Staggering on

You will have loads of fun.I play bass guitar but about 2 years ago I got a Stagg EUB and loved learning a whole new instrument.Less than a year later I upgraded to a used Yamaha SLB200 and it is even more fun than the Stagg.I play in a jazz standards quartet and now use the Yamaha on almost every song and I just love it and so do the others in the band.I toyed with the idea of a double bass but the EUB is easy to fit in a car and my house and is basically a plug and play instrument. Good luck and let us know how it works out for you.

What type of music are you planning to play?That will have a lot to do with the type of string and the gauge you choose and I don't think anyone has mentioned this yet but it would seem to be the first thing to consider.This will also affect how you set up your bass. Ooops,just got the posting re your string purchase before I could send this,sounds like a reasonable choice though. Have fun.

[quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1479634181' post='3177905'] Wow! And people say that old-fashioned courtesy is dead. Mind you, they also say that all Canadians are really nice people, so what do they know? Just what Basschat needed just now, a gold-plated Troll on the run from the Mounties. [/quote] I came home late last night and just found this thread as I was having my Sunday AM coffee(It's 7:50 AM here) and I am a bit embarrassed to admit that I am Canadian after reading the nasty stuff from Canada.I would say "most" Canadians are really nice people Jack( Happy Jack), but like everything else there are exceptions and it seems we have found one.I will stay out of the discussion partly because I don't know the facts(like all of us actually) and also because I don't think this thing needs more fuel for the fire. I will go for a walk in the snow that is falling this morning and then head off to play at a rehearsal and try to forget the nastiness of some fellow citizens,I guess he's having a bad day.Sorry about that.

I'm in Canada so I know about cold.All the advice above is good for you own warmth but the biggest issue I have had in the cold is tuning.The bass is not as susceptible to problems but guitars may have an interesting time as the strings change tension with lower temperatures.This will make them and perhaps the bass out of tune with each other and with the keyboard which will not be affected by the temperature.This is most serious when you tune in a nice warm room and then take the instrument out into the cold right before you start to play.Be sure to check your tuning on stage before you start the first song.Many years ago when I was playing tenor banjo in a Dixieland band we went outside after tuning up inside and after I played the intro to the first song all the horn players looked surprised because I was a full half tone sharper than when we tuned up inside!It made for an interesting gig-the temperature was about -15C or 0 F.I'm sure you won't be near that temp but be aware of possible tuning issues.Sounds like a fun gig,good luck!

Yamaha SLB200 EUB.Went from BG to a Stagg EUB and then had a chance to try the SLB200 and managed to find a used one.Changed my playing and thinking and changed my life,for the better I might add.Never had so much fun.

Yamaha SLB200 EUB bought used from a pawn shop for $1600(Canadian) plus tax(almost $200) and it changed my life.

I hit 70 last May.It seems impossible that my first gig was at age 16 playing folk music at a function in a church hall.I can't believe that was in...gasp...1962.Lots of gigs and a crazy variety of music and venues since then.On the one hand all that nostalgia is a bit depressing but I have been so lucky to have had all that music and those experiences and people in my life.I picked up the bass in the late 80's and now that is my main instrument and I seldom reach for my guitar-bass is way more fun.I am still playing and gigging,now it's mostly my Yamaha SLB200 EUB as part of a jazz standards quartet and I have no plans to stop.

I believe that most(all?) active(not active/passive) basses have a switch built in to the cable jack that turns on the active pickups and other gear when the cable is plugged in-both my basses work that way.Some players apparently aren't aware of this and go through batteries very quickly if they don't unplug when they are not playing.The manual for my Yamaha SLB200 EUB claims a battery life of 350 to 500 hours depending on the type of battery being used.Check the manual or manufacturer's spec for your bass to see what the battery life is supposed to be for your instrument.After my experience(see earlier post) I change the battery long before that time,cheap insurance.

Since the time the 9V in my Yamaha RBX750A died in the middle of a song at a NYE gig(wouldn't you know) I change the battery in it and my Yamaha SLB200 EUB every 3 or 4 months or even sooner if I feel nervous.The worst part was that there was no warning like less volume or intermittent sound ,it just went completely silent.Luckily I had a spare battery in my case and the keys player covered the bass part while I switched.It had never happened to me before so I didn't know what to expect but at least I was prepared.A bit embarrassing but I managed to recover OK and learned a good lesson.

You're right of course BassBus,but at this point I am hoping I will still be playing in ten years.Time to start looking for a stool maybe....

I play BG and EUB and always practice,rehearse and gig standing.I move around a lot when I play and simply can't get comfortable playing while sitting,even on a high stool.Ditto for guitar.This way there are no adjustments to the instruments or me.I have enough trouble getting things right when I'm playing and don't need other things to worry about-keep it simple,and I've been doing that for 56(I can't believe it!) years.

[quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1469217376' post='3096807'] Sorry Blue but that's complete tosh. There was an attempt to provide a workable definition of 'covers' which was a dreadful oversimplification. The attempted definition existed independently of the size or type of venue. My point stands, and I'll make my own decision as to what is off topic. [size=4]Amused to see you try to rescue dear Carole by describing her as a singer/songwriter and therefore not a band.[/size] [size=4]So when The Beatles (remember them?) recorded Yesterday, were they a band or a singer/songwriter?[/size] [size=4]Let me know when you've finished trying to nail jelly to the ceiling. [/size] [/quote] Good one Jack. This thread is not just trying to nail jelly to the ceiling it's going in more circles than the "Playing for Nowt" thread-only 22 more pages of postings and we'll equal that one.Maybe we should talk about things that have actual answers,although I guess that ruins it for some folks.Let's see-the sound of one hand clapping,the falling tree in the forest(no noise if no one hears it?),the number of angels that can dance on a pinhead...the possibilities are endless.Maybe it's just my practical Taurus side coming through.I'm done,at least for now.

Hmmmm......I was thinking that you would be "payin" for your new gear before you start "playin".It's good that you get some pay when you play though,I guess we all have to pay to be able to play.OK,I'm done.

So I'm wondering if you meant "bass payin" or "bass playin",either way you can't do one without the other.Or,could be a Freudian slip....Have a great time,you sound like you're ready to have some fun.

Pretty much every day.I try to keep things fresh by varying what I do each time and spend from a few minutes to a couple of hours each time.I play my EUB most of the time since that is my main instrument when I gig but also play BG once in a while for variety.I mix in sight reading(Real Books etc.),scales,working on problem bits,trying different fingerings(sometimes good things happen),working my way to the dusty end of the fingerboard or frets,working with a metronome or Zoom B1on and playing along to recordings.I also try to find better lines in some of the music my band plays-always interesting since it is easy to get into a rut.No set routine,lots of variety and daily attempts to develop muscle memory and improve intonation on the EUB.I find a short session as often as possible works better for me than one or two long ones,besides it's fun.Believe it or not some days I play for a few minutes early in the morning before work and that does wonders for my attitude for the whole day.Also a good way to work through a sleepless night.

As posted in another BC forum we lost Rob recently.I first heard him playing with David Grisman in the '80's and was blown away-and at that point I was a guitar player and didn't start bass for almost a decade.Since then I have gone from BG to EUB(Yamaha SLB200) and still put on some of his recordings when I need some inspiration.He was an early proponent of EUB's and used them on many recordings along with acoustic upright.A talented player who was versatile and played many genres,a real loss.He knew what to do and when-the perfect combination for a bass player.I'm going to listen to some of my favourite Rob recordings today and then get out the bass and play for a while-what an inspiration.

Re silicone pad: I'm in Canada and I'm sorry to admit I can't remember where I bought the pad.I have seen them in auto supply stores and discount stores but other than that I can't help you.Perhaps sumorabbit who posted above can give you some ideas about about a source in England.Good luck. ...a few minutes later... I just Googled "silicone sticky pads" and found lots of products there,might be worth a look.

I solved the slippery upper bout issue on my SLB200 with a thin silicone pad (3.5x5 inches) that adheres with no glue and is easy to remove and leaves no marks.The one I use is sold as a device to keep phones on the dash of your car among other things.Cheap and easy.The top is a bit sticky at first but is harmless to clothing and after some use is soft and still provides lots of grip on your body.Once you get the pad in the right place it just stays there,mine has been in place for about a year.

I love my SLB200 and only have the upper bout.It is very comfortable and doesn't move.I play standing in a jazz standards combo and I move around a lot when I play and the SLB200 stays with me.I play pizz but have used the bow a bit and I think my poor arco technique is the problem,not the bass.Getting the instrument at exactly the right height is important to keep it in place,I experimented with different heights and when I found the perfect position I put a small hose clamp on the peg so it was always in the right place.Some people use a marker to put a line on it but the clamp is hardly visible and takes the weight of the instrument while the screw just holds it in place.Good luck.

I asume that the neck is not messed with when you relic a bass(this is not my world) but is anything done to the headstock?Scratched decal?Dings and dents?Removal of finish on edges?Do knobs and other parts on the top get any treatment?I guess a well used strap is in order too.Any raw wood exposed or is it all coated?It's an interesting project. Waiting for a pic of the completed bass to see how it all works together.

[quote name='Woodinblack' timestamp='1464123591' post='3056811'] I love playing bass, even if I wasn't gigging. But I love gigging, its very enjoyable. My night last saturday with my new band was late, and it was fantastic. There was a whole group of people dancing and enjoying themselves. That was fantastic too, and they were enjoying themselves dancing to us playing music. And you actually get paid for it. What could be better! ever you choose to use itBut ultimately, music is a gift how. [/quote] Yes!We are so lucky.

Ooops.Wasn't trying to be rude or disrespectful,just expressing an opinion and not trying to stir the pot like some people do.The last three words of my earlier post say it all-"different strokes.....whatever....",you do your thing,I do mine and we might not understand each other and that's OK.I'm a bit weird by some standards since I own and gig with a Yamaha RBX750A(anybody out there have one?) and a Yamaha SLB200 EUB and play through a Laney amp which is a rare thing here in Canada.Probably lots of people wouldn't get that either...and that's OK.Apologies to any one I have offended,I'll be more careful in the future.

Sorry,I just don't get it.Too old I guess.Then again I don't get severely distressed/ripped jeans either.Like I said in another thread about reliced basses, I might buy a "real" reliced instrument but not a fake one.Advertising and marketing win again,just like "distressed" new furniture.Different strokes....whatever....

I guess I don't get the "relic" thing,maybe I'm too old.Seems odd that an older bass or guitar(vintage-I mean real vintage,not a new "vintage" one)with some buckle rash and a few scratches or dings and a worn finish is cheaper than a similar instrument of the same age that is mint.Now we have a new bass that looks like something a lot of people wouldn't touch if it was old but will pay more for than an unreliced similar new bass.Maybe it's the new pups or other features,I guess it says a lot about the instrument business and what they need to do to get sales. I say that as the owner of a Yamaha SLB200(2 years) and a Yamaha RBX750A(about 20 years) that are in near mint condition and gigged with regularly,so they have held their value.I also own a 1967 Gibson J50 guitar that I bought new in '67 and has been halfway around the world with me(literally)and has been played on hundreds of gigs.It has a few marks and some crazing on the top but is in perfect condition for playing-it is certainly worth less than a similar guitar in mint condition. It is a strange old world isn't it, but business is business I guess and we will continue to spend our money and make the bass and guitar builders happy.To me it says a lot about the power of advertising and how fashions and fads can be created to boost sales,kinda sad actually since we're all part of it.We gladly pay for a reliced bass but we(including me) get a bit testy about a new bass that has a bit of wear from being in a shop...strange old world.

I have a Yamaha SLB 200 (silent bass) and it has a "hollow body" according to Yamaha.Although the hollow part is quite small it affects the sound a lot since the bridge is actually on the hollow part.It is audible when not plugged in but hard to hear in anything other than a very quiet environment but using an amp and earphones it's great. Although a lot of people don't like the SLB 200 it works for me-with stock strings and pickups and running straight(or with a DI box) into an amp or PA.With some patience and careful use of the tone and volume controls on the instrument I get a pretty convincing upright sound-yes,I know it isn't the same as a real DB but the size and convenience are perfect for my needs. I had a Stagg and it had a built in phone jack but overall the SLB is a much better(and much more expensive!) instrument.