tinyd

I added small side markings with nail varnish a few months ago purely for gigs where hearing myself can be challenging. I hardly ever look at them but they occasionally help as a sanity check and can provide a "safe place" if I panic..... Of course, you can call this a crutch, and adequate practice and consequent muscle memory should remove the need for them, but I like having them there all the same.

I thought that those little battery powered Roland combos (Micro Cube RX) were supposed to be OK for upright, especially for what you say you need it for. Edit: Looks like the RX is discontinued and has been replaced by https://www.thomannmusic.com/boss_dual_cube_bass_lx.htm

I own a Platinum Pro and an FDeck but I always had results that were fine going straight from pickup into my amps (formerly GK MB150 and now Warwick Gnome). This is true for all the pickups I've used, including a J-Tone. I'm not saying don't get a preamp/HPF, but I'd try without before spending money on one.

I had one for a while from @benbastin - it worked very well and the stability / simplicity aspect was good. However, my daughter started learning DB so I needed something adjustable again. I didn't notice any difference in sound but that might say more about my ears than the endpin itself....

I read some comments on Talkbass about the Rumble combos being good for DB...

In my experience, people who have something to say that's worth hearing generally don't offer their "wisdom" unsolicited like this....

That's really bad. What's wrong with some people that makes them think this in any way appropriate? At the end of the day, your singer has the gig, she's getting up there and performing, and anybody who doesn't like her singing can go and play their own gigs. I hope she's ok.

Thanks, yep, there seem to be a good second-hand market but here in Ireland it would probably take a while before something suitable crops up. I'm still interested to find out what the newer ones are like if anybody has any experience.

I've tried searching but there's a confusing number of different versions with similar names so I thought I'd start a new thread. Anybody got any experience of these newer models e.g. https://www.thomann.de/ie/warwick_rockbass_streamer_lx_5_mrh.htm I'd like a five string and I've always liked the Warwick sound, but I don't have money for anything too pricey so I was wondering how these cheaper ones hold up?

This is highly individual, and probably doesn't even apply to many people who are driving etc, but I never drink before or during a gig, not even a small beer beforehand. I find it always messes with my concentration.

There seem to be a couple of things going on with this thread. There can definitely be a bit of a "joyless" approach taken by some experienced players towards people starting out that says that you'll only get decent after years of rigourous technique and lessons (I haven't heard anybody on Basschat take this approach btw). And then are other people who think that you should get a bass and just start playing and having fun. The two are not mutually exclusive, and as somebody who is self-taught (in the sense of having virtually no in-person lessons) I definitely think that just playing is possible. However, bad technique on DB more than most instruments can definitely hold you back - both in terms of causing pain/injury, but also (as @neilp points out above) in terms of playing in tune. I'm not as good a player as I'd be if I'd adopted a more consistent/rigorous approach to playing and practicing, and I've had several points where I've had to re-learn and ditch bad habits (particularly after watching better players than myself in person or online). But I've always enjoyed the journey and so I guess what I'm saying is that DB is both fun AND challenging at the same time, but it's definitely worth paying attention to getting some of the basics right when it comes to technique. And there are people here on Basschat that can definitely help with this....

Haha - it crossed my (very immature) mind as well .....

I found this video pretty helpful so thought I'd share it: Obviously there are lots of approaches to playing scales, but I liked this one as the shifting is consistent and it only takes a small modification to generate each of the other scales as well. Not for a second claiming that this is the best solution for all situations but I've found it's a nice one to have in the arsenal....

I bought a bow from this seller when my daughter played DB on recommendation from her teacher https://www.ebay.co.uk/str/yitamusicviolins I only play pizz so I can't vouch for them directly but it seems fine

Not sure about how much low end is required. I find for jazz gigs on DB you don't really want that "feel it in your gut" low end anyway so the PJB works well. But if I wanted more of that kind of thing I'd probably match the Gnome/BAM with the TE Bassbox 110 cab instead (which is still very light)