fatback

Awe-inspiring skills (and confidence).

[quote name='gcordez' timestamp='1380717055' post='2229397'] I'm with Allianz and they were great when I had my first double bass stolen out of my car. [/quote] And I was betting with myself that nobody would ever be dumb enough to steal a double bass. I have this vision of the thief trying to punt it around the local bars. I don't want to carry it, and I play the wretched thing. Great Allianz did the right thing by you. Good to know. How many of you folks have actually had a bass stolen?

Answer to a prayer by the look of it. Pricey enough though when you add VAT and Excise. Some enterprising luthier should try for a licensing deal with him and make them in Europe.

[quote name='TheG' timestamp='1380642139' post='2228332'] Would that cello accessory fit a double bass though? I think I've seen someone with one of these on a double bass but this particular model is for cello. If I found one for bass I would get one because they look excellent. My worry would be that the hole that the end pin fits into isn't big enough. Anyone seen these for sale for a double bass anywhere else? [/quote] Mine is identical, but I don't know where it came from as it came with the bass. The socket that takes the endpin is roomy and has two screws for tightening.

My biggest problem with bowing is that the change in posture. The ideal endpin height is actually different for pizz and arco. Note to self: acquire longer arms.

Finally tracked down the one I've got. It really is brilliant, as it uses a ball joint to change angle. [url="http://www.swstrings.com/product/accessories/cello/GP-EPCG"]http://www.swstrings.com/product/accessories/cello/GP-EPCG[/url]

Raising a cab too much can cause a significant loss of loudness; I found that with the BF Midget on a keyboard stand. Something to do with boundary reinforcement etc. Tilting it up works fine.

[quote name='alexclaber' timestamp='1380287545' post='2223306'] [url="http://barefacedbass.com/which-barefaced.htm"]http://barefacedbass...h-barefaced.htm[/url] [/quote] Thanks, still not sure though whether mixing new and old, say old Midget and super Midget, is not on. Also, are the old lines discontinued now?

And for the ultimate in how cool a bass player could look... Phil Lynnott. Saw him when i was an impressionable 12 years old and never got over it.

Wobble and Mick Karn for me. And I end up playing upright. I mean wtf.

[quote name='TPJ' timestamp='1380302506' post='2223598'] What's your preference for Spiros, mitts or weichs? I ask as I'm changing my setup for lower action, but my playing is a bit heavy handed. Just wondering if one is less clacky then the other. [/quote] Weichs for me and not at all clacky with normal action (8-10, I think). It's the singing quality on the higher notes and strings that does it for me. Not sure it suits my band, but I'm hooked. E maybe not as beefy as I'd like, though.

I had exactly the same problem with pain in that part of the hand when i started bowing. I discovered that it was because my YitaMusic bow, although fine in most respects is a little tip heavy. I found that the pain came from having to use the thumb to add weight to the frog end of the bow. If I moved my grip a couple of inches further up the bow towards the tip (same grip shape) until the bow balanced, I got no more pain. And I was able to use arm weight more than before. Since my hand has strengthened a bit with practice, I've been able to move back down frogwards a little, but I still find everything works much better if the bow feels perfectly balanced. I'm still rubbish, of course. But rubbish and pain-free. And Rabbath's Art of the Bow vid is the best thing out there. All imo of course.

Wow, that is really something. Great you're getting sorted.

[quote name='41.2Hz' timestamp='1380193054' post='2222053'] Have you asked Alex? He seems quite happy to discuss your needs/preferences, particularly if you can indicate the bass, amp and any other cabs you're using. There's a link on the website. [/quote] Didn't want to bother him as I'm sure he's busy at the mo. I notice he just posted above that he'd be putting some stuff about this on the website (thanks Alex). A whole new world of GAS.

[quote name='41.2Hz' timestamp='1380183461' post='2221836'] I asked Alex if any of the 2nd gen models would be a suitable match to the 3rd gen Super Compact. He said that he'd tried the SC with the 2nd gen Compact and would possibly recommend the combination over a 2nd gen Compact and Midget combination... [/quote] Thanks for the info. Looks a bit like an ah um. I've got a midget, and I'm wondering now about what to match it with. I wonder now about matching first and second generation Midgets. A bit of a problem if that won't work.

Still wondering whether you can match an old Midget with a new Compact. I believe the idea was that they could be mixed because the drivers were similar. Presumably that doesn't hold now?

Anyone know whether old and new can be paired ok? Will a new super Compact pair with an old Midget? Also, looking at the info, i can;t make out whether the tweetered Midget is now gone from the range - doesn't look like there's a super tweeter version. Talk about GAS.

Useful to find out from AI whether or not a p/up short could fry an amp. Please let us know what they say. What a horrible experience.

Nightmare. If you find out ow come the pickup got fried, let us know. Not a comfortable thought. I was thinking of taking the Kent Armstrong mag off my bass, I'm getting so confident in the FC, but I think I'll leave it there just in case. Hope you get sorted ok.

[quote name='geoffbassist' timestamp='1379844582' post='2217246'] My best tip would be to find a teacher locally and ask if they know of any instruments for sale. Perhaps have a taster lesson and use their bass to get started. It would give you a much better idea of if you like it. [/quote] +1 This. And ask him or her who their luthier is - they too might know of a bass. I had a lesson before I'd ever laid a hand on a db, and it was great. You get your basic technique pointed in the right direction, get a feel for the instrument and get to ask a bunch of general questions. You should be able to get sorted with a ply or even hybrid bass (including a couple of hundred for setup) for £1000 without much problem. But you might need to be patient if you buy second hand. If you want to buy new from Gedo or Thomann, lots of threads on here from folk who've done that. Go for it. You'll wish you'd done it years earlier.

The bass is an old Czech hybrid. Early on, I moved from Pirastro Jazzers to Spiro Weichs for the lower tension. I miss the extreme growl of the Jazzers' E, but the playability of the spiros is great. The G sings beautifully as well. I chose metal because I thought I'd need a mag pickup as a backup in case of feedback problems. In fact, I've never used it in a gig, although nice to know it's there.

[quote name='JamesFlashG' timestamp='1378726942' post='2203688'] No Problem - the tower of power scores on there are great fun ! check out this thread its where i got that previous link from, there are plenty of other links in it to lots of fresh reading material! [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/155000-individual-songs-bass-scoredots-where-from/page__fromsearch__1"]http://basschat.co.u...__fromsearch__1[/url] - follow it so you don't loose it! Enjoy! [/quote] Thanks for the link. Great.

Any of the Euphonic Audio two channel jobs would be great. Not cheap, but very light and well built. EA Doubler is designed for just what you need and has the advantage of not needing a preamp for double bass (saves £100 right there). Also has all the gizmos - phase shift, notch filter, phantom power for a mic etc. Not sure whether you meant you'd prefer a combo. As for cabs, one 8ohm 12" is a good bet, as you could always get a second for bigger gigs if you needed.

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1379352423' post='2211619'] I am having a wrist Op tomorrow so I will have to be a passive learner for a few weeks, [/quote] Best of luck. Be patient with yourself.