Clarky

Hey WoT, most people who play Baby Basses (which all sound pretty similar, as they are based on the same diaphragm pickup as used on the Ampeg BB in the 60s) are Latin/salsa/Cuban stylee so they boost the bass and cut the highs and go for thump Like this [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4muZLFlUR0[/media] and here's me! [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nIN3XpZWlFE[/media] Difference is I have installed a bridge wing piezo on mine as I find it gets closer to a 'real' DB sound

The smaller bodied model is about £750 +/- depending on strings and gig-bag - see eBay listing http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Electric-Upright-Bass-Baby-Bass-/281173407853 The bigger bodied Vintage model (like Harry's) runs to £900-odd

Those are the same strings as on your and my Baby basses, Jack. Check the orange windings. Presto Nylonwound Ultralights

Excellent news Harry. Yes, Kris is a real dedicated advocate for his instruments, really cares and gave a very instructive talk at the recent BassBash. I think the KK Baby bass is an exceptional value for money product (for the price of a mass produced Mexican roadworn Fender you get all this, with luxury gigbag). Nice one matey, and I like the vintage look of your one a lot

you wouldn't understand Jack. I have three

I am far too lazy to have to re-tune my bass every time I pick it up (especially as often I only get a few minutes a day) so - much as I think Olivs have the nicest tone of any string I've played - I have tonight gone back to the old stalwarts, Spirocore Mittels. They sound good, hold their tuning well and last for years. I did recently have some Velvet Blues on my bass for a week or so's try-out, and these have a nice slightly guttier/darker tone (albeit brighter than the Animas and Garbos I have tried). I also tried some Presto Nylon LIghts this week, but they were a bit too dark sounding and 'clunky' feeling. So this evening I re-installed my set of Spiros in one of those I-feel-like-swapping-my-strings-over moments and very quickly was reminded why Spiros are such an industry standard. Think I am going to stick with Spiros and keep the Velvet Blues in reserve in case I need something darker sounding at some point (plus they are very quickly installed, with their unusual string-type endings, so can sit in my gig-bag just in case I break a string - which may happen on the twelfth of never )

Me again! This time a trade for Jas' luverly light Mike Lull P bass. All good, but then you knew that already

[quote name='bassace' timestamp='1381930834' post='2245636'] a la Clarky ( actually gender fail; should it be aux Clarky?) [/quote] Depends on my mood and on what clothes Mrs C has left lying around

re VT Bass, I am not sure although I know some DB'ers use the Sansamp Para Driver so must be a good chance it works

[indent=1]You could do that (shave it). I didn't as its very thin and made no appreciable difference to playability. Re: preamp, I'm not sure as at that time I had a piezo-friendly amp (Acoustic Image). I guess a simple tuning pedal in the chain might buffer it if it sounded piezo/nasal through your amp?[/indent]

Its perfectly fine to use a shim, be it a thin piece of card or paper. All you need to do is ensure the element is solidly seated in the bridge wing, the vibration of the strings does the rest sound-wise

check out this old thread. I had the same bass and used a K&K floating bridge pickup. Only thing is it was prone to feedback at higher volume. Sounded great at low volume though http://basschat.co.uk/topic/200373-best-pickup-for-acoustic-no-double-bass/page__p__1989351__hl__k__fromsearch__1#entry1989351

No chance. More than 10 available

Carrying on the Alembic theme, I fancy a Brown bass or Stanley Clarke ... but would have to weigh under 10 pounds given my dodgy back