NickA

I have a couple of sets transposed specifically for double bass (I'm a cellist too) - this one has all of them except No6 (which was written for a 5 string cello and near impossible for mortals on even a normal cello) IBAN83-224-2584-8. They are in different keys to the original to avoid the notes below E. There are some Duncan McTier transcriptions that I don't have .. but I'm betting they're pretty good as McTier is just brilliant (despite being a pedo) The best way to play them IMO is to have a 5th string to get at the correct notes. However, I watched one of those on line double bass lessons to see how the teacher fingered the prelude to suite 1 and .... !£$% me, she played it in the original key AT PITCH putting the whole thing in thumb positions. Like so: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bCV2ZH5BJxU Second best is to pick a few movements from the "proper" 'cello transcription (eg sarabande in suite 2 ... which sounds better on a bass than on a cello I reckon) and just play those an octave down (ie in bass pitch). BTW the idea that you should avoid open strings when playing these is debunked (according to my Dad who is a retired pro cellist); Bach knew where the open strings were and included them on purpose, gives a particular resonance to the performance, Sadly the open strings are different on a DB so it doesn't work..... Hey Ho. There is a great Pizz version of the suite 1 prelude that I one saw a ballet dance set to ... I''ll post when I track it down.

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The 4 string Dolph is really easy to play, fantastic access all the way to fret 27. Only 4 strings and only 19mm between strings. What's the spacing on those 6 stringers? My only 5 string bass is a Wal tho and despite 17mm spacing I find it a bit of a handful .. care required not to buzz a g string fret when playing the B string. I do have short stubby fingers though and still a relative newbie when it comes to frets. Thumb hooking certainly a no no ( on any bass imo )

I think they ALL are cnc now, but I believe the older boire ones were carved by hand. Mine is 2001 so new factory and stunning machine tools. Lots of lovely "through the round window" vids on that youtoob: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=klN0ohkjmgg

Let several people have a go on my Wal (which is now officially priceless) .. one of them found something wrong with it, which is now fixed and it's a better bass as a result 😁 .

Oh yes indeed. Pick up a thumb or a dolphin and feel that wood. Some poor sod had to carve that! ( Though my own dolphin is cnc ). Need big hands for a 6 mind, doubt I could reach the B string.

How very dare they!

Sharpie included? Prices at Thwaites, you'd hope for paint at least 🙂

Heres a good article about replacing a dB neck. As Jack says the grain should be in compression along the neck. But that means it shouldn't snap the way the OP's did. should go at 90degrees to that? http://www.mjbl.co.uk/double-bass-neck-graft If you like the bass, might be worth getting a new neck

Clean break. Maybe made from timber that was "green" ie not well seasoned. Dropped mine once and the fingerboard came off. What actually failed wasn't the glue but the wedge between the fingerboard and neck. "Aha" said Mr Luthier, "green maple ;-)"

Lens distortion? Or maybe tuning compensation, like a guitar! 90o to the strings and aligned with the little Vs in the f- holes, is more traditional 😉

Something that corrects pitch and timing would be useful. Sort of auto tune in a small box. The timing bit would be hard as in the case where you hit a note a bit late, it would need to know what note you were going to play before you played it... so needs to see a little bit into the future.

My problem too. Nothing like a looper to highlight mistakes .... over and over and over again. 😁

So the sonic difference to an 8 is? I guess the higher tuned strings will never be quite in tune, so you'll get that "shimmer" of a 12 string guitar as well as the octave doubling. Amazing thing for sure .. and beautifully made.

So what are the strings tuned to? I'd never even seen or heard of an 8- string before happening on one in bass direct. 12-string is beyond the realms of my weak imagination.

I've been using the loop function on a TC flashback delay...like the people say, it just plays back whatever you play in.... in 24 bit hifi. Going to get a proper TC looper soon (ditto+ probably).

Guessing that was recorded on a £1500 hand crafted one? How does yours sound? Sound clips!

Is that stuff ok with varnish? If so citrus degreaser might do it too. Cleaned my cello strings with cellulose thinners when I was much younger ... you can still see the spots in the varnish it dropped on 45 years later.

5min is enough for me. Just to loop 16 bars of walking bass to practice over. I'm no KT Tunstall!

Hey, thanks for that. I couldn't find that info anywhere. £50 on a ditto then. Unless there are better loopers. Bass direct have a ditto x4 for £95 ... But it's too big for my tiny pedal board.