chrkelly

Those Pelican cases look like they'd work brilliantly, however there's something about putting your bass in a weapons case that just screams 'open me' to a customs official.

Definitely slacken the strings. A mate of mine had a 60s Gibson hollowbody that had its neck pulled off by the tension of freezing cold strings! Some baggage compartments are climate controlled, some aren't. You should be fine using a Hiscox however if you're going to be touring a lot, put up with the extra weight and get a proper flightcase. After 10 flights the Hiscox will have a few holes in it. Baggage handlers don't like instruments. On my last tour I watched some idiot drop my double bass off the belt and onto the tarmac from the plane window. Also, NEVER EVER lock your case. If a customs official wants to inspect the contents of your case and it's locked, they will break it open. There's a ridiculous horror story about when someone wanted to inspect a locked double bass case. They took a crowbar to the flightcase. Took the bass out of the gigbag and then opened the bass with the crowbar! Can you tell I despise flying with instruments? Never once had a problem flying within Europe though.

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The removable neck Eminance bass sounds just like a real double amplified. Ridicuously portable however I'm not sure how stable the instrument would be taking out the neck and bridge all the time. I was really impressed though when I tried one. I think thomann have a few at reasonable prices. [url="http://www.gelbass.com/"]http://www.gelbass.com/[/url]

The Corelli's are very nice. A really good hybrid string. They feel quite different to other similar strings. Loads of attack on the front on each note for pizz (more so than spiros), big sustain and loads of focus but they tend to choke a bit when played really hard. Easier to bow than spiros but I dont like them in an orchestral setting as they're very bright. Have changed them for a set of original flexocors at the mo for an orchestral tour. Overall a nice alternative to the hybrid competition and very good value for money.

There are two types - sticky and powder Sticky (nymans, carlson, pops etc) is the most used. Gets the string vibrating instantly, good grip, more volume(?) Powder (artcraft no.6, violin rosin etc) requires better technique but bow changes are less scratchy and gives an overall smoother sound. It's all down to personal peferance though most people I know use Nymans or Pops.

Definitely depends on the playing situation. In jazz/rock etc a good player should be able to get a very similar sound out of different basses due to their technique (provided the bass is decently set up and can vibrate freely). I like playing plywood basses in very loud situations because they don't vibrate so much and feedback is much harder to get. Unless in the unlikely event that you find a Fendt in a junk shop for £50, the orchestral world is completely different and you will struggle to find a suitable bass with massive strong fundamental for less than 10 grand. You can of course still use a lesser bass but you won't blend into the section as well. When I'm gigging back in Ireland I usually borrow a massive old Italian flatback from one of the Ulster orchestra guys. It's worth a fortune and sounds incredible in the orchestra, but in an amplified situation, i'd imagine it would sound awful because it vibrates so freely and its acoustic sound is so huge and boomy.

Put the Corelli 370TX on this morning and have thrashed them for a good few hours. These things have tonnes of sustain! Brilliant modern pizz sound although a tad too bright but that's only cause they're brand new. They feel very similar in tension and gauge to spiro orchestras and sound very loud on my bass. I can't really speak about them any more until they've properly settled after a few weeks, but I can tell I'm going to like them. A bargain for £70

Also, forgot to mention Daddario Helicore hybrids. £78 from Thomann. They get good reviews and I've heard that Larry Grenadier and Christian McBride use them.

Usually in my experience, it works out a lot cheaper buying from the States (even if you get stung for import taxes!). The best mail order shops are www.lemurmusic.com and www.urbbob.com. Also, Thomann does good prices for the Austrian brands, Pirastro and Thomastik. What music are you playing and what type of sound are you aiming for? Spiros have long been the standard jazz string, tonnes of sustain and they have a good amplified sound. They also work reasonably well on the A and E on dark basses for orchestral playing. I quite like really old ones that have mellowed a bit. Either go for the Weich or standard gauge. The starks are too heavy for my tastes A mate of mine has the innovation silver slaps. Old school gut sound. Really low tension and massive gauge. They feel very strange under the left hand. Completely unbowable. Pirastro Obligatos are also a good choice but you'd be lucky to get a year out of them. OK for the bow, loads of growl for pizz and more organic sounding than the spiros. I'm just about to put on a set of Corelli 370TX. Cost me just under £70 from the US. I borrowed a bass recently with a set on and they sounded great. All the growl of spiros and then some. Very nice with the bow too. Strings that work for some basses will not work fo others though. You may well spend your life experimenting with different combinations to find the perfect match! I still haven't found one I'm perfectly happy with.