alexpea

Hi there I'm not happy with the arco sound on my 18th C german flatback at the moment, I find the arco sound is very bright. The bass has currently got Helicore Orchestral strings on it but I'm thinking of trying some different strings in the hope of darkening the sound. I play in an Orchestra as well as playing Klezmer, Americana and a bit of Jazz so I need strings that are quite flexible. At the moment I'm considering trying some Eva Pirazzi's possibly the Weichs. I appreciate that each bass is different but any recommendations would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Alex

I wished I'd gone to this but had a gig. Will there be another?

I bought one of [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/J-tone-Black-Double-Bass-Pick-up-/191134096791?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Sting_Instruments&hash=item2c807add97"]these[/url] recently as a backup and I can't honestly tell the difference between it and my K&K Bass Max. Sounds great on my Ply Beater Bass

I've found that the problem with using just a magnetic pickup on my bass is that the arco sound is really really quiet and doesn't quite sound right.

I'm currently using my old Ashdown Evo 500 watt head (not ideal of DB I know) through a Bergantino EX112 350 watts 8 ohm cabinet. The setup works for me and I can usually get enough volume even playing with a drummer. I'd like to find a smaller/lighter amp tho so considering changing the Ashdown for a Mark Bass Little Mark 800. Can anyone tell me if this would work with the Bergantino? My worry is that the Mark Bass produces 500 watts at 8 ohms and therefore might damage my Bergantino cab. Is that even possible? P.s. I'm not too worried about getting a perfect transparent tone for my double bass. I tend to DI from my preamp to front of house and then use my amp just as a monitor

I too can highly recommend the kent Armstrong pickup. I've only had to use it a couple of times but it goes to every gig with me just incase I can't get enough juice out of the piezo. On the occasion when I have used it I've sent the piezo signal to the front of house and the magnetic signal to amp as monitor. Who knows what it sounded like out front but at least I could hear plenty of bass on stage.

Lovely bass Do they construct them differently to a standard bass in any way? To suit slapping and for feedback resistance?

Doesn't say if it runs off phantom power. It's one of my favourite features of the old version...

[quote name='fatback' timestamp='1390932721' post='2351489'] I go for this belt 'n braces approach too. I've a Kent Armstrong mag on the end of the fingerboard that I've never had to use, but it takes the stress out of things knowing it's there if I get feedback hell or the piezzo fails. [/quote] Yep, I've always got my Kent Armstrong in the bag as a back up. I've used it a few times, in which case I run the Kent Armstrong into my amp for monitoring and the piezo straight to front of house via Plat Pro. No bass in monitors.

this ones pretty fun... [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfFBdViZHzk[/media]

I bought one of these a year ago and it's held up really well so far to a full on year of gigging including being strapped to the back of a golf buggy at a very muddy and rainy WOMAD. Loads of handles in the right places including one on the front roughly over the bridge which proves very useful for carrying up stairs. http://www.thomann.de/gb/concord_pv502_kontrabasstasche_34.htm

[quote name='TheRev' timestamp='1385466500' post='2288523'] Piccie of the first outing on Friday night: The BP100 pickup was, er, challenging to work with to say the least. I did manage to get a workable sound by judicious use of the noth filter on my amp but it was just that - workable. About three numbers from the end of the gig I remembered that I had slipped my Bassmax pickup into the gig bag 'just in case'...... Numpty. To make up for for being such an idiot I spent most of Sunday playing along with Danny Thompson recordings. [/quote] Blue Lagoon?

Israel 'Cachao' Lopez [media]http://youtu.be/Hq17zTzjEBQ[/media]

[quote name='TheRev' timestamp='1385039106' post='2283676'] Cheers! The rectangular thing is a bow quiver. It's actually tied to the tailpiece. [/quote] Lol not the quiver, I think the what i was looking at could just be a reflection tbh

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1384982344' post='2283198'] Just had a poke around the f holes and it's hard to say, the centre is quite curved and fairly thin behind the bridge area which would suggest pressed from a single sheet but the edges feel like a different contour from the front more consistent with it bring scooped out for want of a better term? Just checked on the gedo site and they are listed as half carved but maybe one mans carved is another mans as long as it's not ply and has been carved after pressing for it's final fit? [/quote] I think half carved usually means that the top is carved and the back and ribs will be laminate, I think :s Nice bass Rev, whats that black rectangle thing that looks like its bolted to the belly under the bridge?

[quote name='ubassman' timestamp='1382567966' post='2253915'] I managed to figure out how to crunch down a Stagg EUB and I took it on holiday to Greece on Thomson - fitted nicely into the overhead locker the size of a small golf bag . Would be perfect for camping and for around £200 a good beater EUB !. I guess a lot depends on the sound you are after and how important it would be to get that unique acoustic DB tone? [/quote] wow did you have to remove the neck? I do play a lot of arco so I'm not sure an EUB would be ideal. The visual impact of a real double bass is also quite important to most of the projects I play in.

Thanks for the replies Another option I'm considering is getting myself an EUB which would be easier to transport and camp with at festival gigs. Hmm

[quote name='Harry' timestamp='1382096831' post='2247855'] Hi Alex, ordered direct form kris ,http://baby-bass.com , great guy, the contact details are on the web site, there is a 6 to 8 week wait on it but well worth it [/quote] Thanks, shame there's no prices on the site...

Hi Harry, Where did you pick this up from? I'm quite interested in getting one for myself.

I was playing plain gut D and G with Hellicore Hybrid E and A for a long time and did quite a lot of pizz and arco. I then switched to a whole set of Hellicore Hybrids as I too started using a mag pickup as a backup if feedback become un controllable at gigs. Put a set of Danny Thompson signatures on my bass yesterday, finding them a bit bright and metallic sounding at the mo but think they need a bit longer to bed in before I make my judgement.

I have a set of Helicore Orchestrals that came on my bass in my case. Mainly because I put them in there when I took them of my bass and forgot they were there till I read this thread...

Myself and my drummer friend regularly fit my bass and accordion plus his drum kit and ourselves in his Skoda Fabia. It is a squeeze but we've been all over the place for various gigs in it.

Hi all, I'm considering getting a second double bass for festival gigs, crowded pub gigs and house party gigs etc. I've had a few nervous moments with my late 19th century german bass including having a drunk dancer fall onto to me and it and strapping it to the back of a golf buggy at WOMAD to name a few. So I'm thinking a cheap'ish plywood bass would be useful to take to some gigs. It's quite a lot of money for me to spend even if I went for the cheapest Gedo music bass though so... Does anyone else use a beater bass for some gigs? Is it hard work swapping between two basses? My current bass has an Eflat neck and I'm aware that pretty much any modern ply bass I buy off the shelf will have a D neck, could this be an issue? Sorry for all the Q's Thanks in advance, Alex

There are 2 shops I know of in Bristol: Bristol Violin Shop - 0117 9259990 Cremona House - 0117 9264617 I don't know that they themselves hire out instruments but I'm sure they can tell you someone who can help...

It almost looks as if your bridge is on the wrong way round in the last pic... :s