bassace

Just beware the bossy woman with the clipboard. She'll be in a total panic and won't have a clue! Happened to us a few times.

[quote name='thisnameistaken' post='659346' date='Nov 19 2009, 03:50 PM']Even if the back seats won't fold flat? I'm umm-ing and aah-ing about buying a DB but my (girlfriend's) car is a little Daihatsu and I can't imagine how a DB would go in there.[/quote] They don't have to fold completely flat but the backs need to turn down a bit.

A double bass will go into anything with a hatch, however small.

He was one of the giants when I started playing. The comments on Facebook attest to the very high esteem and affection in which he was held. Rest in peace, Jeff.

[quote name='maxrossell' post='656578' date='Nov 16 2009, 11:55 PM']I suppose I'll be bucking some trends here, but honestly in my opinion anything other than a Fender Jazz or P-Bass is a waste of time. I also don't get having more than four strings. The lower B just gives you five extra notes that most people never have a need for at the expense of a reasonable-sized neck, and the higher strings on those gigantic six or sevens just sound piddly and weak. Again, just my opinion, but whenever I see a bass player with more than four strings on his bass I expect either some seriously boring overindulgent widdling, or just a shoddy performance by someone who hopes that people will assume he's really good because he has extra strings. I really, really dislike the look of these overdesigned luthier basses that are made of sixteen different types of contrasting wood, all of which would be better suited to veneering a French dresser, and they all have fourteen strings and fanned frets and weird body shapes and pickups at funny angles and generally look a bit like someone nailed a ladder to a goldfish. And you never actually see anyone playing them live, presumably because there aren't many bands out there where the guitarists have twelve-neck guitars and the drummers have a 400-piece kit. After having spent some serious time in studios recently, I don't actually see the need for bass amp heads. Speakers, sure. But every time we tracked bass, we'd go through the gear we had to find a match, and every time without fail we passed over Ampeg, Markbass, Peavey and Mesa bass heads in favour of an old Marshall guitar head. And you tend to pay a little bit more for bass amps ayway, and they're usually overdesigned to the point where if something goes wrong it's out of commission for ten weeks. I don't get bass effects, either. Put it this way: A bass player with a load of effects on the floor is either doing something radically new and different, or he's just forgotten what the bass is for in music. Usually it's the latter.[/quote] He's got a point.

It would be great to have you aboard the DBers, Bilbo. I would never ever disagree with those who recommend a good teacher, a good warm up and good technique to get you through. Trouble is, when I started I couldn't find a teacher who did jazz - they were all classical - and I wanted to just get on with it. So I did. I've been playing for nearly fifty years and have got five gigs this week up and down the country. I'll wake up shattered each morning but my arms hands and fingers will be fine. I've never had a prob; so what I'm trying to say is, don't be too afraid of the DB, it's quite benign, really. There are others who may disgree but I think that a little bit of amp helps while practising. You don't have to play so hard and why not use the technology if it's available.

[quote name='OutToPlayJazz' post='653998' date='Nov 13 2009, 08:02 PM']Very nice sound. Songs seem a little repetitive, but I like her playing/singing a lot. The drummer is highly musical as well.[/quote] And she uses the same left hand technique as mine - which isn't very pretty, but quite effective.

Looks nice. Unfortunately I can't really consider it because I've just bought Mrs Bassace a new lorry - so no GAs this or next year. Good luck with the sale.

Probably a Czech Ease. There used to be a small bass called a bassette ( musos used to call it the Little Bastard). I haven't seen of heard of one for a long time. Any sightings?

Most of these posts simply confirm that, whatever people's pre-conceived notions about who they like and who they don't, going to see a live band is something different. I've been to see some (nominally) naff acts and been blown away by their live performance. Also remember that a singer who you may not rate will often have the very best backing players. I went to see Neil Sedaka once and he had Jim Fielder (ex Blood Sweat and Tears) on bass - fantastic . Neil's a bloody good peformer too - he played right through without an interval.

I suppose if a greatest moment doesn't jump out at you then you possibly haven't got one. But I've been playing regularly for a long time and digging into my memory I can recall three that in their way were quite good:- 1959 and we were still at school, I played trombone then, and our third gig as a full-blown six piece jazz band was supporting Chris Barber at Reading Town Hall. In those days Lonnie Donnegan had just left him to go skiffle and Petite Fleur was recorded so Barber was quite hot then. Gig went very well and when I got home I found the rest of our band there together with half the Barber band drinking - coffee made by a star-struck dad. 1962 during our 'Tour of Cornwall' at the Flamingo Ballroom in Redruth. The owner excitedly told us that Georgie Fame was staying there. While we were setting up he came up on stage, sat a the piano and started to play Dat Dere. So our alto player and I joined him. Great jam. I suppose a test of how great a moment is depends on what a let down the next gig is. I always get that feeling when I come home after a tour in one of the European countries. Hospitality is great and the crowds are really appreciative. I always get a great buzz of anticipation every time we sail out of Dover. Sorry for the length.

No problem from me.

Clarky, If you are going to amp the bass the drop in volume may not be an issue. Sometimes a bass with a strong acoustic sound can overwhelm a pickup and you get a lot of boominess. Are your strings comfortable with the fingerboard in their new position? If so, great, and you won't need a luthier.

A few years ago a full page cigarette ad appeared, mainly in the glossy magazines, Sunday supplements etc, of a double bass player with his bass over his shoulder, a woman (possibly the singer) and another man (the piano player?) walking home through the deserted streets of the city in the small hours after a gig. The three of them are walking away from the camera. This a very evocative picture and I would like to get a copy. Trouble is, nobody remembers it and I can't locate it. Don't even remember the fag company. Does anyone in Basschat world have any info that would help me?

Owen seems to be a busy boy in the buying/selling world of bass. I've just sold a mic to him. Dead easy transaction, he wanted the mic, did a bank transfer and i posted it off to him, took two days during the posties strike. Simples. Deal with confidence.

Yes, Hmmmm.

I have an ATM 350 clip on for sale in the 'other stuff' section. Great for sending a good double bass sound to front of house. [attachment=34781:019_1_.JPG]

I'd go for max 8mm on the G and the other strings corresponding to the curvature of the fingerboard. Trouble is, in lowering the strings you may get a buzz/rattle of some of them on the fingerboard. So best to take the bass to a luthier and get him to re-shoot the fingerboard and lower the bridge at the same time. However, first make sure that the 'north and south' position of the bridge is centered with the notches in the f-hole. Then, in spite of what others may suggest, go for a nice new set of Spiro Mittels.

[quote name='OldGit' post='629371' date='Oct 18 2009, 11:58 AM']"it" Not fussy then [/quote] As long as it's not [i][/i]too[i][/i] ugly.

[quote name='OldGit' post='629111' date='Oct 17 2009, 10:30 PM']Ha ha, don't forget the sheep jokes mate....[/quote] I've always found that the one drawback in a sheep is that you have to walk round the front to kiss it. Just one of life's annoyances.

It's always difficult to walk away from a band, but it might be the only sensible option. Having met you and, from your posts, knowing your sense of comittment any band would be bloody lucky to have you. Very best of luck for the future.

When I was looking into getting a new bass I exchanged emails with Arnold and Wil who are New Standard. Really nice guys to deal with. Even their ply basses seem a bit expensive to bring over here but there's no denying the fine reputation they enjoy in US. Incidentally Jake, I enjoyed your sig re Winston Churchill. It reminds me of his exchange with Bessie Braddock MP who said 'Mr Churchill, you're drunk!' to which he replied, 'and you, madam, are ugly, but in the morning I will be sober'.

[quote name='velvetkevorkian' post='622383' date='Oct 10 2009, 12:39 PM']Off topic, but did you buy your Professor from Upton directly, Bassace? Every so often I fond myself on their site admiring them [/quote] In short, yes. They are great people to deal with and will tailor their quote to exactly what you want. I ordered my Prof having specified a dark coffee colour, Spiro Mittels and bridge adjusters. On top of the Upton price flying it over will cost about $700. And then you will expect to pay a further 19% for VAT, duty and customs/handling charges this end. For example an Upton Standard Laminated bass, incl adjusters and a good soft cover at present exchange rates will be about £2,300 all up. You can work out any other bass from the Upton site. You can either let Upton do everything so the bass in its freight case is delivered to your door, or as in my case, micromanage things a bit (I used to be an engineer and can't keep away from interfering). In that case I decided Birmingham Airport was convenient to my house and got in touch with the freight handling people there. I then told Upton to despatch the bass to Birmingham and when it arrived I was notified and went to collect it - all very exciting. All you have to do is take the bass out of the box (an electric screwdriver is very useful to open the box, which I left to the guys at the airport) and when you get the bass home take the dummy bridge off and set up the proper bridge exactly to the markers that Upton give you. Then play it.

I'm a complete arse. Jakesbass had one at the Bash yesterday and in all the general kerfuffle I never got to try it. Next time perhaps?