Considering EUB - Any suggestions?

[spectorbassguy]

Never played one before but some music we're doing on our praise team the end of November calls for upright (plucking only, no bowing). I want something that will be the easiest to adapt to and won't break the bank.
Current 5 string considerations are:
Dean Pace - about $800.00
Kydd - Carry On 30" scale - about $1650.00
Kydd - Big Kydd 35" scale - about $1800.00
There is a "custom made" 4 string on ebay for $849.00 B.I.N.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=4713&item=3754506543&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

Any helpful comments, suggestions or personal experiences would be appreciated!

 

[Morrow]

I play upright but I have not found an EUB that sounds or feels like the real thing. The shorter scale EUB's will take electric strings - upright strings are expensive. The solid bodied EUB's that I have tried sound more like fretless Pbasses than upright basses to me.I would suggest a teacher and some time to make the transition.

 

[bassmonkeee]

Never played one before but some music we're doing on our praise team the end of November calls for upright (plucking only, no bowing). I want something that will be the easiest to adapt to and won't break the bank.
Current 5 string considerations are:
Dean Pace - about $800.00
Kydd - Carry On 30" scale - about $1650.00
Kydd - Big Kydd 35" scale - about $1800.00
There is a "custom made" 4 string on ebay for $849.00 B.I.N.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=4713&item=3754506543&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

Any helpful comments, suggestions or personal experiences would be appreciated!

Considering the three options you've listed, you're better off just playing a fretless and rolling off some treble, or setting up a bass with flats, and a foam mute by the bridge. The Dean Pace is a joke--there is nothing "upright" about it except for the fact it's played, well, upright. They didn't even radius the fingerboard like an upright. A completely wasted opportunity for a budget upright.

The Kydds are very nice instruments, but, again, they sound like electric fretless basses, albeit a bit more upright like (except to anyone who is actually familiar with the way an upright sounds ).

The eBay instrument is well....leave it on eBay. You're better off.

 

[TSanders]

Have you checked ouy the NS basses. i played one in the studio and I loved it. Ithought it sounded really good for an EUB.

 

[bassmonkeee]

Have you checked ouy the NS basses. i played one in the studio and I loved it. Ithought it sounded really good for an EUB.

Those are very nice, indeed. They are also $4000. I think that doesn't fit the "not breaking the bank" parameter of his request.

 

[cgworkman]

I wouldn't go with that "Custom Made" eBay model.

You should check out whatever (sorry I don't know what it is...) Rhonda Smith (who plays for Prince) uses. When I seen her play it live you couldn't even begin to tell it wasn't a real upright. For what it's worth....

 

[johans]

hey todd

check out NS bass
tony levin uses that ...

 

[spectorbassguy]

hey todd

check out NS bass
tony levin uses that ...

Yeah I figured those would be the best but $3000-$4000 is def NOT in the budget right now. I'll probably just roll back the treble on my fretless like Mr Monkeeee suggested. Thanks for your input guys!

 

[Samingo]

In the spirit of the thread though, any suggestions on a full bodied double bass?

 

[johans]

Yeah I figured those would be the best but $3000-$4000 is def NOT in the budget right now. I'll probably just roll back the treble on my fretless like Mr Monkeeee suggested. Thanks for your input guys!

sorry cant give you a better suggestion

yeah
i think fretless is your way to go first now
add some flats and work on your eq to resemble eu ;p
there you go !

 

[tkarter]

Had a P bass Fender 9050 flats and with the treble rolled off and the foam mute it sounded really close to a double bass. Play open strings when you can you should fake em out with that kind of combo.

tk

 

[johans]

Had a P bass Fender 9050 flats and with the treble rolled off and the foam mute it sounded really close to a double bass. Play open strings when you can you should fake em out with that kind of combo.

tk

any pic particularly on the ... foam mute?

 

[vonfog]

I play a Zeta crossover bass. It's 34" scale, and you can bow it. Sounds pretty darn good to my ears. You can make it really thumpy, or you can make it sound like a fretless with lots of mwah. I paid $850 used. They pop up on eBay about once a month.

Adam

 

[tkarter]

No pic on the foam mute. All it is was shipping foam cut to one inch width. Just touching the strings and just ahead of the bridge(touching it). It should just barely touch the strings. Not enough to kill them just enough to mute the overtones.

To achieve the Double Bass sound I would say in my experience that Fender 9050's come the closest. They got some thump that other flats don't have. IMHO. The Jazz bass soloed front pickup and those strings let me do one convincing bluegrass gig and that is what I am putting forth in my experience in this subject. I don't play a double bass worth beans. open strings also help convince double bass mode. The fretless homemade by defretting an Essex P was the real deal but I canned it.

Spectorbass, I offer to send you my Fender Jazz equipped with the Fender flats and mute for your use if you think I can get it there in time. Just let me know I will overnight if it will help you out bro. I have your address. Email me, I will give you my phone.

tk

 

[tkarter]

Spector the Jazz is fretted but it does passable on the double bass sound too.


tk

 

[Zombiegrrl]

I think that you can get a semi upright sound from a bongo but i may be wrong, I havn't played one in 8 months...goin up to austin this weekend to take a look at what's available in the area of bongos.

 

[spectorbassguy]

No pic on the foam mute. All it is was shipping foam cut to one inch width. Just touching the strings and just ahead of the bridge(touching it). It should just barely touch the strings. Not enough to kill them just enough to mute the overtones.

To achieve the Double Bass sound I would say in my experience that Fender 9050's come the closest. They got some thump that other flats don't have. IMHO. The Jazz bass soloed front pickup and those strings let me do one convincing bluegrass gig and that is what I am putting forth in my experience in this subject. I don't play a double bass worth beans. open strings also help convince double bass mode. The fretless homemade by defretting an Essex P was the real deal but I canned it.

Spectorbass, I offer to send you my Fender Jazz equipped with the Fender flats and mute for your use if you think I can get it there in time. Just let me know I will overnight if it will help you out bro. I have your address. Email me, I will give you my phone.

tk

Dude I REALLY appreciate the generous offer. I'll probably just get some 9050's and try the foam thing on my fretless. Thanks again for the offer and the great suggestions, sir.

 

[Morrow]

I spent years trying to get an "upright" sound with an electric bass. Fretless , flats, and foam will give you a nice muted thump but the only way to really have it sound like an upright is to get an upright.There is only one way to get that "woodyness". I have not found an EUB that has that either.

 

[tkarter]

Let us know how it goes Spector.
Good luck

tk

 

[spectorbassguy]

I just talked to a local guitar pal of mine and he knows a guy that has a couple of uprights and he might rent one to me for a couple of months. That would help me decide if I want to pursue upright w/o spending a boatload of cash up front.