ubassman

[quote name='bobmartin' timestamp='1363862057' post='2018461'] I got mine, with an amp and passenger in a Citroen AX. The neck made for a nice armrest on long journeys. [/quote] This inspired me to start this thread ...thanks BobMartin !

Bit of compressed silver foil to pack up the string is almost invisible and can work a treat as a zero budget repair. If you are handy, you could fit a new nut - pretty cheap to get a replacement under £20 ( http://www.contrabass.co.uk/ebony_fittings.htm plenty of other sources but heres one supplier ) Whats the purpose of reducing the string height at the nut ? ...for bringing the strings closer to the fingerboard its usually playing around with the bridge height that does the trick. Credit card is about as low as anyone would ever want to go at the nut and is not an absolute guide or a 'correct' or 'wrong' setting . Every instrument is different and if you get too low, the string will buzz against the fingerboard ( especially when playing arco ) ...so take it easy - you only have to get it wrong once !

Where abouts in the country are you based ( Wales perhaps!?) ?

I guess that if you are not spoilt for choice then you may have to travel - there are a couple of teachers I know of who do lessons on line using Skype - could that work for you?

[url="http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=343114712472744&set=vb.237352582604&type=2&theater"]http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=343114712472744&set=vb.237352582604&type=2&theater[/url]

Best car I have ever owned for transporting a Double bass is a Peugeot 2008 ..well worth looking into if anyone has some serious mileage to do or transports on a regular basis - the really cool part is the collapsible tailgate arrangement and that the seats all collapse via levers that you can operate from the back ...but quite happy to slum it in a 7 series Beamer if you want to trade ? !!

You will probably develop quickest if you enjoy every minute with your tutor - the sort of person that you can feel relaxed with, that you rate as a player and perhaps most importantly is tuned into your musical wavelength rather than strictly their own ( ...and maybe drinks Guiness?!!). Remember that the best players don't always make best tutors and the most qualified doesn't mean automatically make them the most musically talented ! Good luck with it all !

Here's how to straighten your bridge . Skip to 5.00 the first bit isn't really relevant ( it might just be the angle of your photo and a matter of better aligning the feet on the adjustable bridge ! ). [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTM2GNFPLas[/media]

[font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]The sound post should be the same distance from its f hole as the bass bar is away from its f hole. If you stick your finger through the left f hole as you look at the instrument you will find the bass bar. Measure how far away it is from the edge of the f hole - that should give you the distance that the sound post should be in from the right hand f hole on the opposite side. It varies from instrument to instrument. Finding that point should be your starting point. However on some basses its desirable to move the sound post into a different position to get different responses /tones - see below. The bridge feet should be centred on the centre line of the bass bar and the centre line of the sound post.[/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]The notches is the sides of the f hole should be where the bridge is centred. The sound post is most commonly placed about one sound post diameter south of the edge of the bridge foot i.e. the sound post should not be under or half way under the bridge foot but offset south ( away from the fingerboard) by 15mm or so ( unless you want a very bright twangy sound? ).[/font] [font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif]Looks like your bridge has warped quite a bit !! Ideally the distance from the nut to the bridge wants to be the same across all strings so that you get the same scale length. You can steam the bridge and try to untwist it but its likely that as some stage soon you will want to fit a new bridge. [/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Some useful info at : - [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sound_post"]http://en.wikipedia....wiki/Sound_post[/url][/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]"Moving the sound post towards the fingerboard tends to increase brilliance and loudness. Moving the sound post towards the tail piece decreases the loudness and adds a richness or hollowness to the tonal quality of the instrument. Moving it towards the outside of the instrument increases brightness and moving in towards the middle of the instrument increases the lower frequencies. There is very little room to move the post from side to side without fitting a new post (or shortening the existing one) since tension (how firmly the post is wedged between top and back) plays an important role in tone adjustment. Perfect wood-to-wood fit at both ends of the post is critical to getting the desired sound."[/font] [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Soulpost2.gif"][/url]

Here's my feedback folks.

[quote name='4-string-thing' timestamp='1362861885' post='2005588'] the scroll hit the wall, hard, by the look of it. It's damaged beyond repair. [/quote] Have you got a photo ?

Always positive to extend one's 'vocabulary' a bit - a drum machine backing doesn't have the fly moves of a real drummer and dialing in to what drummers do usually leads to some great musical ideas and inspiration. The wonderful thing about the bass is that we get to add notes and harmony to a great rhythmic idea - do you play with a drummer or other musicians? Some of the most fun I have had whilst jamming is having musical conversations with other players where they take you to an entirely different musical space....keep up the good work ! A good groove is always a good groove!

Couple of unknowns .....Charlie Haden and Pat Metheney ! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMKx4bIQwjg

Congrats - good to see Geraldine nice looking bass!

[quote name='Reuben Javier Phoenix' timestamp='1362578303' post='2001559'] Hahaha thanks Guys, I already knew it was a French bow and how you should hold both German and French. Sorry should have specified. The thing is I keep holding it like a violin bow with thumb pointing up and fingers dropped on top like this... [url="http://www.singingwood.com/violin-bow-hold/VolinBowHoldImages/BowHold02.jpg"]http://www.singingwo...s/BowHold02.jpg[/url] How would you suggest I break the habit? [/quote] If you drive, try practicing the French bow grip on the steering wheel of you car with the thumb bent in towards the direction of the ring finger rather than out in the 'thumbs up!' position.

Key thing to know really is whether your bow is French ( 'overhand' grip ) or German ( 'underhand' grip ) ? This might help get you started [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZA9kE06SVM&list=PLA34135CFAC1A5B49&index=2[/media] There are differing schools of thought and variations within both ...which can be confusing - there are no 'absolutes' otherwise everyone would play with one bow and one technique. The best advice would be to get a teacher and practice good habits from the offset rather than have to unlearn some self acquired 'not so good' habits at a later stage. Good luck and stick with it...playing with the bow will suddenly 'unlock' .

[font="helvetica, arial, sans-serif"][color="#282828"]Looking forward to this read ....looks like I am next on the list once JazBazzFans done ![/color][/font]

+1

Thanks for everything BR8 is great !

Is this guy really the local 'Mr Big' or is he just a spiteful little sh*te who has been kicked off the job trying to get his own back ?!! Whilst he is losing £30, you are losing £250 ....hmmmn !!. The punishment for the venue is that they will ( in theory) now get no bands. Cant see that tactic happening in a million years - sorry Mr Big !!. The void will be filled by plenty of other bands booking direct who don't even know the agent or don't care - they will just be really happy to get a good fee for the gig - thats the way of the world! Although pulling pints is a very competitive business , pub landlords all know each other and talk ...I suspect that Mr Bigs underhand tactics will be [u][b]the[/b][/u] topic of local gossip in the gigging and pint pulling community and he will be sidelined by venues and bands - who likes to be blackmailed ? Bottom line is that if you've got a good band you will always bring the punters in ...pubs are only really interested in that and there are plenty of pubs to go at in the UK !

[quote name='FLoydElgar' timestamp='1362172927' post='1996882'] Carbon over any cheap bow... [/quote] +1

Welcome to the Naughty Step Norris !!

It really interesting to see that some manufacturers make strings that are pretty even tension across the set of strings whilst others ramp up the tension up as you get to the E string. Replacing the mediums with a higher tension on the A and E makes the world of difference. The choking of the bass I am sure is related to correct choice of tension given the mensur of the bass. Had huge probs trying to get a short length to sing but found that high tension strings sorted the issue all other strings made the bass sound like a Tea Chest bass !!

Just thought I would see what combinations of strings or problems other DB/ EUB players to sort out Tone And Reponse Trouble ? I am using D'addario Kaplans and they have bedded in beautifully - they are superb for bowing but I am wondering if a Heavy gauge E string will deliver even more....could be the bass, could be the string.

...thats a whole new thread ! Lets stick to how many basses is too many ....and I guess whats particularly interesting is the justification ( more than GAS !! )!