TorturedSaints

I'm still in for 2022. I play fantasy GAS sometimes, (for example I've never played a Stingray even though one of my favourite bass players does) but the reality is I don't have the money or the necessity to buy more gear. In fact I should probably be selling some of what I've already got as I really only play one of my ACGs at the moment. I now play my ACG 5 string with a really good Community Concert Band so what I have is being used. I can't stand reading Tuba parts though - always written an octave lower than electric bass and never easy to read the low notes way below the stave. And don't get me started on arrangements of rock songs that have been transposed from the original key such that it makes it almost impossible to play the original riff how it was meant to be played! But I'm loving it.

I’m in again, a successful 2021 challenger! The only thing that I might want would be a pickup for my DB. However, I’ll only be buying that if I ever get to the point of gigging again (or finding musicians to play with) so that’s unlikely. I’ll cross that bridge if it happens. In the meantime I’m contemplating a sale of excess gear, although I do get sentimentally attached to stuff - for example my not even run-in (2 rehearsals) BF Super Twin that friends and family contributed towards as a 50th birthday present.

I made it too!

All Sorted now. Cache clearing etc required. Hi, I've just upgraded to Catalina and using Safari 13.1.3 I get the following error message Safari can't open the page https://www.basschat.co.uk the error is: FetchEventRespondWith received an error: Unknown Error: Error creating or migrating Index Records index in database (WebKitServiceWorker:0). All other websites seem to work, as does viewing the site on Safari on mobile devices. Is it site related or a problem with my Mac? BC was working just fine before the upgrade. Regards Ralph

This might help. https://gollihurmusic.com/string-identification-chart/

Thanks for the link. A really interesting documentary. I thought Nic Collins was a very solid drummer in the clips shown, however on balance, I'm still happy with my decision not to see them this time even though all the signs are pointing towards it being their last tour.

I use my Quilter Bass Block 800 into a BF One10. Quiet enough for practice and I've used the combination when playing EUB and electric bass with a symphonic band, plenty loud enough. You could overtax the OneTen if you turned the Quilter up too high or used too much distortion but I don't. Although perhaps a little too 'vintage' in the tone with not very much high frequency sparkle for the combination.

If they can't sing in tune now, they are unlikely to get any better, even more so if they don't have any honest feedback. I've been in the same situation and walked (by pretending I had an offer to join a band doing stuff I really wanted to do i.e. not covers). Did I regret not playing with a band? Yes, but only in the short term until I did find something that inspired me. For the OP, I've now twigged your username - I could change mine to solo4865 now 🤣

So here's the update. I managed to restrain my GAS urge until December and I ended up getting a £700 Stentor Andreas Zeller from a local bass teacher that had taken him through the Glasgow Conservatoire. It plays very nicely and my NS Wav EUB is now firmly back in its case! It was delivered in March - the earliest we could do it legally in lockdown so I didn't get the chance to play before purchase, but I took the view that a bass teacher's personal instrument would be reasonably well set up and playable, as it indeed is. I'm glad I didn't go down the Bass Bags route for a first bass, just because of the ratio of delivery cost to instrument cost. I'm well into the Beginner's course on Discover Double Bass now, and getting some sounds that are nearly musical out of the bass.

Absolutely.

I didn't buy anything in 2020. However, I will be picking up a Double Bass (not purchased through BC) as soon as the lockdown rules are eased in Scotland.

Thanks for the heads up. I've now checked my Super Twin and it doesn't have any sharp edges.

@Lozz196 quite a few - 12 others according to Wikipedia including 'Animal Magic' and a lot of film scores including 'Dr Strangelove'. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laurie_Johnson PS. What's headlining? 😀😀😀

I spoke to Mark (?) at BassBags - a thoroughly nice chap although @NickA's comment about talking you into spending more than you planned seemed 'on the money'! The hire would be a good way to go except that where I live, the delivery charge and collection charge (based on mileage) would probably come to more than a 'beginner' mail order bass. I think I'll sit tight for a while, although they do have a list of people possibly wanting instruments near Glasgow, so they could possibly do a 'cost-sharing' delivery run which might make it more economic. Thanks everyone for your help.

Thanks for all your thoughts. I hadn't seen that BassBags did rental, so I might well investigate their hire and delivery charges. Failing that I think it would be sensible to bide my time - but that's no fun is it? 😂 I'll keep you updated.

I am really enjoying playing my NS Wav 4 (with German bow, for those of you that contributed to my previous thread). I've never played a proper double bass and I am wondering about it. Although Scotland isn't technically in lockdown yet, most of the Central Belt is restricted, such that the only local bass I can find on gumtree (a £700 Stentor Sudent 1) isn't accessible to me under the current rules, either travelling there or trying it out. Would I be totally completely off my head barking stupid to buy a 'mail order' bass such as one of the Bass Bags Eastman luthier-set up models or similar from Thomann or Carswells? Should I just be patient and hold on to my money until happier times? Any advice welcome. 😀 Although now I've re-read my post, I think I know what advice I would give myself. 🙁 Ralph

I have a NS Wav 4 with NS standard strings (to the best of my knowledge - it was bought on here). If you'll excuse the composition, playing etc, here's one of my recordings of it (a composition that didn't go anywhere and my collaborators didn't find much inspiration from it either), DI out from a Quilter BB800 amp, and I don't think there was too much processing of the bass, though I will check. Please skip to 1:30 to avoid ambient noodling. I hope this helps you. It is my first EUB (first upright bass of any sort actually) and collaborators have said how nice it sounds (through Quilter and Barefaced One10). Unfortunately I'm at the other end of the UK from you, so letting you have a go on it isn't practicable. https://www.dropbox.com/s/tjnavsbjyygo0pj/TransitionToReality.mp3?dl=0

Mrs Saints bought me an early birthday present, a cheap 3/4 size German bow just to see how I got on. It's like night and day. Previously I was struggling to finish Ex 2 in the Simandl tutor without pain with the French bow. With the German bow, it's much more musical and there's a lot less tension in my hand. It's not perfect, but at least I can practice to make it perfect now. Thanks for all the advice.

I bought one to see what the all the fuss was about P basses, having only played Jazz basses before. I still have it, it comes out occasionally, it records quite nicely and plays well enough without much tweaking, but I haven't felt the need to buy another P bass. Would I get rid of it? Probably not unless it was a local sale as packaging costs/courier costs would make it uneconomic for the buyer.

Agreed. My bass teacher had already recommended that series of videos. Probably this!!!! Thanks all for the suggestions and help.

Thanks. As I see it, I'm unlikely ever to be auditioning for an orchestra. Thanks, I'm doing some more research, some useful videos out there. The hand issue is tension/cramp/thumb joint discomfort, and the musicality issue is probably just beginner's bad playing, although I do seem to sound the first harmonic (+1 octave) rather than the fundamental on the open strings with a bow. I'll also ask my previous teacher if he teaches German - I guess he assumed that seeing as I turned up with a French bow, he might as well teach what I had.

According to Raab (?) that's kneeling, isn't it? 😀 Yes, I thought the thread title was humorously replete with homonyms.

I bought a used NS Wav 4 on BC last year and have got on well with pizzicato, mostly playing jazz/big band style music. I had some lessons with a pro as the advice here was to do so, which were really useful. The lessons (which were curtailed by redundancy and lockdown) included tuition on bowing with the included French style bow (probably more like a cello bow in size). Despite my best efforts, I'm not really getting to grips with it, even after my teacher's hints and tips, I still find it difficult to hold without cramp, and it's not very musical. Does the hive mind think I should stick with the French bow or, given I'm really at the start of my EUB journey, cut my losses and try to learn with a German bow? How difficult is it to change from one to the other? I don't think I'll ever be playing orchestral DB, but who knows?

Yes, I watched this as clarinet is my main instrument (the one which I'm most competent playing), and Mrs S plays the flute/oboe. Top-notch musicianship displayed by all, although to return to the theme of recorders I wasn't too impressed with the piece of recorder music that required playing 2 recorders at the same time. Shades of 'Hit me with your rhythm stick" sax playing I suppose. I did play alongside a YMotY finalist when I was at school and was hugely impressed by his ability - in quite a difficult piece (for me) he changed to his A clarinet and proceeded to transpose on-the-fly just for fun. I think the oboe player was a worthy winner of the group.

Thanks Bilbo. I had totally missed seeing your transcriptions!