ubassman

Thomanns have always had exceptional customer service and I bought a new [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/198335-ortega-r-lizard-an-alternative-to-the-u-bass/"]Ortega R-Lizard.[/url] from them. It had a couple of manufacturing issues and they took it back with no hesitation and even paid for postage back to Germany.

I love Ibanez necks and the balanced weight of the instrument - they are so playable. A lot depends upon your style that you play but for me getting around quickly is important and the thing I like about Ibanez basses is that there is minimal neck dip. I play a lot sitting down in orchestra pits and its important to me to not have to support the instrument with my left hand. So, when comparing basses I always do a little test . Have a go next time you are in the shop at putting each bass on your knee and start playing. If you raise then both hands up in the air the Ibanez pretty much will stay in its balanced position. The yamaha I imagine ( like so many other basses ) will be neck heavy and will need to be supported with the left hand when you play. This inhibits movement unless you wear a strap to try to correct that but essentially I have always loved Ibanez for the feel of the neck but also the balance. I play an Ibanez BTB670 and it has a big bottom end ! I don't know about the Yamaha - it may be exceptionally well balanced too and if you play standing up all the time then it may not be so important to you? Good luck with it !

Have PM'd you

[quote name='Bloodaxe' timestamp='1370380422' post='2100154'] Incidentally, this clip featuring one of his patients seems to contradict Dr. Kertz's assertion: [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LyuDyWc09G8[/media] Note two things… Lemmy's thumb is nearly always visible, but (crucially) there's an almost straight line from his elbow through his wrist that suggests he's rather more relaxed than the pace of the tune might suggest. Pete. [/quote] ...I think it agrees with Dr Kertz - the thumb isn't out in the "hitch hikers" position

I was thinking that with DB theres a natural drum , deep bass sound and then yes the thumb position for the treble melody line.

[quote name='Coilte' timestamp='1370377918' post='2100098'] No, I have not read the book, so have no idea of the explanation given as to why he endorses this technique. On the subject of famous bassists and where they place (and dont..) their thumb. Here is one who could be considered famous, and who was playing bass when the likes of Wooten was still in nappies. Take a look at his fretting hand thumb. Decades of playing this way does not seem to have done him any harm. Another famous bassist, a certain Mr Jack Bruce also has a similar technique. [/quote] His explanation is based on biomechanics and over 20 years of treating bassists in the hope that he will eventually do himself out of a job ! He is pretty passionate about helping the bassist community of which he is one and I don't think the book is published as a way to cause pain or inflict injury on us lot! There are probably no absolutes as we are all different shapes and sizes . All we can ever talk about is our personal experience. I have played with thumb behind 2nd finger for 40 years and never had an injury - works for me playing fast jazz passages as well as double bass in the orchestra where i have to move quickly.

[quote name='Bloodaxe' timestamp='1370374837' post='2100016'] There's no law that says you have to keep your left hand in a fixed position. As the neck's geometry changes throughout its length, so should your hand's. [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRkSsapYYsA[/media] [/quote] Agreed ..interesting vid and +1 on the idea of finding neutral position - I reckon its probably different for everyone because the arm has 3 pivots the shoulder, elbow and wrist and all the bones are different lengths . I can get into my comfortable neutral position with my thumb behind second finger low down by simply adjusting my arm into a natural curve which comes in at maybe 75 degrees to the neck. Personally I keep my thumb in the same orientation to the fingers as the hand just glides up and down without ever needing to change shape - works for me but completely respect that others have different techniques and ideas.

The video is interesting and the guy is right in that the low cocked wrist he demonstrats is asking for problems ( ...but good luck if you play with a high elbow like that )! The more technically advanced players out there will generally keep the elbow low, and the instrument hung higher as it straightens out the wrist and as a general rule of thumb (- no pun intended !) the thumb should always be behind the middle finger so that the muscle at the bass of the thumb is not stretched and the fingers can move freely. To explain what I mean try playing 'air bass' wiggling your fingers as fast as you can with the thumb pointing horizontally towards the headstock. Try again with the thumb pointing vertically upwards - should be much faster that way !

[quote name='Coilte' timestamp='1370370284' post='2099897'] In picture #2, the thumb is behind the middle finger. This causes a narrowing of the carpel tunnel, through which the tendons pass. With the tunnel being narrowed like this, the tendons will rub against it, rather than gliding smoothly through it. Over time this can lead to injury problems. The best thing is to simply let the thumb naturally go where it needs or wants to. [/quote] ...dont know if you have read [url="http://www.drkertz.com/bassistguide.html"]The bassist's Guide to Injury Management , Prevention and Better Health[/url] - it not, its well worth the investment . The book is by Dr Randall Kertz D.C. a chiropractic physician and also a bassist. Chapter 2 deals with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome amongst other bassist related injuries and problems . It then goes on to explain what you need to do to avoid injury . At Chapter 3 - page 38 to be precise you'll see a photo almost identical to 2 and an explanation as to why the thumb behind the middle finger is the best way to avoid injury!! Its what I have always been taught as a trained classical guitarist and double bassist ( and electric bassist ) and so squares comfortably with personal experience. With authoritative testimonials from Victor Wooten, Steve Bailey, Lemmy , Pino Palladino, Esperanza Spalding ( to name but a few - Dr Kertz has treated them all ) - its an essential read. [b]"How injury occurs and how to minimise it is always an interesting subject to me. Thats why I love the idea of this book and am honoured to be part of it. Thank you Dr Kertz" [/b]- Victor Wooten

[quote name='Jimryan' timestamp='1370362057' post='2099736'] As far as I'm aware it didn't make glastonbudget. The quickest way to contact BB Blackdog is through either his or his band's Facebook page, I'll PM the links when I get home. [/quote] Thanks Jim and Neil - have sent Dale a message via his FB page. Hope that does the trick !

Is it too late to start a photo gallery of the bass on its travels?

...yes but those silver painted fingernails and fluorescent pink shoes are a bit scary for us timid types !

[quote name='fatgoogle' timestamp='1370364070' post='2099766'] Yep orange belcanto's. there not great for pizz for I've found the perfectly useable on gigs except for the e. my jazz pizz is a mixture of classical and jazz. Sort of a downward motion that works well with the a, d and g. Very excited going to the contrabass ago on Thursday. [/quote] ...should that be the Contrabass Shoppe ?? !! If you are going up North and are near Nottingham try out Turner Violins - they have a great selection of Frenchies. Any chance you could take some photos of you Belcantos and add to this reference? Peter

too good an opportunity to miss if its still in Derbyshire?

anyone know how to contact BBblackdog?

Because the E string is much thicker, when it gets vibrating it needs its more space than the other strings . The idea of Romberg bevel is to make string crossing easier especially with an underhand grip with of a German bow . Removing some wood to the fingerboard from under the string with the bevel means that the bridge doesn't need to be as curved which keeps the bow angle and the arm just that bit further out from the body on a down bow!

Renaud Garcia Fons has a hugely long end pin - very cello like ..he plays to one side but with the laborie end pin he is able to get maximum reach in the upper register. In complete contrast , I had the privilege of watching Paul Ellison at the Royal College the other week and nearly all the soloists were more square on but had traditional low end pins ! I figure that as everybody's anatomy is different , as are basses, that its a case of figuring out what works specifically for each an everyone one of us !

110% no brainer - no 2 !! ( 1 is going to limit your ability to play fast, clear notes, and is a guaranteed way to get a strain injury ! )

Couple of things spring to mind ...sounds like it might be postural. It could be that your need to experiment with the height of the end pin. As a rule of thumb if you extend both hands either side of the fingerboard the first and second joint of the index fingers you should be able to reach between the bridge and the end of the fingerboard. It means the when you bow with your right hand your hand will be in the right zone and that for the left hand it can reach beyond the fingerboard to hit all those nice little harmonics ! Do you play with the bass at an angle or square on cello style? If its the first then that you maybe are having to reach too far ...effectively playing in line with your right hip rather than in line with the belly button i.e. your left arm may be foreshortened . To explain what I mean ...if your put both arms out in front they are equal ...if you then form an arc and move your right arm through 90 degrees out to the side and let your left follow it will end up near your right shoulder). The more you play to the right the shorter the left arm will reach. Squaring the bass more up like this ( see below - if you normally play to one side ), should put everything within easy reach ! Hope this helps !

...I know DB is an expensive thing ...but moving flat is the ultimate sacrifice !!

The man himself ....plyaing [url="http://youtu.be/pY8XNztzfWY"]Why not Brazilian[/url] on a looper ! [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pY8XNztzfWY[/media]

...are you looking to sell off the equipment now or still looking to find someone to take over the studio?

[quote name='lojo' timestamp='1367156101' post='2061826'] Picked up a Fender 3/4 classical educational guitar in local shop for £63 with gig bag Bottom 3 strings are wrapped in steel , g,b,e are nylon [/quote] ...Nylon, every day of the week ! So , good choice !

Maybe what you need to do is find a bass that need the bass bar replacing - and then ask a luthier to put it on the wrong side ! ...[url="http://http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Plywood-Double-Bass-German-Needs-TLC-/111088750445?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Sting_Instruments&hash=item19dd67cf6d"]theres one on e-bay[/url] at the moment ( but be warned it could be a good £300 to get the bass bar redone) and theres lots that needs doing to this particular instrument ...but it gives you an idea !