philparker

[quote name='philparker' timestamp='1470209267' post='3104031']I can't describe how to check the difference between ply and solid wood, perhaps someone else will offer words of wisdom?
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Whilst I can't describe it in words - I can see it in most instances and that screams plywood!

My own opinion, now I've seen the photos, I wouldn't take the gamble; even at £100, you will probably need to spend another £400 on strings, bridge, bit & pieces and set up and then pray that it sounds well and plays well. It certainly isn't worth £300.

For me, it really is all about the sound/tone, volume, projection etc. As well as the quality of construction, which doesn't help you much, but be aware that the more you pay doesn't necessarily get you better quality. I've had the fortune to play half a dozen good DBs in the last 12 months and my valuation often doesn't match that of the owner.

There's nothing wrong with a ply bass depending upon what use you have planned for it? However, it might not be suitable for orchestral playing. I can't describe how to check the difference between ply and solid wood, perhaps someone else will offer words of wisdom? Cracks are ok if they've been repaired and stabilised (my 1930s DB has quite a few!) check for a label and any provenance of the instrument and of course the age.

If you're really unsure - take lots of photos and post them on here and we might be able to form a collective consensus!

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1469962768' post='3102280']
I'd say the middle 8 (philparker's bridge section) is A E Bm A E A

A way of making what you're playing stand out against a record is to play the line an octave up.
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I've just played through again and I did mean to say that the Bridge, second time around ended in A, so definitely agree with that. As for the middle chord, both G and Em seem to work (playing along with my classical guitar), but of course for a Bass line, both should work also - so I will stand corrected; but I often use 3rd's and 5th's as substitutions when accompanying an acoustic guitar depending on what my ear tells me and what the vocalist is doing!

Just out of curiosity, I put the track on - with a guitar in my hand and...

Verse: G D A

Chorus: G Bm A

Bridge: A G Bm

They're both very similar, but I've only played about half an hour on the Zyex lights, I've played over a 100 hours on the Pirazzi lights, sometimes for over two hours at a time (orchestra practise) and they're about as easy on the left hand as you can get (with a good set up of course!).

Regarding teachers: don't be afraid to travel - indeed, it may be essential to find the right calibre of teacher to cater for your exact requirements and there are a few good teachers in Southampton who would fit that bill (although I don't have direct experience). I agree with your sentiment that someone who may be a great player, but with veritable bad habits and questionable technique, may not be the best tutor to give you the right direction.

Strings: I've owned Pirazzi Weichs for over a year now and recommend them highly for both pizz and arco, the best hybrid I've used. I have recently taken them off my main DB, to my back up DB, and replaced them with Flexocors for arco only, but they don't necessarily bow any better and the Pirazzi's sound superb played pizz. I have also tried the D'Addario Zyex lights (on a fellow-Bass Chatter's DB) and was also very impressed. Depending on the tone you are looking for, the Pirazzi's are dark and moody and the Zyex are bright an punchy - they both bow and pizz very well.

[quote name='lobematt' timestamp='1469459445' post='3098469']This looks like a bit of a bargain, is an 8" speaker going to be a bit [i]too [/i]small??[/quote]

No, I use a Crazy 8 speaker cab (or 2) and it is perfect for DB sound replication.

Just ordered the CD (rather than download) from Amazon - great stuff!

Spot on

Superb cabinet - I have two Crazy 8's and the F210 is not part of my future plans, but if it were I would probably want to know where you are based?

GLWTS!

Bargain for somebody!

Precision fretless - that's what I use for that genre (& I have a Ray)

Thoroughly enjoyed that - and agree with the winners, Bombscare.

They didn't announce 2nd place, but probably the Reggae Band (Dub Heart?).

Great slapping...but such a poor left-hand technique

I've been gigging my Amp One for a few years now, loads of different venues, it's been perfect and the gain control has not even worried the 12 O'clock position. I was a previous user (& still occasional) of the Compact 60 for classical guitar for at least 12 years, so it was a natural choice for me. So convenient; so compact, but not as light as you may think and an excellent quality and variety of tone.

As mentioned above, get used to the set up, I was once on stage but unable to reach the controls, which had all been moved and my tone was weak and thin, but I had to wait until the first break before I could rectify. I find a don't need to use the bass boost much at all, as you can dial in enough for a low tone anyway, but if the venue allows and you've got a good reggae number add the boost and it will blow your socks off!

Origins come from playing the double bass: fine players such as James Jamerson only (mostly) played his Fender Precision with one hooked finger. Many pro bass players from the '60s started on DB.

There are no rules: only choices. Snobbery, (if there is any?) may come from guitar players doubling up as bass players and using picks - I say this because if you have 'real' bass guitar lessons with a pro teacher, they will get you to play, initially, fingers only; at least they did when I started playing, 40 years ago, much after the EB had taken over from the DB!

Like everything else, there are some times, some songs, where playing with a pick sounds better. Conversely, try and play the guitar part of Sultans of Swing with a plectrum and it will not sound right!

Ive recently bought an MB200, which I use with a Crazy 8 - fantastic sound!

She's safe!

Completed - I didn't find it taxing, but we ALL could spend all year debating which questions to ask!

If the OP is happy with his question selection - it is his data to research and conclude and his PHD!

There are numerous excellent resources so I hope there will be some further suggestions to this thread.

If you use a tablet I would highly recommend Stuart Clayton's series of Reading Music on iBooks. Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced.

Whatever you use, you need to practise daily and use additional material to practise as well. I have shelves of various music and sometimes I will pick a simple score and sight read to a metronome and then try and pick harder pieces to reach my limit, which I often do!

I don't slap so I can only draw a similarity to me EB playing when I return to N Manchester for a weekend and play a few gigs with a few practises in the afternoon and get blisters (becoming blood blisters) on the tips of my fingers. I hate playing plectrum with a passion, but accept I must sometimes play the practise sessions with a plectrum, keeping it in my pocket on a gig just in case, but play the gigs fingerstyle.

Perhaps do the same with tape for the practise sessions saving just enough skin for the gig?

Excellent result!

I hope you get the same fulfilment from the String Ensemble!

Mmm...I slipped up there not making this one, I was in Weston a couple of days before and should have been for the weekend, but plans changed, I'm going to have to change my priorities!

Hey, well done, that's the first exam out of the way, which will hopefully calm nerves for future exams now that you know the format. It's probably worth skipping a couple of exams to spare some expense as I'm sure you'll progress at a much faster rate.

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.

That's a pretty good price, I don't think I've seen them cheaper and you're unlikely to get a little-used secondhand set for a good price, so it's worth buying new.