Marc S

They really are superb basses A real bargain of a bass for that money IMO I'm a big fan of Ibanez I used to own an old Japanese built Roadster and that was great I now own several basses, but the soundgear SR500 is my firm fave One of my other basses is an Ibanez electro-acoustic and that's loverly too - and just over £200 was a bargain! Well done on your purchase - lucky you

HI biscuitandbass, sounds like a good service you are offering, but as the above poster has pointed out, where are you located? Let us know - could prove useful to many of us....

[quote name='ubassman' timestamp='1378891895' post='2206024'] ....don't know of any stand that does that ! I am sure if they do exist that someone here will post ...but it would be better to not rely on a stand anyway ! [/quote] I know - it's best to play it "properly" But it's in the lounge, where the phone always seems to ring when I'm in the middle of playing.... I'll get shouted at for not answering the phone And I don't want to have to hurriedly put the bass to one side I also liked the idea of that type of stand - just while I improve my left hand techniques And the bass is such a beauty I'm almost being over-cautious with her I've seen the stands on ebay - but only in the USA with all the importing / time / tax issues that brings with it.... Re its' position, I'll be keeping the curtain mostly closed so it doesn't sit in direct sunlight I'm sorting out the spare room, and eventually it'll reside there Cheers again Marc EDIT: This is the stand I've seen on ebay http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Smart-Adjustable-Double-Bass-Cello-Stand-Hand-Free-/281090223931?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4172486f3b Also urbassman, I think SWMBO may have something to say if I kept the bass right by the bed! I may even get an ultimatum....... which I'd have to think about lol

[quote name='karlfer' timestamp='1378885954' post='2205888'] My bass skills diminish in their esteem when we do the first number! [/quote] Mine too..... Oh no, looks like turning into a "bass player jokes" thread

[quote name='Cat' timestamp='1378737115' post='2203932'] Hiya, Phill. I'm one of the few here [b]not [/b]from South Wales! Although my grandmother was, so I suppose that gives me an in. [/quote] Hi Cat, of course it gives you an "in" but you'll still have to pay the extortionate Severn Bridge Toll when you visit! lol Marc

[quote name='ubassman' timestamp='1378830144' post='2205264'] ...Marc are you going to post some pics ? ( ..tis the done thing with a new baby in the house ) ! [/quote] Better fix that one then! I've taken a look at a few stands, and actually I'd like something that allows me to play the bass while it's on the stand too..... A big ask, I know, but does the Hercules stand allow this? Anyhow, here she is [attachment=143506:DSC_6547.jpg] Cheers again all Marc EDIT: As you say ChrisF - those pickups are cheap enough to experiment with.... And maybe a future back-up too... Let me know what you find re the damping of the click sounds

[quote name='sarah thomas' timestamp='1378828342' post='2205218'] I'm glad she's going to be played and enjoyed. It was a pleasure meeting Marc and I couldn't have wished for a finer new custodian for the old girl. [/quote] Thank you so much Sarah Nice to meet a fellow South Wales based double bass player too I'm glad you decided to let me take her off your hands Indeed, she is being played and much appreciated Now for some strings more suited to my style of playing I think I'm going to opt for Innovation Silver slaps .... and must start thinking of reasonably priced pickups too I've seen some dual pickups on ebay which consist of a bridge pickup and a slap pickup, fitted behind the fingerboard... Oh, and I need a stand.... and a carrying case.... But I'm broke! lol Marc

[quote name='ubassman' timestamp='1378492310' post='2201187'] ...there you go !! Sorted ! [/quote] Sorted indeed Tried it, loved it & bought it on Sunday Wish I didn't have to go to work today - so I could be at home, playing it Oh for more free time! Thanks again folks

Just another thought Daf, But would it be useful to add a description of which strings work with different pickups? i.e. those that work with magnetic pickups or piezo pickups.... Might be useful info for those, like me, who are fairly new to the world of DB's Coming from playing bass guitar, I hadn't realised the myriad of choices of strings! Cheers again Marc

I've got a Stagg EDB, and I think stingrayPete is right It does seem a fairly straightforward conversion .... mind you, I haven't tried it myself It appears that the bridge should be simple to remove & flip Not so sure about the nut - but a bit of care with a fine razor saw, or sharp knife? Depends on the strength of the adhesive, I suppose.... Re the rests. I didn't like the shape & arrangement of the ones that came with my bass And I do find them fairly easy to bend about a bit So maybe a bit of work there - or making / shaping your own? I've got to say, for the money they're a really good buy If you can pick one up cheap S/H on here, then all the better I've just bought myself an acoustic DB (alright a "proper" one!) But I won't be selling my Stagg - it'll be a great backup, and useful for those "keep the noise down, it's late!" practices

Has no one here ever had a drummer knock something over, or a rhythm guitarist suddenly decide to tug at a lead which mysteriously found its way right next to your bass? The odd knock here & there is inevitable, especially if you play pubs I've played a few where, when you walk through the door, you wonder where the hell you're going to be able to set up... Tight spaces, drunken, dancing crowds - you don't have to be clumsy - the rest of the world covers that for you... Buckle rash is a common enough occurrence Have you ever seen a car which is a few years old, with absolutely no blemishes? And being made of metal and painted with the hardest setting paints, they're even tougher than guitars... It wouldn't put me off buying a bass I really liked But, if I knew a bass to be a good few years old, without a single blemish, I'd probably be thinking "Hmmmm, has this been re-sprayed?" Marc

Interesting, I don't think I've ever come across a bass with a shim added, but I had a go at putting one into a bass, way, way back It was a really awful Kay (the catalogue people) with a really high action The shim seemed to work, but I saw it as a cop-out for a terribly built guitar at the time I got shot of it pretty quickly, and bought a rather better bass

Hi mikebass456, I'm a recently signed-up member of this forum too So far it has definitely been a bonus, as others have had some really useful and helpful suggestions Also, I bought myself a double bass from another basschat member just today And it's brilliant! Welcome anyway Marc

[quote name='fatback' timestamp='1378637785' post='2202589'] I think the consensus is that it depends hugely on the combination of pup, preamp and bass. A fair amount of potentially expensive trial and error, unless you're lucky. I haven't seen anybody suggest different pickups for different music - strings seem the critical factor there. [/quote] Don't rockabilly-style players use additional pickups placed behind the fingerboard, for the "click" sounds? I've also heard of dual pickups, which act as piezo type pickups, with built-in additional click pickups.... Do players of other styles also use these pickups? Like I say, I'm interested in what different players use.... It's all new to me, and I need pickups for my DB too.... Cheers Marc

Good luck loo[font="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"]king for your bass[/font] [font="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"]I'm looking for a DB too..... Although I'm not looking to spend nearly as much as you I started with a Stagg electric DB - they're cheap, and I'd say they're a good starting point[/font] [font="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"]I'm interested in what anyone reading this thread thinks about the pickups you would need to use; i.e. which types of pickups are best for different basses, and different styles of playing / music[/font] [font="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"]Good luck with your search Marc[/font]

Hiya Phil, another South Wales bassist here. It seems like there's loads of us! Doesn't anyone around here play lead anymore? Marc

Thanks again guys, Still watching an Antoni Debut on ebay Are they any good? If not, I'm going to have to save some more dosh But I'm actually getting too excited about buying a DB now! I'm dreaming about owning one I haven't been this excited in ages.... .... what's wrong with me? Marc

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1378300769' post='2198331'] Don't forget the shipping is £75 but they are well packed plus you get a bow, soft case and rosin. [/quote] Hi again, Is there any import duty / tax on top as well? Only just thought about that I've bought a few bits & pieces from the US and been "stung" Cheers again Marc

Hello from another new member I'm in Cardiff, and it's sunny here today too Yes, some of the older Japanese built Squires are now highly regarded A guitarist pal of mine has a Japanese Strat - and he says nothing compares to the neck on that My backup bass is an Indonesian built P bass, with Jazz type neck & additional pickup I've gotta say, it's not a patch on my Ibanez soundgear, but it's a lot more playable than an old American Fender P I once owned Welcome aboard Marc

I'd like to try a set of silver slaps Where's the best place to buy a set? I see they're cheaper on Amazon, than on the shops listing them on ebay Marc

Hi again, alastair, stingray, The Rev, andrew r - you have all given me so much helpful info Thanks ever so much for that The fact that nothing ever seems to come up in 2nd hand in the Cardiff area just seems to have added to my desire to get my hands on a DB all the more urgently I know I must take some more time, and you are all underlining that for me At the mo, I'm watching a newly listed Antoni on ebay That looks a good budget bass, from what I can gather I was initially looking to get something around the £400 mark I've got to say though, I'm really seduced more & more by the offerings by Gedo I'm tempted by their half-carved brown model for £649 I know that'll be in the same bracket as the Antoni - well, ish But the fact that Gedo will do their set-up to your requirements is surely a plus Thanks again all, I'm indebted to you guys I only just joined basschat - but already I can see it's full of helpful folk like yourselves, and it's great to chat to fellow bass players, rather than being forced to chat to lead guitarists anyway eh? lol Marc

Thanks again for that info stingrayPete, I'm leaning towards Gedo & Thomann, I think I do like the look of some of Gedo's all-laminated models too, anyone got any experience / thoughts on those?

As a newbie on here, it's alarming that I've learned of a bad reputation for G4m already... anyone had any good experiences of them?