bobmartin

I’ve had the same Shadow Underwood style P/U’s for over 10 years now, and even though the bass still sounds good, the pickup sound doesn’t. Does the rubber go off over time? Do they have limited life? It’s the same though amps, headphones, etc. Hmm... BobM.

[quote name='Pete B' timestamp='1374616117' post='2151053'] Was seriously considering starting a thread about which motors people have successfully fitted a 4/4 double bass into.. [/quote] I know someone who can get a D/B, Sousaphone, and a Roland bass amp into a “Smart” car. He has to take the bass cover off though.

A Kitchen Sponge...

[quote name='fatback' timestamp='1372452524' post='2126033'] Wow, i thought trad jazz militants would all be dead by now. [/quote] Those are the guys that opened the door for Skiffle, and we all know what happened after that..

If it ain’t broke why try to fix it?

[quote name='fatgoogle' timestamp='1371487249' post='2114465'] Not when you have something that has been turned into a dirty great microphone in the middle of the stage. [/quote] Has anyone here tried recording the output from their DB during a loud gig? Very revealing..

[quote name='fumps' timestamp='1369913513' post='2094324'] Stepping left at the traffic lights a bit here but has anyone worked out what the strap thing is for on the stagg EUB ? I keep looking at it thinking ......why ? am I being stupid ? [/quote] No, but stop looking at it!

[quote name='ubassman' timestamp='1368391070' post='2076563'] CAPTION ? [/quote] (Sung) Oh When you’re smiling, when you’re smiling, the whole world smiles with you!.. etc etc..

Or you can go back to the “source” and get the Ray Brown Bass Method, one of which I have for sale, immaculate..

..and it sits nicely with "Happy Jacks" avatar.

[quote name='ubassman' timestamp='1365612727' post='2041832'] CAPTION? [/quote] I finally got rid of that feedback!!

The power of alcohol..

I just did a search for "double bass tailpiece lengths" and it seems that the standard (D/B distance from the bridge to the end of the tailpiece is 1/6 of the length of the nut to the bridge. This I understand is to enhance the harmonic content of the note. The notes produced on my bass by plucking the strings the tailpiece side of the bridge are E A D G but 3 octaves up, almost perfectly in tune. Anybody else notice this on theirs, and was it made on purpose?

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1364645188' post='2029148'] Hope that makes sense? [/quote] Very clear thanks. I think I’ll include a set of the Stagg strings in my next Thomann order as spares in case I break one, and when the bass is out of guarantee I’ll look at it again. 4/4 size strings seem to be harder to get now, Helicores especially.

[size=4]So far the strings have been ok, they don’t have any rough finish anywhere, and haven’t marked the fingerboard in any way. The replacements are about £30 from Thomann.[/size] [size=4]This bass seems to have dealt with the previous build issues, and in the shop it was was striking how well it worked for the money. [/size] [size=4]I need to be careful about invalidating the guarantee, but some of the options might be,[/size] [size=4]1 Strings through the body. The new string angle might to too steep for the bridge.[/size] [size=4]2 Move the whole tailpiece up by 2 inches.[/size] [size=4]3 Make and fit an new tailpiece (using the bridge profile) to the existing one with wire or nylon cord.[/size] [size=4]4 Drill the wood out as per “Pete”.[/size]

This looks like a design fault to me. The tailpiece doesn’t have to be that far from the bridge, if it was moved up a couple of inches there wouldn’t be any problems. That is, unless they want you have to buy [u]their[/u] strings.

It looks like all 3/4string sizes are 106cm or 41 3/4” which is about the length of the Staggs’ playing area. 4/4 are only 4 cm longer, that wouldn’t affect the tension too much? Thomann sell a set for the EUB, but thats not really the point.. I wonder about a tailpiece, hmm..

Jeez, wot a game, thanks for the info.. Is it just Spirocores which don’t fit? I was hoping to put some Helicores on. I will definitely be checking first.

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1364573657' post='2028383'] I had to countersink the ball ends to get 3/4 spirocores to fit because of that, [/quote] Erm, I don’t quite get that..

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1364560957' post='2028163'] Yeah the foam under the strings behind the bridge is the most important mod anyway if you ask me, cool. [/quote] It’s interesting as to why they have string from the bridge to the tailpiece so long, they could have shortened it quite easily, maybe by going through the body like a NS. I like to have a little bit of “ring” left, its nice on slower pieces. I’m thinking about a mod for the left shoulder, the triangle piece is a little high, a piece of shaped wood might do the trick.

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1364514722' post='2027699'] Welcome to the stagg club [/quote] Thanks. It looks like the “niggles" have been dealt with. No rattling spike, strengthened headstock, no hum, there’s still a little hiss from the headphone out, but this seems to depend upon the impedance of the ‘phones. The set-up is good, not quite as high as my double, I’ll leave it up there, certainly no lower.

I’m kind of in the other camp, I’ve been playing Double Bass for years now and use the “grip” and 1424 fingerings etc. I've got fed up with playing with industrial drummers, and keyboardists with indifferent instruments who when booking would say, "Oh, make it the double, it looks the part”, and then having to hold back the feedback all night. I once recorded the output from my upright and played it to the other band members, at one point there was more band coming out of my amp than bass.. I think that with current band playing levels, that EUB is somehow more “honest”. Keeping the action height up and experimenting with dampening under the tailpiece is key to making the Stagg work. It blows my ill fated WAV4 away...

Have just bought a Stagg EDB 3/4 H bass. Considering that I only went into Mansons (Exeter) for a browse, it sort of bought me.. It plays beautifully and the build quality is very good. The problems with rattles and electrics seem to have been cured, just a little hiss on the headphone “out” depending on the impedance of the ‘phones, but no hiss on the main out. The nut is a little high. Great value for money.. Bob.

[quote name='Owencf' timestamp='1363973981' post='2020438'] I have noticed that people DO speak to you when you bus it... The classic "thats a big violin" or "i guess your not the drummer" and the most common "nice CELLO" ...try and fit this under your chin... no drums dont have strings and ITS NOT A FN CELLO I have little faith in some humans. [/quote] I like to arrive at a gig with my double bass and amp, and squeezing through the crowded door, tell the attendant “I’m with the band”..

I’m looking for a clip on light unit, so that I use it as a lamp stand. It’ll look quiet nice in the corner of my lounge.