I did it.... now with photos

[Steve A]

[quote name='Bilbo' post='889645' date='Jul 8 2010, 04:19 PM']There are two more bookcases full - Waterstones in Oxford Street couldn't compete!![/quote]

Pics please, ha ha!

[Bilbo]

Stuck the Evah's on this afternoon. First thoughts are it is warmer but not louder so I will try a professional set up next (I had to fit the bridge myself on delivery and may have missed something). Arco is easier with the new strings though. Am using a Finale Carbon Fiber French bow and the German bow that came with the bass. The German is easier to use but the French soounds better so I will stick with it.

Using the Simandl and a couple of books by Neil Tarlton inc one on the Sevcik method of studying bowing technique. I like the logic and it seems to be paying dividends as my arco playing is improving after only two weeks.

[TPJ]

[quote name='Bilbo' post='895904' date='Jul 15 2010, 07:43 PM']Stuck the Evah's on this afternoon. First thoughts are it is warmer but not louder...[/quote]

I noticed the same with the Evah Wiechs. They are skinnier than the Honey's and more focused but not louder as reported by many.

[quote name='Bilbo' post='895904' date='Jul 15 2010, 07:43 PM']Am using a Finale Carbon Fiber French bow and the German bow that came with the bass. The German is easier to use but the French sounds better so I will stick with it.[/quote]

If you fancy selling the German bow I would be interested.

[Bilbo]

Got a double bass stand off DJM. Tigermusic stand. Solid enough. £30 + p+p. Recommended it if anyone was considering it.

Did another trio gig last Sunday - paino player couldn't play under 380 bpm so I have a nice blister for my trouble. Bless

[thisnameistaken]

How are you getting along with the Evahs now? I had a go on another bass last week strung with Spirocores which I quite liked, especially the feel they were really twangy, but I got the feeling they would sound too bright for me overall.

[Bilbo]

I am now locked into that battle with double bass strings where I find I like them one minute and not the next and start talking myself into wanting Spiros or whatever. At the gig on Sunday, the E and A strings sounded HUGE and really growly but the D, G and C strings were a bit less satisfying. Was it me, was it the bass or was it the strings? Ask me again tomorrow and I will probably give you a different answer. More to the point, I felt, with hindsight, that the volume, poor sound and freneticism of the pianist undermined my own sound as I was concentrating on keeping up/in time rather than on the more musical aspects of the art. In short, I suspect I would have sounded better with more sensitive accompaniment.

I think I need to concentrate on the music and let the sound develop as it does for now. As my technique beds in, I will get more of an idea of what works. It sounds pretty good on its own and in recordings so it is probably an amplification thing as much as a string thing. I also want to get it professionally set up but have to wait for the cash to present itself before I can proceed!!

[thisnameistaken]

I think I'm going through the same thing. I thought my bass sounded boxy and dull and I was thinking about changing strings until I played it in the living room and suddenly it sounded open and woody and lively... It's hard to tell what a bass sounds like when you're standing behind it anyway.

[TPJ]

[quote name='thisnameistaken' post='908018' date='Jul 28 2010, 11:42 AM']I think I'm going through the same thing. I thought my bass sounded boxy and dull and I was thinking about changing strings until I played it in the living room and suddenly it sounded open and woody and lively... It's hard to tell what a bass sounds like when you're standing behind it anyway.[/quote]

Every room is different. Front room playing can sound sooo different then on a gig. My bass sounded it's best outside

I feel for you guys about finding the right string. I'm a "just get on with it" sort of player (which is by no means for everyone) and I just do my best to make great sounds with what I have. My struggle is with string height. I like it high but it makes soloing difficult, but I just plow on.

I hope you get settled down sooner than later so you can play and have fun.

[Mike]

Congrats Bilbo!

Funny you mention Bernie Hodgkins - he's a great guy. I played his 5string double at a jazz jam recently. I'm just getting into double myself the past few months.

[thisnameistaken]

[quote name='TPJ' post='908208' date='Jul 28 2010, 02:06 PM']Every room is different. Front room playing can sound sooo different then on a gig. My bass sounded it's best outside

I feel for you guys about finding the right string. I'm a "just get on with it" sort of player (which is by no means for everyone) and I just do my best to make great sounds with what I have. My struggle is with string height. I like it high but it makes soloing difficult, but I just plow on.

I hope you get settled down sooner than later so you can play and have fun.[/quote]

Oh I'm already having fun, I play it just about every day, it's standing in a corner in my dining room and I can't walk past without turning it around and plunking a tune out, and I try to get an hour or so to work on "proper music learning" with it in the evenings if I can. Which I'm about to start...

[Bilbo]

I am working through Neil Tarlton's books at the moment and focussing on very small details liek position shifting. It is having a really positive effect on my playing. Its a real case of slow and steady/less is more and I am finding that, by spending less time ripping it up with Scott LaFaro transcriptions, I am making steadier progress in both arco and pizz.

[thisnameistaken]

I did my first gig on DB tonight, doing an "unplugged" set of my reggae/punk band's tunes with just guitar, bass and a pared down drum set, and three vox, and two kazoos (mine wobblily mounted on a copper wire hooked around my tuners). I even used the bow on an intro and I didn't f*** it up - go me!

A professional double bassist was in the crowd and afterwards collared me for a natter about some gigs I might want to do, so I presumably wasn't astonishingly sh*t.

Loved it, would do it again.

[Bilbo]

[quote name='thisnameistaken' post='928272' date='Aug 18 2010, 01:12 AM']A professional double bassist was in the crowd and afterwards collared me for a natter about some gigs I might want to do, so I presumably wasn't astonishingly sh*t.

Loved it, would do it again.[/quote]

Looks like you might have to

[thisnameistaken]

I will need a bigger car though. Got my DB, amp and associated gubbins in the wee Daihatsu but if I had to carry bass guitars and pedals too I would need to put stuff in the passenger seat.

[thisnameistaken]

Got to play with four other bassists in a "section" today backing some pop bands on a few songs. I've decided I love the bow and I'm going to work a lot harder on it from now on.

Everybody had a nicer bass than me though, mine was the only one with a ply top.

[fatback]

[quote name='thisnameistaken' post='928553' date='Aug 18 2010, 12:35 PM']I will need a bigger car though. Got my DB, amp and associated gubbins in the wee Daihatsu but if I had to carry bass guitars and pedals too I would need to put stuff in the passenger seat.[/quote]


[url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=99944&st=0&p=934927&#entry934927"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=...mp;#entry934927[/url]

[Bilbo]

Just got hold of a FIshman Pro Platinum from uke. Can't wait to hear in but won't get to for days as my amp is in for repair (just and internal 'clean up' for the frying bacon).

[Bilbo]

I am now a few years in with this bass and play regularly with some of the UK's greatest Jazz musicians: Art Themen, Jim Mullen, Alan Barnes, Nigel ORice, John Etheridge etc etc. The bass never lets me down; I do , but the bass doesn't . Here is a more recent sample...

https://soundcloud.com/robert-palmer-1/estate

[stingrayPete1977]

I'm looking forward to listening to this when I've got some proper speakers hooked up