Reply #31: These days I mostly do small jazz gigs.

[MilesColtrane]

Restaurants, clubs, etc.

3-4 months out of the year I do pit orchestra duty for shows that come through town. There used to be a trickle of session work here for me, but that's slowed down so now I get maybe one call every six weeks.

I've got Spirocores on the E and A strings, and Pirastro Chromesteels on the D and G. They seem to be a little more cooperative with the bow.

I'm using a Gage Realist pickup because it doesn't have that midrange and high end bump that sounds bad when you're playing arco. It works well in the pit, but can be a little dark.
For a while now I've wanted to also get a Schertler stat pickup/preamp as it seems to give a nice sound for jazz gigs.

Going through a Fishman Platinum preamp, then into a Acoustic Image Contra amp.

When I have to play both upright and electric, I use a SWR 15" combo amp with some outboard gear and an A/B box.

I've never flown with my upright. I've heard horror stories though.

The bass player with Nancy Wilson flew into town from L.A. (I think) for a gig, When he got his bass back at the airport he found that it was smashed into so much kindling. I think he had it in a Kolstein flight case.

I've been to Europe and Japan/Korea with my vintage MusicMan, was able to carry it on in a gig bag. Only had a problem once, when an airline refused to let me carry it in the cabin. They checked it under the plane in just a gig bag.

I just knew I'd get it back in pieces, but it actually made it back to me unscathed.