Duckyincarnate

I think that might be a plywood top, likely meaning the rest of the bass is plywood too. I can’t see the distinctive spruce grain you’d expect to see on a carved top. Nothing wrong with a good ply though! Fingerboard most likely ebony, yes, and likewise for the tailpiece. Looks decently set up - enjoy playing it!

Gut strings DEFINITELY do not keep their tuning like metal strings. In my experience even nylon strings are a lot better at that than guts. Gut is heavily influenced by temperature and humidity, particularly plain guts. They are a lot more fussy than other types of strings. I used Lenzner plain guts on D and G for about 8 years. I used to get about two to three years out of mine and they became more stable as time went on, but still they were very susceptible to e.g. bright stage lighting, outdoor gigs, big temperature changes from outdoor to indoor, etc. And of course there is the upkeep with oiling and clipping the 'hairs'. But if you want that sound, you'll probably put up with it!

I also use a walking stick ferrule on my endpin, which is one of these: https://www.thomann.de/gb/ulsa_chrome_plated_bass_endpin_35cm.htm?sid=818c18969e9e8ce67eece2892e41908a

I have used Helicore Orchestras for a few years - never had this problem. But if you are referring to the slightly satin-like coating the strings have, yes that does polish off after some weeks/months. For what it's worth, my new Spiro Weichs had an identical thing. It doesn't bother me.

It sounds like you are doing really well with the book. When I was coming back from my injury, it took about two months for symptoms to subside. Although caused by tension and not an inflammation of my tendons, there was still residual pain that took a while to disappear. The reason I knew the exercises were working was that the pain was getting less immediately after doing the exercises, and gradually diminishing over the weeks. When I do these exercises now, I can feel the temperature in my hands change very drastically. They go from a bit cold to very hot - and occasionally tingling. It feels like a restriction has been lifted, and the blood rushes into my hands. One very important additional help for me has been to focus on breathing from the diaphragm (like singers and horn players learn how to do), and really focussing on using deep in- and exhales to release tension. I do this during the stretches now.

I also want to chime in and say that your height is no barrier to playing a double bass. I am 5’6” and do just fine with the endpin out about 6”. I have known two bass players of no taller than 5’ who played the living snot out of regular 3/4 sized double basses, so you’ll be grand. If you do go that route, do your research on the DB side, as a lot more is involved in buying an instrument, and learning to play it. Don’t think of it as a bass - you’re learning a new family of instrument, with its own pitfalls and challenges. But it’s also incredibly fun and rewarding. Good luck!

Really useful advice, thanks! I have a fairly good carbon fibre bow (Col Legno) which I like, but I would like to have a quality wooden bow as the sound is meant to be richer. I am certainly not ruling out that I will be disappointed and find nothing that surpasses the bow I currently have, in which case I will keep on saving and try again in a year or two. I find it interesting that it is so difficult to find bows privately for sale. I know this is a niche sport but there is no shortage of basses on the market. With bows you really only see a couple of high value old French bows posted, often from about £4k. Where are the people upgrading from their quality pernambuco shop bows? Do people just keep hold of these as spares maybe?

I plan to spend the next months/year looking for a better French bow. Does anyone have any good recommendations for where to go to try out bows? I know of the Contrabass Shop, Thwaites, the Bass Place, as well as Stephen Thomson the bow maker. Is Malcolm Healey still going? Any other places I should put on the list? I am in London, but up for travelling around a bit if there are worthwhile shops or makers. Also if anyone knows of any bows privately for sale, I'd be interested to hear. I don't have the budget for a commissioned bow in all likelihood - budget up to around £1k.

That’s great! I would add that for me it took a week or two before I really started to feel the benefit. By that point I also had a much better idea which exercises really helped me and which were less important.

Hi Dan, I bought this book number of years ago after seeing it recommended on Talkbass: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Conquering-Carpal-Syndrome-Repetitive-Injuries/dp/1572240393/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=conquering+carpal+tunnel+syndrome&qid=1567690797&s=gateway&sr=8-1 It's a book of very gentle stretches, covering the hands and arms but also the whole rest of the body. Although I eventually found that my problems were not carpal tunnel or tendonitis, I have had so much benefit from the stretches in this book and am convinced that it is a big part of the reason why my symptoms have largely stayed away. The stretches are not very intensive, so won't do any harm - they are aimed at increasing circulation and activating the nerves where they might be blocked/pinched. In my case, I found that pain in my wrists and hands was actually to do with tension I held in my shoulders, neck and midriff.

Does the NS bag fit? Those are readily available.

As you’re collecting information, also consider what you’d like from the instrument. Many people find that they want a double bass eventually after getting an EUB (though not everyone, of course). You could try renting a double bass for a few months with a few lessons to sort out the left hand, to ease you in before investing.

Anyone have a spare Spiro D and E lying around? I figured I'd try the second hand market first before I sprang for new ones...

I am curious about this as well. I know that Cardiff Violins do work on basses. There is also a small violin shop on Cathedral Road that can do small jobs, but a specialised luthier would be even better. Let me know what you find!

To all these great replies I would add the following. How can you look at a tuner when you are also reading a chord chart or a score? Or looking at other musicians for cues? Developing an aural connection to your intonation is much more helpful than a visual one. Therefore, don't rely on marker dots or electronic tuners but get bowing.

I have had an Ergo for a little over a year now, and have gigged it heavily with a live drum 'n bass band. I am happy with it and I think it is a lot more EUB for the price than say a Stagg (which I have also used). I have no doubt that Cliftons, Eminences and the like are much better basses, but the Ergo works fine. Some experiences: The finish is pretty strange. It gums up where you touch it often, such as the spot for right hand thumb placement and the back of the neck. For a while it was very sticky and annoying. I sanded and oiled the back of the neck and that has made life a lot easier. The insert in the back of the bass where the stand attaches came out once. I glued it back with some very heavy duty glue and it has stayed put for the last couple of months. Orchestral strings sound quite nice on this bass (and probably most EUBs). There is a trick to installing the E-string where you remove the winding at the top where the string turns around the tuner (read up on this before you try it - strings are easily ruined). Unaltered strings won't fit and you will probably have to stick with steel strings rather than nylon core ones (let alone guts and weedwackers). High action does the sound a lot of favours. It is the most portable of all EUBs I think. I sling it over my shoulder and cycle to gigs and jams. You have to sort out a bag though. The arco sound in particular is nice on the Ergo. I think the simple construction makes it very resonant. Just some thoughts. Ask away if you have any specific questions.

Does anyone use bumpers or edge protectors on their bass? If so, do you know where I could find these in the UK? I have found these at Gollihur but I would like to avoid the duty charges if at all possible - I think Royal Mail will charge me 16 quid just for handling the parcel, before the actual duty. [url="http://www.gollihurmusic.com/product_details.cfm?ProdID=1897"]http://www.gollihurmusic.com/product_details.cfm?ProdID=1897[/url]

I really got a lot out of Ed Friedland's Building Walking Basslines. Good reading practice and a nice way of getting into jazz playing. I also like his jazz double bass DVD (for the practical and performance side of things).

I'd say if it is only for noodling you might as well save yourself a big headache and buy a fairly inexpensive EUB. Lefty double basses are few and far between, although I think Thomann might do them.

I recommend that you find a teacher and adopt their preferred bow grip. Playing with a bow is probably the most difficult thing about the double bass, and you will want a teacher to show you the ropes. As I am sure you have read ad nauseum already here and elsewhere, the bow is a very good learning tool but certainly in conjunction with solid technique from the start.