PaulKing

A bit late in here - you won't regret Silver Slaps. Brilliant all round strings, plenty of volume and sustain, lovely feel and response for roots and slap. Yes, they are fatter than steels (all nylon are .. but you try plain gut, the E is like 5mm across). After a while you grow to prefer the fat string though, steels feel horrible to me now, like cheese wire. Yes, they are slightly softer, quieter and less punchy than steel ... that's because gut is all those things too. Super Silvers are VERY similar. The tension is slightly higher, enough to make slapping them all night a bit of a bind, but also enough to add a bit extra volume and sustain, so if you miss the sound of steels you can get a bit of it back. The only thing to watch is that on SOME basses Supersilver and SilverSlap do sound quite twangy when slapped, especially with an ebony fingerboard. They mellow with age, but if after a few weeks you're still going yuk when you slap an open string you might be looking for an alternative. I play them on a couple of my basses, but they don't sound uniformly good on them all ,

John, you don't know Martin Bayley? Tut tut. I've never used Martin, but I know who he is! He's a very big name, though probably doesn't have much time of day for scratters like us. I've always found it hilarious that Steve is based in Sible, cos that's where Martin is too. You're astonishingly lucky having two top class luthiers in one tiny village...

+1 to most of that (BP100 gets bad reviews quite often ... ProPlat Pre-amp can help ... Underwood or similar gets my vote) I'd add to it that the MB121P (is that the model you're using?) has very crisp and bright sounding piezo tweeter. I followed the advice of several people on here and disconnected it (easy, non-permanent), and the sound from the MB improved noticeably, less spiky and harsh, but still plenty top from the 12" cone. I run it with a 121H extension, and the horn on that gives a much more plesant top end. You won't be sorry to try the ProPlat pre-amp. I'd bet you'd be even happier if you found a better pickup (Underwood, Shadow, Schatten, Bassmax)

You'd never know it was there ... down a little staircase immediately opposite the station, next to an estate agent's or something. There's been a few great BBC documentaries about the place - youtube has a few clips. Most of the time its a dodgy dance club these days, but it's been there since the 60s, peddling some kind of trashy divey nightlife. We're taking live music back there for the first time in ... ooh ages.

[quote name='PTB' post='1288091' date='Jun 30 2011, 06:50 PM']Thanks for depping for me Paul! Tim thinks very highly of you. Hope the festival goes well. I'm on holiday so won't be able to attend either. I'm sure it'll be fun! Paul[/quote] Nice one Paul - thanks for the chance! Interesting to see how the band sound with new line up, Tim seems very happy .. and assures me there are no new tunes to catch me out. Hope not...

[quote name='Happy Jack' post='1288015' date='Jun 30 2011, 05:23 PM']As luck would have it, I've seen you at the George IV and hope to do so again. Given that I'm on holiday that week ... [/quote] Sweet, cheers. Ah well, head down to Twickenham on Sat 30th July instead then, I'm playing with Gentleman Tim and the Contenders, fine band, Ailsa Arms. Or back at GIV on Fri 30th Sept .... OK advert over ;o) Come say hello....!

Anyone in London area fancy a night of blues at the home of British Blues and Rock? From this very stage came Alexis Korner, Rolling Stones, Cream, Yardbirds, Mayall .... without it there'd be nothing. Now my turn to slap the upright on the same stage (move over Jack Bruce) at final night of three day blues fest...

[quote name='thisnameistaken' post='1279466' date='Jun 23 2011, 10:57 AM']Yeah can regular plebs buy these yet? If so, where?[/quote] Not yet, 'soon' they keep saying. A machine broke, thay had some festivals to play at .. cottage industry working at cottage industry pace. They somehow found the energy to make a lot of progres in a few shotr months, but it's all gone quiet over the channel for a good while now. June July release has been mentioned several times... behold, what's that I see coming over the channel???

It doesn't mark the board if you're playing guts or plain nylon. But round wound, or steel strings will damage the fingerboard, esp if it is a softer wood. Lower tension strings make it a whole lot easier to do, though it's not impossible with higher tension. But they certainly do make a lot of the more intricate multiple slap techniques impossible. With lower tension strings most people actually end up playing a HIGHER action, as you need to play them harder to make up for loss of volume. Plus you need space to get good purchase under the strings, and the ideal arm movement is relaxed and bouncy, which is easier with higher action. A bit of me... slapping for first half then pizz [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5P4Swu7Y_SY"]Slapping on a 1938 King Mortone with whackers...[/url]

+1 to all those who said you'll get a MUCH better deal by looking out on ebay / classifieds here. Really nice European made, 20-50 year old ply basses often go for under £500. You just need someone from here to spot it for you.

[quote name='thisnameistaken' post='1265900' date='Jun 12 2011, 11:55 AM']I just listened to the clip in Clarky's post and his timing is a bit rough. Quite often when slappers try to fit in triplets or other adornments they end up late into the next bar and this guy does the same thing. In the middle of the clip he seems to lose the beat completely.[/quote] Yeah in Nics solo clips he does seem to wander off the beat a bit. But when he's locked in with a drummer he absolutely nails it. Joe Frick is spot on the whole damn time.

Yeah I'm guilty of slapping about 75% of the time, though I know the limitations and potential for ear ache. And most players frown on it... But it does have a real role when done tastefully, in jazz or roots style. I play jump / west coast blues in the style of Hollywood Fats / Junior Watson - slap bass played like Larry Taylor, Willie Dixon, Ernest Crawford. I love it. It's mostly single slap, which defines and adds punch to every pizz note, it adds the jump to jump blues... Most jazzers don't take it seriously ... but check out Milt Hinton. He's no Ray Brown, but he's got rhythm and melody. Also the strings you use make a whole lot of difference. Most players on steel strings sound like an accident in a sheet metal factory when slapping. Gut or Nylon (like the Lamberts Nic Dubouchet uses, me too...) have a beautiful rhythmic thumpy click to them. And some rockabilly players have a dedicated click pick up which can, if over-used, dominate the amplified sound. Nasty. Mark King did us no favours. Nether does manic psychobilly clickattaclickatta. But I'm still a fan of the sound. If ever I can hear myself dissapearing in the mix I get jiggy with the slap and there I am again, punch!

[quote name='bartelby' post='1263340' date='Jun 9 2011, 09:58 PM']I think my eyes are playing tricks, as the "radius" seems to be asymmetrical and have a sharp ridge running the length...[/quote] I agree it's a m*nger, but before you get too critical ... no your eyes aren't deceiving you. The sharp edge along the fingerboard you describe is a Romburg Bevel, designed to increase the vibrating area of the E string for increased volume. It's a pucker double bass design feature. oops. Now I feel superior, get me.... edit: Excellent, the profanity filter wouldn't let me say m*nger! Bet it won't say m*nge either. Or clunge. Ah. There, beat it.

[quote name='tedgilley' post='1258699' date='Jun 6 2011, 06:07 PM']Thanks, BA, I got that impression from the site and an email from him. I have other opportunities to buy a used double bass right in my own state, but I'm kind of looking all over. Two of the reasons I'm thinking plywood bass are price and easier maintenance (less possibility of top cracking, etc.). TG[/quote] Youtube Joe Frick playing Thompson basses. Sound pretty amazing... if you like slapping. But don't forget Upton and Lemur for quality ply basses, maybe a bit more expensive though. You can also pick up an Englehardt or a Strunal, new or second hand. they're everywhere in the USA, you'll have no trouble. You try buying in Europe, much harder.

Like they all said. There can huge variation in 'standard' 3/4 sized basses, even in the string length, which makes for differences in tension. 7/8 basses have same string length range as 3/4 basses, but bigger body, makes them quite bulky to transport, and heavier, but can lend a boost to the low end when acoustic. You also need a bigger gig bag to get the damn thing into. 4/4 do mainly crop up in classical these days. There's just no need for most band situations. Plus they have longer string length, which increases tension a bit, makes them a tiny bit harder to play.

[quote name='bassace' post='1243940' date='May 25 2011, 09:51 AM']Interesting that. I bought the Blonde from Peter Tyler. It's quite nice and I use it for, er, the more 'challenging' gigs, like outdoors or gigs that might be a bit rough ([i]moi?[/i]) It has a distinctive triangular profiled neck. Do you know anything about it, Paul?[/quote] No, not that bass. I may have seen it at his place a couple of times. I got the term 'German Blonde' from him, I took a couple that I owned to him for some work (including the B+H I still own, which I believe he restored years ago for someone else) and he called them that, showed me a couple similar that he had in stock. Only thing is, my B+H is Czech of course, and was certainly not blonde originally... but he still called it a 'German Blonde'. What a thoroughly lovely man. With a house full of basses .. 3 floors of them. Poor Mrs Tyler.

[quote name='bassace' post='1241201' date='May 23 2011, 09:04 AM']Whaaaat? Paul Bryant 3/4 DB Thomas Martin 3/4 Concert DB Upton Professor DB Unknown German Blond Lami DB[/quote] Well you're in a different class from me... Upton Professor ... sweet. There's only one person I know that describes unlabelled blonde laminated basses as 'German Blondes'. Did you buy it from Peter Tyler? Or me?!!

[quote name='thisnameistaken' post='1239894' date='May 22 2011, 01:29 AM']They are addictive though. I could justify three double basses at least and I don't have a single full-time gig on DB yet.[/quote] Noone in their right mind can justify owning 3 double basses. (cough)

[quote name='steve' post='1238593' date='May 20 2011, 07:20 PM']shhhhh, I've been watching that! [/quote] £562!!! That is one hell of a good price, for one hell of a good bass. Anyone smiling round here?

I don't reckon there's much to be gained by learning ebass first. Go for the upright from the outset! There's also a stunning Artia B+H bass on ebay at the moment. I have one, very very good entry level basses. £410 with a day to go. Worth a grand I'd say. [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/size-Double-Bass-Artia-made-Boosey-Hawkes-/300556558297?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Sting_Instruments&hash=item45fa911fd9"]ebay[/url]

+1 on all that. I used to get mine in a mini. An old one. Scroll in footwell, passenger seat reclined. Not recommended. I've never bought anything but a hatchback in 20 years for the sole reason of carrying around basses. I can get two in the back of my Golf hatchback, easy peasy.

I cut myself a set of those doug's plugs (sorry doug). I bought a hi density foam kickboard (kids swimming float) and cut it to shape, leaving a small lip around the top surface. Cost me a tenner and a couple hours fidling with a modelling knife. They take 10secs to install, hardly noticeable on stage, reduces feedback massively. I tried making a set like John Slobluesine made, neater design that fixes inside the f-hole with no lip on the outer suirface. Totally invisible, but a right faff to install I found, and you're limited to less dense foam. I've played with big loud Brian Setzer Orchestra type band, raucous guitar, loud drums, no probs. Piezo pickup, Sensible gain staging (pre amp LOW gain, amp LOW gain, HIGH master volume) plus added EQ control and phase switch from the Fishman Pro Plat sorts out most feedback issues for me.

[quote name='Clarky' post='1233620' date='May 16 2011, 08:58 PM']Hi all, I have Silver Slaps on both my DB and my Eminence EUB and love them. I like the woody, plummy tone I can coax from them and especially the low tension. However, I am installing a mag pickup on my DB, as I think this would be a useful fall-back if my piezo is going feedback-crazy in my very noisy 14-piece band. Hence I need a steel-containing string on my DB. I have some Presto Ultralights which are similar to Silver Slaps but not quite as nice IMHO. There's loads of Spirocore love out there but how would a Silver Slaps player like me get on with Spirocore Weich/softs or other softer steel strings such as Velvets or Evah Pirazzis? Do any share any of the characteristics I like so much in Silver Slaps (low tension, soft feel etc)? As you all know, buying DB strings is an expensive exercise and I don't want to make a costly mistake here! Thanks , Clarky :-)[/quote] Hmm, don't think you'll get much closer than Presto Ultralight. Velvet Garbo wor for lots of folk but I found them really clanky and metallic. They're copper too ... does that work for mags? Evahs ... I've never tried. Hows the Rattlin Bone gig? Must get to see you sometime in London, love the sound of that band. We should get together and swap notes sometime too. Paul