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oggiesnr

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Posts posted by oggiesnr

    How was your gig last night?

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    Actually it was this morning, 5.15 am to be precise. So the morris team I play with (Rackaback) went and greeted the May Day dawn at the Black Mill on Beverley Westwood. Considering the hour I reckon 60 or so punters wasn't a bad turnout.

    First time they've had a double bass there so photos were taken (including the local paper). We actually managed to see the dawn before the clouds rolled in and we were finished before the rain came.

    A fun time was had by all.

    Steve

    Alternatives to drums as percussion in a band setting

    in Other Instruments

    Posted

    [quote name='rOB' timestamp='1333705828' post='1605431']
    Something else I've been thinking about are stomp boxes like the one Seasick Steve uses sometimes. I think you could combine elements of the cajon snare into one and have very simple kick drum and snare sounds under your feet.

    What I'm thinking of is a wooden box, maybe 12"x10"x4" with a microphone or piezo pickups inside. The top surface to be played/stamped on would be screwed down tight at one end (bass drum type sound?) and loosely at the other (snare type sound?). The loose end could have snares/rattles on the underside and maybe a metal plate on the top side for a sharper sound.

    Any thoughts on that? Seen anyone doing anything similar?
    [/quote]

    Should work. There are loads of stomp boxes out there ranging in price from not a lot to a couple of hundred pounds.

    You could always try one of these [url="http://www.footdrums.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage_Andy.tpl&product_id=8&category_id=1&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=6"]http://www.footdrums.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage_Andy.tpl&product_id=8&category_id=1&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=6[/url] :D

    Steve

    Rabbath v Simandl

    in EUB and Double Bass

    Posted

    This thread has been a fascinating read for someone just starting DB.

    I've just bought the Simandl book having looked at other options. One of my reasons for this is because he doesn't use tunes for exercises. Whilst I can sort of read treble clef I'm an old folkie so I'm used to looking at a piece, going "that's a reel so it goes like.." and then only read pitch rather than note values. I've found that on bass if I use a tune I'm likely to know then I use that knowledge rather than reading the music. The fact that I can't do that with his exercises is a bonus. Hopefully my reading will improve soon :)

    Because of my job I have a lot of time when I'm only keeping an eye on the stall so I've been "visualising" the exercises, air fingering with the left hand and tapping rythm with the right. Obviously can't do the intonation but means that when I'm practising I'm part way there.

    Anyway, I'm having fun.

    Steve

    How To Buy a Double Bass

    in EUB and Double Bass

    Posted

    [quote name='thisnameistaken' timestamp='1335194449' post='1627002']
    There's one on eBay at the moment that nobody's taken much interest in. It's a bit expensive for me at the moment but looks a nice bass.
    [/quote]

    Having seen the damage I'd want a luthier to give me a repair quote first.

    Steve

    Most musical fun I've had in ages...

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    OK so I should get a life but earlier this year I joined Rackaback, a Border Morris team, reckoning on playing a bit of squeeze box or whistle. First practice I took along my acoustic bass guitar and, as thank ***, they don't have a drummer it was felt that this would be most useful. My bass guitar is fine and quite loud (even acoustic) but once the squeezebox quotient gets over four it gets a bit drowned out. So, two months ago I bought a double bass .

    Now I am actually having lessons and hope to learn to play it proper like but I know my way round the fingerboard well enough (in first position) to be able to play most morris tunes (in tune). Today at Malton Folk Festival I got to play it in public for the first time, the rain held off and I had a blast! Eight dance teams there so not lot of continuous playing but one of the other teams, the Raving Maes, agreed that they could stand some bass as well so it was a case of "This one's in E minor" and away we went.

    Great fun and I get to do it again and again this summer. Next date is 5.00 am on May Day at the Black Mill on Beverley Westwood. Rackaback, the Maes and whoever else turns up!

    I even get to dress up



    Have fun

    Steve

    Acoustic gigs, my options.

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    [quote name='dannybuoy' timestamp='1334603737' post='1618446']
    Consider a Kala U-Bass into a small portable combo - it sounds a bit like a DB and will give you more impact visually when people wonder WTF it is that you're playing!
    [/quote]

    Have a serious session on one before you purchase. I've tried one and I was not that impressed but it's very different to play so I may not have been getting the best out of it.

    Steve

    Acoustic gigs, my options.

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    If you're playing with a drum kit then you'll all need to miked up or all anyone will hear is the drums (and I don't care how softly the drummer says they can play).

    As far as acoustic bass is concerned, what are you using? If it's an electro-acoustic with a thinnish body then you might as well use an electric with a small amp. I managed to get away using mine acoustically but it's a full bodied Tacoma but I only had to compete with one guitar (plus one accordian, two melodeons, two tin whistles and whatever the non-dancers felt like playing). I actually found it worked better on the lower notes because it sat by itself in the mix rather than on the higher notes where there was more overlap.

    IMHO the best acoustic sets are where you don't just rehash your electric versions with acoustic instruments but revisit the whole arrangement and instrumentation so a djembe instead of a full drum kit, a mandolin instead of guitar in some places, that sort of thing. It's also fun to do but then I'm an old folkie rather than a rocker. :)

    Steve

    Anyone play Mandolin?

    in Other Instruments

    Posted

    [quote name='cupples' timestamp='1334417481' post='1615987']
    I've been playing mandolin for a year or two, as well as fretless bass. I use it when leading the music in church (much easier from the mando than the bass...). I started on a cheap one that my uncle had, which didn't play above the 10th fret, and then moved onto a really nice Fylde Octavius, which sounds gorgeous! I run it through my Behringer BDI21 bass pedal into the PA. I love this wee thing - it's dead easy to play chords on (generally 2 fingers for the basic ones), and it makes a change from playing the bass. Mandolin Cafe is a fantastic resource, with loads of chord fingerings and tabs for all occasions.
    Andrew
    [/quote]

    I love the build quality of the Fyldes but I just can't get on with them to play. I think it's because Roger puts heavier gauge strings on than I use on my mandolins but at the price I've never had the nerve (or spare cash) to buy one and see what would happen if I restrung one.

    Steve

    new bridge or not?

    in EUB and Double Bass

    Posted

    I'm in the same position and got the same response from the same luthier. Basically it (and the set up) are fine for where you are now ie starting out but before long work will be needed. My teacher said the same thing so I think he's being honest.

    Steve

    PS We're due a pint and a gab sometime

    EBay not so safe

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    [quote name='wateroftyne' timestamp='1334041820' post='1609854']
    Taking this thread as an example, it's probably easier to spot '[color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]serious undisclosed damage to the headstock that could not be repaired' at a public auction than it would be buying over eBay.[/font][/color]
    [/quote]

    So long as they allow a close inspection and you're bidding in person agreed. Not always the case.

    Steve

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