bassace

[quote name='endorka' post='532193' date='Jul 4 2009, 12:54 AM']Tomorrow morning it's an outdoors trad gig with no power, so everything acoustic. Sax/clarinet, guitar, drums, double bass. It's going to be hard work! Jennifer[/quote] May be slightly easier than you think, Jennifer, because the bass seems to carry well outdoors. It's the clari player I have some sympathy with.

Never have in 50 years so had quite an easy ride. However, I always pull my weight in setups, some gig-getting and as much as without treading on the boss's toes. In acknowledgement to Courtney Pine I'm known as the Jazz Worryer. Bit difficult to lead from the double bass but I'd like to get a band round me sometime for a few festival gigs.

Reminds me of the old joke, which I'll quote very badly, about the married couple who hadn't spoken to each other for the past five years. The went to Relate and in order to break the impasse the counsellor wheeled in a double bass and played a solo. People always talk over a solo.

[quote name='Spoombung' post='530826' date='Jul 2 2009, 05:16 PM']I always enjoy that incredibly flat, anti-climatic moment when you're watching a jazz band and there's a few looks between band members and the bass solo starts. Everything just grinds to a halt. The drummer looks embarrassed and just stops to make way for a gloriously out- of- tune walking bass line... which is nearly always what the bass player was playing under the song, anyway.[/quote] Doesn't have to be like that.

With my regular band, a 7-piece Chicago mainstream band - there are so many musicians to take solos that I don't get many and it doesn't bother me unduly, after all I'm part of the engine room. I'll get a half thrown at me sometimes and I'll take two choruses in the final barnstormer. I'll pick up the bass and walk it right to the front of the stage so the others know what's happenng. Otherwise all the others know what to do; if it's slow it's usually unaccompanied with a hint of drums and if it's up-tempo the hihat usually rides with me. the piano can nurdle around a bit if he wants to but rhythm from the guitar is a no no. We once had a piano dep who played right over my solo and I had to tell him to SHUT UP. If I'm depping I always have a chat with whoever's the boss re bass solos - what does he want to do about them? I don't usually want too many at all, unless it's a trio and I'm needed to pull my weight. Always the same, a hint of drums and/or piano underneath the solo and throw anything at me. If I don't know the chords I shouldn't be playing in the first place.

I've just sold a Realist to JakesBass. Perhaps he could pass on his experience. Otherwise, as you say, it may come down to a 'what pickup' thread.

[quote name='subaudio' post='527768' date='Jun 29 2009, 02:49 PM']That's a very kind offer thank you, I have a Shadow Sh 950 on my Zeller, would you know how these differ from the underwood ? I was thinking either of those or a realist[/quote] I've no experience of the Shadow but I understand that it is very similar to the Underwood. A lot of people like the Realist; I found that it had a good strong sound but would choke when the volume was cranked up. Different basses suit different pickups - there is no generalisation. Did your new bass have a pickup fitted?

[quote name='subaudio' post='527705' date='Jun 29 2009, 01:32 PM']Thank you now the fun starts with finding a pick up it likes .........[/quote] Well, my stock of redundant pickups is nearly exhausted. I have a very thinned down Revolution Solo that you would be welcome to try and then buy/return. Otherwise I swear by an Underwood. Interestingly most of the players I saw at Upton Jazz festival over the weekend used one, including the esteemed Jakesbass.

[quote name='subaudio' post='527419' date='Jun 29 2009, 08:16 AM']Sorted !!!! Many thanks to all for all your very helpfull advice, in the end I bought Merchants bass, and i am very happy with it, and I would like to say he is an absolute gentleman who couldnt have been more patient and helpfull. Thanks again all Marti[/quote] Well done Sub, it looked like a really nice bass. Enjoy!

[quote name='Zoe_BillySheehan' post='526057' date='Jun 27 2009, 04:32 PM']When you listen to a song.. and you find yourself only hearing the bassline and nothing else Z x[/quote] Strange that, Zoe. That's what got me started many many years ago. Also, you know you're a bassist when you are asked to join a jazz workshop of players a third of your age 'cos they can't rustle up a bassist of their own - as happened to me last night and not for the first time.

[quote name='skywalker' post='519894' date='Jun 21 2009, 12:36 PM']Sorry for the slightly shortened post above, I looked up from my PC and out the window to see that some scumbag had smashed my drivers side window in my car, and on a further look discovered that my satnav had gone. To add to my happy Fathers day, the software for my Nintendo DS that my son bought for Fathers Day I have already got, and my card reader is not working, so at the moment I can't post any pics here. Never mind - s*** always happens in threes. The highlights for me yesterday were playing a Bass duet with Monz to the amplified drum machine, (not always in perfect harmony, but good fun), Nick's family welcoming us to family dinner (14 I think around the huge kitchen table), and when I left at 9:45, Monz and Prosebass in big armchairs by the log fire, each with a Single Malt in hand, and Monz saying this was the best bash he'd ever been to. (he was glowing nicely at the time, after a couple of beers, some wine, and then into the scotch). Not forgetting the stars of the show, a litter of 5 week old Labrador pups, all named after famous bass players. Fantastic day, thanks to Nick for the venue, and his family who welcomed us and made us feel at home. A special mention in this to Phil, a relative of Nick's, a pro bass player who blew us all away with his playing. Steve[/quote] Yes, Phil was rather special.

Hasn't the bloke got it a bit wrong because I'm impressed by the number of good female bass guitarists there are.

A great day. Lots of thanks to Skywalker for setting the whole thing up and Nick for his hospitality. Some amazing gear. Sorry I had to bottle out late afternoon to go back to let my dogs out. Mrs Bassace came back from the Three Counties Show with eight rosettes - from one horse? I don't get it.

I'm going to have a clear out of a lot of my stuff. I've got far too much gear and I want to raise some cash for a new bass. I'll get round to putting some for sales out next week when I can get Mrs Bassace's camera to work. In the meantime, here is a heads up:- German Blonde Lami Double Bass, circa sixties. Gallien Krueger 150MBS combi amp Gallien Krueger 150 MBX 12" extension speaker SWR 12"/tweeter bass monitor/backline speaker cab Henricksen 12" JazzAmp Roland 12" 60W basscube combo If anything interests you pl give me a PM but I will be away at the Abersoch Jazz Festival most of Sat/Sun.

I had a weak E string on one of my basses and considered putting a Spiro Stark on. However, I was advised to try a Evah Pirazzi. Very impressive, so I'm now 1/4 qualified to express an opinion. I understand that Pirazzi Weichs are now available in US are are getting a lot of converts among the jazzers.

[quote name='NickPini' post='509252' date='Jun 9 2009, 04:59 PM']It's a never ending problem isn't it? I'm currently going through the mill of finding a new pickup. Had a lot of advice from sound engineers, bass players and producers. Also some jazz guitarists who've had similar issues with hollow body guitars and feedback etc. Reached a conclusion for my own circumstance, might not be suitable to anyone else.. I do a lot of loud volume gigs, as well as quieter ones. Personally, I need to amplify my acoustic sound as accurately as possible. For pizz, and for bowing. I can't see the point in spending a moderate amount of money on something which you need to effect afterwards in order to re-create an acoustic sound. If you're really after it, you're probably going to have to pay up... A lot of the really top bassists out there seem to blend 2 signals -one mic, one pickup. check out Dave Holland, john pattituci, ron carter, charlie haden, christian mcbride and so on.. A common choice seems to be the realist, blended with and mic by AMT -SP25B (http://www.gollihurmusic.com/product/1472-AMT_UPRIGHT_BASS_MICROPHONE_SYSTEMS_SP25B_S25B.html) or something similar. You send the mic straight to the PA, then the pickup to your amp which then also goes to the PA. That way, you can get all your clarity from the pickup, and your wood/umph from the mic. Unfortunately, that really is a big bill to pay, and you need a sound guy who actually knows what he's doing. What I'm going to try is getting this Schertler stat select pickup, which seems to be rated pretty well, and put it through an EQ pedal -I've found a list of the frequencies you should boost/cut out for double bass when you're recording, and for live to avoid feedback. Another big influence in feedback is the fact that the bass is effectively it's own amplifier anyway -it's that big body that's causing the frequencies to behave like that, so I'm looking into doing what guitarists do, and buying to plugs for the F-holes for those really loud gigs. That [i]should[/i] sort it out. I'll let you know what happens.. xx[/quote] I can't argue with your theory. Trouble is, as I've said before, not all gigs-especially the jazz ones- have the benefit of a good PA or an intelligent sound man. You'll need this to put any mic through or you'll get feedback through your backline. If you're doing a big gig the sound you'll get will be a good approximation but nothing like the genuine acoustic sound, so why worry. If you're doing a small intimate gig then that's the time to really work on your sound. I've no expereince of the Schertler but I'm told it's a bit fussy to set up. The one all the guys in US are talking about is the Vektor by a guy called Toby Timber. You might care to Google him. Good luck with the never ending quest.

After a will-I-won't-I moment I have bumped my CR4M in the For Sale section. I just don't use it enough. It's the one with the mag and piez pickups and £900 is a good saving on the list price which I think is around £1900 today.

Wecome to Basschat. I was born in Woodley and then lived in Earley. I went to Forest Grammar School where les Hurdle was one year behind me. Who Les? Well he went on to become a good session player on bass. He was on Art Garfunkel's Brighteyes and did Donna Summer's first Disco LP for Giorgio Moroder. I was one of Reading's first bass guitarists, in 1960. I played an instrument my young brother made for me. Because he didn't have the skills to fret it I played it fretless, so it was certainly the first fretless for miles. Then I got an EBO. I remember seeing Jerry Lee Lewis at Olympia Ballroom, The Stones at the Town Hall and a very young Rod Stewart at the Uni. Those were the days. Enjoy your bass, you've a whole life in front of you - lucky chap!

I've sorted it now. Thanks to everyone who responded, double bassists didn't let me down.