ardi100

Thanks for the suggestions, guys.

I will talk to the teacher. He might not have known about the things I've noticed (left hand thumb position and right hand middle finger use) and I'll just flag it up.

I don't want to teach bass, I'm flat out trying to teach English as it is!

I do play in the Jazz band with them and I'll continue to support bass students as and when.

Cheers again.

[quote name='Mr Fudge' post='518110' date='Jun 19 2009, 09:30 AM']The problem is you will also leave with an industrial amount of tea lights, a toast rack and some of those plastic wedge things that maintain the shape of your shoes when you are not wearing them.[/quote]

And a hatred of humanity.

Sledgehamer, Peter Gabriel.

Should be a piece of piss but I had real trouble.

Hi,

I'm a secondary school teacher and have joined the school's jazz band, initially to get some practice reading and playing standards but more importantly to mentor the kids playing the bass.

They get lessons at school of the guitar teacher(!). I didn't really question this at first but the longer I've played with them the more I'm noticing how bad their technique is. I'm no technocrat and mine leaves a bit to be desired (especially on the double bass that I'm playing in the Jazz band), but I'm noticing really basic mistakes that could really hold them back if they keep at it.

I've thought about talking to the head of music about this but I'm reluctant to for a couple of reasons. Firstly, I'm not a trained music or bass teacher and don't feel 'qualified' to criticise someone's professionalism. Secondly, it's the teacher's livelihood at stake and I don't want to be responsible for any loss of his earnings.

I just learned yesterday that a kid is learning the double bass (hurrauh) off the violin teacher (huh??)! Even the head of music thought that was 'wierd'.

What should I do? I fell like I should 'do' something but I'm not sure what. Any thoughts or suggerstions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

Hi,

I rehearsed in a studio last night with a GK 400RB through a Hartke VX 4x10. I always take my amp (Roland DB500 combo) so I know how to adjust my sound but I thought I'd just plug in for a quick comparison.

Ooohh, it sounded so nice. Deep, thick bass with as much mids and tops as I wanted. The strangest thing was feedback. Or lack of it. I'm really fighting it with my amp but with the GK it just disappeared. It got really loud too.

It was so good I unplugged immediately, sat my amp on top of it and promised never to think about another amp again!

[quote name='Moo' post='500523' date='May 29 2009, 03:12 AM']Hi ardi100.

I have just bought an Identical Zeller this weekend, and have also returned to upright playing after a 20 year hiatus between youth orchestra and now with Blues / Folky Americana band.
My Zeller needs similar TLC as yours - New bridge and strings - I will get a luthier to install the new bridge, and check the soundpost as well. (It sounds very dead on the E and A at the moment.)

I have been deliberating over strings this week and can't decide between Pirastro Obligatos, or Helicore hybrids.
A search on the web threw up a couple of posts suggesting that the Helicores have manufacturing / QC problems and sometimes break after a couple of months. Another site also suggested the Obligatos were only good for 6 months hard playing, with de-tuning between gigs to release the tension. I am a bit reluctant to spend £130 on strings that will only last 6 months!
How are your Helicores holding up? I know this is subjective, but could you describe the sound with the Zeller? P.S. do you play mainly Pizz or Arco?

Thanks for any advice you can give.

Moo.[/quote]


Hi Moo,

I've had no problems with the Helicores.


The E and A sound fantastic, deep and full and the D and G are ok, a bit weaker and tinner. This could be due to not having bridge adjusters and being able to get much more finger on the E and A. I'm playing only piz so far, although I'd like to do some arco soon.

Hope that helps.

Adrian.

I love reading Harmony Central reviews and trying to work out who's fair dinkum (you'd trust their review and take their word) and who isn't.

This guy's definitely fair dinkum, I think.

Definitely funny, though.

I've got a spare Underwood pickup. Works perfectly well but is surplus to my requirements.

How much is it worth?

Or, anyone fancy swapping it for a fishman Pro Platinum EQ with cash your way?

I'd like to know either.

Thanks.

I took my bass to a guy named Lawrence Dixon (Or Laurence Dixon/Dickson - can't remember!) near Clapham.

Great service, high quality work and pretty good value. I'm sure someone on here recommended him, I've lost his number.

[quote name='bassace' post='484533' date='May 10 2009, 07:55 PM']BB do you really use a Sansamp with a Double Bass? I've searched all over and found plenty of refs re bass guitars but no instances of DB. Is it really that good?[/quote]

And if so, would a behringer copy also do the job?

[quote name='OldGit' post='481967' date='May 7 2009, 01:46 PM']Grolsch Strap Locks
Cost nowt save valuable repairs and damage.[/quote]


True.

Got them already, though!

What have you bought/found that's really cool/helpfull/necessary for peanuts?

I've got a Bassmax too. Quite happy with the sound but I've also got an Underwood that I haven't tried out yet. Will test and post results.

I read that the wooden card that comes in a cigar tube was good for padding out the slot. Worth a try and you get to smoke a nice cigar too!

[quote name='johnny dissident' post='473159' date='Apr 27 2009, 09:53 AM']I find that the lower two strings especially the E can provide some lovely growling sustain, but the D and G feel and sound like brake cables.[/quote]

I've found this too.

I love the sound of the E and A strings but the D and G aren't doing it for me.

Don't think I'll be going down the mixed strings route for now. At around £100 per set, I'll stick with the Helicores for a while yet!

[quote name='OutToPlayJazz' post='467763' date='Apr 20 2009, 07:23 PM']As far as I'm concerned, you're entirely on-topic Lovely looking deluxe you have there, btw.[/quote]


Thanks, I'm enjoying getting reaquainted!

Don't want to hijack this thread, but I just went home and brought back my Jazz Deluxe.

Three and a half years is too long to be without your number 1 bass! Changed the strings, plugged in and . . . ahh, the old tone is there.

Very happy indeed.

These suggestions are fantastic.

I love the car amp idea. I'll definitely check out that option.

Hopefully I will have an active bass (depends on Etihad's baggage allowance and my wife's frugality in packing), but preamp pedal could work.

Yes, I plan to take a bass and amp backpacking, probably stupid, but could be a genius! It's the compromise between wanting a summer adventure and having a mini tour while still having a holiday.

Am I just being naive about the whole thing?

I'd probably need it to run for a couple of hours and then charge it. I'm not really sure. The scenario is a backpacking mini tour of Europe with some powerless, truly accoustic gigs thrown in. I usually play Double Bass for these but won't be taking it.

I was thinking along the lines of a really small D class amp (Crate powerblock is 150w into 8 ohms) and mini cab.

Thanks Mottlefeeder.

Is there a minimum ah ( I don't even know what this means!!) I need from the battery? Could I use one of the really small ones or do I need a larger one?

I was thinking a small battery and inverter with a tiny head and speaker on a small trolley could be pretty manageable.

Hi,

I'm wanting to travel and play lots of gigs both in clubs and totally without power.

Can I power a regular setup with rechargable batteries?

Or are there any decent battery powered combos/tiny rigs that I could carry easily on a train?

It doesn't have to sound like a massive stack, just be heard with a decent tone. I was thinking of a Superfly (or something similar) and single 10 or a combo of some sorts.

Any ideas?

Oh yeah, it would be for electric bass, not the DB in the pic!

I haven't got a backup and my amp's never died.

At a gig! It did die during a recording session and luckily there was a spare. I got it fixed and gigged with it without problems, just a nagging fear that it could happen again.

Pretty much every gig I play has other bass players on the bill so I could borrow one in an emergency, but I'd hate to have to.

Istarted on bass guitar at 14 after begging my mum top let me stop piano! Finally she relented and I started learning blues.

My Grandad had an old beaten up DB that he left me when he died. I got it fixed up, got a fantastic local (Australia!) teacher and bashed away.

Then I moved over here and played bass guitar until our band decided it wanted to play geurrilla acoustic gigs and I bought myself a DB recently. Am learning all over again and having a ball!

Just did a google search and found this [url="http://www.egigs.co.uk/index.php?a=12220"]http://www.egigs.co.uk/index.php?a=12220[/url]


Capelilos, the first support act, take the duration of a couple of songs to get into their stride, after which they spice the three-piece band up by bringing on four "lab assistants" in white coats who provide trumpet, sax and violins. They're more of an interesting prospect now and the crowd responds warmly to the funkier "break for the border" Calexico-like vibe going on. It's a very energetic set, with the highlight being 'Bow Wow' which nicks its first line from the Cure's 'The Lovecats' – "we move like cagey tigers, we couldn't get closer than this".


And the photo? Now, who ever runs a photo of only the bass player?

Hi,

I play my Zeller solid top (budget model) hrough a K&K Bassmax pickup. This goes into me Roland DB500 combo which is a great amp for electric bass and has enough tone shaping to be alright for DB.

I've read that users of other pickups have different experiences when the pickup is turned around or swithced into the other side of the bridge. Does anyone have any expeience of that kind of tweaking with the Bassmax?

I suppose I'm aksing to avoid a load of faffing around with it to experiment with the placings.

So, how about it, anyone?

[quote name='pram_01' post='426225' date='Mar 5 2009, 02:46 PM']I know that this has been discussed here already but I would like to know where I could try a 3/4 Zeller bass (Surrey or London area). Also, I am after a 3/4 fully carved double bass (or more specifically a 3/4 solid wood Zeller). I put a post in the 'items wanted' and I know that some upright players don't go there, so I am putting a link here as well.

[url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=43002"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=43002[/url][/quote]


I've got a solid top Zeller (hybrid, the back and sides are ply - so says the luthier) that you're welcome to try at a gig (none upcoming!) or rehearsal.