Rosie C

I married a percussionist, and most of my close friends are musicians. So really it's probably the opposite - do I ever stop yacking on about music?! 

6 hours ago, Silvia Bluejay said:

 

@Rosie C, @Paolo85, incidentally - and sorry if I sound prescriptive - with anything long scale and held vertically you should always use the proper double bass method of plucking and fingering.

I quite agree - at the time I bought it I was taking lessons with a classical double bass teacher and had a reasonable understanding of the correct technique - it very quickly became clear that I wouldn't be able to play an EUB so swapped to an acoustic.

On 17/09/2023 at 04:40, Paolo85 said:

Hi all,

 

So, I tried a Stagg EUB a while ago and it did not really work for me. I have a history of tendinitis. I understand with a DB one uses the weigh of the arm and shoulder to play on the fingerboard. Without squeezing strings between the thumb and the other fingers, which could cause injury.

 

I could have written this post. I bought a "Gear 4 Music" branded EUB which looks much like a Stagg one. The only way to play it that I could find was squeezing with my LH thumb - something my teacher called "strangling the goose" or something, and said would cause tendon problems. I bought an NS stand from Thomann and fitted that - it was better, but still not the same as an acoustic upright. In the end I sold it and now have a cheap 3/4 acoustic which can be played in the recommended "pulling from the elbow" way.

I sold SimBass a bow quiver. Very smooth transaction, good  communication, I'm happy to recommend! 

46 minutes ago, Cat Burrito said:

Having only owned it for a couple of weeks, I did my first gig on the mandocello! 

I spy *TWO* Goldtone mandocellos, very impressive!

7 hours ago, TimR said:

So do you have a highly crafted website and social media feed where everything his highly photoshopped, videos edited and only studio quality recordings to show a highly polished outfit, or do you just put up any old photos and videos?

 

Or somewhere in between. 

Somewhere in between I suppose. I don't do Facebook much now, but I am very careful what photos I upload - only ones where I look good (or as good as I can expect) and I tend to post positive stuff, not really because I want to curate a perfect-looking life, just I'm not sure anyone wants to hear about it.

On 13/09/2023 at 14:43, Phil Starr said:

It's not surprising, the SM57 and 58 were designed in 1962 and it says volumes that people still use them but better materials and magnets have come along and they are long since overtaken. I still love Shure though not least for longevity I still have an even older Unidyne B that still works. Everyone else had to respond to how tough the SM58 was and microphones just don't go wrong unless you are very unlucky.

 

I prefer this style of clip, just measure up first and check but I think this will fit your mics, K&M are a top brand  but for £3.99??? 

 

I definitely owe you a beer if we ever meet, as your recommendation is perfect, and a fraction of the cost 

You had me with "80s Goth"... I'll check it out later!

1 hour ago, Phil Starr said:

It's not surprising, the SM57 and 58 were designed in 1962 and it says volumes that people still use them but better materials and magnets have come along and they are long since overtaken. I still love Shure though not least for longevity I still have an even older Unidyne B that still works. Everyone else had to respond to how tough the SM58 was and microphones just don't go wrong unless you are very unlucky.

 

I prefer this style of clip, just measure up first and check but I think this will fit your mics, K&M are a top brand  but for £3.99??? 

 

Thanks! That looks very similar the the Sennheiser ones. I'm amazed the SM57/58 is that old, I thought they were a relic from the 1980s.

1 hour ago, LLOYDWT said:

 

I've got a few of these. They're great as a universal clip —

 

https://www.gear4music.com/PA-DJ-and-Lighting/Universal-Quick-Release-Mic-Clip-by-Gear4music/1OJH

I think I will have to go with something like that, thanks!

On 11/09/2023 at 22:03, Phil Starr said:

 

I'll kick off, my go to mic is a Sennheiser E935 around £155 I love this Mic tough as old boots but with a lovely clear sound, handling noise isn't too bad but mine stays in the stand anyway.

 

Likewise, we use E835 & E845 mics. I prefer the way they sound for my vocals to the SM57 that we used before. The only downside I've found is finding mic stand clips - I've lost one and can't find a replacement. 

51 minutes ago, casapete said:

It’s all numbers to them - they argue that even a part time musician is more likely to be out late at night than say an accountant, that the

vehicle will be left parked up in dubious places other than on the driveway, that the vehicle may

be used for carrying heavy gear etc etc. I know it’s all bolloc*s but that’s how they work.

 

I once was involved in a debate with an insurance company years ago over my premium having

been hiked considerably on renewal due to be my being a muso. One of the reasons they cited was

that ‘I may be giving Mick Jagger a lift home’ with the risk of a massive claim etc. Unbelievable.

( Mick always got a cab…) 😆

I got the same excuses. The weird thing is my previous insurers didn't mind me doing gigs for free, just not doing gigs for money - so they weren't objecting to carrying gear or being parked at the back of pubs late at night. 

6 hours ago, jezzaboy said:

Does doing gigs if you get paid for them come under these conditions? Does anyone else bother?

Thoughts?

Enquiries with my previous insurance company revealed they took a very dim view of musicians and would cancel my insurance if I took a paid gig. I figured if I ended up in an accident that resulted in a big claim, and the police recorded the remains of my car had a PA, double bass etc. then the insurance people might try to wriggle out of paying up by saying I'd breached the terms of the insurance. 

Once insurance company suggested I claim to be a music teacher! Another said that being a music student could reasonably be expected to involve an occasional paid gig. But in the end I did find a mainstream insurer who gave me a good quote despite declaring "part time work as a musician".

On 24/08/2023 at 21:51, NickA said:

Update. Thread closure. It's gone.  Piano dealer in Cambridge took it away (very neatly and efficiently) for free.

Result! All going to plan, ours is going on Friday - being collected by a local church. It's been going to them for six months, so it's been a bit of a saga. 

Hodge bought a double bass from me. I found him very easy to deal with, easy and clear communications. All good!

On 08/09/2023 at 11:54, Rich said:

...assuming you're a} alive and b} old enough, what tape are you putting in your Walkman or car stereo?

 

In 1985 I wasn't old enough to have a car, I was still listening to bands like Duran Duran and Ultravox that I'd been listening to throughout my early teens, but I was starting to listen to other bands like A-ha and INXS.

I'd like an XLR balanced output on my bass, but it'll never happen as pedals and amps would all have to change   

1 hour ago, Kate said:

Dear Rosie, I am really interested in this for my daughter who needs a student instrument that I can haul to and from school. Would it be possible to view it tomorrow please. Kind regards; Kate

Hi Kate, I've sent you a PM!

I bought this double bass in May 2020, learning double bass through 'lockdown'. It's a 3/4, made in Romania and sold by Thomann. It is a "slimline" style with laminated construction. I found it easier to get started on, and it's a fair bit easier to move around than my other upright. When I bought it I was recovering from a back injury and 

It's spent some time with Martin's Violin's in Caerphilly where it was set up a whole lot better than it came from Thomann's workshop, and had the bridge converted to adjustable. Condition is generally good, there are a couple of chips on the top of the scroll and a couple of marks on the front by the tailstock - see photos.

The strings - E and D I'm unsure of the make, the A and G are new Evah Pirazzi's that I fitted earlier this year. I was part way through replacing them all when I decided to quit playing arco and reduce the number of uprights I have.

* A padded Hidersine double bass bag is included. 

* A Realist Copperhead pickup is included in the price. I've only swapped it on today, so some of the photos show a Realist Lifeline pickup fitted (which is NOT INCLUDED in the sale)

More details at https://www.thomann.de/gb/thomann_slim_line_double_bass_europe_1.htm  - do read the reviews, it gets good feedback. 

Collection only from Chepstow, UK. I'm happy to provide practice space, an amp and tea/coffee while you try it out, but you'll need to bring your own bow!

Here for sale is my Orange Crush 35B. I bought it second hand last year, but recently I bought a Crush 25B which is a bit easier to carry around, so it's now redundant. Technically it's a practice amp but it's fairly loud and I've used it for rehearsals and a couple of big band gigs over the last year.

It's all working. There's no major to the case but there are a few paint spots and minor marks - see photos! Comes complete with mains cable. Collection only from Chepstow, where you'll have a chance to try it out and make sure all is well. I do travel around the country a bit, so may be able to meet up somewhere.

Edit: I'm happy to consider offers!

Black leather bow quiver for double bass. Great condition, not needed anymore as I don't bow anymore.

Collection from Chepstow, or I can post to UK addresses. 

made & sold by Bass Bags - https://www.bassbags.co.uk/product/black-double-bass-bow-quiver/ 

Joel bought an IEM amplifier from me. No problems at all, a pleasure doing business with. 

On 16/08/2023 at 18:35, SteveXFR said:

We had discussed this in the past and come to the conclusion that it would be a rewarding career but pretty low paid so maybe not worth investing in university. Had we got it wrong?

There is a middle-way. I'm currently studying for a music degree at the Open University - it's distance learning, and can be done part-time (16 hours per week) over six years. I happen to be a "mature" student, but I think it would have worked well for me when I was younger.

11 hours ago, DCS222 said:

Ever had a smooth end to a band? Ever kicked someone out, or been kicked out, and it’s all chill with no drama… 

 

My first band - yes - we played a gig in London (a bit deal for a little band from South Wales), thought we were making it, but our singer got military call-up. 

Second band - no - I objected to a song on the set list. The rest of the band agreed to take it off. But then played it at the gig anyway. I quit on the spot.

Third band - yes - a combination of serious illness and a new child on the way in the space of 3-4 weeks, everyone went their own ways. 

On 20/08/2023 at 12:31, SubsonicSimpleton said:

When I bought my first DB from thomann, it arrived strapped to a pallet on the back of a curtainside HGV. Can't comment on how G4M handle this, but I would imagine that it needs to come on a pallet rather than loose in the back of a white van.

This is how mine arrived. It was during covid lockdown and as I watched it unload I had this awful sinking feeling of "what have I done?!" ... if it was so large it needed to come by forklift!

Today's gig - playing as part of a weekend-long fundraiser for Noah’s Ark children’s hospital . I'm loving how (a) I look about 6" taller than everyone else in the band  (b) I've been captured in a rare "playing beyond the 4th fret" moment   

This is likely my last outing in a rock covers band. I've done all the gigs I signed up for, but heading in a more acoustic direction now.