TorturedSaints

My Evah Pirazzi orchestral mediums have settled down nicely. Bass tutor prefers the tone, more fundamental and easier starting of the note with the bow. (It also helped opening a new pot of Pops🤣). Working on pieces for Grade V exam - nearly there.

Repeating to myself - I do not need a new bass nor a new bow. . .

21 hours ago, Jakester said:

@TorturedSaints I suspect that’s mine you're talking about. 
 

It is priced based on a valuation (which was considerably more than it’s offered for) by Bowspeed who also did the work. 
 

The valuation came as a great surprise to me when I’d dropped it in for the work to be done.  I’d assumed it was just a cheapy which would be good as a backup.
 

I’m a hack on DB so I thought a decent pernambuco bow in excellent condition for less than someone might pay new might be of interest to better players than me, but what do I know. 
 

I haven’t advertised it here because frankly I didn’t want to rub it in the seller’s face, but then, they could have had it repaired etc themselves had they wanted to. 

The original thread was about outlandish pricing Jake, of which I thought this was an example, hence my post.  Thanks for the explanation.

There’s a double bass bow that was sold on here for £50.  It’s been overhauled by a specialist (max £300) and is now being offered for sale at £850 at various places (but not here). It’s not selling. 

On 07/06/2025 at 10:34, Bilbo said:

Ask and ye shall receive - Tim Esau's bass part for '1312 Overture' from the 'The Road Of Bones' album. Top drawer stuff. Heavy read due to the tempo, the density of the part of the part and the changing time signatures but not as difficult as it first appears (I looked at The Road Of Bones track, Dave, but there a few parts where the mix is too dense to catch the detail - I will try again with the Moises software another time - it's a great album). I just remembered, I saw these guys at The Granary in Bristol in the 1980s

 

https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/1312-overture-iq/

Thanks so much, Rob.  Tim was on here occasionally but not for a few years as far as I can see.  He plays some nice fretless lines as well.  I do like “The Road of Bones”, one of their strongest albums.  

5 minutes ago, Bilbo said:

Just a thumping bass part with enough odd time signatures to justify the 'neo-Prog' title (there guys were running in the same circles as Marillion, IQ, Pendragon, Solstice and Twelfth Night et al.

Any plans to do any IQ transcriptions Rob? They’re still going strong, having just released another album “Dominion”, their 14th (not including oddities and live archive collection releases). 

I did ask Bassbags how much to deliver to the Glasgow area some years ago and even with a “shared load” it was going to work out quite expensive - into the hundreds of pounds as I recall, although they were very helpful on the phone, so I would recommend ringing them to ask for current rates.  I eventually ended up buying a s/h DB from gumtree.  

Thanks everyone for the help on this thread. Strings on my bass successfully changed from old Helicore hybrid to Evah Pirazzis.  I did have to open out the slot for the E string in the tailpiece with a file, as the string was too wide. (I texted my teacher first 🤣). My pegbox isn’t as pretty as JPJ’s though. 

1 hour ago, DDR said:

I'm temporarily moving abroad, I want my things that's all, without buying more...

It might be cheaper to get a shipping company to send a small container than take everything as excess baggage on an aircraft (normally a very expensive way of doing it).  It depends on how long you are moving abroad for, and how many things you are taking with you.  

On 20/05/2025 at 08:08, Martin Penning said:

Contact the Scottish Bass Trust about lessons.

They are hosting an event in Edinburgh on 1st June

 

http://www.Scottishbasses.com

Looks like that was last year!

I know of two teachers in Glasgow, but that may be too far from Edinburgh.  

Almost all modern aircraft are pressurised including the cargo compartment and are kept at a reasonable temperature above 0C. The cabin altitude is about 8500’ maximum at cruise level, with a rate of climb normally about 500 feet per minute and descent around 300 feet per minute to be kind to passengers’ ears (especially as you don’t get the boiled sweets handed out by the cabin crew any more).

I don’t know how sealed “sealed cabs” are, but if you can put one in the back of a car and take it over the Alps or the Rockies without it exploding, then it shouldn’t explode in an aircraft either.  I won’t guarantee that though, as I say, I don’t know how well sealed the cab is. I guess that the high-end cabs like Barefaced are delivered to foreign climes by airfreight, although again, I don’t know. 

A flight case would be essential to prevent the curse of the baggage handlers IMO.

I play my NS Wav three times a week with different concert bands (ease of transport, volume etc).  As far as I know I have the original strings on it.  It’s certainly possible to play arco, and I do, probably 75% of the time.  I seem to have to use more Pops rosin than I do on the DB, but it works and doesn’t make an objectionable sound (well none of the conductors have complained yet).  It’s a reasonable simulation of playing a DB, minus the vibration and the ability to move. 
 

If it’s a choice between practicing or not, then I say have a go and see what you think. 

22 hours ago, Burns-bass said:

I’m on the same journey. (Slight set back after a critical family problem).

 

Sending you good wishes. 
 

I had my first classical lesson on the DB today (having had 3 lessons on the EUB pre-Covid) from a young DB student from the Royal Conseratoire of Scotland.  Thanks to a couple of Discover Double Bass courses, Simamdl, and hints/tips on here, she was very encouraging and said that I was definitely on the right lines. As ever, room for improvement but I’m so looking forwards to the next lesson.  She played my Zeller bass, suggested that perhaps the string height was more suited to jazz rather than classical, but apart from that said it was ok. And I got to try her 150 year old bass too. It was a beast! 
 

No need to comment unless you really want to, I am just so pleased and re-energised by the whole experience.  And yes, homework for this week is the “vomit” exercise 🤣🤣

Bearing in mind that retail prices in a shop or for a business have the dreaded VAT (in the UK) to account for.  This complicates things for the secondhand basses in shops.  And, like new cars, the value of your bass drops by 20% as soon as you drive it off the forecourt, so to speak. My rule of thumb on eBay is 50% of RRP for most things unless there’s a scarcity factor involved. 

Some great transcriptions there Rob, I’ve only just discovered this thread and your website. I’m looking forward to doing battle with War of the Worlds, Tubular Bells etc. Is there any way to send you a few coffee/beer tokens in appreciation?

This thread seems to explain why I found it so difficult to find a replacement for myself!  As I posted in another thread here a few weeks ago:

Quote

I’ve been trying to find my replacement for 11 months for one of the 3 concert (wind) bands I play with.  Adverts on here, gumtree FB etc.  Only one or two people got in touch, but never made it to rehearsal with a bass - one did turn up to listen, but didn’t want to play as he said his reading wasn’t up to it. Nobody who can read, play DB or EUB as well as electric, who can make weekly rehearsals, follow a conductor and pay £10/month subs has subsequently got in touch.   However, luckily the circumstances that meant I wouldn’t be able to make rehearsals and concerts haven’t yet happened, so I’m still playing with that band! 
So yes, it looks like I’m irreplaceable 🤣🤣 Not actively looking for my replacement now, but never say never.

It looks like from all the comments above that it’s a bit of a niche “ask” 😀

Glasgow Violin Shop seemed knowledgeable and helpful when I took Mrs Saints’ cello in for them to look at.  Apparently my DB had come from there too, according to its previous owner - no complaints with its setup although my experience is limited.  
https://www.theviolinshop-glasgow.co.uk

I thought there might be some discussion about BF’s new active bass cab on here, but I couldn’t find any. I’ve seen a couple of teasers on FB and apparently there will be a playing demo by Alex released at 5pm UK time today.  Basically it’s a OneTen T with added Activier amp module from the guitar cabs. It’s certainly piqued my interest, although over a thousand notes is certainly a big investment.  It would save me carrying around a BB800 as well.

https://barefacedaudio.com/collections/10cr-bass-cabs/products/one_10?variant=54891039490430

This is a good website.   Hope you find something. 
 

https://www.amateurorchestras.org.uk/ocumbria.htm

eBay also can also use AI descriptions as well now for lazy sellers. Here’s a current description from a current eBay listing for a BF One10 :

This Barefaced bass cabinet features a single speaker with a power output of 250W, making it suitable for use with bass guitars. As a cabinet amplifier, it is designed to deliver powerful and clear bass tones for musicians looking to enhance their sound. The Barefaced brand is known for producing high-quality and reliable equipment for bass players, ensuring that this cabinet will meet the needs of professional and amateur musicians alike.

Complete AI b#llocks. 

I’ve been trying to find my replacement for 11 months for one of the 3 concert (wind) bands I play with.  Adverts on here, gumtree FB etc.  Only one or two people got in touch, but never made it to rehearsal with a bass - one did turn up to listen, but didn’t want to play as he said his reading wasn’t up to it. Nobody who can read, play DB or EUB as well as electric, who can make weekly rehearsals, follow a conductor and pay £10/month subs has subsequently got in touch.   However, luckily the circumstances that meant I wouldn’t be able to make rehearsals and concerts haven’t yet happened, so I’m still playing with that band! 
So yes, it looks like I’m irreplaceable 🤣🤣 Not actively looking for my replacement now, but never say never.

GLWTS, I have a J-type 5 and it’s awesome. 

I played at a Concert Band concert recently alongside a DB player from abroad. She had forgotten her end pin stopper, so she put the end pin into one of her shoes (low heels) and played barefoot! 

I will have to try harder!

 In rough order of purchase:

Shine SB24 PJ 4 string bass, red/rosewood (sold). (Missed for nostalgic reasons)

Fender Geddy Lee J bass , black/maple MIJ. (Lovely but haven’t played it in ages)

Tanglewood by Overwater Elite J 4 string (Lovely, heavy but records well)

Sue Ryder P 4 string white/rosewood (Cheap P, surprisingly good)

Aria Pro II 5 string J black (given away) (Cheap intro to 5 strings)

Lakwood fretless J lined 4 string  (Lakland cheapo copy, professional de-fret)

Starfire acoustic bass, 4 string (cheapo, new strings cost more than the bass did)

Aria Sinsonido travel bass 4 string (Never travelled much, not a great play)

ACG J type 5 string red/maple (Marvellous, main bass forever)

ACG Finn 4 string black (Also marvellous, not played so much as only a 4)

I don’t really like selling my toys, even the cheap ones! 

Better value than spending money on useless tat on Black Friday!