bassace

Bassbloke, can I add my bit? There's a lot of sense on this thread; not all of it coming to the same conclusion, of course. A lot of it seems to boil down to whether to get a teacher or not. I started many decades ago and apart from the school music master who was the custodian of the school bass (and therefore someone to be ingratiated) there were no 'unclassical' teachers around. Besides there was a lot of work waiting so I picked up the skills as I went along. So how are things now? Well, the phone still rings a lot but although I've never suffered any lasting injuries my technique is not a pretty sight. My intonation up the fingerboard is decidedly suspect unless I work hard on it and I suffer great embarrassment every time I am in the company of other bassists or have to go and try out a new instrument. So, do I regret not having lessons? - probably yes. Another benefit of a teacher is that he will help you find a suitable instrument; he will most likely have good contacts. He may even lend you an instrument while you get started. And always remember, listen intently to as much bass playing live and on CD in your chosen genre as you can. You will learn how the bass player goes about his business, what lines he takes and how he fits in with the band. If jazz is your thing you could do a lot worse than the Oscar Peterson Trios, especially with Ray Brown on bass. You have already found in this thread that there are plenty of URB players ready and willing to offer you advice and who I'm sure will be interested in how you progress. Keep in touch and remember, the people who learn most are those that aren't afraid to ask questions, however daft they may initally seem.

[quote name='Linus27' post='135352' date='Feb 6 2008, 10:44 PM']This has really got me interested. I was going to get a NS Wav 4 as my intoduction to EUB but at about £700, I am about a year away from buying one. The price of the Stagg might be a good start and they look great also. However, one comment I read was that the intonation was way out. The dots of the fretboard are in the wrong place. Has anyone noticed this or noticed any other issues? Would it be worth making the plunge to get this or hold out for a NS Wav 4??[/quote] The dots are on the side of the fretboard and there are not nearly as many as the Steinberger, for instance. The dot positions are not 'way out' out and in any case the voicing is not so precise that they are a big issue. The Stagg is nowhere near a Stig but is a good introduction to EUB and better things. I got a lot of fun out of mine. It is now in the For Sale section and anyone is welcome to come round and have a go on it, whether they want to buy it or not.

[quote name='daflewis' post='132444' date='Feb 2 2008, 10:29 AM']yeh, i found that they just don't seem to have enough steel in them to give a decent signal to the mag, even though they have a steel core... whereas, bizarrely, the corellis' have a good strong tone with the mag but have a rope core and just nickle winding... very strange.... bob gollihur talks about the how different strings work with a mag - doesn't have the hybrids there unfortunately but does mention the corellis, for example [url="http://www.gollihurmusic.com/product/1452-CORELLI_370_UPRIGHT_BASS_STRINGS_SETS.html"]http://www.gollihurmusic.com/product/1452-...RINGS_SETS.html[/url][/quote] I know you're a Corelli fan and I must try some sometime, once I've got used to the Stig - I find that after a URB you have to be a lot more careful with the intonation because it speaks more readily. This also means that if you're used to playing in front of the beat, as I am, on an EUB you're even more infront! Ah happy days.

[quote name='daflewis' post='132051' date='Feb 1 2008, 04:57 PM'] yeh, the hybrids are a good string, just a shame they didn't seem to work well with the magnetic pup... i think half the battle with getting that upright sound is making you really work hard for every note ....unfortunately i take it you just use the piezo with those strings?[/quote] Yes, a lot of the sound comes from the right hand, doesn't it. I am just using piezo because I didn't get much of a blend from the mag. Are you telling me that hybrids won't work with the mag - I thought they should (doh!)

I'm using Helicore Hybrids and the action is raised so I can just about slip my little finger between the G string and fingerboard at the bottom end. Did a gig last week and the guys didn't notice I wasn't on URB until half time. The singer didn't notice until two numbers before the end - but what do you expect?

I'm bringing mine to the BassBash and will probably sell it. It has served its purpose well by introducing me to EUB (from URB). I have now got a Steinberger which is better - but then it should be for nearly ten times the cost. I'll sell it earlier but the buyer must bring it to the Bash because there is so much interest.

[quote name='OldGit' post='131253' date='Jan 31 2008, 12:30 PM']I guess we should also have a "things for sale at the bass bash " thread too[/quote] Good idea, I'll have some stuff.

[quote name='OldGit' post='126106' date='Jan 23 2008, 02:17 PM']How is the stagg?[/quote] Stagg's fine, although it's been superseded by a Steinberger EUB. However, I still like it a lot, it's very easy to take to rehearsals and I use it for those. I've made a simple effective stand for it which I'll bring along to the Bash.

[quote name='Mikey D' post='125500' date='Jan 22 2008, 03:23 PM']I'd defiantely like to try the Upton! I've heard many great things about them, but decided not to get one without trying one and ended up buying an @100 year old one from this site which I am more than happy with. Would still like to see what the professors are like though.[/quote] Mikey, I'll bring it. It's got Underwood and David Gauge pickups on it. I see from one of your posts that you like the DG - It doesn't seem to suit my bass so I'll be interested in your comments.

I'll come and bring a Stagg EUB. Anyone interested in any of my URBs? - see below - It's a bit pointless lugging one along if there's no call.

Black shoes, socks, trousers and coloured shirt, tie, and jacket of choice, the brighter the better. The latter usually comes from charity shops for about £10 a throw. I was shopping the other day and saw a bright blue jacket for £20 - what!? It was a genuine Versace and is the best jacket I've ever owned - apart from the colour, of course. We had a Rat Pack drummer depping with us recently and he asked us what colour we wanted. In his bag he had Red, Blue, Green and Yellow jackets, all in wool and mohair. Nicccccce....................

A long time ago when I was very young - relevant to the second paragraph - I was playing upright and the tail wire let go. I was using one of those steel tripod bridges in those days so that, plus the three feet cups, all propelled themselves into the audience plus the strings were wrapped all over the place. Surprisingly I got them all back but the bass was a complete gonner for the rest of the evening. We were supporting one of the major bands and their bass player let me use his instrument to carry on. It was a fantastic instrument but I thought the G and D were slightly out of tune, so I proceeded to retune them. He went ballistic.

Come on guys, be nice to each other. Remember the bass had a place in jazz long before rock came on the scene. That doesn't mean its better or worse but surely all bass-based genres can exist in harmony. And at the end of the day, don't you think that rock is treally a subdivision of jazz, in that most tunes are based on a menu of well-tried chord sequences and what is a guitar solo if it isn't improvisation - which is what jazz is?

Very soon!

Hi Alfie Thanks for greetings. I see you are in a London band and I'm mainly in a Birmingham band so local gigs may not often be feasible. You play BG and I play DB and you are at least a generation younger than me, so we seem to be chalk and cheese. And yet, and yet............... we both play at the low end and we are both Basschat subscribers so we do have much in common. Be good to meet sometime to discuss gear and stuff.

Guys Just chanced on this thread so I'm a bit late. However, I would have liked to enclose a photo but my camera is playing up, so i'll describe - it's so simple. This will work for a Stagg, Aria and anything sticklike. Anything a bit more substantial I don't know. Simply take an upright chrome guitar stand, cut the upright bit off to stand approx 12"high, smooth off and stick the end pin in it. Sounds precarious but just you try it. This assumes that the lenth of tube is approximately the same as the end pin length.

Plus 6 Total 1205

I heard recently that one of David Bowie's gigs had to be cancelled because the electrician didn't come up to scratch. He was known as the Man who Failed to Earth. Sorry about that, Im feeling a bit hyper................

ped, Old Horse, Dave, paul Thanks for you kind welcome. ped, I'm with Dave Moorwood's Rascals. We do the Lamb at Wantage 4th Wednesday in the month. Free admission but the drinks are a bit pricey. Our piano man is Perry Lock who lives in Colwell Drive, Witney. He's one of the best keyboard men around. If you ever look in (caution, it's jazz!) I'll help defray costs by buying you a pint. Dave, the German blonde lives upstairs and is my practice bass. The other three live in the garage where I have built a special cupboard. The humidity seems to suit them.

I've been a BC subscriber for about a month but have only just figured out how to set up all the stuff (signature etc). So it's about time I introduced myself. I'm probably the oldest subscriber at 66 but still do plenty of gigs on DB. I play in a Birmingham band, Oxford band and also freelance. I've found the forums very interesting and you will probably remember that I got involved in the Stagg discussion. I'm trying to sell my EBO that I bought in favour of a Fender Jazz in 1964 (twit!) so I can invest in a Steinberger. Then I will be fully upright - although at my age a bit of viagra may help. I live just outside Chipping Norton and am always happy to give any help with Double Bass matters. Great site!