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Double bass on soft ground.


Maude
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Evenin' all,
We have just had a very last minute booking for an engagement party this coming Friday, it will be held in a marquee at the hosts property and we will be playing at ground level with no stage or wooden platform. Apparently the marquee went up yesterday so the ground will be dry but it will still be soft. I haven't done a gig like this with DB yet and wondered what do you folks do about your endpin sinking in the ground? I was just going to get a square foot of 18mm ply (because we have lots spare at work) and route a little pocket in the middle to locate the endpin in, or is there a special piece of equipment just for this? I've seen the things on ebay that look like 'fancy ashtrays' but they look a bit poncey for my liking.
What's your thoughts folks? :)

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[quote name='Maude' timestamp='1379266069' post='2210591']
I was just going to get a square foot of 18mm ply (because we have lots spare at work) and route a little pocket in the middle to locate the endpin in,
[/quote]

...perfect ! I carry an old shelf for out door gigs and it works a treat !

( ....BTW Innovation strings in the post ! )

Edited by ubassman
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Cool, I'll stick with a bit of ply then, if I cut it right and sand the edges it will fit in the large back pocket on my case, you could fit a bloody crash cymbol in there!

Re: strings ubassman, I'm looking forward to them, hopefully I can try them out at this gig.

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[quote name='bassace' timestamp='1379320598' post='2211110']
Ply is fine although my outdoor bass has got a walking stick rubber tip on its spike. That always works.
[/quote]

"Outdoor bass".
Excellent concept, leading to all instruments in any given collection being duplicated. One for indoors, one for outdoors.
GAS ahoy!

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[quote name='Lfalex v1.1' timestamp='1379335783' post='2211364']
"Outdoor bass".
Excellent concept, leading to all instruments in any given collection being duplicated. One for indoors, one for outdoors.
GAS ahoy!
[/quote]

Sorry, that did sound a bit precious didn't it. I do a few gigs each year that are supposed to be undercover but often aren't, or there's cover on top but nothing to stop the wet blowing in from the sides. Or has anyone here played on a river boat when the Thames mists come up and engulf the band after nine o'clock? For these gigs I've got a ply bass that in spite of its cheapness plays quite well but doesn't cause me the concern that a nice carved bass would in the wet. Then there's the amps to consider; does anyone have an 'outdoor amp/cab?

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I knew what you meant! Just pulling your leg! :)

Not sure about outdoor amps, though.
I've been caught out by the weather when playing outdoors before. It's not nice. Think lightning storm whilst on raised scaffolding stage... In an open field.
We just ran for it, instruments, amps, the lot! Straight back to the cars.

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[quote name='MandShef' timestamp='1379268445' post='2210636']
I use one of these:

[url="http://www.thestringzone.co.uk/stoppin-floor-protector-large"]http://www.thestring...protector-large[/url]

It's good for slippery floor surfaces, or wooden ones where you don't want to leave spike marks too.
[/quote]

I think that my missus will be delighted when she sees this on my Christmas List :santa2: !!

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Good grief chaps, try to keep it simple:

[url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/170855100285?lpid=54&device=c&adtype=pla&crdt=0&ff3=1&ff11=ICEP3.0.0&ff12=67&ff13=80&ff14=54&ff19=0"]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/170855100285?lpid=54&device=c&adtype=pla&crdt=0&ff3=1&ff11=ICEP3.0.0&ff12=67&ff13=80&ff14=54&ff19=0[/url]

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[quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1379339044' post='2211418']
Good grief chaps, try to keep it simple:

[url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/170855100285?lpid=54&device=c&adtype=pla&crdt=0&ff3=1&ff11=ICEP3.0.0&ff12=67&ff13=80&ff14=54&ff19=0"]http://www.ebay.co.u...&ff14=54&ff19=0[/url]
[/quote]
People sell cameltoes on eBay?? Can't see that going down well with the missus!! Why not just call in the local timber yard and get an offcut of ply? You'd probably end up with enough to make 2 dozen "anti-sink bass stands".

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Another alternative... got a Welcome mat outside the door? Be temporarily unwelcoming and take said mat to gig, then no need to drag wet muddy thing back into the house and upset the misuse.. err.. missus, just throw it back in front of the doorstep post-gig and get brownie points for having clean shoes on the way back in :)

Edited by invicta59
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[quote name='fatback' timestamp='1379350022' post='2211578']
I've got a kind of suction cup thingy ...
[/quote] 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]

Edited by ubassman
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[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]

:D

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.

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[quote name='five-string.co.uk' timestamp='1379361783' post='2211855']
For future reference (and cases where you turn up and find you caught in the situation mentioned above) grab a mat out of your car. They are usually waterproof / rubber one side, and carpet on the other. Works a treat!

Greg
[/quote]

That's a good idea, could go in the 'top tips' thread that's somewhere on the forum. :)

Re Fatbacks suction cup, you could just use a regular sink plunger instead of your endpin. Stick it to a window at waist height and play up and down the neck like a massive guitar :lol:

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I have as a backup to my Wolf ball
[url="http://www.thestringzone.co.uk/accessories-cello-end-pin-anchors-floor-protectors-viva-la-musica-cello-spike-rest"]http://www.thestring...ello-spike-rest[/url]


Gives a nice wide foot for the bass to rest in and on the surface of whatever

Edited by Owencf
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