philparker

Excellent work - I really enjoy these articles!

Welcome, Dave, I'm sure you'll be able to get your fix with vicarious pleasure from this site whilst you're not gigging!

[quote name='Lazurus' timestamp='1484728434' post='3217761']
Thanks for all the input, I have been recommended Evah Pirazzi Bass Weich (Soft) Set of Strings as perhaps the best all rounders' are these a starting point?
[/quote]

I couldn't comment with any authority for slap, but I've found them to be the best hybrid for pizz and arco. they bow just as easy an orchestral string, but they pizz much better than any orchestral string. A good choice!

[quote name='NickA' timestamp='1484739196' post='3217896']
Hmm, had I known this was coming up I might not have spent all my pocket money on my Warwick Dolphin ..... sure my Mk1 fretless would like a friend![/quote]

It would make an even better friend for my Mk2 fretless 5!!!

Whilst I'm quoting you, Nick, you couldn't do me a favour and satisfy my proof-reading eye and remove one of the 'L's from your Wall Custom?

Mmm...🤔 Very nice!

I play 90% arco and I'm fortunate enough to have a couple of DBs, I put some Golden Slaps on one DB and I couldn't even get a half decent quality note with the bow - so from my POV, I would say no, wait until you've finished your studies or by a second DB!

What a beaut, someone's going to be pleased - if I didn't have a Wal 5 fretless I would be going for these!

GLWTS

What's the story?

Thank goodness for that!!!!

I've got a busy season, but if it's on a free day I will certainly be up for it!!

That looks great - I just use my old end pin?!

[quote name='dannymiller95' timestamp='1483637603' post='3208951']Just another question then for you all then. My current pickup doesn't seem to be very loud (don't know if this is just a generic double bass pickup thing or not). As I say I'm ready to upgrade, are there any recommendations?
[/quote]

My guess is you're not using a pre-amp...and you need one (not on all amp-PU combinations, but many on DB).

Absolute beaut!

Hey, well done - I hope it turns out to be the right one!

[quote name='jakenewmanbass' timestamp='1482920922' post='3203484']
Anyone had any experience of using a stand that's suitable for playing the bass whilst in the stand
I have a quick instrument change show coming up...
Thoughts welcome
[/quote]

I have 3 different stands: two would not be suitable (Hercules& Stagg) but the Hamilton would work, I reckon...

http://www.chamberlainmusic.com/productdetail.asp?productID=KB550&title=Hamilton-KB550-double-bass-stand

(I can't post a link, I'm on mobile)

I don't know where you got that information from, but from my experience that is not true. I play double bass and the scores I read regularly go to tenor clef before treble clef and the same back down again - almost always!

The score you have depicted is also written incorrectly and the 'G' should start on the second leger up on the treble stave: not the lower G.

Sold a double bass bow to Mike - what a great guy: good communication before and after and instant bank transfer payment - highly recommended!

Now Sold!

I have a Col Legno, carbon fibre French double bass bow for sale, which is one of the higher-end carbon fibre bows; here is one link: [url="http://www.mjbl.co.uk/-col-legno-standard-carbon-fibre-double-bass-bows-"]http://www.mjbl.co.u...uble-bass-bows-[/url]

I bought this second hand, but then had it re-haired by Andrew McGill [url="http://www.bowmakermcgill.co.uk/"]http://www.bowmakermcgill.co.uk/[/url] with a new leather at a cost of £60 for the re-hair and £20 for the leather, as well as a full check up. It has only been used a dozen times since in 'comparison' checks because I have a higher-end Pernambuco bow and by chance bought another reasonably high-end Pernambuco back-up bow.

The asking price of £200 includes UK postage by Special Delivery.

Photos to follow:

[quote name='fatback' timestamp='1481480651' post='3192610']Possibly i need to work out a more balanced practice routine? Any ideas on that?
[/quote]

yes, and it's a very good point because it's surprising how much time or how little time can pass during a practise session. I have a 2-hour orchestral rehearsal every week (I will have also practised 1 - 2 hours that day anyway!) and I sometimes hope other sections of the orchestra will make mistakes, so I can have a rest. However. I also take part in the Wells DB Academy about every 6 weeks and between 10 am and 4:40 pm, there's probably about 5 hours worth of DB playing, which can be quite testing, but is well structured to cover various disciplines - although you can't cover ensemble on your own!

So, why I do I struggle to practise 2 hours in a day? Because, as we all know, it's quite a physical instrument in comparison to other instruments (I could practise 2 hours non-stop on classical guitar before breakfast and continue afterwards quite easily if I hadn't achieved enough).

It might not be for everybody, but I will chose what disciplines I need to practise and set the time on my phone broken down into 10, 15, 20 or 25 minutes - and keep on practising that discipline until it rings! Then take a rest, although there have been times I've pressed the start button again and spent 40 minutes on scales because I haven't achieved what I wanted to achieve. If I'm stuck for time I have to reduce my rest times, but aim to get 3 to 6 disciplines per day, at least 5 days per week.

Pick the disciplines that suit you best - I have: Technique*; Studies**; Scales & Arpeggios etc.; Thumb Position; Sight Reading; New Pieces; Orchestral Pieces; Other Pieces.

* - Something I have picked up from David Heyes' Academy Workshop and is often very overlooked - it's not comparatively technical, but just exercises concentrating on maintaining or improving LH technique, bowing technique and ear technique, it can involve scales to drone (when practised on your own), finger placement, bowing dynamics etc. When done as a group it is surprising how much you never knew you needed it?!

** - I use Simandl Studies; Bottesini studies; Orchestral excerpts etc.

Divide these into how much time you can afford to study per day/week, but in this instance, structure and varied routine is good!

It depends on your budget?...and your requirement?

They do occasionally turn up in the for sale section here, but if you want to look at a choice in the mid-price range (£3k - £5k or occasionally higher) look no further than [url="http://thedoublebassroom.com/basses-for-sale/#.WEq2ioXXJPY"]http://thedoublebass...e/#.WEq2ioXXJPY[/url] - Ben Packham always has a good selection (I'm not affiliated nor have I met Ben!).

For a higher budget, check out Musical Chairs [url="https://www.musicalchairs.info/double-bass/sales"]https://www.musicalc...uble-bass/sales[/url]

If you're on a smaller budget, I may be placing an ad on this forum for my back-up DB (Mods - I hope this isn't breaking a rule?)

Advice I would give any prospective buyer is that you have to be prepared to travel for the right purchase even if you don't complete a transaction. Indeed, that is for anything DB related: lessons, Workshops, live entertainment etc.

Good Luck

Edit: They don't get much better than this in the mid-price range on this forum: [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/296476-beautiful-german-roundback-bass-c1880/"]http://basschat.co.uk/topic/296476-beautiful-german-roundback-bass-c1880/[/url]

[quote name='olihayhurst' timestamp='1481192505' post='3190338']
Thanks for pointing that out. I'm in Leighton Buzzard in Bedfordshire, close to the M1.
[/quote]

You're welcome. I thought I recognised your name from somewhere - I used to have an easy jazz pieces book of yours, but I couldn't find it this morning, I haven't played it for a few years as I've progressed quite a bit since then, but it was very useful as I was learning!

Welcome to the forum - Beautiful double bass and a fantastic story, as also is the Hungarian double bass for sale. Most prospective buyers would want to Know where to 'come round and try it'?

GLWTS!

[quote name='NickA' timestamp='1480886894' post='3187903']
Hey, just sell the beemer. Not only will you get the bass in, people will let you pull out of side roads too !!! :¬)

But if bass bags says it will go ... it will. He ships more basses around than anyone I've ever met!

I reckon my next car will be a passat or octavia estate, purely to fit the bass in (plus bass stool, music stand, electric bass (or two), amp, guitar stand etc etc ) my wife's SAAB 9-3 hatch struggles with all that.
[/quote]

I've got a Skoda Superb estate and I can fit the DB in without it even poking between the front seats, slightly diagagonal, but plenty of room for all my other gear, stool, stand etc.

[quote name='artisan' timestamp='1480682373' post='3186352']
The Evah Pirazzi Weich are great for pizz & slap very well too
[/quote]

They also bow quite well: much better than spiros!