knirirr

Jazz mags. That is, the ones which contain actual jazz. I recall one which had an excellent Blue Note sampler tape with, IIRC, these on: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cv9NSR-2DwM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2KvM2T40RQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIBNV_RYQx0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SuMd8ldLqxo Compilation tapes from music shops were often worth a try as well. I got some useful leads from this tape: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/545217098612161071/

Old band photos are in short supply, but here are a couple from some time probably around 1993 (can't remember exactly) which I had previously posted on Guitarchat. It wasn't long after these were taken that I realised I was playing the wrong instrument.

Fretless with anything other than an unlined board and side dots level with where the frets would be (as shown below). That's what I learned on and anything else feels wrong and confuses me.

Last rehearsal with drummer using full kit. For small outdoor gigs and jams without a full drum kit the amp is usually omitted.

Getting paid to play it is difficult enough...

We both like it. Unless I put some free jazz on; then, I tend to get dirty looks and complaints about it being "a bit too 'Desolate Shore'".

Definitely.

The Terror 500 with OBC112 was my choice as this combination is lighter than the old Trace Elliot BLX combo it replaced, not particularly bulky, and sounds good with BG. It even works well enough with a pre-amp for DB. Just as well, as I don't have any other amplifier suitable for gigs, and even at rehearsals the drummer always wants lots of bass volume.

I recall someone playing me a Macc Lads track some years ago, and the count-in at 0:25 stuck in my mind as being suitably in-character.

Sold my first bass a long time ago because I didn't like the tone. But, the "poor tone" was because it had rounds on and I didn't realise that flats for bass could be had and would have produced the sound I was after.

Years later I still remember a woman who wanted a tent I listed on Freecycle: 1. Emailed me without asking for a phone call instead. 2. Turned up at the easily-agreed time and took the tent away. 3. Emailed again a few days later to say her son had used it at a rock festival and wished to pass on his thanks for how useful it had been. An unusually pleasant interaction.

It's The White Horse, so the other side of Banbury from where you're thinking, if I've got the right Brasenose Arms.

Near Banbury, but still within Oxfordshire.

The acoustic pub jam I normally do each month was under threat due to the landlord leaving, but luckily the new one turned out to be very keen to have us carry on. Good session this week - the audience even commented on how cool my "cello" looked. House rhythm section setting up:

Probably best for me to stick to the carbon bows, in that case; bargaining is never something I enjoy. The Coda should certainly do the trick for someone of my skill level. There is a good bow maker locally but I can't afford his wares.

No problem. I had to be in Banbury and had an hour to kill, so it was worth a look. I went for the Codabow Infinity, German style.

An unexpected trip to the vicinity of Caswell's and I was able to find out that: 1. They're running down their range of basses and bass accessories. 2. The website is out of date. 3. The only bows in stock were beginner bows or a rather nice one half as much again as I wanted to spend. The results of (3) were sadly inevitable for my wallet. Bowing a worse bass than mine with the good bow was still easier than bowing my nicer one with a cheaper bow.

I really wanted one in the 90s but couldn't find any at the time. Now I have one at last; nice to play, but not much output from the pickups.

That's something I used to want to do. I got a spot in a jazz big band strumming chords and enjoyed it, before the lure of the bass took hold. Otherwise, I used to blow money on bagpipes, chanters etc.

I've heard that trying out some bass bows might be a good idea if I am to upgrade from mine, which is apparently a fairly basic one. Various places offer a bow trial service, and I've found these: https://caswells-strings.co.uk/product-category/double-bass/double-bass-bows/ https://www.bassbags.co.uk/product-category/double-bass-shop/double-bass-bows/ https://www.bowspeed.com/purchasing+and+policies Does anyone have any other suggestions?

Same here. I keep saying that I have two fretless jazzes and perhaps should sell the one that people might be willing to buy, and I'm told that I should not as it's the one I've coveted for 30 years and so I should keep it. She has also been learning to play a bass I purchased recently.

They certainly are. I am using the full synthetic set on an EUB, for jazz.

In the case of the Triumph Lite, the supplied tuners are a bit rubbish but they can be replaced (https://www.thomann.de/gb/rubner_double_bass_machines_brass.htm). Before and after photos below.