bassace

[quote name='Clarky' timestamp='1351061448' post='1846670'] You'll all be sorry if I stop selling gear on BC! [/quote] Yes we will!

Just to bring something else into the mix, I'll mention the Underwood that I like very much. It is quite a bright pickup, which is a good point to start from and it can be eq'd down a bit with a PlatPro or FDeck. The Bassmax can be got from Thomann for just under £100 delivered. Usually this single pickup will slot into the E wing of the bridge but on my Kolstein it is better on the G wing. So I have put a second one in the E just to get a little more bottom and the two are mixed in a two channel Clarus amp. Of course your bass will sound better with a mic but don't be in a hurry to go there. You will encounter initial expense, feedback probs, more expense and you'll finally get there after even more expense but at the end of the day the object is to get an an acceptable sound out there and enjoy your bass - which I've done for a few years now with a PU.

A lot of the 'big stage' guys seem to use SVTs. Mark Knopfler's URB man uses twins. Not too sure where this finishes and FOH begins.

[quote name='Mr Bassman' timestamp='1350549853' post='1840274'] I'm surprised that the Kolstein is 5 3/8 when the Eminence feels thicker at 5 3/16 [/quote] Yup, remeasured at 5 3/8" Profile could differ up the neck, I suppose.

I've got to go looking for my other two but right now the Bryant and Upton are 5 3/4 and the Kolstein Travel is 5 3/8.

Great result; well done Colin and everyone.

I like to stay fingers-down as much as poss, but for a particularly fast piece nothing wrong with going more perpendicular. Also raking helps in places plus two left hand stops per one rh pizz (surely there's a technical term for that). Mix your shots to the best advantage and don't over-analyze.

[quote name='silverfoxnik' timestamp='1349007845' post='1820550'] Hi Folks Wow! What a great day.... ( Lastly, have to mention those that couldn't be with us yesterday for a variety of reasons: Happy Jack, silddx, Clarky, Bassace, Stingray 5, Merton, johnnylager and Jakenewmanbass.. You were very definitely missed - despite it being a great day - but hopefully, we'll see you next year.. Nik [/quote] How kind of you to think of me. I had previously got in touch with Colin to say that I may have difficulty getting there due to a previous commitment ( a helicopter flight over the Olympic Stadium no less) but what I didn't expect was to be ambulanced off to hospital with pneumonia. All adding to my annus horibilis. Great to see all the photos of the event and so pleased you all had a good time. Always a landmark in the BC year. Next time, hopefully.

It'll be the same this year as all the preceding ones. The German Blonde (laminated) will stay in its cupboard in the garage. That will go a way towards insulating it from changes in temp and humidity - and it is a ply. The others will stay upstairs in a room that doesn't have a rad and with the curtains drawn. And that's it. If your bass has to share a room with a rad I'd suggest getting a humidifier or I've heard that a bowl of water placed in the room will mitigate the drying out effect of the central heating - which is your bass's biggest enemy. And as has already been mentioned, avoid any extreme changes. I've only ever had one disaster - and that was a biggie - when the first bass I had, a ply, was kept in a storeroom at a club I played at. Trouble was, the club was by the side of a lake and the mists used to come in every morning. I turned up one evening and the bass was literally a kit of parts, all the glue had gone. I repaired it with resin glue (ouch) and it never sounded any good afterwards. Thing is, I can't remember what I did with the soundpost - perhaps there wasn't one after my repair. Ah, the ignorance of the young!

The only problem I can see from the photo is that there don't seem to be any lifting handles on the front. Two make it very easy to load a bass into an estate or hatchback.

[quote name='lowdowner' timestamp='1348402572' post='1813143'] How 'experienced' was Yahudi Mehenuin (or however it's spelt!) at 19? Could still blow the socks off you with his Beethoven's Violin Concerto! [/quote] But couldn't play jazz for toffee. Whose idea was it to pair him up with Grappelli? Talking about jazz tho', there is a lot of tolerance/support of younger musicians, especially those starting out.

No, he's not nasty at all. I've just bought a Kolstein Travel Bass from him. He let me take it home for a week, even gig it. So I just had to buy it; it would be churlish not to. Eight pages? Blimey, he deserves more. One of the nice guys.

I don't regard myself as a hero but I know exactly what the OP means and 'unsung hero' is a well-understood figure of speech. I've been proud to be a bass player for over fifty years now, still average two gigs a week and couldn't think of anything better. I am strictly backline but I have the satisfaction of being the engine room that gives the band its drive and unique sound. I usually get two solos a gig and that's all I need. Louis Armstrong once said that if you're forming a new band always get the right bass player first before any of the other musicians. All bass players should treasure that sentiment.

I play at the Falcon, Bude about three times a year. Long way down but a great place when you get there. Good dancers.

Well done, Tim. You've thought out of the box on this one - not the obvious route for most - but, as you say, you've got good results. I'm sure there are plenty of innovative solutions out there but most of us stick to the 'mainstream'. By the way, I'm quite happy with a bridge wing piezo but it needs a bit of tone shaping to get a polite sound out of it. And I didn't like the Headway either.

And you're always super self-critical when you follow another band, specially if you think they're good. Plus, playing outdoors isn't that easy. Crack on and see what you have learned from the experience.

[quote name='MacDaddy' timestamp='1347561302' post='1802513'] Can I suggest The Amber Trust? [url="http://www.ambertrust.org/"]http://www.ambertrust.org/[/url] "The AMBER Trust was created to help blind and partially sighted children, who have a talent or a love for music. Music really is of special importance to these children.... For others, many of whom have severe learning difficulties, music therapy may offer a lifeline, helping them to reach out in a dark and confusing world." [/quote] Good idea. For my ten pence worth I'd prefer any donations to go to music-related charities, cos that's what we do.

Oh dear.

Thwaites and Malcolm Healey both good. Peter Tyler at Maidenhead has a few as well. Footes used to be the go-to shop in the fifties/sixties when they were in Denman Street (I met Ray Brown in there) but since they moved to Golden Square they have a poor stock on run of the mill imports.

I don't get too precious about bags. As I use the car 100% I just need minimal protection from scratching/abrasions and am not too concerned about lots of padding. Like Sarah, I've suffered a few zip pull failures which is a bit of a PITA. Not too sure who made my bags, apart from the Upton one which is thickly padded and very heavy, but they're all OK. A zip failure would be unacceptable.

Ha, as soon as the clip came on I said to the wife 'the slabbers will be wetting themselves tonight'. Was I right?

Actually this thread is worthless, full stop. I was glad when a dedicated double bass forum was set up within BC. It started off so well but has now degenerated to juvenile crap such as this. Is it possible that we can go back to some sensible DB conversation where we can all learn from each other, experts and newbies alike and improve our DB skills? Is it a coincidence that several experienced posters who offered valuable advice don't seem to be around much these days?