Marc S

I know what you mean Sometimes you just want a bass so badly...... It'll probably niggle at you for a while but maybe you need to play one for a while? Do you know anyone who's got one, and will let you have a play for a bit? It could lead to a realisation that maybe you don't need one as much as you think It could of course make you want one even more But if the only way you could get one was to sell that lovely blue DB of yours..... .... no contest! The DB is far better than any bass guitar!

The guitarist I'm playing with these days isn't particularly loud either when playing or singing It really doesn't take too much background noise level to interfere with the Snark Funny enough, he's got the very same tuner and says exactly the same thing!

Some useful hints and suggestions here folks Personally, I find as a relative newbie to the wonderful world of DB playing, my left arm aches quite a lot, after playing a while This has lessened a bit as I'm playing more DB than bass guitar lately I's probably just playing, and doing some bass exercises will help me here Let us know what works for you timbo

I've got a Snark tuner too, It's really good, and well priced, It works superbly at home but I do find it picks up other sounds, and isn't quite so easy to tune a DB in a pub environment, where guitars and vocals are going on in the background This is with it switched to the vibration setting too... This may be partly due to my pickup system having a mic of course..... EDIT: At my last gig on saturday, I took along another tuner, and connected it to the Tuner output of my Markbass amp This suffered from other noises going on too Again, must be down to having a mic as part of the pickup In future gigs, I'm going to try tuning with the output from the mic turned down to zero

[quote name='ubassman' timestamp='1387286732' post='2310220'] Bingo - maybe thats the real issue here ! Increasing volume can be down to a singer not really being that confident in their abilities. Its much more comfortable playing louder and distorted in a wall of sound than playing quiet where everyone is more critical because they can hear every note. Are rehearsals equally loud? Could you and your brother join forces and suggest that "to make sure that the set is really polished" , that you do an acoustic unamplified rehearsal? If the singer hears the songs and they sound great unplugged he may well go that way live or at least turn down. If the singing is shockingly bad ...well theres your reason why the volume gets cranked up! [/quote] Another possibility spotted by Ubassman!

[quote name='ubassman' timestamp='1387281059' post='2310110'] When i have been in this situation before I turned my bass way way way down and left the band stranded having no option but to also turn down to hear the bass. Lower volumes in small venue always works so much better anyway ...you never know they might learn something here! [/quote] Great idea! [quote name='artisan' timestamp='1387286133' post='2310208'] yes indeed he is,his wife comes to most gigs & seems to have appointed herself as musical director. Naturally all she wants to hear is hubby. [/quote] Hmmm. I'm sure this is part of the problem... Some guitarists do seem to want to hear themselves more than anyone else (not all of them though) and if their partner is convincing him he needs to be louder too..... To my mind, quitting the band is perhaps a tad too much You will probably find another band quickly but there remains the possibility that you may not - and you have to weigh that up I was recently looking for a band for a long time - far longer than I thought I'd have to after a band I was in folded.... Maybe you could look around to see how many other bands are around your area playing the sort of stuff you want to do, and let the other band members know you're thinking about looking at these other bands because you're not completely happy with the sound.... Let them know why, and tell them that landlady's thoughts to support your view Either way, let us know what you decide, or how you get on with convincing the other members I'm sure they'll know a double bass player is a rarer breed than a guitarist Cheers and good luck

I bought a Double Bass Pickup system from Etienne and I just thought I'd say my bit here... He was just a great guy to deal with! I got the pickup really quickly - he must have posted it immediately it was all wrapped up and parceled well for safe delivery And he has kept in touch and helpfully answered any questions since Cheers Etienne Best Marc

[quote name='fatback' timestamp='1385994355' post='2294383'] Neoprene gloves like anglers use are amazing. You can cut off the fingers. It's almost like they generate heat. [/quote] Useful tip from fatback there.... Hope you don't have to give up I get so much pleasure from playing, I'd really miss it Nothing better on a cold winters eve, than play about on a bass.. Good luck anyhow, and if you do try those gloves let us know how you get on Roll on spring anyway

[quote name='gary mac' timestamp='1386829159' post='2305020'] Last time I encountered the same thing (if I have understood your description correctly), it was due to the pick up being too close to the E & A strings. Like booboo suggested, lowering it a little sorted the problem. [/quote] This was my first thought, when I read your post too.... I had a hint of this problem, years back, on a Precision... Try lowering the pickups Let us know how you get on Good luck with sorting it

Good stuff Don't forget to let us know what you get and post some piccies too Good luck with your search Cheers Marc (one very happy DB convert)

Some good food for thought there Maude

Only just seen this thread, so I'm a bit late to add my thoughts, Yes, it's all very rock & roll, to smash up your gear on stage but as others have said, it's now rather passe & old hat I'm not quite with you on the instruments having a "soul" but I wouldn't want to criticise you over this point I'd absolutely hate to see my instruments smashed up particularly the older ones and my DB - shock, horror! And it does seem a rather petulant gesture on the part of musicians who smash gear up now that it has been done to death I did once hear a theory, that such an act is also a way of getting out of playing more encores.... ..... bit extreme way though....

Can't see why it wouldn't work Especially if you add a fingerboard pickup Let us know how you get on, cos I bought a cheap pickup to try out on my EUB...... Just haven't got round to fitting it yet!

Yep, I was pleased this worked out for you too AndyBass Have a play around with it, and maybe do a couple of songs with it at a gig..... The Stagg got me hooked on DB, and I've not looked back The beauty of the Stagg is not just that it folds down to a compact size, but as you say, you can play it quietly while the little one's asleep The MP3 player socket is useful here too

[quote name='Dr.Dave' timestamp='1386060863' post='2295052'] Ah - Floyd ! Simply roll your own P F classic by getting the bass and drums to do something over simple and too slow while the guitar player wails some masturbatory irelevance over the top for 20 mins. 30 mins , in fact. For extra realism - write the lyrics the day after your dog dies. [/quote]

[quote name='Dad3353' timestamp='1386077178' post='2295347'] [attachment=149702:Spoo_Clam.jpg] So named, I should think, as being of the same form as cotton spools (...and can be home-made using said spools..!). [/quote] [quote name='DaveFry' timestamp='1386084969' post='2295506'] Just thought I'd drop this new video in here for anyone now or future seeking info on hide glue [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=stpmQfLrQPo[/media] [/quote] [quote name='Maude' timestamp='1386111240' post='2296079'] I used the Titebond liquid hide glue to glue the fingerboard back on my bass, really easy to use straight from the bottle and was only about a tenner for 2 16oz bottles on Amazon. [/quote] All very useful info, for future reference Thanks for posting guys

[quote name='sarah thomas' timestamp='1386106204' post='2295952'] She couldn't have gone to anyone better, Marc. I'm glad she's being played and loved. But I have one question - how often do you play your Stagg? [/quote] I'm glad you realise that the lovely DB you sold me is being loved & played I don't play the Stagg too regularly, but I give it a whirl occasionally and I take it round to a pals house for a jam.... I put some nylon wrap strings on it, and it's quite a different feel, and quite nice to play It's far easier to lug around in the car than my DB ... plus, as I've mentioned, I'll take it along to gigs, as spare Got a gig with a guitarist pal in Newport on the 14th so it'll come along as spare to that..... I know, "belt & braces" - that's me There was a horror story on here, where a DB player had his bridge collapse in an accident, mid-gig! To my mind, the Stagg is a good, cheap insurance policy I know others may think it could be money wasted, but if you buy one second-hand, then you'll pretty much get what you paid for it..... When searching for a DB, I found they never come up for sale anywhere near me, and I'd have wasted far more money, travelling around to try out a DB, and not really knowing what I was really looking for, or what would be a good, bad, or indifferent one.... Playing the Stagg EUB at least gave me some basic ability & knowledge and an idea of what I was after, and some appreciation of DB playing I'd argue that I'd have spent as much on petrol, trying out just a handful of basses and could have spent far more still, buying a bass which wasn't up to scratch To my mind the cost of the Stagg (a little over 200 quid) was one of the best investments I made It convinced me to buy a DB, and I know I can get the 200 quid back Not sure I'll ever get used to lugging a DB around Not with my ageing joints etc .... but it is worth it

[quote name='henry norton' timestamp='1385935677' post='2293919'] .....Other than that, just find, borrow or make a few spool clamps (much lighter than sash clamps) and have a go. The chances are the back's come off because it's shrunk, so it will happen again if you just glue it but if you're careful you shouldn't do any damage having a go. PM me if you want. [/quote] Some useful info on here folks I was just wondering what "spool clamps" are though Henry? and why they would be better.... Cheers Marc

[quote name='sarah thomas' timestamp='1386058019' post='2295014'] Then again, a lot of people who started out on EUBs very quickly realise they want a proper wooden wardrobe jobbie and nothing else will really do. So buying an EUB can turn out to be a false economy. Why not see if your local council/music shop/music college/schools do a hire scheme? Or book a couple of lessons so you can get a feel for the upright before you decide? Best of luck whatever you decide. [/quote] Sarah is basically right here, but for some (me included) buying a cheap Stagg was what made me want to buy a "proper" DB Getting a Stagg made me have a go at DB, and more than that, I had a prolonged trial of DB playing ..... if you walked into a music shop to try one out - that's not really long enough to see if it suits you... My Stagg wasn't expensive, and as someone else has pointed out, they fold down small enough to carry as a spare! - could be it gets you out of jail if a string breaks, or a pickup fails, or some tragedy occurs re your bridge Also, if you get a Stagg second-hand, you should pretty much get your money back if you decide DB isn't for you, or you just want a better DB IMHO The Stagg is a lot of instrument for your money and if your budget is tight at the moment - I'd go for it BUT - if it's still got the original strings on it.... Change them straight away! They are awful...... Again, you can get a used set on here.... Let us know what you decide Hope this helps Marc EDIT: I also meant to add that I have Sarah to thank, for selling me my lovely acoustic DB I am forever indebted to her for this ..... I'm keeping my Stagg EUB though