SteveJ

It's just about a year since I started this thread so time for an update: After a year of fortnightly lessons and 256 total hours of practice I've progressed from complete classical notice to passing Grade 2 and being past of a string ensemble. On Saturday we played two pieces to an audience over 300 as part of a program in the Whitby Spa Pavillion. The string ensemble has about 15 members and I'm the only bass so am quite exposed but my occasional error was only noticeable by myself and the conductor (I hope). Plan for the coming year; grade 4 and much more ensemble.... Steve

Peter Hall in Beverley has a few choice bass bows that are heavily discounted at the moment. If you are after a tasty pernambuco bow you could do wose than give him a ring. [url="http://www.peterhallviolins.com/?product_cat=double-bass-bows"]http://www.peterhall...ouble-bass-bows[/url] The Hartmutt Knoll bow is no longer available - I bought it....

[quote name='philparker' timestamp='1458294549' post='3006293'] As NeilP says, playing with the local ensemble will do wonders for your playing. I've recently joined my local amateur orchestra and I've been at my absolute limit in sight reading to tempo on some pieces and able to get a break on the easier ones, but I will also have to practise the more detailed pieces as well as studying exam material and it's helping my all round musicality as well. [/quote] Yep, starting with local string ensemble after the Easter break. Got my results today - distinction- well chuffed!

If Frome isn't too far then Martin Penning is well worth considering. [url="http://mpenning-luthier.co.uk/"]http://mpenning-luthier.co.uk/[/url]

Today marked two milestones in the great clssical bass experiment: 200 hours of practice and the ABRSM Grade 2 examination. Seemed to go ok, will post the results when I have them....

Just gotten back from my first session with a local string ensemble and it was BRILLIANT! Ok, they play together regularly and are entering the local music festival in 3 weeks time and have gotten their chops down well. And I was pretty rubbish as the only bass trying to sight read the stuff I'd been given 20 seconds before but it was BRILLIANT! Looking forward to joining them as a regular in March, it will be a steep learning curve but worth it.

Planning on being there with a few bits to sell if anybody interested? Various books. Ampeg BA110 combo Fender USA Strat Genz Benz Head and Cabs Steve

[quote name='AustinArto' timestamp='1452818462' post='2953868'] I can't solo over fast changes I just don't have any experience of it and I go totally to pot, but soloing generally if a tune has big weird harmonic jumps in it I'll have to know it inside-out beforehand, and I always wing it, I don't solo that often so I try to enjoy it when I do and make it matter, so I don't do 'licks' and I don't worry too much about what came before I just try to express myself. Usually because I'm a bit slow that means I'm not going to set anybody on fire with technique I just want to get my mood across and make some people smile. [/quote] Much the same here. I tend to slow down rather than risk speeding up and fluffing it.

Let's have some pictures of the repair.

Callum bought a bow off me. Perfect transaction from start to finish, a pleasure to deal with. Highly recommeded.

Wow, great resource, thanks for posting.

[quote name='sunburstjazz1967' timestamp='1452277390' post='2948493'] The bridge lines up with f hole notches and sits at 90 degrees to the front of the bass. Strings are going to be £80 a set minimum for a set worth fitting imo, plus the bridge. I'd be tempted to fix the neck and then get a luthier to fit and shape the bridge,nut, locate the sound post properly and string it. You can ruin the silks and the £80 strings very easily! Getting the detail done by an expert and some good strings over a badly fitted bridge with dirt cheap strings might be the difference between you sticking at playing it or selling it on at a loss imo? [/quote] Very good advice.

Ok, I'll jump in! If you can afford it, a luthier will save you a lot of time effort and probably money in the long run. I'm not a luthier but... A basic bridge (non-adjustable) will cost about £40 and you will have to do some work shaping the feet to the top of the bass and putting notches in for the strings. Check that there is a sound post in the bass. It looks like a thick piece of dowel and if you are lucky, it will be in place and viewable thru' the f hole on the treble side of the bass. If not it will be rolling around somewhere inside. The thing that retains the strings is an 'endpiece'. They are variable priced and are attached by a wire that looks around the end pin assembly.The cheapest is around £20. I cannot offer any advice about fixing the neck break except seek the help of a luthier. Stings vary enormously in cost and quality and they depend a bit on what you want to do. Some strings are better for pizz (plucking) and others more suitable for arco (bowing). Hope that helps a bit and others will jump in soon. Why not post some picures once you have collected it? Steve

So, here's an update for the start of 2016: The lessons and practice are going well and the 150 hour mark was reached this week-end. Planning to do ABRSM Grade 2 in March, could have stretched possibly to Grade 3 but I know exam nerves will affect my performance so thought it best to play safe. Fortnightly, one hour lessons suit me well and with constant attention from teacher the bowing and intonation continue to improve. I bottled out on trying out with the Cobwebs Orchestra. Thought I'd get a few more months of practice under my belt before committing myself. Simon Penning made a a great improvement to the playability of the bass back in the Autumn. The carbon fibre bow from the Contrabasse Shoppe doesn't really suit me and I'll be looking to try out some pernambuco bows this year. If anyone has such a bow they want to trade or sell, please get in touch. Happy New Year, Steve

What do folk use on their double bass for cleaning/polishing?

Very nice!

Hi Steve, I have a teacher in Eaglescliffe (near Yarm). PM me for info. Steve

Past the 100 hour milestone this week so that is 1% of the 10,000 hours to become an expert. Still time to reach that number by my mid nineties. Still working hard on technique and not venturing much beyond 2nd position but the bowing is improving and use of a metronome is improving the rhythm of the pieces.