malbass Posted February 26, 2014 Posted February 26, 2014 Well, I wasn't expecting that when I woke up this morning! This popped up in my ebay searches, dropped the seller an email and he turned out to love just round the corner. Went round to have a look this evening, negotiated a great price and now its sitting upstairs in my office I'd been thinking about an upgrade from my cheaper Antoni starter bass and this seems like it will be just the job. Its a Strunal bass from Thomann, 5-6 years old according to the seller and in fantastic condition. The seller told me it had a new bridge and strings fitted last year, from what little I know of these matters I think the bridge could do with some work, it seems a little thick where the strings make contact. Any advice on that would be gratefully received. If you know of any luthiers close to Nottingham please let me know. Also, any idea what sort of strings are on it, the seller didn't know? Here's some pics: [url="http://s400.photobucket.com/user/malw_2008/media/IMG_3297.jpg.html"][/url] [url="http://s400.photobucket.com/user/malw_2008/media/IMG_3298.jpg.html"][/url] [url="http://s400.photobucket.com/user/malw_2008/media/IMG_3299.jpg.html"][/url] [url="http://s400.photobucket.com/user/malw_2008/media/IMG_3305.jpg.html"][/url] [url="http://s400.photobucket.com/user/malw_2008/media/IMG_3307.jpg.html"][/url] [url="http://s400.photobucket.com/user/malw_2008/media/IMG_3308.jpg.html"][/url] [url="http://s400.photobucket.com/user/malw_2008/media/IMG_3309.jpg.html"][/url] Quote
Myke Posted February 26, 2014 Posted February 26, 2014 That is very pretty. I can't say anything else about it because I know a whole lotta nothing about double bass.. But I know enough to say that looks lovely, lovely, lovely Quote
Clarky Posted February 26, 2014 Posted February 26, 2014 Nice looking beastie. The bridge is cut very oddly and should have a rounded sweep where the strings cross. For a good luthier check this thread http://basschat.co.uk/topic/204959-db-luthiers-thread/ Fraid I don't recognise those strings. Maybe some kind of Innovation given the end multi-coloured silks? Someone round here will know (ubassman)? Quote
thisnameistaken Posted February 26, 2014 Posted February 26, 2014 I think I've had a set with those silks but there have been so many sets... Innovation Honeys? Do they have a brass-coloured bar retaining them behind the tailpiece? Quote
bassace Posted February 27, 2014 Posted February 27, 2014 [quote name='Clarky' timestamp='1393455375' post='2380656'] Nice looking beastie. The bridge is cut very oddly and should have a rounded sweep where the strings cross. For a good luthier check this thread [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/204959-db-luthiers-thread/"]http://basschat.co.u...uthiers-thread/[/url] [/quote] Ooh! Ouch! Quote
Legion Posted February 27, 2014 Posted February 27, 2014 That bridge looks very strange, most blank bridges I've fitted already came with a much thinner profile than that. I wonder if the increased (unecessary) mass of the bridge might absorb more vibration than it should, particularly with the adjusters as well, attenuating a lot of the acoustic response that might otherwise be heard. Quote
Jezyorkshire Posted February 27, 2014 Posted February 27, 2014 bridge needs sorting, from the photo it l looks like the nut slots for those strings are too deep and wide and the top hasn't been thinned Quote
malbass Posted February 27, 2014 Author Posted February 27, 2014 Thanks for the responses guys. Much as I thought about the bridge, glad I pointed it out to the seller and got some money knocked off. Now to find a luthier! Quote
bassfunk Posted February 27, 2014 Posted February 27, 2014 Very nice. Bridge is a bit strange but an easy fix! The strings look like Innovations with the different coloured ends. But I'm sure Honeys have a bright blue/turquoise wrap at the ball end? Unles it's my screen/your camera that makes the wraps look purple? Enjoy it. I have an Antoni at the moment and would love to upgrade! Quote
sarah thomas Posted February 27, 2014 Posted February 27, 2014 When you find your luthier of choice, ask them to check the profile of the feet, where the bridge makes contact with the body, as well as thinning and rounding the top profile.The feet should be shaped to follow the contour of the front of the bass. It looks like someone got a new bridge and plonked it on the bass without any awareness of fitting it, so this may be another job. The strings look like Honeys to me too, - Daf is your man, and has his own subsection on Innovation strings. Happy new bass day - it sounds like this one was destined to be yours! Quote
geoffbassist Posted February 27, 2014 Posted February 27, 2014 Great looking bass. I would highly recommend Kai Dase who is in Nottingham: http://kaidaseviolins.com Great, honest luthier who knows how to set up basses. I love a NDBD! :-) Congrats! Quote
Myke Posted February 27, 2014 Posted February 27, 2014 [quote name='Jezyorkshire' timestamp='1393527647' post='2381542'] what is a NDBD? [/quote] New Double Bass Day! I've not had one Quote
timbo1978 Posted February 27, 2014 Posted February 27, 2014 She's beautiful. Have you thought of a name yet? Quote
TheRev Posted February 27, 2014 Posted February 27, 2014 Ohh, that's nice.... The strings definitely aren't Honeys, they have blue silks. The Strunal basses ship with Saturn strings, so if the seller hasn't changed the strings that's probably what they are. Quote
AndyBass Posted February 27, 2014 Posted February 27, 2014 If you're after a luthier in Nottingham, you've got Kai Dase on Mansfield Road, or I think there's still Turner Violins in Beeston (where Kai used to work). I'm sure either place will do a good job for a fair price. Quote
thisnameistaken Posted February 27, 2014 Posted February 27, 2014 [quote name='timbo1978' timestamp='1393532192' post='2381634']She's beautiful. Have you thought of a name yet?[/quote] Do people really do that? I did give one of my basses a jokey name, because it's German and it's a double bass I call it Uberbassenbassen, but it's not like I've decided "Oh it's definitely a Gloria"... Quote
TheRev Posted February 28, 2014 Posted February 28, 2014 [quote name='thisnameistaken' timestamp='1393542134' post='2381842'] Do people really do that? I did give one of my basses a jokey name, because it's German and it's a double bass I call it Uberbassenbassen, but it's not like I've decided "Oh it's definitely a Gloria"... [/quote] My double basses have names, but my electrics don't. Probably because double basses feel more like individuals and you hug them a lot more. Quote
Clarky Posted February 28, 2014 Posted February 28, 2014 I find it slightly disturbing, Rev, that your 50's DB is called Jayne, that being my wife's name (with the unusual letter 'y' in the middle)! Quote
Silvia Bluejay Posted February 28, 2014 Posted February 28, 2014 LOL @ bass names! I started naming mine as a joke when I only had three - two guitars and one upright - but by the time the fourth had arrived I had reverted to "the fretless 5" or "the upright 5" etc. When they had names, they were all male Back on topic - that bass is gorgeous and the bridge reminds me of that of a Baby Bass, but yeah, it looks weird in this case. Quote
fatback Posted February 28, 2014 Posted February 28, 2014 (edited) [quote name='thisnameistaken' timestamp='1393542134' post='2381842'] Do people really do that? I did give one of my basses a jokey name, because it's German and it's a double bass I call it Uberbassenbassen, but it's not like I've decided "Oh it's definitely a Gloria"... [/quote] It can get complicated. Mine used to be Nigella, cos she was 40-ish, curvy and cooked. But then Nigelissima lost weight and I don't have an EUB to transfer the name to. THEN came the awful Saatchi stuff, and I couldn't go round feeling sorry for my bass, so now she's got no name. However, if N starts comfort eating, I'll reinstate. Edited February 28, 2014 by fatback Quote
TheRev Posted February 28, 2014 Posted February 28, 2014 [quote name='Clarky' timestamp='1393582035' post='2382124'] I find it slightly disturbing, Rev, that your 50's DB is called Jayne, that being my wife's name (with the unusual letter 'y' in the middle)! [/quote] The origin of the name is actually quite disturbing..... my bass is a 50/60s blonde that has had a broken neck. Jayne Mansfield was also a 50/60s blonde and you can look the rest up for yourselves..... Quote
ubassman Posted February 28, 2014 Posted February 28, 2014 [quote name='Clarky' timestamp='1393455375' post='2380656'] Fraid I don't recognise those strings. [/quote] +1 Me neither ! ...many Conrgats on your NDBD ! Quote
malbass Posted March 19, 2014 Author Posted March 19, 2014 [quote name='geoffbassist' timestamp='1393521915' post='2381454'] Great looking bass. I would highly recommend Kai Dase who is in Nottingham: [url="http://kaidaseviolins.com"]http://kaidaseviolins.com[/url] Great, honest luthier who knows how to set up basses. I love a NDBD! :-) Congrats! [/quote] Thanks for the reccommendation. Just dropped the bass off with Kai today. It needs a new bridge, soundpost and nut so turning out to be not quite the bargain I had thought but I'm sure it's going to sound a lot better than it does now. Kai was very patient with my lack of knowledge and was happy to spend time talking me through all the issues and options before we agreed on a plan to get it all fixed up. Can't wait to pick it up, hopefully in time for my next gig next Friday!! Quote
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