Recent content by martin durkin

Hi Buckthorne. I don't use a preamp. I have put on both my basses a pickup from Rebel Pickups, based in the Netherlands. It is an underfoot pickup made out of a kind of piezo foil. You can buy the pickup as separate components and make it yourself for about $25. This pickup is much less feedback...

Hi. I'm going to download this and have a go at it. I've been wanting to play this for ages. Also thinking of buying the Jim Stinnett book 'Secret Chambers' as I'm sure the full transcription is in that! By the way do you find this easier to play using a german or french bow? Just curious as I'm...

These settings seem to be the best for my set up. Realist type underfoot pickup On 'dark' setting Plugged into high input Amp on the floor (not raised or tilted)

Hi Bobogypsy. I have recently picked up a late 70's Polytone Mega Brute 111. It sounds absolutely fantastic IMHO! Although I don't have experience with higher end amps, so my judgment is based on comparison with a Roland basscube 100, which is the amp I was using prior to the polytone. They...

K&M bass stand. Really solid design and collapses well. Even with endpin extended, it would take a decent shove to knock it over. I'm happy leaving my bass on it! I did have concerns at first about the cup the endpin goes into coming detached, but there are two good rivets holding the cup, so if...

I have a fiat cinquecento and this is how I do it. Lower the back of the front seat. Put the bass body, bridge side down to the back of the car. The neck, fingerboard, scroll are now facing the footwell, and the bridge area will be resting on the front seat. Use a small cushion to prevent...

I keep the top tied with a shoelace, and the bottom end with the buckle and strap. I have an Archer quiver. I don't tie it too tight, or tuck it behind the tailpiece as I think it dampens vibrations if tucked in too tight. Also I find that if the quiver is able to move, it flops forward when you...

Thanks Jake. I'm glad it's a decent string! I've bit the bullet and bought a full set of spiro mittels! I can't believe the difference from helicore to spirocore! And I think they bow Ok. A friend commented my bass sounded like a cello when I took a solo last night high on the D and G. It...

Thanks for that jake. I'm going to closely compare the string in the photo to mine. I've ended up buying a spirocore A to put with some used spirocore d & g, and a superflex e. I'm worried about the bowing, as I'm still on Simandl and working on PC tunes. If the wonder tone is synthetic core...

Hi. Would you be willing to post to the UK. These strings, used,go for between $50-$85 on average in the UK. But they don't come up that often, and I want a set. Thanks

Thanks eub_player that a good point. I do check the classified, but as I'm in the UK, a lot of stuff is only posted within the states, and sometimes postage and handling charges can really fleece you! Your right about the string I availability issue. I may have to just save up for some Eva's or...

Thanks. Seems like the consensus might be pirastro but very old stock. I'll leave the seller positive feedback on eBay! Just need an A now. What would any of you use to put a set together based on what I've got, and do you think the set would have more character than helicore arco orchestras...

Hi. I don't think it's a wound gut as it has wire going into each side of the lug. Does that suggest its a spiral or braided core? Also on the tailpiece end there is a fine wire that spirals up over the silk over the black, and to the end of the red. It actually looks like a good quality string...

Hi TroyK. The string looks like poss dull steel wound. The pegbox colour end starts With black then ends with red, which would be trimmed off! There is also a thin outer winding of what looks like copper wire. The tailpiece end is black with a tiny purple bit where is joins the end. The end...

Hi. I'm putting together a set of strings, to replace my helicores. I bought a string on eBay sold as original chromesteel, but I'm not quite sure. It has a pirastro tag, but I'm doubting that should be on it. The othe used string is a pirastro I think. It's an E. The new string is a D