bassace

Reminds me of the time I started a new school. Went into the assembly hall and saw a double bass on the empty stage. Just there. On its side. I’m not ashamed to say it was love at first sight and it informed my life for the next sixty years. 

If it came into my hands I’d do a quick and dirty rig  and just try to get an impression of its sound. Could be surprised.As PaulK says it’s something to be loved.

I can now supply a 19mm clip for XLR.

But a note of caution. I had a top of the range Martin. It had thunderous lows to the extent that I kept getting told from audience members that I was very very loud. But I wasn’t getting that on stage. If I turned the gain down I couldn’t hear much. I even switched the amp off in a seven piece and was ‘too loud’. So I sold it.

I have no doubt they make excellent orchestral instruments.

1 hour ago, Stub Mandrel said:

 

Would a red or white towel do the job?

Hasn’t  been tested but it might.

I used to use this for applying just enough compression between the fingerboard and top. There’s a blue towel to protect the top.

Saw them in Birmingham five(ish)years ago. With three keyboards. They were great, particularly Zak, a worthy successor to Moon. It was Pino who was underplaying and not quite fitting in. I know, I know, but I just don’t get him.

And it served me very well too. But from the get go there was something iffy about it, particularly the neck. In its life it had at least three cracks in different places so there must have been some dodgy wood used. And I kept it in an unheated room.

Here it is with past friends in happier times.

I’m doing another run of my Jack Tailpiece Clip. It provides a neat and firm fixing for the pickup jack under the tailpiece as shown in the photo. It comes in two sizes, 12mm dia for the chrome jacks and a slightly larger dia for the Gage black jacks. Definitely an improvement on the string afterlength fixings.

I’m also now doing a twin clip to tidy up the cables running from twin pickups or pickup and mic.

Single clip £10, or £16 for two. Twin clip £14. Postage included.

Mmm, hat peg tuners! Some nice lookers there.

And Lulu is at the Cheltenham Jazz Festival this year.

Just sayin’

58 minutes ago, tinyd said:

One other thing - while you have the strings off, use a 4B pencil to add some graphite to the string slots in the nut and bridge - it helps lubricate them slightly when it comes to tuning.

Excellent advice. I used to carry a 4B in my odds and ends gig bag. But playing Spiros after a few years I got to forget why I had it.

I also had a short piece of wire with the end turned at 90 degrees to help manipulate the string end in the peg box.

Lay the bass on its back and change strings two by two to avoid losing compression on the sound post. Otherwise it may fall out of position.

5 minutes ago, simonlittle said:

It does indeed 👍

Then I fail to see the justification for the big mark- up to the Pro. Granted, the ebony fingerboard and superior woody bits would be nice to have but I’m sure a gigging bass player could do without.

Does the 300 have an adjustable bridge as the Pro does?

You see, having sold the Bryant I’m getting itchy for something user friendly for an old person. Yes, 84th birthday today.

New Spiro Mittel G

£10 including postage.

I have a set of unused and mint Spiro Mittels. I have had them as spares for a while in old packaging but they are mint and no different from those you’d buy today, at a fraction of the price. £90 posted.

Secure the toddler to the wall.

I’ve just read on the ‘other’ forum that while John Clayton was in NYC receiving a Lincoln Center award his house was burned down in the fires. One of the basses destroyed once belonged to Ray Brown which he played on several Oscar Peterson albums.

Heart goes out.

1 hour ago, cacio said:

What kind of stand it is?

You can find them on line as short speaker stands. I made a platform from 10mm ply, hole sawed four holes to sink the speaker feet into and put the cab on top. Or if your cab has a top hat underneath you can simply stick the 35 mm pole up it.

Broadway, which is about five miles east of Evesham, Worcs.

Another pic I’ve found on my phone.

My playing days are over so I’m offering for sale my gorgeous Bryant small Panormo DB. I’ve owned it from new and although it has supported me well over hundreds of gigs it’s been well looked after and today’s photo will show that it’s in great condition. Shortly after purchase Laurence Dixon did an excellent jazz set up including a new bridge. It’s strung with the original Spiro Mitts and fitted with David Gage Lifeline pickup. Protected by soft cover from T&G Martin.

Also available with the bass by separate negotiation and at a bargain package price is the signal chain and peripherals comprising:-

Broughton Audio HPF/DI with variable impedance, vari HPF, phase reverse - the best!
Tecamp Puma 500 amp and carry case

Euphonic Audio 10” Wizzy Cab

Cab adjustable height stand

K&M bass stool

iPad holder and stand

RAT cantilever music stand

Various gig bags, leads and plugs.

Happy to discuss, provide further info via PM.

Depends how you -and others- value your sound. I’d never go to a gig without HPF and impedance matching.

The standard one takes approx 11mm. I say approx  because there’s quite a bit of latitude in the tightening. All the ‘non Gage’ pickup jacks can be accommodated.