Clarky

If you are near Harrogate, BC's Mr_Bassman (aka Keith) might be able to help you out or point you in the directin of another luthier? I would drop him a PM. He's a total gent

The Crazy8 is a stupidly light (about 12 pounds IIRC) 1x8" cab which Tricky Audio makes under licence from Greenboy (as I understand, like the FearFul range). You carry it with amp and cables in a cajon bag, the whole deal weighing less than 20 pounds, and it works fabulously for small venues (coffee shops, small pubs etc). Obviously any 8" cab will run out of oomph against a loud drummer or noisy band but for my drummer-free Americana group (about 8-10 of us) it works really well. Bassace has used one I believe in a big band so I guess it can go louder than I have pushed it but best ask him. looks like this [attachment=175403:crazy8.jpg]

Sharing a video of the great Oscar Pettiford that Geoffbassist posted on his Facebook bass column, Discover Double Bass. Just look how huge his gut D (especially) and G are (the E/A are wrapped gut) but most of all ... what a beautiful tone. As close to chocolate as a double bass can sound IMHO [url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7da4WkFqE2g&feature=youtu.be"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7da4WkFqE2g&feature=youtu.be[/url]

I think it all depends on volume - if you are playing a low/medium volume gig you CAN sound like 'your bass, only louder' with something like an AI or EA amp (and by the sounds of it the Barabass too). Of course it also depends on your pickup too and the type of room, flooring etc. As soon as it gets any louder than medium, there is an inevitable compromise and it probably doesn't matter much which amp you use

I have an Acoustic Image Ten2 combo. The functionality is superb (massively useful high pass filter, phase control, various room-based EQ settings , eg chorus, as well as bass/mid/treb). I have also owned an EA Micro head which I paired with various cabs. I think both are excellent for picking up the subtlety of a double bass sound. Of course neither suits very high volumes (the speakers are the weak point in my view with Acoustic Image) at which point you need PA support anyway. Currently I am running the Acoustic Image head (taken out of the combo, its meant to be removable) with a Crazy8 cab (made by Tricky Audio in the UK) for small pub/coffee shop type gigs or an EA Wizzy 12 m-line (4 ohm) for louder gigs. Not sure if that helps. TBH, I reckon an fdeck preamp (with HPF and phase switch) in front of a relatively uncoloured amp (people seem to be recommending the Tecamp Puma 500) would do the trick Edit: should add that Ed Friedland ("The Bass Whisperer") uses and likes a Genz 6.0-12T combo so you may not really need to change it anyway! See this at 10 minutes [url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sx9OigytbNw"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sx9OigytbNw[/url]

[quote name='Rabbie' timestamp='1414951653' post='2594992'] Clarky I thought of you as soon as they dropped through my letterbox but I was reluctant to suggest as With my last suggestion your bridge went flying... [/quote] and I pre-empted the halloween bloodshot eye look by a month or two!

Ha! Sounds like these would have been the ones for me rather then the Deluxe, doh! I have ended up (I know!) with Velvet Garbo lights and a gut G. Used them at Sorefingers bluegrass weekend last week and they are a fantastic combination of old school sound, low tension and pretty good tuning stability. Am keeping my Velvet Blues as back up

Spencer bought some DB strings from me, all good cheers Clarky

Andy bought some DB strings from me, all good cheers Clarky

FYI, I just went to a Bluegrass tutorial weekend (Sorefingers) and the (excellent) bass guy, Ben Somers, slapped Spirocore mediums with no problem - but as AndyBass said he was not doing a triple rockabilly slaps, it was more your Folsom Prison type palm slapping for the most part and tastefully applied in small doses, rather than high octane slapping from start to finish

Unfortunately I am going to have to pike out. Damn shame but too much else going on. Next time :-)

Don't start with Spiro mittels, they are great but tiring for a newbie I would say. There's a reason Ray Brown switched to Spiro Weichs from Mittels as he got older. If you want the classic growly Jazz sound with good sustain, I would say Spiro Weich. If you want a more old school thumpy gut type sound you could try Innovation Silver Slaps. There are other strings (I like Velvet Blues, lots like Evah Pirazzi Weichs) but Spiro Weich or Silver Slaps will do you well, just choose what type of sound you prefer.

[quote name='paddy109' timestamp='1413916792' post='2583622'] I went a couple of times several years ago. Massive fun, learnt loads, drank loads, ate loads and slept little. Made some very good friends and had such a laugh. Go if you have the stamina and can afford it! [/quote]I went last year and it is, as you say, great fun but very bad for the body!

Work permitting (its a bit full-on at the present), I will be there. Looks like this chap will be a good DB teacher, Ben Somers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQnA_oNB1Ko

[quote name='Lord Sausage' timestamp='1413733839' post='2581333'] I thought nice one..I'll check out hecules cos I've nearly finished a bass in nitro!. Went on Thomann, every hercules stand said not recommended for nitro finishes! ha ha [/quote] See here. They specifically state at Hercules that their foam does not interfere with nitrocellulose. Thomann either has it wrong or is covering itself http://www.herculesstands.com/faq.html