One Month Ago

That was when my last post was, I would have updated more frequently but I’ve been insanely busy and just haven’t had time.

Most of it has been work, while the rest of my time comprised of watching Twin Peaks, watching Magnum PI, re-watching all my Quantum Leap’s and watching Bladerunner, which I’ll write another post about in the near future.That and BBC2 is showing the first season of Heroes here in the UK, and I love it.

Oooooo Money!

I haven’t posted here in a while, my grandfather died a few weeks ago and I haven’t felt like doing much. Since his passing I have willingly inherited his CD collection, which is mainly Big Band and Country music, which although I like the slow gritty stuff, I’m not that much of a fan of those big Country ballads, think Rhinestone Cowboy

It was my birthday on the 27th and although I didn’t get much, I did get £200, of which I spent £50 yesterday. I bought the first seasons of Magnum P.I and Twin Peaks and New Super Mario Bros for the DS, a game I’ve been meaning to get for some time.

I’ve also been playing a lot of Tony Hawk’s American Wasteland, which I finished unsurprising quickly. It’s good, but not amazing. Heh, I could say the same for the Simpsons movie, which I saw on youtube the other day. Although, that being said, it was better than I though it would be.

I still have birthday money left over, which I may spent, although I’m not sure yet. I made a big list of movies and TV shows I want to get on DVD, including The Shawshank Redemption, Scarface, and others, which I can’t seem to remember. Oh well.

Double Bassin’

Got my Double Bass the other day, as a present for my 18th, even though its not until the 27th as it was decided that it was more convienient to get it now rather than later.

I haven’t played it yet as I haven’t had a chance to set it up (put the bridge in place and tune it) but it looks awesome. I’ve spent quite a few times today standing with it to get used to the size. Its a 3/4 size bass, and although it has an adjustable end pin, its pretty much to right size for a person my height.

It came around 11am, in a huge cardboard box. The bass itself was inside a hard case, which is literally taller than our ceiling. I thought this would be too big but luckily, there was a gig bag thrown in, so I don’t have to use the hard case. The hard case came free by the way, and since I don’t need it, there’s no space for it for a start, I can sell that for around £120.

The bass is lighter than I thought it would be, and was surprised when I was actually able to lift it at all! Although, a double bass is a fragile instrument, and although I’m going to take care of it, I can’t help fretting. It can’t be stored in a place where it is too hot, the glue holding the pieces together would melt, and I can’t have it somewhere where its too cold, the wood would warp. I need to clean it every now and then too, but since its made of wood, any wood polish will do.

I hope the action isn’t too high once I set it up. If it was a regular bass all I would have to do is adjust the bridge or neck, in this case, if high action was the problem, I would have to take the bridge and sand it down until it was the desired size.

EDIT: I need sandpaper, or better yet, an adjustable bridge. I tuned to G string up to a G, but it was buzzy, so I assume I’ve tuned it to the wrong octave, which makes sense, otherwise the E string would be so loose, it would be unplayable. Of course, it was naive of me to think I’d be able to put the bridge in place, tune the strings, and be able to play straight away, but I’d prefer to learn how to setup a double bass myself, rather than wussing out and spending £60+ for a luthier to do it for me. Once I do have it set up and playable, expect piccys.

Friend’s 18th Coming Up!

Saturday 12th May, should be alot of fun, although its fancy dress, and I was only informed of this yesterday, so I don’t have anything and I can’t get hold of anything that would constitute this. So if anybody asks, I’ve come dressed as “someone who wasn’t properly forwarned about a fancy dress party he was going to attend”.

On the plus side, I do have a glove puppet I could take that will temporarily replace the use of my right hand. So then, if it isn’t the above description, I’ll go dressed as “someone who happens to be wearing a glove puppet on thier right hand”.