TheRev

I agree with the Superflexibles diagnosis. I actually quite like Superflexibles for some reason, maybe they just work on my bass? For low tension steels, you won't go wrong with a set of Spiro Weichs. If you want similar but cheaper, then Presto nylonwound mediums might work - just be aware that the E and A are hefty beasts compared to yer typical steel string. You could also look at Velvet Blues- they're quite lively for a synthetic string.

No, but it was requested!

I've just played an impromptu set at a festival with a line up of two double basses and a drummer, nothing else. It was pretty cool.

PMs replied to...

I'm moving house and need to de-clutter: http://basschat.co.uk/topic/287452-ingles-double-bass-stand-bristol/ Dave

I have an Ingles double bass stand surplus to requirements: http://www.bassthings.com/ingles-double-bass-stand/ Free to collect from Bristol, or I may be able to deliver in the Bristol area. Churrz! Dave

Oohhh - that's a challenging action at the nut..... Lowering the action may well reduce the volume but at least you'll be able to actually play the bugger.

Proper stage management is key to festivals. Each stage needs a sound engineer to do sound and a stage manager to get the bands on and off. Both these guys need to know what they're doing and take their job seriously Me and our drummer run festival stages when we're not gigging - him on sound, me as manager. We plan ahead so we know whenn the big complex acts are due and we communicate with bands so they know where they have to be and when. We run a tight ship and typically have bands starting/finishing within 5 min of the listed schedule. The worst slipage we've had was the headliner running 45 min late when the PA on another stage borked and we had to shoehorn 3 extra acts into our evening. So, it is possible to run festival stages to schedule as long as the people running them can be arsed.

Most likely an earth problem. Have you checked the magnetic pickup for a loose earth wire?

2 x band not gigging or getting better. 2 x dictatorship/narcissistic control freakery. 1 x band leader's inability to manage a calendar. 1 x guitarist shagging my girlfriend.

Changing strings will make a massive difference to your tone. As I said, I've converted from Innovation E/A to Spiro weich E & A and got much more definition as a result. If you want to stick with Innovation then you should try the braided orchestral set, I found the E to have more definition than I can usually get from an Innovation E string. D'Arddario Zyex and Pirastro Evah Pirazzi strings are also worth a try. If you're happy with the acoustic sound, then I reckon a proper DB preamp that will buffer the high impedance from the Bassmax will sort your amplified sound right out. If you can, get a preamp with a high pass filter so you can remove those troublesome wooly frequencies. The Fishman Platnum Pro Plus (now discontinued) is a good bet, if you can find a used one for sale. The Headway EDB 2 is good if you like loads of knobs, or if you don't like knobs and can use a soldering iron you can build yourself a copy of the nifty little FDeck HPF pre. [url="https://sites.google.com/site/hpftechllc/home/hpf-pre"]https://sites.google.com/site/hpftechllc/home/hpf-pre[/url]

A preamp with a high pass filter will help tighten up the E string tone. Much as I love Innovation strings, I always struggle to get the sound I'm looking for out of the E and A. I now use Spiro Weich E and A with synthetic G & D.

Nice job, just don't use it on a gig in south Bristol.

No gigs on the weekend of October 2nd so colour me officialy interested. Gear wise I'll bring my Musima bass with Krivo magnetic pickup, EA Doubler, a handful of preamps and my BigE MA45 cabinet. Could also bring my Eminence EUB if anyone is interested in that sort of thing?

These pubs pay and pay well if you prove you can pull a crowd. The Bell, Ash, Somerset The Wunderbar, Midsomer Norton, Somerset The Blue Lagoon, Bristol Mothers Ruin, Bristol The Ropemakers, Bridport, Dorset The Greyhound, Corfe, Dorset The White Horse, Wimborne, Dorset I've got about 30 more in my address book, but those are the ones we regularly play.

The decision of whether to buy an electric upright (EUB) or double bass (DB) doesn't really have anything to do with being a beginner - you don't start on a EUB and then progress to a DB and it isn't necessarily 'easier' to play an EUB than a DB. As mentioned earlier, they're different beasts, one isn't a gateway to the other If you want to learn to play double bass, then get a double bass. However, if you want to learn to play double bass but you don't have room in your house/you don't have any way of transporting it to gigs/you can't afford a double bass, then you can compromise with an EUB, but you will, in all probability still want to get a DB within about six months. I started out on EUB (Aria and then in Eminence) because I convinced myself that I needed one as I lived in a 3rd floor flat and I was playing at loads of little acoustic sessions all over the city, so having something compact and portable was a priority. However, I was always chasing 'that' DB sound, even though the Eminence gets very close and there wasn't a punter that could tell the difference. Once I actually got a DB I got used to carrying it around and made space in the flat, etc. I still have my EUB but it only gets played at the occasional rehearsal or gig where I'm limited on space in the car or on stage.

My babber happily sleeps through my double bass playing, but you may not be as lucky! My Eminence is very close in feel to a double bass, but not a cheap option. The Aria/Stagg design is close enough to keep finger strength & technique up to scratch, but you will need to amplify them if you want to actually hear the pitch of your note. As has already been suggested - I'd try a bridge mute and stuffing your sound holes first. It's a lot cheaper....

'I can't believe he's worn the same shirt as me AGAIN!'

I'm in Bristol, count me in if you need me.

It has a brass nut, so if it's 1991 and has active eq I reckon it would be a 405.

Mine has the same width as a typical Jazz, but is fatter from front to back.

Check that the bridge foot is flat on the pickup surface. If the bridge has tilted forward and isn't in full contact with the piezo element, you will get some pretty horrible sounds.

Man - you are going to have such a good time.... My band did a ten day/five date Us tour which took in Portland, Seattle and Vancouver in February. I wish I could give you sage advice about how we ate healthy food, kept ourselves hydrated and washed our underpants regularly, but none of that happened. Everything almost got derailed when our guitarist threw his toys out of the pram and quit ten days before the tour began. Undaunted, we secured the services of the guitarist from the band who were playing the last night of the tour with us and flew him from Rhode Island to Portland to meet us the night before the first gig of the tour for a bit of a rehearsal. With all that behind us even before the tour started, there was no way we were going to eat lettuce and drink spring water, so we lived on breakfast burritos, beer, cider and stuff that you can legally buy in Oregon that you can't buy over here. The one actual useful piece of advice I can give you is to make a note (on paper or on your phone - anything that will stay on your person) of where your hotel and gig venue are for each day/city. That way, when you inevitably wake/end up in the wrong hotel/part of town, you will always know where you can find your band mates and/or luggage. Don't worry about down time - you will either sleep or spend it travelling form the side of the city where you woke up to the side of the city where the gig is at. As for dealing with promoter screw ups - this will happen. There's nothing you can do about it so, you're best off not worrying about it and just dealing with problems as they arise. On our tour almost nothing went to plan, but everything turned out alright because no-one threw a hissy fit and everyone pitched in to sort out problems. Anyway despite all the disasters, this is how our tour ended up in Vancouver: Totally worth it. [url="http://s22.photobucket.com/user/RevDave/media/ML%20rickshaw%20crowd%20amp%20band.jpg.html"][/url]