guyl

I'm sure the Allparts socket will do the job fine. It doesn't specify length though and looks a little different to the jack socket out of my Streamer. I played safe and just ordered direct from Warwick (http://shop.warwick.de/index.php/cat/c81_jacks.html)which is identical. Probably paid a Waitrose price for something Aldi sell....!

[quote name='minty fresh death' post='128131' date='Jan 26 2008, 04:01 AM']What sort of problems and did they persist, did you keep the amp?[/quote] Gremlins - could never tie down the problem. Bass Centre had it back when it was under guarantee and a local guy afterwards. They all chased around but it just intermittently conked without explanation. I had no choice but to get rid.

Can only speak personally .... Tone and power were awesome, but had reliability probs from day one.

Before all you single guys get excited, I heard she's taken! By Vinnie Colaiuta who is coincidentally drumming for Jeff Beck!

+ 5 [size=6]= 1194[/size]

[quote name='Jon' post='108836' date='Dec 24 2007, 11:01 AM']I'm putting my DB into a Hartke HA350 with a SWR 210 cab- wonderful for my electric, but I'm still getting a brittle tone from the bass with feedback![/quote] I have the same experience with an SWR head (and any cab). Awesome electric sound but not very good with upright. EA iAMP is very clean with a parametric eq - brilliant with upright, but not that ballsy with sideways! Welcome to the never ending "tone quest"!

My amp conked (at the most important/embarrasing point) in the middle of last night's gig. It's only really happened a handful of times in my playing life - but the memory of each "conkout" still turns my stomach! (Of course it's never at home or rehearsal - only on paid, pressure gigs!) It's a terrible admission to make on Basschat - which has been the source of some serious GAS, but I my sound isn't the most important thing anymore ...... it's all about reliability! I'm off to buy a meaty poweramp (output - not weight) that will never come close to hard being worked hard. Probably Peavey, which seems to be pretty reliable according to Basschatters. Will proably only use one side of a stereo, so will have a "spare" other side in case of future conkout. Spare pre/mixer etc are now on the January Sales wish list too!!

[quote name='bnt' post='106296' date='Dec 19 2007, 01:14 AM']I'm curious what people think of SWR in general, and their amps - any opinions?.[/quote] I have an older 350 (the red one) - bought about 10 yrs ago and think it is brilliant for electric bass. (Not so good with upright for some reason) It isn't quite powerful enough for me though so I bought a 750x which had that same great sound with lots of extra power. The 750x had serious reliability problems - the bass centre fixed it whilst under guarantee and a local repairer when the guarantee ended. In the end, I just couldn't rely on it, so it had to go.

[quote name='ped' post='99862' date='Dec 5 2007, 09:32 PM']Not that my doc knew his arse from his elbow, mind.[/quote] Won't be seeing your doc with elbow problems ....!

I took a bass to Sounds Great a number of years ago. It had a shiny finish, and when it came back, looked like it had been dragged across a dirty workbench - really badly scratched along the bottom edge. Don't recall the blokes name - had a shaven head and still works there now. For a while everyone in South Manchester seemed to use a chap in Altrincham. I only used him once - spilling glue on my natural finish Warwick was definately a turnoff! Trying to clean it off with wire wool when I complained was downright upsetting! Although I've had great service/advice from the repairmen at BassCentre London and the bass specialist in Mansfield Woodhouse that is now shut, the bad local experiences encouraged me to learn how to set up and maintain my own bass.

Apologies - no silliness or offensive generalisations ment. Merchants post, whilst well meaning, make tackling the upright sound as if it can't be done without a teacher, without an instrument costing at least £1,500 and without difficulty. The thread was started by Bassbloke who probably now feels a little bit daunted. I think the enthusiasts should be encouraging him and "demistifying" this great instrument. I can only talk from my experience: Although I have owned a number of basses, I am still gigging on my first which only cost £500. With a good pickup and amp and a regular service, it sounds great. I am largely self taught - a couple of players gave me advice on technique when I started, and I try to learn from gigs that I watch. I gigged on the instrument almost as soon as I started - roots at first, then roots and 4ths, then walking. I asked for music in advance if the gig was difficult to have something to practice towards. Now people phone with far more gigs than I can manage and I am paid to play all over the UK. In my opinion Bassbloke doesn't need to commit £thousands on instrument and teacher to get pleasure from the upright bass.

I'm afraid that the first thing you will find (with all due respect to merchant) is that double bass players take their instrument far too seriously. Nothing like electric where anyone is actively encouraged to jump in and have a go. You'll be told to spend a fortune on lessons. You'll be told to spend thousands on an instrument. You'll be made to think that you are not worthy of the dark art of Double Bass - and you're unlikely to ever be any good at it! All this is nonsense. A half decent pickup and amp will compensate for your poor technique or rubbish instrument. Upright bass is a wooden box with strings - it isn't really that complicated! Keep your eyes peeled - there are plenty of bargains around and the eastern europeans and chinese are making perfectly good basses that can be picked up for £500. A decent repairman will soon make sure your bass is playable and just a couple of lessons will get you going technique-wise. The big, fat, juicy sound that the bull fiddle makes, means you don't need play lots of notes to get gigging. Get into a band and get thumping out one or two notes per bar - that will be your best lessons. I mean no disrespect to the "serious" bass playing fraternity, but I say "jump in and have a go". You'll love it!

No - Got a Whammy 4 too. There's no way that anyone went to see Doug Wimbish in Manchester early this year and not buy a Whammy the very next day! (and btw it's great!) Never tried a Bass Whammy - Doug didn't like them ........ but even so, we must stand up for all things bass - bugger Digitech's commercial interests!

Sure - a bit heavy on the jazz, but overall a great day! Jeff Berlin was my highlight - his enthusiasm was infectious ..... and his playing wasn't too shabby either! Thanks to the organisers - excellent job! Can't wait until next year!

Thanks for the post - very interesting! How much did it cost you?

[b]What strings are we all using?[/b] - I'm currently on GHS Contact Core Super Steels M2500 sets. They're excellent on the EADG, but I'm not 100% happy on the B and looking for improvement. [/quote] D'addarios - the 130 B sounds very even to me. I'm a fan of the nickel D'addarios because they still sound bright when they're going "off".

I was ready for selling my Streamer 6 (early nineties), because the bass wouldn't punch through a noisy mix. After some brilliant advice from Basschatters, I established that the Barts are great but the electronics are less good. Bought a second hand Aguilar pre-amp and it has just brought the bass to life. Still sounds like it used to ....... but a hundred times better! Whilst I was doing this, I bought a Musicman 5 (I thought would fix all my "punch" probs), but the Warwick sounds so good, the MM hasn't even been out of it's case!

I have a Conklin Sidewinder 7 (featured in Bassist a few years ago). The neck and fingerboard are purpleheart. I'm no expert but if the purpleheart is one of the reasons that the Bass sounds so tight, even and , well ...brilliant, I'd ask for it every time.

+1 to what everyone else says ... but... as soon as your gear lugging mates see you with a hard case, they assume that gives them the right to stack entire PA rigs on top of it or throw it into the band van from 100 yards. My hard case now lives in the loft - I always use a decent well padded softy - that never leaves my sight/shoulder when the van is being packed!

Yeah - what happen to them?

The headrest from my Ford Mondeo soaks up the vibrations and stage shake that makes the cab move. The slight V-shape means the angle can be optimised depending how close you're stood. Car cost £2500 second hand which is a lot to pay for a cab stand, but it also doubles up as gig transport.

Ignore the purists. Take your time and get something cheap. Take a punt on an ebay bass for £250 - £400. If it's rubbish you'll get your money back when you put it back on ebay! As long as it's solid, get someone to set it up nicely (esp the bridge and soundpost), buy new strings (Bob Gollihurs website) and a decent pickup and you'll be well within £800 budget. The pickup will make up for your lousy technique, which will easily be sorted by a couple of lessons (or free advice if you know any upright players). Because upright looks impressive, you can get away with a lot more than EUB or electric. I say go for it .... and good luck!

My fingers go before my brain. So when boozing - I know I'm playing rubbish, but can't do anything about it!