cheap electric worth it?

stranded horse · #1 12-25-2009, 04:05 PM

Hello,

I am an electric bassists, but I want to change to upright bass at some point. But until I can afford a decent acoustic upright, do you think it makes sense to buy a really cheap electric upright to practise? They go for as low as $400, that might be a sum I could come up with.
I don't plan gigging with an electric upright (mainly because I think they look stupid), but I could borrow or rent a real for gigs, and so it doesnt really matter if they sound good.
Or do you think electric uprights (specially cheap ones) feel a lot different to real uprights?
Or will I be able to change without troubles if I master a cheapish electric upright?

I hope to get some of your thoughts on this to enlighten me...

MR PC · #2 12-25-2009, 04:22 PM

If borrowing an instrument long term is out of the question, I'd say that the cheap EUB would be a solid investment in your bass playing future. The first upright owned/possesed is rarely the last one, IME. Good luck!

JtheJazzMan · #3 12-25-2009, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stranded horse

I don't plan gigging with an electric upright (mainly because I think they look stupid), but I could borrow or rent a real for gigs, and so it doesnt really matter if they sound good.

I think it would be more productive if you worry more about tone rather than looks. EUBs have an advantage in terms of manufacturing costs, so you can have a nice tone at a great price.

Borrowing or renting an acoustic bass for gigs doesnt make a lot of sense. Are you really going to be able to get a decent bass everytime? The setup and strings are always going to be different to what you practice on. A big part of playing the bass is the customisation of your own gear to get your own sound.

If you want an acoustic bass, save your pennies for that, or if you want to play on an electric double bass, save your pennies for a nice one.

hdiddy · #4 12-25-2009, 06:06 PM

forget the gimmicks. Go rent a bass.

Andrew McGregor · #5 12-25-2009, 06:29 PM

Electric upright is a *different instrument*. Nothing per se wrong with that, but the technique, physical approach, and applications are different, so you need to think a bit about what you're getting in to, and why.

Constantly changing instruments on DB or EUB is a pain, literally, in that you're quite likely to injure yourself. Injuries are also why you really must get a few lessons at the beginning, to make sure you get a physical approach to the instrument that will work for you. Remember that musicians are elite athletes, just of some of the body's smaller muscles, and you don't expect to go uninjured in any athletic activity without a coach.

MR PC · #6 12-25-2009, 06:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hdiddy

forget the gimmicks. Go rent a bass.

Said the electric upright player to the acoustic violin bass player:

"So what's your gimmick?"

stranded horse · #7 12-25-2009, 06:52 PM

So you say electric upright is completely different from acoustic? I thought if I play two or three years electric until I can afford a nice real one I will be able to get some sweet stuff out of that acoustic in no time...
And I don't exactly "have to" gig with an upright, I can still take my regular electric bass (fretted or fretless), I just thought it would be nice.

So do you think practicing on electric upright will help me a big deal when I change to acoustic upright, or not?

JtheJazzMan · #8 12-25-2009, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stranded horse

So do you think practicing on electric upright will help me a big deal when I change to acoustic upright, or not?

As always, you will be able to find many similarities and common ground between electic BG, electric DB and acoustic DB.

But at the end of the day, if you want to be good at acoustic bass, you need to put the practice time in on an acoustic bass. Preferably an instrument of your own.

Nagrom · #9 12-25-2009, 09:23 PM

I think its like practicing the mandolin to get good on a fiddle.

ctxbass · #10 12-25-2009, 09:41 PM

I think you can benefit from playing an EUB, provided the neck and fingerboard are good and the string length is the same (close to 40") as a double bass. While tone production may be different between an electric and acoustic instrument, you have the opportunity to develop a good left hand. Knowing the fingerboard will be a tremendous help when you begin to play the double bass.

Andrew McGregor · #11 12-25-2009, 11:11 PM

Sure... it's different, but related.

hdiddy · #12 12-26-2009, 12:38 AM

It's related but I say no, you should not start on EUB. Why? Because an EUB will not put out anything remotely seemingly like the tone you get from a DB. You cannot hear your own intonation (extremely important) on an EUB, you are fighting an uphill battle to develop a good strong tone, and in general, most EUBs suck in terms of feel, esp the cheapies. I've own a few EUBs and have always been disappointed in them as a decent substitute.

Save your pennies and go for the real thing. You won't regret it.

stranded horse · #13 12-26-2009, 01:53 AM

Well, okay, I wasn't aware that electric and acoustic upright basses are so different, but thanks for enlightening me.
It might very well take me 3 or 4 years to be able to afford a decent upright bass, and I don't want to waste money on a cheap one, because that will take me financially further away from a good one.

**Francois Blais** · #14 12-26-2009, 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ctxbass

I think you can benefit from playing an EUB, provided the neck and fingerboard are good and the string length is the same (close to 40") as a double bass. While tone production may be different between an electric and acoustic instrument, you have the opportunity to develop a good left hand. Knowing the fingerboard will be a tremendous help when you begin to play the double bass.

+1!

Brent Nussey · #15 12-26-2009, 09:46 AM

You know, I read an interview once with a woman concert pianist. She had grown up during the depression, and was able to get lessons through a generous teacher who saw something in her. But her very poor family could never afford a piano, so her mother drew the piano keys on the edge of the table, and she practiced like that through the depression, playing on a real piano only at her lessons. Once she got a scholarship to Julliard (or something like that) there were lots of pianos to play on, but until then, she did what she could, she did what she had to.

Yeah, if the choice was EUB or a real acoustic bass, I'd say definitely the EUB will never compare. But if the choice is EUB or *not playing* for 3-4 years while you wait to get an instrument, get the EUB and get started. Do what you have to, what you can, to get playing.

Good luck,
Brent

stranded horse · #16 12-26-2009, 01:37 PM

Maybe I will just take a piece of wood then and paint strings onto it

oldfretless · #17 12-28-2009, 08:33 AM

Good attitude! IMHO, there will be more people "making do" in the next 5 years, than in the last 5.

bamba22 · #18 12-29-2009, 07:46 AM

Go for 2ed head bass, you can find nice things in $400