ChrisF

[quote name='TheRev' timestamp='1339235108' post='1685612'] Sorry mate, was out gigging. That looks great, a really nice find and a good price. Let us know how you get on. [/quote] lol....I thought it might be something like that...either that or you lot were just proving to me that you all have really cool lives..unlike me .....last night should have been practice night for me too, but our guitarist (and owner of our r[color="#000000"]ehearsal [/color]room) was playing cricket must admit I was very pleased with myself when I found it. Ive contacted him via email and text,and said I want it,but no reply yet...maybe Im being a bit too in-ya-face for him.....but Im excited

after a bit of research on the web it looks like its a Chechoslovakian model...... no replies yet...surely you arent all watching bloomin football ..anyway...Im going for it......

This one..................... [IMG]http://i1120.photobucket.com/albums/l491/Chris_Finn/132720381.jpg[/IMG]

ok....so I think Ive found the perfect bass for me ....it a Boosey and Hawkes 400 ....for £350 ...looks in perfect condition. Opinions asap please as Im very tempted to buy it now, but I will hold off for a few hours......

Thanks for the replies. I know nothing about DBs...now if it was motorbikes Im ya man ......so I dont really know what Im looking for with regard to older ones. Which is partly why I was gonna go for a new one....until you lot put me off As for the bug biting me...it did that 33 years ago ......been a rockabilly since then, but only just started playing (had to sell my bike after a couple of nasty smashes..and needed a new pastime) ....my plan is definately to upgrade the bass in a few years time.

So if it was you...which one people ???? [IMG]http://i1120.photobucket.com/albums/l491/Chris_Finn/KGrHqNg8E-6Devm-gBPz33g460_12.jpg[/IMG]

[quote name='fatback' timestamp='1339090846' post='1683553'] I'd say get a lesson. A good teacher would tell you what you need in the way of setup and at the same time you'd get tips on how not to hurt yourself etc. A luthier setup will cost anything from £40 to £200 depending on what you want doing. Again, you could ask for a recommendation on here. btw, which one are you going to get, the rockabilly one or the 'uncle' one? [/quote] Yup...Im planing on some lessons when I find a local teacher...... as for which bass...Im hedging my bets. Keeping an eye on both...although the "rockabilly one" finishes first......

[quote name='PaulKing' timestamp='1338965306' post='1681636'] Also, almost all double bass playing happens around the top two strings, as the lower ones are so low, and can be indistinct if you're using nylion or gut as many slappers do. So where you're used to playing A/E on the bottom strings of a guitar or bass guitar, on upright you'll certainly play the top A/E 90% of the tuime. [/quote] Cheers......that has cleared it up for me........

Ok...so Ive had a good look at it again.And I showed the missus..and she loves it..always a good sign. Its growing on me the more I look at it.....so..... If I got her ( Ive gone from "it" to "her" already )a few questions.... 1.....what would be a good price ??..obviously the cheaper the better...but is the "buy it now" a good price ?? 2.....What would you suggest I do after purchase??....re: set up etc...new strings ??? ...maybe a bit of TLC from an expert (how much is all that gonna cost??) ....I assume the bridge will need replacing as its set low ???? I keep flipping back to the picture whilst typing this....and I think Im in love its pretty in an Uma Therman way rather than in a Holly Willoughby way....or am I being blinded by the excitement of owning my first bass ?? ...damn it Im 47 not 17

[quote name='sarah thomas' timestamp='1339079863' post='1683336'] The Rev's suggestion looks great - complete with pick up and mojo. A really cheap way to get going. [/quote] Well...Ive got it on watch, but I must admit Im not very impressed with either the picture or the description.....looks like a lot of old fire wood to me....or am I missing something ???

[quote name='TheRev' timestamp='1339003239' post='1682305'] By way of encouragement - I kept my eye on gumtree while I was saving up the cash for a DB. As soon as I had £1000, a lovely 1950s blonde laminate (as seen in my avatar..) came up for sale less than a mile away. I parted with £600 and spent a further £120 on strings and £250 on a re-shoot, neck reprofile and bridge re-shape. It now plays beautifully and does 2-3 gigs a week, with no problems. [/quote] A grand!?!?!!...blimey it would take me about ten years to save that up...honestly. I was gonn wait and try and save up 5 or 6 hundred for next year, but Ive got a windfall of 500 quid....

ok...so Ive got my eye on one on ebay. It looks like a decent one, although there is no info on make etc..the seller says it belonged to his uncle who retired from playing just over 10 years ago.....looks a good solid bass.

hmmmm ok...deep down I know you guys are right but.... I WANT ONE NOW!!!!!! ......I will keep an eye on ebay etc. When you say "set up" what does that involve ????? ...I thought it was a just a case of putting some different strings on it.....I take it there is more to it than that ????

Blimey...bit pricey...maybe something for the future. They have a few pickups on the Thomann site that are more in my price range for now.

Can you get them in the UK ??? ....Im not very comfortable with ordering stuff from abroad.

How about this ???..............[url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/200685163526?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1952.l2649"]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/200685163526?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1952.l2649[/url] or this ???........ [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/190377417940?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1952.l2649"]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/190377417940?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1952.l2649[/url] no pre amp needed apparently.....and a good price. Baring in mind that I will only be using it for practice for quite some time.......

This is what I am leaning towards..... [url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/thomann_kontrabass_rockabilly_01.htm"]http://www.thomann.de/gb/thomann_kontrabass_rockabilly_01.htm[/url] after a bit of a search on the internet, it seems that these are refered to as a CCB (cheap chinese bass/cheap cr*ppy bass) ....but its the most expensive one I can afford. Ive trawled the net for decent second hand one, but they are still way out of my price range. I cant go any higher pricewise...I got a tax refund..and my missus says I can get a DB as she knows I want one..plus me and some friends started a rockabilly band a few months back and my guitar just isnt cutting it soundwise. Ok so its not gonna be as good as 3 grand bass obviously, but surely they arent that bad ????

Nice one that looks like exactly what Im after....cheers

can you give me a bit more info on the DHA DI/EQ ??? Ive done a google search and cant find anything

[quote name='fatback' timestamp='1338842762' post='1680012'] On the room Q, do you have a spare corner? Bass on a stand in the corner takes up surprisingly little space. Less likely to be knocked over on a stand as well. As far as preamps go, don;t feel you have to go all out for the expensive Fishman's. Something like a £60 DHA DI/EQ does the impedance matching job fine and has a nice parametric eq as well. [/quote] thankyou,thankyou,thankyou.......thats answered my question, as far as the amp question went...brilliant. as for the spare corner......er..nope..not really. Conservatory...too hot in the summer and too cold in the winter. Lounge....hmmm......well I have a 2 1/2 year old daughter.....and not really any spare corners..so thats out. Its got to the point where Im seriously considering removing one of the fitted wardrobes from my bedroom to give me room...but then Im gonna have to lug it up n down the stairs. Got a cupboard...but its too low to stand it up and not big enough to lay it down..........ah well, these things are sent to try us......I will keep thinking.... and wandering round my house with a tape measure

[quote name='EssentialTension' timestamp='1338735969' post='1678617'] The best way is to keep moving it from one room to another so that no one notices that you have it. [/quote] I like ya thinking

So I did a search on here about where to store my upright when I get it. And it seems that Im just about the only person here that doesnt have a music room ....instead Ive got 4 kids...and no room I know I cant lay it on its back.etc...but I was hoping that someone on here had thought of someway of storing it that I hadnt. I honestly dont have any idea as to where Im gonna put it....not that its gonna stop me from getting one.....but any ideas for a very crowded house would be good

[quote name='marvin spangles' timestamp='1338672883' post='1677998'] Hey ChrisF Hope I didn't insult you re my comment. No offence intended. So who's this rockabilly bassist that I have to see? ha ha [/quote] lol...nah mate..Im not offended......the lady`s name is Emma Goss.....lots of her on youtube etc....but see her live if you can. She teaches apparently...and she isnt that far from me....so I might get a couple of lessons when I get mine.... as Im totally new to the upright.

[quote name='marvin spangles' timestamp='1338664870' post='1677866'] Was the bass player left handed perhaps? [/quote] lol....nope...she was right handed. And probably the best rockabilly bass player Ive ever seen. I spent the whole night just watching her hands....which wasnt easy considering how short her skirt was I could be wrong about the strings....but it looked like it to me....also Ive noticed all the players I have seen recently use the right hand 2 strings most of the time...and on the guitar I use mostly the E and A string...which are surely the left hand two strings on the bass.

Is it my imagination....or do some upright bass players swap the strings around,,as in the E string on the right as you look at it rather than on the left ??? ..It makes sense, as with rockabilly you are mainly playing the bottom 2 strings.... Also......the whole mic set-up and amp/pre amp thing confuses the hell out of me.......can anyone explain what set up I would need for playing rockabilly ??? preferably without costing an arm and a leg. I use a decent bass guitar amp at the moment (not mine) ..and would like to use it with the upright when I get it if possible. cheers Chris