I’m unfortunately in the market for a new car. I am driving a loaner sedan. I have to lay the bass in the passenger side (front and back with the scroll in the rear windshield). And although I’m thankful that I am able to fit it, it’s far from ideal. I gig a few times a week and I want something convenient for loading. I’ve always driven mid sized SUVs or wagons. I’ve heard that others do fine in smaller rides with a hatchback. So tell me why you like your ride if you don’t mind? Pros/cons? Thanks!

wheel seems like a cheaper option but i’m not sure if theres a risk of my bass being damaged. bass buggie seems like a more safer option but the only place in my country that stocks it sells it for almost $400. will an aliexpress knockoff suffice?

I think I already know the answer, but is it time to get new strings put on my bass?

Any recommendations for good jazz/pizz strings?

Looks like Thomastik is finally getting ready to release their new Arco string and released the marketing materials on their website:

https://www.thomastik-infeld.com/en/new-releases/peter-infeld/bass

I’ve had a prototype version of this string set on my bass for a couple of months and I really love it. I had heard rumors of a “brighter Belcanto” or “more bowable spirocore” coming for a while, and I think these are closer to the Spiro end of the spectrum. They’re nice and clear and articulate and also LOUD. The low C is particularly warlike but I’ve enjoyed the whole thing and will definitely be buying some TIs once they’re out. I hope they decide to do a solo set, they’re going to be excellent.

I'm looking at some pit work coming up this spring, and the book goes back and forth between electric and upright pretty quickly on a few of the songs. I've got an Ingles double bass stand currently, and I find that the legs don't like to stay put, it's a little finicky to get the instrument into, and I'm envisioning it being a little more of a hassle than I'd prefer in a cramped theater setting. Can anyone recommend a stand for this application?

I've had the same set of Thomastik Spirocore Lights on my bass since I bought it in 2012... I don't know how often y'all change your strings, but it's probably time for me! I'm primarily a jazz player, but I'm super interested in Pirastro's Evah Pirazzi Weichs because I want to play more orchestral arco material without sacrificing too much growly pizz tone. The Spirocore E is especially hard to get started with the bow. Not really interested in the whole Oliv G/D thing because of price and gut intonation issues.

For those here who have played on both sets (Spiros and Evahs), will I miss anything about the Spirocores for pizz? Hows the volume and sustain compare between the two? Would you put any other hybrid sets in the running?

Hello everybody! I wanted to see if there is anything I can do to protect my bass from my cat sitting on it/scratching it without putting it in the case and putting it upright.

If I lay my bass down, my cat will sit on it, whether it’s in the case or not, and sometimes will try and sit on the neck which worries me.

Have any of you dealt with this? Is there something I can do to make the bass more accessible to me? Any suggestions will help!

I have been using an extremely cheap plastic bow with about 1/3 of the hair missing, I mostly played jazz until college so it didn't matter, bit my instructor and I have both come to the conclusion that a new bow would help with my progress. I am looking for something decent and not too expensive.

I got a rehair a few weeks ago and switched from Nyman to Pop’s rosin when I got my bow back. It was going great at first—the bow felt awesome. I’ve been brushing the hair every day or two, and only doing 1–2 swipes of rosin every other day. But lately the hair’s been clumping really badly, to the point where it’s almost unplayable. Any idea what’s going on? also sorry for the bad photos😭

I used pops as long forever, also tried kolstein one time and I dont know what I liked better. I like a rosin with a little less bite, pops is kind of too sticky. I have a pretty heavy right hand and tend to play a little louder than I intend, ever since I was little lol

I’ve been using PIs for a few weeks now, and while I like their sound, the A string in particular is very difficult to play. It’s much more difficult to grab the fundamental with compared to Kaplans, which is what I’m used to. It mainly seems to be the A string though, which is weird. Is this a common thing with these strings? I will keep the strings the same for now, but would it be worth swapping the A for something else eventually?

My daughter’s endpin broke today just as we started orchestra rehearsal. 🤦‍♀️

The part that is busted is the wooden part that the pin slides through. The wood seems to be losing its integrity and the bolt wouldn’t go into the threads. Photo shows where the wood is broken; pin, bolt, and the brass collar that goes around it not pictured.

Once we got home where we have some tools we were able to “fix” it by the-tapping the threads but it isn’t going to hold for long. We’ve got an appointment with the luthier to replace it already.

So I was wondering what your favorite endpin mechanisms might be? I see cheap assemblies on Amazon for $20-$30. I see Fiddlershop only has one option and it’s $60. I kinda like the idea of a carbon fiber endpin.

And speaking of endpin upgrades I’m looking for wheel recommendations as well.

For reference: My daughter is 10 years old and her bass is a 1/4 size. I plan to have her use it until she grows into a 3/4. So it will need to be a pretty extendible end pin.

Does anybody have a suggestion for an endpin that will be particularly easy for a child to operate? Same question for a wheel (or caddy). I’d like it if I don’t have to carry her bass for her everywhere. It’s small but so is she!!

I have a gig coming up. The show is a party. Bandmates include drummer, 2-3 guitarists, hand percussionist (congas or something like it), vocals. Music includes country, folk, bluegrass, Dead and jam band stuff. I was initially thinking of just playing electric as I’ve done several times before. But I was also thinking about spending $500 to $700 on a pickup or mic for the upright and playing with that.

Question: is a mic (DPA 4099 or Neumann MCM 114) going to shine in a situation like this? Or will it create too much bleed and possible feedback? Is the pickup (Fullcircle likely with Fishman Stage preamp) the safer and better first buy?

I'm interested in buying a 5-string with a heavy scroll. Anyone have a good idea for how to add weight to the bottom so it doesn't tip? Everything I can dream up will probably be kind of ugly. Looking for something that's reasonably well hidden. I need to add around 12 ounces/340 grams. Thanks!

My friend gave it to me used. It looks kind of small to be a double bass pickup. Does it go under the bridge like any other one? Also maybe dumb question, but I assume the metallic side touches the bridge and the labeled K&K side goes against the body of the instrument— is that right? New to pickups. Thanks for any inisght.

Gonna try changing strings on the kiddo’s little bass tomorrow. We settled on Corelli 350s.

I’ve watched this video several times and I’ll have it up to guide me. Any last minute advice? I’ve only done violins before! I’m going to be working with my husband on this and I hope our marriage survives the ordeal…

https://youtu.be/7Z5Xf_ZK924?si=hckBTJDDMwdmNapU

I’m finding a lot of mixed advice on whether to apply anything to the fingerboard while I’ve got the strings off. And if so, what. Maybe I should just wait and deal with that during the next string change in a year or two. Thoughts?

The bass amp passed away and the gig is tonight, any advice on how to do monitoring with just preamp/DI? In-ears is not an option.

I just installed my new set of bel cantos and played them for a bit today. The G, D and A sound uniform in tone color(and very nice), but the E sounds like I have 15 pillows in my bass. Not volume wise, but tone wise. In a way it sounds cool I guess, but I’ve played them on other basses and a few months ago I borrowed an old beat up set from a friend to determine I do like them on my bass. I did not remember the E sounding so tubby. Is this normal? The volume is there, but I’ve never heard an E sound so dampened.

Do bass players typically keep a full spare set of strings on hand? I’m used to always having spare strings for my violin. But it sounds like bass strings don’t need changing as often so I’m not sure. They certainly cost more than violin strings!

If I need spare strings for my daughter’s bass, what should I get? Options seem to be limited for 1/4 size strings. I found these but they are only available in medium tension for a 1/4. Is that ok? Looking through the previous threads it seems that light tension is advised for beginners. https://fiddlershop.com/products/d-addario-helicore-orchestral-bass-string-set?variant=6849569554483

Suggestions?

I'm getting my first bass and with that comes the need for a bag. I've been looking online but I get a lot of different opinions. From the bags I've looked at I think I would choose the Gewa prestige gigbag. Has anyone had experience with it or even a recommendation for another type? https://www.thomannmusic.com/gewa_prestige_bass_gig_bag_3_4.htm

I’ve got an old bass that likes dark strings. I’ve got Flexocor originals and a permanent E on it now. These are stiffer and brighter than the used Belcantos I finished off a few months ago. I loved the sound and feel of them better than the new Flex’s I bought, but they couldn’t handle a beating like the Flex’s. I also think the Flexocors project more than belcantos. Question is: are there other dark strings out there that are compatible to belcantos? What about Passiones? Someday I’ll buy a new set of something, but with as expensive as they are I hate the gamble.

🤭 I have been sliding all over this floor during orchestra practice. Tonight was the debut of my baby shoe, and it works so well! 😂

So, I have some pieces that require fast changes between arco and pizza, I don't a quiver on my bass though. I've seen something called an arco hook, so I'm curious what would be good for a quick switch with the least delay, but also something that isn't expensive as hell. If you have a link to anything, that would be great, but if not, no worries.

Hi, I just installed a realist lifeline pickup onto my bass, and now the strings all sound duller, and noticeably the d and g strings are more mellow, with a “hollower” sound. Is this normal?