ChrisF

Lol.....must be as old as me Looking forward to amping the bass ..cant afford anything too expensive at the moment, but should be getting a mic in the next couple of weeks..

[quote name='invicta59' timestamp='1344543313' post='1766325'] I'm interested to know - have you seen a particular double bass player, band, or method you wish to emulate? [/quote] yup....loads .... seriously..I want a deep thudding bass: think...Restless (one for the older members there ) or Charlie Hightone or Mystery Gang

[quote name='Gareth Hughes' timestamp='1344543005' post='1766319'] Could be that your tuner isn't reading the low open string of a bass so well. I've found that to be the case with some tuners, especially the little clip on ones. Try tuning using the 1st harmonic octave, or even the B octave on the E string. Another method I've had success with, as even my trusted Boss TU-2 decides to give up sometimes) is use your fingernail and pluck the string close to the nut, removing the low fundamental note in the process - gives the tuner something easier to work with. [/quote] Erm....what ??? ..once more, but in English this time please ...please remember that Im very,very new to all of this [quote name='invicta59' timestamp='1344543821' post='1766328'] I have a Korg DT-4 tuner. I usually place it on the bridge while tuning and pluck the string closer to the bridge and it usually works for me. Gets more interesting in a noisy venue though! If your strings are new, then I can understand it slipping out of tune - settling into position on the tuning pegs, new string stretch, plus playing it all add to the possibilities. My Innovations took about 2 weeks to get to a point where they'd stay in tune for a whole set. [/quote] The strings arent totally new..but the guy I got them off only used them a couple of times at the most..so it could be that they need settling.

Im beginning to wonder if my tuner is part of my problem. I tune up the strings .....then start to mark off the notes on the side of the bass...and the notes move..yes...move !!! or..they arent where they are supposed to be EG: find C on the A string..hold down the E string in the same place expecting to get G ..and instead I get A or G# or A # ..pretty much anything but G.... The tuner, when plugged into my bass guitar is spot on...but it seems to struggle with the upright even though its chromatic and is supposed to be able to tune acoustic instruments. so..is it me doing something wrong...or the tuner..or maybe both ???

[quote name='artisan' timestamp='1344415412' post='1763993'] are you playing the bass lines on DB just as you play them on bass guitar ? if so it doesn't work too well,maybe you are trying to play too many notes,i found with DB you just don't need a big flurry of notes to fill the rhythm out as the notes are so much more ................... [/quote] Yes..I was playing..or trying to...exactly the same as I do on the guitar. Ive been listening to some stuff today, but really concentrating on the bass. Trying to hear what it actually is doing rather than what I think its doing. I think I get what you mean........maybe [quote name='invicta59' timestamp='1344419154' post='1764067'] You could, if you haven't already, try putting some masking tape position markers down the side of the fingerboard to help while you get used to the scalelength. That may help with intonation for the short term If Lights out, which is a reasonably quick song if its the Jerry Byrne song I'm thinking of, sounds ok, what songs aren't quite working for you? Are you playing the songs plucking, or slapping? [/quote] yeah..I started to mark the neck with a china white pencil..but then the D string went BOING!!! ..and I rubbed them all off because the other strings kept needing to be retuned..so all the notes seemed to move about ..but Im going to mark it up again. Yeah its the Jerry Byrne song.....maybe it sounds ok because I love it..and cant really stand most of the others. I also tried some stuff by Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins...neither of who I particularly like..and neither of who are rockabilly in my opinion...but they sounded awful. I know I need to start getting lessons...... Daf Lewis only lives a couple of miles from me..and he has offered to give me a few lessons when he isnt busy..and also to have a look at my bass and set it up if it needs it....damn fine chap I hadnt really been playing the bass guitar for all that long...and now as Steve says..it is just like starting all over again

cheers for the replies....had a quick read and will answer later.... off back to London to meet up with some very old/good friends for a curry...so Im on the run at the moment. didnt want you all to think I wasnt grateful..because I am

[quote name='invicta59' timestamp='1344379134' post='1763811'] What sounds awful? The tone? intonation? or is it simply holding the tempo together? [/quote] erm...all of the above

[quote name='invicta59' timestamp='1344379134' post='1763811'] There are tons of fun to be had playing songs out of context. Try Paranoid in a Johnny Cash style.. it works.. Should I Stay or Should I Go works as a rockabilly song... not sure a flowery shirt will work though [/quote] cheers...thats the kind of covers I like

Blimey..songs that I find fairly easy on the bass guitar are a different story on the DB I can get through a passable version of "Lights out" .. but just about everything sounds awful I definately need some lessons..my technique is rubbish

[quote name='invicta59' timestamp='1344366021' post='1763536'] What songs do you have in mind for your practise? [/quote] Hmmm..that is a bit of a bone of contention at the moment.....one of the guitarists..who owns the practice room and the equipment we use in it...wants to do what amounts to 50s covers. But the other guitarist is from a punk background (he actually released a few albums back in the 80s/90s ) ..and although Im very much a rockabilly, I also love rock music eg: AC/DC, Iron Maiden etc etc ..and I loooove The Clash ( the best band this country will ever produce..nope..dont bother to argue....whatever band you are gonna say, your wrong ).......... So we are bringing all that and more to the mix..and we are leaning towards a neo-psycho-punka-billy sound..but the other guitarist is proving difficult to persuade...... he is coming round slowly..but he sings like bob dylan..and has a flowery shirt..... anyway Im gonna try out some of our current set...I find them quite easy on the bass guitar, but I think the DB is different matter.....nothing exciting....mostly standard rock n roll stuff..to be honest we need to lose 90% of our set..unless we want to be a 50s cover band This Friday is crunch time....we are gonna put our thoughts and ideas to him..and I reckon if he still resists we will become a trio..which will be sad.

Missus has been away for a few days.....got back today, so she asked me to show my father in law (he had brought back from London) my bass. I got it out and played a bit on it (baring in mind I still havent tuned it properly ) and she said that it sounded much, much better..and how a bass should sound....so thats a good start Im going to tune it properly..have a bit of a practice..and take it to band practice on Friday for the first time ...at least thats the plan.

[quote name='bremen' timestamp='1344286979' post='1762370'] ...as a db newby I'm following this with baited breath! hope it goes ok... [/quote] Cheers......Im having a break at the moment... so how long have you had yours ???

all strings on....and bridge depths adjusted. Im tuning them up..very..very slowly ....after recent events Im scared

Typical....Ive just found this thread and its all over I think you did a great job on the bass. Im going to be on the lookout for people throwing basses away now.....I really fancy having a go.

ok..so Ive put the D string on just to see what it sounds like. I havent filed the bridge or nut yet (the Psychos are quite thick strings) ..but the sound is amazing Its got that deep thumping bass sound which is exactly what Im after.....will put rest on later and let you know what they are like. oh..as for them being short...they arent..they just dont have yards of extra string on them...which is good.

New string set from Thomann arrived the other day,,BUT...today I got a package........ Its a set of Innovation Psycho Slaps from zero9, on this site.....hopefully gonna put them on tonight and give them a go....... If I like them then the ones from Thomann can go on ebay or something..as THIS TIME they have actually sent quite an expensive set. I will let you know what I think...although took the E out of the bag..and it looks very,very short ....but maybe Im wrong.....

gotta admit..Im beginning to wonder if the people in the pub were just drunk.....and my band are trying to let me down gently by saying that I need to learn to do both first

[quote name='artisan' timestamp='1343982423' post='1758052'] i actually had a go at backing vocal last night,it wan't good at all don't think the lads want me to try again. [/quote] hahahahahahahaha.....that made me laugh

[quote name='artisan' timestamp='1343914345' post='1757238'] singing i've heard myself singing & would pity anyone else who heard me. [/quote]lol.. that bad huh?? I honestly didnt have a clue if I was good or bad, as I had only ever done it in private before...but several people told me after that they liked it.....and I didnt even have to pay them Although my guitartist wont let me sing at all in the band....mainly because I cant sing [i]and [/i]play bass yet

Nice bike....I nearly bought one of those a few years ago. No more bikes for me.....last crash was a bad one. Cant actually lift my left leg over a bike anymore...and the wife had, had enough of me being in hospital. Get my kicks from playing music now. Also I sang with a band in a pub a few months back...first time I have ever sang in public...usually just in my car or shower ...and it was the best thing I have ever done with my clothes on.

Cheers Artisan...is that a Harley in your profile picture ?? This was my weapon of choice until a few months ago ..but I sold it to a mate down in Somerset... I know its looked after, and I havent got to see it about all the time. [IMG]http://i1120.photobucket.com/albums/l491/Chris_Finn/bikea.jpg[/IMG]

hmmm....or maybe the rockabillys

[quote name='thisnameistaken' timestamp='1343842930' post='1756239'] Lots of talk about this in the Innovation Strings subforum, but: The Honeys are a good all-rounder string. They feel like a light steel string, tension is comfortable, sound like a jazz string plucked, and don't sound too bad bowed either. They are really great value IMO. Silver Slaps are very low tension and have a rough surface to them so they feel pretty unusual to play, but they have a good gut-like sound when plucked and of course they're very easy to slap. Think '50s rock n' roll. TBH I found the Silver Slaps to be a little too loose for me and was considering trying the Super Silvers which are a similar string but higher tension, but I never got around to it and I would feel silly buying a [i]third[/i] set of strings for this bass when I already like the two I've got. [/quote] Blimey now Im really confused..I think Im leaning towards the Silvers or the Super Silvers...I had better get myself over to the Innovation forum and have a read.....cheers

[quote name='sarah thomas' timestamp='1343823761' post='1755754'] Have you signed up for Daf Lewis' Innovations strings trial? It's a great chance to try before you buy. Although, although ... I'm itching to buy a set of Honeys but really should try the rockabillys first ... [/quote] No..havent signed up....Im fairly new to all this and I didnt think they would want my amateur feedback ....Ive heard such good things about them that Im just going to get a set when I get some money. I do miss riding..I made some good friends...but Im also making good friends through music too now [color="#282828"]iiipopes[/color] ...budget is always a problem in my house The guy from Thomann actually admitted that the strings were little more than placeholders..... cheers for the advice everyone So.. thisnameistaken....what (in laymans terms ) would you say are the differences between the Honeys and the Silverslaps ??

[quote name='sarah thomas' timestamp='1343810402' post='1755440'] Hospital? Hope you and yours are okay. D'Addario Preludes are orchestral strings which retail for around £70-£90 a set. The 'M' in the name means the set you're getting are medium tension. Better than weedwhackers! And you could always sell them to part finance your string of choice. [/quote] You read my mind..I was thinking of ebaying them to get the Innovations. As for the hospital thing...I had a new hip a couple of years ago (after a motorbike crash) and it isnt going well. Ive had MRIs and blood tests and injections and loads of other stuff....and they still dont know whats wrong with it. Basically Im in a lot of pain 24 hours a day/7 days a week...next stage medication wise is morphine..and I dont want that as Ive been on it before and I didnt know what day it was half the time. But hey...its not all bad...had to give up motorbikes, so I bought a bass guitar and rediscovered my love of playing music....now in band..and have a double bass....so every cloud and all that thanks for asking by the way