Beer of the Bass

They'll work to some extent but the output will be lower than standard bass strings, as the core is still steel but the bronze wrap is non-magnetic. The string-to-string balance may be off too, but it's hard to say without trying them.

French and German are very different to play. I went with German just because that was what was offered when I had a few lessons starting out, and I feel like I can barely play if someone hands me a French bow!

I think the black dots look better against maple on the walnut version than the white triangle inlays did. Five string versions would be nice though! Although I couldn't afford one if they did, so my opinion may not be terribly relevant...

I reckon this gig needs a Peavey T40!

[quote name='Bill Fitzmaurice' timestamp='1421849808' post='2665729'] Also ancient history. That's the same time frame when I was using eight twelves in 200 seat rooms, only driven by a 50w Bassman head, because the drivers were such sh*te that it took that many to run a clean low E. Today I only need a 1x12 to do that. Listen to Jack Bruce on '[i]Wheels of Fire'[/i]. I doubt it sounded as dirty as it did because he preferred that sound, it was because it was the best he could do with the gear available then. He didn't have that same crap sound on the TV broadcast I saw of his last reunion gig with Eric and Ginger. [/quote] I think Bruce must have liked that dirty sound to some extent, as in the 70's when gear started getting cleaner he had clipping diodes installed in his bass to get some dirt back!

[quote name='notable9' timestamp='1421668322' post='2663700'] The idea that you can set up a bass to play "easy" like a guitar is wrong. Bass guitars are almost mini double basses which are not easy at all, at least not to start with. Hence the best tone is achieved like a double bass with a high action which allows the strings to really get moving [/quote] The same discussions go on in double bass forums, as aside from ease of playing, we're trying to strike a balance between the cleaner sound and stronger projection of a higher setup and the increased growl and sustain of a lower setup. Many modern (late 20th century onwards) jazz styles and tones are barely possible with a higher string height.

[quote name='pfretrock' timestamp='1421667086' post='2663688'] I wonder if the 'Fretless' label inside can be explained by they started out fretless but were later fretted (with some QA issues) ? [/quote] I don't think they can have started out fretless, as with a bound neck the fret slots would have to be cut before binding. I reckon they just don't have anyone who reads English on the factory floor, so errors in the labels don't get noticed. They were selling a guitar model where the headstock read "Delxue" instead of "Deluxe" for months before they got changed!

My B35-NT five string acoustic has arrived. It is slightly different to the pictures, with a pin bridge and 5-band EQ with no phase switch. I've just given it a quick look over (as it's a birthday present for next week and will be going in the cupboard until then) and there are no massive flaws. There are a couple of slight milky coloured patches on the top which are only visible from certain angles and one high fret which makes a couple of notes from the 15th-17th fret on the G string fret out or buzz. I can sort the high fret without too much trouble. The nut is a little high and it arrived with the truss rod completely slack - it had never been tightened but seems to work fine. Other than that it seems like it will be fine for my purposes.

I like Ed Friedland's demos. He doesn't play the same stuff each time, he seems good at figuring out what sort of approach suits each instrument. The potential downside of that is that he makes everything sound good! Garth Fielding's demos for D'Addario and Ampeg are pretty good too - he's not showing off, just demonstrating a selection of sounds that can be got. I've found that Youtube demos of EUBs are the worst, as only a tiny proportion of them are by people with any double bass technique...

[quote name='planer' timestamp='1421582345' post='2662839'] I'd like to try some flats on it if I can find some for reasonable money. Recommendations anyone? [/quote] I'd be tempted to try some black nylon tapewounds, as they're fairy flatwound-ish in sound and they'd look good on a black bass. D'Addario and Status both do them in sensible gauges.

[quote name='Kev' timestamp='1421528470' post='2662403'] I think perhaps what Ubit was really getting at is, ultimately, they are still low end/value instruments and the amount being saved in these deals is great relatively speaking, but perhaps not so great in the bass market as a whole? If we were looking at, say a 75% discount for these "unplayable" instruments, my tail would be wagging if £400 basses were being sold for £100 as deko, as opposed to £100 basses being sold for £25. Have there been any more premium instruments sold in a similar way? [/quote] I'd think that the QC rejects of more expensive instruments never find their way to retailers like Thomann, as they either pass through distributors in between the factory and retailer or never leave the factory in the first place. Thomann are presumably getting container loads of these direct from the factory, so have to do their own QC.

I think they're not D'Addario Chromes, as those have coloured ball ends and blue silk at both ends. They're not Ernie Balls either, as those have silk at both ends too. So that's two things that they're not, but I'm afraid I've no idea what they are...

I picked up mine with the intention of using it in situations where I'd worry about a more expensive instrument. It'll be the party/camping/pub session bass. I've jammed on a friend's cheap laminated acoustic a few times, so I have an idea of what standard of instrument to expect.

[quote name='Annoying Twit' timestamp='1421442688' post='2661421'] 'Custom Series' Acoustic 4-string bass. [url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_clb_10sce_ns_deko.htm"]http://www.thomann.d...sce_ns_deko.htm[/url] The non-deko version claims to have a much shorter scale length????? [url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_clb_10sce_ns.htm"]http://www.thomann.d...lb_10sce_ns.htm[/url] One review claims that the bridge pins limit the gauge of string that can be used. I'm not sure about that. But, I don't really see what the advantage of this bass is over the B-30 models that some of us have. Unless someone really likes abalone shell. [/quote] I think the solid spruce top is the major advantage over the B30 models, which have a laminated top. As much as we bicker over tonewoods in solidbodies on here, it's a big deal with acoustics. If I didn't already have the B35 on the way, I would have been tempted by this one.

I'll whip out the tape measure when mine appears and check that the 12th fret is in the right place. I'm sure someone would have noticed the intonation being out already though - it wouldn't be a subtle thing.

If you can measure the internal dimensions of the box and the diameter and length of any ports, people might be a little more forthcoming with recommendations.

[quote name='mcnach' timestamp='1421085145' post='2656980'] [/quote] You're welcome to check it out once it's officially unwrapped...

Cheers for the tape-measuring! I think my D'Addario tapes should be OK, since they start from a .050" gauge G rather than a .065" like the Rotosounds do. I took them off my electric bass because I found the tension a little too low, but with slightly higher action on an acoustic I'd imagine they'll work well.

I've ordered the five string fretted. I'll have a quick peek at it when it arrives just to check it's OK, then we put it away until my birthday on the 29th. It was all of £32 including delivery after the voucher was deducted! I went for the fretted version as when I've borrowed my friend's acoustic bass I like to play it with the heftiest pick I can find, a couple of inches from the bridge for a sort of clanky thump. I feel like a fretted bass might be better for that. I've got some D'Addario tapewounds in my used string stash, so those will probably be going on it.

[quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1421076644' post='2656861'] In a prog band, his left hand should be operating another synthesizer, or maybe pushing his cape out of the way ... [/quote] Or fiddling with the drawbars and flicking the Leslie switch every now and then! I love hearing proper organ in a band...

If it's a Markbass solid-state power amp, I wonder if the bottom half of the box is empty?

I play five string electric, it's just I'm not sure I feel the need for it on acoustic. Still, I guess it would make a good thumbrest, or perhaps a high-C could be fun to experiment with.

I've just got a 35 Euro voucher for reviewing some bits and pieces I bought in the last couple of years. This kind of makes it hard not to spring for one of the cheap acoustics. It'd be less than £35 delivered - I've had sets of strings more expensive than that! I'm choosing between the black four string fretted and the five string fretted and fretless. I'm leaning towards fretted (since it'll sound like its own thing rather than a double bass imitation), just not sure how useful the B string is on an acoustic. I like the natural better than the black though, which nudges me back towards the 5-string since the natural 4-strings have sold out.

When I was at uni I played in a band with a piano player who drove us up the wall. Everything he played sounded like Bill Bailey doing a cockney knees-up, and we were trying to play jazz. Me and the drummer broke up the band on some pretext or other, then formed a new band without him in it. It seemed like a great idea until we bumped into him on the way to a rehearsal! That was awkward...

Well, we brought the kit, used it as-is without the hole and it was fine. The sound guy suggested taking the skin off, but he wasn't going to push the point. He miced it from the front and the FOH sound was perhaps a little less immediate and punchy than with a mic inside, but the mix was fine and it didn't seem to deter anyone from dancing. After that, I really don't get why the promoter was so adamant about it before the gig. Because we were sharing gear, I was obliged to stay around after my band had played, drink a couple of beers and dance to McNach's band. There are worse ways to spend a chilly Saturday night in January!