SevenSeas

* Forgot to mention the above is lots of work split over a long period of time, I would advice finding a good teacher who understands walking bass lines.

1. Buy Ed Friedlands book on walking bass lines. (understand all the approaches, chromatic, double chromatic, scalar approach, dominant approach) there are indefinitely more but it's a good place to start. 2. If you understand basic harmony, I would suggest writing walking bass lines in 2 and in 4. (4 to start off with) using the triads of each chord but making sure the line is smooth. ( I don't know how to describe this in writing) (Take a jazz standard for example Autumn Leaves) So I recommend a Fakebook or the online Irealbook is also very good. 3. To start off with you want to make sure you're using the strong/weak beat rule. So beats 1 and 3 are strong so if you were walking from. CM7 to Dm7b5. You could play, C, Eb, G, Bb (the arpeggio) and then for Dm7b5 you would come back in the direction you started. So Ab, F, D, C. (another arpeggio just a different inversion) It's really hard to explain just by typing so I recommend a good teacher, If you can write bass lines using the methods above but if you can focus on staying in half and 1st position. To start off with, this would be useful. Learning how to write bass lines which voice lead from the chord to start off with would be very useful and out of all the different teacher I have had this has been the most beneficial. (but this is just my opinion, it's neither right or wrong`)

Went with the turtle.

Or if anyone has something similar for a similar price. The Tom Wills is a good idea but can't find a good retailer.

Either the; [url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/gewa_bass_bag_prestige_4_4_bl.htm"]http://www.thomann.d...tige_4_4_bl.htm[/url] Same as my old one but bigger, it's padded but never sure if its padded enough. (it's okay though) The Turtle looks a bit more padded and has wheels. (I'm using the bass trolley though) so I don't know if it will still work with the wheels on the Turtle case? [url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/turtle_bs25_double_bass_bag_4_4.htm"]http://www.thomann.d...ass_bag_4_4.htm[/url] The turtle looks like it's a little more padded but not sure if the wheels with stop me using it with the bass buggie? [url="http://www.kcstrings.com/bass-buggie"]http://www.kcstrings.com/bass-buggie[/url]

Hey everyone, Looking at a new double bass bag, it needs to be a full size bass bag 4/4. I have used Gewa before and they're nice bags but in my honest opinion I don't know if they're padded enough! (Annoyingly they're well priced but having a decent case is crucial) Anyway using the Jaegar? http://www.thomann.de/gb/jaeger_kontrabasstasche_44.htm Really expensive but are they that much better than other cases? (Soundwear 4.4) http://www.thomann.de/gb/soundwear_performer_3244_blue.htm

[quote name='fatgoogle' timestamp='1382183756' post='2248995'] The yita bow is good. I have and used the same one your getting for a bit over year before upgrading. It's a long bow, not too heavy and it does have a good attack. I found it bad for spiccato and similar things. The real turn of through was the balance. It weighed a lot at the tip and would get tiring to play after two hours or so. But for the price it is great and with a rehair it will be great. Maybe try some black hair for the extra grip on the strings. But to put a bit of perspective over the whole thin, while i was trying bows over the summer i would have taken the yita over a few bows coasting thirty times as much and a few that made the yita bow feel like a crayon. Very happy though with my bazin bow that i picked up but that was 15+ more expensive. It's very much down to personal preference. Edgar Meyer uses really really cheap bows for instance and he loves them. [/quote] Awesome, looking forward to getting it.

[quote name='philparker' timestamp='1382168571' post='2248794'] Andrew McGill is from Oxfordshire, near Banbury, so I have to send by post, which is about £10 each way and £55 for the re-hair. He also makes bows, but they start at around £1400! I'm sure you will be happy enough with the carbon Yita bow - they are great value for money and as you've already said yourself: you get what you pay for, which is true, but sometimes you get more value for money and I think this is definitely the case with these and other bows from China. I still have the receipt for the Brazilwood bow that came with my DB new in 1996, which cost £185 (from a retailer in Bristol) and is nowhere near the quality or playability of my Yita bow. I will also be going to see Martin Penning next month for a new bridge on my DB and have the Fishman Full Circle fitted at the same time, although he's about 40 miles and an hour's drive from me in the other direction,. [/quote] That seems very reasonable for a re-hair, I'm sure there (Yita) hair is adequate for my needs. I'll see what my teacher suggests but if i have to get a re hair that seems like great value. I did go for their top model, so fingers crossed. Also yes very true, you get what you pay for but as labour is cheaper it doesn't necessarily effect quality so I'm hoping it will be as good as some of the other/more expensive models. Awesome, I'm looking forward to meeting Martin to do some work on my (should be) new bass, which is very exciting. He sounds like a very nice and seems very helpful and reasonable. Cheers,

[quote name='geoffbassist' timestamp='1382118939' post='2248338'] I did try one that another bassist had but I can't remember the model. It was good value, but didn't blow me away. I think they would be a safe bet, but not amazing....perhaps the higher end models would be though.. [/quote] Hi Geoff, True, I think I won't be able to tell until it arrives. Either way like everything you get what you paid for... my current bow is awful and I'm not looking for a master bow, so like you said it should hopefully be good value. Then have a very good reputation so fingers crossed it stays that way! Cheers,

[quote name='philparker' timestamp='1382130758' post='2248590'] I've got their Pernambuco bow, which is very good quality (although I recently had it re-haired by Andrew McGill to a much higher quality) and I got an excellent service from them as well! They're a good company for value - I don't think European companies could compete on price, you shouldn't be disappointed. Good luck! [/quote] Hi Phil, I was tempted by their Pernambuco bows but hadn't heard much about them. So went for their top Carbon model, I am glad you're enjoying your bow, I will let my tutor have a look at the bow because he will be able to give me a realistic evaluation on whether or not it needs a re-hair. I am from the SW too, going to see Martin Penning to look at a bass soon, I'm guessing Andrew McGill is a local re-hairer? (Well... local to Exeter?) Cheers,

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1382122374' post='2248422'] Mine came quite quickly and was well packed if that helps [/quote] Awesome, I paid for the bow to be shipped in a bow case for extra protection because it's a long way from Shanghai, on the plus side I'm glad yours arrived in good condition.

Okay interesting, I went for there 'top' carbon fibre bow. £119, so will see how it goes. Taking a bit of a gamble but it will be much better than my current bow and similar suggestions started at £300... which I haven't got. Hopefully the quality will be good, I suspect the prices are good due to cheaper labour costs.

Hey, anyone using a Yita double bass bow? What are they like? If you could put what model you're using that would be great! Cheers,

[quote name='bassace' timestamp='1381833231' post='2244239'] I'm liking the Lifeline very much. Dead easy to fit (on an adjustable bridge) and good feedback resistance. Having been a lifelong Underwood user I had to get used to the attack on the front of the note - can come out as too much thump if not eq'd properly - and I'm still blending it with an Underwood for the louder gigs. But for the smaller, quieter stuff it's great. [/quote] Interesting I did look at the Lifeline, I haven't got an adjustable bridge though. I think I went for the Copperhead as a safe option and I have heard lots of great players using it. Might be an entirely different game when I start gigging with it, I have heard quite a few people mix the sound. So the Realist to your amp and then having another microphone DPA and sending it to front of house. I haven't even looked into microphones yet... expensive and of course one step at a time.

[quote name='mart3442' timestamp='1381804469' post='2244011'] I've used the Realist for years. If you get one of the older models, they have a really loud and clear tone. I'm very tempted by the Soundclip pickup he's making. Its almost identical to the Barcus Berry pickup I first used years ago but seems a lot more robust. Wasn't sure from your question but are you aware that the Docking station is just an onboard volume control? I was lucky enough to find David Gages shop while on holiday in New York last month A very open friendly place with good staff.... [/quote] Yeah I looked into the Docking station, nice idea but I would only consider using one if I was only going through FOH. I wish I go to NY, sounds awesome! In the end I went with the copperhead, the naturalist is a nice idea but I couldn't comprise tone over aesthetics.

Forgot to add, do you know where I can get a bow re-hair in the SW, also how much does it cost?

[quote name='mtroun' timestamp='1381747457' post='2243014'] I have heard good things about Yita bows - though the hair jobs are supposed to be terrible, so you'd have to factor the cost of a re hair into the price. But several professional orchestral players own them in London - use them as back up bows. [/quote] Hi Mark, I am probably going to take the plunge a buy one of the Yita bows, a third of the price to one of the Col Segno bows and the quality is probably very similar. Of course the reason these bows are a lot cheaper because of labour costs but at the end of the day I get a nice bow and they get a sale. (so everyone wins). Funnily enough my current bow (which does the job... but it isn't anything special) is apprantly a Pernambuco which most be absolute rubbish, are Gear for Music allowed to falsely sell products? (It came with the bass, so no loss for me) Cheers,

Well the two bits of advice I would give are; Determine which bow you prefer German or French. (try both) Find a classical teacher even if its for [size=4]a one off lesson. [/size]

Awesome!

Thanks for all the suggestions; Finale bow & the Col Legno look like my first choice. Followed by the Coda and the Gage, if I can find them for a more affordable price. Cheers!

Thought people might be interested in reading this, there is so much to know about bass in general especially about set up which can be mind boggling if you aren't a luthier. Anyway heres the link. (the first part talks about purchasing a bass and if you carry on reading it goes into talking about setup and everything you should consider, in quite a lot of detail from tail piece, saddle, bridge, basically everything) This might be common knowledge to some bass players here but theres definitely stuff in this article that I haven't heard about before. http://www.aesbass.com/bassgear1.htm Cheers.

[quote name='mtroun' timestamp='1381509110' post='2240119'] I got my Coda Revelation for £250 - second hand. Guess you have to hope that something will come up. [/quote] Hey Mark, yeah true. Theres no major panic for a bow, I'm just looking for an upgrade. Looking at a double bass next week which could be the one I have been looking for, (already brought strings and a pickup) and arranged a decent setup. .... I am now basically skint. (as you can imagine) so I'm going to have to find some more hours at work to upgrade my bow. I will look out for second hand bows though, Cheers,

[quote name='ubassman' timestamp='1381505367' post='2240049'] A bow emporium would be wonderful ! If your budget is in the region of £300 personally I would look at carbon fibre as they produce good sound, are well balanced ( and not too heavy - unlike budget student bows) and are good value for money. The David Gage Metropoilitan , Coda Revelation and the Col Legno all have good reviews but may be pushing your budget a bit. [/quote] Fantastic, the Gage and the Coda are a little out of my budget. (I could ultimately save more money but for my needs the Col Legno) looks like a great bow for the price. Martin Bailey has one for £328 which is quite good.

This seems reasonable; In relation to size, what is the best rule to go by? http://www.thomann.de/gb/carbondix_carbon_double_bass_bow_34f.htm

Wanted different opinions on current French bows on the market, I am definitely not looking to break the bank and I don't plan on being in a top orchestra. I have a french bow that came with the bass I brought and it does the job, it's okay but nothing special. I was wondering if anyone had any recommendations? There seems to be three types of woods often used? - Brazilwood. (the cheapest type of wood) - Pernambuco (rare and probably extremely expensive) - Carbon Fibre (the imitation of the Pernambuco wood but without the price tag) I don't know how accurate that is but I read an article that basically summarised this. So I would imagine most of the recommendations would be of the Carbon Fibre bows? I would say my budget would be £300. (I have a feeling spending more than this would be a bit crazy for my needs) I'm not sure how the price breakdown of bow works because there seems to be a trend with double basses that when you spend over X - amount, the quality will increase tenfold. (I hope I made that understandable) Is there anywhere in the UK where you can try out lots of bows? Surprisingly when I have been on the hunt for a double bass I haven't given the bow a thought. Cheers,