Great uncle has just offered me a double bass.

Asa Samuel · #1 09-14-2007, 01:54 PM

Heres, the story, my grandad is quite ill so my parents went down to see him, and they went to see my great uncle and his wife on the way down.

he plays bass and asked if i had a bass, my mum just said 'yeah he has two bass guitars' and my uncle replied, 'no, i mean a BASS bass, an upright bass because i dont really play mine anymore but id like to keep it in the family'

i of course accepted as i'm happy to keep a double bass in the family, i do not know what age the bass is or what make it is but it is my great uncles so i'm assuming its quite old, i really cant wait to get it and try it out.

i'll post a reply when i know more details about it.

just wondering if theres any tips you could give me for looking after this bass and when i should change things like the strings and bow, i know about rosin on the bow (used to play violin) but thats all i know really.

Thought i'd share it with you.
And thanks for any info.
Bass_Junkie.

bassist1962 · #2 09-14-2007, 02:55 PM

When you get it, take pics and post them here. Get it to a luthier, and have him check it out for you. When was the last time your uncle had it set up, or actually played it?

funkybassplayer · #3 09-14-2007, 02:57 PM

killer grab man. the only thing holding me back from getting a "BASS bass" if my small ass car. enjoy it

Asa Samuel · #4 09-14-2007, 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassist1962

When you get it, take pics and post them here. Get it to a luthier, and have him check it out for you. When was the last time your uncle had it set up, or actually played it?

Of course i'll take pics, and i can ask my uncle details about it when he brings it here.

TroyK · #5 09-14-2007, 03:11 PM

Oh man, you're in for a world of joy. I feel sorry for those two bass guitars, they're going to feel unloved.

And it's great that you have the family bass. My uncle was a bassist and although I'm the only surviving bassist in the family and the only surviving serious musician in the family, somehow I didn't inherit his bass.

So, good for you. Look forward to it, love it and once you get it, let us know, upload some pictures and we'll talk you through it.

Welcome!

Asa Samuel · #6 09-14-2007, 03:16 PM

no idea when i'm going to get it though as i'm going away to scotland on monday till thursday, and he said he'd bring it up and he's from essex so its about a 6 hour drive.

MingusAmongUs · #7 09-14-2007, 03:26 PM

Love to hear that kind of thing. Enjoy. Let me be the first to say, "look at the 'newbie FAQ' on this board when you're ready to start reading up."

funkybassplayer: you'd be amazed at how small a car you can cram a bass into. what do you drive?

Asa Samuel · #8 09-14-2007, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MingusAmongUs

Love to hear that kind of thing. Enjoy. Let me be the first to say, "look at the 'newbie FAQ' on this board when you're ready to start reading up."

ahh right, will do!

puff father · #9 09-14-2007, 03:44 PM

That is a beautiful thing, man. Congrats.

Al

Asa Samuel · #10 09-14-2007, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by puff father

That is a beautiful thing, man. Congrats.

Al

thanks dude.

Silversorcerer · #11 09-14-2007, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by funkybassplayer

killer grab man. the only thing holding me back from getting a "BASS bass" if my small ass car. enjoy it

That's no excuse. I've seen a 4/4 in a Cooper. Danny Thompson strapped his 200 year old French bass to the top of his bandmobile so the other players could take the seats. If you want to play it you will get a vehicle that works one way or the other. Where there is a will, there is a way.

Of course having an uncle donate a bass is a huge head start! Lucky Junkie! Congratulations on your first real bass. If your uncle is able to be around for a while get him to teach you the basics. If he is not, find another teacher. Self-teaching DB can be hazardous to your health.

bassist1962 · #12 09-14-2007, 08:17 PM

I stuffed my dad's bass into a Taurus, and HE used to drive VW's, Corvettes, Mustangs, Toyotas, Hondas, and the like, so I don't want to hear about how small the car is!

ALiP BoB · #13 09-15-2007, 01:11 AM

Hope your grandad gets better bro.

Asa Samuel · #14 09-15-2007, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ALiP BoB

Hope your grandad gets better bro.

thanks, so do i

we have enough space for it to fit in the car so no worries there.

Asa Samuel · #15 10-23-2007, 10:25 AM

well heres the beast, theres a few rough patches, as pictured but overall it seems quite nice, i think i need to replace the A string though, it sounds very dead compaired to the other strings.

Silversorcerer · #16 10-23-2007, 10:50 AM

That first detail shot of the top edge looks like it's a carved top, but might not be. Otherwise, it's hard to tell much from the photos, except it seems to be in really good general condition. The coronas, or exterior linings, were used on American Kay plywood basses, but also appear on many fine old German basses like Wilfers. It looks like a really nice bass to keep in the family either way.

Take some shots outside and you'll get some better photos with less blur.

Asa Samuel · #17 10-23-2007, 11:21 AM

All i know was he bought it around 1960 in hull, i think he mentioned the name and it began with a W, i will e-mail him to find out.

chuck1073 · #18 10-23-2007, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silversorcerer

That's no excuse. I've seen a 4/4 in a Cooper.

Rats! I bought a Scion because I thought my DB wouldn't fit in a mini. Maybe next car.

You sure that guy didn't have a trailer?
Truthfully, the Scion was my first choise.
I can fit a DB, ABG, amp, gig bag...and even a wife in there with me.

Pilgrim · #19 10-23-2007, 05:53 PM

Hey, I used to get a string bass into a VW Beetle back in the 60's. About 2 feet of the neck stuck out the passenger window, but it fit.

Flip passenger seat back down, insert bass turned to fit, rotate bass so bottom lip lies on rear package shelf, flip seat up, roll window down, settle bass into place, close door, drive away.

Asa Samuel · #20 10-23-2007, 05:58 PM

it fitten in fine, we have a fiat marea weekender, it has a massive boot, just flipped one of the seats downand the head rested just inbetween the driver and passenger seat, and unless you turned round if you were sitting in the front you couldn't tell it was in there.

i must get a gig bag for this thing sometime though, my uncle never bothered and therefore theres quite a few scratches, mainly from loading it in and out of vehicles.