finally switched from EB to upright!

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After 10 years of playing electric bass (on and off), and about 5 or 6 years of telling myself that I will someday buy an upright bass, I finally took the plunge this past weekend!

I bought a 1960s Czechoslovakian made bass from Upton Bass (many kudos to them for helping me out!!), which included two bows, a stand, and a bag.

However, here's my situation: While I don't have any aspirations to make a living playing bass for a reputable orchestra or anything like that, I would be able to get back to being somewhat of a (semi)-professional musician. i.e., working with a band every now and then, playing a gig or two a month, etc. Also, I'm moving to another state in about 4 weeks from now. Once I'm settled, my plan is to find an URB instructor so that I could just get some instruction on technique and whatnot. I took lessons for EB for years, and after a while, I feel like it plateaued and it was a waste of money to continue, so I only plan on taking lessons for a year or so.

So, is there any advice as to what I should do for the time being? I just would like to avoid getting into any seriously terrible habits until I get settled in my new home and find a teacher. Though on the other hand, there is no way I'm just going to let that thing sit in my room and not play it at all for the next month!! :P

(I've played it for about an hour a day since I bought it. I barely even touched my electric!)

[MattyBass]

Get a quick start up Lesson before you go... : ) It will give you a few things to work on and you wont develop any bad habits..
Just remember, you do play bass but this is a completely different beast.. The simandl or Rabbath book were be a good resource to have as well..
Word of warning.. I hurt my wrist trying to play in thumb position when I was starting out, so a quick lesson would be great, just so you learn proper technique and don't injure yourself, and if you for some reason can't or won't get a lesson... Checkout youtube for some starting pointers.. Not as good as a physical lesson but it will get you started...

Now post a pic of the Bass... No Pic.. No Bass...

Welcome to the Darkside!!!

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Originally Posted by MattyBass

...is a completely different beast..

Man, if I had a dollar for every time someone used that exact description, I would have had enough to buy two double basses! lol

But anyways, thanks for the input. I'll search around for an double bass teacher (CT) and try to get a lesson or two in. I was just wondering - how much do DB lessons usually cost? I was paying about 35/hr for electric bass, I assume DB is substantially more.. I'm just not hoping it's TOO much money, seeing that my bank account already has a large whole in it from buying the bass!

[drurb]

Bass teachers in CT? Shoot me a PM if you want.