bassace

Just a thought................. Considering the job we do aren't [i]all[/i] bassists overated anyway?

And expect to be completely knackered by the end of the day. PS - make sure you can hear what you're playing - sounds elementary but you'd be surprised how difficult this can sometimes be. Make sure your own playback/monitoring is slightly forward in the mix.

Too right!

I use IPA (Isopropyl Alcohol) from good ol' Maplin. They call it Electronic Cleaning Solvent and it goes for about £10 per litre can. I use it to clean the URB strings in situ once a week.

I've just bought a Regulated 9V 400mA adaptor, model L67BQ from Maplin for £9.99. Beats the Boss at £24 and works well. You can change the polarity from centre neg to pos and there is a whole range of adaptors so it will fit anything. Or do you already know this?

I find that most guitarists use a tuner then do a reality check by ear/harmonics to fine tune. They wouldn't rubbish anyone else using a tuner. I always use one for my upright just as a BG player would.

[quote name='OutToPlayJazz' post='176041' date='Apr 14 2008, 08:55 AM']I did a dep job this weekend, possibly the strangest of my life! (Apart from the one at the nudist colony some years ago!) Played this week for the "Ancholme Riverside Jazz Band." Nothing strange there I hear you say, but then think on the lines that all the members of this excellent dixieland band were a minimum of 30 years older than me! The drummer was easily 80 & still grooving away, the trombonist & trumpet player were in their early 70's & the sax player (who was absolutely awsome!) was 85 if he was a day! The moral of the story? Keep on playing no matter what! Age doesn't matter. These guys were an inspiation![/quote] As one of the older subscribers of Basschat I find that very encouraging! We are not quite in that age bracket but still play to full houses. Tonight Rotherham, tomorrow the world!

Three legs. Ok, low price - you know what I'm trying to say.

[quote name='OldGit' post='175343' date='Apr 12 2008, 06:20 PM']Any chance of a close up picture of the stand? I've taken the left side prong off as it was stopping me from getting up teh dusty end. The little humpy thing is enough to locate the octave position.[/quote] I hope this pic comes out, although as the Stagg now belongs to Linus I suppose I should ask his permission - nah. I can't see how you can play it without the stability provided by the outrigger on the near side, although I never saw the use for the one on the other side, which is why I never passed it on to Linus when I sold it. It's a long time since a relatively low value product stirred up such a high level of interest.

Yes, I'd endorse Azola.

[quote name='paul, the' post='174752' date='Apr 11 2008, 05:54 PM']Thinking about upright playability but with added portability and cheap price, an EUB seems the right option, but why use a stand? Uprighters don't play with a stand do they? Is it to stop the bass swiveling about on its spike?[/quote] No, uprighters don't usually play with a stand. I was recommending one to OG so that he could put the Stagg on it when not playing. A DB is quite substantial and visible so you can lay it on its side when not playing. You won't see a Stagg so easily and while I had one I was paranoid that someone would step on it if I put it down. Incidentally, I have a Steinberger that is mounted permanently on a tripod - I play it in this mode. It's very good for tight playing areas like pubs and private houses where it's risky to put a DB down between sets. Having said that, I had a booking to do a house for two weeks time. I told the fixer that I'd bring the Stig. He said that the lady of the house specifically requested a double bass. Oh sh......t.

[quote name='OldGit' post='173682' date='Apr 10 2008, 09:31 AM']Have you tried putting just a little of your bass through the PA? I find just a smidgen is enough to throw it a long way into the auditorium so the people at the back can hear it but without blastig the front row and without doing any sonic damage to the rest of the stuff going through the PA -ie real "sound re-inforcement"[/quote] OG, Im finding that even a small bit of vol rattles the cones. It's these speakers; I never had the problem with the last band. The trouble with jazzers on the road is they like to keep the gear on the smallish side.

We had a jazz gig at Sutton Coldfield FC with the seven piece last night. It all went very well and they'll probably have us back although we are booking on a two -year cycle these days. I'm having a bit of trouble with my new gear, AI Clarus, 12" Wizzy, Fishman Pro EQ preamp from Underwood pickup. I'm getting too much lows and not strong enough highs. To make matters worse our front speakers won't handle the bass at my volumes so it's all having to come 'from the back'. I'm rolling bass off from the two preamps and just about getting something passable. Tomorrow Chipping Ongar, Monday Rotherham - it's a good life. PS (Mr Angry mode) why do punters always hang around the exit at the end when you want to get the gear out?

[quote name='OldGit' post='171493' date='Apr 7 2008, 02:47 PM']Now tell me , what is printed on the, er, heel? of your double? I remember seeing it at the bash and it being significant but I can't remember what it was .. Is it Poughkeepsie, New York?[/quote] OG, it says 'UPTON BASS String Instrument Co MYSTIC CT' Perhaps not quite as significant as you first thought but enough to bring all the Julia Roberts fanciers out in a sweat maybe.

[quote name='OldGit' post='171493' date='Apr 7 2008, 02:47 PM']Now tell me , what is printed on the, er, heel? of your double? I remember seeing it at the bash and it being significant but I can't remember what it was .. Is it Poughkeepsie, New York?[/quote] OG, To my shame I can't remember and the bass is in the garage waiting to go to a gig tomorrow - we're doing a live CD. I'll post you in a couple of days time when I get home. I know it says 'Upton' but I can't remember what else..............................doh!

OldGit When you get it, get an old tubular guitar or mic stand, cut it off 12" above the floor and stick the Stagg's spike in it. Makes a good stable stand, especially if you double with it on stage. Enjoy!

Guilty! Sorry I did not explain but by 3.00 things were a bit busy so I just put the card on your table. Malcolm Chapman's your man and he does very good custom flight cases. For an indication, I have just had a case made for a 10" Wizzy which I brought to the bash; it was around £150 which for made-to-measure was OK by me. You should see his pedal boards that he is specialising in at the moment. He shares his premises (incidentally an old WW1 airfield guardroom, hence GuardRoom Cases) with a guy who does leads and jacks to order).

What a great day! Thanks to Ped's organisation (surely you had helpers?) and Woodenshirt's industrial quantities of sarnies. I was reunited with OBBM after thirty years and I didn't even realize he played bass. And Skywalker lent me an Oscar Peterson CD. With friends like these........ I remarked uncharitably that it was just like a wedding - you couldn't hear yourself speak and the band was crap. Only joking, honest!

[quote name='owen' post='165836' date='Mar 29 2008, 01:31 PM']01. Silverfoxnik 02. WalMan 03. Merton 04. Johngh 05. OBBM 06. G-77 07. Rich (hopefully) 08. Alexclaber 09. Tauzero plus the future Mrs Zero 10. Steantval 11. Doctor of bass 12. Birdy 13. ped 14. Machines 15. tonyf 16 MacDaddy 17 Owen 18 Bassace[/quote]

[quote name='JD1' post='164733' date='Mar 27 2008, 07:54 PM']30 years on electric bass. Just bought a double bass (it's looming over my shoulder as I type). Blimey, it's a bit physical isn't it?[/quote] Yes, it's certainly physical but you will find that your muscles will soon realign, especially when you start to do gigs. It happened the other way round for me many years ago. I started on upright but I took over a Fender Jazz in a group that I managed. After the first gig someone had to carry out the amp for me, my arms wouldn't work. Enjoy your upright and stick at it!

Try [email protected] They are very good and not too expensive. I've just had one for a 12" wizzy.

Spinning Wheel, BST, Jim Fielder. And who played the lick on You can call me Al, Paul Simon?

[quote name='jakesbass' post='152645' date='Mar 6 2008, 08:02 PM']off topic but a really good exercise for intonation is to pick an interval and slide between the two notes in the interval on one string, change interval, repeat, use all intervals till comfortable then employ the same tactic with larger intervals that involve string crosses, change interval, repeat. When sliding try keeping contact with the string and apply a little pressure to the string between notes. If you are wondering WTF is he on about? Its this: familiarising yourself with exact positions on the fingerboard aids your subconcious to have more accurate reference points and sliding between notes (assuming you know what in tune is) helps you accurately position good notes I learned this from an orchestral player on DB when I was having difficulty with a few specific notes, sorted it in no time.[/quote] Nice one, Jakes! I'll give it a go and try to improve my intonation which is still a bit iffy after 40 years. Who was it who said re intonation, 'when you've played the note it's too late'. At the moment I'm working out a solo round 'Come Rain or Come Shine' for a piano trio. Some great great chords there.