Jump to content
Why become a member? ×

PaulKing

Member
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    482

  • Joined

  • Last visited

 Content Type 

Everything posted by PaulKing

  1. PaulKing
    [quote name='thisnameistaken' post='1279466' date='Jun 23 2011, 10:57 AM']Yeah can regular plebs buy these yet? If so, where?[/quote] Not yet, 'soon' they keep saying. A machine broke, thay had some festivals to play at .. cottage industry working at cottage industry pace. They somehow found the energy to make a lot of progres in a few shotr months, but it's all gone quiet over the channel for a good while now. June July release has been mentioned several times... behold, what's that I see coming over the channel???
  2. PaulKing
    It doesn't mark the board if you're playing guts or plain nylon. But round wound, or steel strings will damage the fingerboard, esp if it is a softer wood. Lower tension strings make it a whole lot easier to do, though it's not impossible with higher tension. But they certainly do make a lot of the more intricate multiple slap techniques impossible. With lower tension strings most people actually end up playing a HIGHER action, as you need to play them harder to make up for loss of volume. Plus you need space to get good purchase under the strings, and the ideal arm movement is relaxed and bouncy, which is easier with higher action. A bit of me... slapping for first half then pizz [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5P4Swu7Y_SY"]Slapping on a 1938 King Mortone with whackers...[/url]
  3. PaulKing
    +1 to all those who said you'll get a MUCH better deal by looking out on ebay / classifieds here. Really nice European made, 20-50 year old ply basses often go for under £500. You just need someone from here to spot it for you.
  4. PaulKing
    [quote name='thisnameistaken' post='1265900' date='Jun 12 2011, 11:55 AM']I just listened to the clip in Clarky's post and his timing is a bit rough. Quite often when slappers try to fit in triplets or other adornments they end up late into the next bar and this guy does the same thing. In the middle of the clip he seems to lose the beat completely.[/quote] Yeah in Nics solo clips he does seem to wander off the beat a bit. But when he's locked in with a drummer he absolutely nails it. Joe Frick is spot on the whole damn time.
  5. PaulKing
    Yeah I'm guilty of slapping about 75% of the time, though I know the limitations and potential for ear ache. And most players frown on it... But it does have a real role when done tastefully, in jazz or roots style. I play jump / west coast blues in the style of Hollywood Fats / Junior Watson - slap bass played like Larry Taylor, Willie Dixon, Ernest Crawford. I love it. It's mostly single slap, which defines and adds punch to every pizz note, it adds the jump to jump blues... Most jazzers don't take it seriously ... but check out Milt Hinton. He's no Ray Brown, but he's got rhythm and melody. Also the strings you use make a whole lot of difference. Most players on steel strings sound like an accident in a sheet metal factory when slapping. Gut or Nylon (like the Lamberts Nic Dubouchet uses, me too...) have a beautiful rhythmic thumpy click to them. And some rockabilly players have a dedicated click pick up which can, if over-used, dominate the amplified sound. Nasty. Mark King did us no favours. Nether does manic psychobilly clickattaclickatta. But I'm still a fan of the sound. If ever I can hear myself dissapearing in the mix I get jiggy with the slap and there I am again, punch!
  6. PaulKing
    [quote name='bartelby' post='1263340' date='Jun 9 2011, 09:58 PM']I think my eyes are playing tricks, as the "radius" seems to be asymmetrical and have a sharp ridge running the length...[/quote] I agree it's a m*nger, but before you get too critical ... no your eyes aren't deceiving you. The sharp edge along the fingerboard you describe is a Romburg Bevel, designed to increase the vibrating area of the E string for increased volume. It's a pucker double bass design feature. oops. Now I feel superior, get me.... edit: Excellent, the profanity filter wouldn't let me say m*nger! Bet it won't say m*nge either. Or clunge. Ah. There, beat it.
  7. PaulKing
    [quote name='tedgilley' post='1258699' date='Jun 6 2011, 06:07 PM']Thanks, BA, I got that impression from the site and an email from him. I have other opportunities to buy a used double bass right in my own state, but I'm kind of looking all over. Two of the reasons I'm thinking plywood bass are price and easier maintenance (less possibility of top cracking, etc.). TG[/quote] Youtube Joe Frick playing Thompson basses. Sound pretty amazing... if you like slapping. But don't forget Upton and Lemur for quality ply basses, maybe a bit more expensive though. You can also pick up an Englehardt or a Strunal, new or second hand. they're everywhere in the USA, you'll have no trouble. You try buying in Europe, much harder.
  8. PaulKing
    Not as old as that I'd say, with that label. Late 60's or more likely early 70's. Unless you know for sure. Excelsior is just a name B&H put on their student range of instruments, wherever they came from. Many earlier Excelsiors are also labelled as 'Artia' and 'Made in Luby, Czechoslavakia'. What does thatfaint pen/pencil writing at the botom say? Made in Czechoslovakia? Good news if it does - likely made at the factory now known as Strunal (STRinged-instruments-of Luby). Sweet bass. Quality student instrument, v good buy....
  9. PaulKing
    Like they all said. There can huge variation in 'standard' 3/4 sized basses, even in the string length, which makes for differences in tension. 7/8 basses have same string length range as 3/4 basses, but bigger body, makes them quite bulky to transport, and heavier, but can lend a boost to the low end when acoustic. You also need a bigger gig bag to get the damn thing into. 4/4 do mainly crop up in classical these days. There's just no need for most band situations. Plus they have longer string length, which increases tension a bit, makes them a tiny bit harder to play.
  10. PaulKing
    [quote name='bassace' post='1243940' date='May 25 2011, 09:51 AM']Interesting that. I bought the Blonde from Peter Tyler. It's quite nice and I use it for, er, the more 'challenging' gigs, like outdoors or gigs that might be a bit rough ([i]moi?[/i]) It has a distinctive triangular profiled neck. Do you know anything about it, Paul?[/quote] No, not that bass. I may have seen it at his place a couple of times. I got the term 'German Blonde' from him, I took a couple that I owned to him for some work (including the B+H I still own, which I believe he restored years ago for someone else) and he called them that, showed me a couple similar that he had in stock. Only thing is, my B+H is Czech of course, and was certainly not blonde originally... but he still called it a 'German Blonde'. What a thoroughly lovely man. With a house full of basses .. 3 floors of them. Poor Mrs Tyler.
  11. PaulKing
    [quote name='bassace' post='1241201' date='May 23 2011, 09:04 AM']Whaaaat? Paul Bryant 3/4 DB Thomas Martin 3/4 Concert DB Upton Professor DB Unknown German Blond Lami DB[/quote] Well you're in a different class from me... Upton Professor ... sweet. There's only one person I know that describes unlabelled blonde laminated basses as 'German Blondes'. Did you buy it from Peter Tyler? Or me?!!
  12. PaulKing
    [quote name='thisnameistaken' post='1239894' date='May 22 2011, 01:29 AM']They are addictive though. I could justify three double basses at least and I don't have a single full-time gig on DB yet.[/quote] Noone in their right mind can justify owning 3 double basses. (cough)
  13. PaulKing
    [quote name='steve' post='1238593' date='May 20 2011, 07:20 PM']shhhhh, I've been watching that! [/quote] £562!!! That is one hell of a good price, for one hell of a good bass. Anyone smiling round here?
  14. PaulKing
    I don't reckon there's much to be gained by learning ebass first. Go for the upright from the outset! There's also a stunning Artia B+H bass on ebay at the moment. I have one, very very good entry level basses. £410 with a day to go. Worth a grand I'd say. [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/size-Double-Bass-Artia-made-Boosey-Hawkes-/300556558297?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Sting_Instruments&hash=item45fa911fd9"]ebay[/url]
  15. PaulKing
    +1 on all that. I used to get mine in a mini. An old one. Scroll in footwell, passenger seat reclined. Not recommended. I've never bought anything but a hatchback in 20 years for the sole reason of carrying around basses. I can get two in the back of my Golf hatchback, easy peasy.
  16. PaulKing
    I cut myself a set of those doug's plugs (sorry doug). I bought a hi density foam kickboard (kids swimming float) and cut it to shape, leaving a small lip around the top surface. Cost me a tenner and a couple hours fidling with a modelling knife. They take 10secs to install, hardly noticeable on stage, reduces feedback massively. I tried making a set like John Slobluesine made, neater design that fixes inside the f-hole with no lip on the outer suirface. Totally invisible, but a right faff to install I found, and you're limited to less dense foam. I've played with big loud Brian Setzer Orchestra type band, raucous guitar, loud drums, no probs. Piezo pickup, Sensible gain staging (pre amp LOW gain, amp LOW gain, HIGH master volume) plus added EQ control and phase switch from the Fishman Pro Plat sorts out most feedback issues for me.
  17. PaulKing
    Sold, sniff.... Framus DB paid for!
  18. PaulKing
    [quote name='Clarky' post='1233620' date='May 16 2011, 08:58 PM']Hi all, I have Silver Slaps on both my DB and my Eminence EUB and love them. I like the woody, plummy tone I can coax from them and especially the low tension. However, I am installing a mag pickup on my DB, as I think this would be a useful fall-back if my piezo is going feedback-crazy in my very noisy 14-piece band. Hence I need a steel-containing string on my DB. I have some Presto Ultralights which are similar to Silver Slaps but not quite as nice IMHO. There's loads of Spirocore love out there but how would a Silver Slaps player like me get on with Spirocore Weich/softs or other softer steel strings such as Velvets or Evah Pirazzis? Do any share any of the characteristics I like so much in Silver Slaps (low tension, soft feel etc)? As you all know, buying DB strings is an expensive exercise and I don't want to make a costly mistake here! Thanks , Clarky :-)[/quote] Hmm, don't think you'll get much closer than Presto Ultralight. Velvet Garbo wor for lots of folk but I found them really clanky and metallic. They're copper too ... does that work for mags? Evahs ... I've never tried. Hows the Rattlin Bone gig? Must get to see you sometime in London, love the sound of that band. We should get together and swap notes sometime too. Paul
  19. PaulKing
    [quote name='GarethFlatlands' post='1230220' date='May 13 2011, 05:53 PM']What would need doing to it in your opinion to make it playable?[/quote] Not much tone wise... It makes a perfectly good sound now, quite a good dark db sound, given the age of the electrics. I was surprised when I tried it out the other week, I hadn't plugged it in for years and years. The body is a bit noisy though, not very dense wood so picks up all finger noise, so you have to play carefully. With the bolt-on upper bout I made to stabilise it that's even worse, cos I just used softwood. To fix the noisy body ... I dunno, some damping under the pickup? Hmm ... maybe I'll try that actually. Physically ... I find it awkward to play. Like all stick basses there's nothing to keep it steady except your left hand, and you kind of need that for other things. So without the upper bout added to hold against your body it's tricky to play. Not impossible, but limits left hand movement. String spacing and arc is pretty authentic db style, though the nut has been hacked a bit so the spacing is a bit uneven there. What makes it harder for me is that I've gone wholesale into low tension high action gut and nylon strings ... which this isn't really geared up for. So to my hands the steel strings (I've taken off the Innovations) feel stiff and cheese-wiry! That makes it hard to be really objective about playability. Overall, I think it is somewhat of a project and mission of love if you want a pro-level stage-ready, performance bass. If you want a historic bit of interesting memorabilia for fun and making music, there's some easy mileage in it.
  20. PaulKing
    I change my mind which is favourite on almost daily basis. Sometimes the Mortone looks stunning... doesn't really do justice this picture. But currently Framus and Kay are favourites. Got sent this page from an old Framus catalogue by Michael off DBC ... certainly looks like my bass on the right, except cutaway version obviously. Nice. ...
  21. PaulKing
    I'm just showing off really, but I have to share my pleasure at having plywood like this knocking about in my house...
  22. PaulKing
    [quote name='headofire' post='1222321' date='May 6 2011, 04:21 PM']Wow... ive got a sunburst one...... i think they only ever made about 50 though theres little way of finding out. I was told it never went into full production. Have you still got it?[/quote] Wow another one! I was told only a handful, perhaps single figures, made first time round, '68. Then a second small run some years later. It ismentioned in a book on Burns somewhere. Yup, it's still by my side. Slideshow, completre with all the shocking disfigurement, [url="http://img853.imageshack.us/slideshow/player.php?id=img853/7515/1304448004f51.smil"]http://img853.imageshack.us/slideshow/play...4448004f51.smil[/url] [url="http://img853.imageshack.us/slideshow/player.php?id=img853/7515/1304448004f51.smil"]here[/url]
  23. PaulKing
    boomp
  24. PaulKing
    [quote name='bob_pickard' post='1203144' date='Apr 18 2011, 06:11 AM']nope no label on mine although there's various scraps of paper, dust and general muck floating about inside - Paul any other definitive marks on your Framus at all?[/quote] Nope. Actually I recently mailed Christian Foyer at the Framus Museum in Germany, even he couldn't be certain. he said it's impossible to tell if the label's gone, as there were other makers doing similar things. All he could say was it certainly LOOKS like a Framus, what with all the edging and stuff, and that Framus was by far the biggest maker ... so chances are very good that it is. An added complication, I'm informed, is that Framus actually commissioned out-of-house luthiers to build basses for them, so many different styles and builds exist. Only notable feature on mine is the engraved number inside the peg box, just above the nut. 990 or 066 ... can't tell which way up. I'm blown away by the power and punch of tone from this bass ... as good as my old carved bass, which was notably powerful and pure. Heavy though.
  25. PaulKing
    [quote name='PaulKing' post='1201023' date='Apr 15 2011, 06:07 PM']Make yer mind up John!! I take it the Kay is doing what it's supposed to now is it? Or are you trying to fund an original K162 import....? )[/quote] And is that why Larry has replaced Jaco again... ?
×
×
  • Create New...