lowlandtrees

I think that the main problem up here in the frozen ....ok drizzling..north is a lack of choice and face to face unbias info. I have been playing DB for around six years and only recently came across my teacher. He is an old fella and was a pro top orchestral player all around the country...it has been 50-60 years since he was a beginner and sometimes struggles to explain stuff. I am pleased that I met him though...I really am too old to load up the bass and travel 50 miles on a wet Tuesday night in winter to a half hour lesson. In a couple of years I may feel motivated to invest a wodge in a better bow but can’t justify that presently.

Kevin i am in Stirling. Really struggled to find a teacher. The one that I have is ok but have read good things about a woman near George Sq. the Violin Shop near the Kelvin Hall has a decent stock of bows. I paid £200 for my carbon fibre bow but you can pay a lot less(and a lot more). I play German bow because there was a German bow with the bass that I bought...everyone I talk to plays french bow. Definitely get a teacher...you very quickly develop bad habits that you then have to unlearn. Not sure if a cellist would help or not, maybe others have a view on that?

My EA doubler micro stopped working tonight. Do I send it back to EA or find a local amp engineer. Anyone had any experience with EA servicing etc?

I changed the strings to Evah hybrids that I bought from a basschatter. Not sure of the type of string. They are very smooth and shiny. Except for the E string they bow well and pizz also nicely but lack volume. I took the fingerboard pickup and taped it to the body ...looks stinky poo but very pleased with the amplified sound. The E will need to be changed as it needs a higher tension string. No idea what to try. The silver slap E certainly doesn’t fit in.

I don’t mind practicing twice a week...I aim to practice personally for at least an hour every day...I love playing. This particular band was not local though. I also like a week between rehearsals to work on stuff. The problem with small towns, however, is the lack of musicians so I am prepared to travel but preferably at the weekend

I do like the song that they provided and could get on with them. My only discrepancy was that they practice twice a week...which would be ok if they lived locally but it a 40 min drive in good traffic but possibly double that in rush hour....on a wet winter Wednesday night? The gigging ideas were good... ages were strange....30s late 40s and me ...older still...but for me it is still about the music and the commitment to it....the creativity and the openness to different ideas and sounds

Well I thought that the piece that they sent me to learn went ok. Had to go through it a couple of times...the vocalist wasn’t there so there was no vocal cues. I was nervous though and went to bits when we started jamming. Buggered that up. Thought they were very sound people and got on well but I felt very ...strange...not good...about being one of five people that they were auditioning that afternoon. Guess that is what the likes of actors do every day. Glad I don’t have to make a living from this.

Bloody hell. I have had this machine for three years and ....ok I haven’t read the manual...rarely do..ahem..never noticed those trim pots. I feel like a complete wally and at the same time elated. Thanks. Better get my hands on a manual eh

The EA is 300 w. I have a K&K pup but wrecked it during a jam one night. Can’t afford to replace it so I stuck in a Realist that I have. I hadn’t anticipated so much fiddling. With the EA/wizzy it was very much plug and play but not enough volume.....with one speaker anyway. Just got an opportunity for a greenboy and went for it. Think I will have to spend some fiddling time before I use it in anger. Was never really a fan of the realist.

Two different things. I was trying out my new gear and found two duff leads. Additionally my new set up just does not seem to ‘work’. Just got myself a Greenboy F112 and a tonebone. I thought that I would just plug and play but that is not gonna happen. Need to experiment or get an amp more suited to the Fearless. I don’t really have anywhere that I can turn up the volume.

Well I say that I feel out of my depth but the recording that they sent is a polished studio production full of samples etc ....synth bass etc. I really like the music...sorta trip hop. Been trying to set up this sound with others for ages and bands don’t play this stuff up here anymore.

Thanks everyone. All great advice....get this......tried out my stuff today....duff main lead.....and hate the sound of my new set up. Bugger. Gotta get into town tomorrow and buy decent leads and work on my gear.

Just had my first real blast with my new set up and don’t really like it much so far. I am using a radial tonebone pre and a Realist pup. Nothing seems to line up. Probably just have to mess about with the knobs but have a first meet with a band on Sunday so need it sorted. The Greenboy has a huge sound but boxy. Maybe just doesn’t suit the Euphonic Audio. I am mixing pizz and bow. Bow sounds better. Might have to crawl back and apologise to my Wizzy M line.

Ok. I know all the stuff about relax, be yourself and enjoy but other than these, what prep would you do prior to auditioning for a new band? It is an originals only set and they have sent a song that I will learn but other than that....just do the usual? Been years/decades since I auditioned and they appear pretty good technically and I feel a bit out of my depth.

Recently started bowing lessons. At present I don’t want to change the strings as I still pluck and slap and secondly can’t justify the expense. My question to you bowers is firstly, is there anyone who bows similar strings successfully and secondly, is there anything I can do to improve the quality of the sound eg different bow hair. I have lightly sanded the strings to remove the slip and improve the grip and use soft resin but the low E still feels weak. I have a carbon fibre bow that is a bit light but generally happy with.

One of the people that used to work for stringers is a guy called McHugh (can’t mind first name). He now works out of a workshop in Alloa. It is a small place so he doesn’t encourage DBs although he has done a couple of set ups for me

I have a Kania da gamba eub. Don’t think that the Thoman stand would stop the instrument spinning. I emailed Kania and they were very unhelpful. Told me to ‘have one made’. There is an off centre drilled hole in the back that looks as if some kind of clamp would fit in it. The Hamilton looks the business but can’t find a UK supplier

Looking for an eub stand. I believe that eminence use Hamilton KB 550. Can’t find one in the UK. Any ideas? Don’t want to go to the trouble of importing from us if I can help it