The Funk Posted May 14, 2009 Share Posted May 14, 2009 So, in my eagerness to get playing I tuned up the A and D strings too quickly on my new Chinese bass and they promptly snapped. Everyone said I'd need to get a good set-up on the bass anyway so I was wondering if you guys had any recommendations. All advice welcome! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest subaudio Posted May 14, 2009 Share Posted May 14, 2009 Hiya mate, if your near Stoke Newington there's Bridgewood and Neitzert on the High Street, but check the cost first, they tend to deal with top end stuff so your talking master craftsmen, that said the work they did on my bridge was very reasonable, not aware of any others Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huge Hands Posted May 14, 2009 Share Posted May 14, 2009 [quote name='The Funk' post='487881' date='May 14 2009, 01:41 PM']So, in my eagerness to get playing I tuned up the A and D strings too quickly on my new Chinese bass and they promptly snapped.[/quote] Ha, ha, sorry to laugh in your misery, but I managed to go through 2 G strings and a D on mine before I got it right. I'm glad I'm not the only one. I do have to say though, the way the strings had been left slackened on the bass in their normal position but with the bridge removed meant the D and G had some nasty kinks in them where the case had closed on them and bent them. I spotted this and complained. I was able to claim a second D and G from Gear-4-Music (especially as was chasing the bridge they'd forgotten to pack). They did snap as I predicted, but still managed to snap the G again when I tried to string the second one up! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahpook Posted May 14, 2009 Share Posted May 14, 2009 whereabouts in london are you ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Funk Posted May 14, 2009 Author Share Posted May 14, 2009 [quote name='Huge Hands' post='487909' date='May 14 2009, 02:04 PM']Ha, ha, sorry to laugh in your misery, but I managed to go through 2 G strings and a D on mine before I got it right. I'm glad I'm not the only one.[/quote] I felt stupid after the first one but like a total muppet after the second one! I'm based in central London, so I can get to most parts of London fairly easily. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahpook Posted May 14, 2009 Share Posted May 14, 2009 i do all my own set-ups. i'll give it a bash if you fancy. what is it you're after ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Funk Posted May 14, 2009 Author Share Posted May 14, 2009 Advice on what work needs doing, if any. Action seems ok to me but then I'm a beginner. Chuck on a decent set of strings. Not sure what else really - maybe install some kind of pick-up/microphone system. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noisyjon Posted May 14, 2009 Share Posted May 14, 2009 What about the Gallery? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hubrad Posted May 14, 2009 Share Posted May 14, 2009 (edited) [quote name='The Funk' post='487948' date='May 14 2009, 02:44 PM']Advice on what work needs doing, if any. Action seems ok to me but then I'm a beginner. Chuck on a decent set of strings. Not sure what else really - maybe install some kind of pick-up/microphone system.[/quote] Double bass is more akin to a violin, so could be worth approaching a violin repairer. I know a great one 200 miles north of you! +1 to new strings.. most new basses come with ok strings but ok is about as good as it gets for a few hundred pounds overall. Spirocore or Obligato/Evah Pirazzi cost a fair chunk but you'll have a great set of strings which will generally last for ages! I use this pickup [url="http://www.themusicroom-online.co.uk/product_info.php/products_id/690"]http://www.themusicroom-online.co.uk/produ...products_id/690[/url] which needs very little, if any, work to the bass to fit and sounds really natural. Edited May 14, 2009 by hubrad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ardi100 Posted May 14, 2009 Share Posted May 14, 2009 I took my bass to a guy named Lawrence Dixon (Or Laurence Dixon/Dickson - can't remember!) near Clapham. Great service, high quality work and pretty good value. I'm sure someone on here recommended him, I've lost his number. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean-Luc Pickguard Posted May 14, 2009 Share Posted May 14, 2009 [url="http://www.healeyviolins.co.uk/"]Malcolm Healey[/url] in Sutton is a double bass specialist. If I had some spare money I'd take mine in for him to work his magic on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TPJ Posted May 14, 2009 Share Posted May 14, 2009 [quote name='hubrad' post='487999' date='May 14 2009, 03:32 PM']Double bass is more akin to a violin, so could be worth approaching a violin repairer. I know a great one 200 miles north of you! [/quote] Where abouts? Noticed you're in W Yorks hubrad. I've taken mine to Jan at Chapel Allerton Strings in Leeds and he did really nice work. Is there someone else in 't North around Leeds? Cheers, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hubrad Posted May 14, 2009 Share Posted May 14, 2009 (edited) [quote name='TPJ' post='488120' date='May 14 2009, 05:51 PM']Where abouts? Noticed you're in W Yorks hubrad. I've taken mine to Jan at Chapel Allerton Strings in Leeds and he did really nice work. Is there someone else in 't North around Leeds? Cheers,[/quote] Drop Gina a line at www.ginalefaux.com She's been intimate with violins and acoustic things for decades! Did new bridge and soundpost on my old Zeller which almost stopped me hanging it! HUGH Edited May 14, 2009 by hubrad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrishh Posted May 14, 2009 Share Posted May 14, 2009 +1 on Malcolm Healey. He did a great set up on my bass recently. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Funk Posted May 14, 2009 Author Share Posted May 14, 2009 Thanks for the recommendations. Next newbie question: how much should I be looking to spend on a new set of strings and set-up? Thanks for the offer ahpook. I'd feel a bit funny about getting a fellow forumite to work on my bass for free though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AM1 Posted May 14, 2009 Share Posted May 14, 2009 [quote name='The Funk' post='487881' date='May 14 2009, 01:41 PM']So, in my eagerness to get playing I tuned up the A and D strings too quickly on my new Chinese bass and they promptly snapped. Everyone said I'd need to get a good set-up on the bass anyway so I was wondering if you guys had any recommendations. All advice welcome![/quote] Hiya - I haven't read the full thread - however, I seriously recommend The Bass Gallery in Camden. I have taken a few basses in there for setups now and specified in detail, with regards to the action, intonation, etc, exactly what I wanted. Ask John to perform your setup, he did an absolutely oustanding job on mine, in an extremely fast turnaround. [b]Everyone[/b] whom has played the basses he setup for me has commented on how fantastic those setups are. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Funk Posted May 14, 2009 Author Share Posted May 14, 2009 I use The Gallery for my bass guitars and they are excellent. I just don't see them as double bass specialists. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigBeatNut Posted May 15, 2009 Share Posted May 15, 2009 [quote name='Jean-Luc Pickguard' post='488055' date='May 14 2009, 04:36 PM'][url="http://www.healeyviolins.co.uk/"]Malcolm Healey[/url] in Sutton is a double bass specialist. If I had some spare money I'd take mine in for him to work his magic on it.[/quote] +1 from me. Super nice guy, very reasonable prices. Was particularly obliging finding ways to fix up my cheapo, beat up bass, so that the cost of the fix was proportionate to my tiny investment in the the bass. If you don't mind the drive down to Sutton, go for it. Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougal Posted May 19, 2009 Share Posted May 19, 2009 +1 for Malcolm Healey. Repaired my bass, gave it a good set-up. Super nice to boot. His co-worker (not his wife, don't make that mistake, she doesn't like it - as I found to my cost) needs some getting used to. There was lots of "well there's not much point spending that much on a case for a bass of this quality". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdstrings Posted May 21, 2009 Share Posted May 21, 2009 Hi, I do repair and set up work to double basses. My website is www.jeromedavies.com. I'm based in East london -contact details on website Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benbastin Posted June 1, 2009 Share Posted June 1, 2009 [quote name='jdstrings' post='494633' date='May 21 2009, 08:31 PM']Hi, I do repair and set up work to double basses. My website is www.jeromedavies.com. I'm based in East london -contact details on website[/quote] Thwaites in watford are great. Always have amazing experiences with them. [url="http://www.thwaites.com/"]http://www.thwaites.com/[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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