27 frets

Hi Whilst in Prague 3 years ago, I came across this in a music shop. I couldn't resist it at 17250 Czech crowns, roughly £430 then (it would be a lot more now the exchange rate has sunk). The body contouring (1 piece ash) and the maple/ebony neck make this a really unusual bass - unless any of you know differently! It was apparently made by for his own use by someone who normally makes moulded instrument cases (this came in one). It has Gotoh machines, Kent Armstrong pickups and 3 band eq. 34" scale. The bass originally had 24 frets, but Mike Walsh (Zoot Basses) added the extra 3 frets to complete the fingerboard and did a full set-up. Final picture is with my DB (also Czech built) - for size comparison.

[quote name='Greydad' post='763522' date='Mar 4 2010, 12:03 AM']Yes please, please post pics. I looked at all of these but was unwilling to take a chance on buying one sight unseen. All of this is useful input for possible future purchases when upgrades become a possibility...[/quote] OK - Here's some pics of the Gedo Musik 4/4 solid wood bass (furteher comments about this in a previous post on this thread). This one I bought last year was described as 'selected wood', as they also do basses which are slightly cheaper, but still solid-bodied, with less flamed sides and top, they also sometimes have 'master quality' double basses which are more expensive (around £2K, as I recall). Not all of the Gedo Musik basses appear on the UK eBay listings, so it's also worth checking on their (German) eBay shop (which you can access via any bass on the UK listings) to see what else they have. Besides the Czech-built/German-finished DB, the first and last picture also include my Czech 5 string BG, which I picked up in a music shop on a trip to Prague 3 years ago. The BG is definitely a one-off, and this makes a good little and large comparison. More on the BG at: [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=79776"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=79776[/url]

Have you thought about a Zoot Funkmeister? [url="http://www.zootbass.co.uk/2-3.html"]http://www.zootbass.co.uk/2-3.html[/url] Plenty of options there I'd read somewhere that Mike Walsh is now focussing more on his speaker cabs, but he might still build you a custom bass. Not sure the contact details are right on that website, but the guys at Bass Merchant do know how to get hold of him.

[quote name='fatgoogle' post='761913' date='Mar 2 2010, 03:44 PM']You reptty much cant ship a double bass, i was going to get a gear4music for my first double bass, but they dont ship to ireland so i thought ill have it sent to my aunty in london and ship it across from their. A whole day on the phones to couriers, 750 was the cheapest i could find to have it shipped across. Theirs not much over here im afraid.[/quote] It's worth looking at the solid body basses from Gedo Musik on eBay, cost around £1500, made in Czech Republic, but finished in their own workshop in Germany including full set-up, and a decent ebony fingerboard (adjustable bridge, better strings etc would be available at additional cost). Not sure what the shipping would be to Ireland, but it's around £80 to the UK. Mine arrived in about 5 days, (with option of return if not satisfaied). Nicely carved 4/4 size bass, nice wood - I can post pics if anyone is interested.

Can a fiver be bowed normally? [/quote] I asked my teacher similar questions about 4s/5s when purchasing my DB. 5 strings are used in orchestral situations, and he much prefers 5 strings over extensions on the E string. However, my teacher's view was definitely that clean bowing technique is harder to develop on a 5-string, because the angle between each string becomes closer, so he strongly advised learning on a 4 string. If you're not bowing though, I'd guess that 5-strnigs are not so tricky

I took up DB just over a year ago, and here's a few of my thoughts on making the switch: [list] [/list]Find a good teacher, to get your basic technique and posture right (and to help you develop your technique if you stick with him/her - a good teacher will help you work on the weaknesses as well as the strengths). [list] [/list]As with anything, bad habits can be hard to shake off, so it's worth making the effort to get the basics right. [list] [/list]Simandl may be an old-fashioned book on technique, but it deals with it methodically (providing you read music). [list] [/list]Aim to play with left hand fingertips, not the pads. [list] [/list]Sitting on a stool to play may be easier than standing - my teacher recommended about 29" height for a stool, with a foot rest a few inches up for your left foot, to help you cradle the bass, so it balances naturally. [list] [/list]Playing with a bow definitely helps develop intonation, even if you're mainly a pizzicato player, as it's easier to hear when it's right/wrong, and a halfway decent bow is well worth the investment - as noted elsewhere on Basschat, Yitamusic on eBay offer reasonable carbon or wood bows at low cost. [list] [/list]I did get a lot of cramping early on - though more with the bowing hand than the left hand. Much of that is down to the tension/posture - stamina on DB gets better with experience and feeling more relaxed. All the best with the DB

The Aguilar 3-band retro-fit EQ is good - the switchable frequency mid cut-boost excellent for sorting out 'wooley' sound, by switchiing to the lower of the two mid frequencies available and cutting this, as I found on a heavy mahogany- bodied fretless. Mine does seem a bit hissy, but this can can be cut down by rolling a bit of the very top end on my amp's graphic, without much effect on overall clarity /brightness [quote name='Bassman68' post='750552' date='Feb 19 2010, 09:34 AM']Help needed please. I have a 14 year old Warwick thumb 5 string that, i feel, has lost its tone. Don't know if it's just me but i've noticed the tone has changed over the years as the woods mature (?). The tone seems a lot 'darker' these days, the bass control is never boosted,otherwise the sound is too wooley, the mids seem to swamp everything, in a 'too broad' way (if i cut this, certain strings seem quieter) & the treble frequency seems almost too high (adding more hiss than snap!). So i'm looking at replacing the tone circuit, any suggestions? So far i've been looking at the Aguila 3 band & i like the idea of the switchable mids (push/pull). Anything else out there worth considering? I want to get the sound back to that 'throaty/burpy' growl...[/quote]

Ground lift separates the PA's earth/ground from that of the amp/head - this often a switchable feature on DI boxes, and sometimes on DI sends on amps. It removes the possbility of problems with earth loops, where amps and PAs are plugged into separate mains sources, which tend to give rise to hum rather than hiss. It's worth swithing the earth lift in and out, to see if it brings an improvement in background noise levels. One linked comment though is that if you're using a DI box and [b]no amp[/b] (e.g. for an electro-acoustic guitar/bass or keyboard), the instrument does need to be earthed/grounded to the PA for the output signal to work properly. [quote name='ThomBassmonkey' post='744392' date='Feb 13 2010, 11:46 PM']Can someone explain exactly what ground lift is on a head and whether or not it's worth using (or the criteria on which it should be decided if it varies). I assume it removes the head from the PA's ground which can cause/eliminate (don't know which way around it would be) hiss but it'd be useful to know because I've never had the option on an amp when I was at college in the studio. I'm just guessing though so I may be very wide of the mark.[/quote]

You're taller than me, and my teacher recommended 4/4 size, which has been fine, but many people do play 3/4 size, particularly for Jazz Gedo Musik in Germany sell a whole range of basses - laminates and solid body. If you're looking for something decent, their 'Solid State' (i.e solid wood) basses are well made out of nice-looking wood (built in Czech Republic, finished off and set up by Gedo Musik) and good value at around £1500 (including decent padded soft case and a basic bow) - at least as good as the Stentor and Zeller models. Delivery to UK takes only a few days, via Dachser courier. [quote name='mgibson' post='744561' date='Feb 14 2010, 09:21 AM']I've been playing bass for a while but would like to stretch out and throw in DB. If anyone could advise me about what to look for in your first DB, if i should go for a full scale , i'm six ft two inches, a traditional one or an acoustic, how much i should spend, stings, i know they can be like £100 or something (?), if there are any patcicular makes or anything. Please help!!! P.S. yes i do have a potencial teacher and i know that i wiould like to learn so i'm prepared to put the money in for a half decent one.[/quote]

The link referred to by 'duckyincarnate' takes you to a discussion which includes mention by myself and another player to the Yita Music carobon fibre bows, which are available on eBay. After a few months mine still seems to be doing well, but not being a particularly advanced player I can't comment on how well it would work when playing 'col legno' For the money (3 models - up to £109), they're definitely worth a try.

Hi I'd also suggest looking at comments on the Yita Music carbon bows (available on eBay), on the 'recommend me a bow' thread: [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=64167"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=64167[/url] I've been well impressed with mine - cost just over £100.

And another one from Chelmsford I'm new to Basschat myself - as both a bass guitarist and a newcomer to playing double bass, it's interesting to read about people's thoughts and ideas.

[quote name='basshead56' post='682121' date='Dec 12 2009, 01:06 PM']Hi all. looking to upgrade my DB and a mate sent me this link Aesthetically its pretty much what Im after but anyone know anything more about these? Thanks [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Double-Bass-red-with-white-flames-3-4-size-new_W0QQitemZ370303195565QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Musical_Instruments_Sting_Instruments?hash=item5637ca59ad"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Double-Bass-red-with...=item5637ca59ad[/url][/quote] I bought a 'solid state' bass from the same supplier (Gedo Musik) last year - very nice wood, made in Czech Republic, but finished off in Germany by Gedo Musik. It cost around £1500 plus shipping, and they have comparable models available at present. e.g. [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Double-Bass-complete-solid-state-4-4-size-new_W0QQitemZ380198894700QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Musical_Instruments_Sting_Instruments?hash=item58859ebc6c"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Double-Bass-complete...=item58859ebc6c[/url] or [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Double-Bass-complete-solid-state-4-4-size-new_W0QQitemZ370319529185QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Musical_Instruments_Sting_Instruments?hash=item5638c394e1"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Double-Bass-complete...=item5638c394e1[/url] or 3/4 size [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Double-Bass-complete-solid-state-3-4-size-new_W0QQitemZ370322765719QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Musical_Instruments_Sting_Instruments?hash=item5638f4f797"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Double-Bass-complete...=item5638f4f797[/url] The cheaper models, like the one you linked to, are laminate (i.e. plywood), which is typical of basses in that price range. But if you want something better, the solid wood versions are very good quality for the money. They come with a basic bow and a decent soft case too. Delivery from Germany was really quick too - ordered on Saturday, arrived the following Thursday.

[quote name='endorka' post='688160' date='Dec 18 2009, 10:55 AM']Update: I was doing an orchestra gig about 3 or 4 weeks ago and one of the bass players had a carbon fibre bow, which he has used on professional gigs for some time. He let me try it, and it felt and sounded great. In addition to this, the frog was the correct dimensions for my hand, unlike my current bow. He bought it from the yitamusic store on Ebay for approx £100 - it is the "Top Model A Carbon Fiber Double Bass Bow French" model. I bought one myself for £109 and have been using it for a couple of weeks with great results. It has a nice balance - the only way I can describe it is that it feels lighter yet more substantial than my old bow, and produces a softer, thicker sound. A real benefit thanks to the correct sized frog is that literally overnight I was able to execute off the string strokes, tremolo, and fast passages far more efficiently than before. It looks pretty cool too, in my opinion. Great value for money. Jennifer[/quote] Good choice! I bought one the just the same a few months back My teacher (who is pretty discerning) described it as 'lively', and subseetly recommended this model to someone who wanted a less breakable alternative to her very expensive pernambuco bow, for use in a pantomime orchestra pit. The same firm do pernambuco bows for a similar price, but I don't know how they compare.

[quote name='bassace' post='716780' date='Jan 18 2010, 04:56 PM']You're lucky it happened at home. It happened to me on a gig when I was using one of those aluminium three point bridges. So the bridge and its three separate feet were launched into the audience. Luckily I managed to retrieve them all. I also had a tailpiece wire let go while I was tuning up just before a gig. It's disheartening to be winding your tuner [i]up[/i] and the note goes [i]down[/i]. So I reckon that this sort of failure is not as uncommon as might be supposed. Any other experiences?[/quote] My tailpiece 'wire' went a couple of weeks back too, and i wasn't even playing it at the time - maybe it's sometihng to do with recent the weather conditions! This was a nylon version supplied with the bass (1 year old), but having checked on replacements I went for the steel version made by Wittner, which seems pretty good. Stringzone do them online at a good price, and free delivery. No serious damage, and all fixed now.