fatback

I've got one of these, and good players who have tried it say it's excellent for the money. [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Top-Model-Carbon-Fiber-Double-Bass-Bow-French-/150580744560?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Sting_Instruments&hash=item230f4fd170"]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Top-Model-Carbon-Fiber-Double-Bass-Bow-French-/150580744560?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Sting_Instruments&hash=item230f4fd170[/url] Posted from China, but arrived very quickly. You might want to check out Rabbath's Art of the Bow video, if you can get it. Very helpful (although I can't imagine what t would take to get me bowing reliably. )

But isn't 'best' whatever works for the song? Horses for courses and all that? 'Poor' should only mean 'messed up the song', but I can't think of too many of those. Of course there's loads I could've played better. Or maybe not.

[quote name='ead' timestamp='1356469645' post='1910437'] Mondeo estate ticks all the boxes for me. [/quote] Or a Cougar 2.5 (same plate afaik) if you want a bit of a classic. Vast capacity for a saloon. Subarru Forester ticks a few boxes as well.

Looking forward to watching this - thanks for posting.

[quote name='4ropebottom' timestamp='1355839286' post='1903408'] I've been wondering about using a mic in an amp for a long time. Thanks for the post revealing that it can be done. I don't know much about the electronics side of this thing. So, I gather that, in order to do it, you have to have an amp with a channel especially designed to accommodate a mic? [/quote] Some folks use an external preamp, perhaps a two channel one as a mixer, but the Doubler does allow for the minimum of kit.

[quote name='4ropebottom' timestamp='1355776932' post='1902695'] Are you going to put both the mic and the piezo into the amp?? [/quote] That's the idea. The Doubler has a mic channel with phantom power etc. I can mix it to taste with the other channel hopefully keeping it just below feedback level and boosting up on the piezo side. I've no idea whether a mic will prove worthwhile, but, let's face it, you have to have some piece of expensive kit to lust after or life would be pretty dull.

[quote name='4ropebottom' timestamp='1355767188' post='1902483'] @Fatback - Thanks. Spiros are an interesting choice for country and rockabilly. How do you like that EA amp? [/quote] I wanted steels so i could use the mag pickup in a feedback emergency (which hasn't happened yet). We can be a pretty loud band. Also, I'm inclined to play melodic lines (can't help it ), and the spiros sing very nicely up the dusty end. Love the Doubler. Super light, totally reliable so far and completely transparent sound. When I used to play the bass guitar as well, the twin channels made everything really easy. Don't do much of that now, but I do fancy trying a mic / piezzo combination when funds allow, so looking forward to that.

Can't say I miss a tweeter at all in our country thing. Plain vanilla Midget just sounds great as long as it's not too far off the floor.

1. Country rock and rockabilly (no slapping though), about 60% originals. 2. 6-7-8-9 3. Spiro weich 4. Full circle + Armstrong mag (by way of insurance) 5. EA Doubler + Barefaced Midget 1X12 6. Bass is a 70s Czech ply / solid top

Graeme sent me without charge (wouldn't even take postage) a hard-to-get jack socket adaptor thingy for my upright. What can I say, except a top man and a credit to BC.

You might try Micheal Moore's 'Bass Method' book. Nicely systematic. As for DVD's, Ed Friedland's 'Jazz upright bass' is very well put together and the most all-round practical vid I've seen yet. For bowing, Rabbath's 'Art of the bow' is a wonderful thing to watch and very practical too. Have fun.

My first upright came with Jazzers. Higher tension than the Spiro Weichs I've on now, but fantastic growl on the E and A and a very rich E altogether. So much better that I think about swapping the E back in (but I'm too lazy just now). .

If the pickup is one that fits in the bridge wing, you might try swapping it to the other side. It can make a huge difference. I wouldn't worry about the amp and speaker too much. As has been said, sort the source first. Maybe try a Bassmax from Gollihur music? Not too expensive for an experiment (you might even get one on BC), and they work well for a lot of people. The big problem is that it's the combination of bass, pickup and preamp/amp that matter. But the right pickup (and maybe preamp) will get you most of the way.

[quote name='JapanAxe' timestamp='1355046592' post='1893211'] I have one left over from a piezo pickup kit. PM me your address and I will pop it in the post to you FOC. [/quote] PMd, thanks a million. I'll cover the postage no problem. By way of explanation, it's to have an optional connection for a second, magnetic, p/u. Belt and braces sort of thing.

This is it, the barrel shaped female jack with the female phono on the other end. No flange necessary. .

Trying to buy a female RCA to female 1/4 barrel shaped jack thingy (the thing that connects your pickup to your jack and lead) but can't seem to find an internet source. Am I calling it the right name? Who sells these things anyway? I don't need the flange part that hooks onto the string afterlength (thanks to Clarky's gizmo ). Thanks for any help.

[quote name='sarah thomas' timestamp='1354657665' post='1888917'] Last year's Christmas pressie: [/quote] Oh nice. Which Santa do you use?

No replies. I wonder if you've breached some kind of DB taboo, there. A sort of lese majeste. Well,. I'm going to say I think it's cute. I might even do it myself.

[quote name='JapanAxe' timestamp='1354454522' post='1886072'] Many here (myself included) will point you to BC member [url="http://basschat.co.uk/user/12-obbm/"]OBBM[/url]. You can see his wares [url="http://www.bassic-bits.co.uk/"]here[/url]. [/quote] +1 Top quality.

Got mine, thanks again Clarky. Hugely appreciated. Cool little gizmos

This is where the Rabbath pivot really comes into its own. I'm always afraid, as a newbie, of overselling this, but it's made my life so easy.

I must say I'd be a nervous wreck if i had a really expensive bass (I'm bad enough as it is). Can't understand how people buy expensive new cars and park them in supermarket carparks either. A few dents is character.

Done, and many thanks again. What a man. Been a while since I've had a new bass-toy of any kind. All excited, now.

[quote name='Clarky' timestamp='1353274357' post='1873224'] He does do mail order but the cost is prohibitive when buying a cheap item like this, which is why I offered. Gwaaan, do you want me to put you down for one or two? [/quote] Two would be great, thanks clarky. Star=you.

Cripes, you'll need a santa sack. I won't add to your burden, but I wonder could you ask the seller if he'd do mail order? The gizmo sounds just the biz.