Thanks for re-posting that. Many of us have been there. No, the dentist mirror doesn't work well at all because it has way too small an area.
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Double Bass Just started shopping for a DB
- Thread starter Jay Corwin
- Start date
Thanks for re-posting that. Many of us have been there. No, the dentist mirror doesn't work well at all because it has way too small an area.
So here is what I got:
Samuel Shen SB-80 3/4 (already setup), Fishman full circle PUP installed, 2 bows, some rosin the seller threw in...all in the bag for $650. I did have to drive about 160 miles round trip (1/2 tank in my 4-cyl).
Initially I didn't want to go chinese, but I really couldn't find a bad word about the Shen SB-80 for the cost. It was well under what I was expecting to spend just to get started.
I feel like I got something that will definetly suit my needs as a beginner, even if the resale/trade in might not be as good down the road.
Now I have to learn to make something other than noise come out of it! Thanks again for everyone's advice. This website is always a great resource for me, both for my electric playing - and now for the DB.
Samuel Shen SB-80 3/4 (already setup), Fishman full circle PUP installed, 2 bows, some rosin the seller threw in...all in the bag for $650. I did have to drive about 160 miles round trip (1/2 tank in my 4-cyl).
Initially I didn't want to go chinese, but I really couldn't find a bad word about the Shen SB-80 for the cost. It was well under what I was expecting to spend just to get started.
I feel like I got something that will definetly suit my needs as a beginner, even if the resale/trade in might not be as good down the road.
Now I have to learn to make something other than noise come out of it! Thanks again for everyone's advice. This website is always a great resource for me, both for my electric playing - and now for the DB.
The rule here is that if there are no pictures. there is no bass
Seriously, congrats on your purchase - sounds like a great deal. As far as resale, at that price I can't imagine how you wouldn't get your money back when (if) you decide to sell. I still think there's always a market for good, playable used DB's for less than $1k, because they are simply not available new at that price.
Mark
Congrats on the new bass. But remember, they say, upright bass and trumpet are the hardest instruments to play consistently well, physically. So, in other words it's a commitment. Most bass players who buy and start playing upright quit trying and let the instrument gather dust in a corner within 6-months and sell the bass within 2-years. Why? Cause it ain't easy to get good at.
1) 'Learn how to hold it.' You don't hold the bass while playing it. The shoulder of the bass leans into your lower chest/upper stomach area. Your fretting arm elbow is held close to 90-degrees from the body. Your plucking/bowing arm hangs straight down to pluck as close to the end of the fret board as possible.
2) Watch you posture while playing. Slightly bend both knees as if swing a bat or golf club. That 'sports stance' keeps the back straight, relaxing that area and less chance of muscle strain.
You can look at the two 'Bass Lessons to Costa Rica', I posted at www.youtube.com/bassmickeyd where I talk about this.
3) Go slow practice in short spurts. 10-15-minutes, at a time, for the first month till you muscles and tendons get used to being used in a different way. Tendentious is a popular ailment amongst beginner and experienced upright bassist. You can do that 5/10-times a day. Just don't try to pack all your upright practice all at once.
You should use a pre-amp with between the Fishman pickup and your amp. Because the pickup is located so close to the strings the sound is more string sound and less body sound. A pre-amp smoothes that sound out. David Gage pickup is a better choice.
1) 'Learn how to hold it.' You don't hold the bass while playing it. The shoulder of the bass leans into your lower chest/upper stomach area. Your fretting arm elbow is held close to 90-degrees from the body. Your plucking/bowing arm hangs straight down to pluck as close to the end of the fret board as possible.
2) Watch you posture while playing. Slightly bend both knees as if swing a bat or golf club. That 'sports stance' keeps the back straight, relaxing that area and less chance of muscle strain.
You can look at the two 'Bass Lessons to Costa Rica', I posted at www.youtube.com/bassmickeyd where I talk about this.
3) Go slow practice in short spurts. 10-15-minutes, at a time, for the first month till you muscles and tendons get used to being used in a different way. Tendentious is a popular ailment amongst beginner and experienced upright bassist. You can do that 5/10-times a day. Just don't try to pack all your upright practice all at once.
You should use a pre-amp with between the Fishman pickup and your amp. Because the pickup is located so close to the strings the sound is more string sound and less body sound. A pre-amp smoothes that sound out. David Gage pickup is a better choice.
Wow.
I actually didn't have to LEARN how to hold it.
After a few trips to the the latrine it became obvious.
Now wait a minute here, man. You JUST said 'learn how to hold it.' Now, you're saying you DON'T hold it.
Will you make up yer god damn mind?
Where can I get a fretting arm elbow?? The surgeon I talked to only did breast implants.
I think I got ripped off on the purchase of my bass. It don't got no fret board. I bet Joseph Bohmann just forgot to include those mothers on my 1888 instrument.
I ain't too sure how Tendentious applies to an ailment.
If you did mean tendinitis, you're right on....it's pretty damn popular. How's about we post a poll thread....."Most popular ailments amongst beginner and experienced upright bassist (s)."?
Your "fretting arm elbow?" There is also no "fret board" It's a fingerboard. Uh, this is the DB we're discussing. No frets anywhere to be found. "Plucking?" Strings on a DB are specifically not "plucked". Pizzicato is more about pulling.
A pre-amp does not necessarily "smooth out" string sound. It provides proper impedance matching and sometimes other features (e.g., tone control, a high-pass filter, and phase inversion).
Finally, whether the Gage pickup is a better choice depends upon the bass and the player. It's not something subject to such absolute statements.
If I'm not mistaken, in the lesson videos you posted, you're using four-finger "bass guitar" fingering down in the lower positions. I wouldn't suggest that a DB newbie go near that.
My advice to the OP: Get a good DB teacher and go from there.
Greg Clinkingbeard
Commercial User
Mickey
A Full Circle is not the same as a BP100.
The Full Circle is about as close to plug and play as there is, I think.
Are you using the BP100 on the video lessons? It sure sounds like it.
The PUP is just what came installed with the bass (I purchased used). I doubt I'll even use it for a while. Remember I'm a newb.
And as promised, a pick...though I've yet to polish it.
And as promised, a pick...though I've yet to polish it.
Thanks - Now I'm gonna get it to my luthier here and have him look it over, and probably set it up a little differently. I can already tell that I would like the strings a bit higher, and there is some buzz on the G. Even if it needs a complete dressing, I feel like I'm still ahead of the game for a playable bass considering it came with a decent PUP, and a couple of bows.
Looks like I'm on a lucky streak - took the Shen into my luthier yesterday and he said nothing needs to be done. He gave it a look over and checked everything out. It was set up fine by a collegue of his, and all he really needed to was raise the action a little for me. So now it's back home, and ready to play.....I'm wearing my stuff out between the band, and trying to learn a new instrument!
Great news, so you're all set and got a great deal.
A message from the DB language and specs police:
Action: :scowl:
String height:
Background here.
Great news, so you're all set and got a great deal.
A message from the DB language and specs police:
Action: :scowl:
String height:
Background here.
And a friendly reminder that your friendly neighborhood moderator/admin is not a member of this "special ops" unit.
The terminology cliches have already begun with a lot of my friends like;
"Oh dude, you bought a standup bass" or
"You gonna play Stray Cats?" or
"You're gonna play slap now huh?"
or insert 100 million references to rockabilly here!
I actually do play a lot of old stuff in my current band so the references aren't without consideration, but I am approaching it as a new instrument that I would like to build a strong foundation on....not just slap the hell out if it!
"Oh dude, you bought a standup bass" or
"You gonna play Stray Cats?" or
"You're gonna play slap now huh?"
or insert 100 million references to rockabilly here!
I actually do play a lot of old stuff in my current band so the references aren't without consideration, but I am approaching it as a new instrument that I would like to build a strong foundation on....not just slap the hell out if it!
And a friendly reminder that your friendly neighborhood moderator/admin is not a member of this "special ops" unit.
...and a reminder that this friendly user is a member of the light-hearted brigade!
I don't really take any of the terminology stuff too seriously.
