thisnameistaken

[quote name='citymariner' timestamp='1336392731' post='1644826']I'm after adding the DB to my arsenal of instruments (guitars/ BG/ drums etc.) and have a few questions. Firstly, where am I going to use it? I'm in a rock/pop covers band at the moment but the DB could really add a twist on stuff. Love a bit of jazz/ blues etc.[/quote] Well, for a start bear in mind that the DB is a pretty physical instrument to play - you will get fatigued quickly if you don't practise regularly, and your intonation will be poor too. So you do need to commit quite a bit of time to it if you want to get satisfying results. You might not find a use for it in your current covers band. I got one just because I wanted one but I've ended up using it for busking (certainly more practical unamplified than an acoustic bass guitar, it can keep up with a dreadnought acoustic guitar), recording, and I'm currently looking for a full-time gig on it. It didn't get any time in my band when I bought it - punk/reggae originals. [quote name='citymariner' timestamp='1336392731' post='1644826']Do I go for a 3/4 or 4/4? I understand there are different shapes too.[/quote] 3/4 is the closest to a standard size for an adult that you will find, get a 3/4 if you're in any doubt. Don't worry about the shape. [quote name='citymariner' timestamp='1336392731' post='1644826']I've seen on gear4music and Thomann that for under £500 you could get DB, case, pup - is this too good to be true? That is round about my starting budget.[/quote] I think Gareth's suggestion of the Thomann 22 is probably the best budget bass you can buy new, if you can afford another few hundred quid. Other than that it's really a matter of watching the used market and pouncing on something. [quote name='citymariner' timestamp='1336392731' post='1644826']I understand[b] that cheaper (read poorer quality) instruments (in general) don't have the sustain/ 'voice' etc. that a expensive (read higher quality) instrument has[/b] however I am not going to be in the position of being a session DB player in the studio. So, do I really need that level of quality when it probably isn't going to be heard?[/quote] The main issue in my experience is that the sound of cheaper ply basses (not much sustain, and a very bassy tone) make it more difficult to get your intonation right, so they can be a bit frustrating for beginners. Especially on stage with other musicians it can be surprisingly difficult to play in tune. So that's the main reason I would say spend a bit more and get a bass with a more open sound.

Isn't chiropractic treatment basically a lot of - Needless use of bad language removed -? Aren't they the ones who reckon they can fix cancer by poking you in the back of the neck?

[quote name='Ou7shined' timestamp='1336300796' post='1643641'] Hmmm I qiute like that... think I'll build me one. [/quote] I've got a six year old nephew if you need someone to shape the body for you.

I'd heard he had cancer a couple of years back and they'd cancelled a bunch of shows and the planned album release but then they released Hot Sauce Committee Pt. 2 last summer I assumed he had recovered from it. Massive kick in the nuts to hear it killed him. I don't normally do 'celebrity' mourning but this guy influenced what I did before I even realised he was a bass player. Then the first effects I bought for my bass were because I'd heard Beastie Boys do it, and the first double bass I bought was because I heard Beastie Boys do it. Really sad.

Massive influence on me. What a sh*t week. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-17963855

What a guy. Me and a guitarist friend go out busking those old '60s ska and rocksteady tunes, great fun to play and sing and people love hearing them. RIP Mr Brevett.

[quote name='Dave Vader' timestamp='1336125056' post='1641184'] heh, I genuinely did all over my first flat 15 years ago, screwdriver bashed into the wall with the flat of a pair of pliers to put shelves up. Worked mind you, but not recommended. [/quote] I once routed network cable from downstairs to upstairs using a roast fork, a knife steel and a corkscrew. Then I fitted the plug using a cigarette lighter and a pair of tweezers. I told this to the man who came to inspect my boiler later that day and he gave me a screwdriver. Which I then used to open a carton of milk.

Buy used - if it's not for you, sell it again. It's a very rewarding instrument to play, chances are you'll be hooked. DB's a very different instrument to play. Musically of course you won't have to learn anything because it fulfils the same role, but physically it's a very different approach to bass guitar. A couple of hours with a good teacher will put you on the right track, then it's just a matter of being disciplined for the first few months and sticking to what you've been taught, and gradually building up your ability from there. Don't be tempted to try to translate your BG repertoire to DB because you will just be disappointed and you might hurt your wrists in the process.

The one in the Line 6 M-series pedals doesn't do an octave up. There's a pitch shifter that does, but not an octaver. The Whammy is also a pitch shifter, it sounds nothing like an octaver.

Get good monitoring happening. The hardest thing about gigging a double bass is not being able to hear yourself - it can cause a lot of stress worrying about intonation and so on. If you can hear what you're playing then you'll be fine. Have fun.

[quote name='bob_pickard' timestamp='1336044037' post='1639880']these get a good rap - I seem to remember Bilbo picked one up a while back... [url="http://www.gedo-musik.de/shop/category.php?id_category=51"]http://www.gedo-musi...?id_category=51[/url][/quote] I had been browsing their site but thanks for posting that link - they had a scratched bass for sale at half price, which is now MINE! It's not exactly what I was looking for; it's fully carved and it's got violin corners, but it looks pretty sweet anyway. [quote name='essexbasscat' timestamp='1336044415' post='1639890']There's an EUB up for sale here around £1400 if that's any help ?[/quote] Oh no I wanted an acoustic bass, I've no use for an EUB really.

I've seen The Beat a couple of times last year (opened for them at one gig) and they have got a great band at the moment, really killer.

Play the same groove at several different tempos, not necessarily quickly but definitely including excruciatingly slowly. Give them a groove to play then ask them to play one less note. Repeat. I actually do this to myself when working on new songs with bands, partly to give myself new ideas and partly to remind myself how good a rest can sound.

[quote name='Clarky' timestamp='1335739931' post='1635399'] Here's some quite breathtaking music from Danny and the late John Martyn - makes me swell up ...[/quote] Did you mean [i]'well'[/i] up?

Five strings are handy - the lower notes are useful and the B string itself has an interesting sound to it. Six strings can also be handy because it means you don't have to change hand positions so much when you're playing too many notes and annoying everybody else in your band. When you've annoyed them enough with the 6-string and they've fired you, that's when the 7 (or more) -string bass really shines: You can use it to upload videos of yourself in your bedroom two-handed tapping pieces of music that would sound much nicer on a piano.

Yeah I saw that this morning, good timing on the ad but there's something about those Stentors I don't like the look of, I think it's the super-sloping shoulders.