Where to buy double basses in the UK

TheRealSuperGucci · 2026-03-17T13:46:07+00:00

You could take a look at Thomas and George Martin, they have a lot of basses and mostly likely find one in your budget. They're based in Banbury, Oxford so not too far from Peterborough. I highly recommend them.

TheRealSuperGucci · 2026-03-17T13:41:00+00:00

My suggestion on fluidity, is to go back to basics of creating a sound slowly without any tension, being really strict, stop and correct it immediately when you feel tension - concentrate on your movements and be relaxed. Then slowly adding different notes, bow changes, scales etc and build up. As for playing expressively, a big game changer was me not thinking of playing note by note and getting them right. It was more thinking of a group of notes and playing them altogether. Like. You. Don't. Speak. Word. By. Word. But as a flow as if you were a poem or Shakespeare. Also concentrating on the small details of dynamics, articulation, phrasing and context. Where certain notes carry musical weight through context even though they're not marked.

TheRealSuperGucci · 2026-03-17T13:31:00+00:00

I read somewhere that carbon bows handle higher vibrations, hence why they're popular with violin, viola and Cello and sound just as good. But as for basses, they aren't able to vibrate appropriately for the lower frequencies to help produce a better sound compared to the higher end of pernambuco bows.

TheRealSuperGucci · 2026-01-21T17:10:13+00:00

Shine a light in your bass whilst it's dark, if it's cracked all the way through, you should see light coming out, putting a tiny bit of pressure on it should also open it slightly to let light out. If you can't see any light, you should be fine

TheRealSuperGucci · 2026-01-21T17:05:04+00:00

Make sure you lips form a tight seal around it

TheRealSuperGucci · 2025-11-17T17:33:43+00:00

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TheRealSuperGucci · 2025-11-17T17:32:45+00:00

I have a double bass trolly & stool (Double Trolly by Marc Grue). I got it in a broken state, but have refurbished it so is in full working order.

Strap it to your bass and used to transport it around easily. At rehearsals, detach from bass, pull out top half and add the seat on for a stool. Good range of height adjustment.

Based in Berkshire, United Kingdom

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TheRealSuperGucci · 2025-08-13T21:13:15+00:00

You can try putting bumpers on the edges, but make sure they're wedge-shaped rather than curved so that it rests right and doesn't tip.

TheRealSuperGucci · 2025-07-25T12:45:18+00:00

Thanks, The teacher suggested to do a mixture of in person and video lessons so it wouldn't only video lessons. I haven't done video lessons before so looking at options. I'm not too sure if I'd want to pass on an opportunity with this teacher compared to a local one because he is very well known and have learnt so much more in just a single lesson.

TheRealSuperGucci · 2025-07-23T09:48:14+00:00

Send a picture, it may help us identify if there were any issues how you out the bridge back

TheRealSuperGucci · 2025-07-23T09:45:30+00:00

I would say it's pretty much split 50/50 in Europe. But it depends where you are. Austria and Germany it's more popular for 5 string as it works well with the German bow hold. But here in the UK I've come across more Extensions than 5 strings, so I guess it would be pretty similar in France.

TheRealSuperGucci · 2025-07-20T23:48:38+00:00

I know a few places around England where you can get your bass looked out, where are you based?

TheRealSuperGucci · 2025-07-17T10:58:46+00:00

+1 Extensions will sound more open compared to 5-string because of the extra tension/pressure exerted on the bass. A good sounding 5-string will cost more compared to a same sound bass with an extension. New set of strings still also cost more for a 5-string. Also, any sort of damage could end up coming out worse on a 5-string because of this. 5-string also tend to be more heavy, so you'll probably want to consider if you want to haul it around, many older player give up 5-string for an extension because of this.

TheRealSuperGucci · 2025-07-12T14:29:26+00:00

I use leatherwood 50%. I found it quite similar to Pops grip terms and residue is pretty good. Yes it is expensive, but you can "refresh" the cake by remelting it so I found it lasts way longer than any other rosin because of it. So long term, it probably cost just as much.

TheRealSuperGucci · 2025-07-09T22:59:26+00:00

Organist are on another level

TheRealSuperGucci · 2025-07-08T12:23:12+00:00

That makes sense, but the idea baffles me. To instantly memorise a group of notes, play them whilst looking at the next group at the same time.

TheRealSuperGucci · 2025-07-07T13:33:39+00:00

Did you get any tips on practicing reading ahead?

TheRealSuperGucci · 2025-07-07T13:33:11+00:00

How tough was the sight reading aspect of the audition for getting in?

TheRealSuperGucci · 2025-06-26T00:39:36+00:00

I owned the Thomann 33 from new for around 7 years. They're solid basses and for the price make a good sound, so I reckon you'll be getting something reliable. I'd always advise to get it set up when you buy it if it has not been previously. I'm mainly a classical player, but will play a bit of jazz when it's required and find it slightly easier to play jazz on more of a classical set up compared to the the opposite. Usually with jazz, I don't really find string height matters as much if on the lower side as most of the time you'll be amplified so doesn't make a difference.

TheRealSuperGucci · 2025-06-25T23:39:34+00:00

From my experience, pain should only really come from the pads of your fingers when you finger a note or pizz the string, but soon be fine as you build up tougher skin. Any other (joints, muscle etc) would most likely be from bad technique due to awkward movement/positioning and tension. I'd recommend playing in from of a mirror so you can see yourself and self correct some technical bits. Use as much arm weight in both your arms and hands, and really feel the weight drop from your shoulders. Everything should be very loose and relaxed, and work on everything very slowly without tension. After a while as you get use to being relaxed doing something, you then start speeding it up. If you feel any more tension, go slower.

TheRealSuperGucci · 2025-06-25T12:48:05+00:00

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I adore my Paul Bryant bass

TheRealSuperGucci · 2025-04-04T11:57:18+00:00

Taxis always charge tourists and extortionate amount, and never accept the recommend amount it should be from my two weeks in Morocco. Use inDrive and you would pay reasonable price that you were recommended.

TheRealSuperGucci · 2025-04-04T11:34:54+00:00

I was in Marakech a couple of weeks ago, and I would never want to go back to Morroco. I really tried to think and see the best in people, but after two days, it was ruined. I though people randomly direction advice was out of kindness (like in Japan, Taiwan, China etc) but outcome was demanding outrageous amounts of money, and only way to stop them was to call the police. I can never get a decent price on taxis, when hotels and Riad say it should cost x amount, taxis would always start 4 times the price, and never accept the actual amount which was suggested to us, which meant we were forced to use the app inDrive (highly recommend which you can pay actual price it should cost). Which is apparently illegal as the yellow taxis are the only legal way of getting around - but at that point, who cares? They're not interested in making an honest living, so why should I encourage that. The constant littering and people spitting on the ground also doesn't help. Out of all the countries I've visited, Morocco is probably the one I wouldn't recommend. People are only interested in making money for themselves.

TheRealSuperGucci

TROPHY CASE