Duckyincarnate

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.

Sounds really interesting! Hope you find the right person for this.

[quote name='dlloyd' post='853467' date='Jun 1 2010, 12:01 PM']Unfortunately, that's not how the market for used, recently-manufactured basses works.[/quote] I am not shopping for a bass at the moment, just trying to put things into perspective for those who might be lurking first-time buyers. £850 for a brand new bass isn't quite the end of the story.

I am sure the seller will chime in but keep in mind it has a gigbag, new strings, an adjustable bridge and set-up work done, which easily puts you in the bracket of the asking price.

Keep in mind that strings sounds much brighter and have more sustain on an EUB than they do on a double bass. Many people prefer orchestral strings on EUBs because their lack of sustain counteracts the natural brightness the EUB gives, and gives you a kind of thumpy sound that comes closest to an acoustic double bass sound. I use Helicore Orchestral mediums on my EUB and like them. In any case, see if you can find some used strings here or on Talkbass - there are good deals to be had!

Looks like a nice starter bass. However, I think it isn't German. Probably from one of the Eastern European countries, such as Bulgaria, Romania or the Czech Republic.

Hi all, I was wondering whether anyone has a bow quiver lying around that they would like to sell me. Let me know!

You really are better off taking a few lessons with a double bass teacher. It is vital that someone sees you play and shows you what to do in person. Even just two lessons would be infinitely better than a DVD!

Is there a teacher or an experienced DB player who could help you? It could be many things, including your own (developing) hearing for intonation, fingering, dead string, and so on. Does it happen both when bowing and plucking?

I bought an AI Clarus head from Duncan. Couldn't have asked for a more pleasant experience! Good in terms communication and very accommodating throughout. And a nice guy to boot! Couldn't recommend him more.

Or slightly more laborious, make a new plastic bridge yourself?

Nice bass! Your string height does look very low - is it easy to raise it? It would give you a more double bassy sound, and might also help with the thumb position notes.

[quote name='yanto' post='756561' date='Feb 24 2010, 10:17 PM']How do the Honeys slap?I've got Spirocores on the bass I bought and slapping is not their forte! Iain[/quote] I don't slap myself but my teacher uses the same strings and has no problems slapping. They are certainly lower tension than steel strings. Maybe some others can comment?

Innovations Honeys are pretty good value and will give a nice dark thumpy sound.