james_guitar

[quote name='chrisd24' post='1314978' date='Jul 24 2011, 06:34 PM']With the sort of battery they recommend you get about an hour and a half, but if you were to get a deep cycle 12v battery rated at 20Ah then you will get about 4 hours......probably a bit longer if i remember right,as far as leads go to connect it to the rear of the amp you can make one up from bits from maplins for about a fiver, and i got the battery from ebay for about £40.[/quote] Thanks for the battery tips - I'd heard the inbuilt batteries only last 1 - 1/12 hours, so had been wondering which external options lasted longer. Looks like a trip to Maplins is on the cards. I got to try the briefcase out properly last night during a jazz/latin trio set. We did the gig as upright bass/vocals, trumpet and piano and played just over 2 hours. We were playing quite loud and the the pianist (who also plays bass in bands) liked the sound even more than my bigger Phil Jones rig (8x5 cab with M300 head). I think the briefcase will handle a louder set-up including drums, but I'm very pleased with the bigger rig so will continue with that those occassions.

[quote name='Happy Jack' post='1315793' date='Jul 25 2011, 02:57 PM']Nice piece of kit, but I'd hesitate to buy anything that features a [i][b]Quik-N-EZ Adaptor [/b]for instant microphone attachment[/i]. lolz, simples, cu l8r m8.[/quote] I'm not sure if you should pay too much attention to a products marketing language. I got to try the stand out at PMT which was a quick and easy sale. It was a display model, so I didn't get the box/marketing blurb. Why is it handy to adjust the height during a performance? - I run a few jazz sessions and ocassionally get guest singers up, so the option to adjust the stand height for others without putting my bass down. It's also just handy to tweak it if you're not completely happy with the mic placement once you've started your gig. As far as stands go, Hercules make great products. I've already got the guitar wall hangers (which also have the automatic-locking system) as I used to teach through a music shop and recall many guitars falling victim to damage. I'm also about to buy the Hercules Double Bass stand, as from what I can tell it's cheaper than most stands and far safer. [url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/hercules_hc_ds_590b_double_bass_stand.htm"]http://www.thomann.de/gb/hercules_hc_ds_59..._bass_stand.htm[/url] I'd be intrigued to see if you have any issues with Hercules products other than their markering (and whether slogans like 'Im lovin' it' have exclusively caused you to boycott McDonalds or any other companies that use them).

[quote name='thisnameistaken' post='1314403' date='Jul 24 2011, 01:29 AM']I just use a 58 on a boom stand, just like I do when I'm playing bass guitar. I don't think I could use a straight stand at all to be honest.[/quote] I have a 58 as a backup - it's good, but a little box-ey for my liking. As for the boom stand v.s. straight stand thing the vintage mics look horrendous on boom stands. Punters really dig the vintage mics, especially when you're doing jazz or any other throwback gigs. They're going to notice and appreciate that kind of touch far more than a £500 double bass pickup or super-expensive, top-of-the-range bass amp.

I've recently picked up an AER Compact Mobile and have been making fantastic money from busking with the classical guitar (and vocals), so thought it might be worth doing something similar with the double bass. I've just picked up a Phil Jones Briefcase from PMT as I love the sound I'm getting for gigs with the PJB M300 head and 8x5 cabinet and thought it would also be handy for quiter jazz/acoustic gigs where I don'[t need as much volume. I haven't got a battery for it yet though, so need to look in to that. Is any one else on the forum using this amp for gigs and/or busking? If so, what battery would you recommend? These amps rarely seem to come up on ebay or the sale section in this forum which is a good sign IMO. Thanks, James

(This post is a little niche, but then I can't be the only upright bassist here that also sings...) I've been having problems with mic stands at gigs as they're not the easiest of things to adjust whilst your holding your double bass. Most of them require bending down and using two hands. They're also often quite hard to untighten. I was looking in PMT in Birmingham today for straight stands (which are the only decent choice for old vintage-style microphones) and came across the MS20!B. It's a fantastically engineered piece of kit as you just need the one hand to adjust the height, and it only requires quick and gentle pressure from your thumb to get the job done. [url="http://www.herculesstands.com/mics/MS201B.html"]Hercules MS201B Straight Mic Stand[/url] Admittedly a straight stand takes a bit of getting used to (with a big double bass in front of you), but it's more than worth it for the style and kudos of a vintage microphone.

Bought a PJB M300 head from Gareth today. It was a pleasure to do business with such a great chap and he really went out of his way to deliver this item and check that I was completely happy. I also got to pick his brains about his experiences with different double bass strings and pickups, so that was a big plus. It was a pleasure doing business with you Gareth - I hope you're happy with your new valve setup when you get it. Best regards, James P.S. If you take the job in Bristol then I'll pass some teaching and gigging work your way.

Tasty collection! Welcome to the forum. If you've promised yourself not to buy anything else, then avoid the 'Basschat Marketplace'; it's like crack! P.S. I have a Fender 1x15 cab going cheap in there

Andy Warhol.