AndyBass

Thanks for signposting that Krivo, looks a decent deal especially if it's a cut above the Schaller. But let's face it the main reason is that I'm playing psychobilly and the Krivo is black...🤘That said I'm not in an immediate rush so I'll be hanging over the classifieds on the offchance one or other comes up. Thanks for the advice.

Hi - I've been playing some super-loud gigs and recently and I'm tired of feedback, despite a million Macguyver-style attempts to get round it. So I'm thinking it might be time to switch to a mag pickup. Any recommendations for a good mag pickup and some good low tension (lower the better) strings which will work with one? All advice gratefully received 🙏

As with anything, its supply and demand. If you need to sell and no one's looking to buy, I've seen good basses knocked down to crazy (IMO) prices, including on here. Vintage laminate basses like Kays and Kings hold or gain value because of their perceived qualities and because there will never be any more of them. Carved basses may hold value a little better but typically you're looking at the higher end, older ones. A new carved Gedo, Archer it whatever isn't going to be much different to a 3, 6 or perhaps even 10 year old one so it may lose value, dependent on how long you can wait for a sale. There's no hard and fast rule I'm afraid.

I say just buy it and have hundreds of pounds of fun with it so you don't have to care if you make every penny back 😀 consider it an investment in the joy of playing, looking badass on stage and wasting money trying to find the right strings. You'll be in good company.

They look nice, I reckon my set would be improved with a wrapped A, that's the only one that's started to go a bit dead now. Hope you like 'em. And if not sell them to me really cheap 😉

Yeah I'm happy with it. Never needed to separate out the signals,  but then I like the keep complexity to a minimum. The only thing that's a pain is having the gain and EQ inside the box but that's not solved by the newer version.

On a related note someone sent me a "sticky note" which I saw had a picture of a k&k preamp on it just as I clicked to get rid, assuming it was the usual "dear guest" junk that's always there when I first log in. So apologies for not responding whoever that was from. I'm pretty low tech as I say.

As I recall, the older preamp (which I have) blends the two signals into one mono output, whereas the newer one gives the option of mixed or separating out the fingerboard output. The colour of writing isn't  a reliable differentiator though, as there was a later yellow-writing version with the option to split. Oh my god what a nerd I have become.

What I should add I suppose is that if you do get more slappable strings (acknowledging you can slap any strings if you're determined enough) the "weedwacker" type ones such as those I suggest above (so named as they're basically like strimmer cable) tend to be fatter, which may mean you need to widen the slots in the bridge and nut accordingly. Apologies if I'm stating the obvious but didn't want you to go down that route then find it was more complicated than you'd thought.

Get some Superior Bassworks or similar - they claim to be suitable for 1/2 size basses, are incredibly easy to slap and you can always just cut the ends off if they're too long to wind in the pegbox. Sorted.  And they're incredibly cheap, which is probably the only time you'll hear that said of anything in this forum 😁

Yeah that's fine. You should see the hash jobs I've done just because I got bored of/carried away with filing a gap in the bridge. They do break if too tightly squished so as long as it moves but doesn't flop out you're sorted.

Not sure about your taste in rugs tho 😁

On 15/03/2018 at 15:11, Marc S said:

Cheers for sharing that advice AndyBass - I've not come across "twister" before....  where can I get some?
 

Hi - the Twister string is one of the Gut-a-like range, a copper-wrapped E. Definitely more usable than the standard E which has the tone and definition you'd expect from a bit of washing line. They sell them through Thomann etc.

All this talk of Innovations is making me way to put my golden slaps back on and give them another go! 

If you're used to gut-a-likes and change for a new brand you'll find any of the Innovation "slaps" quite thin and snappy by comparison. Better sustain but higher tension, theyll solve your problem but will feel different. If you like the gut-a-likes and just get a new E, the "twister" E (copper wound) they make matches great, used that in my main gigging bass for some 3 years now. I have a Presto Ultralight that would match well too. An Innovation E would feel weird on its own as the thickness would be like a Gut-a-like D.

Your post suggests you like the strings you have but the E has deadened beyond usefulness over time. If that's the case and you otherwise like the strings I'd just get a snappier E, as the Gut-a-like is a bit floppy (currently using one with Superior Bassworks A-G on my back-up bass tho)

Good call - got one on my other bass, and would get another but they cost a fair whack. Sorted a Presto E to have a go with so we shall see!

Thanks guys, really appreciate it. Reckon I'll try the Presto to start with 

I've just strung some Superior Bassworks on one of my basses and while I love them for slap, it's fair to say the E is unusable. Tried a Duke gut-a-like and it's no better. I have a bunch of Innovations (golden slaps, rockabillys) but the E is too thin to feel right against the SBW strings. So I'm thinking I need something with the fatness of a fake gut E but wrapped for extra twang. And low budget ideally! Any suggestions? Thanks

Those are actually mine 😁, but in trying to figure out what to ask for them I found out they were making them again, so posted that info here.

Don't know if the OP got hold of some or if this has already been mentioned elsewhere, but Nicholas and Ivan have been selling some new sets recently, so looks like they're back in production, albeit in the same small numbers.

That's nice. What model?

Not really to do with the sound - the type of thing I play it doesn't make too much difference and the practicality of EUBs is a big plus, I just prefer the aesthetic and feel of the big chunk of wood, plus I move around a lot and I find them less stable because of being so light and stick-y. Not offering mine up for sale just now I'm afraid but happy to help with info as needed and if you don't win this EBay one but are still into the idea, you're welcome to try it if you pass Sheffield any time.

You want measurements or anything give me a shout. It's exactly the same bass, and my converted one plays nicely and sounds fine. Gigged it a few times (don't really like gigging eub) but generally bows well, slaps well, amplifies well, and cheap. whats not to like?

New holes go here...

I've got a Stagg eub switched right to left. I got a better man than myself to do it, but it cost very little and basically involved switching round the obvious bits then drilling a few new holes for the brackets. The bracket that pokes out into your midsection is the only one I'd say you need (is the only one I use anyway), stops it rotating away from you

A few suggestions based on my limited experience.

Strings: Silver slaps (or golden slaps or rockabillys) will do you fine. They'll also save you £50+ against most string brands, yet theyre used by various pros, etc they're not a "budget" choice. Also if you decide you want to try bowing, they, unlike a lot of strings better suited to slap/pizz, can be bowed. Try and avoid the trap of thinking you need to buy a million strings to find the perfect set. Your first set will last you ages, just practice on those and get good. People just love to throw money at double bass for some reason.

String height: If you're not sure what you want, I suggest string height of 8-10mm for each string at the end of the fingerboard. This is a rule of thumb used by a lot of people at the start. An adjustable bridge would be a good idea. Shims do work, not that I want to open that can of worms again, but the best option is to just have the right tool for the job. You should be able to learn anything you want with a height of 8-10mm, adjustment up or down will then just make it easier or sound better

Slap: I always recommend The Ungentle Art and Slapology DVDs as the ones that best show the techniques. There's some good and some bad stuff on YouTube, but as there's no "right way" to do it, just watch stuff and try it out. Spend some time with someone who does it well if you can, that helps too (thanks again to Paul King and Adam Richards, their time helped me no end). Maybe you can find someone local on here, or at a double bass bash if that happens again, or just at a gig

Hope that's some help. Double bass is a great instrument, stick at it and it'll pay off in all kinds of ways.

Here's my suggestion to learn slap:
1.buy/borrow The Ungentle Art and Slapology
2.practice lots. Practice the techniques first, then practice them along to stuff
3.when youre 90% happy but there's something you've seen/heard that you can't do, find a slap player who can do stuff the way you want to and cajole them into giving you an hour of their time to get some pointers
4.practice that stuff

Done. Then when you realise there's nothing left to learn, convince yourself you don't sound good enough and spend ££££s trying to find the perfect set of strings

I'm afraid I'm not near Cardiff, but I'd say good things about Gutalikes. I had the wrapped E and, for me, they have a really nice tension and feel. I've used them on my main gigging bass for 3 years or so now (same set). Great for slap, decent for pizz, just don't ever try to bow them.

Now sorted courtesy of Vic's Pickups. Cheers