Basstroker

Hi! As a classical player I use a Steinberger CR 5 M for practising - and sound experiments. You can get a neck heel here: [url="http://www.gollihurmusic.com/product/1771-NECK_HEEL_FOR_NS_DESIGN_CR_BASSES.html"]http://www.gollihurm..._CR_BASSES.html[/url] . More EUBs? [url="http://ebass.nl/models/"]http://ebass.nl/models/[/url] The pickups of the Yammys are really very bad regarding the prize of the instruments IMHO. Best Thomas

Great, thank You! I like the Octobass Band very much, e.g. [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=Pz6N4qzLLf0"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=Pz6N4qzLLf0[/url]

My NS Design EUB is fitted with Schaller M4 2000 90° tuners [url="http://bass-machine-heads.com/auctores/scs/imc/fdInf_ID=DY2db32ec7X116335ad6f7XY77cb=l=96646193/Bass.htm?ITServ=CY2c5327f1X144233c6494X8dd"]http://bass-machine-heads.com/auctores/scs/imc/fdInf_ID=DY2db32ec7X116335ad6f7XY77cb=l=96646193/Bass.htm?ITServ=CY2c5327f1X144233c6494X8dd[/url] . But I don't know if they fit the Palatino. Maybe other Schaller tuners.

Hi! I got a German Yitamusic Top Model A carbon bow and I can't recommend this bow. The stick is too "soft". Other bass players who got the same bow told me the same. But I have a Yitamusic snakewood bow, not much expensiver than the carbon bow and this bow is excellent! O.k. it's heavy, 161 g, but very well balanced. I know a professional bass player who has some very,very expensive bows (Dörfler, Pfretzschner etc.) but he likes his cheap Yitamusic snakewood bow best. Best Thomas

Musik Produktiv has just some Collins BSOs in very poor condition... Forget it!

Hi! Unfortunately the link doesn't work, so have a look at: Double Bass Guide -> About the Double Bass -> Double Bass Luthiers Google Map. Best, Thomas

[quote name='ubassman' timestamp='1381332414' post='2237765'] If this really floats your boat there is a book by [font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif][color=#282828]Prof. Reumont explaining the physical changes in wood, the changing compression and tension waves / forces of the top due to vibration of the strings , and how these vibrations affect the alignment of the basse's micro fibres ....and how he has tried to speed up the process using science and oscillators etc. [/color][/font][url="http://www.henrystrobel.com/booklist.htm#dedamp"]http://www.henrystro...list.htm#dedamp[/url] Although I cant see how any artificial vibrations can ever compete with the variety of frequencies , loudness , tone that you get playing, I wouldn't dismiss a mechanical product outright if it helps sweeten things up! [/quote] Well, we discuss the "Vibrationsentdämpfung" quiet a lot in Germany. But Jonas Lohse, really an expert in basses and shop owner [url="http://www.kontrabass-atelier.de/index_e.html"]http://www.kontrabas...de/index_e.html[/url] told me once: "I tried the VED on a bass. And in deed, all the bad sounds were gone - and the good sounds either. And it took me a lot of time to get the good sounds back again". Best, Thomas

Yes, some bass players use devices like this to "age" the sound of their basses: [url="http://tonerite.com/bass/vmchk"]http://tonerite.com/bass/vmchk[/url] . The inventor was Prof. Gerhard A. von Reumont and the procedure in German is called "Vibrationsentdämpfung", VED. The devices Mr. Reumont used were much bigger and louder, maybe more effectiv than the Tonerite. In my opinion it is better to play a new instrument and to hear how it develops. - Best, Thomas

Alcohol is o.k. to clean fingerboard and strings but I prefer lemon oil for the fingerboard. But be very careful to avoid contact in-between alcohol and the instrument's and bow's surface. Especially a shallac based finish can be ruined very quickly. A microfibre cloth is all you need to keep the bass and the bow clean but please get it from a luthier, not from the supermarket next door.

If you just hear a good bass player it is impossible to tell if he/she is playing "German" or "French". Everything is possible with both styles. But "German" is easier to learn. The bow's frog should not be too big in the beginning! Important: Back of the hand and outside of the forearm must be straight in one line but never cramped. The arm should be quite straight with an angle of about 80° at the elbow but also not cramped. Most force and movement run out the laid-back shoulder. Some lessons in the beginning are very helpful. Here again the differences between German and French: [url="http://www.silviodallatorre.com/index.php?language=en&hauptrubrik=double-bass&thema=7"]http://www.silviodallatorre.com/index.php?language=en&hauptrubrik=double-bass&thema=7[/url] . - Best, Thomas (Hope you unterstand my "English")

4/4 5 string bass: Evah Pirazzi mittel most for orchestral and chamber music 4/4 4 string bass: Efrano plain gut strings for baroque music, tuning D A d g (D A = stark, d g = mittel) 5 string EUB (CR5M): Spirocore mittel 4 string EUB (old Harley Benton semi acustic): D'Addario Helicore Orchestra

Also never heard of this bass maker. Maybe You can get some information if You ask directly at the Museum for Musical Instruments in Markneukirchen: [url="http://www.museum-markneukirchen.de/english/Museum_english.htm"]http://www.museum-ma...eum_english.htm[/url] Best, Thomas

Hi! - I play a NS-Design CR5M and it's more easy to bow than most 5-string carved double basses I've ever played. And I also use a Yita Music Top Model A German bow. But this bow is too "soft", it's not a professional bow. I also have a Gedo German 4/4 bow and this is an exceptional bow for 149,--€. But mine has a weight of 126g and is very stiff, the newer ones seem to have 143g and seem to be not so good. So every bow, every EUB/double bass is different and every player ist different. Maybe You can ask Thomann to send You some bows for testing. - Best, Thomas

Hi! - Maybe this can be helpful - with a translation programm: [url="http://geba-online.de/KatalogSuche.php?katalog_db=3"]http://geba-online.de/KatalogSuche.php?katalog_db=3[/url] . There also has been a good website of Kort Basses Berlin but they closed their shop this spring and the website seems to be no more longer available. - Best, Thomas

Hi! - Yes, Chuck Traeger's book is excellent - but expensive. A very good webpage of Gerald Dallhammer from Austria (he is not a prof. luthier but works very well) is: [url="http://www.kontrabassbau.at/menue.html"]http://www.kontrabassbau.at/menue.html[/url] , unfortunately (for my British friends) in German but the photos tell a lot. - Best, Thomas