philparker

I like that head stock!

I use a Yita Music Pernambuco French bow, which was about £250 and is excellent value for money. I think I would have to stretch to the £500 - £2k for a second-hand bow to get better quality. They're a good company to deal with as well. Mine arrived with a crack even though it was very well packaged; when I emailed them they couldn't understand how it happened when the packaging wasn't damaged. However, they didn't quibble - they sent me a replacement and refunded me the postage to return the old ebony frog.

I wouldn't attempt to use one as it's just not suitable. As mentioned above a condenser mic, preferably small diaphragm would be the best choice. I use a comparatively cheap Shure PG 81 occasionally, but would upgrade to the SM 81 if one came along at the right price. The Rode NT 5 is also a good choice, many classical guitarists use these in matched pairs for home recording.

[quote name='Clarky' timestamp='1370157564' post='2096958'] Intonation. the tone and attack/decay profile of the note is sheer beauty to me and makes electric bass sound agricultural by comparison [/quote] Definitely the sound - as above. It is just the coolest sound of all strung instruments especially when the intonation is just fractionally out. I only wish I'd started learning earlier!

[quote name='ubassman' timestamp='1370026112' post='2095784'] ...its the Birmingham shop for Turner Violins who have one of the best selection of Double basses in their other shop in Nottingham (one of, if not THE biggest selection of old DBs in the UK !) ...I wonder if they are closing down Birmingham? [/quote] I got the impression it was a shop/display room closing down, which I'm sure saddens us all? However, I notice that one or two BC members would benefit from one of these!

Hey, for those of you who are building up a bit of a collection - check out this display stand for your music room! [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Double-Bass-Display-Rack-/181150742809?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Sting_Instruments&hash=item2a2d6cf919"]http://www.ebay.co.u...=item2a2d6cf919[/url] That might solve a problem for somebody? ..and somebody's selling three of them.

[quote name='fatback' timestamp='1369645623' post='2091084'] A playable bass for £500 with a Full Circle and recommended by a teacher? If you were looking for a bass you'd wait a long time for that.[/quote] +1 - Absolutely, you could wait years for a deal like that to come along. Even playable basses for £500 are difficult to come by, but with a Fishman full Circle as well and properly set up...

Not too sure about this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGXQlx01rAo

[quote name='ubassman' timestamp='1368290513' post='2075377'] I'm sure you will enjoy it Phil ! Did you clock that theres an online ever expanding library? The App is fast becoming a jam-along-jazz ' [/quote] Yes, I did, I've spent hours and hours in the past programming and step writing my own backing tracks on different media (for at least 25 years) so this is a great help and a great 'fast' start to jamming along. As you say there's nothing better than looping to check out what works or sounds different. Hours of fun!

[quote name='ubassman' timestamp='1368256760' post='2074910'] If you have an iPad, iPhone android, then get the iRealB App More info at http://www.irealb.com/ Cant recommend it highly enough! [/quote] Thanks for the recommendation, I have just downloaded and will be using regularly - a great & comparatively very cheap tool!

Yeah, he's great - I've been a subscriber for some time!

[b][u]Somerset/Wiltshire (Frome): Martin Penning[/u][/b] Studio 8, The Silk Mill, Merchants Barton Saxonvale, Frome, Somerset BA11 3PT [b][size=2][color=#49535A][font=Tahoma]07810 890 108[/font][/color][/size][/b] [url="http://www.mpenning-luthier.co.uk/Martin_Penning_Luthier/welcome.html"]http://www.mpenning-...er/welcome.html[/url] The nearest DB Luthier to me is the venerable Martin Penning and I hope to contact him later this year to have a new bridge fitted and possibly with Fishman Full circle. Martin is based in Frome, in Somerset, but close to the Wiltshire border and should cover the 'South-West' area. For DB set-ups in the Salisbury area, I have used Nick Marchant [url="http://www.guitarrepairsuk.com/"]http://www.guitarrepairsuk.com/[/url] who, although mainly a guitar luthier, was reliable and did a good job!

[quote name='lowlandtrees' timestamp='1365857404' post='2045268'] hi does the TC polytune have a mic or is it strictly plug in? [/quote] Plug in only!

I use a clip-on mini tuner on the bridge, which works fine. Plugged in I use a TC Electronic Polytune, which is impressively instantaneous!

I've only been playing DB for 6 months now and like you will probably prefer pizz mainly, but could only find a teacher playing arco (from an orchestral background). So I've been learning 80 - 90% arco with a teacher and I've been doing pizz by myself from vids and books except for two pieces on the ABRSM itinerary. I've also taken a lot of advice from members on this site and now looking back - I wouldn't change a thing. Yes, it is correct that I can't or couldn't gig as quickly (and I do intend to gig more with DB rather than EB when I get the chance). I was fortunate to read music well before I started and it has been enhanced by all the classical pieces I have learnt and continue to play. I think the biggest advantage has been the development and correction of my bowing technique, that I would have never got just learning pizz,that I can always go back to when I need to - as well, of course, as already mentioned improvement and development of intonation. I now quite like playing arco and would be just as comfortable joining a little quartet or chamber music-style ensemble.

Great review, Mr Bassman, especially as I'm considering a BSX (or SLB 200) in the summer (for convenience when gigging and travelling) - although I will be trialling them much later on it is nice to have the opinions of others as benchmarks to compare!

[quote name='bob_pickard' timestamp='1363358340' post='2011777'][url="http://www.tecni-cable.co.uk"]do[/url] a search on Bowden Cable [/quote] You don't want bowden cable - that's the wrong sort!

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1362174561' post='1996916'] Fingers crossed I am ordering my gedo bass tomorrow! [/quote] Congratulations - and good luck with the venture! I sense more questions to come?!

Hi Daf, please add my name to the list - even though it may be a few months! I look forward to it.

[quote name='hubrad' timestamp='1361661058' post='1989109'] Phil, sounds like you should get on the list for the prototypes trial.. bowable as Braided with the extra snap of Honeys. I'm 'gonna get me some'! If you're really into the Evahs I'm selling a couple of unused sets.. ;-) [/quote] Thanks for your offer - I saw your ad too late as I'd already invested in a new set of Evah's to replace the existing set later on in the year (just practising now, not gigging), but I do also need to experiment a bit and find different sets. I think by the end of the year I will also need to invest in a decent DB as well if my progress and enthusiasm keeps up!

My experience with the Honeys' Trial: I'm a comparative newbie to DB, but not to bass, guitar or changing/testing strings! My DB is a lower range, but solid wood Spruce carved front and maple back and sides GEWA Mittendorf 3/4 - originally fitted with strings of unknown origin, but with red silks at the ball-end I though htey may be Thomastic, but not Spriros; they did bow very well and were no good at pizz and had become a bit 'dead', probably on the bass for a few years. I switched to a used, but good set of Evah Pirazzi's for a few months before the trial - and to a used set of Spiro Mittles after the trail. The first thing I noticed about the Honey's in comparison to the Evah's is that they were slightly narrower in gauge and a little bit smoother on my finger tips when playing pizz, but they were also slightly less voluminous. They bowed surprisingly well, but marginally less than the Evah's - if I were to give Evah's 8/10 I would give the Honeys' 7/10 and the volume was about the same playing arco. Evah's have been described as having a 'dark' sound (it is a sound I like) and I would say that the Honeys' had a neutral sound - especially when I restrung with the Spiros straight after that had a 'bright' sound. The Spiros did not bow as well as the Honeys, they were brighter and more voluminous than the Honey's, however, after only two weeks I've gone back to the Evah's. In summary - they are comparatively neutral in sound to the 'dark' sound of the Evah's and the 'bright' sound of the Spiros: they are comparatively easier on the fingers to play than both the other sets. They bow well, but I currently play 80% arco and 20% pizz and they're not quite suited to that ratio in comparison to the Evah's. However, in comparison to both the Evah's and Spiros, they are excellent value for money!