AndyBass

That's well pretty. Congratulations!

If you're playing bluegrass, you probably do want steels as a lot of bluegrass is acoustic and you'll get more acoustic volume out of steels (typically). Likewise the slap you'll tend to find in bluegrass isn't all drag triplets and stuff, more a plucked note with the palm slap (or however you choose to do it) to punctuate the notes, tying in with the mandolin chops, fiddle or whatever. So steels are no harder than any other string for that, maybe better because you get a nice "click" rather than a "thunk". If you're wanting to do loads of flashy slap stuff tho you'll probably find synthetic strings a lot easier on your fingers. Whether they're easier or not to do cool stuff with sort of depends. Steels set up low to the fingerboard can help you do some flashy, fast stuff maybe easier than you could on synthetics/guts, but personally I find it far easier to play big fat synthetic strings - I find them easier on my fingers, prefer the tone, prefer the price... The only steels I've used are some random no-name ones and Jargar Dolces. Didn't like either for slap, I found it hard because I don't have the right technique - I'm used to a higher setup and a fatter string. But there are those who can do amazing stuff on Jargars, for example. In short if it's bluegrass "slap" your after you may want to stick with steels. For fancier stuff, it's personal taste. Maybe buy Clarky's dirt cheap Gutalikes off the Classifieds and see if you prefer them to the Spirocores!

A little off topic but I'll just add my voice to Rabbie's - the Gut-a-Likes with the wrapped E feel and sound great. They came with my Duke bass and I have a set of Lambert Gut Twin 47 still in the box that I just haven't got round to swapping in yet because the Gut-a-Likes do the trick so well. Looking forward to comparing them one day tho. Back to topic, I won't be going after Nics new strings. Money aside I've tried that quad thing Paul does in the video on Rockabillys, Gut-a-Likes, Dolces and I've realised it ain't the strings that's holding me back, it's relentless practice! Can't beat money-saving revelations! But I'll read any reviews with keen interest...

I'm currently working toward my Gr4 so Gr8 feels even further away to me! Good luck with it anyway. I find my biggest trouble is getting time to practice between non-bass stuff (work, baby) and frankly more enjoyable bass stuff (bands, fun slap stuff). Bow technique, reading and intonation have all improved since I started the ABRSM route though so I'm convinced it's worth persevering!

Thomas doesn't ship basses himself but they ship them to Bassico, who then ship to the UK. I had to get a lefty made so had to order direct y'see. Sadly my Duke won't be in attendance at the Bash now either due to gigs and such that week

Just bought a Yitamusic French bow from David, he let me know when it was sent, gave me a tracking number, packed the bow as securely as if it were a Ming vase and was generally a pleasure to deal with.

And the address of a decent luthier just in case.

Things I'd suggest you need (if you're not amping up): bow (until you're good, my experience is they sound and play broadly the same so about £100 max seems sensible especially if you buy used - though that's heresy to some), rosin (cheap as chips), bag (Hidersine one for £60 has done the job for me for a few years and is padded as owt). Everything else can be improvised (most phones can download an app for tuning for example) or you don't really need anyway. Trolley/wheel maybe if you have a bad back or something. Most of the players who'll inspire you won't have had much more than the very basics. That said it can be easy to become very acquisitive when it comes to bass gear

Sorry I normally play double bass so don't know what a neck pocket is...there's no serial externally anywhere so am assuming I need to unscrew something?

Finally got a bass back I loaned out years ago as may need to flog it for a few quid. Trying to pin down the model but no sign of a model no. anywhere! Anyone got any ideas? Any help very much appreciated!! Please ignore my freaky foot on the photo...

So...my bow broke, I need a new one. I play a 3/4 bass. Do I need a 3/4 bow or a 4/4 bow? My old one was thrown in with my first bass from Ebay so have never had to buy one before. Thanks, sorry for starting a topic to answer such a painfully simple question but whereas I've manged to educate myself on most bass-related stuff using forum searches and Google, I'm damned if I could find a simple answer on this anywhere!

Out of interest, having recently found myself unfortunately in the market for an affordable bow, what kind of import charges are you stung for on the Yitamusic bows?

My bass took a tumble a while back and came off with a bit of a battle scar and some scuffs. Just wondering whether anyone knows of anything/anyone that can make it beeyootiful again? I keep thinking of that old Yellow Pages ad, where the kid scratched his parents' table while they were on holiday and he got a French polisher round...Anyway, any ideas? Or should I just make up a cooler story about how it happened?

Here's my Duke 2-Tone (strung with gut-a-likes and the copper-wound E) and Strunal 50/4 with "Blond Special" front, strung with Jargar Dolces. And a Fender slab looking distinctly less cool by comparison.

I can bring a Genz Benz Stl 3.0 10T amp (so the really little one) and a converted L/H Stagg EUB if anyone cares, and either a steel-strung L/H Strunal 50/4 or a L/H Duke 2-Tone. I'm happy to bring either if anyone has a burning desire to play a L/H version of either

Obviously it'll be cool just to put faces and basses to Basschat handles, but having never been involved in something of this ilk before, what are people going to want to do once congragated? Besides standing about looking at one another's awesome instruments (said in best "Carry On" voice). Can we all go and get double bass-themed tattoos?

Yep, 8 junctions away but not much more than the commute to work. I'm up for it.

I'd be up for this as long as it not too far south from Sheffield. Definitely up for swapping slap tips. Possibly less keen on sharing my attempts at bowing...

Resurrecting this old topic - still no one tried one? In my quest for the right pickup I'm considering trying one on recommendation from Thomas at Slapstrings, but I've yet to know anyone who uses one or hear one in use aside from a pretty uninspiring video on Shadow's Youtube channel of a guy doing some decent slapping, but with a pretty awful, electric sound IMO.

Will do Rabbie, thanks. Hopefully I can find 5 minutes between work and when my daughter's asleep to actually turn the amp on and play with settings (hence the reason I've had the pickup 2 months and only just started using it)