Anderson travelbass

rusty66 · #1 06-11-2006, 09:19 PM

Hey all. Thinking of purchasing one of these basses! Has anyone here had anything to do with them? They are handmade in Aussie by Mr Ross Anderson. I have played one before although I am not a experienced Double bass player. (my 25 years or so of playing has all been electric) They seem to sound fantastic & "move air" but If im going to spend the money, I would like some further feedback if possible. I prefer this size to a 3/4 or 4/4 mainly for transportation reasons. I play mainly old country & a bit of Jazz. Any info would be greatly welcomed. The website to Ross's basses is:
http://home.iprimus.com.au/rossjazz/Double_Bass.htm
Thanks.

rusty66 · #2 06-13-2006, 03:29 AM

OK, It seems that not many people have tried / used these from the massive responce I have got to this thread! (sarcasm rules!) Would be interested on your thoughts from the pics & website though. Any takers for a comment???
Thanks
Rusty

Pete G · #3 06-13-2006, 03:37 AM

I haven't tried the Anderson version of this sort of thing, though I have noted the website with interest. A similar sort of travel bass is marketed in the US as a "Czech-Ease," and there are other threads about it on Talk Bass. I played a Czech-Ease" at Hammond Ashley a year ago or so -- for a travel bass, it sounds pretty good.

PB+J · #4 06-13-2006, 05:41 AM

Personally i can't see the point of a downsized double bass--I play the double bass because of its sound, pure and simple, and you don't get that sound with a smaller box. Why not just play a bass guitar then? Or one of those equally incomprehensible to me electric uprights?

What would make sense would be a 3/4 sized double bass with a detachable neck, and a padded clamp to hold the soundpost in place. You'd still have a big instrument to carry, but it would be 100 times more manageable, and you'd get all or nearly all the sound of a double bass. There's that french example, I forget the luthier's name, but it's a brilliant design.

If I was touring that's what I'd want--at the end of the gig detune, fix the soundpost, take the strings off with a quick release locking mechanism like they have for guitars, take the neck off, and put the whole business in a case only a little bigger than the body of the bass.

Seriously--a detacheable neck--it's not like that's some kind of insurmountable technical challenge

PB+J · #5 06-13-2006, 05:43 AM

here it is--Patrick Charton's "B-21"

http://didacool.free.fr/charton/b21_a.htm

Pete G · #6 06-13-2006, 07:07 AM

Having flown a number of times with a bass in a large trunk, the obvious answer to the question, "Why?" is portability.

Of course no cut-off bass sounds like a true double bass. But if your primary need for a travel instrument is, like mine, having a bass-like practice object on which to keep your chops sharp when traveling with a bass trunk is impossible, the Czech-Ease and even some EUBs make sense as a compromise. I would always rather have a real bass when I travel, but let's admit it: there's a reason people always ask us the piccolo question.

When I bought my EUB (my travel "drum pad"), the Czech Ease and the Charton B-21 were not available. Perhaps the best travel bass then on the market was the Lamarre travel bass.

I'm mildly interested in the Charton B-21, but I'll be interested also to learn how much it costs. A very great deal more than a good EUB, I suspect.

PB+J · #7 06-13-2006, 07:28 AM

probably--I wasn't intending to diss you, and my comments weren't aimed at you, sorry if it seemed like they were. I was aiming more at why what seems to me a better solution (the detachable neck) isn't used more often.

I'll bet that Charton bass costs a ton

Pete G · #8 06-13-2006, 07:46 AM

I'm sure it's worth what Charton charges, but I can't spend that kind of money for a third bass. Probably. Well, maybe. I can eat peanut butter sandwiches for lunch...

rusty66 · #9 06-14-2006, 04:08 AM

Thats better than what I would be eating if I bought one of these! Thanks for the help guys, The detachable neck is a good idea, but for the limited touring that I would be doing with this bass, it makes sence to go this way. I am one of those "plug in" bassists 9 times out of 10, but I want to get back into Double as I did a very long time ago. They sound pretty damn good for a sized down version, plenty of volume, but not the same as a 3/4 etc, but thats a sacrafice Im sort of willing to take For the style of music I will be using it for. (amped up 95% of the time). Thanks again guys.
Rusty