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I used the Yita for a while and its a great bow to get started with. It doesn't have much spring to it so isn't very good for past passages or staccato lines but otherwise i'd still recommend it for a first bow. Also i found it alarmingly light.

I would say it is in-fact easier to play in thumb position. As long as you take your time. The intervals are smaller and because it's a higher pitch its easier to adjust your intonation in thumb position. As far as I'm aware Rabbath starts all his students in thumb position when teaching a beginner. Thumb position is nothing to be scared, just something different with a slightly different approach.

I can't imagine getting a huge improvement in this price range from your antoni. Could you have the neck taken down and chamfered a bit?

I once saw a teacher of mine use a wire coat hanger as a tailpiece wire when in a fix. Just about held. I think Tom appears in the most Bio's of any player ever. Every single person I've taken a lesson with has been a student of his.

As you should be, it looks great. The best thing to do is find a teacher or local player who can come and check out the bass with you. I made the mistake of buying my first bass with out talking to my teacher, it was utterly useless. Since then i have always taken a bass on trial and would never dream of buying one straight out. Same with bows. There difficult things to steal and pass on so most people are pretty trusting. And in general Db players are the most trust worthy, friendly folk you'll meet.

The bass buggy is great for that. I prop it in the corner with the buggy still on and then use one of the straps from the case to secure it in the corner.

Id just buy an external end pin wheel or a bass biggie. Seems much safer.

Don't know whats with all this love for Hatpegs. Baker tuning pegs are where it's at, nothing like huge lumps of brass to know your in safe hands.

I think I play on about No.3. This will of course be different depending on the shape of your hand and length of fingers and thumb. You want a straight line up your fingers and that joint. Remember to not let your fingers bend or scrunch up. Possibly get a lesson or two.

Heres a dark photo of when i still had two DB's. Nigella and Ruth. (taken on my ancient Pentax ME with fuji 200) [url=https://flic.kr/p/nhN888][/url][url=https://flic.kr/p/nhN888]Double bass[/url] by [url=https://www.flickr.com/people//]samhomfray[/url], on Flickr Ill get better pics of Ella sometime.

Looks absolutely amazing. Makes me miss my own Gamba. What woods are used.

Another this is if/when you get back to gigging/concerts make sure to notice area's that need improvement or mistakes that need to be rectified. I've done about 130 hours of playing over the past 13 days. Rehearsals/concerts and practice. I've a notebook scribbled with area's that i need to improve on. I also need to sleep.

Ive just got back from playing with the UYO. Here's an odd spot coloured pic of me with my Bryant. [url="http://s1375.photobucket.com/user/davidjbaxter/media/UYO%202014/Samandhisbadboy_zps7a2d0111.jpg.html"][/url]

I sit for about four hours everyday with my bass on my own and always find interesting things to practice. I do plan it all outs though before i do it. Find area's you want to improve and really get into ways to improve it. I find it addictive.

You'll have to do both depending on the music. If it's a really fast section your going to have to bar especially if your rotating between the two notes. Otherwise just jump across and don't bar.

Get one of those endpin stopper things that cellist's use. A little rubber disc with an indent for the endpin. Or two, one in the gig bag and one in the car.

I've read great things about the Passiones. The Flatchromes are a tad cheaper and also came highly recommended from some of the Dublin players. They really do respond beautifully. My Belcanto's were about a year and half old and had been swapped about of bass's a bit so i might not be remembering them at their best but yea, a nice surprise to have strings work so well. I've noticed that a lot of the opera guys are using Passiones as well now.

Currently using a set of pirastro flat chromesteels. Absolutely great strings and they won't let you away my sloppy technique as the Belcanto's. You can hear straight away when the bow isn't being drawn straight. Brighter and faster response than the Belcanto's. All round a great string for bowing and more sustain when playing pizz then with the belcanto's. Ill post a pic up later but the silks are white with a ruby spiral.

Id be up for experimenting with an angled endpin.

From what i've seen the bass needs to be further away from you so you the bass is getting closer to horizontal then it's natural vertical position. This helps the natural bow weight from your arm. From different players with angled pins it seems then the nut can be anywhere from inline with your eyebrows as it rests behind your head to above and below again. Just wondering how you work out the natural height going from a straight to an angled endpin?

I'd probably be interested in an angled endpin. Always wanted to try one. Whats the deal with the height with an angled pin? Players like Renaud garcia fons and rabbath seem to have their bass's very high while playing standing which i suppose suits the solo stuff they play. I play with the nut a bit above my eyebrows, below my hairline. Would the endpin need to be a tad higher then with an angled one?

Thats a "practice" mute. There supposed to make the bass quieter when your practicing. Never used one, towels seem more effective. Take it off. I don't know much about the bass but presume 50/2 is the model number of the company that made the bass, presumably Excelsior? and then import by Boosey & Hawkes. Thats my guess anyway. It looks like a laminate bass of some sort. Will do nicely for learning. Bring it to a luthier for a look over and a set up. In terms of strings lots of people like Spirocore Weichs and Pirastro Evah Pirazzi. £23 won't buy you anything. The Evahs are about 150 i think. Go get some lessons and get playing i suppose. EDIT: those could actually already be spiro's on your bass? Might not need to change them.

I think grades are a great way to track improvement and attain certain goals. Rather then just practicing have something you want to achieve and being able to break goals down into small chunks which will eventually lead to having all the equipment needed to pass another grade is great. I hadn't down grades since i was maybe 15 and playing trumpet but decided to do my grade 8(abrsm) in march and passed. Great way to see i had actually been improving. Going to do my diploma in november/december. In terms of nerves i'd recommend playing for yourself and too yourself rather then to the examiner. Try and impress yourself with your playing and don't focus on the man/woman sitting in front of you scribbling on a piece of paper. Also find yourself a good pianist to practice with every now and again.

The Shens are awful if you ask me. Don't project well and the necks come of really quickly if give them a mildly hard knock (by accident). I'd look out for (as Sarah said) an eastern european bass. Mainly Romanian or Czech if you can find one. Also get your teacher or a friendly player to come and have a look with you or see if you can take the bass on trial until you can find someone.