and demand on the price.

That'll teach me to read your post properly. The Universal sounds a bit too BGish to my ear but maybe that's what your after. Don't know if you've looked at the Bassline website. There is a link to a video of the bass at the bottom of the page [url="http://www.bassline-bass.de/en_bassline_basses-universal.html"]here[/url]

Blimey! Where did you see a CR5M at £1100? Is that new or used. Used I could understand. As far as I know the CRs and NXTs are made in the same place, the Czech Republic. They have a very good reputation for building instruments, as I'm sure you'll know. As you have said there is a powerful pre on the CRs, 18v. It also has pan between pizz and arco as well as bridge and mag pickups against a single switch between pizz and arco on the NXT. The stand is also significantly better. So if you said there are maybe extras in the pre amp and stand to the tune of maybe £600 or £700. I fell out with the sound of the stock strings and put on some Belcantos which made such a difference. It will never be a DB but then it doesn't try to be. I don't use the mag pup much but it can be handy to add a bit of body sometimes.

I'll stick my head above the parapet ready to be shouted down loadly. The above advice in time should be used, of course. But you can have all the technique and theory under your belt but if you don't have the feel for the music you might end up making the band sound boaring. I work as a counsellor and it has been long accepted that even with all the technique and skill in the world, if you cannot develop a counselling relationship with your clients you are a lot less likely to be of use to the client. On the other hand if you have a strong ability at developing that relationship but are not up to scratch with skills, you will more than likely be of great use to the client. For me the same applies to swing. First off listen, listen, listen. I don't think you can be taught to feel the swing in music. You have to pick it up by ear. I'm not saying don't learn the theory, far from it. However, I find sometimes that too much theory and technique can make things a bit clinical and encourage the snobs in this world. Develop a feel for the music and just go for it. I have my armour on.

I use mine for both DB and electric. If it's with EB I put it through a Markbass 15" cab. Played EB through it alone with the jazz band no problems. With the country band I dep with it needs the 15" too. Someone once described it to me as "a sensible bass amp". Don't play with it lifted off the floor though as you loose all the power. It's designed to use a solid surface to spread the sound. Great little amp.

[quote name='bartelby' post='1132023' date='Feb 18 2011, 11:28 AM']I love my NXT, it's become the go to instrument if I want to just play bass and relax. Need to replace the standard strings though. No idea what to as the choice is a little bewildering...[/quote] [url="http://www.hervejeanne.de/saitenmatrix.php"]THIS[/url] might help you make a choice. Bear in mind DB strings often sound different from one bass to another and these are on acoustic DBs. I have used Belcantos and Flexocors on my NS and both make it sound so much better. Didn't like the sound of Spirocores on the NS but one guy with an NXT on youtube uses them and they sound fine. Sorry Emiliano, for the missunderstanding. The figure of £2000 came from one of your past customers with a Stico in UK. That was the price he gave me once he had factored in getting it back to UK.

[quote name='philw' post='1131331' date='Feb 17 2011, 05:54 PM']It's a Veillette Paris I have at the moment (the blue one in my avatar), but as the UK rep, my "demo" model tends to rotate. Probably going to move the blue bass on in the next six months or so and get a Concorde. Walbassist (Gareth) of these parts has an Archtop fretless five. Phil[/quote] Yeh, I've seen his youtube clips. Pretty splendid sound. So is his BSX.

Thanks for the comments Andy and Phil. It's good to get a comparison between these instruments from those who own them. Good to have the Veillette mentioned as well. Is that the Archtop you have Phil?

That's a beauty, Andy. Quite a pair, a Deep Five and an Electro How does the Electro compare to the Deep Five, sound, feel?

Be interesting to hear how you get on with the guts on your WAV. Let us know how you get on with them. Probably the best bet to start with something cheap. If it doesn't work you haven't lost much.

I changed the strings on my CR4M last year from the stock strings. It made a huge difference. From hating the sound of the instrument to just loving it. I came across a used set of Belcantos on here, thought it would be a good, cheaper way to try different strings. Big success. What kind of sound you are after? If you want a darker, warmer sound than the stock strings on your WAV then you might want to try an orchestral string. They have less brightness and less sustain. Thomastic Belcantos and Pirastro Flexocors are such strings with a metal rope core. Obligatos have a synthetic core and a lot of players have used them on WAVs. Synthetic core and gut strings do have to be allowed to settle in as Iain said. They are also more susceptable to climatic conditions. One other thing to be aware of is the length of the string. Some 3/4 strings don't fit NS basses. 3/4 TI Spirocores don't fit, I've been there. 4/4 sets will fit. I wouldn't skimp on the cost for DB strings. The above mentioned strings will cost around the £140/150 mark. That may seem expensive but when you factor in the length of time they will stay on your bass they are more cost effective than bass guitar strings. I changed the Spirocores on my DB recently for the first time in four years. You can hear some sound samples of different strings [url="http://www.hervejeanne.de/saitenmatrix.php"]here[/url]

The facing wood on your sei is amazing MBA. That must have been worth waiting for. Lovely Hohner too.

You won't go wrong with an NS. They had all sorts of problems with the WAV production in China so now produce the NXT in the Czech Republic. Same place as they make the CR models and they are fantastic.

You might find a new NS WAV but they will be thin on the ground now as they don't make them anymore. The NXT has replaced it and will cost about £100 more than the WAV. As dlp says to get a truer DB sound from an EUB you'll need to spend a bit of money. If you go for a cheaper model, first thing to do is put on a set of real DB strings. Makes all the difference. They will set you back anything from £70 upwards. Not cheap but you'll get years out of them. The Yamaha SLB 200 is a good instrument. Cheapest I've seen it £1695 [url="http://www.netmusicalinstruments.co.uk/Yamaha-SLB200-silent-double-bass.html?gclid=CJWAidyqiqcCFQ4f4QodKgLRdw"]here[/url]. Lots of clips of this on youtube. The best sounding EUB I've heard is the Bespoke Superlight at £1595 [url="http://www.bespokebasses.co.uk/index.html"]here[/url] The [url="http://www.biarnel.com/eng/liuteria/sticomk2/sticomkii.html"]Biarnel Stico[/url] is also very beautiful and sounds good too. Bit more pricey at around £2000. I'd keep hold of an electric as well though.

[quote name='drewm' post='1128146' date='Feb 15 2011, 11:29 AM']Advantages: no danger of swinging round and clouting someone/something with the headstock [/quote] That might also be seen as a disadvantage to some. I'm a big fan of the headless system, it just seems so logical to me. Tuning is much more stable than winding a string round a machine head. The strings have a straight pull so nothing can slip. The strings are a fixed length and just slot in at the top of the neck and the tuner at the other end. A few turns of the tuner and you are playing. No cutting strings and fiddling about. Balance is usually much better as there isn't that extra wood and metal on the end to weigh things down, eg. Gibson Thunderbird. Add graphite into the equasion and... However, logic isn't for everyone. Some people like the head and feel there is something missing.

[quote name='derrenleepoole' post='1127229' date='Feb 14 2011, 04:12 PM']And I thought my joke was bad [/quote] Both of you should be on Finnbass.

[quote name='Bassassin' post='1126958' date='Feb 14 2011, 12:51 PM']Party like it's 1985: [attachment=72188:B2A.jpg] You know what it is... [/quote] Always fancied the black and white ones, ended up buying an all black.

[quote name='derrenleepoole' post='1126952' date='Feb 14 2011, 12:45 PM'] [/quote] Get your coat, dlp. Always wondered what happened to Billy Bass.

There are quite a number of headless basses on the market these days and now Biarnel has the Scorcio headless why not gather them all together in one place. Let's show the disbelievers what they are missing. Here's mine. Status S2 Classic fretless and Series 2000

[quote name='Gnarlythotep.' post='1125047' date='Feb 12 2011, 03:39 PM']Hi there, Sorry but I'm not buying. The reason I wanted to get in touch is that I'm a student at Newark school of violin making and in my third and final year. At the moment I'm making two 3/4 double bass to the design of a William Tarr bass. I was wondering if you have any pictures of the bass that your friend has and would be willing to send them. I'm finding it hard to get pictures of the scroll in particular. I can't offer much in return but if your interested could send pictures of my basses as they come on. Thanks.[/quote] Sounds like the perfect thing to post in a thread on this forum. Would love to watch the progress of a build like this.

Maybe I have misunderstood you Jake. I was merely refering to our previous discussion on this matter. Perhaps 'argued' was the wrong word. I do manage to achieve a straight wrist on the DB too without having the elbow too high and use a similar position on the EUB, or as close as possible. I think we agreed before about finding a playing position that suits the individual.

In his [url="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Todd-Phillips-Essential-Techniques-Acoustic/dp/B00024OR4Y/ref=sr_1_3?s=dvd&ie=UTF8&qid=1297423565&sr=1-3"]Essential Techniques For Acoustic Bass[/url] DVD, Todd Phillips recomends, as an exercise, trying to finger the notes without the thumb pressing on the back of the neck. This is to help build a technique where you are not dependent on the hand grabbing the neck. I have argued the point of keeping your elbow up with Jake before. My elbow sits relatively low but my wrist is still straight. I guess I have the bass tilted back slightly to allow this. I used to keep my arm up but that led to shoulder problems. With my arm down now there are no problems whatsoever. You just have to experiment to find the way that suits you. And yes get a teacher, says he who hasn't done that.