TheRev

Or you can take a jig saw and re-cut the top of the bridge.

Not noticeably. Adjustable bridges are very common in the USA where basses often have to endure dramatic changes in the weather and you use the adjusters to compensate for the flexing of the bass in response to humidity. 1000s of USA double bassists can't all be wrong... In answer to your original question, lowering the action will reduce acoustic volume as the string has potentially less room to vibrate. However, using steel/synthetic/gut strings will also noticeably affect volume and sustain, as will your right hand technique Personally, I'd rather have an instrument that I could actually play without injuring myself than a tone monster that I can only squeeze a few notes out of before developing RSI. Why not have a new bridge with a lower action fitted? If you keep the old bridge you can put the bass back as it was in about 10 minutes.

There's a great story in Adge Cutler's biography about how, when he was Acker Bilk's road manager, he went to the bank to get the bands wages for the week and then left it in the pub.

Tuners, amp stands, cables and possibly eight LED lights on two lighting stands with T bars.

Adam Ben Ezra:

I'll never complain about squeezing a double bass into a car again.

Wonderwall. 😣

I know what you mean, the Bodais and the 8s are weird offset shapes, but the 45 and 46 is a nice enough looking cab. If the side ports upset you, you can opt for a full face grille.

Yes. From what I understand (which isn't much) it's to do with the 'note envelope' produced by an acoustic double bass, which is more complex than that produced by an electric bass and is managed/reproduced better by smaller speakers. That's the theory, in practice I found that 12s or, gods forbid, 15s can't reproduce notes below a B on the A string on a double bass very well, so that they all seem to run into each other and any walking bass line in that register is just undefined mush. With 8s or 5s, the notes are separated and sound much clearer. Over the years I've played gigs with everything from 4x5s to 8x10s and I definitely prefer smaller drivers. If you need to be loud, then use lots and lots of small drivers.

MAS 18? http://www.masoundworks.com/manage.numo?pid=27&module=shopping_cart&component=catalog Not cheap but small and light. If it's anything like my MAS45 it'll sound great for double bass.

Have you noticed that the trim pots have definitely physically moved or is it that you're hearing a change in the sound over time?

I've never had any such issues with mine. They're supposed to be 'set and forget' controls and I can't think if what would cause them to move by themselves. If they need replacing, I'm sure any amp repair shop could do the work - the pots are just soldered onto the front PCB.

For a modern take on the classic bass-piano-drums jazz trio, check out E.S.T and GoGo Penguin.

That's a non-gig weekend so colour me interested.

I'd be interested in your Corellis if you are thinking of moving them on..

No bass for me until I get home on the 29th! But I did see a nice Epiphone 335 in the local crack converters and I've been hankering after a semi acoustic guitar, so I may well buy that tomorrow or the day after to tide me over.

Geoff Chalmers has a review of Zyex strings on his website: https://discoverdoublebass.com/lesson/double-bass-strings-review-daddario-zyex

They could be Innovation Braided, according to Bob Gollihur's string identification chart. https://www.gollihurmusic.com/faq/57-STRINGS_STRING_IDENTIFICATION_CHART.html Innovation are good strings, the Braided are an 'orchestral' string, optimised for Arco playing, which can make them a bit dull sounding & lacking in sustain for pizzicato. If the wrap is unravelling above the nut but still intact on the playable length, then I wouldn't worry too much, but if you want a brighter sound then you may want to look at a pizz/jazz string rather than orchestral. Spiro wiech, Evah Pirazzi Welch (as mentioned above) and D'addario Zyex are all good places to start.

What colour are the silks at the pegbox and tailpiece? Most manufacturers use unique colour combinations so it's possible we can identify your current string. Even with steel strings, an orchestral string will sound different to a jazz/pizzicato string.... seriously it's a bloody minefield. But, for a first step on the long and meandering road of finding the 'right' bass strings, I'd always recommend starting with a set of Thomastik Spiricore Weich. Nice tension, good sustain and note definition. They're a classic 'jazz' string and if you don't like them you'll easily be able to sell them.

Strings make a lot of difference to how a double bass sounds, much more so than electric bass. However, it's not so much about how old the strings are than how they're made and what they're made of - steel ropecore vs solid gut for example. The starting point in choosing new strings would be, what don't you like about your current set?

If John Martyn is on the list then try a bit of Beth Orton or Clayhill, both with the excellent Ali Friend on double bass.

I love Eggle basses. I lusted after a New York bass after seeing one at the Birmingham guitar show. Wish I'd bought it as I've never seen one since.

I recall playing one of those in a shop in Belfast in 1988 when I was 16. I thought it was the coolest bass I'd ever seen.

Yes. I have a series 2 Fdeck and it works really well with the Eminence/Realist, much better than my Fishman Platinum pre. I don't use my Eminence live very much these days, but when I do I use it with the FDeck, rather than my usual Fishman.

I don't think they're Jazzers, according to B9b Gollihurs string identifier, Jazzers have red silks at the pegbox end and the ball end is wrong for Pirastro strings. The colours are right for Thomastik Superflexibles , but the ball end isn't