Silvia Bluejay Posted February 25, 2014 Share Posted February 25, 2014 Veery interesting thread, even for a lefty with currently no money or space for a DB. Thank you guys, GAS still going, but a longer wait needed for me. Welcome to the forum, jrixn1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maude Posted February 25, 2014 Share Posted February 25, 2014 [quote name='timbo1978' timestamp='1392840693' post='2373440'] Owning a double bass is a beautiful thing [/quote] Some great info in this thread but by far the best statement I've seen on here in a long time is this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bilbo Posted February 26, 2014 Share Posted February 26, 2014 Beautiful? It's a pain inducing money pit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheRev Posted February 26, 2014 Share Posted February 26, 2014 [quote name='Bilbo' timestamp='1393420726' post='2379980'] Beautiful? It's a pain inducing money pit [/quote] Some people like that sort of thing.... My 50s ply hasn't cost me any money since I had the soundpost glued in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bilbo Posted February 26, 2014 Share Posted February 26, 2014 [quote name='TheRev' timestamp='1393427710' post='2380166'] Some people like that sort of thing.... My 50s ply hasn't cost me any money since I had the soundpost glued in. [/quote] Is it still in the box? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artisan Posted February 26, 2014 Share Posted February 26, 2014 [quote name='TheRev' timestamp='1393427710' post='2380166'] Some people like that sort of thing.... My 50s ply hasn't cost me any money since I had the soundpost glued in. [/quote] good maneuver Rev,both my soundposts are glued in too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paddy109 Posted February 26, 2014 Share Posted February 26, 2014 I bought my 50\4 blonde direct from Strunal several years ago and it is still going strong - still original everything apart from strings. The customer service was excellent, packaged great and I saved on the Thomann mark up! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheRev Posted February 26, 2014 Share Posted February 26, 2014 [quote name='Bilbo' timestamp='1393428745' post='2380191'] Is it still in the box? [/quote] Of course not, what would be the point of that? It's in a glass case. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc S Posted February 27, 2014 Share Posted February 27, 2014 [quote name='Bilbo' timestamp='1393420726' post='2379980'] Beautiful? It's a pain inducing money pit [/quote] I think for me, the initial outlay, and new set of strings and a pickup, was a tad pain-inducing, However, as someone else said "owning a double bass is a beautiful thing" I couldn't agree more. Also, since buying said strings, pickup (and case) It hasn't cost me any more but the joy it brings is immeasurable I can't imagine life without playing my DB now If you're thinking about getting a DB - just do it! That's my humble opinion I'm so glad I bought mine Marc PS. OP - don't forget to contact Gedo too Their basses look stunning Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatback Posted February 27, 2014 Share Posted February 27, 2014 [quote name='Bilbo' timestamp='1393420726' post='2379980'] Beautiful? It's a pain inducing money pit [/quote] Ah, but owning a db can neutralise all non-db GAS, thus saving money in the end! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buzzy Posted February 27, 2014 Author Share Posted February 27, 2014 Emailed Gedo but still waiting for a response. I like the setup recommended by Thomann but not sure which strings to get. Should be placing my order within the next week once I'm certain of what to get. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buzzy Posted March 2, 2014 Author Share Posted March 2, 2014 I think I'm going with the Thomann 22 3/4 Europe DB with Thomastik Spirocore 3/4 Mediums (these have been recommended by a mate and a tutor) The sticking point is do I go with the K&K Bassmax pickup which Thomann & jrixn1 say doesn't need a pre amp or go for the Fishman BP 100 pick up and the Platinum Pro Pre-amp. Just going for the DB,Strings and the K&K brings the total to £950 which leaves me some extra if I need to take the DB to a luthier. The DB, Strings and the Fishman gear comes to £1150 which wipes out my budget. jrixn1 said the input on my amp needs to be 1M ohm to use the K&K, I've checked and its ok, as long as an Ashdown Perfect 10 can handle a DB. Any thoughts guy? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keeponehandloose Posted March 2, 2014 Share Posted March 2, 2014 dont get the Fishman pickup, its generally recognised as not very good. Do get the Pro Plat pre amp, its the standard by which all other db preamps are judged. i dont think the Perfect 10 will have sufficient eq on its own Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maude Posted March 2, 2014 Share Posted March 2, 2014 I use a Perfect Ten mini rig and can plug a piezo (J tone) straight in with no pre amp and it sounds good. I use a BBE Acoustimax pre amp when going to the PA and when I was fiddling with it to get the sound I liked I realised it was exactly the same sound as just plugging the bass straight into the Ashdown, bass, mid and treble set to centre and the deep switch off gets a very nice clean representation of the acoustic bass, so plenty left to adjust tone to your liking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheRev Posted March 2, 2014 Share Posted March 2, 2014 I wouldnt recommend the BP100, the Bassmax is a vastly superior sounding pickup. There's no reason why you can't hold off on buying a plat pro for now and see if the pickup sounds good to you going straight into your amp. You can save a bit more cash in the interim to buy a plat pro if you eventually decide you need it. Alternatively you could do a lot worse than a Fdeck HPF. Normally you'd have to import one from the USA but a basschatter is offering to build to order for atound £60. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc S Posted March 3, 2014 Share Posted March 3, 2014 Please make sure you let us know what you opt for.... I'm getting excited for you now, LOL I'm sure you'll enjoy owning & playing a DB String choice will depend on personal preference and that's hard to pin down, until you've experimented a bit Which is, of course, difficult I play pizzicato, and prefer lower tension strings I opted for Innovation "Silver Slaps" which suit me fine I'm not sure if you're aware, but Daf Lewis on this forum will let you borrow a set of any of the Innovation strings... Just send them on to the next person who wants to try them.... Anyhow, good luck with it all Marc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatgoogle Posted March 4, 2014 Share Posted March 4, 2014 I recently played a strunal that was from the factory. Um it had a lot of white glue going on and not much else. Pretty expensive too for what it was. I'd go with the hora ones. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artisan Posted March 5, 2014 Share Posted March 5, 2014 [quote name='fatgoogle' timestamp='1393961186' post='2386356'] I recently played a strunal that was from the factory. Um it had a lot of white glue going on and not much else. Pretty expensive too for what it was. I'd go with the hora ones. [/quote] absolutley no glue showing anywhere on my Strunal,infact build quality is very good indeed as is the sound it produces. It always irks me when an entire brand is slated bassed on someone's experience with one poor example. When i bought mine from Thomann i was trying to decide between a Strunal & a Hora,Thomann's strings dept' advised me to go with the Strunal as it sounded somewhat better than the Hora. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubassman Posted March 5, 2014 Share Posted March 5, 2014 The thing with all factory made basses is that they are churned out as a mass production item and attention to quality control isnt the same as if one were paying a few grand for a handmade bass. Its perhaps always been a bit of an issue when you churn out instruments for the export market at relatively low cost ( relative to handmade). Many older factory plys and hybrids are shocking in the way they have been thrown together ...but some are amazing. I am just wondering if the same may be true of Strunal, Hora, Antoni, Stentor et al ? Certainly with my two Stentors I have two great instruments but I have heard many a gripe by luhtiers and players alike who have had less happy experience. Thomann have an excellent customer service and returns are not a problem - even for a DB. I am naturally skeptical about shipping a DB such a long distance but company treat the customer as king and so I would anticipate would resolve any issues. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatgoogle Posted March 5, 2014 Share Posted March 5, 2014 (edited) [quote name='artisan' timestamp='1394021318' post='2386953'] absolutley no glue showing anywhere on my Strunal,infact build quality is very good indeed as is the sound it produces. It always irks me when an entire brand is slated bassed on someone's experience with one poor example. When i bought mine from Thomann i was trying to decide between a Strunal & a Hora,Thomann's strings dept' advised me to go with the Strunal as it sounded somewhat better than the Hora. [/quote] I haven't slated the whole brand, just pointing out that a bass that was getting close to two grand shouldn't have those kind of slip ups. Nothing at that price should. Im sure they have made many decent student bass's. My old bass is a hora from about the late 1950's. Solid as a block and a pretty decent orchestral boom to it. I also know a guy who got to into the berlin philharmoniker academy playing a new thomann hora so they have a good track record. Edited March 5, 2014 by fatgoogle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buzzy Posted March 6, 2014 Author Share Posted March 6, 2014 I've placed my order with Thomann, I've gone for the Thomann 22 3/4 Europe DB with Thomastik Spirocore Mediums and the K&K Bassmax. Thanks for all the info from you guys, I'll let you know when I have a NDBD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maude Posted March 6, 2014 Share Posted March 6, 2014 I'm excited for you, it's a great day when that big box arrives Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
itsat34 Posted March 10, 2014 Share Posted March 10, 2014 [quote name='Maude' timestamp='1393764004' post='2384057'] I use a Perfect Ten mini rig and can plug a piezo (J tone) straight in with no pre amp and it sounds good. I use a BBE Acoustimax pre amp when going to the PA and when I was fiddling with it to get the sound I liked I realised it was exactly the same sound as just plugging the bass straight into the Ashdown, bass, mid and treble set to centre and the deep switch off gets a very nice clean representation of the acoustic bass, so plenty left to adjust tone to your liking. [/quote] Seconded I use a perfect 10 with my stagg and it sounds pretty good with the EUBs piezo pickup.... (Not the lightest of baby amps, tho............) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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