hubrad

I've put the link in now! 🙄

This is what you've got. Don't remember if they did a 4/4, possibly so. https://www.jhs.co.uk/products/antoni-debut-double-bass-outfit-3-4-size If you have one that plays well it'll get you off the ground, but back in music shop days I went to JHS trade sales day and made a beeline for the double bass with a view to persuading my boss to stock it. The display model had a massive hump in the fingerboard around fret 2, making it unplayable. I said to the chap handling the section "if we were to order one, would it come properly set up?", and when he said it was set up I just walked away! Still, a very nice gift, and if you're getting better strings on it that'll improve matters. Make sure the soundpost is up! I wouldn't worry about the fingerboard unless it's really bugging you, it's only paint. If it gets you hooked (fingers crossed, double bass is brill!) and somebody offered you as much as a couple of hundred against your next one I'd go for it

Nm

Anyone here tried the new Upton Bass rosin? I've seen the chap on Double Bass HQ speak positively of it, and of course the Upton advertising is glowing. Sounds like their own custom blend of Pops and one or two others.

I got really into Bottesini duets, way above my ability but great listening and quite inspiring. My bass teacher once I knew I wanted to get more out of the bow followed the Bottesini method; actually really nice studies in their own right, and after a few you start to pick up on what each one is aimed at. Here's the Gran Duetto Nr.2, which I originally heard transcribed for db and viola. This is two double basses, pretty intense!

Don't panic! If you're fancying a try then seriously anything is better than nothing. Even a very basic bow will let you know whether you fancy pursuing it further.

It's something I was told 20 plus years ago by someone in violin restoration world. Dunno if things have changed. I suppose there are bows that we can't tell the difference whereas to some players, just like the old argument about spending more than £x on a bass. Stands to reason that if an instrument can be different then so can a bow. That thing I was told was along the lines of getting the best out of both instrument and bow. A cheaper bow would work but limit the instrument and vice versa. When I upgraded from basic, I enlisted the help of a friend who doesn't play bowed strings but has excellent ears; he identified the differences straight away, in fact better than I could in playing position. My most expensive bow is 'only' a few hundreds worth, but it's probably better than I'll ever be. Mind you, I can't help but wonder.. see you all in one of the specialist shops!

A basic bow is way better than no bow. From there you can decide how far you want to take it and in which direction. For occasional parts as long as you're playing the band will be blown away anyway! Try some if you can. Where is Manchester...ish? I'm north of Bradford if you fancy a trip over sometime. I can show you some differences, plus I do actually have a basic French type one I'd let go for not much. When I first started on DB I knew I wanted a bow, and bought a pretty basic one in need of a rehair. That got me off the ground until getting a much better one once I knew I was going to use it. Then I got introduced to German bow (different hold) and went down that road. General consensus seems to be that, in order to get the best out of both bow and instrument, the bow should be valued around 1/3 to 1/2 of the instrument, but that's more for the long term IMHO.

Excellent, always good to hear! 👍

I just rediscovered this thread.. how did the gig go, BurnsBass?

Another Hup for BassBags.. I spoke to them then visited when passing for a gig; I needed to try my particularly large db in the bag rather than shipping things back and forth. Found them to be really helpful and knowledgeable. As I walked in with my old bag (the foam had as mentioned above, perished with age, best part of 20 years but now a grotty sticky residue) they said "Where did you get that bag? We made it!"

DB is way harder to amplify really well. I'd say get it sounding good without any pedals to start with, otherwise you'll never get a satisfactory effected tone. My own experience is that 15 inch speakers just don't do it. I usually am on 12", sometimes a 10. Full range even better. It can definitely be done, mind.. https://youtu.be/qKSUPy64W7M?si=oyU8RvLFBYWwwqc5

I really like mine, even having tried a shoeboxful (literally) of other pickups belonging to a friend. The most natural sounding pickup I've tried so far (always open to suggestion, mind you..), and the only player I've spoken to who wasn't keen said it's so natural that if you have a dark sounding bass that's what you'll get from the pickup. Interestingly, when I first had my Copperhead on my previous bass I took that bass to a specialist luthier friend who advised putting the pickup under the treble foot rather than the Realist-advised bass foot, as it'd present less obstacle to the bass frequencies of the instrument. Dunno if it was just that or the new bridge and soundpost I had her fit, but the overall effect was great. I still go for treble side mounting to this day, and have had countless positive comments on my tone.

It's just different, more organic although less twang. Personally I prefer fretless but they're both good! Anyway, back to the double bass..

I've found Before and After pics, so updated that thread. Looks like this nowadays..

Here's the view after a load of sanding, veneer, routing, finishing and all that!

This was the beginning point of the saga, obviously after a fair bit of tweaking from its original state.

Easy selection for me.. I've owned this for about 40 years now. My first ever bass and I still love it, albeit in somewhat altered form. Sharing this has reminded me I need to look for the photos!

I've heard good things of Jack's Guitars just down the road in Hebden Bridge: https://www.jacksguitars.co.uk/

Marginally better than ebony iirc. Obviously harder work to smooth it down again!

I had something similar about 25 years back, when a local luthier got some rolled brass (3mm thick iirc) fingerboard blanks and fitted one for me. It was great, but not actually as fret-bright as I had initially expected. Be interesting to hear whether a 0.1mm thickness steel will be enough, but great project either way.. Good luck!

Dang, missed this news at the time. Cracking player, I was just listening to some of his live work with Liane Carroll and wondered what he was up to now.. RIP.

I just visited that very emporium today, on the way to tonight's gig East of Nottingham. Spoke to them a couple of times on the phone, and you know how some businesses sound like they'd actually like you to visit? Well, that. Great advice from start to finish, and they had exactly what I was looking for out ready to try. As I walked in with bass in old (15-20 years) gigbag, David said "How long have you had that? We made it!" Brilliant. Got the Gewa 4/4 as it ticks all the boxes. If I get a similar lifespan out of it to the old one, I'll be well chuffed. Heartily recommend both the bag and the shop. https://www.bassbags.co.uk/product/gewa-pure-bs-25-double-bass-gig-bag/