fatback

[quote name='ubassman' timestamp='1379352016' post='2211610'] They are pretty versatile things those 'suction cup thingys' ...you can get them if you get caught in a shower too ! [url="http://imgur.com/p8oP2vu"]http://imgur.com/p8oP2vu[/url] [/quote] Not quite like that. More like the sort of plunger you unblock a sink with. Can't find them online at all, now I look.

I've got a kind of suction cup thingy that fits on the end of the spike. Came with the bass, so no idea what it's called. I use it all the time now to stop the spike sliding on slippy stages.

Hey, congrats to you. Brilliant it went well. You'll remember that gig for the rest of your life.

[quote name='Beer of the Bass' timestamp='1379259191' post='2210450'] I like that too. For some reason I can picture it being used in a polka band, with a big sparkly Weltmeister accordian, matching waistcoats and moustaches! [/quote] Oh, I'll have that job.

I like the look of that. Am I normal?

[quote name='aonindy' timestamp='1379105763' post='2208856'] @fatgoogle keep an eye on Tom Barretts website, he helps organise double bass masterclasses in Ireland. I was at one of them and it was amazing: [url="http://doublebassireland.com/recent-events"]http://doublebassire...m/recent-events[/url] [/quote] Thanks for the link. i knew about Tom Barrett but never noticed his website.

And as Ffloyd has been known to say, practice three octave scales. PS Not teasing. they work for me too.

[quote name='Geek99' timestamp='1379020178' post='2207942'] Thanks - I don't have the space for acoustic - a simple cheap EUB will do. I suppose I could always put some lines on with tape - just didnt want to buy a piece of junk I tried a stagg EUB once - never spotted the dot markers How do you guys find the correct spot on the neck for any given note ? [/quote] Many people start learning fretless by drawing a little pencil line on the side at the G, A, B and octave. No harm at all imo, and the pencil soon rubs off. The whole business of markers is moderately contentious amongst db players. Some people wholly disapprove; others are more relaxed about it. For gigs, I use little stick on paper dots at those spots, so it doesn't matter if I can't hear. I don't use them for practice, and I deliberately practice without looking at the board anyway. I have found a tuner clipped onto the bridge for occasional checking of intonation has worked absolute wonders for my ears as well as my playing. Others don't like the idea at all. I wouldn't worry about how you set about it as long as you aim in the end to get good intonation without being too much dependent on your eyes. Above all, don't be intimidated. There will be frustration in spades, but in time you're going to love your EUB.

[quote name='Mr Bassman' timestamp='1379005570' post='2207679'] They're the originals. Funny, I haven't had a string break for about 10 years yet I've had 5 break in the last few weeks on 3 diffent instruments. Must be me, maybe I'm jinxed :-) I've just fitted an adjustable bridge with a full circle but I've also tried the Bassmax on it. The full circle is very powerful but is prone to feedback, the Bassmax sounds a lot brighter on this bass. However we're only talking less than an hour plugged in so far. Still got fine adjustments to make. Sounds promising though. I see there's another one for sale on here if anyone's looking for a great sounding affordable instrument. [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/216874-stentor-34-double-bass-for-sale/"]http://basschat.co.u...-bass-for-sale/[/url] [/quote] Interesting to see whether you can reduce feedback with the full circle by rotating the pickup a tad.

[quote name='ubassman' timestamp='1378995400' post='2207512'] Have you tried Vito Liuzzi's site ? Scroll to the bottom of the home page on the vertical left hand column theres is an incredible amount of music to download in the various download sections - that would be a good place to have a look [url="http://www.vitoliuzzi.com/"]http://www.vitoliuzzi.com/[/url] [/quote] Great link, thanks. What a fun site.

Wow, classy!

Afraid I don't know much about EUBs, but seeing as how things are quiet... I'm guessing a lot of people would say that unless budget and/or space is a problem, why not go the whole way and get a proper upright? You will probably end up doing that anyhow, so cut to the chase. As for a lined EUB, I don't know if such a thing exists, but even if it did I'd say you'd be wasting a great opportunity to progress if you went down that road. Don;t let lack of confidence stop you going the whole way. Lots of us on here who started hardly believing we could ever play an upright now reckon getting into double bass was the best thing that we ever did by a very long way. Go for it.

Not something I've had to do often, but I use an EA Doubler, which is ideal. Separate EQ for each of the two channels. Also the mid EQ is centred differently on each channel, one suiting upright and the other electric. A pricey enough amp but hassle free, powerful and tiny.

[quote name='Marc S' timestamp='1378814894' post='2204908'] Sorted indeed Tried it, loved it & bought it on Sunday Wish I didn't have to go to work today - so I could be at home, playing it Oh for more free time! Thanks again folks [/quote] Oh well done. Congratulations.

[quote name='Rabbie' timestamp='1378765344' post='2204561'] The nice gentleman asking for advice is at a pre-beginner stage in his double bass career. A Bryant or a Martin may be a trifle optimistic as a first bass....a bit like buying a Jaguar before starting driving lessons. It is great to start as a pro on another instrument: this will help hugely with musicality as a whole, but the development of 2 good double bass hands will take considerable investment in time time time and patience (and pain). Many fall along the way, so probably best to aim low at the very beginning, at least you can keep your first bass as a deputy bass when you graduate to your fancy one. There are plenty of well made basses at mid-low price points as the Thomann website illustrates. By the way, Nobody is likely to care about how posh a bass is on a pop/folk music stage (I personally testify to this), and you can make excellent music on a modest bass too. [/quote] Have to agree with this. I play the same kind of music as the OP, and I'd have a heart attack if I had to worry about a 4K bass in those venues. As it is, I get accused by the band of acting like a mother hen around my bass.

[quote name='Marc S' timestamp='1378587988' post='2202260'] Good luck loo[font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif]king for your bass[/font] [font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif]I'm looking for a DB too..... Although I'm not looking to spend nearly as much as you I started with a Stagg electric DB - they're cheap, and I'd say they're a good starting point[/font] [font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif]I'm interested in what anyone reading this thread thinks about the pickups you would need to use; i.e. which types of pickups are best for different basses, and different styles of playing / music[/font] [font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif]Good luck with your search Marc[/font] [/quote] I think the consensus is that it depends hugely on the combination of pup, preamp and bass. A fair amount of potentially expensive trial and error, unless you're lucky. I haven't seen anybody suggest different pickups for different music - strings seem the critical factor there.

[quote name='incubass' timestamp='1378554791' post='2201754'] Right now I'm planning my lessons for this year and contacting some local players to find out where they bought their double basses I'm researching the websites you provided, and came across with this Cristopher ([url="http://www.thomann.de/pt/christopher_db_404_double_bass_3_4_b_stock.htm"]http://www.thomann.d...3_4_b_stock.htm[/url]), it looks nice! Although my price limit is 4500gbp, I would be much happier if I could find a 2500gbp great bass... Any thoughts on this particular bass? [/quote] Looks lovely and I want it! it is fully carved though, so there is that question about feedback resistance. i remember some folks on here reporting hellish problems when amped up loud.

With that kind of budget, you might be tempted buy an all solid wood bass, but several experienced folks on here reckon they're too feedback prone for loud gigs. You might find hybrid (solid top, ply sides) the best compromise between tone and feedback resistance. Along with Thomann, Gedo is the other supplier favoured by buyers who can;t get to view many second hand basses. http://www.gedo-musik.de/shop/category.php?id_category=40 A good bit of info on this thread: http://basschat.co.uk/topic/216167-im-looking-for-a-34-double-bass-any-useful-suggestions/

Just got a chance to look at a couple for the first time. Excellent presenting skills there - well done. Looking froward to working my way through them all.

[quote name='ubassman' timestamp='1378471403' post='2200810'] ...but remember the original post from Steve ...he is needing to get his thumb under his fingers - not so easy to pivot á la Rabbath if that all important thumb isn't in the right place ...but it could just do the trick ! [/quote] Point taken, but because accurate thumb positioning is the key to the whole business, and you only have to learn three or so positions, it might make for easy practice. Every now and again I mark those positions to check and practice thumb shifting accuracy, and it really works.

[quote name='ubassman' timestamp='1378468876' post='2200753'] +1 learning to relax was a breakthrough moment for me too ...Murray Grodner made the great point that as bassists we tend to think about intonation as being a finger issue when in reality when we move up and down the fingerboard its also about the fluidity of the arm , shoulders and the relaxation of the whole body thing that's needed. [/quote] Which is where Rabbath's method really scores. Only three arm movements to worry about mostly.

[quote name='jakenewmanbass' timestamp='1378459731' post='2200518'] I could go on all day... Stranded off the west coast of africa, being bought brandies all night by a TV moguls amorous daughter in Taipei, Having my one and only bout of sea sickness having eaten between shows aboard a ship in a storm and vomiting during the piano solo only to dash back on stage to finish the set... I should write a book! [/quote] OK, start with the chapter about the TV mogul's amorous daughter in Taipei...

You realise the stage is made up of separate cubes and the one your endpin is stuck in is sliding inexorably towards the audience.

[quote name='JamesFlashG' timestamp='1378312774' post='2198497'] try this website for an amazing amount of bass scores some great stuff on here!!! [url="http://freebasspart.pv24.pagesperso-orange.fr/index.htm"]http://freebasspart....ge.fr/index.htm[/url] soul / blue / funks mainly [/quote] Looks good, but his links are broken.

[quote name='ubassman' timestamp='1378396909' post='2199700'] Double stopping and flattening one finger to form a bar on the 4th interval is often the only thing to do on fast and short passages . That said, flattening out any finger(s) by 'barring' for long periods places a lot of strain on the hand so best avoided on 'long haul' repetitive passages. I find pivoting around and using 2 fingers is more comfortable in those situations but as fatgoogle says its a major position shift of the arm both in and out , and the intonation has to be spot on. [/quote] Thanks. It's good to know there's more than one way of dealing with the problem.