TheRev

I like it. If it was local I'd be all over it for £125, even if just so I can tell people I have a Woody.

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1483370976' post='3206602'] I think most of us in that situation unless it was a very quiet practice or jam at home would still use some form of amp, just a little 1x10 or something like a MarkBass combo, if the voice is not in a PA then it is possible though. [/quote] I've played completely acoustically loads of times and it's not so much a problem being heard out front, but hearing yourself is a different matter! Acoustic instruments are designed to project sound forwards - unfortunately you have to stand behind them to play the buggers. I use a Roland Microcube so I can hear all my duff notes clearly.

I have a hiscox case too, if the previous offer doesn't work out.

I was in an acoustic duo in which I mostly played fretless bass. I was saving up for a custom fretless (a Shuker I think) when the other guy lost interest/disappeared up his own arse, so I was left with about about £600 for a fretless bass and no band to play it in. I was listening to a lot of Danny Thompson (Pentangle/John Martyn) and Ali Friend (Red Snapper/Beth Orton/Clayhill) so I thought, 'bugger it, I'll buy a double bass'. There was an Aria SWB EUB on the Basschat (or might have been Bassworld back then) for sale forum - it was £600 and it was less than an hour away, so I bought it. Within two months, I was in two new, regularly gigging bands and I've never looked back. [quote name='Burns-bass' timestamp='1483001366' post='3203957'] Favourite players? Hard one - I'd probably say the thing that kicked me into getting a DB was listening to Thompson play with John Martyn after rediscovering Solid Air. This is live which loses some of the enchanting quality of the album track, but gains some of its own allure: [url="https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Kg_Utj4Aljc"]https://m.youtube.co...h?v=Kg_Utj4Aljc[/url] Interested to hear from others. [/quote] Try this version: [url="https://youtu.be/ohmSPv-rtSQ"]https://youtu.be/ohmSPv-rtSQ[/url] This is what got me hooked....

I would think that the Bassix bass is primarily an EUB that has acoustic properties (much like the Eminence bass) BUT I've never played one,so I'm by no means an authority on the subject. You could email Alan at Bassix and ask his opinion? The Chadwick folding bass has a lot of good things said about it over on TalkBass, but at £4k, it might be more than you want to spend.

I used to have an Aria SWB and never had a problem with standard 3/4 strings not fitting. Generally, found that synthetic strings sounded more DB-ish than steel and synthetic orchestral DB strings sounded best of all. I had Velvet Garbos on mine but I reckon Evah Weich or Innovation braided would be a good (cheaper) choice.

I have two basses, one an East German plywood bass from the 60s and the other a carved Hungarian bass from the 80s. I bought both locally and both cost me just under £600. Admittedly I had to spend amother £200 odd on each for setup work, but my point is that there are decent basses available for £600, but you have to wait until the right one turns up for sale and you'll need to be prepared to travel. If you have to return your current bass in January, then renting may be the way forward as the chances of the 'right' bass coming up for sale in the next few weeks is pretty slim As far as new basses are concerned, some of the £1000 range ones (Strunal/Hora/Stentor) are perfectly good instruments for the money - I hired a Stentor for a US tour and it was perfectly fine, but I've not played a £600 new bass that i felt was worth the money.

[quote name='pete.young' timestamp='1482334018' post='3199675'] Anyone ever seen a DB53 before? I haven't! http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bass-Collection-DB53-5-String-Bass-Guitar/291976838297?_trksid=p2047675.c100012.m1985&_trkparms=aid%3D777003%26algo%3DDISCL.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D38661%26meid%3D9f8ffed562bc41148d5e7c7ed046acdc%26pid%3D100012%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D12%26sd%3D262767734236 [/quote] That was the last generation of dedign, just before the brand died. There was a public competition to design the successor to the SB series and that was the result.

I've learnt even if your guitarist leaves the band 10 days before a tour, you can replace them and do the tour as if nothing had happened.... If people are being dicks and keep threatening to leave if they don't get their way, call their bluff and say 'bye then!' You'll both be surprised at how un-essential they are.

[quote name='Downdown' timestamp='1482151344' post='3198002'] Yes, but not mic or signal cables. DMX cables should be twisted pair cables and the last 'output' in the daisy chain should be terminated with a 120 ohm resistor (inside an XLR connector). You'll likely get away with using short XLR mic leads, but for long cable runs or lots of lights if you don't use the correct cable then the DMX control messages will likely become unreliable leading to erratic operation of the lighting, which will be VERY frustraiting on top of trying to decipher the various DMX modes in the first place! [/quote] I did not know that. To be fair, I'm not trying to do anything more complicated than make the pretty light more redderer..

I have a box full of these (or similar) https://www.thomann.de/gb/eurolite_led_sls_180_rgb_18x1w_floor.htm You can daisy chain them together with XLR Cables, set the first one to respond to sound and the rest as 'slaves' so that they'll all change colour at the same time. You can also connect to a DMX controller if you have the time/can be arsed to set up scenes. For a small stage, I'll set up 4 on the floor, pointing up, for bigger stages I'll have 4 mounted on a T-bar at the back of the stage and then 2-4 dotted around on the floor. Personally, I've moved away from the 'follow sound' setting as it can look a bit school disco-ish, so now I set up the RGB profile to give a single colour 'wash' for 'texture' (quite into reddish-orange at the moment) with perhaps 2 behind the drummer set to white to give us something to see by. If you want some movement as well, then two of something like this: https://www.thomann.de/gb/showtec_xs_1rgbw_mini_beam_1x10w.htm At each side of the stage (set on follow sound and linked to each other) will give some dynamics without going full school disco. You may want to have a chat with the band and find out what they actually expect from a lighting system. If they want fades/strobes/flashing all at cruicial points in the music, then that's a programmed system (and a fixed setlist....) or a lighting tech.

John Martyn's 'Solid Air' was about Nick Drake [url="https://youtu.be/ohmSPv-rtSQ"]https://youtu.be/ohmSPv-rtSQ[/url]

[quote name='Oopsdabassist' timestamp='1482063398' post='3197268'] Biggest violin I EVAH saw!! [/quote] It's actually a massive 'cello..... Thanks for coming along and taking the time for photos Sylvia - cracking good stuff! Dave

USA Sterlings are pretty rare beasts - I bought mine in 1999/2000 after finally managing to try one at the Birmingham guitar show, but I still had to place an order and wait for it to be shipped over form the USA. I've not had a lot of experience playing a Fender Jazz, so I can't offer a direct comparison, but from what I recall, the Jazz has a 'V' profile compared to the Sterling's 'C' profile. The Sterling neck is narrow but chunky - much thicker from front to back compared to the Japanese/Korean built basses that I was used to playing at the time. However, I do find it a very comfortable neck to play, and any time another bassist has played it, they also comment on how nice the neck feels. You can pick up a second hand Sterling for around £800 as they're not especially popular at the moment, but given they're £1500 new (if you can find one) £800 is a bit of a bargain for a very nice bass (IMHO).

Um. Rehearse with the band? If my band haven't played for a while, I pop on one of our CDs and play along to the whole thing. We haven't gigged for three weeks and have three gigs next week so I'll be putting in a couple of one hour sessions today and tomorrow.

I'd like to learn to play the mountain dulcimer. Just need an extra day in the week.

I have a Bassworld sticker on my bass case.

Thomastic Spirocore weichs are a good starting point - easy playing tension with good solid fundamental. If you prefer something a bit more traditional sounding, then a synthetic string like Evah Pirazzi weich or D'addario Zyex are a good choice.

[quote name='marvin spangles' timestamp='1480590920' post='3185642'] Spiro Weich are excellent on many basses for arco and pizz . Don't know about slap. Anyone? [/quote] The A and E are slappable, but I found the g too thin to slap without injuring myself. I'm not a massive slapper though, so perhaps a more manly individual than myself could cope. I'd suggest Velvet Garbos.

Seen these guys a bunch of times - love 'em! If you like these guys you should also check out Hayseed Dixie.

The guitarist in my first band had the guitar version, I think it was actually called 'state of the art'. It was the top of the Marlin range and cost around £150 back in the mid 80s.

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1479813324' post='3179424'] Make sure the main band are not skimming your profits on the merchandise. Ensure you get a good pitch, where you'll be seen. Preferably beside the main band's merchandise area. [/quote] Aslo check if the venues will be taking a cut of your merch. Some charge 10% for the onerous task of setting up a table and allowing you to sell a few cds.

Get a brigde mute. It's a shaped piece of foam rubber that slides over your bridge and dampens the resonance. You can also tape/block up your f holes or wedge a cushion between the tailpiece and the front of the bass. Any or even all three will be a lot cheaper than an EUB. I'd stick with your DB if I were you. The NS basses dont feel especially DB like to play so I don't think it would serve the purpose you need.

Probably a combination of all three, but I'd reckon the strings are a major contributor. Some strings just don't bow well - I have Presto nylons/Spiro weich on one bass and they're horrendous under the bow. The same bass used to have Innovation Braided and they were lovely.

[quote name='razze06' timestamp='1478787075' post='3171636'] The more I read about it, the more I live the Krivo pickup. Now, to get one in the uk... [/quote] I bought mine from Bob Gollihur's online shop. No problem.