bassace

I've never really enjoyed Cherokee much; I've always found it unsatisfying to play. It was written by Ray Noble, a brit born in Brighton who moved to the states when he was 27 and made a name for himself as a composer and bandleader. I've never regarded him much as a jazzer though. I also dislike very up-tempo stuff like the track here. It might be clever but it doesn't swing. There are better examples of Arturo Sandoval's work, Arturo Sandoval and the Latin Train CD for instance. There's a great track of I Can't Get Started with Joe Williams on vocal and some great Bass Guitar playing.

[quote name='BigBeatNut' post='399915' date='Feb 4 2009, 01:04 PM']Really ... not much difference between a £1000 laminate and a £1000 carved ?[/quote] Yes, I'd probably initally trust a £1k laminate over a £1k carved.

Very best wishes, Doc.

Hi, BBN Tony at ContrabassShop is a really nice guy and trades in top quality (and quite pricy) stuff. It's definitely worth going down to see him and have a go on the bass. He will also recommend an upgrade or two. I would think that strings would be a worthwhile extra for starters. At that price don't worry about the laminate. I was interested to see that the bass is bases on the German Blonds of the 50s/60s. I have one such instrument and it plays and speaks very well. It really projects. If you go, pl say hello from me, Roger Davis. I wasted a whole day of his time a couple of years ago and still feel a bit guilty about it. He even made me lunch so he's a really good guy!

I was sorting out my gig bag the other day and thought I'd start this topic. I don't think we need to include leads unless they are strange or out of the ordinary. I found:- A set of Double Bass strings (£120) Screwdriver and pliers for fitting them Multitool (sort of a swiss army knife) Public Liability insurance certificate PAT Certificate Torch Music stand light Insulating tape Spare batteries of all kinds Fishman Pro eq Power supply Biro Pencil Spare Underwood pickup 4-way mains board Tuner Reading glasses Lots of Asprin Nothing remarkable really, but I'm sure some of you guys have some really weird items.

Wheels seem a good idea - I 've got a wheeled cover on one of mine. However, you wheel the bass along, it picks up crap and wet from the footway and you lift it into the car. Result, crap and wet in the car. On balance, I don't like wheels.

I know you guys are responding from a BG point of view but when I'm playing my DB I always try to stand stage right (ride cymbal side). That way I am looking across my bass and into the band. Stage left would have me looking out of the band. I have my cabs between me and the drummer and he seems to like it that way.

And it's a pain not being able to get that bottom Eb on jazz gigs too.

It looks as though it's been abused a bit. The bridge looks to have been moved up the scale away from its original position of level with the nicks in the f-holes. You can also see the original witness marks in the photo. This is some times done to raise the string height but might lead to tonal compromises. It depends on where the soundpost is. The Fishman BP-100 is not reckoned to be the best of the pickups but will work well enough with a pre-amp in the line. I'm not trying to pour cold water on your ambitions. If you can get the bass at a knock down price, £300-£350 max, it'll be a good starter. Can you get to look at it first? Good luck.

[quote name='yorks5stringer' post='383282' date='Jan 17 2009, 03:01 PM']Surely an oxymoron?[/quote] Nice one! Actually there are a few who maintain a regular pulse.

Any good jazz drummer who doesn't speed up.

If you have leanings towards the double bass, then don't get sidetracked to an EUB. The only similarity between the two is the string length. The best advice here is to find a teacher and ask for an introductory lesson on one of his basses. He will also be able to help you with some purchase suggestions and may even have an instrument to lend you. If you progress well you'll soon see what a fine instrument the URB is. Perhaps Jakesbass can pick this up; I know that he has been very helpful to several starters on this forum.

Done

[quote name='bilbo230763' post='374161' date='Jan 8 2009, 03:52 PM']Look up Paula Gardiner on the net. She has some great cds out there (a recent trio recording with Lee Goodall and Mark O'Connor is really special) and she can't be more than six stone soaking wet. Also Melissa Slocum with Ralph Peterson's Fo'tet; she's another great bass player. And, of course, Esperanza Spalding, who is the new kid on the block (not heard her yet, myself). Good luck.[/quote] And also Erica Lyons(GB). You can see her on UTube doing a masterclass with Ray Brown. A guy who plays piano with me did a gig with her recently and was very impressed. Welcome to the wonderful world of the double bass, Bass Queen. All we now need is a Bass King and Bass Jack and we've got a good hand!

[quote name='chrisba' post='371684' date='Jan 6 2009, 10:10 AM']I like Moondance, sorry. Now that you have pointed it out, the bassline is messy, but I hadn't noticed it before.[/quote] And the piano solo sounds as though the old dear down at the WI is playing it.

You're dead right! I had the temerity to suggest that this was one of the worst played bass lines on a record when I posted on Talkbass. This didn't go down too well at all, so one up to basschat! The bass line is indeed shoddy on the timing front. Unlike Bilbo, I don't really have a 'won't play' list. I quite like Canteloupe Island, probably because I don't play it very often - ten years ago at the last count.

They slapped because that's the only way they got heard before basses were amped. Jimmy Blanton changed all that when he joined Duke Ellington and you could actually hear the notes clearly. The Duke made sure that he was forward in the mix when the band recorded. He broke the mould and started the style that all those after him followed. He died at a sadly young age of 23 but in that short life became one of the bass greats. By the way, the slapper on the clip isn't left handed. The images seem to be transposed left to right; look at the marimbas.

The Talkbass Double Bass forums are certainly goldmines, the discussion is (most times) adult and when it isn't the invective gets quite amusing. They seem to insult each other in a much more grown up fashion. I find the DB guys very friendly and helpful. The only stuff I don't use is the For Sale and Wanted forums, due to the transatlantic preponderence (naturally).

Well, quite a lot of movement much of it thanks to Basschat. OUT 1961 Gibson EBO. Surplus to requirements and no doubt it has a better home with a collector. Stagg EUB. I'm sure Linus is having a ball with this, but perhaps I should have kept it for the odd jobs. IN Whole lot of AI and Wizzy stuff from Overwater. Most of it arrived on my birthday and was a revelation. It is now my gear of choice - mostly. EA iAmp 500. Very nice and still getting to grips with the eq and tone shaping section. More use to come. Wizzy CXL cab. Never used it - too bloody heavy. Steinberger EUB I don't use it as much as I thought I would: I just prefer the natural sound of the double bass. And when I want to take it to a house party gig (to save URB getting knocked about by pissed guests) the host/ess says 'Oh but we want a proper double bass'. ATM350 clip on mic. Working on this - lots of potential. Oh, and out Ford Focus Estate: goodby to a great warhorse, out much cherished Merc CLK AMG coupe, in my possession for nine years from new and in a new Merc C220D AMG estate. Happy New Year to all basschatters.

I've got an ATM350 but haven't yet gigged it - you could say it's in development. My first impressions are that it's quite good. There are no doubt better/more expensive ones but this clip-on is so convenient. You can clip it in an f-hole (might damage the finish) or suspend it from the bridge somehow (I've made a lightweight bracket). If you like, and give me a a bit of time to sort it out, I could attach a photo. It seems to work best pointing up under the fingerboard, on the centreline. PA out front is a must to avoid feedback and here is the problem. If you're doing a big noisy gig you won't need the subtleties of the mic. If you're doing, eg, a jazz trio where the mic will be great there may not be PA. So to get over this I'm putting together my own mini PA with a single 10" Wizzy and separate Clarus amp and separate backline monitoring. Bit of hassle but probably worth it. Hope this helps and good luck.

[quote name='SJA' post='356184' date='Dec 16 2008, 05:11 PM']Vox Phantom? looks seriously neck-heavy.[/quote] I meant the thing that looks like a sideboard.

Footes moved to Golden Square after Denman Street. I bought a nasty cheap laminated bass there when I resumed playing. It got me started again, though. [quote name='Stingray5' post='356121' date='Dec 16 2008, 04:23 PM']I envy you, bassace, for having met Ray Brown. Nice one![/quote] Yes, but how many times have we let the moment go by only to regret it later?

We used to get the train from Reading up to London to window shop. I can't remember too much, but can recall quite a few shops up Shaftsbury Avenue including one that sold Trixon drums. Saw Adam Faith in there; he was very tall. There, I told you my memory wasn't too good. At the Picadilly end of CCR was Denman Street that had Foote's where you could go down to their basement and see rows and rows of double basses. I bought my first one there, carved not laminated for £35. It wasn't too good but that's all I could afford. I chatted to a nice black guy and when he left the shop the assistant said 'that's Ray Brown'.

We supported Peter Jay and the Jay Walkers and the Tornadoes at the Cheltenham Arts Ball back in (??!!). Clem Cattini was a nice guy. What is that Vox thing in the photo?

GK do an adaptor that fits on a mic stand to bring the combo up to four feet from the stage. I used one successfully with my DB for many years until things had to get louder. Right now I'm working on fitting a 10" Wizzy and amp on top of a PA stand for smaller gigs where I want to hear myself without a lot of vol. I see that the PA stand is good for 32kg. Any good for sticking a 12" combo on?