Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is Contrabass-L?
2. How do I subscribe?
3. How much does it cost?
4. How do I quit?
5. How do I post a message?
6. My post didn't show up: what happened?
7. What are acceptable topics?
8. Is the discussion moderated?
9. Can I post instruments for sale?
10. Are the Digests available on the WWW?
11. What is the Sarrusophone List?
12. Plans for the future?
13. Comments? Questions?

1. What is Contrabass-L?

The Contrabass List is an email discussion group focused on bass and contrabass musical instruments, with an emphasis on brass and woodwinds, but without excluding other instruments.

Currently, Contrabass-L is available in "immediate" or digest form. Posts sent to contrabass@contrabass.com by subscribers are collected by the list software and distributed to the subscribers. If the subscribed has elected "immediate", the post gets sent to them right away.  If the subscriber has selected "digest", the post is concatenated into a single message along with all the other posts submitted that day, and sent to the subscriber as one email message.  Posts from people who have not subscribed are automatically rejected.

2. How do I subscribe?

To subscribe, send a message to me at gdgreen@contrabass.com (the automated email system doesn't seem to work), and let me know if you prefer the immediate format or digests.

New subscribers are especially invited to post an introduction, typically describing their interest in the infrasonic, instruments they play, other relevant background, etc. Not required, but appreciated.  Note that by subscribing, you agree to having your posts distributed to other subscribers, and having them archived here on the web.

3. How much does it cost?

The Contrabass list is completely free to all subscribers.

4. How do I quit?

To unsubscribe, send a message to me.

5. How do I post a message?

To post a message to the list, simply send it to contrabass@contrabass.com. The message will automatically be sent out to all subscribers.

6. My post didn't show up: what happened?

I don't guarantee that it will work flawlessly. If you have any trouble getting messages into the list, please let me know at gdgreen@contrabass.com. The first thing to do is to make sure that you're posting from the email account that you subscribed from: the system should reject messages from non-subscribers.  If you can't find your post in the Archives, it could just be that I haven't gotten to that issue yet.

7. What are acceptable topics?

In general, we're interested in the lower-pitched musical instruments, such as the contrabassoon, contrabass clarinets, tuba, contrabass trombone, contrabass flutes, etc. The Contrabass Compendium serves as a good list of the contrabass instruments of interest. Topics related to that are also fair game, such as the physics of sound production, other unusual instruments (the Conn-O-Sax, Heckelphone), the Nuclear Whales, concerts, instruments for sale, etc. Nobody has ever complained that we've strayed too far off topic.

Please do not post warnings about viruses, offers to make money, or petitions for any cause. I'm not saying that such posts are all uniformly illegitimate. Such posts routinely appear on many lists, and we just don't want to see them again.

8. Is the discussion moderated?

So far, we've been a pretty moderate bunch ;-) There hasn't been any occassion where moderation has seemed necessary or appropriate. I'm inclined against moderating discussions, but if someone starts offering magazine subscriptions or warning people about the "Good Times" virus (aka the Good Times virus hoax), steps will be taken to keep them off the list.

9. Can I post Instruments for Sale?

Yes, within reason. I figure that many contrabass-range instruments are either rare or hard to find at reasonable prices, and don't object to anyone offering the occassional instrument for sale. I've even been known to include FS listings from usenet or eBay from time to time.

All I ask is that the instruments be relevant to the group. For example, bass and contrabass clarinets are welcome: soprano clarinets probably aren't. Bassoons, contrabassoons, sarrusophones, bass saxophones, bass flutes, etc., are all welcome, as are unusual instruments (e.g., F-mezzo saxophones, basset horns, straight tenor or baritone saxophones, etc.). Please do not take this as an invitation to post "Selmer oboe for sale" every three days ;-)

10. Are the Digests available on the WWW?

Yes.  The current archive is  indexed at http://www.contrabass.com/contra-archive/c-arch5.html. The digests are all available to anyone who wants to see them.

11. What is the Sarrusophone List?

The Sarrusophone list is hosted on Onelist, and administered by  Bob Greenwade.  It deals almost exclusively with sarrusophones, and is worth a look.  I subscribe myself.  The list also has a home page.

12. Plans for the future?

Contrabass T-shirts! ;-) Seriously, I'm open to suggestions.

13. Comments? Questions?

Feel free to contact me: gdgreen@contrabass.com

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Grant D. Green