pegman1 Posted July 10, 2009 Share Posted July 10, 2009 Hello, I have been playing double bass for about a month now and have been practicing on the one at my college so far, standards and original jazz compositions I've got to get my own though and I was wandering if anyone on this wonderful thing as the internet knows where I could get a good beginners double bass, I don't have huge amounts of money to spend I'm looking between £250 - £350. This is practically nothing in DB terms i know but its all i got. Also I'm checking out bassists like Christopher White, Ray Brown, Dave Holland, Mingus, Gary Peacock, Eugine Wright if you guys knew of any other great bassists to check out any cool solos for me to transcribe i'd love suggestions. Thank you!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sgt-pluck Posted July 10, 2009 Share Posted July 10, 2009 (edited) Have a listen to the inimitable Danny Thompson - especially what he did with John Martyn. No big solos but feel and tone all the way :-) Pluck Edited July 10, 2009 by sgt-pluck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pegman1 Posted July 10, 2009 Author Share Posted July 10, 2009 Thanks man, any good albums with him on? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sgt-pluck Posted July 10, 2009 Share Posted July 10, 2009 (edited) The obvious one is Solid Air but I'm a big fan of albums like Sundays Child and if you can find it, Live at Leeds. There's quite a bit of live BBC/OGWT stuff on youtube as well - well worth checking out to see two wonderful musicians at the top of their game totally sparkling off each other. Enjoy! Pluck Edited July 10, 2009 by sgt-pluck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarky Posted July 10, 2009 Share Posted July 10, 2009 (edited) Try 'Waltz for Debbie' by the Bill Evans trio from the early 1960s. It features the superb young US bassist Scott LaFaro who was tragically killed in a car crash a couple of days after recording this. He took the Ray Brown and Paul Chambers rhythmic approach to double-bass a step further melody-wise and was incredibly fast (almost Spanish guitar like) at soloing. Don't let that last comment put you off as he played wonderful melodic backing bass lines too. You will enjoy playing the main melody (which is on the double bass) to the title track, I am sure. It spans the entire length of the neck, so is good for intonation, and is very tuneful Edited July 10, 2009 by Clarky Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheRev Posted July 11, 2009 Share Posted July 11, 2009 Another vote for Danny Thompson and a mention for Ali Friend (Red Snapper/Clayhill/Beth Orton). Regarding your budget for a bass, I'm afraid £350 isn't going to get you a good beginners bass - you're looking at about £1500 for a good beginners bass, but you already knew that.... What £350 will get you is an all plywood bass from Gear4music or Thomann or that German place on ebay. They're not [i]good[/i], but they are somewhere to get you started as long as you bear in mind that they'll need a set up and some decent strings and then you still might not get the sound you're looking for. I seem to remember someone on here buying one of the Gear4music basses and being very happy with it so I suppose it's horses for courses. If you can raise a budget of £850 or so, Thomann do some very reasonable sounding basses in this price range - [url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/thomann_kontrabass_33_02.htm"]this one[/url] for instance. Or, you could look into hiring a bass? I hired a very nice Stentor from a local music shop for £20 a month. Hope this helps. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarky Posted July 11, 2009 Share Posted July 11, 2009 Bassace had a nice looking German 1960s plywood bass on for £900 - check the FS section Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassace Posted July 12, 2009 Share Posted July 12, 2009 [quote name='Clarky' post='537802' date='Jul 11 2009, 11:51 AM']Bassace had a nice looking German 1960s plywood bass on for £900 - check the FS section[/quote] Thanks for the plug Clarky but I didn't have much interest at the time so I thought it was a lost cause. I've become so attached to it all over again that I'll withdraw it when I get round to it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mama Hong Posted August 3, 2009 Share Posted August 3, 2009 [quote name='pegman1' post='537471' date='Jul 10 2009, 08:30 PM']Hello, I have been playing double bass for about a month now and have been practicing on the one at my college so far, standards and original jazz compositions I've got to get my own though and I was wandering if anyone on this wonderful thing as the internet knows where I could get a good beginners double bass, I don't have huge amounts of money to spend I'm looking between £250 - £350. This is practically nothing in DB terms i know but its all i got. Also I'm checking out bassists like Christopher White, Ray Brown, Dave Holland, Mingus, Gary Peacock, Eugine Wright if you guys knew of any other great bassists to check out any cool solos for me to transcribe i'd love suggestions. Thank you!! [/quote] Hi...It might be possible that I can help... I'm selling a double bass, it's a hungarian model from around '65. It has Maple spruce back and sides but the back has been replaced with ply. I am selling it for £300 because it had some serious damage to the scroll, which has been fixed solid now and has stood the test of time and playing. Its not perfect but its stronger and has a better tone than the new plywood factory ones I'm sure and has seen me through the past three years well. It's also got mother of pearl markers up the side which can help with intonation at the beginning. If you want to know more or to see some photographs let me know... Hong x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mama Hong Posted August 3, 2009 Share Posted August 3, 2009 [quote name='Mama Hong' post='558936' date='Aug 3 2009, 04:18 AM']Hi...It might be possible that I can help... I'm selling a double bass, it's a hungarian model from around '65. It has Maple spruce back and sides but the back has been replaced with ply. I am selling it for £300 because it had some serious damage to the scroll, which has been fixed solid now and has stood the test of time and playing. Its not perfect but its stronger and has a better tone than the new plywood factory ones I'm sure and has seen me through the past three years well. It's also got mother of pearl markers up the side which can help with intonation at the beginning. If you want to know more or to see some photographs let me know... Hong x[/quote] Ah also check out Avishai Cohen and Henri Texier... both on that glorious spotify. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bythesea Posted August 3, 2009 Share Posted August 3, 2009 And have a listen to Eberhard Weber - also available on Spotify and Yutube Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Major-Minor Posted August 3, 2009 Share Posted August 3, 2009 My personal favourites are Eddie Gomez, John Pattitucci, Stanley Clarke and Niels Henning Osted Perderson The Major Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bilbo Posted August 4, 2009 Share Posted August 4, 2009 Paul Laurence Dunbar Chambers Junior. Try transcribing anything off any of the 300+ LPS he recorded with Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Sonny Rollins, Wes Montgomery, Hank Mobley, Lee Morgan, Gil Evans.... the list keeps going. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lowdown Posted August 4, 2009 Share Posted August 4, 2009 (edited) And dont forget the great Ray Brown. A little history and master class here. Garry Edited August 4, 2009 by lowdown Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teej Posted August 4, 2009 Share Posted August 4, 2009 [quote name='lowdown' post='559961' date='Aug 4 2009, 09:53 AM']And dont forget the great Ray Brown. A little history and master class here.[/quote] Nice one Garry, thanks for posting, I just enjoyed watching all 9 parts... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
51m0n Posted August 4, 2009 Share Posted August 4, 2009 [quote name='teej' post='560037' date='Aug 4 2009, 11:22 AM']Nice one Garry, thanks for posting, I just enjoyed watching all 9 parts... [/quote] +1 That was ace! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyalfa Posted August 6, 2009 Share Posted August 6, 2009 +1 for Danny Thompson. What TONE. He did a brief solo, backing the Blind Boys of Alabama on Jools Holland which makes the hairs on my neck stand on end every time I hear it. He was also in a band called Pentagle, a top notch jazz/folk combo back in the late 60's. There was some footage of them on BBC4 recently showing yet another wonderful solo from Mr Thompson. Another contemporary to watch out for is Christian McBride. I acquired a recording of [url="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fingerpainting-Herbie-Hancock-Christian-McBride/dp/B0000047FK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1249545173&sr=1-1"]Fingerpainting: The Music of Herbie Hancock[/url] featuring Mr McBride, Nicholas Payton and Mark Whitfield. This is a cracking album from a virtuoso player. Well worth a listen. This thread is proving interesting reading. I currently have a Stagg EDB and while I was playing it last night, it all kind of gel'd. For the first time I felt like I actually "got" the instrument. of course, that's now started me thinking about getting a proper double. I know we haven't got the room, but I have abig birthday coming up and they look and sound soooo sexy... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassBus Posted August 6, 2009 Share Posted August 6, 2009 (edited) AxelF has a DB up in the for sale section [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=56677"]here[/url]. Nice price too. I know it's a bit out of your price range but have a look anyway. Edited August 6, 2009 by BassBus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
acidbass Posted August 13, 2009 Share Posted August 13, 2009 [quote name='Andyalfa' post='561703' date='Aug 6 2009, 09:10 AM']+1 for Danny Thompson. What TONE. He did a brief solo, backing the Blind Boys of Alabama on Jools Holland which makes the hairs on my neck stand on end every time I hear it. He was also in a band called Pentangle, a top notch jazz/folk combo back in the late 60's. There was some footage of them on BBC4 recently showing yet another wonderful solo from Mr Thompson.[/quote] +1 to everything said above. I haven't seen the Blind Boys Of Alabama video, going to check it out now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikey D Posted August 14, 2009 Share Posted August 14, 2009 Apart from the Major's list as that is almost exactly who I'd recommend... Some 'newer' guys Drew Gress and Larry Grenadier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassace Posted August 14, 2009 Share Posted August 14, 2009 Could I also suggest that you look down the posts to 'French Connection' and get a look at Mike Arnopol. Good example of thumb position playing. One way or another every player has been mentioned on these posts; why are Ray Brown and Danny Thompson alike - although their music is very different? The answer has to be that they both extract such a big sound from the bass, all down to a good right hand technique. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joerattray Posted August 26, 2009 Share Posted August 26, 2009 (edited) Miroslav Vitous is worth a look too. His playing on Chick's Now He Sings, Now He Sobs is incredible, especially for being so young at the time. His solo albums are very interesting too. I'm not sure if anyone has mentioned Ron Carter, definately check out his work with Miles' 60s quintet. I love the 1964 concert record. Edgar Meyer is a fantastic player. And Charlie Mingus is an obvious starting point. +1 for Ray Brown, Dave Holland and basically everyone else mentioned so far. Edited August 26, 2009 by joerattray Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
padmavyuha Posted August 26, 2009 Share Posted August 26, 2009 I wondered when Mingus was going to get a mention . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beardybass Posted August 31, 2009 Share Posted August 31, 2009 (edited) A big fat plus 1 to everyone that's been mentioned, I'd like to add Larry Taylor, now playing with Tom Waits. Also.... This maniac, Renaud Garcia-Fons, French-Catalan bass monster, saw him live playing the tracks from this album a few years ago, changed my life, and I mean that absolutely whole-heartedly. [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXt6htVi3C4&feature=PlayList&p=644D2174F442B74F&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=3"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXt6htVi3C4...=PL&index=3[/url] Forgot to mention he plays a 5 string. Edited August 31, 2009 by beardybass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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