artisan

i'm a DB newbie too,i'm playing old 1950's rockabilly & rock 'n' roll tunes so need that old school thump. i was recommended Innovation Super Silvers which are perfect form me,medium tension nylon jobbies which are nice to play & sound brilliant. £75.00 for a full set [url="http://www.stringmail.co.uk/dbass6.htm"]http://www.stringmail.co.uk/dbass6.htm[/url]

they look cool don't they,i was tempted by them myself but was advised to buy a european bass whereas these are chinese made.

well my bass in now nicely set up & fitted with a set of Super Silvers which are great sounding strings giving just the sound i was wanting,they have decent tension too as i didn't want strings that were too floppy. highly recommended

don't dicount plywood basses,my Strunal is all plywood & sounds very good indeed both acoustic + amped . BC'er MrBassman,a very experienced & talented DB'er, commented that it sounded better than some basses costing several times more. some very good info in this tread though.

[quote name='bluejay' timestamp='1330000225' post='1551064'] Haha, I agree! Just go for it and buy the best you can afford. I deliberately went for the cheapest option only because I was going to experiment with making it left-handed myself, and I thought I better limit the risk in case of abject failure I simply haven't got the space for a DB at home, so I'm waiting until I have enough money for this baby: [url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/ns_design_nxt_5_bass_lh_bs.htm"]http://www.thomann.d..._bass_lh_bs.htm[/url] [/quote] I don't have enough room for my DB either but i bought it anyway,who needs furnature

just do it you know you want to i started on a cheap Stagg EUB about 7 weeks ago & enjoyed playing that more than my bass guitar which i've being playing for the last 33 years. it convinced my to buy a propper double bass which arrived last friday & i absolutely love it to bits,pretty much lost interest in BG since i discovered DB. don't know what budget you have but i bought this [url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/thomann_kontrabass_1_e_blueburst.htm"]http://www.thomann.de/gb/thomann_kontrabass_1_e_blueburst.htm[/url] it is a damn fine starter bass which after a very good setup + strings i am extremely pleased with. go on do it

Keith finished setup & fitted my super silvers last night,wow it sounds bloody awesome & plays very nicely indeed,i am a very happy chappy ,roll on some more gigs i can't wait. Keith then gave me a few pointers & explained a few DB things to me,i then impressed him with my total lack of technical or theory knowledge,a thing i intend to remedy asap. so i'd like to say a massive thank you to Keith for all you've done for me,i appreciate it all very much + you've inspired me to get my finger out & learn some theory too.

i think the general consensus would be to sell the case & buy a gig bag instead,some people have got over £100.00 for the G4M cases on evilbay.

[quote name='Mr Bassman' timestamp='1329869901' post='1549034'] Out with the angle grinder again [/quote]

indeed it sounded awesome & was very well played too. the wife & me enjoyed the night very much indeed,we never thought we were jazz fans but the music was very good indeed. as for my bass Keith has totally transformed it from a medieval hand torture device to a very nice playing bass,what a top man. now if i could just find where i left my mobile phone,i had it last night but seem to have lost it since edit: mobile now found,it was uuurrr in my fleece pocket

[quote name='Mr Bassman' timestamp='1329843411' post='1548367'] Cheers Neil, it's a bit sore but I'll give it a go. Might have to switch to fender or ask someone in the audience to sit in. Attached are pics of work in progress and the finished bridge. [/quote] wow that just shows how far out our German freinds were,that's a masterful job there good sir thank you again. as for the "ask someone in the audience to sit in" now this has me a little worried so i may just hide at the back somewhere

oooooohhhhhhh i'm excited now,stuck at damn work though boo hoo it's not fair. really can't wait to hear the beast i have to say that Mr Bassman is a top bloke for sure,not only fettling my bass but giving me some pointers & lending me some dvd/books to study too. p.s. i really hope the finger is ok.

[quote name='Mr Bassman' timestamp='1329778095' post='1547359'] [left]Anyway I've offered to get my chainsaw out and drop the string height at the bridge and angle grind a bit off the nut [/left] [/quote] ah the words of a true craftsman you are a true gent' sir

thanks for the comments everyone,it is nice though isn't it. i don't really have the space for it in my little house but i just had to have one,anyway who needs a dining table i will email Thomann about the lack of setup & will report back when or if they reply. cheers

my DB has at last arrived from Thomann,although i had to wait 2 weeks for them to set it up it has arrived almost unplayable with both the bridge & nut requiring attention,however i am still very pleased with the instrument as once setup i believe it will play rather well. ok here a piccy

[quote name='Mr Bassman' timestamp='1329518693' post='1543912'] If I can be of any help give me a shout, I'm just up the road from you [/quote] PM'd

thanks chaps i'll give him a call tomorrow there is also Andrews violins in Harrogate or Jim Fleeting in Ripon too,i'll ring 'em all & see what they say. p.s. bridge now fitted & awful stock strings tuned up,my bass badly needs setting up(as expected),i've no idea what thomann did for a setup but it's not good,so i'll get it done asap.

ooh i hope it's ok then because it was packaged up on it's pallet in a vertical position with the bridge bubble rapped & tucked under the tail piece,it's come all the way from Germany like this too. i'll have a wee gander when i get home. cheers EDIT: having second thoughts about changing the strings myself as i'm sure my super silvers are a touch thicker than the stock strings & i don't have any files or the courage to file the bridge myself (i'm not good at D.I.Y.) so i may just try & find someone in the know to do it for me,yes yes i'm a coward

many thanks for the info i really appreciate all help. you've got me a tad worried about the sound post now though,if it's not in place will it definitely rattle ? if i move the bass around there is no trace of anything moving about inside i hate to bugger up my new toy. cheers

well my bass has just arrived but sadly i'm at work so can't play around with it until i go home,not fair. as Bilbo mentioned the bridge is flat so i need to sort that out (gulp) so i may as well put my nice new super silver strings on at the same time (gulp) is this as easy as it sounds ?

i just bought a set of DB strings which arrived as described in mega quick time, top bloke to deal with cheers

I've just bought the Super Silvers from the BC for sale section + Thomann shipped my bass today so i should be thumping along nicely in a few days time, cheers for all the help you guys.

many thanks for the replies guys,good info all Daf thanks for the detailed run down,i may give the Rockabillies a try,once Thoman decide to actually send my bass that is,will they go straight on or will i need to get the nut & bridge altered? cheers

my first DB should be here in the next week or so & initially i will be using the stock steel strings for a while until i can afford some decent strings. i will do doing a bit of slap but also a lot of pizz & want a general all rounder string set,i'm wanting the 1950's thud kind of sound.(not planning any arco at all btw) i've been recommended Super Silvers by someone in the know but i was planning to just play rockabilly at the time but may end up playing just a little jazz too,so will these be good for both or is there anything that will suit me better. cheers.