Beedster Posted February 29, 2012 Share Posted February 29, 2012 We've started recording some stuff recently and I've had to play DB a bit more than usual (>1hr/wk ). I'm starting to realise the limitations of the rather crude and stubborn old monster that sits in the corner of my living room which, whilst sounding OK, requires a lot of work to play even the simplest of lines. So, I'm going to let my rather underplayed Takamine B-10 go and spend up to £2000 on a DB, new or used. I really need to be able to play a load of DBs back to back to know what things work for me and what don't before I can make an informed decision. Are there any stores that stock sufficient decent instruments with decent set up to allow me to do so? I'm happy to travel some way to do so? Other alternative of course is to arrange a Basschat DB Bash and arrive with £2000 cash C Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarky Posted February 29, 2012 Share Posted February 29, 2012 Malcolm Healy's shop in Surrey has loads of rather beautiful DBs in his show room. Unfortunately they are mostly well over your budget. But he's a nice guy and useful to know as he is a really good DB luthier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beedster Posted February 29, 2012 Author Share Posted February 29, 2012 Thanks mate, yes, I think he's at a different end of the price range to me. I doubt he'd indulge my arhythmic root-fifths for long Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarky Posted February 29, 2012 Share Posted February 29, 2012 I don't know how many DBs Chas Footes stocks but that's where I bought my Zeller hybrid 15 years sgo. They were on Golden Square in Soho and I have seen their website come up on DB web searches so I guess they are still there. Might be worth googling Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beedster Posted February 29, 2012 Author Share Posted February 29, 2012 Crikey, Footes, think I bought my first Tenor Sax from there in about 1980! Great to hear they're still there, I'll take a look mate, thanks Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarky Posted February 29, 2012 Share Posted February 29, 2012 Actually I just googled Foote's and there's very little on their site and well below the level of what you are after. Sorry, bum steer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheRev Posted February 29, 2012 Share Posted February 29, 2012 The last time I was in Footes (about 3 years ago I think) they had 10 or 15 double basses in the basement. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassBod Posted March 1, 2012 Share Posted March 1, 2012 I had a bit of a shock when I got my Zeller hybrid set up recently. Completely transformed from a "so-so..not worth the effort" player to something that sounds like a bass should and makes you want to try and play it better. If you've not done it already, could it be worth a visit to good luthier before you start the expensive trade up trail? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaker Posted March 1, 2012 Share Posted March 1, 2012 [quote name='BassBod' timestamp='1330588479' post='1559690'] I had a bit of a shock when I got my Zeller hybrid set up recently. Completely transformed from a "so-so..not worth the effort" player to something that sounds like a bass should and makes you want to try and play it better. If you've not done it already, could it be worth a visit to good luthier before you start the expensive trade up trail? [/quote] Chris I was going to make the same point as BassBod. My 1960/70's Eastern European plywood DB with, oddly, an ebony fingerboard, sounds good and plays better. Since I got it (7 years ago) I have got the small hump on the fingerboard planed out, sorted out the nut slots, changed the strings (finally!) to Honeys, put bridge adjusters on and dropped the action. This was in my quest to get my 'modest investment' to produce something that sounded right but was playable...the action has come down markedly, the tension of the Honeys lets the instrument speak clearly. Each 'improvement' has yielded tangible benefits in playability. This instrument was never, and could never become a great instrument ( a DB playing friend compared it to a well set up Squier...fully functional, eminently giggable, and it sounds great recorded), but I don't need to (over)worry about knocks or carting around a high value instument to gigs and festivals. On the downside it is bright orange! You would be very welcome to try it out if you think it would help. Shaker Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassace Posted March 1, 2012 Share Posted March 1, 2012 [quote name='TheRev' timestamp='1330558998' post='1559582'] The last time I was in Footes (about 3 years ago I think) they had 10 or 15 double basses in the basement. [/quote] You must have gone on a re-stocking day, the most I've seen in Footes recently were four basses. I'm afraid Footes are a shadow of their former selves, dealing in percussion a lot these days. When they were in Denman Street they were the go-to bass shop. I first went to buy a bass (£45) in the late fifties and got talking to a very nice tall black guy. It wasn't 'til I left that the sales assistant told me he was Ray Brown. OK, I've mentioned this before but indulge me. I bought a Meinel some time ago that was ex-Footes and it was a very nice bass; regret selling it, as I do any bass. There is also Thwaites at Watford who have some nice entry level basses on their site. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beedster Posted March 1, 2012 Author Share Posted March 1, 2012 (edited) Thanks very much guys. I think my bass is, unfortunately, not even at Squier-equivalent level. It's been to a local expert (recommended through a few guys here), who initially said pretty much "that's a pile of **** and probably not worth spending any more money on" but whose verdict improved to "not actually as bad as i had thought, but still not worth spending a lot of money on" once he had played it. He did what he could, and made a difference for sure. Bottom line is, it sounds OK but I have tried about 8 sets of strings on this thing and it simply won't sustain, even following professional adjustments to the sound post and bridge. I simply don't get on with it as well as I'd like, and whilst it's fine for what I'm doing with my current band (mostly roots and fifths, the odd third and an occasional - and usually accidental - passing note), I kinda feel that it really limits my aspirations to get on and learn the instrument. I bought the Takamine as a half way house but invariably I've only played it as a large bass guitar, not as a small DB, so I'm not really getting the use I wanted from it (shoulda' kept that bloody EKO Clarky!), so I would like to at least play several instruments side-by-side to get a feel for what it is exactly that I'm looking for. OK, having done so I might stick with what I've got, but it's one of those need to know situations Edited March 1, 2012 by Beedster Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarky Posted March 1, 2012 Share Posted March 1, 2012 [quote name='Beedster' timestamp='1330598180' post='1559906'] shoulda' kept that bloody EKO Clarky[/quote] [url="http://www.mercatinomusicale.com/mm/a_eko-ba4-fretless_id2363874.html"]http://www.mercatinomusicale.com/mm/a_eko-ba4-fretless_id2363874.html[/url] [url="http://www.mercatinomusicale.com/mm/a_eko-ba-4_id2438362.html"]http://www.mercatinomusicale.com/mm/a_eko-ba-4_id2438362.html[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zero9 Posted March 1, 2012 Share Posted March 1, 2012 You could try Turner Violins www.turnerviolins.co.uk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassBod Posted March 1, 2012 Share Posted March 1, 2012 Sounds like the perfect reason for an upright bass bash to me.....I can't think of any other way of getting access to loads of basses...some of them affordable! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beedster Posted March 1, 2012 Author Share Posted March 1, 2012 Thanks guys (Clarky, you're a bad guy). [quote name='BassBod' timestamp='1330601772' post='1560021'] Sounds like the perfect reason for an upright bass bash to me.....I can't think of any other way of getting access to loads of basses...some of them affordable! [/quote] Might be an idea. I was gonna say at least there'd be no slapping but then thought again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sarah thomas Posted March 1, 2012 Share Posted March 1, 2012 An upright bass bash. What a brilliant idea. I can't bring £2000 but I can bring biscuits ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaker Posted March 1, 2012 Share Posted March 1, 2012 An upright bass bash. Nice idea. When & where? Shaker Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoffbassist Posted March 1, 2012 Share Posted March 1, 2012 I'm in. :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beedster Posted March 1, 2012 Author Share Posted March 1, 2012 I suggest the venue has easy vehicular access so that i can simply drive up a Transit and upload a few decent DBs whilst you're all comparing bows. Close proximity to the motorway network would also be decidedly advantageous? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jakenewmanbass Posted March 1, 2012 Share Posted March 1, 2012 I would be up for a DB bash not least because I would consider selling both mine if I found a better 'one' one of mine has an amazing sound for recording but is a little quiet for gigs, the other has a solid arco tone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Bassman Posted March 1, 2012 Share Posted March 1, 2012 An upright bass bash is something I've been thinking about for us northerners, there's very little stock anywhere up here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheRev Posted March 1, 2012 Share Posted March 1, 2012 Bash! Bash! Bash! Bash! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beedster Posted March 1, 2012 Author Share Posted March 1, 2012 I vote for Clarky as head of the organising committee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarky Posted March 1, 2012 Share Posted March 1, 2012 Makes sense - the most [email="cr@p"]cr@p[/email] DB player on BassChat! Sorry but I am washing my hair for the foreseeable future Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beedster Posted March 1, 2012 Author Share Posted March 1, 2012 I always had you down as the highest profile dude. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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