petebassist

My new Fender 9050M flats have transformed my Sandberg TM4 - the clarity across all strings is impressive. Played pizz or with a pick sounds superb.

Hi, this might be a daft question, but I usually plug my upright bass into the PA via a K&K Pure Preamp, mainly to give me the ability to adjust the volume & tone from the belt-clip (don't tell the sound guy!). I think this also boosts the input signal to the PA, meaning I don't need to have an amp as well, especially for a small venue. Does anyone also use the KK with an electric bass as well, active or passive. I have to double-up for a gig soon, and I don't want to have to take an amp because of parking and load in & out problems, so I'm trying to work out whether I need another bass preamp pedal for my electric basses. I did try to use my active fretless direct into a big PA last year, but the signal wasn't strong enough, the PA/sound desk was quite away in front of the stage so maybe the long leads spooked it. Any advice appreciated.

Lots of advice online about changing strings. E.g. Geff's:

I guess arco/orchestra players mainly only play acoustically - I'd not thought of that, I only ever play live amplified. I don't think you can get enough volume acoustically playing pizzicato unless in a tiny venue, at least not when I've tried. Arco though, you can rattle the walls...

Laminates are more robust as well so if you're dragging a bass round smaller venues they'll take the knocks better - I have a hybrid Eastman with solid back and front and laminate sides. Soundwise, a microphone will capture more of the complex double bass sound versus using a piezo pickup, whatever the type of bass I think, so that might be worth looking at. Somewhere like Bassbags would enable you to try out a lot of different basses before buying. Good luck.

Unstaffed studios with online booking and code entry seems to be the only rehearsal places available near me. E.g. Pirate Studios, who operate in Europe & the US. You couldn’t do 24/7 any other way I guess.

Can you not just do that by clicking Settings, then Playback Speed from the YT bottom right?

I think these look great, better aesthetically than the Eminence, and also I think sound better for a small bodied acoustic. Are they heavy? Can you carry them in a gig bag?

If I was selling my bass, here would be the first place I'd try, on a pickup only basis from where I live or travel to regularly. This avoids the criminal and the deranged that you tend to get on fleabay and other marketplace. I wouldn't expect it to sell quickly though, being highly niche instruments.

I used to have a Stentor 1950, and its relatively small body and lightness made it a great gigging bass, especially in venues where the load in and out was difficult. I think I'd check the weight and size if I was buying blind, and preferably buy from somewhere I could try out first.

That's called relicing mate AKA mojo 😉 True though, but at least it's not your spine

I think it depends on what type of gigs you do as to whether you might damage an upright. I always take a fret less bass as backup just in case the bridge collapses or there’s a sound issue or a drunk knocks it over - load in n out for pub & bar gigs gets a few knocks anyway. If you’re worried get a beater bass that will probably sound good enough unless you’re playing somewhere that needs the classic upright tone, I’d say you need a mic pickup anyway for that.

If it's a TM or TT you're after, let me know.

The bridge seems to be set at an odd angle, maybe it's been knocked or something in transit. As it seems to be an unnamed manufacturer you'd have to try it out yourself. Somewhere like BassBags where you can try a range of different basses might be worth a look also. I got a great bass from there with a rock-solid setup (I've no affiliation with BB BTW).

Great song, still got the single though lost the cover with the bloke with a noose round his neck standing on a big ice cube in front of a three bar electric fire

Brilliant, thanks for the heads-up, evening sorted...

Sometimes you have to forge your own path mate, if you're gonna double on EB and EUB/DB, an NS would have many advantages. Biggest pain for me is having to drive a DB to a gig with usual parking/load in & out issues being the worst. I once played a gig walking distance from my house and wheeled the DB round on a sack-trolley, but usually it's a car job.

Hugh Bradley showing how it's done - just the odd tap here & there works really well, especially when it's just the two of them. I think the double bass sound has to be a feature of the performance, otherwise I don't think it's worth draggin it along - if I'm gonna get drowned out with drums and other instruments, I'll play electric bass, cuts through much better.

That's a great video - thanks! Never played like that but would be a great technique to have.

Was doing a long drive over the weekend and listened to the Iggy Pop show, which was great - it gets me to listen to a whole load of stuff that I wouldn't otherwise hear - like King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard !!! Also, was listening to Prof Hannah Fry on Lauren Lavern show today, blew my mind !

What was your old band?

Usually two on the lower strings when playing swing jazz, though for higher strings and fast little licks I use index and second finger. I also use my ring finger and little finger together for 'fretting' strings rather than just the little finger, though only because I don't play upright exclusively so my hand strength is never 100%.

Yes take it easy and enjoy! you can find most stuff on YouTube, difficult to find tutors. To kick off, find out how to hold the bass so that your ‘fretting hand’ is not supporting the bass, so you can use your arm weight to hold down the strings rather than straining your fingers and wrist, and likewise how to pluck strings using the weight of your other arm rather than your fingers. This should minimise the stress on your hands and wrists. I learnt this from the Ed Friedland CD lessons on how to play jazz on upright.

If you ever need a backup at a gig, you probably won't care what it is, as long as when you plug it in it makes a bass noise. If the backup is passive, that's one less point of additional failure. At a gig last year, my active fretless didn't work through the PA & didn't have time to test the battery, so plugged in my passive J and bingo, 20 seconds later we were playing the opening tune... was mightily glad 😅