Taking up Double Bass in 2007

Kev77 · Post by **Kev77** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 1:05 pm

Im working on getting into double bass , anyone recomend a teacher? I've been out to see Pete whats his face at the double ass shop.,., any good advic or links or free basses, or whatever?

Rog · Post by **Rog** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 1:30 pm

Have fun Kev - its a different instrument for sure!!

If you're near Napier, Marty Forrer is a good contact. He's a bloody nice bloke too, even though, sadly he's into American V8s. (everyone has to have some skeletons in their closet)

ash · Post by **ash** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 2:15 pm

Lenker music has just the thing for you:

Double the bass, same great price!!

Hewitt's Fiddle shop might be worth a look. John Hewitt is a double basser by all accounts.

Kristie · Post by **Kristie** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 3:03 pm

If your near Tauranga, I used to learn Double Bass from a guy named Alan Duff. I think that was his name anyway. Was a loooong time ago.

But I'm guessing your in Auckland, so thats probably not much use.

Fill in your location thing properly!

Jenesis · Post by **Jenesis** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 3:18 pm

I used to learn Double Bass from a guy named Alan Duff

Hilary's dad, or the guy that wrote Once Were Warriors?

Kristie · Post by **Kristie** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 3:30 pm

Jenesis wrote:
I used to learn Double Bass from a guy named Alan Duff
Hilary's dad, or the guy that wrote Once Were Warriors?

I think, a differnt Alan Duff, but hey, you never know.... He could have been wearing those giant false eyebrows so no one would recognise him during lessons

sambrowne · Post by **sambrowne** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 4:56 pm

Alberto at Massey university is your man. That is all.

ash · Post by **ash** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 9:33 pm

sambrowne wrote:Alberto at Massey university is your man. That is all.

Of course. You are correct. Alberto is the man. That is indeed all.

DarcyPerry · Post by **DarcyPerry** » Tue Jan 16, 2007 7:39 am

I'm seeing Martin Winch tonight. I can ask him for Alberto's number?

willow13 · Post by **willow13** » Tue Jan 16, 2007 3:47 pm

Hewitt's Fiddle shop might be worth a look. John Hewitt is a double basser by all accounts.[/quote]

Is hewitts still going?.....are they still on dominion rd?....can never see it when I drive down there

good luck with the learning.......... man I use to play double bass when I was in 5th form (w....a....y back in 1987) only played for about 6mths...my teacher said I was really good, I could find the right note on the fretless wonder after she only played it on the piano once....gave up because all I wanted to learn was guitar, and the DB to a 15 year old is "like totally gay".......man wish I had stayed with it......

Kev77 · Post by **Kev77** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 9:19 pm

any leads on the alberto guy would be good, I went to hewitts but a mate told me that the DB he got from there had to be set up else where properly,.,.
Anyone know the diffrence between a 4/4 size and and a 3/4? is it neck scale or just the body size?

ash · Post by **ash** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 10:26 pm

Pete McGregor would definetly have contact details for Alberto. He's a lecturer at Massey-Albany in all kinds of bass playing and tells some seriously cool stories of playing with some seriously famous dudes.

I think 3/4 would be smaller in all respects. They are in violins and classical guitars.

Rog · Post by **Rog** » Thu Jan 18, 2007 6:18 am

It all depend what style of music you want to play, Kev. 3/4 is only good for waltzes....

Kev77 · Post by **Kev77** » Sat Jan 20, 2007 11:02 pm

oh very good, Im not a giant but I have some pies in the pie bank, maybe i should go 4/4 - or maybe half size and play it like a ukelele

zdali · Post by **zdali** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 7:29 am

IANADB, but my sister plays one for youth symphony orchestra, so here goes...

3/4 is indeed a scaled down version of a full bass. Which one you pick is pretty much a matter of height. Try both and see what fits. I find sisters 3/4 a bit on the small side and i'm 6'1.

Like acoustic guitars you can get laminated and solid tops. Laminated ones are cheaper and solid tops sound better, for a given definition of better

Be prepared for major string expenditure. Full set of string will probably cost you upwards of $600... As a general rule, if you bow the bass, you'll need flatwound strings. Good news is that strings tend to last at least couple of years of heavy use.

PM me if you'd like me to pass on sister's tutors details.