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This pandemic has certainly put a major dent in a huge number of our usual options for playing live over the last year or so. Now, with many states and cities starting to relax some of the restrictions, I hope that this means you'll have some renewed opportunities to make music publicly - and safely - once again. But since most of us have been "out of it" for a while, it might be helpful to refocus ourselves with some "resolutions" (kind of like a belated New Year's Resolution list) moving forwa …

Sometimes a fresh look is all you need. Conventions. Patterns. We're pretty much all creatures of habit. From the music we enjoy, to the "licks" we play when we improvise, to how we approach problem solving; we often fall back on the familiar, the tried and true... basically, that which seems obvious or comfortable.It's only natural; cognitive scientists have studied the brain and found that our incredibly complex mind often resorts to "shortcuts" and conditioning to quicken decision-making. It' …

Bob Gollihur coined a phrase/acronym a long time ago - the "TZO." It stands for "Twilight Zone Occurrence." We use it regularly, whenever we just can't explain why something works (or didn't work, but now does.) Every once in a while, your bass, your amp, or some other aspect of your playing world gets derailed by something that you can't quite explain. Maybe your bass develops a random rattle or buzz that you cannot locate. Or perhaps your amp suddenly won't power on, when it's been super-relia …

Most of our products ship for free, but a few of them don't. Here's why.  Every once in a while, I get someone who asks (or complains) about how a particular item on the site has a shipping charge, and that the charge seems to them to be unreasonably high. For example, we sell a bass stand for around $58, and when you add it to the cart, the shipping (especially if you live on the west coast) could be as high as $40 or more. This might seem unreasonable to most - that's almost as much as th …

It's not what they were designed for, but here's how to do it. The electric upright basses from NS Design have become one of the more popular options for bassists, and for good reasons. Ned Steinberger's clean, modern design aesthetic is attractive and ergonomic.Are they a perfect "portable" substitute for your full-bodied acoustic upright? No, not really. And I suspect that they weren't really intended to be. The way I read it, Ned wasn't trying to "recreate the upright" in a smaller footp …

Going Back in Time - here's a Guest Blog Post from Bob, a "reprint" from a few years ago! Every once in a while, I like to share little random tips I've come up with over the years. Some help you keep track of your stuff, others can save your bacon on a gig. For your enjoyment, and hopefully edification, here is the latest collection (some of these are from Mark as well.) I love the little Avery 05422 (1/2" x 1 3/4") removable self-adhesive labels (or Staples generic equivalent). I jot dates fo …

I'm letting you in on some of my money-saving secrets today. There are some great ways you can save some money when buying from Gollihur Music, and I'm going to let you know some of the easiest ones. Here are the top three!Take advantage of our Free ShippingCustomers in the USA get free shipping on most orders over $50. Even AK/HI/PR get the free shipping on strings and most small items (some larger products carry reduced shipping charges). If you have some small items you're looking to get that …

First-time prospective bass owner? It's time for "the talk."I talk to a lot of players who are searching for a first "real" bass for themselves. Usually, the conversation starts with, "I've been playing electric bass for years, and think it's time to make the jump to the upright bass, because I've always wanted one." Or, maybe it's a dialogue with a parent, on behalf of their child -- looking for a replacement for a rental or a school instrument -- and it's high time to get their kid a bass that …

When is a deal not a deal? Just like everyone, I like paying less. In fact, I've talked about it quite a bit in our newsletters over the years - hunting bargains is a bit of a hobby of mine. Of course, my wife says I'm destined to "go broke, saving money," but I digress... Product counterfeiting is a real thing. D'Addario was openly highlighting their issues with it back in 2010, with this blog post (which specifically talks about illegal copies of their guitar strings.) And, awhile b …

Yes, you can teach an old dog(house) new tricks. We are very fortunate to play an instrument with a long, proud tradition. From its beginnings in (most estimate) 17th century Europe, to the more manageable, modern basses we play today, those of us whom the bass has chosen have a rich legacy to live up to. So it's natural to feel like we ought to to stick to certain historical and traditional conventions that we take for granted. But sometimes it pays to think "outside the box." For …

This list is in no particular order. Updated from an original concept by Bob Gollihur. Bridge Creep - As we continually tune up our strings, those strings try to drag the bridge towards the fingerboard. This can result in poor acoustic sound quality (as feet lose firm contact with the bass table), a decline in pickup sound quality, and a permanently warped and frequently falling bridge. Keep an eye on it, your bridge should be perfectly perpendicular (a 90 degree angle) to the bass' top; usuall …

We're more than a store - we're your upright bass information destination.Way back in the 1990s, Gollihur Music got its start because Bob (my Dad) was hosting a website.It was a simple site, where he mostly posted a bunch of links to upright bass-related things he'd found in his searching around online (this was WAY before Google), and he thought it might be nice to share those links with others who might benefit from them. Why? It was just something he did, simply because he had the wherewithal …

"If a man made it, another man can fix it."There's a strongly held opinion that the setting up and repair of the doublebass is some sort of a "mysterious art;" that things that involve making some sawdust on one's bass should only be done by professional luthiers. And yes, there is definitely some merit to that point of view -- there are jobs that require an in-depth understanding (and quite often, expensive, specialized tools). And, as I have learned from experience, some of the bigger, more co …

The String Is the Thing. A large part of our daily business - and a large percentage of calls we take seeking guidance - concerns strings. It makes sense; strings are one of the few "wear items" on a bass; unlike pickups, amps, and the basses themselves, they eventually wear out and need to be replaced. Perhaps more importantly, they are also an item that is easiest to change, when you're looking to improve or alter the way your bass sounds, responds, and/or "feels." So we get a lot of q …

From now until the end of February, your product reviews earn FREE CREDITS towards your Purchases! We've always done our best to have the most useful, real-world product descriptions on our website. But many customers want the added reinforcement of the honest, unflinching reviews by other customers just like them. Or, more accurately, just like you. With our new website, we have the ability to collect a …