Bloopdad1

23 hours ago, zbd1960 said:

Sounds like the string isn't getting to vibrate properly. A new bow will need a lot of rosin on it. One way to check is to look along the length of the hair and then run a finger under teh hair across the width of the hank. You should see a little puff of rosin. Also, a new cake of rosin is resistant to cooperating. If it's still shiny it won't be giving you much rosin. Once the bow is rosined, you don't need to give it that much - just a touch up each time you play.

 

I'm a cellist, not a EUB play, but principles are the same.  

Umm... Not quite the same. Make sure you're using proper bass rosin (Pops, Nymans, Leatherwood etc etc.) apply the rosin in one rapid continuous "swipe" from frog to tip., the friction will cause the rosin to melt and adhere to the hair. (don't do that upper strings/cello thing where they rapidly move a couple of inches up their bow at a time scraping their hard rosin over the hair!) 

When done properly you can easily see the molten sticky rosin on the hair - apply too much and you'll have a sticky mess that'll rip your strings off the bridge!! (well not quite 😂 but you know what I mean) 😜 

Remember never to touch the hair if you can help it...

Don't tension the bow too tight (difficult to describe in words! Sorry). 

If you're seeing a puff of rosin you're using a hard violin/cello style rosin. 

You can certainly bow Dadarios <green ends are the hybrids, blue ends are the pure arco>

Do not move the bow too fast, do not use all the bow at first. 

Add wrist pressure, relax your bow arm, relax your fingers and make sure the bow is 90° to the string and bow 2 to 3" from the bridge. 

Use the passive weight from your upper arm to apply weight onto the string through the bow... Breath out... Relax... Gradually draw the bow slowly across the string. 

If you're getting a whistling high harmonic you're either moving too fast, not gripping the string, not enough weight, wrong rosin/not enough or even using poor quality/worn out bow hair. 

Although not a pure double bass I could get quite a convincing sound from my NS CR4T and my Yam SLB100 (to about 85% of the sound of my 2 concert basses). 

Plucking is about 10% of what a bass can truly do... Arco is where its at! 

Unleash the bow, unleash a lifelong passion! 

Ex principal bass LSO... A perfect example of what a bass can do. 

BTW - Let me know where you can get a set of strings for £130! - they're all around +£200 these days (don't look at Eudoxa - they're £600 a set!!!) 

Remember, Best option is to get a teacher for a couple of lessons just to set you on the straight and narrow. 

***BASS NOW SOLD ***

Thanks Beedster

Yes, I agree. In fact after trying a SLB200 I decided to try and track down the 100. I find it more of a  double bassists instrument as you can really dig into it. 

With the longer body it's much more stable. And you're correct about the build quality and fingerboard. 

Cheers. 

For sale. My Yamaha SLB100 electric upright double bass.

These rarely come up for sale. 
The closest sounding EUB to the real thing you can get! This is the first edition which has the full body frame for the perfect feel of a true D bass. Long body for stability when you're really playing hard (unlike the short "bouncy" body SLB 200) and an effortless arco sound when using the bow.
Standard double bass string stop and string spacing (105cm long x 25mm spacing). This one has a particularly gorgeous rosewood fingerboard, figured tailpiece and a dead straight neck.
All packs down neatly into its bespoke Yamaha gig bag (although it is a little tatty in places).
9Vdc on board preamp plus I'll also include the fitted Full Circle pick up for another tone option (common addition on the SLB range).
Strings are old and dead but I'm not going to fit my choice of double bass strings as they may not be what you want? (hence the lower price).
A couple of age a related dinks on the frame etc but obviously does not affect the playing or sound - the important bits (neck, fingerboard, bridge, electronics, machines, scroll are all perfect.
Included in the price is the custom modified heavy duty stand which safely and securely supports the instrument. 
New these go for north of £4000 so grab this bargain before I change my mind!
If you're looking for a short scale upright Fretless Bass guitar type "EUB" then this isn't for you. 😁
Happy to answer any questions and able to supply more pics on request.
I might consider postage at the buyer's cost and could meet halfway if you're not too far from me. Collection preferred plus you can try it out then as well (and compare the sound with any of my 3 double basses).
Thanks for looking.

Such a shame. 

I ran an original Iamp600 back in the late '90s for over a decade. Superb amp, very warm and great for both BG and DB. 

Coupled with a pair of their legendary CxL1x10 cabs (3 way crossover, genuine studio quality sound). 

But boy was it heavy! 

EA will be missed (and of course SWR!) 

Hi all.

For info -

Martin Penning in Frome (superb bass Luthier) has them and can fit and "tune" them up. 

I've recently played a gorgeous Lott model bass in Birmingham with one of these vernier scale adjustable posts. I was totally blown away by the sound that the bass that the  owner attributed to this post (he's principal bassist of a prominent UK pro orchestra). 

The "tuning" is critical by spinning the extending/retracting wheel. Martin did this when the player was playing it so he could feel and hear the difference. Once the optimum pressure on the table is found then the telescopic post is locked off and adjustment wheel removed. 

It's very useful if the top pressure changes due to atmospherics, different gage/tension strings or changes in humidity/seasons. 

The bass is regularly played in the CBSO. 

I'm strongly considering getting one for my main orchestral bass as is my missus for her violin. 

(bit pricey though). 

Beware - One caveat is that as it opens up and increases the volume and projection of an instrument IF you have a wolf note (most basses do) then as well as the desirable tones it'll also "amplify" the wolf note! 

Hi. 

Still looking? 

I might be willing to part with my Yamaha SLB100 (in your budget and not the£4000+ new price tag!) 

As you probably already know the SLB100 is the king of Eub's. Perfect geometry and is perfect for arco. 

I went for the 100 rather than the 200 as the longer body makes it more stable when standing and really digging in. 

It also has a Full Circle PUP fitted for a superb double bass sound in addition to the Yamaha electronics. 

Message me if you want want more info. 

'tis a weapon... 😎

2 hours ago, owen said:

That is a fine looking machine.

4 hours ago, Beer of the Bass said:

I didn't see it at the time, but that looks like a lot of fun.

Ha! 

It was a great "thing"...really did make a huge sound and always made me smile. I suppose I could always weld up another one. 😁 

Thanks for the comments. 

5 String double bass extensively improved. Beautiful sound - great B string. 

4/4 Unlabelled Possibly Hungarian?

Very clear sound, recently fitted with new Pirastro Permanent strings (spiro B string).
Easy to play with 104cm string stop and a low action at the nut. "Harp" style tail piece. 2 piece back and front. Adjustable bridge. 22.5cm lower bout ribs, LOB 114cm. Good straight grain, no buzzes, splits or cracks. Speaks well across all the neck in all registers. 

Extensively modified by R Dawson and the Contrabass Shoppe in 2008 which included - top removed and re-graded, new bass bar, new maple neck, new finger board and new machine tuners. (details provided by T Houska - this work cost £3500).
Recent service (Feb 2021), clean and setup by Martin Jones.
Recently played as my main bass. 
More details and photos can be supplied on request.
 

Never tried a short scale bass. What's the arco tone like? What strings does it take? Looks cool. 

On 17/03/2021 at 08:10, Beer of the Bass said:

Though as you say, that's not at all standardised. A lot of people playing modern jazz styles with higher tension strings go somewhat lower, and I'd say perhaps 6mm G to 9mm E would be considered a medium for that. You might go higher if using lower tension strings or if maximum acoustic projection is the goal, but personally I wouldn't take that approach on an EUB.

Yep, agreed. Although it depends on how much arco you'd be doing. My yamaha SLB is set up as closely to my main double basses as possible so it "feels" as much like the real things when I switch between them. But I do play a lot of arco...so all mine are set to "standard" orchestral height. My 5st double bass has 12mm under the B string and when I'm really laying into it for something like Shostakovich or Wagner in a fff section I can sometimes grind it out (can't let the brass section have all the fun...! 😂). 

"Standard" double bass string height (end of the fingerboard to the bottom of the string) is 9mm under the G through to 11mm under the E. But ultimately there's not much standard about a DB! 

I wouldn't go much lower than that. 

My basses range from 200yrs old to a modern massive German 5 stringer from the '80's. I've dampits in all of them that are usually dried out (I always forget to wet them!) 

The main thing I do to keep the room humidified is I have uncovered bowls of water under all 4 basses in the corners of the room. Also I have the room radiator bearly on (drives my missus nuts) but it helps her 2 violins stay humidified as well. You'll be surprised how quickly the bowls empty especially in cold frosty months when the air is at its most driest (unless the cat is thirsty and helping himself!) 

An old pro showed me the water bowl trick and even went further by hooking a damp sponge from its bridge! But he did have a lovely Ceruti Italian bass that needed extra care. 

I keep my 2 bass guitars in that room as well and it doesn't seem to affect them either. 

If you're seriously interested, to save you a trip, if it's still up for sale after lockdown  I'll pop over to give it a once over if you want. I'm about 20mins away from Neath. (That's if the seller doesn't mind?) 

I know most of the bassists around here but I don't recognise his ebay name, I don't think the seller is a bassist?? 

(if I haven't already got 4 double basses and 1 EUB then I might have a punt on that bass myself! - but the missus would go nuts!) 🤣 

I know these basses quite well. They're typical "school basses" most of the local authorities bought loads of these back in the early '80s. Most schools here in S Wales had at least a couple of these knocking around. A local residential education centre kept 8 of them. They're all consistent and strong.

Decent sturdy student basses that actually sound half decent considering... Not bad at all for orchestral playing and in my opinion much much better that the new Chinese stuff, gear 4 you etc, and hold their own with instruments 4x the price. 

This one will be well played in, resonant and if it was going to crack, split or the neck fall of it would have done so by now! It'll have a strong bass bar, the sound post will be correct and you won't need to fart about with the nut. 

New bridge £110, strings £200, tail wire 50p and your good to go... Its not shiny, it's not pretty, they have thick gloopy varnish and no-frills machine heads but if it can survive 40 odd yrs knocking around the valleys it'll be ok... 😁 

If you do go see it double check the neck joint is stable. Ignore the bridge, tailpiece, tail gut and strings you will be replacing those anyway. 

16 hours ago, TheLowDown said:

The one major thing that really puts me off is heavy weight. Things such as the pickups, the strings, and even the fretboard can be changed if necessary, but often the weight and the weight distribution is not that easy to change. I tend to prefer a lightweight bass, but it's shame that the weight is rarely mentioned.

 

Another thing that would put me off is side markers on fretless basses that are in the same place as that of a fretted.

 

 

I think it's great that we're all different, it's what makes bassists a fab varied bunch of people. 

I simply can't stand a light bass... I had a 75 jazz that was so light it felt like a toy! The heavier the better, I feel it give the notes weight and added thump (plus when you dig in, the bass is completely stable). But then again it's not surprising as I'm primarily a double bassist - my main orchestral bass is a HUGE 5/4 size German 5st that needs a forklift to move the bloody thing.... But what a sound! 😎😁

(totally agree with you about Fretless markers though...or any markers come to think of it!) 😂🤣😅

Thanks for the info Agedhorse. 

I'm glad it's nothing to worry about. I have been using the tube preamp section a lot lately, I just couldn't remember such a delay after switch-on...?

Best amp I've ever owned. So good in fact that I've not looked at an alternative these past years. Hopefully it'll keep going for another 9yrs!

Hi all

Hoping for some advice. I've a Genz-benz Shuttle Max 9.2 that I've gigged about 4 times a week for the last 8yrs.

Recently when turning it on its silent for about 10 (heart stopping) seconds then it quickly ramps up to normal operation. 

I'm thinking worn out capacitors? Whatcha think? 

If I keep using it like this will it damage it or simply just get worse? 

(Its my favourite ever amp that has unbelievable headroom, it does super clean for double bass, warm full and wet for my '70's P bass with flats, mega punchy for my 5st jazz and makes my EUB growl for ever! - I've played lots of other amps and for me it's just superb). 

Hoping for advice. 

Cheers 

Hope you don't mind me chipping in... 

Re moving to a BB2 for upright bass. I have both a BB2 and a Super Midget. I find that the SM is much more suited to my double basses - my 3 double basses use a combination of Realist and Full Circle pups and a blended mic - especially when playing arco. (Plus then I can stack both my BB2 and SM for BG gigs at stupid volumes!😎) 

Obviously ever double bass is different, every player hears different things and we all eq differently... But the SM works on upright for me. 

Light basses... Anything under 10lb - they feel like toys. 

There, I've said it!

(everybody is different after all)! 

Hi all

Just bought a proper funk machine from Anth (77/78 sunburst P bass). I'm absolutely delighted... can't put the bloody thing down!

Anth is a lovely fella. Perfect communication and quickly answered all my questions, sent me additional photos etc. Pleasure to deal with. 

Buy with confidence, he's a top bloke. 

Hey everyone.. 

This is one seriously superb instrument. I had the pleasure of playing it when I popped along to pick up another bass from Anth. Gorgeous Ash grain (the pictures really don't do it justice). Very comfortable neck - dead straight, with a clear authoritive sound (but also punchy!) no dead spots. Perfect balance and sits well under the hands. It's in immaculate condition too. 

I can't believe no one has snapped this bass up yet!!! 

Top bloke to deal with too (for a drummer! 😂) 

Yea, the light in the first load of pics wasn't the best. In the flesh the wood grain really popps and shimmers especially the Walnut core visible from the back plus the mother of pearl dots  sparkle very well. 

(Someone once said that Overwaters have "Fodera build quality for Fender money" ... I couldn't possibly comment on that) 

Thanks for your questions. 

I'll add a pic of the weight (should have done that originally as I've had loads of questions asking about this) bathroom scales = 10lb 4oz. Yes, its a big slab of gorgeous rosewood. 

No trades unfortunately as I have my eye on something else. But your Ibanez is a stunner. 

Pickups designed by Overwater (helped by John East if I remember but I'm not 100% certain of that) they have a clean open "hi-fi" sound together and when solo'd can give a wide variety of tones. Plus due to its scale growls through the mix in the lower registers. It has been the perfect theater and TV studio bass due to its clear punchy sound (engineers often comment positively and love the xlr direct balanced output socket). 

36" scale takes a very minimal time to get used to, I find it very intuitive plus a 36" B string is simply immense! 

Cheers bud