sarah thomas

This keeps getting better and better!

I put my left knee behind the widest part of the lower C bout. The upper bout nestles just in front of my left hip bone. The bass takes its own weight and I just supply balance. I had a lesson with Jake Newman from this forum and he showed me how to do this. Once you've got it, you can take your hands away and the bass will stay upright. Move your knee and it falls forwards. There are some photos in Rufus Reid's 'The Evolving Bassist' which show him supporting his bass in this way. Theoretically you should be able to play notes without using your thumb at all. I'm still working on this!

I'd be interested in trying out different amps. I will bring my 50 watt Nemesis Eden bass amp which is a fine little amp. I would particularly like to try Acoustic Image stuff and I'd also like to learn about sound checks. I've always used the bassist's amp at open mic nights but will very soon be venturing into performing with a proper band. Lounge jazz stuff, small venues and some open air garden fete things. Any advice would be very welcome!

Steve, you are right. I'm being a wimp. Count me back in! I'll bring my German flatback and the Superlight.

Only just spotted it's on a Sunday, which makes the drive back to Cardiff prohibitive on a school night ...

Brilliant!

Daf is great.

Count me in too. 'Dark and true and tender is the North ...'

I have an old plastic Hohner kazoo which is the best kazoo I've ever owned. I might dig it out again just to annoy the sax player ...

Easy to talk to and a pleasure to deal with, Chris showed me the ropes on the Superlight EUB with care and attention to detail even though he was looking a four hour drive in the face. Thanks Chris!

Sadly, your expectations may be a little out of step with reality. Unless anyone knows differently ...

You may find the width and depth of the neck is at least as important as the scale length when it comes to playing comfort. Also the height of the action. It really is best to try first. (Although I don't always follow my own advice ...) And a couple of lessons can really help in terms of not hurting yourself.

Bought Marc's DB hardcase. A pleasure to deal with this lovely chap.

How about a KK Baby Bass? Great for that Latin sound and the same scale length as an upright. http://baby-bass.com/

That episode is why I fell in love with the upright bass decades ago. Never thought I'd end up playing one though. Woohooo!!!

If I were starting out again, I'd be happy with a decent quality laminate bass, which could take a knock or two without turning into an Airfix kit. An East European model such as a Boosey & Hawkes or a Stentor. When I sold my laminate I was surprised at how the sound had improved. Nothing to do with the bass, just more practice hours from me. You should be able to pick up something decent for under £1,000 in these impoverished times. Study the basses that have been sold on here, see which models are popular and why. Hire one for a few months, get a teacher and ask their opinion. My wonderful first teacher wouldn't sell me his old bass because it wasn't very good. You may get lucky!

When you find your luthier of choice, ask them to check the profile of the feet, where the bridge makes contact with the body, as well as thinning and rounding the top profile.The feet should be shaped to follow the contour of the front of the bass. It looks like someone got a new bridge and plonked it on the bass without any awareness of fitting it, so this may be another job. The strings look like Honeys to me too, - Daf is your man, and has his own subsection on Innovation strings. Happy new bass day - it sounds like this one was destined to be yours!