leroybasslines

[quote name='BassBus' post='1144621' date='Feb 28 2011, 04:39 PM']If you're thinking of going that far why not give the Violin Shop in Glasgow a call. They usually have 10-15 basses in stock at all sorts of different prices. All professionally set up as well. I bought my Stentor Arcadia for £1500 there and a number of people have commented on how good it sounds. [url="http://www.theviolinshop-glasgow.co.uk/bass_room.html"]http://www.theviolinshop-glasgow.co.uk/bass_room.html[/url][/quote] +1 on the Stentors. I have one that I bought for a grand from a classical player who was upgrading to a mega-bucks German 200 year old instrument for her orchestral playing. She'd been playing the Stentor since she started out but it wasn't quite up to the highly refined world of top level classical music. It's a great entry level instrument that can be used beyond starting out. I'd recommend buying from a player if you can - it was great to talk frankly with the previous owner about the bass and find out about its history, bumps and scrapes and character. In my experience, double bass players are very honest about their instruments and their shortcomings and good points. At the very least, try and get to a shop that has a range of basses to play. I've heard the Thomann instruments are really good, but I personally would be worried about not playing them before buying. Acoustic instruments with such major variations in construction, tone and dimensions as the double bass have to be taken one at a time! No two are alike. When I bought my bass, I tried to play as many different instruments as possible and some were truly duds for me despite much salesmanship on the phone and in the shop! P.S. I've never been to Thwaites but they have a very good reputation. I'd say they'd be the ideal place to go and play a range of basses and chat with folks who know what they're talking about. Give them a ring before you go to tell them what you're after and they'll sort you out I reckon! Sounds like a fun day out!

[quote name='lettsguitars' post='1135019' date='Feb 21 2011, 02:49 AM']there's a recommended luthier thread here somewhere. surely there must be one near you. what do you need doing?[/quote] I've had a quick look for that thread (about 15 seconds...a proper boy look as my wife would call it) and I can't find a recommended luthier thread. If someone can find it, it ought to be a sticky! Along with an upright bass shop list. MODS!

I had a crack repaired by a guy in Bristol Violin Shop and he did a great job - saved the bass really. He was worried the top would have to be removed but that wouldn't have been cost effective on a bass like mine. I begged and he managed to do some keyhole surgery! I think he's freelance but works in their workshop upstairs from the showroom. Can't remember his name, but he was described to me as their cello/bass specialist. Give them a call - 0117 9259990. I'm sure they'd have some good suggestions at the very least.

[quote name='Gareth Hughes' post='1123097' date='Feb 10 2011, 07:45 PM']And remember- IF IT HURTS, STOP!!!!!!!![/quote] Amen to that! If you play with an injury, just like a sportsman you'll end up doing more damage and hampering a recovery. Playing DB has increased my strength and stamina when playing EB a huge amount, but I have overdone it in the past and even though I thought I should play through that (remember the blisters when you started playing as a kid?!) it ended up being counter-productive because I couldn't play at all for a while afterwards. I broke my wrist a number of years ago and a lifetime of football goalkeeping has had its effect on my hands so I have to be careful; it doesn't prevent me from playing at all but I need to be careful and listen to my body about when to have a day off! I like the look of those powerballs guys! How do they work exactly? How do you feel they help? It might be worth seeing a physio - there are some that have a very good knowledge of musicians and their many stresses and strains. I just googled 'physiotherapy for musicians' and got this page which might be a start: [url="http://www.musicandhealth.co.uk/health.html"]http://www.musicandhealth.co.uk/health.html[/url] (I notice you're in Edinburgh and some of the links are specific to Scotland. Check them out!).

Just got my EBS BassIQ from John. Easy to deal with - no fuss and nonsense! Pedal was exactly as described and even came with a battery included! Thoroughly recommended.

I've heard good things about Thomann basses. Not played a 33 to be honest. I think a lot of them are also made by Gewa and [url="http://www.strunal.cz/"]Strunal[/url]. The topic of Thomann basses comes up pretty regularly on Talk Bass, so it might be worth searching through the double bass forums over there. This chap Mike seems especially knowledgeable and helpful: [url="http://www.talkbass.com/forum/member.php?u=112313"]http://www.talkbass.com/forum/member.php?u=112313[/url]. He's a Greek classical bassist and his knowledge of European basses is pretty impressive. He'll be able to tell you exactly what the bass is and where it's made and probably what it's like. The only worry I have with Thomann is that you can't get to play the bass yourself unless you know someone over here that has got one. I think this is more of an issue with a large acoustic instrument like a double bass than with an electric bass. I bought a Lakland EB online without playing it because I've played other similar basses by them and I could make certain assumptions. Would I do that with a double bass? Not sure...I'd have to have a pretty awesome recommendation by someone I trust implicitly!

As he is mentioned elsewhere in this forum, Squarepusher did a solo bass album called "Solo Electric Bass 1". (http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=327222155&s=143444&affId=1382715) Here is a live rendition of one of the tracks:

As an aside, just noticed that the track I posted just now, Tundra, has a drum track made from the famous [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amen_break"]Amen Break[/url]. Genius!

[quote name='skej21' post='1120311' date='Feb 8 2011, 05:26 PM']The playlist is amazing, but I keep finding myself drawn to 'Show Me The Real You'... The other tracks in the playlist are incredible, but as an avid following/fan of Pino, I think that track in particular captures something REALLY magical in Pino's playing. That track would be nothing without Pino's part in it.[/quote] Totally agree! That's why he's so in demand I guess...he really can polish a turd! I'm being harsh to show off, but it's a little bit true...

[quote name='Conan' post='1119812' date='Feb 8 2011, 09:46 AM']Can't honestly say that I like all of his stuff, but some of it is incredible! Amazing player and a very talented guy.[/quote] I [i]love[/i] Squarepusher! I kind of like the fact that I can't possibly like everything he does...it's impossible to like everything he does! He pushes everything as far as it can go: his creativity, his technical ability, my listening, my preconceptions. Whatever it is, he pushes it. Thanks for bringing him up, OP! Two great tracks: [i]Tundra [/i]from [i]Feed Me Weird Things[/i] - no bass playing but stunning percussion programming and composition: [i]Chunk S[/i] from [i]Music Is Rotted One Note[/i] - BADASS bass playing in a more conventional but still kind of twisted way. The difference in approach to those two tracks blows my mind. Same dude though...only 2 years and a handful of albums apart. Brilliant.

[quote name='Gareth Hughes' post='1120484' date='Feb 8 2011, 07:42 PM']They do have a volume boost when engaged - BUT they can be modded to solve that. Bigwan here added a volume control on mine to turn down the output of the effect and it's so the dogs danglies now. So much so that I just sold my EBS BassIQ (even tho it's more versatile and half the size) and I'm debating about whether or not to get a 3 Leaf Audio Proton. Yes, the Mini Q-Tron is fairly limited in what it can do, but what it does it does damn well, IMO. The Micro Q-Tron of it as The Ramones of envelope filters.[/quote] Thanks for that Gareth. Ironically, I've literally this second just bought a BassIQ for a nice price from warwickhunt on here! I guess that I'm well and truly enveloped in the world of filters now. I saw a Q-Tron on eBay for £36, which is why I was asking for thoughts on it. (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200573703241&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT#ht_796wt_1139 if you're interested. Seems a good deal. Don't know the seller though.) Nick - it'd be great to come round and play with your toys anyway sometime! I can show you my new Lakland too. Shall we make a date?!

[quote name='Stickman' post='1120233' date='Feb 8 2011, 04:21 PM']There's electric bass in the left channel and double bass in the right; Reggie Washington is also on the album so I would say the double bass is him.[/quote] Do you know what, I was playing along to it last night and I thought there might be two basses on it. I like the idea of having an EB and a DB on one track...nice! Thanks for helping me out with that one!

Thanks Doddy - that's what I wanted to know! Cheers.

[quote name='mcnach' post='1117689' date='Feb 6 2011, 02:27 PM']I haven't tried all the options presented here, but I'll tell you why I would go for the J-Retro in your situation: 1) I know it sounds great 2) It is the only one with a mid frequency sweep, and this is tremendously useful. It has a pretty wide sweep. So when I decide I want to "add" something, I just turn the mid knob up a bit and scan with the mid-sweep until I find the sound I want. If I want to reduce an annoying frequency, I do the converse. 3) You can turn off the preamp entirely and have your passive sound, if you wish (you will lose the tone controls then, 'though). If your battery dies and you did not pay attention to the signs (it doesn't die suddenly, you'll have enough warnings!), flip it to passive and keep playing. 4) Installation is a 5 min job. Solderless. Easily reversible. It does not require you alter your bass, as the preamp and battery fit inside the control cavity. So just keep the original plate when you remove it, and if you decide to restore it, it'll be extremely simple.[/quote] +1 to all of this! I haven't had much experience of the other preamps, but the J Retro will take some beating. A superb piece of kit and I'll never not have one on any serious bass of mine! What impresses me about it, aside from what mcnach highlighted above is that it really does [i]enhance [/i] the natural sound of the bass.

Hi there, Still about to dabble in the world of filter pedals. I see many Micro Q-Trons around the place and they look pretty reasonable price wise and therefore perhaps a good place to start. Does anyone have experience of using them with the bass? Are they worth a punt to start a filter journey or would it be a false economy and I'd be better off spending another 30 quid and getting something more focussed on bass and with more quality? Any opinions most gratefully received! Cheers, Liam

[quote name='phsycoandy' post='1115555' date='Feb 4 2011, 04:29 PM']Well quite, but heres a little lady to tempt you as to what's to come! [/quote] Whit woo! Were's me screw driver...

[quote name='Lo.' post='1116047' date='Feb 4 2011, 11:56 PM']Great playlist. Thanks![/quote] Hey, those of you that are listening to the playlist, check out [i]Pastor T[/i] by Roy Hargrove. Great track! I especially like the drumming on it and the almost jamming vibe going on. The low key, minimal funk bass playing led me to think Pino was playing on it (I don't have any kind of personnel listing for the album)...but listening closely the other day I think it's a double bass now! When it breaks down near the middle I can hear some fingerboard growl and slap going on. Do you agree that it's double bass? The player isn't playing in a traditional double bass way - the line is punchy and aggressively on the 1 like an electric player. And if it is...that can't be Pino can it? I've never seen or heard of him playing upright. I'd be delighted if you say he does though!

[quote name='phsycoandy' post='1115538' date='Feb 4 2011, 04:20 PM']Had a DPLE 2 Jobo with an east in as standard, best neck i've ever played and a fabulous eq to boot, can't go wrong![/quote] That's what I thought! I had the Retro in my Fender Jazz and I loved it. Don't want to rush it onto the Lakland though...seems rude somehow. One should get to know a lady before one takes liberties like that...

Wahey! Another thread I can post pics of my new Lakland Skyline 5560 Custom in! Excellent news. Been playing it non-stop for a couple of days now, and I love it. A beautiful bass to play. [attachment=71130:photo1.JPG] [attachment=71132:photo2.JPG] [attachment=71133:photo3.JPG] Once I've had time to play with it, I'm going to put my J Retro 01 in it. Anyone else used a Retro in a Lakland? How'd it go for you if you have? Liam.

Hiya! Kidwelly eh? I'm from Carmarthen as it happens. Tidy! Living in Bristol now though. Welcome.

Just adding a few things into the playlist based on what his Wiki says he's been up to recently. Check out this with Jeff Beck and Joss Stone: [url="http://open.spotify.com/track/0K0ZhXX3E3TO1feHSCh6P1"]http://open.spotify.com/track/0K0ZhXX3E3TO1feHSCh6P1[/url] That octave riff is MASSIVE! I've just decided to buy an OC-2.