Double bass played acoustic in Big Band

TenorClef · #1 08-16-2009, 01:39 PM

Well this was fascinating for me as a band leader. I've never before had the opportunity to lead a big band in a purely acoustic setting, no power, no amps what so ever. We had 4 trombones, 2 trumpets, at least 8 saxes, guitar, drums and percussion,keyboard (powered by batteries) a double bass and an acoustic bass guitar.

What fascinated me was the fact that the double bass was actually audible as was the acoustic guitar! It did require some work on my part to get the band to listen to each other and that in each song i made a conscious effort to make the horns listen out for the guitar and bassist so that they did'nt play overly loud.

I can see now how rythmn sections in the 1930's and 40's actually worked without amplification. This circumstance was forced upon me due to the fact that their was a power issue with the local band stand i had to perform at but due to favourable conditions i.e the light wind pushing the sound to the audience and good balance we were able to make an effective performance.

Marcus Johnson · #2 08-16-2009, 01:51 PM

Ah yes, the dreaded 'gazebo setup". Big band in the round....

Actually, a gazebo roof can sometimes help focus the sound a little bit.

I assume the guy in the white sweater is delivering your lunch? "Swingin' Shepherd's Pie", perhaps?

RJMiller · #3 08-16-2009, 02:04 PM

Makes me miss playing bass trombone. Had a Besson bass at one time - more orchestral than big band and worn out my wrist holding it so I had to move on to a Kanstuhl from sunny California.

I am amazed you could hear the acoustic bass guitar.

You must have amazing control as a band leader if you can get that many trumpets and saxes to play pianissimo.

Must not have done any Stan Kenton?

RJM

Marcus Johnson · #4 08-16-2009, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RJMiller

I am amazed you could hear the acoustic bass guitar.

RJM

TenorClef, was that your Thunderchief ABG? One of my students has two of them (one's a fiver), and they both make a lot more volume than any other ABG that I've run across. They're really nice basses.

TenorClef · #5 08-16-2009, 03:02 PM

Lol, i should clarify here that i'm not the double bassist, he is an excellant double bassist and plays with the Cleveland Phil (UK), and yes it is my Tacoma thunderchief, i've got to be totally honest about the Tacoma, i personally could'nt hear it but the pianist said he heard both bassist fine. Clearly the double bassist was louder having a clear lower fundamental. I'm actualy the chap playing lead trombone, my preferred axe but recently i bought a Thomann 111 double bass and i'm loving it to pieces in a begginer jazz band where i get to play it!

katibass · #6 08-17-2009, 07:58 PM

wow, i wish i could get enough volume to do something like that..... don't you have to have really high action to get enough volume for a setting like that without amplification? i've been playing a few years, but always with an amp.....

Ed Fuqua · #7 08-17-2009, 09:42 PM

it's not really about high action, if the action is too high it can choke your sound, likewise trying to get there by pulling too hard. You want your string height set to get the optimum sound form your bass, you want to have a good physical approach that gets your torso, shoulder and forearm into the picture, you want to have a good "expectation of pitch" so that your ear is anticipating what it's going to hear given what your left hand is doing - you want a very solid coordination between left and right hands. The last thing you want is a strong right hand attack for the note and then some hesitation in the left because you don't know what the note you've fingered is actually going to sound like.

John Goldsby has some very good things to say in a couple of different threads on this site about playing acoustically. But it's definitely NOT about being a martyr, playing acoustically in every situation doesn't automatically qualify you for sainthood. You do what you need to do to get the sound you want heard.

It is going to be VERY difficult to do that without an amp unless you actually put some work in towards doing that....

Bijoux · #8 08-18-2009, 12:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ed Fuqua

it's not really about high action, if the action is too high it can choke your sound, likewise trying to get there by pulling too hard. You want your string height set to get the optimum sound form your bass, you want to have a good physical approach that gets your torso, shoulder and forearm into the picture, you want to have a good "expectation of pitch" so that your ear is anticipating what it's going to hear given what your left hand is doing - you want a very solid coordination between left and right hands. The last thing you want is a strong right hand attack for the note and then some hesitation in the left because you don't know what the note you've fingered is actually going to sound like.

John Goldsby has some very good things to say in a couple of different threads on this site about playing acoustically. But it's definitely NOT about being a martyr, playing acoustically in every situation doesn't automatically qualify you for sainthood. You do what you need to do to get the sound you want heard.

It is going to be VERY difficult to do that without an amp unless you actually put some work in towards doing that....

+1000!!!