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thisnameistaken

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Everything posted by thisnameistaken

  1. thisnameistaken
    [quote name='Mr. BassmanPT' timestamp='1393636944' post='2382967'] I really thought this one to be an awesome deal (being a carved instrument with curved back for only 3000 euros and all the extras included) [/quote] I just noticed this post you made. Just for reference: I bought a bass new that was carved with a swell back for 1000EUR two years ago. The model was usually 2000EUR but mine was discounted, although I still can't work out why mine was so cheap. It's been my main bass ever since. Don't be swayed too much by the value of a pickup or a set of strings. Strings and pickups are something that you will do a lot of experiments with, and it will cost you a lot of money. That's just the life of a double bass player. I personally don't like the Realist pickup - I have one but it was on my bass for about a week. And I also have a set of spirocore strings I don't use. I have a lot of pickups and strings that I should probably sell.
  2. thisnameistaken
    That grain is pretty spectacular. Mine's a '91 bubinga bodied but doesn't have anything like that wave pattern. I've never seen one like that actually.
  3. thisnameistaken
    [quote name='Clarky' timestamp='1393864322' post='2385194']Velvet strings are a sort of half-way house (copper wound, dark-sounding, low tension) and there are several good brands of gut-alike hybrid strings (eg, Innovation) which have many of the qualities of gut but are easier to maintain[/quote] I don't think Velvet strings really compare with guts at all. They're more like a steel string but darker, like comparing a hi-hat to a big heavy ride cymbal. Velvet Animas are my favourite string so far, they definitely have their own character though and I imagine it's a matter of taste whether they would work for you. They also turn your fingers black when you venture up into areas that you don't usually play that have got an oxide coating forming on them, which is a bit of an arse, and can leave your fingers a bit 'sticky'. Annoying. Maybe with regular cleaning you can stop that building up, but I'm not a regular-cleaning kind of guy. I really love guts but I don't have a gig that would suit them so I had to take them off - the complete lack of sustain made them too specialist for me. That said, the sound is lovely and warm and the steep decay is a big part of that. And it's so easy to swing with guts, everything swings! If I had room for several uprights I would keep one strung with guts just for the occasional blast through some hot band stuff, they're great fun.
  4. thisnameistaken
    I agree with everything that's been said above. And if it's a double bass sound you want then an electric upright won't do it for you. As for amplification any reasonably-transparent bass rig will work, but you may need a specialist DB preamp to bring your pickup or mic's output impedance down to a more sensible value for going into the front of a bass amp, otherwise you just get a horrible weedy sound. A dedicated acoustic preamp also tends to come with features like notch filters and a phase inversion switch designed specifically to help you fight feedback, which is going to be a regular part of your musical life from this point on...
  5. thisnameistaken
    [quote name='Mr. BassmanPT' timestamp='1393683347' post='2383322'] i am back thinking what i should get. this is probably a chinese bass and i would prefer something of quality right from the start. [/quote] Chinese basses are not necessarily bad, I just think that unless this bass sounds very good (and maybe it does sound very good) it doesn't look like especially good value. There's a lot of choice these days for 3000EUR and I think it might be a good idea to look at some more options.
  6. thisnameistaken
    This was my first double bass, It's a 3/4 laminate. The label inside says it was made in Germany by Wilhelm Eberle, which points to it being a '60s Musima factory bass. It's had the neck broken at some point in its past like most basses this age, but that was before I owned it (I've had it for three years) and the neck repair certainly seems secure if a bit ugly. According to the previous owner the repair was done by John Scheerer's in Leeds, which my local luthier described as 'enterprising of them'! There's also a small ding in one of the ribs where the laminate has been caved in. Again it's been there since I've owned the bass and hasn't been a problem. I've included a photo of it. The strings have a 105cm speaking length which is the same as my other 3/4 and seems to be fairly standard, and it's fitted with an adjustable bridge with brass screws, it also has brass geared 'Tyrolean'-style tuners. It's currently strung with Cordes Lambert Gut Twin '47 synthetic strings which are designed for a good old-time slapping sound and they're really very good for that, although they give quite a bit more sustain than real gut when played pizz. If you prefer a more all-round string I've got a set of Innovation Honeys I can put on instead, they sound and feel a lot like Spirocore Weichs. I'll also bung in the bow and gig bag that I got with it. Both are very basic but do the job. Sound wise it's bloody loud, which is why I've been keeping it since I got my other bass - I've been using this one for busking unamplified. I can't post it so it would have to be collected from me in York, or I can drive it somewhere if it's not too far - PM me and we'll see what we can arrange. Cannot include the dog in the sale, sorry. I also can't get him to bloody move when I need to take photos. [attachment=156607:IMG_20140301_140014.jpg] [attachment=156608:IMG_20140301_140030.jpg] [attachment=156609:IMG_20140301_140038.jpg] [attachment=156610:IMG_20140301_140110.jpg] [attachment=156611:IMG_20140301_140126.jpg] [attachment=156612:IMG_20140301_140222.jpg] [attachment=156613:IMG_20140301_140245.jpg] [attachment=156614:IMG_20140301_140325.jpg]
  7. thisnameistaken
    Why aren't the pole pieces anywhere near the strings on that bridge pickup? Looks almost like it should be on a six-string!
  8. thisnameistaken
    The photos are odd. In three of them, there is no adjustable bridge (and in two of these a Realist pickup is fitted). In another photo, there is an adjustable bridge with a Full Circle pickup fitted. So he's selling you an adjustable bridge with a Realist pickup? Make sure this is the case, because it seems from the photos that he hasn't used a combination of Realist + adjustable bridge. It's difficult to say if this is good value. For 2000EUR you could get a very good bass from gedo-musik shipped anywhere in Europe and for another 1000EUR you could have any pickup and strings you wanted, plus a bag, etc. And still have lots of change. You could probably buy a good bass guitar with the change. I would also be surprised if he paid 50EUR to fit a Realist pickup. Anyone can fit a Realist pickup. You just loosen the strings, put it under the foot of the bridge, then tighten the strings again. Done. Does that sound like something you could charge someone 50EUR for?
  9. thisnameistaken
    Shonen Knife are doing some UK dates this year, I've got tickets for the Brudenell in Leeds in May.
  10. thisnameistaken
    [quote name='rogerstodge' timestamp='1393610847' post='2382609'] yes he is and the blockheads drummer, monty? And that bloke who played keys for the style council, Mick summing or other [/quote] Mick Talbot also played keys for Galliano.
  11. thisnameistaken
    [quote name='KingBollock' timestamp='1393536367' post='2381731']Depending on how complicated you want the site to be it doesn't have to be difficult to learn how to do it yourself.[/quote] Don't do that. You'll throw the kitchen sink at it, and it will be a total disaster. Worse than no website at all. Also people expect to get a decent website experience on mobile now, so you either need to know quite a lot about the web and how to make a design work responsively or you need to do the work twice. You wouldn't make your band's amps, don't make your band's website.
  12. thisnameistaken
    [quote name='timbo1978' timestamp='1393532192' post='2381634']She's beautiful. Have you thought of a name yet?[/quote] Do people really do that? I did give one of my basses a jokey name, because it's German and it's a double bass I call it Uberbassenbassen, but it's not like I've decided "Oh it's definitely a Gloria"...
  13. thisnameistaken
    I think I've had a set with those silks but there have been so many sets... Innovation Honeys? Do they have a brass-coloured bar retaining them behind the tailpiece?
  14. thisnameistaken
    I was hoping G4M would have a BB1025 in but they only have budget Yamahas. They do have a good range of Fenders in stock though, and they're literally five minutes away...
  15. thisnameistaken
    [quote name='Skybone' timestamp='1393325162' post='2378636'] EMS in Doncaster always have a good selection of basses in stock, and it's only half an hour away on the train. [/quote] I did consider going down to Electro but according to their website they've only got three 5-strings in at the moment.
  16. thisnameistaken
    My last band (punk/reggae with brass) used to mess around with an arrangement of Sabbath's Iron Man in rehearsals, with trombone and trumpet playing the guitar riff and a dub accompaniment with the guitar mostly doing delay effects, pick slides and so on, and with three part vocal harmonies. It was pretty epic, but we never did it live. [quote name='theyellowcar' timestamp='1393112552' post='2376418'] In my current situation (flying solo) it's always been Let's not Sh*t Ourselves by Bright Eyes. I've never found a situation where this one (9+ minutes) would be 'audience appropriate'. [/quote] Ah go on. I've gone out on the street and busked tunes such as Max Romeo's 'Wet Dream', and Owen and Leon Silvera's classic innuendo fail 'Want Me Cock'. Never had any complaints.
  17. thisnameistaken
    You are showing a very cavalier attitude to karma there. Very refreshing!
  18. thisnameistaken
    [quote name='Bilbo' timestamp='1393170139' post='2376911'] [url="http://s283.photobucket.com/user/bilbo230763/media/RobandOsian_zpsec64afa3.jpg.html"][/url] [/quote] No beard, no Bilbo. Don't send any more pictures of your dep, whoever the hell he is.
  19. thisnameistaken
    Remember to close your browser when you're done!
  20. thisnameistaken
    [quote name='andydye' timestamp='1393268558' post='2378066'] Manchester Bass Lounge is easy to find and surprisingly well stocked for an independent place! Drew is a good guy too [/quote] Shame you have to book an appointment. They do have a Sandberg 5 though.
  21. thisnameistaken
    I don't like Jazzes with no pickguards though. I know some people think cosmetic stuff doesn't matter but I'm the one who's got to wear it.
  22. thisnameistaken
    I live in York and I'm thinking about getting a decent 5-string. Options I'm considering so far are a BB1025x, a Jazz deluxe V or a Sandberg VM or TM5. But where can I go to actually play them? There's a PMT in Leeds, which may or may not have a Yamaha in stock but won't have the Fender or any Sandbergs. And that's all I can think of. Any other places I could visit?
  23. thisnameistaken
    I've got a bypass loop Red Onion made and it looks very much like that one.
  24. thisnameistaken
    I should add I stayed with that band until they found a replacement, and had all my parts recorded so the new bassist could pick them up quickly. The new player does struggle with a couple of them though, which is always nice to know. :-)
  25. thisnameistaken
    Nice!
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