Marc S

There seemed to be similar rumours about a year ago Thanks for that link Muppet - looks like all is OK Long live Denmark Street

Welcome to BC, and moreover, welcome back to the world of bass I too had a long abstinence from bass playing... mine was over 20 years! That would definitely beat you in a game of "Missing from bass top trumps" It's never too late to start again. I try not to compare myself with other players Or at least if I do, I try not to think of them as "better than me" - they often are, but I like to sit, watch, listen & learn from better players I saw someone play at an open mic recently, and thought he was great - but after I played... he complimented me before I could compliment him lol - then he bemoaned his own skills, wishing he could do this or that... So maybe, as bass players, many of us are perhaps our own worst critics? In any case, the most important thing is just to enjoy playing bass, and enjoy taking part in music I was in Cambridge recently, as I am every year for the folk festival - love the festival, but never manage to tear myself away from it and get into the town centre PS. I'm guessing, like me, you are old enough to remember Top Trumps?

[quote name='The Jaywalker' timestamp='1504918278' post='3368354'] Nope. Spiro Weichs have the same spiral rope core as the mittels. Not a synthetic core at all. [/quote] Errr... can you tell me exactly what components are used in the rope core? Rope can of course, be made of several components, and often several quite different materials - several of them synthetic... I was using the loosest meaning of the word "synthetic" in order to demonstrate that the core material of Spirocore Weich strings are a different material to the outer metal windings As such pedantries can deviate the topic from the OP's original question, and cloud important issues, I would like to repeat my point that Spirocore Weichs are a low tension option (whatever exact materials constitute the core)

[quote name='bassace' timestamp='1504962837' post='3368591'] ....Incidentally, before you slacken the strings you can wedge a piece of wood, cut accurately to size, between the underside of the fingerboard overstand and the table. That will maintain pressure on the sondpost and guarantee it'll be kept in place. Put a piece of cloth between the wedge and the table to protect it from scratches. I learnt that little trick from Gearge Martin.... [/quote] Useful tip there bassace

[quote name='The Jaywalker' timestamp='1505049624' post='3369108'] Ah! Gotcha. That's not at the extreme end. Still wouldnt recommend or consider the wooden shims route myself. Not standard luthiery practice for a reason, i guess. Realist pickups allegedly fit to the bridge foot perfectly as well, but folks end up using heavier string guages at the pickup side to compensate for the resultant uneven response, or taking their bass to a luthier for adjustment without realising the pickup is the problem. Don't get me wrong, i'm not saying shims arent "feasible" - but it's not the optimal way to do things...... [/quote] It wasn't being suggested as "optimal" in the first place I was merely talking over different options for differing playing styles, for a beginner to consider... As you may have missed from my original post - I was suggesting that when sending a DB to a luthier for the first time, he may wish to think about getting an adjustable bridge fitted - partly to learn about, appreciate and experience different string heights especially since at this stage, he may also wish to be trying different string gauges.... EDIT: Here's the youtube video. If you have any interest in slap DB at all, Pete is an excellent teacher. It was this video that started me on the road to slapping I'd watched several other videos, and not quite got the mechanics of it until I saw several of Pete's videos. I know a couple of guys who've met him, and they couldn't get over what a great guy he is Like his style of playing & teaching too - but that's a strange (and likeable) accent he has - a sort of English / Canadian hybrid https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SriEOjsDCo

[quote name='The Jaywalker' timestamp='1504918582' post='3368356'] This isnt really a good idea. If the bridge is correctly fitted then the feet have been hand finished to match the contour of the table for maximum contact. Put wooden shims under there and the sound is compromised, as is the potential stability of the bridge. [/quote] Well then tell Pete Turland! As I had already mentioned - he was suggesting it as a simple, inexpensive method for swapping between string types and gauges.... He states that he knows several famous players who employ this practice, and I'm sure such an experienced professional DB player wouldn't recommend it if he didn't think it was acceptable he was after all voted as being among the top 10 rockabilly DB players of all time.....

Hello from your old haunt of South Wales... I used to go out with a girl who lived in Headington (many years back) So I spent many weekends in Oxford & Oxfordshire Definitely buy yourself a bass - spend just a bit less time pc gaming, And learn some bass.... its fun. Get yourself a good starter bass. These days, value for money basses are more numerous these days Go in to a music shop and try as many as you can. See what feels more comfortable to play Keep your eye on the marketplace here too - buying used can save you money, Buy you a better bass for your budget, and you can usually trust BC members Good luck and welcome

From memory, Spirocore Weichs have purple binding - but you say they feel high tension... There's a string identifier thread on here.... [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/209121-string-identifier/page__hl__string%20identifier"]http://basschat.co.u...ng%20identifier[/url] Might be of help.... but I think there are a few others who have discussed this on different threads too....

I'm amazed at how such things vary. But Fender necks will vary in different eras, and certainly from factory to factory... Was the Squier a China made one? And from which factory? The Matt Freeman sig P, the Classic vibe range were all made in the same factory, which was a different one to the China made Affinity series (and that range changed factories too!) Of course, the super slim Jazz neck may well have a chunkier heel than the standard Jazz neck too.... As Lozz suggests, you could get a luthier to trim the heel of the neck a little. But bear in mind that you may not want to keep either bass for ever - so you may end up wanting to swap back? Of course, a shim in the neck pocket would then remedy that.... and you may need that to make your P neck fit your Jazz body properly... How well did that fit? Was it solve-able by adjusting the bridge saddles alone? Another solution might be for you to think about a more solid, chunky bridge than the standard Squier / Fender BBOT.... A chunkier bridge, on a thicker plate, with sufficient height adjustment may do the job? Has anyone else found a suitable bridge? I put a replacement neck on an old 70's / 80's Matsumoko bass some time back. The replacement neck was a chunky P neck - but the heel wasn't deep enough So I had the reverse problem to yours - I had to put a shim into the neck pocket. It was simple enough, and worked a treat! Lovely bass too, with great sound Wish I'd kept that one Good luck, and let us know what you decide on

PPS. A little off topic - but a useful tip from Rockabilly DB player Pete Turland; For those who want to swap between playing slap and Jazz style - if you don't have an adjustable bridge Pete says he's seen players place small, thin wooden blocks underneath the bridge feet - to raise the action for slapping, then take them out again when you have a Jazz gig... I'd add to this - Obviously, lay the bass on its' back and gradually lower the tension of the strings, again to prevent a sound-post disaster...

When you start playing double bass, the string options are mind blowing compared to bass guitar! As I started playing DB only a few years back - I recall my DB strings seemed incredibly high tension! There are several options for lower tension strings. Spirocore Weichs are low tension for a metal string (because they have a synthetic core) Innovation also do a synthetic core, steel outer type string; Innovation Honeys Which are also quite low tension (but slightly higher tension than Silver Slaps). It all depends on your style of play, and how you want to develop, for instance, do you want a more aggressive finger style, or a softer style, do you want to slap? Will you want to bow at some point? Innovation Silver & Gold slaps are definitely lower tension than traditional type DB strings. I have a set on my DB. I went through a phase of wanting to learn slap stlye - so I started out with some synthetic Weedwakers, kindly donated by Beedster of this parish Though the weedwakers are very low tension (I mean very low!) they were great to start learning to slap - but they kept stretching & stretching, and the E string was too flabby and ill defined... still, they did their job and started me on the road to where I wanted to be.... Re my last point - you may find your stlye adapts & "grows" - so if you're going to take your DB to a luthier, it may be a good opportunity to get him / her to fit an adjustable bridge. I have one on my DB (and my EUB) and they are a god-send. As you develop your style of playing and build up the strength in your fingers - so you may want to adjust the height of your action. It's easy with an adjustable bridge, and also useful if / when you want to try other string types - which always seem to be very different gauges! It might seem expensive now - but you will find it pays in future, as you can set up the bridge to your own hight requirements in future.... Perhaps the action was set fairly high, as the last owner played slap / rockabilly style? But what might seem a high action to a Bass Guitar player, may not seem high to a DB player... In any case - a word of caution as you're new to DB - but take care when changing DB strings yourself! - You must lay the bass on its' back, or the sound-post will fall over You really don't want that, as it takes a special tool to stand it up again, and getting it in the "right" spot can be tricky if you don't know what you're doing... I tend to also change only one string at a time, to prevent the sound-post falling... PS. I really like Silver Slaps. They feel a nice tension and I find them among the easiest strings on your fingers. They're not so low tension as to sound flabby - indeed, I think they sound great. Some have commented that they sound quite a lot like gut strings - but I couldn't say that for sure myself, as I've not played a DB with gut strings. Only thing, Silver Slaps don't bow well at all Best of luck in your exciting journey - I love DB, and so glad I took that first step

Definitely £50 well spent - bargain IMO. Happy NGD

Yes, Chowny are also doing the short scale Scott Whitely basses too. I don't know whether it's a "take over" as such - but perhaps the 3 small companies have decided to become one, larger company? It would probably make more sense when it comes to manufacturing / ordering numbers of instruments from the factory where they're made I've yet to play a Chowny or a Retrovibe. Folk who own Chowny basses seem to rate them quite highly..... I'd like to hear what people think of Retrovibe basses though - some of their models look really good I was quite tempted by the look of their earlier Rick-like bass, and sorely tempted by their Super-P bass, in sunburst...

[quote name='Monkey Steve' timestamp='1504797851' post='3367418'] my cat, Slaine, loves it when I play acoustic guitar. i have a photo somewhere of him as a kitten standing on the guitar picking at the strings. Does like the bass, if not as much as the acoustic, but loves it when i change the strings as that gives him something metal, shiny and dangling in front of him that clearly must be played with...... [/quote] Yes, my siamese cat, Nellie loves it when I change bass or guitar strings too - I suspect that many cat-owning BC members would confirm that their feline companion likes a nice shiny guitar string

[quote name='LewisK1975' timestamp='1504777541' post='3367211'] And here's what my Harley Benton PB50 might look modified, like if was clever enough. [attachment=253064:HB PB50 mod.JPG] [/quote] Now you're talking! ... and I'm listening

I too have a Siamese cat, plus a tabby moggie The Siamese is just such a different breed. She's absolutely in your face, as often as she can be Loves a lap, hates it when I've got a bass on my lap, because she wants that lap! But she also loves a jam evening, when other musicians pop around - because she loves a well-padded gigbag but even better, she prefers a fur lined fiddle case or guitar case. She also doesn't mind the sound of live music in the house our moggie runs a mile when anyone plays an instrument - esp the violin. But oddly enough, even she doesn't mind the sound of my DB

[quote name='LewisK1975' timestamp='1504772156' post='3367139'] Just discovered this thread. That's officially the rest of my working day gone. [/quote] Me too Lewis - and that's YOUR fault! lol

I think an ebay seller can withdraw an item at any time.... before it sells on ebay But withdrawing after someone has won it is not fair to the buyer. Quite what ebay's rules are, I'm not sure Perhaps the penalty the seller pays, is that he / she gets charged for the ad, as if it has sold? I'd definitely look in to opening a case.......