Rabbie

Hi, I have never played the bass you suggest but I am sure you can make a reasonable sound with it. It is what it is: a cheap bass, in the same ballpark as many others in the budget category. I play Rockabilly and roots music like you and I am a lover of plywood basses. Plywoods are a lot cheaper than good carved basses, yet for a good ply you'd need to pay at least 2-3 times as much. Of course nobody needs a top instrument to play in the pub now and again, so don't let this put you off. There are many cut corners which make this bass a budget one: "ebonised" fingerboard and nut are just hardwood painted black which wears off very quickly, the tailpiece is metal instead of ebony, the finish is industrial and shiny, the lamination used will be of inferior quality, the setup is non-specific and Innovation are cheap strings. This is not bad per se: just necessary for a budget instrument. Still, if you play as amateur in the pub at weekends, and especially if your main interest is the drums, and if you play mostly amplified, I'd say you'd be fine with it. I think it is better than the Antoni you have now, but probably still not a "keeper" in the long term. Hope this helps a little, but I'd wait to get a few more opinions from the very knowledgeable people in this forum.

[quote name='paddy109' timestamp='1383682082' post='2267692']
More of a cheat than a tip - Ive downloaded my bands set list to my phone and then attach a car window phone holder to the back of my bass. From the audience my phone isn't seen and its better than having music stands and loads of paper everywhere. Great for remembering those songs I always have a blank on!
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Good one! But I cannae see the back of my bass when I play.

[quote name='ubassman' timestamp='1383675589' post='2267554']
I'm assuming that for intonation you rip the tape into little pieces first Rabbie ? !!
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Eh eh, the best way for me is really to tape my ears up and blissfully ignore how bad my intonation can be...
But aye I do rip it in wee bits

Sports tape!
That's the thing I always keep in my gig bag. Basically a thinner gaffer tape useful in lots of situations: tape up lots of things such as blistered fingers, loose or rattling pickups, frayed strings, music to stand, setlist to floor, cables round tailpiece. If using borrowed bass and nervous about intonation I even use it to "cheat" and mark the side of the fingerboard on the night.
Oops, sorry I just noticed that the touring guy above also had it for strings...probably everyone already knows about it so not much of a tip sorry!

To be fair, lots of folk give guts such a terrible name but they really are not all that high maintenance, they do stay in tune once they stretch and if you are in the uk they really are not affected by climate changes unless you play whilst being cremated.

I play raw guts which are a lot less stable than Olivs. The trick is put them on properly, so there is no slack around the tuning pegs. With gut strings, tuning has to become what you do as a habit. When they are new, yes, even between songs, but they do settle down fairly quickly (depending on how often you play of course). It's a case of like it or lump it really, a small price to pay for the awesome sound IMO. In saying that, if your strings are a few weeks old and they still loose tuning between songs, I think it's nothing to do with guts and more to do with your tuning pegs needing replaced or the strings being badly fitted.
Olivs are great strings, you've made a brilliant choice.

I cut a bridge for an old bass I had once: bloody hard work if you don't have the right tools and you do need to know what you are doing, but feasible if you don't expect magical results. I do agree that if you have a 300 quid bass, the expense of luthier may not be justifiable.

[quote name='Owencf' timestamp='1383158492' post='2261008']
Damn thats one problem about being so far away from civilised areas...no deals to be had.

im keeping an eye out for any of the local schools or uni doing a clearance or closures
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If you get a clearance bass from a Scottish school, you can call yourself lucky if it's got a neck...

Get a new on at string zone website, easy to change, no problem, but you really wanna look at a bridge as well. A warped bridge with high tension strings is not gonna go through a gig easily without a hitch. But first, lay the bass flat and put some books on its top, you don't want the sound post to fall off unless you know how to put it back into place.

Shuttle is a great DB amp, no preamp needed. I prefer the 12" speakers but each to their own.

On photo number 1, maybe my eyes are playing tricks on me, but it looks like your bridge is warped?
If it's just my eyes being squint, all you need to do is tune up gradually and whenever the bridge moves, grab the strings and push the the top of the bridge back with both thumbs (difficult to explain but I seem to remember Upton bass had a nice wee video about this on YouTube). I'd avoid knocking the bridge back and forth at full tension. Karate chops and books are not really safe as you wanna be careful the bridge remains in its position (naturally marked by the little spikes in the F-holes, plus its fitting perfectly around the contour of your top). Graphite in the slots is always a good idea as said above.
I hope the bridge is straight, in which case it's a very minor part of learning to deal with a DB's idiosincrasy. All the best to you.

+1 to ubassman and hector.
Although the notes are in the same order, the double bass is a completely different instrument. Honestly, you'd be much better off investing in some time learning to playing DB like a DB. Get a teacher for a couple of lessons, even just have some online lessons with the brilliant 'Discover Double Bass' website, run by fellow basschatter Geoff (+1 to Pete on this). With a EUB, being amplified and having very low action, you can get away with the "just playing bass guitar vertically" trick. However, if you want to graduate to DB, you will find yourself struggling with tuning, injury and quite simply being heard. You don't need to go all philharmonic: just treat the DB like a DB.

+1 on Charlie being a great guy to deal with. He is very nice, very well organised and he knows his stuff!

True, it's great, it's hot and it's reliable. IMO nowadays there are better similar options like Upton and Blast Cult. Still, if it goes for half price, I'd be tempted myself indeed. Thanks for pointing this one out Paul. There'll probably be a bidding war now eh eh...

[quote name='cattytown' timestamp='1382274874' post='2249899']
I think US bass player Jimmy Sutton has one for sale.

Paul.
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I absolutely love what Jimmy does, both as player and producer. Didn't know he had a Chadwick. By the way, I've been gigging mine for a few weeks now and it's great. I was expecting to have more tuning issues with Lamberts, but it's not too bad if you don't mind checking your tuning in-between most songs.

It'd be nice to see a photo or video once they are ready. I'd give it a go at least to try it out. you could even have a couple going around for the basschatters to try like Daf does with innovation strings and Ehrlund p'ups. All the best to you, I love an entrepreneurial spirit me.

Check out the late great Dennis Irwin, legendary NYC jazz player. He had a wooden endpin on his old Amefican Standard ply: that's what I'd go for. You can check out a video on his bass on YouTube, there are a few seconds on his endpin. Sorry cant find you the link just now. Great idea though

Now sold

As it is on eBay for £400 plus postage from tonight at 8pm, I am gonna make it £380 for Basschatters including postage. It's just so you know it is the same amp, but cheaper for members of this fine forum! In my book, this is a bargain.

Sorry, posted this by mistake in the DB section too. It is indeed a fantastic DB amp, but it's proper location is this amp section, so apologies.
Great amp anyhow, now discontinued. Plenty enthusiastic reviews available on the net.
All the best

I do. Never ever used them but it makes me feel better. It's an old set of wackers anyway stuffed in the gig bag with all the other bits and bobs.

Clearing out strings drawer. Must have about 2-3 weeks of use, grab them for half price!

Now sold

Genz Benz Shuttle 3-10T.
Amazing little amp+ 10"cab (yet not a combo 'cause the head detatches to become a bona-fide genius head).
Comes with superb fitted cover.
Gigged very respectfully hence still in fantastic condition, no issues whatsoever.
Great with upright bass and of course great with bass guitar too. Will do cafe gigs, most pub gigs, add an extra cab if you are in a very noisy band. Amazing as a stage monitor if you play big gigs (I used it in theatres and got on really well).
Selling because I have a new amp coming, still Genz Benz though!
I am in Perth, Scotland if you want to pick it up, otherwise £380 posted to the UK, cover included.

All ply.