flytim

Thanks for the replies. We have our first rehearsal next week so I'll see how it goes. We do have a drummer so I probably won't need to full on slap thing. Hope fully my Thomann will do and if it doesn't I'll keep an eye out for a cheap basher bass.

The singer I play with wants to get a rockabilly band together, Imelda May stuff etc. I've raised the bridge and changed strings on my usual bass. I'm slowly getting the hang of playing slap but I'm thinking I will probably need to get another bass. My current bass is a carved top Thomann 22 and the new strings are Evah Slaps. What opinions are there, if any, on this bass https://www.bassbags.co.uk/product/gewa-rockabilly-double-bass/?srsltid=AfmBOorem0z7CWD7pUHgypE4qz2vQbXBFlAZpx1SpUaMQEp5dddrL5Tb Thanks Tim

Just bought some strings earlier. Very easy to deal with quick delivery. Thanks.

I have a set of Spiro Mittels that came off a Yamaha SLB I bought recently. Because of the way the strings wrap around the SLB tailpiece they now have a kink in the threaded part of the ball end of the string. Does this make them unusable on a normal bass?

Went to Hannah Sedgewick in Penzance yesterday and it's a thumbs up from me. Had adjusters put on my bridge and she also rubbed down a slight buzz on the fingerboard and also suggested that the sound post was probably a bit too far forward so she adjusted that. The bass now sounds so much better for the soundpost move. A lot more growl in pizz and a more singing tone under the bow. All done in an hour and half while I went and had a coffee and a much needed haircut.

I'm near Ivybridge and I've had the same problem now that James Powell is retiring. Tried Martin Penning but got the same replay as above. I did eventually find Hannah Sedgwick in Penzance. I'm taking mine down in a couple of weeks to have some work down. I'll report back after, if you want. If you have any luck with Devon Strings or Bristol Violin let us know, I never got round to phoning them after finding Hannah. It would be good to know other options.

Thanks for the replies and the video (ouch!). The bass I have now, a Thomann hybrid I got second hand for £800 will be the beater bass if I get another bass. I think I'll get a SLB as a backup I can take to gigs with me and save up again for a better bass later. I'm not sure my playing skills deserve spending 2 or 3k yet, but I'm close to understanding what I want out of a new bass. I don't think a P or fretless is going to cut with the band. They'll be fine with the SLB having discussed it with them.

It looks like the gypsy/swing band I'm in might doing more regular gigs. So the question is how likely is it that my bass is going to get damaged somewhere along the line? It seems to me that no matter how careful I am, the bass is a big awkward and relatively delicate thing. Do you regulars have a spare as a backup? Maybe something like a Yamaha SLB that can easily come with you to the gig just in case. Thanks Tim