Does anyone have leads to dealers and prices for this instrument?

Has anyone auditioned this instrument? How does it sound?

I've seen all of Yamaha's press releases, puffery and spec sheets; I just wanted to know if anyone has had a personal experience with it.

I'd like to try one myself. I asked about it a local string shop in Toronto who carries the silent violins, violas and cellos and the clerk flatly replied that Yamaha didn't make a bass version. I then mentioned that I had just seen it profiled in a recent Bass Player Mag. Did I mention that I don't much care for that particular store? :)


[Edited by Rob W on 11-17-2000 at 10:36 PM]

Hey Rob, sounds like you were dealing with SHAR!

Originally posted by Rob W
I'd like to try one myself. I asked about it a local string shop in Toronto who carries the silent violins, violas and cellos and the dumba$$ flatly replied that Yamaha didn't make a bass version. I then mentioned that I had just seen it profiled in a recent Bass Player Mag. Did I mention that I don't much care for that particular store? :)


Give 'em a break, it was just introduced. Yamaha dealers around Boston don't have them either.

The cellos sell (at discount) for almost $2000 so the bass aint going to be cheap and with that weird body contour it won't be as transportable as a "stick" bass, either.

Output jacks are 1/8" stereo (!!!) since it's main application is a practice instrument (used with phones...it even has onboard reverb!!!).

Originally posted by brianrost

The cellos sell (at discount) for almost $2000 so the bass aint going to be cheap and with that weird body contour it won't be as transportable as a "stick" bass, either.



The body contour is removable, at least on the bass.
Get a look here:
http://www.yamaha.co.jp/english/product/silent_b/features.html

DAMN, I LOVE THAT THING!!!

It certainly looks good. I suspect the arco tone will be quite good since it is similar in design to the Silent Violin and Cello which would certainly be designed for mostly arco playing. That would certinaly be very important to me since I hardly ever play without my bow.

Well, this review of the Silent Cello from ICS was less than complementary, at least with respect to the instrument's ability to conform to the response of its acoustic counterpart.

http://www.cello.org/Newsletter/Reviews/silent.htm

You probably won't find a dealer that currently carries them in North America as, according to Yamaha-USA, the "Official Release Date" will not occur until after January 2001. The info specs are from Yamaha-Japan). Yamaha-USA only has a "press release." (Might as well leave it off your Christmas Wish List this year.)

Actually, I just stumbled across one in another Toronto store (Long & McSomething-or-other) just as they were first taking it out of the box to put it on display. I had the honour of being both the first person in the store to play it and the first one to be disappointed by it... :(
Ok, so it may have been due to the fact that they didn't have decent headphones to play it through, or a decent bow to play with (and of course the personal suckage factor always comes into play...) but the poor thing sounded like the greenest piece of wood that has just floated across the Pacific. Really nasaly with a sharp cutting high-end. Plus they're trying to push it for $4000, sheesh...
I went in a couple of weeks later and asked why it hadn't sold yet and they admitted that it doesn't give a very good sound. Maybe that's why Yamaha is so late in adding it to their silent instrument line. Or maybe it is a good instrument and the silly store doesn't know what to play it through. Let's all hope for the latter...

It was reviewed in the current Bass Player magazine-- they were highly critical of its sound.

I have a Silent Cello, and it's good for one thing only IMHO..to practice without waking up the rest of the family. Given its design, it comes close to feeling like a real cello. So I'd assume that the Silent Bass probably suits the same needs but doesn't really fit the bill as the end all EUB that's intended to replicate the actual sound of a UB.

Originally posted by brianrost
Give 'em a break, it was just introduced. Yamaha dealers around Boston don't have them either.
[/B]


i belive the Mars Music in Natick MA on rte.9 has one of these at least they have some thing that looks alot like it.
i don't play DB so i didn't look that close but that place loves Yamaha
give them a call
15086502071
unless the number gets deleted because i posted a phone number, in that case the number would be 411

The first thing to do with it is strip of the Super Sensitive strings and put on something like Tomastiks. I also run mine through a SansAmp Bass DI which really helps. Its otherwise a great instrument to play if you like the URB feel. Also its does'nt play well through most electric bass amps, although it sounds good through and SWR California Blonde. I use an Acoustic Image Contra and that sounds pretty good. The sansamp tube emulation and a little drive makes it quite woody. I never would have bought it for 4000, I paid 3000 Canadian, but Yamaha had to repair shipping damage so I got it a dealer's cost...I still am not completely convinced this is the axe for me, but at that price I can probably sell it. The soft case I bought for it is really crappy...

[Edited by archtop on 12-17-2000 at 03:12 PM]

Originally posted by Bob Gollihur
It was reviewed in the current Bass Player magazine-- they were highly critical of its sound.

I played all the eub's offered at the last winter NAMM and thought the Yamaha instrument was the least of them all. The sound to my ears was kinda compressed in a very un-alive way. Considering what they want for one of these and the ever increasing number of other eub's available (some for A LOT less $$$) I'd recommed giving this one the pass. I'd rather bite down on a file and rip it outta my mouth than crack a BP Mag these days but they are right to be crital of the Silent Bass's sound.

Well like I said the first thing to do is to get rid of the SuperSensitive strings. I mean what is a EUB anyway? Its either a stick with a smallish hollow curvy box thing on the end, which presumably gives it a chance to have a woody sound, or its some kind of a stick with strings. The on- board electronics if there are any can make it or break it perhaps. But I don't think the sound of the preamp on the Yamaha Silent Bass is so bad actually, the nasally sound originates with the strings supplied with the bass. They say the NS Designs CR4 has a fairly woody sound for a stick, but I have'nt heard it first hand yet. The Yamaha is overpriced for its sound, but the sound can be tweaked, its just nobody has given it a fair trial yet I guess. Still, for that kind of money you would think it would be a contender right out of the cheap cardboard box they ship it in....

http://www.kolstein.com/instruments/bass/b1472/b1472_1.jpg
Dear bassfriends !
Sorry, but I have to ask...

Are you looking at these creatures only because
they are easier to handle and have less feedback ?
Or is there something still unrevealed to me ?

IMHO these EUB are just to uggly. Never would
such a creature cross my doorstep as the world is
full of "nice girls" (read real upright bases).

Kind regards,
CV
don´t kill me ;-))

Well, I am somewhat interested in them because I'm interested in having a incredibly even yet natural LOUD double bass sound - especially arco.

I have to admit to being quite a snob when it comes to the prospect of amplifying my own double bass. I'm so absolutely in love and in tune with its purely acoustic tone, I hate more than anything to amplify it because it never comes close to sounding as good as it does acoustically.

As someone who is also an avid electric bass (guitar) player, I appreciate the much more consistent and controllable tone avilable from electric basses. I have great faith that the answer to ultimately achieving great, even amplified double bass tone lies in exploring and developing electric double basses.

I was initially excited over the Yamaha Silent Bass since it appeared that it was definitely geared toward essentially classically trained bass players who were looking for a very arco friendly electric bass. Reports haven't been great so far, but since I haven't played one myself, I can't say for sure until I do. Even then, as a few people have mentioned, maybe some tinkering with string brands, setup and amplifiers may substantially improve the results.

Hello RobW
thanks for your reply ! I believe that makes us two snobs at this forum....
the pure acoustic tone vs the electryfied...

Just a few thoughts after reading the Yamaha sitepage.

I believe this is only the "second" generation of EUB and not the final developement.
The Yamaha presents some interesting and useful solutions with the pre amp.

Would´nt the ultimate solution be a MIDI pick-up that is combined
with a special sampler ? I believe so.
The Yamaha is trying to create a tone wich it realy does not posess in it´s
own construction of the wood.

Can you imagine a soundbank in the sampler with most of the great instruments such as Testore, Goffriller etc. You could also sample your own acoustic bass !
These samples could be posted and downloaded on the Internet.
And then reedited in the following PC program. You could combine
different basses (samples) let say the EA string from a Testore with
the DG strings form an old English masterbass. It wuld also be
possible to use only the attack from one bass while the actual tone came from
an other instrument.
Of course all kind of sounds could be combined into "new" creative layers of
sound with endless combinations.

If I look at my own rather simple MIDI studio most of the technical inventions are
already there. My synth (Korg Triton) has 640 user programs, 64 drum kits and
a wast range of effects such as reverb, chorus, echo, phaser, flanger. The internal
sampler offers 48khz, 16 Mbytes of stereo sampling.......I could go on.

We also have today a good range of multi effect processor such as the Pod.
So, who will be the first to offer bassplayers the "future" ?
a EUB Midi pick up....or does it already excist ?
Maybe Yamaha will as they already have sampler and synths in theire productrange
or maybe Roland as they already have Midi pick ups in production ?

IMHO a brilliant idea.

Kind regards;
Christian V

C.VELTMAN: After reading Your last post I decided to introduce to world the first Silent Jazz Band. Yamaha has silent brasses & reeds, drums can be played with MIDI pads, keyboard is not a problem, and now when we got the silent bass, the whole band can be put together.
In our first gig we will play our silent instruments, us wearing headphones so only we the members of the Silent Jazz Band can hear what we actually play. The audience ( who gives a s**t anyway ) can listen to Miles´ kind of blue from a record and be happy.
The next gig will introduce The Chaos Personal Mixer, so everybody can bring their instruments, plug them into the mixing tagle and jam with the others, of course through MIDI, so they can sound like PC, Miles, Coltrane and whoever they like.
The third and the last gig will introduce The Silent Jazz Band consert without the band. The audience can plug their headsets, instruments and own soundbanks through the internet to our homes, where we sit and and drink beer.
____________________
I´ve seen The Future of The Jazz

I believe Zeta and Clevinger already offer MIDI pickups for EUBs. I have never heard any player of repute use one, though.

Okay...moving further and further from the original topic: has anyone tried the Silent Brass systems? Good buy or waste of money?

I almost fell of my chair reading your reply
...very funny indeed ! :-)
Have you been smoking that famous Finish Moose**** again ? :-))

Merry X-Mas !
CV

Dear C: thanks, but if I´d been smokin something, I think I would know about it. Doesn´t mean that I wouln´t like to have been...
I think by the time I wrote it I just had returned home from a bar gig, playin´ crappy arrs of stupid christmas songs to the audience who really thought we played Jazz...
By the way, I will do that today again ( seems like there are lots of that kind of gigs around these days...) and propably I´ll come back with similar ideas.
Merry Christmas to You too ;-)

PS. Out of reasons yet unknown to myself, my trumpet player actually wants to try the Silent horn.

While he's at it, tell him to check out Yamaha's "Silent Heckler" line of EAC's in the electronic audience control series. According to the specs, these puppies can yell over 400 clever phrases such as "FREE BIRD" and "PLAY SOMETHING YOU KNOW!" at a whopping 140db into a set of foam covered, H-rated earphones in the middle of the night without waking the neighbors.....

Originally posted by C.Veltman


IMHO these EUB are just to uggly. Never would
such a creature cross my doorstep as the world is
full of "nice girls" (read real upright bases).

Kind regards,
CV
don´t kill me ;-))


UGGLY - HELL NO - they are BUTT UGGLY. Look like a skeleton that has been stored in some biology lab closet for 60 years.

I'm with you EDWARD, sorry I missed this one also.

Mark

I tried one of the newer Yamaha silent double basses in the shop yesterday, and was offered quite a low price for it, i was wondering if anybody had any knowledge of these... I am interested in it purely for the ease of transport, and for big band tours.... Obviously as natural a sound as possible is a key factor...

I have played one several times, only because I think they look really cool.

I am sure they could be set up to play really well. However, I think the tone is pretty sterile. Far from "as natural a sound as possible." IMO of course.

I think you would find other EUBs out there with a sound the more closely resembles a DB.

I tried one and really did not like the feel or the sound at all. The Eminence and the Alter Ego were a lot nicer. I thought the Eminence was the best.

I tried one and really did not like the feel or the sound at all. The Eminence and the Alter Ego were a lot nicer. I thought the Eminence was the best.
Adrian: were you able to find the Eminence and Alter Ego in Canada?
If so, where?

Regards,
François

I had high hopes for the Yamaha when it came out, but after playing one through amplification was very disappointed. I guess I just don't care for sound of peizo pickups. Not long after that, I bought my Clevinger...with a mag pickup in addition to Martin's standard bridge system. It was spendy, but worth it IMO - it seriously rocks. :cool:

Adrian: were you able to find the Eminence and Alter Ego in Canada?


I played them at the IAJE Conference in Toronto last year.

Adrian

One poster to the 2xbasslist just mentioned that there is a new version of the Yamaha, the 200 model, that's MUCH better than the original. Apparently, like the Eminence, it's semi-acoustic. I haven't seen one yet, but I'd love to hear comments from anyone who has.

Looks like they've updated their website to show the SLB-200. Looks kinda like the alter-ego. Poking around, seems like the price came down a little bit too. European websites are selling it for around 2000 euros. I guess it can now compete with all the Eminence's, Azola, what-have-you. Not sure if it was available before, but it seems that they've now added an optional knee rest. I played an Eminence for the first time last night and found it very unsatisfying. Not having a knee rest like the real thang made a big difference. It also felt kinda chincy and weird compared to my "big momma".

http://www.yamaha.co.jp/english/product/strings/silent_electric/silent_b/index.html

The winter issue of Double Bass magazine had a blurb on the SLB-200. The blurb indicated that the SLB-200 was targeted to jazz and modern music, whereas the 100 was targeted to classical. This seems counter to what I would expect given the semi-acoustic nature of the 200, but perhaps it's all marketing baloney.

It's true that the SLB 100 was targeted to the classical player and apparently it didn't occur to them at first that there was a market for travelling jazz and otherwise players who wanted a scaled down easy-to-travel with bass. The 200 is much better and actually feels quite nice to play. It folds up quite small but has virtual shoulders which really help with the illusion. Also, they have optional extensions to make the shoulders wider like the real thing and a lower part for those who sit or just like to rest the leg on the back. And, the price has come down. The pickup system is way better sounding, but I caution anyone who is trying one out to try to get one for a few days at least if possible. There are several movable parts (like the bridge and tailpiece) which need to be just so in order to get the best feel and sound (sounds kinda familiar...) and the two I tried at first where in need of some tweaking. After that, though, I really started to like it. It's not my old French beauty, but then that's not really likely to be easy to match. I have actually been enjoying it quite a bit and would way rather take it on the road than deal with airports these days. Also, it looks kinda cool...like a fossil bass.... or a crossbow. It almost fits in a golf case. If anybody knows who might be able to modify one of those plastic cases to be a bit longer, we could travel with a stealth bass. :ninja:

At the International Bluegrass Music Association Trade Show and Awards yamaha had a boot set up two years ago with this bass and I tried it, depending on the amp used it sounded okay.

Found the neck to be too thick and hard on the hands and the price was scary.......

Last year they returned with an updated model with some eq etc. but had done nothing to slim the neck thickness. Priced the same and sound was only slightly better than before.

I suspect running it through a Gallien Krueger MB 150 would have made it sound even better but the thick neck needs work along with lowering the price.

I tried quite a few EUB including the eminence at the show, ended up with an Ergo. $3100 less than the Eminence......... pretty much the same sound and playability just couldn't justify the price difference.

I had high hopes for the instrument, but after playing one I ordered a Clevenger. I didn't care for how it played or sounded...

I've seen yamaha making a SLB (Silent bass) 100, and 200 model. But then there is also a SVB? SiVent bass?

What's the catch?

Edit: Are these any good? Which one would you suggest for a guy who wants a portable (to take through train traffic) upright and already owns a 3/4 accoustic?

Danko

I played the silent bass a while back when i hadn't decided whether to make my main instrument an electric upright or stick with the acoustic.

The silent bass decided for me.
It's awful.

However the SV is fairly new and as far as i know was designed to address the shortcomings of the original silent.
I haven't played one though.

Have you looked at The NS series of electric uprights?

Hey, don't diss the whole EUB community because of a crappy Yamaha EUB-ish instrument. They're not uprights, but they are a type of bass instrument in their own right, much like the electric bass is a very different beast than an upright. Not bad (IMHO), just different. If you want to make a real informed decision, try the Eminences, Clevingers, Ramirez's and the Azolas before you make a blanket dismissal of the entire family of instruments.

I've seen yamaha making a SLB (Silent bass) 100, and 200 model. But then there is also a SVB? SiVent bass?

What's the catch?

Edit: Are these any good? Which one would you suggest for a guy who wants a portable (to take through train traffic) upright and already owns a 3/4 accoustic?

Danko

Good Question - There is no difference between the SLB & the SVB 100/200 basses. For some unexplained reason they are listed both ways - perhaps it is something in the translation.... in any case, it is the same instrument.

I have owned both the SLB/SVB 100 & the SLB/SVB 200. In my opinion, the S(L/V)B100 was a good first step, but it never really sounded great - plus the overall length was not much shorter than a DB - and to top it off, they did not offer a hard case!!!!! The S(L/V)B 200 is a huge improvement in sound & portability. I use it all the time for a wide variety of gigs and recordings, and regularly get enthusiastic compliments on the sound. They may not be for everyone, but they are far from a "crappy EUB-ish instrument" as expressed by bluesbass0945. You've got to be "Kydding" me! He cites a better alternative as the Clevinger bass...... I used to own the Clevinger bass, and it's much more of a "slab" than the Yamaha Silent 200, which actually has an acoustic chamber, and feels much more like a real bass than most EUBs - especially with the extension frame added. Plus, it sounds great, and is a breeze to transport!

As with many instruments. sound and feel is variable depending upon string choice & setup. But hey, let's face it - as great as it is, it is not, nor will it ever be an acoustic upright bass. It's a tool, and an excellent one at that.

I had heard a while back while researching the Yamaha's that they were pretty much developed in Japan for Japanese musicians who needed a quiet bass to practice with that had an upright feel. They supposedly sounded awful amplified.

A while back while i was shopping around for EUBs (i owned a palatino for a while), i was really into the shape and design of the Yamaha... I thought they looked pretty cool and futuristic but a a HUGE price. I had an opportunity to have a go on one, but didnt really like it very much. I think its supposed to be an EUB that mimics the 'feel' and shape (body contour against your body with that frame) of a proper DB. As for portability, I think its a bit more portable than an acoustic DB, but not that much more in terms of length.

I eventually settled on a NS design cuz i managed to get a sweet deal and i thought they looked great too. These are probably one of the most portable EUBs around and they sound awesome too.

Bear in mind, i have now been playing acoustic bass and i dont think my NS a substitute for the real thing ... its an instrument in its own right i reckon.

Good Question - There is no difference between the SLB & the SVB 100/200 basses. For some unexplained reason they are listed both ways - perhaps it is something in the translation.... in any case, it is the same instrument..

Thanks for clarifying that.

Danko

I tried a couple of the models of Yamaha and never really liked either one... The necks were pretty thick for my liking and would need to be shaved. The sound was so so with more of an BG sound.

I bought and used an Ergo which was a really good EUB for the money and the sound was much more consistant and closer to a DB sound.

Tried an Eminence at the IBMA Trade Show in Nashville this past fall and fell in love with it...

Mine just arrived tonight via UPS and I've just finished installing the bridge and pickup system and tuning it all up and yep I'm really happy with it !!!

Not so sure about the strings they have on them but I'll be changing mine on my DB this spring so I'll install the old ones on the Eminence which should fix the feel difference between the Daddarios and the Thomastic spiral core reds....

The tone and feel of the Eminence is just so much better than any other EUB I've tried.

The NS machine is a really nice unit as well but tone is comparable to my Ergo and the feel was pretty much the same as the Ergo but it sure is prettier than the Ergo and has lots more gadgets and gizmos.

Neither hold a candle to the Eminence feel wise at all though.....

Can't wait to give it a try on stage, it'll happen Friday should be a blast ....

If your serious about going to an EUB and don't want to spend a fortune I'd certainly consider and Ergo at $700 US for a new one they are price wise a very good bargain.

I really enjoyed mine and it served the purpose while I was saving up to purchase my Eminence.....

Can't wait to give it a try on stage, it'll happen Friday should be a blast ....

If your serious about going to an EUB and don't want to spend a fortune I'd certainly consider and Ergo at $700 US for a new one they are price wise a very good bargain.

I really enjoyed mine and it served the purpose while I was saving up to purchase my Eminence.....

Keep us posted about the Eminence performing. Thanks!

:)

Danko

Ok, as I'll have to return my school bass soon (actually should have 1.5 years ago as i left school :p ). I'm on the lookout for a replacement, so I can continue practicing double bass.

So, what do you think is better: getting a yamaha slb-200 (a lot cheaper, pickup included, gigbag included and far easier to transport) or an actual acoustic bass (noname)/is the yamaha slb-200 good? it's pretty much the only eub i found which looks like it would feel remotely like a real bass.

so:
Yamaha SLB 200 (http://www.thomann.de/thoiw2_yamaha_slb200_silentbass_prodinfo.html) (1998€)
or
THOMANN DOUBLE BASS 4, 3/4, all hand carved professional double bass, selected spruce top, solid maple neck, backand sides. Finest ebony trimmings, swelled back, handshaded colour washed spirit varnish, D'addario Helicorestrings. (2790€)

in both cases i was planning to get a Glasser G 5000X Bow. The only other option would be a GEWA bow. and if i get the acoustic a Fishman BP-100-M pickup system, and of course i'll also need a gigbag. (all in all going the acoustic route would cost about 1200€ more... which is a whole lot for a poor student such as i...)

... the only eub i found which looks like it would feel remotely like a real bass.
If you're looking for the equivalent of a 'real bass' then get a 'real bass'.
I'm very happy with my EUB ( www.fittell.id.au/eub ) but I don't pretend it's something else.

If you're looking for the equivalent of a 'real bass' then get a 'real bass'.
I'm very happy with my EUB ( www.fittell.id.au/eub ) but I don't pretend it's something else.

honestly, that answer is pretty useless to me. isn't it just sensible to want an eub that feels similar to the instrument it imitates? otherwise the technique is too different imo. i don't expect the slb to sound exactly like an acoustic double bass, but i don't expect an amplified acoustic double bass to sound like a louder unamplified acoustic double bass. what i do want is a adequate arco and pizzicato tone (can't say that about most acoustic db pickups either), and something that is similar enough that the technique i practice when playing on it is not totally useless, which it would be with most eubs like the one you gave a link to which have absolutely nothing in place of the right or left upper part of the body. (which are both required for proper db technique as i learned it)

so: how is the feel of the yamaha slb-200 (with/without the extensions for the body which i would also buy if required... if i found any shop here that sold those...), and is the sound, both arco and pizz usable?

I bought the yamaha slb 200 last month and am contemplating what strings i should use when the current ones get all grimy, any suggestions? (hopefully from people who have the bass but any and all opinions are welcome)

I have had the SLB200 for about 1 1/2 years - prior to that, I used the SLB100 for 3 years. I have used D'Addario Helicore Hybrids (Med) with pretty good success. But I have been contemplating trying something else - possibly obligatos - not sure. It will be interesting to see what other responses come in.

I too have been researching EUB's. As previously stated, I think we all agree that the EUB is not a DB. However, my need for an instrument is for an EUB that gets reasonably close to a DB but avoids that "fretless bass" sound. I tried the NS CR4T today as well as the SLB200. I thought that the punch and clarity of the NS was fantastic and know that it's a great product - would certainly be a good bit of work changing techniques with no real body to work with (ie thumb positioning)- call me lazy but I thought the feel of the SLB200 felt a little more like home.

Currently I'm looking into what kinds of mods I could do to the SLB200 to get it to sound a little more "punchy" - perhaps a little closer to the NS but not quite that "electric fretless bass" thing. Any suggestions anyone could post would be a great bonus....

I"m heading out on tour in October and will certainly need one for then as well as some way to transport - most guys up here in Toronto are using SKB-like golf cases that are tweaked and padded to check them...

Try the Eminence if you like the sound of the NS (punchy) I have a contact with a price you'll like here in Canada.

Drop me a line at skspeedie@bmts.com and I'll fill you in...

The Eminence is less money than the NS and has a body etc

I heard the Norwegian bassist, Arild Andersen, play an slb 200 here in Taipei a few weeks ago and had decided by the end of the show that I wanted to get one. I sounded that great. He wasn't using the stock pickup, but instead had mounted a fishman full circle on it.

That concert hall is quite boomy and many acoustic basses sound like echoy mush in there. This bass, being that it was an eub, naturally had a dryer, more direct sound. Yet the subtleties that each hand can get on an acoustic bass (and that I can't get on my NS designs) were there.

My NS designs is a brilliant piece of engineering and a freat music making tool. That yamaha just sounded and played a helluva lot like an acoustic.

As a recent SVB200 owner, I thought I’d chime in with my personal experiences in my EUB quest. First off, my experience with other EUB’s is limited to Azola’s bugbasses, the acoustic baby bass, Czech Ease and both of Yamaha’s Silent Basses. I’ve been playing BG for a little over 13 years and recently made the jump to the upright realm. I have been around and played URB’s in the past, but my actual URB playing time was limited to a few minutes at a time. While I’m not a seasoned upright player, I do trust my ears and know what sounds good and what does not. So there, my little disclaimer. :hiding:

AZOLA
I actually made an appointment and made the drive down from LA to visit with Jill and Steve Azola out in Ramona a couple years ago. They were so warm friendly and felt very welcomed in their home – Azola Ranch. I don’t know if that’s the official name, but it felt like one, very cozy. Steve gave me the history of his basses and a tour of his workshop and showed some of his prototypes. I checked out the bugbasses – slab, floating top, and Eurocoustic as well as their Eurocoustic baby bass. I liked the customizable sound of the bugbasses, and they felt pretty good. The thing I wasn’t too crazy about was the adjustable wire bar for the upper bout. The Eurocoustics produced a very convincing URB sound, but at the time they only had a volume control. In addition, I wasn’t digging the steep upper bout. That was my first EUB experience and wanted to look into others. I was still debating on whether or not I could afford the space and money to get a URB. One thing I knew for certain was that tone and feel were high on the list, tone and feel as close to an URB as possible that is. One

CZECH-EASE
I won’t get into too much detail about the Czech Ease, because it was way over my budget. One of the local luthiers had one in his shop on consignment from David Gage. David held a workshop here in Honolulu a while back and didn’t want to go through the hassles of checking it in for the return trip home so he left it on consignment. He was selling it with the traveling trunk for $4500. While it was it was smaller than a full sized URB, it was still pretty big. It did sound great, like a true amplified URB. One unique feature that’s not mentioned on David Gage’s site is that the scroll comes off, I think it’s held in place with a dowel and magnet so ½ friction and the other magnetic. Anyway for that kind of money, I thought to myself that I might as well get a decent URB along the lines of a Shen Willow or for a couple grand more, a New Standard. More tire kicking to come…


YAMAHA
Fast forward to a couple months ago, I paid a visit to my local Yamaha instrument shop and had a go at the Yamaha EUB’s by accident. I was actually heading over to place an order for a TRB1005F BG and they just so happened to have both SVB’s in the showroom. In comparison to the Azola’s wire frame upper bout on the bugbass and the very steep upper bout on the Eurocoustic Baby Bass, the SVB100 had a very comfortable and natural upper bout. The SVB100’s suggested URB silhouette was pretty to look at and that’s just about where it ended for me. The neck felt clunky, maybe almost square. It sounded like mud (it was plugged into an EA iAMP 500 and Wizzy cab). I’m sure the sound could possibly be improved with some setup work – new bridge, new pickup, new strings etc. I don’t mean knock on the 100, but it is what it is. I’d almost consider it for silent arco practice as long as I didn’t plug it in. I suppose that was Yamaha’s intent as uprightbassghos mentioned.

Next I tried the SVB200. The 200 was an improvement over the 100 in regard to feel and sound, but overall wasn’t thoroughly impressed (initially). The neck did feel a lot better, very close if not just like a URB. The tone, like the marketing ads stated, was much improved. The shop owner told me that it had been in the bag for over a year and no played on it. I spent a good 30 mins or so playing on it and then it began to open up a bit. It sounded even better with the tone shaping/EQ section on the iAMP bypassed. Before I left the shop, I had the dealer put in the order for the TRB1005F and left to digest my experience with the SVB’s. I made a second trip and decided that I was in love (or lust). At any rate, the 200 grew on me. By the third trip, love or lust, the SVB200 came home with me. Other plusses to add to the 200 is that it’s more compact than the 100, sounds better than the 100, and is cheaper than the 100 ($2800). I picked mine up for $1900.

I think the stock onboard piezo pickup is better suited for bowed playing rather than pizz. In my 3 months of experience with the SVB200, bowed playing is where it really shines. At least that’s the case with stock strings that came with my SVB200 as they sound through my amps. Don’t get me wrong, the pizz sound is pretty darn acceptable and is a close approximation to an acoustic URB. Maybe my pizz technique just flat out sucks, but from what I can hear, I think it sounds better played arco. I’m sure if I changed my strings, I may be singing a different tune. I’d like to change my strings to somewhere along the lines of Corelli or D’addario Hybrid Mediums or perhaps even Heavies, but I’m broke at the moment. I’m still paying off my SVB200 and TRB1005F BG that I picked up 3 months ago. I’d like to add that the 200 actually has a small acoustic chamber (like the floating top Azola bugbass). I'm sure the improvement in tone over the 100 has a lot to do with this chamber.

Speaking of amps, I’m currently GASing over an AI Contra combo, or an AccuGroove Tri112L cab together with an AI Focus head. My main BG combo, a Fender 400 Pro, didn’t quite fit the bill. At the moment I switch between my Roland Cube 100 and Yamaha BT500-110 with PA support. It'll have to do for now. :hmm:

Anyway…my 2 cents.

I heard the Norwegian bassist, Arild Andersen, play an slb 200 here in Taipei a few weeks ago and had decided by the end of the show that I wanted to get one. I sounded that great. He wasn't using the stock pickup, but instead had mounted a fishman full circle on it...

lin fung’s post about Arild Andersen’s SVB200 piqued my curiosity because I was considering either changing the stock pickup or adding a bridge wedge pickup like the Revolution Solo. So I did what any curious shmuck would do, I emailed Arild directly and asked him about his setup. I wasn’t expecting a response from Mr. Andersen quite honestly. I figured he has more important things to respond to like booking gigs and not responding to some pesky Yank from the US. Much to my surprise, he responded to me the very next day. He was very personable and cordial in his email. To me that’s the best kind of musician – down to earth and willing to help out fellow musicians. I digress.

Anyway…he uses a Wilson pickup, not the Fishman Full Circle. He did advise me to focus more on my technique rather than what kind of pick up I should get. In his words, “no sound comes from the pickup – it comes from your fingers.” And I agree whole heartedly. I'd like to add that he uses Thomastik Spirocores. Arild made a very bold statement in his email. He said that with his Wilson pickup, through an amp and sound system, his Yamaha SVB200 sounds 90% the same as his acoustic upright. Wow. Then again, we’re talking about a seasoned professional here. He could probably make a piece twine nailed to a 2 x 4 sound good. But in short, hearing him say that or reading it rather, is very promising and shows what the SVB200 is capable of in the right hands. Looks like lin fung feels the same about the sound of Arild's Yamaha SVB200.

In response to your question about making the SVB200 sound more punchy richmoore1998, I find that the stock pickup on the SVB200 is inherently punchy, somewhat similar to the Realist pickup sound. There are a number of ways to get more punch out the SVB200. The great thing about the SVB200 is that it already comes with bridge adjusters so you can modify the bridge height to your playing style and desired sound– lower for more growl, less effort to dig in; higher for more volume and punch. Additionally, if you want more punch you can adjust your technique by playing more on the side of the strings vs. pulling down towards the fingerboard to get more sustain and growl. I currently have my adjusters set fairly low at about 1/8” (3.175mm). When I want more thump, I just play against the side of the strings or simply raise the adjusters (loosen the strings first). You can also experiment with the position you pluck the string in regards to height/area of fingerboard (closer to neck or bridge).

String selection makes a big difference as well - heavy vs. medium, nickel vs. steel, synthetic/non metal or metal core. And of course pairing your instrument with the proper amplifier/speaker is the other factor.

I get decent results playing through a Roland Cube 100 for smaller gigs and Yamaha BBT500-110 in tandem with PA support for larger gigs.

Rich, what did you end up getting for your tour? Be careful with how you pack your bass if it’s to be checked in. A friend of mine came in from LA for a salsa gig and the neck on his EUB snapped off. He was just using a flight case with no additional internal padding. You might want to check out this link for packing suggestions. It’s a page that instructs how to prepare an acoustic guitar for shipping, but the same applies to most stringed instruments. Just skip through the quick instructions and go directly to “Packing the Guitar”.

http://www.bryankimsey.com/shipping/ (http://http://www.bryankimsey.com/shipping/)

Someone informed Arild of my earlier post and he was kind enough to send me an email correcting me that he, in fact, used a wilson pickup and spirocore strings.

For those of you who haven't heard his music, I highly recommend it. Besides apparently being a pretty nice guy, he also has a very original sound.

Are there any SLB 200 owners out there who could post links to sound files of their basses? That would obviously add a lot of substance to this discussion.

lin fung, that "someone who informed Arild" was me. Eek! Makes me sound like a tattle tell. I hope you weren't irritated by that. I apologize if you were. Discussion on the Yamaha silent basses is a bit limited here, so I had to be resourceful. ;)

But yes, I did inquire with Arild to ask him about his setup after you mentioned how great he sounded. I was considering changing the pickup on mine.

Arild does indeed have an original sound. I wish I had the pleasure of watching and hearing him live. He has some clips on his website (http://www.arildandersen.com/). I especially like "The Day". He talks briefly about his new Yamaha SLB200 in his July 2006 News. There's a picture of him playing on his Yamaha EUB. Too bad the view is partially blocked by a music stand. www.arildandersen.com

[edit] I don't think the clips are of Arild and his Yamaha Silent Bass. But since his Yammy EUB sounds 90% the same as his URB, just imagine a 10% difference when you're listening to the clips. Speaking of sound clips, I'm actually recording a CD at the moment. Quite honestly, I'm a little embarrassed to show my amateur playing, but when I have the tracks recorded, I'll post some samples. Great suggestion there fung!

Not at all irritated. I'm glad someone got him in the mix. I was very suprised to get that email from him.

Yeah, definitely post some sound clips as soon as you finish your recording. Thanks.

Hi
I see you are discussing my Silent bass . When I said the Yamaha sounds 90 % like the realbass I mean in a live situation where anyway most of the sound comes from the Wilson pick-up. In the studio with accoustic microphones the difference is of cause much more audible . " The Day " is recorded with my real bass and a blend of pickup and microphones .The Silent bass could never sound like this.
But live it's great .
Arild Andersen

Cool! Welcome to TalkBass, Arild... it's an honor to have you post here.

I just picked up a SLB200 today. I haven't tried any other kind of EUB, but the Yamaha seems really nice. I tried it through my trusty Acoustic 136 (from the dawn of time) and an SWR 2X10. Warm and natural...

The onboard eq worked well, although cranking the treble gives a grating nasty sound.

I'll use it for a gig Saturday and see how it works for that.

I used it arco behind a couple of guitars and 4 vocalists. It worked great. I had a lot of compliments and the recording of the performance sounded good - very warm. I used it with a Sansamp BDDI and into the PA. Worked like a charm.

Hey, Mandocaster. Can you compare the playability and amplified sound of your new Yamaha with your acoustic bass? Thanks.

I have a no-name mittenwald German carved bass from the 1920's. To get decent acoustic pizz tone and volume, the action is pretty high. This isn't so much of an issue with EUB, so the Yamaha has lower action. Lately, I have been using a small diaphram AKG microphone rigged between the bridge feet with rubber bands for my UB. It has excellent sound, but it also picks up my breathing and anything I say.

I know this applies to any EUB, but you can use a lighter touch. That means I can play faster and more comfortably.

Please post some pix of your slb200!

Please post some pix of your slb200!

You want pics? Here's a few:
http://maxbass.com/photo-album.htm

Not all the shots are great, but they shows a variety of settings where I use the SLB200.

Yes :) looks nice!

Im looking for one.

has anybody ever tried a bent endpin (laborie style with 44 degree angle) on the yamaha slb series? i know that the original laborie endpin won't work.

i'm thinking of making one by myself possibly made of carbon fibre.

anybody any thoughts on that?

thanx

steffen

Last year I was interested in trying this on my SLB 200. I have used an EggPin on my DB since '93 (and will eventually graduate to the Laborie...) and wanted to get that same familiar angle on my EUB.

What I ended up doingwas to bend the stock endpin that came with the bass. First I placed a small hose clamp on the endpin to keep the height consistent. Then I carefully bent the pin by placing it in a table vice until I achieved the angle I was looking for. It worked very well. Because the Yamaha endpin is a hollow pipe, I don't notice much springy-ness or bouncing like bent thin solid db endpins.

This was a very effective, and very cost-efficient modification.

Good luck!

hi maxito,

thanks for the advice. where exactly did you bent the pin? close to the floor or close to the bass? i wonder if it has any effect on the sound or stability on which side of the pin the bent is made. do you know what i mean? kind of hard to describe. i've seen this one for double bass http://www.saitenhandel.de/zubehoer/stachel/bass/bass-stachel-stahlhammer-knickstachel-12-cm.html
and this one http://www.moser-klangwerkstatt.com/wDeutsch3/produkte/Produkt2.shtml

the position of the bent is different. can you see it?

Hi Steffen,

My camera is down, or I'd take a picture. I'll try and describe it -

The majority of the bend is toward the bottom, but there is an arc in the rest of the endpin so that there is no abrupt angle. I didn't want to crimp the pipe and create a stress point.

As for stability, I think it's increased. Feels like the bass is more anchored to the floor.

I did not notice any change in sound - probably because the pin is still attached at the same location.

Also, forgot to mention that the original thumb screw stripped in less than 6 months, so I replaced it with a metric allen bolt (don't remember the size) and tighten it with a small wrench that I keep on the bass.

I'll post some pics when the camera is fixed.

maxito

Has anyone made progress on getting together a sound clip of their Yamaha for us to hear? Eagerly anticipating.

I am making progress with the album, but nothing with the Yammy EUB yet. I've been working on arangements and getting a scratch track for the vocalists to sing to with either piano or guitar. I've been kinda freakin out, because I've had to actually score some charts for a few songs. My notation skills are pretty much non existent, so its a long and tedious process for me.

I hope to have the bass recorded within the next couple of weeks. i'll keep you posted when I have something. As a teaser, I'll think I'm going to attempt to do some tracks arco as well as pizz.

Maxito, where any of the sound clips on your site recorded with your SLB?

Maxito, where any of the sound clips on your site recorded with your SLB?


Sorry I didn't post these earlier. Yes, there are sound clips online.

I used it on Ginny Carr's new CD, and she has most of the cuts available on her website, ginnycarrmusic.com (http://ginnycarrmusic.com/cds.html). I used the SLB200 and Tobias Classic 5 string throughout - except one track with arco bass, it's a CzechEase...

Visit AfroBop Alliance's website, afrobop.com (http://www.afrobop.com) - and the music that launches automatically was played on the SLB200 (except the electric bass stuff - should be obvious, but if not, if it's below low "E" it's not my EUB...)

Other than what I just mentioned, the sound files on my website, www.maxbass.com (http://www.maxbass.com) were played on my 7/8 Solano Panormo.

Hope this helps! Enjoy!

Peace,

mAx

Cool Maxito. Well there ya go. So that gets me off the hook then right? No need for me to upload clips hehe. :hiding:

Man I wish I had my EUB when I was gigging with the salsa band I used to play with. Listening to your stuff makes me reminisce.

Just outta curiousity, what was the signal chain for your recordings? From reading some of your other posts, I assume you're using Helicore Hybrid mediums? I'm digging the sound from the afrobop site. From listening to the afrobop clips, I think that should shut up all of the SLB haters ;) Proof's in the pudding folks, but then again as I said in my previous post about putting (pun intended) the SLB in capable hands...

Speaking of strings, I think the stock strings are Helicore Pizzicatos? I'm too lazy to change them, but I did pick up a set of the Hybrids based on your posts. I haven't had much time on my SLB since starting this recording gig.

Mahalo, Haku for your kokua, brah.

Glad you enjoyed 'em. You are correct - Helicore Hybrids. When I first started using them was on another bass, and I was doing a good bit of orchestral work as well as jazz gigs, so I needed a string that articulated quickly with the bow, and still growled when I dug in. These days my bow rarely sees the light of day, so I really don't need a "multi-purpose" string as much, but I am very used to them so I have stuck with them.....for now......

The signal chain, Great question! Try wait, try wait - Grab pencil, it's pretty complicated..... ready...'kay den,

bass - monster cable - direct into the board. :smug:

The afrobop stuff was recorded @ Bias Studios just outside of DC, and the engineer has gold records & grammys all over the place, so I let him do his thing. I really just went in and played direct, and am not sure what outboard stuff he may have used, but what is on the recording is how the bass sounds live through my SWR rig.

Maxito, I see you're fluent in Hawaiian pigeon English. Don't even get me started hehe. Where'd do you learn to speak?

Thanks for the info on the signal chain. I planned on going direct the board as well. I forgot to ask about the onboard pre/eq settings on your SLB - flat, more or less treble/bass? As for me I usually have the bass dialed in at 12 and the treble between 3-5 for more growl when playing pizz and 12-2 for bowing.

The fluctuating humidity wreaks havoc on my sound. It gets really frustrating when the sound is inconsistent from day to day. Price of living in 'paradise' I guess.

Thanks for sharing, Maxito. Keep posting samples, everyone. I'll put some up myself once I manage to get my hands on one of these things (I live overseas, so it's a bit more complex than just grabbing the credit card).

For those who are scoping out the sound of this basss, there's a brief bass solo at the end of "Tommorow" (http://ginnycarrmusic.com/cds.html) that lets us hear the sound of the bass right up front. Very nice.

What solo? I kept cueing to from different points from the end. Then I realized I downloded "Man in the Moon". Idiot :D

Very nice indeed, but what a tease...it left me hanging wanting to hear more! I hope that it's because the song clip is an edited sample. If that's the final piece, then shame on the engineer who did a lousy fade out. ;)

That's it, I'm putting on the Hybrids as soon I get the chance. Before I do that though, I'll record some tracks with the stock strings so I can do a A-B comparison and perhaps post the results.

I saw Honolulu, and couldn't resist slippin into some pidgin. I lived Makiki side in my teens. Miss it fo real. Someday I'll make it back.....

Yes, the solo on "Tomorrow" is a fade, and meant to be a teaser - and Ginny said to tell you to buy the CD to hear the rest ;)

In the studio, the onboard settings during the recordings for the most part were treble @ ~11:00, and bass @ ~1:30/2:00. I have found that the higher the bass is set the more thump you get, but it sounds less like an upright, so live I keep it flat or so, and tweak the eq on the amp to suit the room.

As a special favor to my colleagues on TalkBass, I posted 2 tunes for your enjoyment, located here:

http://maxbass.com/SLB-200Samples.htm

They are different styles than the other clips, and I thought you might enjoy hearing other settings.

I am new to this site and logged on to your afrobop clips and enjoyed them very much. There isn't much live latin music where I live so it was enjoyable to hear something new. Good job. I am also new to the eub world. How low do you set your strings. I recently purchased an svb 200 and would like to take them down but don't know how far I can go.
Have a great day,
Playanaco

The string height is .. . . . . medium...
How's that for a "technical" answer?

If they are too low, the bass feels (and sounds) too much like an electric bass - and I want my EUB to feel like my upright.

I don't measure string height, but can tell when it feels right. If I place the side of my index finger on the fingerboard (where I play most), and my fingertip on the string, the string should land at about the middle of the pad. That's what works for me, but everyone's a little different. Experiment until you find what gives you the best combination of sound and comfort.

Yes , I was affraid that might happen if I set them too low. I have been an electric player all my life so this eub stuff is all new to me and there's no one up here to talk to about it. Would your E string be much higher than the G? Did the sound change much after you changed the strings(from factory ones) and in what way?
Thanks for the input.

Up here? Where are you? Your profile doesn't really tell your story - perhaps you could fill in some of the blanks about your location, age, performance situations.....

The short answer to your string height comparison question is no - they are roughly the same height off of the fingerboard - however, because the E string is thicker than the G it will feel a bit higher.

I believe the bass came with D'Addario Helicore Orchestra strings - not sure why though. I switched to the Hybrids and that made it possible to growl a bit more, and have more sustained pizz.

Your question leads me to make an observation. It's an interesting & fairly common situation where bassists that are mainly electric players make the shift to upright bass by going directly to the EUB. IMHO the expectations are different from those type of players (and that seems to include yourself) as opposed to predominantly acoustic upright players that are looking for a bass that is easier to travel with - whether that travel is on the subway, cab or plane.

The main difference is that bassists that come up on acoustic bass have already learned how to get "their sound" organically.

If it's at all possible, find an acoustic bass to play. There is a need to understand what it takes to elicit a sound from an acoustic instrument. Experience first hand how the response is different depending upon how you articulate the string. The reason I suggest this, is that if your goal is to have your EUB sound like an acoustic bass, your goal will be easier to achieve if you first intimately understand the mechanics of acoustic sound.

Even though the S(L/V)B 200 has an acoustic chamber, is does not give you the same type of instant feedback about your technique that a real bass will.

This is probably more than you were looking for, but I hope it helps you!

mAx

Thanks for the response. I played upright many years ago but the money to be made was on electric. I live about an hour north of Toronto and there are only a couple of upright players up here. It is not an easy task getting it to the downtown core these days so most of us avoid it unless giging there. Some musicians don't even play downtown unless the money is really good. The store where I bought the bass has really no idea, and I haven't been able to reach the only player I know that has one. The reason I am so concerned about the action is I have relatively small hands and a nerve in my little finger is starting to bother me from I guess so many years of playing. I think you are right about the strings, but to me they have a heck of a sustain. Especially the low strings. As far as profile goes, I am just a working musician that now has more time to persue a new project like eub playing. I play an F bass through an eden set up. I guess I am more interested in the challenge of learning to playing an upright rather than gigging with it. Although I am sure I won't turn down the opportunity.
Nice talking at ya.

Thanks to everyone for contributing to this thread. I have been following it closely since it started.

I have played electric bass for over 10 years but have recently really been hankering to get started on an upright instrument.

Instead of getting a very entry level 3/4 acoustic bass which would take up a collosal amount of space in my flat and probably sell on in a few years I have chosen to get started on the yamaha. Short of paying the extra cash and buying a NS bass it seems to offer the best value and sound at the pricepoint.

To cut a long story short I ordered one yesterday! Maxito I would email yamaha and offer them to use your soundclips as demos on their website! They sound terrific! I cant wait to recieve my bass and start learning! ;)

For those who already own one, what are they external dimensions of the SVB-200 gig bag?

What do you use for a hardshell case for flying? Hardshell golf cases can be used for some EUBs; does that work for these as well? I sent an email to Yamaha a few weeks ago inquiring after these issues, but they've neglected to respond.

I'm hoping to have a co-worker bring back one of these basses from his trip back to America this Christmas and I would need to have the exact right flight case (golf case, ...) shipped to his door along with the bass in order to avoid creating hassles for him and therefore problems for the both of us. Thanks.

For those who already own one, what are they external dimensions of the SVB-200 gig bag?

What do you use for a hardshell case for flying?


The gig bag measures 57" long, 10 1/2" wide & 5 3/4" deep. It weights about 16 lbs.

I had a case made for it, using the dimensions I just mentioned. The case fits inside snugly, and I don't worry about it at all in transit. My case weighs ~ 55 lbs with the bass inside - most of the time the folks at the ticket counter just let it slide without extra charge. A lighter case is available, but I opted for more protection.

There are MANY case makers to choose from, I used Case Technology (http://www.casetechnology.com/)in MA, USA. The turnaround time (order to delivery) was just under two weeks.

Something that has always puzzled me about Yamaha Corporation..... they make these instruments that are perfect for travel, and don't bother to make their own road case...?...!....!? I had the same problem with the SLB-100 bass - had a case for that one built - actually still have it, in case anyone needs it - look here (http://www.maxbass.com/for-sale.htm)

Good Luck!

http://www.yamaha.com/yamahavgn/CDA/ContentDetail/ModelSeriesDetail/0,,CNTID%253D30280%2526CTID%253D232500%2526ATRID%2 53D20%2526DETYP%253DATTRIBUTE,00.html

The above link is to the Yamaha webpage that lists the specifications for the SVB-200. The dimensions given are:

Dimensions (with the frame attached and End Pin Fully contracted)
1,692 (L) x 456 (W) 330 (H) mm

66-5/8” (L) x 17-15/16” (W) x 13” (H)

Now, looking at the pictures of the bass, it wouldnt appear that adding the frame would add to the length of the bass, yet it gives the length as over 66", whereas Maxito listed the length of his gig bag as 57". Has a typo been made somewhere? Is there something I'm overlooking? I certainly don't want to order the wrong size case. Thanks.

P.S. How does the optional extension bout (SVB-BEF2 Extension Frame) differ from what comes stock on the instrument?

Not sure that the "official" info is a typo or not. The dimensions listed on the website must be for the bass when it is assembled with the endpin attached. The endpin does not retract fully into the bass, so it is removed and stored in a velcro sleeve inside the case. The dimensions I listed previously are the dimensions of the outside of the SLB 200 case with the bass inside.

Here are two pics for reference:
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=46163&stc=1&d=1164462961
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=46162&stc=1&d=1164462961


Here is a photo of the
Extension Frame (http://www.yamaha.com/yamahavgn/CDA/ContentDetail/EnlargedImage/0,,CNTID%253D32432%2526CTID%253D,00.html). It is a 2nd piece that attaches to the stock frame with two bolts. For everyday use I leave the frame attached, and it fits in the gig bag fine. In the hardshell, I do remove it and store the piece inside the gig bag - it just makes it easier to close the flight case.
Unless Yamaha has changed the size of the bass or the case, you can use the measurements (57" long, 10 1/2" wide & 5 3/4" deep) to order a case. (If you want to leave the extension attached, change the 5 3/4" measurement to 6 1/4")

Hope this helps.

Very helpful, yes. Thank you.

Maybe I should have started another thread - but this is all tied in I guess....

I just installed a Fishman Full Circle on my Silent Bass, and the bass has really opened up - it's pretty dramatic! The bass sounded good before, and now it has more depth, punch, acoustic sounding "air", and much more dynamic range - meaning that I can play quieter and then dig in hard and explode, and the complete spectrum comes through. When I am able to get some recordings of the bass with the FC posted, I will so so :)

This just keeps getting better.

By the way, I'm curious to know how you mounted the Full Circle jack on your bass, as I'm assuming it can't be mounted in the same way as it would on an acoustic. Post a picture when you get a chance. Thanks.

Just to say that I saw Mike Stern play with Chris Minh Doky (fantastic Scando/Viet bassist) at Ronnie Scotts last year. He played the entire gig (apart from a couple of numbers on electric..a Celinder...tasty) on the SLB200. It sounded very good. It's clear that it's aimed at giving you db tone and feel without the huge body of a db. I'm quite interested in trying one.

Doky's new solo album even has the SLB200 on the front cover...

C

By the way, I'm curious to know how you mounted the Full Circle jack on your bass, as I'm assuming it can't be mounted in the same way as it would on an acoustic. Post a picture when you get a chance. Thanks.

Thanks for asking, Lin.
I had tried a Revolution Solo Pickup briefly, and already had the jack mounted on my bass. It has the same connections as the FC jack, but attaches behind the tailpiece using a small plastic ring through which passes the G string. It is much the same as the Realist mount. Since the dimensions are smaller than a DB, this seemed to be the best solution - even though the holes on the SLB200 tailpiece are countersunk, with a little nudging, it finally settled in.

Looking at the FC jack, it looks like it's possible to remove the string clip and buy a mounting bracket - similar ones are available at most hardware stores.

Another alternative might be to attach using a couple of zip-ties through the g-string hole......?

OK, the camera is up & running, so here's two photos of my do-it-yourself bent endpin on the Yamaha Silent bass.

I have modified it a litle since my last post, and there is more of a pronounced bend at the bottom than before. It is not as radical as a Laborie, however the mass of the EUB is not the same as a DB. I erred on the conservative side, however you could probably make the angle more acute without compromising structural integrity.

One thing worth mentioning is that the effect can be adjusted by tightening the pin with the bend pointing at slightly different angles....

thanx maxito !!!

that looks interesting. i have a friend make me a hinge (knuckle, joint or what ever you wanna call it) so i can adjust the angle. i will post some pics as soon as i get it (may take another couple of days).

the rubber on your endpin looks different to mine. have you replaced the original one? mine is just a cheap black plastic cap that slips all the time. so when i sit down and play my bass keeps slipping away. which is one of the reasons why i was thinking about a bent endpin.

cheers

steffen

p.s. what strings do you use? and does the body extension of the slb help? (i only got the knee thing)

Hi Steffen,

Your hinge/knuckle/joint angle sounds very interesting, and I look forward to seeing those photos!

The rubber tip is a replacement, as the original black tip wore out a long, long time ago. I bought a box of "quad cane tips" (5/8") from the drug store and they work well - especially with the new angle.

Strings - D'Addario Helicore Hybrids - medium.
Frame extension - a must.

I have posted in several places about this bass, if you look up my posts.

Peace,
maxito

Just to say that I saw Mike Stern play with Chris Minh Doky (fantastic Scando/Viet bassist) at Ronnie Scotts last year. He played the entire gig (apart from a couple of numbers on electric..a Celinder...tasty) on the SLB200. It sounded very good. It's clear that it's aimed at giving you db tone and feel without the huge body of a db. I'm quite interested in trying one.

Doky's new solo album even has the SLB200 on the front cover...

C

http://musik.tdconline.dk/servlets/2452306090224Dispatch/19/call?htmltemplate=./album/viewalbum.htm&albumid=4011569

Danish website where you can listen to his new cd (30 seconds of each song) - i think most of it is played on the SLB.

Listened to the Chris Minh Doky teaser tracks - If that is the SLB-200, it sounds great!

Can't seem to find the new CD for sale in the USA.... any tips?

here is a quick update on my bent endpin.

i just got the "hinge/knuckle/joint thing" :-) i guess i need to find a name for it.

first impression: it's is quite heavy. i used the endpin that comes with the slb, stuck that in one side of the "thing" and a 15 cm long wooden stick on the other side. then i adjusted the angle to about 44 degrees. while standing my bass kept falling to the left side and the angle felt uncomfortable. while sitting it was very relaxed yet the angle was still too much. so i adjusted the angle ( i didn't meassure it yet but it looks more like 30 degrees) but the bass is still very much out of balance while standing. when i sit down it feels pretty good. i can even play without using my thumb (left hand) at all.

i will post some pics asap.

cheers

steffen

Sorry Haku,

I've been offline for some time - In response to your question, I ended up using the SLB200. I love it... and also see what you mean about a change in technique. All in all I'm finding that the SLB200 is a great bass, and gives me everything I'm looking for in an EUB.

I had the opportunity to try the Azola Bug Bass recently and thought it sounded great, but for my purposes the SLB200 feels like home.

Those packing instructions that you recommended must be offline as the link sends me to another page of protocols... any other suggestions for travel?

Looks like he took the page down. Anyway Brian Kimsey is a guitar luthier. He had a section dedicated to guitar repair and setup. In that section he had some good tips on how to pack an instrument using boxes and even fortifying SKB type of cases.

Basically what it came down to was that all space that will allow movement during travel should be taken up with a shock absorbing material a la crumpled paper, foam, etc...

Maxito gave a good lead for a custom flight case maker about 12 posts up. Looks to be pretty pricey at around $800 USD. Perhaps a custom case for the SLB200 might be a little cheaper since it's much smaller than the SLB100. As pricey as it is, it would be a good investement if you do a lot of traveling.

Speaking of which, if you don't mind sharing with us Max, how much did you spend for your custom SLB200 case from casetechnology?

It was rather short sighted of Yamaha not to develop and offer a hard traveling case, so for the time being our only option is the custom route.

Sure thing Haku,

The case technology case was ~ $300, and imo, well worth it.

I agree that Yamaha has once again missed the mark in building a great travel bass, but not developing a case for it. At least this one is easier to have one built for than the SLB100......

A few years ago I had a case built for the SLB-100, but rather than stick the gig bag in a shell I had separate compartments for each piece. It turned out to be a beast, and too big to travel. That one did cost over $800 - you can see it here: (http://maxbass.com/for-sale.htm)
http://maxbass.com/for-sale.htm. Anybody interested? Pay for the shipping, and it's yours :)

But compartments for the SLB-200 isn't really necessary, so the less expensive (and smaller) option works great.

$300? Wow that's not bad at all. How bout posting some pics for us to drool over? *Please* :D

I'm seriously considering going this route. Since putting on the extension frame and knee support attachments, the soft case bulges quite a bit and I question the case's durability in the long run.

Sure Haku, you want photos - you get photos :)

I posted them on this page:
http://www.maxbass.com/SLB-200-Case-Photos.htm

Now, wipe that drool off your chin ;->

I've just bought an SLB-200. It came with strings that have red and gold binding but they aren't really my taste and I don't know what they are - I have Helicore orchestrals on my 'real' bass so I was thinking of putting these on the eub as well because I play little or no jazz these days and if I do I'll tend to use my BG. I did try to ask the guy in the shop but they had no clue at all what they were talking about..!! I'll hunt around the other threads as well for this next question but I'll put it here too - does anyone know if it is possible to attach a couple of small wheels to the bottom of the soft case, since I am feeble and small..or do I just have to bite the bullet and grow some muscles..!?

..... - I have Helicore orchestrals on my 'real' bass so I was thinking of putting these on the eub as well because I play little or no jazz these days .....

....does anyone know if it is possible to attach a couple of small wheels to the bottom of the soft case, since I am feeble and small..or do I just have to bite the bullet and grow some muscles..!?


Good morning littlekatie,

Most folks I have talked to with this EUB are jazz/latin/pizz players. Sounds like you are playing more arco? I suggest that you try the Helicore Orchestrals on your SLB200.

As for the wheels, a small luggage cart with a bungee cord does the trick, and you can also carry other items on the cart simultaneously. Many are on the market - I swear by my Remin Tri-Kart 800 (http://www.adorama.com/RETK800.html) - though it might be pricier than you are willing to spend.

Good luck!

Welcome to the SLB200 club Warwick19 and littlekatie! If I'm not mistaken the factory strings that come with the SLB200 are Helicore Pizzicatos Medium. Overall, I’m fairly satisfied with the sound I get from them going through my Yamaha BBT500-110 combo. There are a couple of things that frustrate me with my SLB200. 1) The change in temperature and humidity throughout the day. These changes wreak havoc on my sound – it’s never consistent (see last paragraph). 2) Lead singer complains that the bass is too loud. I tell her to sing louder, but that doesn’t work. These two annoyances aren’t limited to my SLB200 however, but I do find myself playing louder than I normally would on my slab bass. I’m loving the sound, that is, when the planets and other celestial bodies are in proper alignment (see last paragraph).

I play about 60/40 pizz and arco, so when it came time for string shopping, I narrowed my string choice between Helicore Hybrids and the Corelli (by Savarez) 370 series. Per Maxito's recommendation I picked up a set of Hybrids (med). I figured I might as well go with a seasoned silent bass user’s opinion. I haven't put them on yet, but I'm already GAS-ing over getting my 'next' set of strings. I'll prolly get a set of Corelli 370F (Heavy) or 370 TX (Extra Heavy). From what I gather Corelli's Heavy gauges are closer to what every other brand calls Medium. That's definitely the case when it comes to their classical guitar strings in my experience.

I was about to change my strings the other month, and then I came across this product called "String Care" made by Blitz. It's essentially a metal polishing product. The strings that came with my bass were pretty gunky as they were left out in the store showroom for about a year and half. It did a pretty good job on taking out all of the gunk save for the E string. The A D and G strings polished up nicely. But all in all, it did make playing a lot smoother and added a little bit of extra sustain.

Littlekatie, might I suggest changing rosins? I was using Pop’s and recently switched over to Nymans and it made a huge difference in my bowing response (quicker) and articulation. I like Pop’s on my friend’s URB with Helicore Orchestral’s, but much prefer Nyman on my EUB with Pizz strings. Perhaps it’s because he has a nice Pernambuco bow and I’m playing with a cheapy Glasser fiberglass bow. Maybe harder rosin is more forgiving with cheap bows? Or harder rosin is better on Pizzicato strings? I don’t know. Just a thought to possibly save you some money...

Of course what works for others may or may not work for you. A lot of factors play into our overall sound – right/left hand/ bowing technique, strings, rosin, temperature, humidity, amplification, number of people in audience, good/bad hair day, other band members complaining that you’re playing to loud etc. But as the saying goes, “the magic is all in the hands/fingers”. If you don’t have the magic then blame it on the gear or soundman, or the singer who’s complaining that you’re playing too loud. YMMV :D

Hey, Maxito. Any progress on recording with the new full circle pickup? I'd love to hear some samples of that posted.

Hey, Maxito. Any progress on recording with the new full circle pickup? I'd love to hear some samples of that posted.

Hello lin fung,

No, sorry - not yet. Hopefully by this time next month though.

Hey Max, thanks for posting the pics of your case.

Lin Fung, my little recording project is done and are here are the clips.

Many and Great (http://www.gratia-plena.com/talkbass/mag_tbsampler.mp3) - Theater/Showtune/World Music. Very simple backing, but prominent throughout.
Yahweh the Faithful One (http://www.gratia-plena.com/talkbass/ytfo_tbsampler.mp3) - Island Jazz instrumental. Kinda gets buried in the mix at times, but it's there. I don't know if it was a string issue where it got boomy in the lower register, or my technique (or lack thereof), you'll see what I mean. I'm thinking it's the latter. [For those not familiar with (Hawaiian) Island Jazz, it's a blend of Hawaiian, Latin, and of course Jazz. Nothing avante garde, but lite/easy listening kind of Jazz most of the time.]

There were 11 tracks total, but the two snippets above are the only ones that I used the SLB200. For the rest, I played on my fretless basses. I wish I had more time to tweak my EUB tone, not to mention get in more practice time, but I had to cover multiple duties/instruments for the project.

Anyway, I used the stock strings and my tone controls were set at 1:00 for treble and 2:00 for bass. All tracks were recorded straight through a Mackie Onyx 1640 into the computer through firewire. Very light compression about 1:2 and 1:3 and a smidgen of EQ both were applied to the final mix for both tracks, but not to individual tracks. I'm no Alrid or Max hehe, but I think the tracks are passable with some slight intonation issues here and there, but all in all passable. But hey, I've only been playing upright for about 4 months now. EEK! I get a break right?
:hiding:

I haven't gotten around to putting the Helicore Hybrids yet. I managed to squeeze some more life out of the stock strings by using Blitz String Care and have grown accustomed to the sound. I got a lot arco practice in during the holidays, so I'm slowly gaining confidence to record some bowing. When I have some down time, I'll get to recording some pizz and arco samples to A/B the stock Helicore Pizzicato strings against the Hybrids. Speaking of which , do you have any arco recordings of your SLB200 Max? I really dig the Tom Lagana Group "Patuxent" album. That stuff really moved me. When I can scrape up some extra cash, I'm gonna pick up a copy. Your Latin stuff and straight ahead stuff is smoking! But for some reason, the Patuxent tracks spoke to me.

Amplification for the svb200. Any suggestions? Has any one tried the acoustic image with it? The roland DB500 that I use is ok at quiet volumes but turn it up and the sound gets quite paperie. Pros and cons between using 10's, a 12 or 15 in. speaker?

Haven't tried the new AI, but heard other bassists in NYC raving about it a couple of weeks ago @ IAJE.

My favorite rig (of the gear I currently own) is a vintage SWR SM400 head with a SWR Goliath Jr (2x10) cabinet. It's warm and breathy when I want it to be, and punchy when I want (and need it) to be.

This exact setup may not be available at many retailers, but in order to come close, IMHO a tube preamp really helps round out the sound of the SLB200. Also I feel that 2x10s are a fabulous cabinet for EUB when attempting to closely simulate an amplified URB. A single 12" is good at lower volumes, but a 15" is too woofy (IMO) and does not reproduce the nuances of the string as well.

I've been itching to pick up an AI combo based on the majority of rave reviews I come across. Only thing is no one carries Acoustic Image products locally. My only choice would be to go the sight unseen route. Looks like there Bob Gollihur has a 14 day trial period for all AI amps and combos (except for the Clarus SL/R amps). Fortunately and unfortunately I don't have any money at the moment so I'll have to GAS and drool for the time being. Lucky for you, it looks like there's a AI dealer in your neck of the woods - GH Services in Niagara, Ontario. Maybe a 2.5 - 3 hour drive? Nothing like seeing for yourself no?

At any rate, I recommend that with whatever you're considering, be sure to stick with reputable brands that deliver good clean power of at least 300-500 watts such as in EA and AI amps. Exact power requirements depend on how loud your group is and how large your venue/audience is. The more the better. Lack of clean power equals muddy tone that'll make you want to keep turning up the volume.

I get decent results with my Yamaha Yamaha BBT500-110 bridged into a Yamaha BBT500-115. I tried running it biamped, but much prefer having the headroom of 500 (peak) watts, RMS I'm guessing somewhere in the 250-350 range.

This is the rig I use the most playing in a room with 300 - 500 people. When I need more, I patch into the PA (450-500 people). What I really like about this setup is that you can store custom settings (EQ, amp modeling, compression) to the digital amp's memory. This comes in really handy if you double on slab and/or play in different venues. I have different settings dialed in for my SLB200 and misc slab basses. I use a Behringer FCB1010 midi foot controller to switch between my stored custom patches (don't have to walk up to the amp to change patches). I use a planet waves circuit breaker cable, so switching between my EUB and slabs is a breeze. I formerly used an a/b stomp box. Having less clutter is a blessing.

I'd also recommend sticking to acoustic amps or those that are tuned relatively flat. This will help to better bring out the acoustic qualities of your SLB. I haven't played through a real tube preamp, but my BBT500 has a tube model setting and it does give a warmer/rounder presence. I would imagine a real tube preamp would be even better. Ultimate it all depends on your playing style, techique and personal preferences.

I would have to echo Max's sentiments regarding 10's being the best size. 2x10 even better. In my case I'm using a 1 x10 and 1x15. If I were to use only one, I would choose the 10. However, when used together, the 15 really helps to support the bottom register especially with sustained notes. The punch comes from the 10, and the bottom presence from the 15. To each is his own. As always YMMV.

Hey Haku... if you're ever on Maui, call me up. You can try out my Series 1 Contra if you like. I still use it once in awhile. While you're at it, check out my LA Scala (I peeked at your G.A.S. list....;) )

Thanks for the offer Marcus. I'll definitely have to take you up on that, that is if I don't buy it first. I seriously doubt I'll purchasing anything within the next several months though. We'll see. And likewise, if you want to check out my SLB200 if you're on Oahu, do look me up. As far as I know, I'm the only one on the island, maybe even Hawaii, that has one.

Are you going to bring your LaScala to this year's Hawaii International Jazz Festival? I'll try to get off from work so I can be there in time to watch your group play.

No, I'll be playing my NS BassCello, since I'm just flying in and out that day. I've used John Kolivas' double bass in the past, but I don't want him to have to try to fit into my performance schedule. I'll be doing a set with Kelly Covington first, followed by a set with Gypsy Pacific. Dave Choy will be joining us on that one as well.

Thanks guys, That's what thought. I play my F bass through an Eden set up with 2 x10's but it is too cold and too much snow to get it to where I practice so that will have to wait. I was hoping that is what you would say about a 10 in. speaker. With my electric the sound of the eden is very warm and round but turned up it has some punch. You can't find an AI amp around here so the 3 hr. trip to niagara might be worth it .
Thanks,

I'll still try to make it out, say hello and introduce myself after your Gypsy Pacific set (if I do get to make it out). Aloha.

Haku, Thanks for the heads up on GH services in Niagara Falls. He hadn't heard the svb 200 with an ai amp but has had contact with someone in Vancouver that plays that set up and loves it. His quote was "I got wood" He also uses an Ampeg svt di and possibly a Clef solo II pickup. The owner of gh is Greg Holmes and his reply was back to me in less then an hour. Seems very approachable.
Thanks again,

I have come up with a fairly cheap but effective flight case for the Yamaha, which consists of a slightly modified version of a standard SKB golf club case. Actually, I got the idea from a friend of mine who uses it to travel with his trombone. I moved the latches a few inches to lengthen the case enough to accommodate the Yamaha case. The golf case adds enough rigidity to compliment the considerable padding which comes with the Yamaha soft case. I have travelled a lot with it and have never had any trouble. It also gives you a place to put some small items if they are soft. I put my runners and sweats in there to save room in my suitcase....

I am interested in the Full Circle idea. I don't mind the sound of the onboard pickup when through my AI Coda III, but I have been wondering about that pickup. The one concern I have, is that I have heard that sound adjustments with the Fishman are not independent of the string height adjustments. In other words, every time you change string height, you change sound. Can this be true? What if the sound you like is at an uncomfortable height? I suspect this rumour is false.

I am attaching a couple of photos of my modified golf case.

KL50001

50002

Thanks Jazz Bass Guy, Very interesting!

I think this is the type of case I initially was trying to get away with, but now that I see pictures - I need to ask you:
Do you really trust the baggage handlers with your bass in this case? Have you seen firsthand what cargo is subjected to?

Looking at these photos, I predict that the latches (with only a couple of rivets each into thin plastic) will be pulled apart very quickly. If (or likely "when") that happens, the bass has only the gig bag for protection. Not the level of risk I can afford to take, or peace of mind I would personally bank on.

I get hired to play bass, and when I get off the plane at a destination, I know that with my hardshell case, the chances are exceptional that I will have a bass to go to work with - not pieces to reassemble on an emergency call to the local luthier!

Your title "cheap case" is just that, and you get what you pay for. Bravo on the creativity, but IMHO this case is a disaster waiting to happen.

As for the Full Circle,
Yes the string position of the pickup/adjuster affects the type of sound. It's not radical, though - so you can probably get the right end result by working the amp EQ if the string height luts the angle of the pickup in an other-than-ideal position. I have been lucky so far getting both the sound & height where I want them. There are probably a few posts dealing with this specific issue in the Amps, Mics & Pickups forum.

I agree about the latches, but I am not nervous about the case itself. I made the modification as a temporary measure, which has become a long-term "temporary" measure. One of the latches got bent once, but somehow has managed to hang in there. My plan is to replace all of the latches with a more robust type. As I said, I have travelled with this configuration many times and the case shows very few signs of wear. As an additional benefit, the check-in folks think I'm a golfer and never make me sign a waiver. It gets checked as "special" luggage and seems to get better treatment than my old Anvil case used to. Of course, any case can get wrecked. I have seen really solid cases show up in tatters. I am going to get going on those latches, though. What you say about them is true, though the case is unlikely to lose all of the latches in one flight (there are five), and even one seems to be enough to keep it together.

Your case is definitely very solid looking.

Thanks for the info on the Full Circle. I will poke around here for more.

KL

Hi Ken,

Glad to hear you've been lucky so far, and that you have your eyes wide open. You are a pro, and a bass bro, and I respect that!

My concern about the latches is largely that they are not recessed. The handle appears to be a part of the case and less likely to be ripped off, but just the fact that the latches bump out from the shell, they are more likely to get snagged on something in transit..... I'm sure you will find the best available option.

I do like your point of being able to masquerade as a golfer :) My case is very sturdy, but it is sometimes subject to an excess baggage charge ($25 - $50) for being 7 - 12 lbs over the 50lb limit.

Best!
mAx

Hi Max,

I appreciate your thoughts on this, especially because I realize now that I have become somewhat complacent about the latches, which I have always intended to replace. I want to find some good heavy turnkey-style latches that I can bolt on with a little reinforcing on the inside. That shouldn't add too much weight, but it will add a lot more security. I am flying with it this Thursday, so I will probably have to go status-quo for now.

By the way, I found a Full Circle at a local store and I will be putting it on this weekend. Any recommendations/cautions/tips, etc. for mounting it on the Yamaha?

Thanks,

KL

Hi Ken, Prior to mounting the FC, I needed to have my luthier open up the space between the feet and the meat of the bridge, because the FC is thicker than the stock Yamaha adjusters.

Re: intallation, I explained how I mounted the pickup in a previous post in this forum (52) (http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showpost.php?p=3590141&postcount=52) so take a peek there - hopefully it will help.

Good luck! I love it - especially for arco! I loo forward to hearing your comments after you have installed the FC on your SLB200.

Hopefully lady luck will smile on you and your case once more this weekend !

Hey Max,

When you say you "needed to have my luthier open up the space between the feet and the meat of the bridge", do you mean the space between the feet and the bridge itself, in that it makes the strings too high, or do you mean that the diameter of the holes was too small? I didn't quite understand. I don't have my hands on the pickup yet, because the store I found it in is in another city, and I am getting the drummer, who lives there, to grab it for me. We are meeting at the airport, so I intend to attempt an install on the road. If it requires surgery, then that won't be happening. I play with the strings reasonably high, so it may not be a problem, but if I need to tap a bigger thread then it will have to wait.

KL

Hello again Max,

You have said that you recommend the optional extension for the frame. I have been thinking about that and I am now going to go ahead and get one. I wonder if you, like me, find the existing frame piece quite slippery?

KL

Hi Ken -

Yes, I meant the space between the feet and the bridge itself. You should be OK with the threads - The FC comes in two thread sizes 1/4-20, and 6mm. The Yamaha takes the 1/4-20. I had a lot of work done on my fingerboard a couple of years ago, so I needed to have some wood removed from the bridge to lower the strings to my desired height with the thicker adjuster of the FC.

The frame is kind of slippey, I guess - but since I added the extension, and bent the endpin (see the story in yet another thread located here (http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=286981&goto=newpost)) the bass balances very well and I have not had any slippage issues.

It's all a game trying to figure out what works - are we having fun yet? ;)

Best, mAx

:) Well, I installed the Full Circle on my Yamaha, and at first couldn't get a sound out of it. I discovered that the ground was somehow disconnected somewhere, so I made a jumper with the twist tie that came with the cheezy cord they give you. It worked, and I liked the sound very much, though I forgot to take my Fishman preamp with me (it was "amp du jour") and it wasn't until I got home to my own gear that I could give it a fair chance. I really like it. :) Thanks, Max, for the tip. I am fantasizing about drilling a tiny hole to connect it to the built-in preamp, perhaps via a toggle switch so I can select either the Fishman or Yamaha. It would be nice to have use of the volume and tone controls on the bass. Also, I am somewhat allergic to add-ons and cords. Yeccchhh....:spit:

I scratched the top of my bass with the Fishman input jack,:mad: because it doesn't fit too snugly and can pop out.

Bye the way, when I got home, I exchanged the defective pickup for a working one, and it's great.

after trying different options i finally got my own homemade endpin for the yamaha slb200.

i started with the above described knuckle-kinda-thing (see the attached pics). a friend of mine made it for me. it turned out pretty big and heavy but it was good to try different angles and endpin lenghts. after a couple of weeks i ended up with a 44 degree angle (just like the rabbath endpin) and a lenght from the bent to the floor of 20 cm. -> what a surprise.

after that i had my friend bent me a solid iron endpin with the above angle and lenght (check out the pics again).

up to now i'm very satisfied with the bent endpin. it feels much more balanced now (both sitting and standing). i also think that the sound has gotten a bit stronger by using the solid steel material opposed to the pipe that comes with the slb200. i'm still looking for somebody to bent me a solid graphite stick which might affect the sound also.

comments welcome.
cheers

Thanks for sharing Steffen!

The bent solid rod looks much more practical than the adjustable version, for sure. I imagine that the solid iron rod adds quite a bit of weight, right?

I am not sure that a graphite shaft can be bent, can it? One of the things about the Laborie pin (which I saw Glen Moore had on his 1715 Klotz w/Oregon last night - but that's for another post...) that contributes to it's success is that it is a straight shaft - the hole in the bass is at a 44* angle. I am not sure that there is enough wood on the SLB200 to install a Laborie as intended - or a shaft long enough if you wanted to....

You seem to have made a significant discovery by using a solid pin over a hollow tube, which makes a lot of sense. Thanks for your experimentation!

mAx

has anyone played on the yamaha slb-100? if so can anyone tell me if it is a worthwhile instrument?

i'm wondering what kind of strings would be the best to use, since the yamaha slb-100 comes in with stock super sensitive supremes that are set-up for arco playing and I'm primarily a pizz player.

possible rig (i'm short on funds so i have to make do with what i have)
peavey basic 115 (my first amp, small but solid sound, my other amp's too big) ----or---- gk backline 300 with an epifani 1x12 cab

slb-100 (strings?)

i'm looking for a scott lafaro, or marc johnson, or charlie haden kind of sound. any help would be greatly aprreciated

http://musik.tdconline.dk/servlets/2452306090224Dispatch/19/call?htmltemplate=./album/viewalbum.htm&albumid=4011569

Danish website where you can listen to his new cd (30 seconds of each song) - i think most of it is played on the SLB.

After ordering this CD directly from www.doky.com almost 5 weeks ago, it finally arrived today from Denmark - nice array of Danish stamps on the mailer.

The CD pictures a SLB200 on the cover (it's hard to tell for sure, but it looks like he put a FC on it, too) but the tracks contain both his acoustic bass and the Silent Bass. If you have read my previous posts here, you know that I love the SLB200, but hearing the instruments side by side, there is no doubt that the wicked bass sound that Chris uses for as lead voice for most of the record is not an SLB200 - it is the real deal, wood, air & everythang. The Yamaha (as great as it is) does not get that organic.

Not sure if anyone else has this recording....maybe I am getting old.... but he has added background noise, kind of like a scratchy record, and static - but rhythmic enough that I guess he might even consider this "percussion"..... personally I find it very distracting, and sadly it will probably limit how much I listen to this CD.....

Hey all,

Been quite a while since I've logged in but have quite a bit more to add to the whole SLB200 line of thought. Well, I own one and find that it's perfect for what I need - the group I play with www.newworldson.com is a very dynamic band live - we can get really loud at times and it's perfect. In fact, when we did our record we spent so much time getting my Kay bass to sit in the mix - our last string of demos was all recorded on the SLB200 and as far as getting the bass to "pop" and really sit in the mix (as far as our stuff goes) it's absolutely perfect.

I dig what you're saying about the Chris Minh Doky stuff... great player but the production of that record in my opinion puts me off a little....

Anyhow, Maxito - I had a flight case made for my SLB200 and will be flying with it soon... thanks for all of the info....

I use all of my basses through an Ampeg SVT3-Pro head and either a 2x10 and 115 cab (for bigger shows both cabs)... I love the tube preamp with the DB and EUB.

Just in case you did buy the slb100 in the end, I have the slb 200 with jazz strings on it and I want some arco ones...so if you want to trade, I have a set of helicore pizz strings (I think) that I would trade for reasonable arco equivs. K x

Have anyone seen this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vi1Ns06kkeM

It looks amazing! It's the SLB200 right?

I have a thread going on about a ARIA SWB Lite 1, but after I saw this I think I'll consider... This yamaha is really cool!

Anyone care to comment?

Regards.

Have anyone seen this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vi1Ns06kkeM
It looks amazing! It's the SLB200 right?



Thanks for the link, yes Chris is playing the SLB200 in this video.

Hi,

i'm going to buy this nice EUB, but do I need a preamp? I own a GK MB E III...

m

hallo musiker,

i don't use a preamp on my slb 200 and it works fine.

my setup:

slb 200 + underwood piezo pickup
aer basic performer amplifier

sometimes is use the built in pickup and the underwood and mix the signal.

cheers

steffen

Hey!

I bought it last week and already played some jazz trio gigs on it... it's great! That's all I wanted to say...
m

the SLB200 is much malaigned but is a nice play once the action is setup to suit your playing style.

Tend to run with flat tone both on the Bass and the Amp and sounds pretty good.

One tip is to make sure you use decent PP3 batteries, last about 6 months on a fairly heavy playing schedule.

I use a Sansamp Bass Driver DI (SABDDI) as a preamp. I don't have to, but I like the tone shaping capability.

After reading all the negative stuff on the Yamaha Silent Bass, I was thinking it wasn't worth the effort of tracking one down to play. However, I am glad now that I found one to try out. I'm thinking that maybe some of the negative reviews are of the '100' series, as the SLB200 I tried was very nice playing. I tried it also through a SansAmp preamp and it sounded wonderful. I've also played the Czech made NS EUB and the SLB200 appeals to me more. I'm seriously considering picking up an SLB200. With a few small tweaks/setup these are awesome EUB's.

I just like the wings that stick out from the side. Can rest your left hand and such which i find great for hitting thumb position.

Googling for SLB200 seems to find only non-USA dealers. Is this bass sold anywhere in the US?

In my part of the country, Chuck Levin's Washington Music Center (http://chucklevins.com/) near DC carries them - in the Band/Orchestra dept, not the guitar/bass dept.

I know that they do ship all over....

I did a quick search for Yamaha dealers within a 100 mile radius of Milwaukee (not exactly sure where you are) and the results are here (http://www.yamaha.com/dealerresults/default.html?category=15135130&zip=53216&Submit=Search)

Hope this helps.

moderator... can we get a sticky for the Yamaha SLB200 EUB?

:hyper:

I love mine. I hope that it gets the love it deserves.

I still play URB for classical gigs, and that's it.

I snagged an SLB200 and am really enjoying it. Although I only tried a few different brands, I found the Yamaha's portability, playability, and sound through a Sans Amp wonderful and everything I was after in a EUB.

Googling for SLB200 seems to find only non-USA dealers. Is this bass sold anywhere in the US?

I know it's not the US, but there are currently two SLB200's at the Long and McQuade (Granville location) in Vancouver. One is used and one is new.

if anyone is interested, i've ordered a Ingles SA22 stand from Music Stands Alone for $41. i think it will be easily modified to hold my SLB200. i hate laying my SLB200 down and don't have a corner to stand it in. anyway, i thought the stand prices were pretty good so will post the link too.
http://www.musicstandsalone.com/product/LPD-SA22

Once you get the stand and modify it, would be please post a couple of photos?

I have an old Hamilton stand I am going to try to modify this weekend.

It was horrible as a URB stand... not particularly secure, difficult to get the endpin into the cup, and if you aren't careful, the angle irons can scratch your bass.

I much prefer my Ingles.

Come to think of it, the Ingles stand would probably work fine, as-is, for the Yamaha. Just let the endpin sit on the floor and move the bottom supports up high enough to keep the bass from sliding sideways very far.

My concern is that any stand for this bass needs to not just support it in the vertical position, it needs to keep it from twisting. Unlike an URB which is pretty symmetrical, the SLB200 upper bout assembly makes the bass lopsided. Gravity is always in effect..... I have been using the Yamaha stand for years - heavy, clunky, expensive, true - but it has never failed. Still, like anything, it can wear out or get stolen (or lost) and I am very curious to see what you come up with.

10-4, will post some pics when it's done. I think I've got an idea that will work to hold the SLB200 and keep it from twisting.

I have an old Hamilton stand I am going to try to modify this weekend.

It was horrible as a URB stand... not particularly secure, difficult to get the endpin into the cup, and if you aren't careful, the angle irons can scratch your bass.

I much prefer my Ingles.

Come to think of it, the Ingles stand would probably work fine, as-is, for the Yamaha. Just let the endpin sit on the floor and move the bottom supports up high enough to keep the bass from sliding sideways very far.

I was thinking of starting with a Hamilton stand, but I like how adjustable the Ingles is. The Hamilton, apparently is square tubing (you'd know better than I) which I thought may cause some issues if trying to incorporate the top part of a guitar stand. :)

Azola carried a customized version of the Hamilton stand for the Bugbasses that might work. Try them?

moderator... can we get a sticky for the Yamaha SLB200 EUB?

:hyper:

would be nice! m

I'm playing mine on Christmas Eve in a jazz service at my church with tenor sax, piano, and drums. Yum.

I used the SLB200 for the non-Electric Bass trax on the next Caribbean Jazz Project CD, with Dave Samuels. It's due out in March '08. The record company has some sound samples posted here: http://www.headsup.com/ecards/3137/industry.html

Happy Holidays everyone.

I used the SLB200 for the non-Electric Bass trax on the next Caribbean Jazz Project CD, with Dave Samuels. It's due out in March '08. The record company has some sound samples posted here: http://www.headsup.com/ecards/3137/industry.html

Happy Holidays everyone.

Cool! Dave Samuels is awesome. Is Andy Narell on the new disc? I got to hang with him briefly in San Francisco 20 years ago, and I am always amazed at his artistry.

C....... Is Andy Narell on the new disc?

No, Andy is not. This is actually a mixed album, a couple of 3 horn tunes & the majority of it is CJP stuff with big band.

I used the SLB200 for the non-Electric Bass trax on the next Caribbean Jazz Project CD, with Dave Samuels. It's due out in March '08. The record company has some sound samples posted here: http://www.headsup.com/ecards/3137/industry.html

Happy Holidays everyone.

Maxito... awesome work. Thanks for that. Happy Holidays to everyone too...

I played my Yamaha last night at a Christmas Eve jazz service with pianom drums, amd tenor sax.

I ran the bass into a groove tubes "brick" tube preamp di into the xlr input of a Markbass LMII into an SWR workingmans 2x10.

The result was quite nice - solid lows and warm natural sound.

My only complaint was that the bass was kind of noisy. It wasn't an issue with a room full of people, but it was noticeable during rehearsal.

mandocaster, is the noise coming from the yamaha pre? would a Fishman Full Circle pickup work on these basses, since they have the adjustable bridges?

and, Maxito... what is your signal chain for your slb200? i've been running my slb200 through either a sansamp bass driver di or a mxr bass di+ and so far i'm liking the mxr preamp best...

It's hard to tell. I haven't noticed any problem at home. I also had a stroboflip in the signal chain.

Thanks for the nod, Bassman Blue. It was a fun project :)

Hope everyone had a great Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, Festive Holiday Time!

mandocaster, please help me understand your complaint.... the term "noisy" could mean several things - noisy might mean a dirty signal chain, or a faulty cable, which would likely be a crackly and obvious "something's wrong" kind of noise.

OR, quite possibly, the 9V battery could be running low (a problem I used to have quite a bit) or the contacts inside the battery compartment have been known to not make the best connection. Here's a test for that - with the bass plugged in and the volume up, put your thumb on the battery compartment cover and push it in, and side to side. If it makes noise, you'll need to go inside & bend the contacts out a little.

OR, maybe you have the volume on the bass cranked up, and if your touch is very light the movement of the instrument is amplified excessively. This may be true if you are primarily an electric bassist, with not a lot of DB background. I know that the SLB200 can be pretty microphonic, and even a worn out rubber foot on the endpin can creak a lot.....

Several possibilities, and it could be one of them - a combination - or something completely different.....

Signal chain...... hmmm..... well, as my quest for the SLB200 is to create the illusion of an acoustic db, I have a very simple signal chain. I just go directly into the amp. Any effects (a rare happening) are run in a loop. The exception is when I need 2 basses in concert, I use a Radial Bassbone to switch between them.

Also, I no longer use the onboard pickup, and replaced it with a Full Circle - WAY better!
(here's a picture of the installation (http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showpost.php?p=3590141&postcount=52))

If you should need a flight case

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=316516 (http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=316516)

Happy New Year, Fellow Bottom Dwellers

thanks for the links maxito... lots of good information there... :smug:

not sure if this thread was on here already, but this is worth watching and listening to... and he's playing a yamaha slb200...

Chris Minh Doky

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vi1Ns06kkeM

I can't reproduce the hum at home. It might have been all of the light dimmers...

I have been going back and forth using a preamp - either the SABDDI or a GT Brick or nothing at all. The sound is a little more detailed and "acoustic" with the Brick, but the sound direct to the MB LMII is really nice.

I figured out that a plain old Hamilton stand works fine as an SLB-200 stand - without modification.

http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z215/mandocaster/bass1004.jpg

http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z215/mandocaster/bass1005.jpg

It's quite stable.

Well done! Looks like it will do the trick quite nicely! Also appears that it's lighter to carry, and will pack up smaller.

That's exactly what I did with my old BugBass!
(sold years ago)

Mandocaster: Good job with the Hamilton stand! The stand I ordered is here, I just haven't had a chance to run across the line to pick it up. I'll keep you posted on how the Ingles SA22 stand works out, as I hope to pick it up on Friday.

I picked up the Ingles stand and it seems to work fine. I took one of the arm rests off and bent the other to a position that holds the SLB200. I am able to leave the end pin at the playing length. The stand is well balanced and sturdy. A lot cheaper than the $200 Yamaha stand.

I was playing the SLB200 through either my Sansamp Bass Driver or the MXR Bass Driver and getting a nice sound from it. However, I finally took the time to run it straight to my Genz Benz head, into the Fet channel and play with the settings. With the number of sonic possibilities the Genz has, ie: input gain, input volume and the extensive eq section, i've found a setting that works perfectly. I just leave the Fet channel set for the upright, basically flat with the low end preset engaged.

P.S. I also ordered the additional leg rest and upper bout attachments for my SLB200 from Woodwind and Brasswind as they had a 10% off accessories sale. Does anyone have these additions on their SLB200 that would mind posting pics and opinions?

Sorry about rambling, I'm really enjoying this EUB. Regards...

FYI, I merged all the Yamaha EUB threads to make up this megathread, and stuck it at the top with the other megathreads!

Enjoy!
François
TB mod

thanks very much! :)

FYI, I merged all the Yamaha EUB threads to make up this megathread, and stuck it at the top with the other megathreads!

Enjoy!
François
TB mod

Thanx Francois! Things were getting scattered all over the place. We appreciate it :)

I just got the optional shoulder-widening extension and for me it makes all the difference in the world. It feels a lot more like a bass now. I found that original one too small and slippery by itself. I recommend it.

KL

I just got the optional shoulder-widening extension and for me it makes all the difference in the world. It feels a lot more like a bass now. I found that original one too small and slippery by itself. I recommend it.

KL

great to hear that. my 'knee' extension piece arrived but i'm still waiting for the shoulder extension. where did you get your part from? :hyper:

great to hear that. my 'knee' extension piece arrived but i'm still waiting for the shoulder extension. where did you get your part from?

I ordered it a long time ago from Yamaha. It was worth the wait, but I think if there were more requests for it, it would probably be more available. I wish it wasn't necessary. I don't think it really weighs that much and it still fits in the case, so it would be great if it came that way. It is a very positive change; at least for me.

I ordered it a long time ago from Yamaha. It was worth the wait, but I think if there were more requests for it, it would probably be more available. I wish it wasn't necessary. I don't think it really weighs that much and it still fits in the case, so it would be great if it came that way. It is a very positive change; at least for me.

yes, i agree. these two parts are both small, and made to fit in the case, so they really should not be the expensive options that they are. :-)

Does anyone know where i can try the yamaha out around toronto? and the prices too

i suspect long and macquade will be your best bet on a place to try one out.

Hi, I know I posted on this topic before but...
I want to create a wall mount solution for my slb and I'm thinking something like this (very basic, not detailed description):
To hold the bass - 2 "shelf-things" (upper right corner of pic. - don't know the english word for it) placed under the "arms" (green arrows).
To "fixate" it - something holding either the neck or where the "silver part" is attached to the bass.
http://imageload.dk/files/150ff6c41a77977f9f994208b7adb117.jpg

My question: Do you think it will damage the bass to hold it in the "arms"?
- Not in terms of scratches (will create the "shelf-things" so they fit perfectly and obviously pad/line them) but because of all the weight being carried by the "arms":)
Thanx in advance

hi andreas,

you might wanna try this: http://www.thomann.de/gb/km_16255.htm

i use a similar wall holder in my room and it works fine with my slb 200. i attached the unit close to the corner of the room and lean my slb against it with the front of it facing to the wall.

i hope this is of some help for you

hi andreas,

you might wanna try this: http://www.thomann.de/gb/km_16255.htm

i use a similar wall holder in my room and it works fine with my slb 200. i attached the unit close to the corner of the room and lean my slb against it with the front of it facing to the wall.

i hope this is of some help for you

I actually own a pair of these: http://images4.thomann.de/pics/prod/101735.jpg
and it might be a solution - I want the front of the bass to face the room though...but I think I could make it work...would be easier than my other idea:)
Thanks

I have the exact same hanger (well, two of them). My NS WAV hangs from it very nicely, but the headstock on the SLB 200 is more like a classical design, with the bottom sticking out to the back, and I'm not sure that it would fit. It probably will fit if you hang the bass facing the wall, or if you use it just for neck support.

In any case, these hangers are not expensive at all, and if you mount them on a supporting wall with proper plugs they should be pretty reliable. Perhaps put some soft textile "socks" on the arms to avoid marking the instrument.

Hi, I will use it as neck support only, think it'll work pretty well. I made it this weekend when visiting my parents - will try it out when I move to a new apartment:)
thanks for them replies

Question for your Yamaha folks: I once played a Emminence EUB taht uses a hip brace. The instrument is so light that any strong string pulling would cause the bass to torque/twist - a very annoying affect. I didn't like the Emminence solely for that problem.

So, does the SLB/SVB do that? Is it heavy enough or is the faux-shoulder help keep the instrument from twisting as you play it?

I like the Yamaha particularly because it resists that kind of thing. Generally, I think light-bodied EUBs are somewhat prone to move more because they have less inertia. I got the optional shoulder extension partly to help deal with that twisting effect, and it makes it feel very solid against the body, with enough surface contact to stop any twisting of the bass.

KL

Question for your Yamaha folks: I once played a Emminence EUB taht uses a hip brace. The instrument is so light that any strong string pulling would cause the bass to torque/twist - a very annoying affect. I didn't like the Emminence solely for that problem.

So, does the SLB/SVB do that? Is it heavy enough or is the faux-shoulder help keep the instrument from twisting as you play it?

this is one of the main reasons i went with the slb. i have the optional shoulder extension also, but the bass plays well with or without it. the extension just positions the slb (for me anyway) a little further away and in the same manner that i play my urb.

I'm taking the plunge! SVB200 here I come. :eek:

So... string suggestions? I guess I'll try something out of my old string expirement set. Probably Corelli Forte first or maybe Spiro's.

welcome to the SLB200 family.

Strings - guess that depends on what you're looking for. For years I used Daddarrio Helicore Hybrid/Meds on it. That was ok. When I added the Full Circle p/up (on my luthier's advice) I tried the new Kolstien Heritage strings - love 'em.

Thanks Max.

I was wondering about Heritages. I had them on the DB a couple years ago when they came out. I liked them then but the durability was questionable after taking them on/off a couple times.

If you like the Heritages then I'll probably stick Pirastro Flatchrome Steel strings on it eventually as that's what I have on my DB right now. The sound is similar I think but not so tight as the Heritages (I'm being completely subjective here).

I can nearly afford an SLB200. I'm a few hundred bucks shy.

I just received mine. Pretty easy to put together. Gonna take it home and tweak it. The neck is fine, not too thin or thick. Looks pretty well built. My only complaint is that the ebony they used for the fingerboard isn't the greatest: it's not the high quality dark ebony and has a couple spots where it's a little wavy. I think it'll be mostly cosmetic tho. Heck, I might even ebonize it myself. :P

The hollow end pin rod feels like it could use more heft. Feels ok with it attached to the bass tho . I may experiment with a graphite rod at some point to see if it dampens more than the hollow one would. I didn't know that endpin had to be completely removed during disassembly.

Anyways, I'll take some detailed photos of how the dang thing works for all of you who don't have one and have been curious. Overall I think it was a pretty good buy so far. More later.

EDIT: Oh one more thing... the endpin goes way into the bass. Might be useful to know for those who are shorter than the average bear. I will have to try it with the rod short while sitting in a chair.

EDIT #2: I bought my from Southwest Strings. Not only do they have the cheapest price I could find (<$2.4K) but it looks like they also tossed in a free clipon tuner! :D

LOL. I took it directly to a Jazz ensemble class and played it. Both my teach and I were stoked about it. Very easy to play. Sounded decent through a crappy Polytone 10". I think the onboard pickup will be good enough for my purposes.

Took it home and did some arco. Was pretty easy surprisingly. I've since swapped out the stock pickups for a Spiro E & A and Dom D &G as they were the best set of stray strings I had lying around.

The hollow end pin is okay. I guess I'm not going to bother looking for an alternative, at least not for a while. I did use a scraper on the side of the fingerboard where your thumb rests for pizz. Seems like they covered the side of the fingerboard with some sort of weird plastic coating that scraped off pretty easy. It was just weird to expect wood shavings and to see plastic instead.

It's a keeper for sure. :)

Question: Anybody ever sent your Silent Bass to a luthier for a setup/fingerboard dressing? I have the requisite tools and tempted to try my hand at it.

Hrm ... no answers. Mkay. I will take it to a pro. I'm sure it will sound even better once it's been done.

Dressing a fingerboard is a tricky thing and I wouldn't personally try it myself. If you really want to learn how to do that sort of thing, why not get some really professional guidance? Otherwise, get someone who you know is good at it already and can do just what you want the first time.

Please don't do it yourself. I have taken my SLB200 to my URB guy for work a few times. For me, it's a professional working instrument, and needs to maintained as such. Sure, there are not nearly as many subtleties as an acoustic bass, but since the EUB is pretty much nothin' but neck, doesn't it make sense to have it professionally cared for?

Don't worry. Anything having to do with camber kinda freaks me out. Chuck Traeger's descriptions make it sound easy but he warns at the end that it's one of the hardest things to do. I guess I need to find me a sacrificial bass first.

Anyhow, I just wanted to know if some of you sent your EUBs to get worked on mainly. Thanks.

I am interested in grafting a silent bass body contour (http://www.yamaha.co.jp/english/product/silent_b/features.html) onto a Zeta Educator EUB. I could find information about actually doing the work myself, having the project done for me, purchase the body contour itself, or have a similar piece fabricated for my Zeta. I like the midi output on the Zeta but find the Yammaha to be much more like a real bass in terms of its' balance while standing and playing.


mark@underwoodgroup.com

I had a chance to try out an SLB-200 today. I played it through a series II Coda. I always thought that the general feedback on the SLB-200 was that it wasn't that great. I found it to be pretty decent. I've played an Eminence and an Ergo in the past and I found the SLB-200 to be pretty nice to play - certainly it felt the most like a real bass to me. All the reference points and the shape made it easy to get used to and the response of the strings and the bridge through my fingers was very satisfying. I'm very used to a playing a big 7/8 bass with gut strings and sound is everything to me. I generally have very low expectations for any kind of EUB but I liked the Yamaha. On the other hand, the almost $3,000 price tag is not all that inviting.

I just bought mine several weeks ago and I've been very happy with it. I paid $2.4K from Southwest strings. I still need to get a real setup done by a luthier but I just put on my standard string setup (Spiro E med or heavy and the rest Flatchromes) and it's sounds and plays great. My search for a good practicing and transportation-friendly tool is over. :)

I wish the price would come down. I'm not sure why they are so expensive. They are nice, and I love Yamaha, but $2,500 is a lot of money.

I bought mine from a local store that was going out of business, and I don't know if someone did a pro set up or not. However, it plays great. The finger board is nicer than on my regular bass, which has had multiple pro setups. The action is fairly low, but essentially buzz free. I never take my regular bass out anymore unless it is a classical or pit job.

I am a big supporter of the SLB. It sounds great. I always get lots of comments on the sound from both audience and bandmates.

I look at most other EUBs and I know just from the lack of decent reference points that I would hate using them. That was how I felt with the Eminence. Yamaha got it right with the frame that imitates the shoulders of a double bass and I really don't see why most other EUB manufacturers can't recognise that.

Hi, just wanted to show off my home made wall mount for my SLB - in case someone out there might want to try the same thing:D
The thing in the bottom are two shelf supports glued together and - to support the neck - a K&M guitar wall mount with my girlfriends hair rubber band to make sure it doesn't tilt forward.
I'm pretty happy with the result - it's actually quite stable.
http://www.zeroup.dk/uploads/1207316547.jpghttp://www.zeroup.dk/uploads/1207285124.jpghttp://www.zeroup.dk/uploads/1207268797.jpg

I was considering the Alter Ego tooo but the exchange rates scared me off. I think $2500 is a fair price considering what the competitors are selling for. Heck even an NSD bass about the same amount new. I'm with Adrian tho, I don't get why they don't stick some decent ribs on so it feels like the real thing instead of some chincy hip braces.

Nice job on the wall mount Andreas!

For those of you that have not added the upper bout extension to the frame, I highly recommend it. It makes the illusion even more "real"

Thanks maxito, been looking at the upper bout (and knee support) but think they are heavily overpriced...not that I don't wan't them - I do - but 65 pounds for a piece of curved plastic...I think that's bad policy by Yamaha...
The reason I made the wall mount in the first place was that the official stand cost the same as a fine western guitar...

Anyone looking to add a knee support and side extension to their SLB200's may want to consider:

that the knee support works great until you add the side extension. at that point the side extension makes the knee support almost too shallow to use (in my case). for the knee support to be effective i would need to extend it backwards the same distance as the depth of the added side support.

anyway, my point is decide on how you position your bass when playing and then go with one of the pieces (side extension or knee support) as you likely don't need both, nor will the knee support function as effectively with the side extension added. hope that makes sense.

and glad to hear others are having success with the slb200. the more eub's i try the more thrilled i am with the slb200 and even the sound. add to this its portability/case and it is a great eub. as for the price, sure it may be considered expensive, but find another eub that does what these do for cheaper. several of us here have found slb200's used or at discount prices around $1200.

regards,

I have both the upper bout extension and knee support installed. I don't use the knee extension when I play standing up. I use the knee extension only when I play seated.

Funny thing is when people see me playing seating with the bow, they think I'm playing an electric cello. And no, I don't have the SLB in between my legs. I have my left leg up with my left foot planted on the stool horizontal brace.

At any rate, the combination of the two add-ons work OK in my usage.

FYI: Looks like mine needed alot of fingerboard work. I'm having my luthier take the nut down a bit as it's too high. I saw him put the straight edge up to it and it probably doesn't have enough camber. We both agree that the fingerboard is all over the place.

Should be great once I get it back. :)

I got my bass back. The setup I got wasn't perfect after close examination. I took the liberty of removing a couple high spots and buzzing myself on the G string after consulting the Traeger book a few times. I had a japanese scraper and a rabbet plane that worked perfectly and I managed to get a nice surface after some sandpaper and steel wool.

Also, I took off the Flatchromes I had on it and slapped on a full set of some Dominants I had lying around. Nice low tension now. Feels good with them on. :)

Hey Max,

I remember several posts back that you mentioned that you tried the Revolution Solo pickup before you installed your Full Circle setup. I'm thinking of getting either the new Revolution Solo II or the Full Circle. Before I take the plunge, what did/didn't you like about the RS pickup that made you go for the FS? I'm leaning more towards the RS II since it's less invasive in comparison to the FS.

Also, how would you describe the Kolstein Heritage strings on the SLB200? I never did get around to putting the Hybrid Mediums on. They ended up on my Acoustic, so I'm doing my homework on strings now. I'm still considering Corelli TX's. In the mix, I'm also considering Spiro Weichs. At any rate, I really want to open up the sound of my Yammy.

You know the soft case that came with the SLB.... I fear it will not hold up to the abuse I will dish out on it. Already one of the stitches of one handle is starting to rip out, and today I noticed some of the foam on the shoulder strap is coming off. I think it's just a matter of time before it falls apart.

Anybody know of any high quality sources to get a replacement made? Unforutnately, the SLB needs some padding in the form of the bass itself along with an endpin holder of some sort.

Yeah, the stitching is coming off one the hand straps on my case too. My fault though as I was picking up the case in haste, it snagged on an organ bench. All I heard was errrrrip! I was like SH**!!!

I don't know of any high quality sources to get a replacement made. I take it you're wanting to go the softcase route hdiddy? You might want to try contacting Yamaha or your local Yamaha dealer to see if they can source a replacement case for the SLB. Good luck though, Yamaha is notorious for being very slow to send out parts. I've been waiting over a year for a replacement bridge for my TRB1005F that was still under warranty.

Max had a custom hard case made by Case Technology that cost him $300. The SLB case fits right inside the flight case. Here's a link to a picture on Max's site that shows the SLB case nested inside: http://www.maxbass.com/SLB-200-Case-Photos.htm

Not sure if you saw the posts where we talked about it, but was posted in this same thread a couple years back on page 6. It starts at around post #107 YAMAHA EUB Megathread (page 6) (http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=352752&page=6)

I saw that, but I'm looking for a soft case replacement that can be toted around easier. I started looking at custom bags so I might contact UndercoverNYC and see if they could do something. They did something for the NS CR4 I had as the previous owner got the bag from someone else.

Just curious, I wonder if we can go to someone like Undercover as a group and buy multiple bags to bring down the cost of manufacture. Would you guys be interested in going in together on this?

Do you have pictures of the NS4 case by any chance? How would you rate construction and durability of the Undercover case vs the stock Yamaha?

I'd be interested, but I think I'd want something a wee bit larger in terms of depth. I have the extension frame installed and makes the stock case bulge out on the top. If there are a bunch of us that are interested, let's powow a bit to talk about the design. What say you?

The undercover bag construction is pretty good. There's alot of folks here on TB, esp on the DB side who like the quality of the amp covers and various bags they make. The NSD is on loan so I can't take photos of it.

Changes I am thinking of:
#1 Yes a little deeper for you extension guys
#2 Get rid of the shoulder strap and put backpack straps on the opposite side of the pockets
#3 Make the main pocket a little bigger to fit more books. Add a small pocket on the same side as the main pocket.

Thoughts?

Sounds good hdiddy. The shoulder strap on the stock case is kinda goofy. Replacing it with backpack straps is a great idea. Things I like from the original design are:
vinyl lining on the inside bottom to protect the bag from endpin assembly wear
padded internal compartments to store disassembled SLB - endpin, frame, and bass
pocket for bow case
hand strapsOther than the changes you listed, the only other thing I can think of is putting on a trucker style hood ornament or some kind of bling, maybe a spinning Yamaha logo (three tuning forks)? :D

Well Haku, looks like you're the only one interested. I'm going to send Undercover NYC and email and see what they can do.

Keep us posted. And when I say "us" I mean me ;)

Thanks for looking into this hddidy.

Hey Max,

I remember several posts back that you mentioned that you tried the Revolution Solo pickup before you installed your Full Circle setup. I'm thinking of getting either the new Revolution Solo II or the Full Circle. Before I take the plunge, what did/didn't you like about the RS pickup that made you go for the FS? I'm leaning more towards the RS II since it's less invasive in comparison to the FS.

Also, how would you describe the Kolstein Heritage strings on the SLB200? I never did get around to putting the Hybrid Mediums on. They ended up on my Acoustic, so I'm doing my homework on strings now. I'm still considering Corelli TX's. In the mix, I'm also considering Spiro Weichs. At any rate, I really want to open up the sound of my Yammy.


Howzit Haku? Sorry I have been away from the board for a while, and just received your page.

The RSII is a nice p/u - but because of the placement in the bridge wings I thought it more prone to accidental dislodgement. The FC I have found to be far superior to the stock electronics, and because it replaces the bridge adjuster instead of being wedged into the wing, it's actually LESS invasive than the RS II (funny how we have looked at this from opposite ends)

The Kolstein Heritage strings are a lower tension than the Helicore Hybrids Mediums I previously sported, and the feel is much silkier too. They are more bow-friendly. Pretty sure I said this earlier, but I feel that the combination of the FC & the Heritage strings are the right combination on the SLB200 - at least for me. I am not looking at other pickup or string options anymore, and that is saying quite a lot.

You know the soft case that came with the SLB.... I fear it will not hold up to the abuse I will dish out on it. Already one of the stitches of one handle is starting to rip out, and today I noticed some of the foam on the shoulder strap is coming off. I think it's just a matter of time before it falls apart.

Anybody know of any high quality sources to get a replacement made? Unforutnately, the SLB needs some padding in the form of the bass itself along with an endpin holder of some sort.

Hello hdiddy,

Yup, pretty strange that a huge corporation like Yamaha would develop and market a "travel bass" with so little attention to the case! The case for the SLB100 is even worse, believe it or not!

I would be interested in whatever replacement info you find out. I know that Mooridian will make one for the SLB200 if your Undercover venture proves less than satisfactory.

The RSII is a nice p/u - but because of the placement in the bridge wings I thought it more prone to accidental dislodgement. The FC I have found to be far superior to the stock electronics, and because it replaces the bridge adjuster instead of being wedged into the wing, it's actually LESS invasive than the RS II (funny how we have looked at this from opposite ends)

The Kolstein Heritage strings are a lower tension than the Helicore Hybrids Mediums I previously sported, and the feel is much silkier too. They are more bow-friendly. Pretty sure I said this earlier, but I feel that the combination of the FC & the Heritage strings are the right combination on the SLB200 - at least for me. I am not looking at other pickup or string options anymore, and that is saying quite a lot.

Max, you have the FC running the standard wires going on the outside and bypassing the onboard preamp, yes? If I go with another pickup (likely an FC too) I might try rewiring it so the FC output goes into the onboard pre. I have also been toying with the idea of replacing the onboard pre with something more hifi. I'm sure I've voided the warranty by now with all the work I've done on the fingerboard. I plan on digging in and looking at how the stock pickup is installed one of these days. I think it's probably just a transducer that is attached to the box that the bridge sits in.

Strings wise, for whatever reason, my SLB is extremely tight. Like I said in another post, even with Corelli Mediums they were too tight. I'm sure the Heritages would be way too tight as well. I have Spiro Solos on there now and it seems a whole lot better, still a little tight but I'll give it a while to see how far they loosen up.

I would be interested in whatever replacement info you find out. I know that Mooridian will make one for the SLB200 if your Undercover venture proves less than satisfactory.

Well, Undercover NYC says they only do amp/speaker covers. I guess I'll try Mooradian next but I predict it will be expensive :hiding:.

Count me in in the SLB 200 community :hyper:

Just got mine today, 1300 € used (= $2000), including the Yamaha stand.
Sounds pretty good with my Roland Bass Cube 100, I am rather surprised by the actual usability of the amplified arco tone. Better than arco through the BassMax piezo on my acoustic Strunal!

A little bit too much sustain for my taste, will try the included foam mute tomorrow and see if it helps...

The only negative thing I see is the endpin, not very securely locked and wobbling when extended the way I like it (almost all the way out).

OK, so Mooradian says it's going to be something like $275-300 with a 6-8 week turnaround time. I will make the tracings and take photos for them. So far there are 3 takers on it as well.

Tell me if you guys want anything else featured on it.

Thanks for the legwork hdiddy. Not sure if it's possible, but if the exterior dimensions of the Mooadian case do not exceed the OEM case I would probably snatch one up. If it turns out to be bigger, it won't fit in my road case (http://www.maxbass.com/SLB-200-Case-Photos.htm) :( and I really do not want to have another road case built....

Mooradian finally got back to me after a few weeks. Looks like they're slammed until the fall. I will make a tracing and send it to them. The tracing will include an extension for the rib as I have one now on my bass too.

The bass is lots of fun. I pretty much stopped working on the fingerboard as I've gotten most of the funny buzzes out. It's strung with Spiro solos and it gives me just the right tension and string height.

@T-34: Try making your own endpin. You can probably find a carbon fiber or steel rod with the same diameter and stick a crutch/cane stop at the end from an online source. That way you can get it any length you want. I think it might be wobbling simply because it's all the way out. Mine is fairly solid where I like it.

Hi, all! After three weeks with my SLB 200 I have couple of questions.

Do you find Yam stock preamp noisy? Mine hisses audibly even with treble control on its center detent, rather annoying. I have pretty low output too, switching with my passive bass on the same combo amp I am forced to crank the gain two notches up! The battery is new, bridge setup is like it should be too.
Could it be my piezo is not set up like it should be?

Hi, all! After three weeks with my SLB 200 I have couple of questions.

Do you find Yam stock preamp noisy? Mine hisses audibly even with treble control on its center detent, rather annoying. I have pretty low output too, switching with my passive bass on the same combo amp I am forced to crank the gain two notches up! The battery is new, bridge setup is like it should be too.
Could it be my piezo is not set up like it should be?

Mines dead quiet. My uneducated guess is that it's something with the electronics and not the pickup. I would make sure it's not the amp too by playing another instrument with it that you know doesn't hiss. If it is the electronics, I suppose you could try replacing the pots or somesuch. I still might replace the onboard pre with something even better if I can get some sort of graphic eq on it.

Not the amp, it hisses with my Toneport UX2 too...

I'll try to bypass the internal pre using the outboard one (Fishman BII I am using with my acoustic)

Aha! I took my SVB200 apart and checked out the electronics. Here's the deal, the preamp just one IC board that contains all the electronics. All of the wires are connected with what looks like a standard wire connector that is often used with computers. The Yamaha pickup can be disconnected and removed from the body easily. The preamp rout-out is shielded - but it isn't connected to the ground. IIRC, it needs to be connected to the ground or it's useless.

Now for the real $#!%!.... the pickup is nothing but what looks like an electret film. When you look at the E side of the bass, that black plastic thing one the side.... that's just a big plastic wedge that tensions the film into place. In no case does the film actually touch wood becuase the wedge is plastic, and the other side is nothing but a thing rubber sheet used as a shim.

Again, I've never been impressed with yamaha's construction of the instrument in most situations but as my practice instrument it gets the job done. OTOH, knowing that the original pickup is on a separate piece of wire, I'm probably going to just drill a hole in the side for an RCA jack so that I can try different types of pups.

I'll try to take photos tonight but there's going to be plenty of room for experimentation here.

Let the fun begin!
:)

OK photos..... I did this quick and dirty. Mind you I took all the electronics out before snapping photos. It's quite easy to do so.

1> Jack housing pops out...
http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z188/huydiddy/IMG_1192.jpg

Behind it is the endpin. There's about a 3/4-1" thick piece of wood that acts as a stopper. I might epoxy a rubber stopper here so there's no clunk. At least now you know what the endpin is hitting if you slam down on the endpin.
http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z188/huydiddy/IMG_1190.jpg

Wire runs and connects to the preamp controls (not connected)
http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z188/huydiddy/IMG_1193.jpg

"shielded" cavity
http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z188/huydiddy/IMG_1194.jpg

The whole mess
http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z188/huydiddy/IMG_1196.jpg

Now the pickup - I assume to be piezo electret. Please excuse the professional ways of holding the pickup. The film sit's square on the rubber rectangle. I just held it offset so you can see the plastic/rubber shim

http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z188/huydiddy/IMG_1197.jpg

Other side of the shim and mess... The opposite side just has a big rubber thing that likes to spring out of the shim. The shim gets pushed in from the outside while the pickup comes with the wire from the inside - so there's nothing to see if it's all assembled.
http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z188/huydiddy/IMG_1198.jpg

My plan is to look for the 2-pin connector that connects the pickup to the preamp board. If I can't find it, then I'll slice up the pickup and stick an RCA jack on the end. I'll prob drill a hole in the side of the bass to mount the jack but haven't found a source for a plate that I can mount a single RCA jack to. The electronics are pretty tidy otherwise.

great!

Hi

I am looking for a amplifier for me and my Yamaha slb 200 and I´m interested in those Aer amplifiers from Germany. I was thinking about the "alpha" or the "compact 60" models because the weight so little. I am just gonna use it for practicing and for really small gigs. Does anyone have any experience with those amplifiers, heard anything about them or can recommend an amplifier for the Silent bass 200. If you got a Slb 200 or 100, please tell me what kind of amplifier you are using and how you like it.

I have an Aria EUB and use a PJB Flightcase and a EA Wizzy Combo, our mandolin and banjo player uses a Compact 60

Thanks

Robert VanLane

The poster in post #144 uses a aer basic performer.

does anyone know of a store that has the Silent bass, SVB200 in stock to test play? all of the stores I've checked with do not have one in stock but would be glad to special order one. My experience with Yamaha is that it's top notch, but I'd still like to play one first.

or if there's a TB'er that would be willing to let me try theirs, that would be awesome, please pm me if that's a possibility.

thank you!

sincerely, Glen