Engelhardt Difference in Sound?

[400$Bass]

I know there is a difference in the price of a new Engelhardt EC-1 and a new ES-9. Different finish and shape for sure, and the ES-9 is looked on as a throw back to the early days of Rock/Rockabilly. Where the EC-1 to me is a school student model more so.

For the sake of this discussion I pose this question? Is there a difference in the sound of these two instruments? Or is it just more a cosmetic difference and they pretty much play the same and sound the same.

Please respond.

[Gearhead43]

Man, do yourself a big favor and go join Rockabillybass.com, then ask these questions.

Nobody cares over here.

There is no difference in "sound" per se, between the different Engel models, just different wood for the fittings and fancy veneer.

[400$Bass]

Originally Posted by Gearhead43

Man, do yourself a big favor and go join Rockabillybass.com, then ask these questions.

Nobody cares over here.

There is no difference in "sound" per se, between the different Engel models, just different wood for the fittings and fancy veneer.

Thank you Mr. Nobody over here.

[ElwoodGruff]

I have an ES9 and my buddy has an EC1 and we both agree that mine is louder and has a much better tone.

[Gearhead43]

Well it isn't because yours was a more expensive model, it's because yours just happens to sound better, or has a better setup / better bridge / is older, aged, etc etc.

I have an EC1 that just happens to sound great. There are plenty of ES9s that sound like ca ca also.

They are all made of the same materials, in the same molds, etc.

[zeytoun]

They are not the same.

The ES9 (the Swingmaster), is a blond version of the ES1 (the Supreme), not the EC1 (the Concert).

The Materials for the ES line are better, because they have a more transparent finish. They use ebony instead of jatoba for the FB and tailpiece. They have an upgraded bridge, and better tailpiece wire. They have violin corners.

So they are the same in the sense that they are made in the same company, and are pretty similar, but between the two, Elwood's experience should be typical.

[400$Bass]

Originally Posted by zeytoun

They are not the same.

The ES9 (the Swingmaster), is a blond version of the ES1 (the Supreme), not the EC1 (the Concert).

The Materials for the ES line are better, because they have a more transparent finish. They use ebony instead of jatoba for the FB and tailpiece. They have an upgraded bridge, and better tailpiece wire. They have violin corners.

So they are the same in the sense that they are made in the same company, and are pretty similar, but between the two, Elwood's experience should be typical.

Attaboy...now we're getting somewhere !!!! thanks.

[ElwoodGruff]

My buddy's EC1 sounds good, but it is true that the ES9 uses better material.

From Engelhardt...
CONCERT MODEL BASS
"EC1 • Standard 3/4 size
The perfect bass for the school student. Spruce top and maple back. Maple neck, exotic hardwood fingerboard and tailpiece. Extremely durable – yet has unusual carrying power. The handsome finish is a beautiful mahogany color."

"EM1 • Standard 3/4 size
EM1B • Standard 3/4 size
A popular school model that has won wide acceptance by students and advanced players. Properly sized and aligned, it has a close grained spruce top, maple back. Available in a beautiful brown or blonde finish. Attractive violin shape with exotic hardwood trimmings. This is a durable, yet responsive instrument."

"ES1 • Standard 3/4 size
Used by professional players everywhere. This bass possesses a remarkably rich and vibrant tone through the entire range. Beautiful Cremona brown finish. Top of close grained spruce, back of curly maple. Deluxe ebony fittings. Violin shaped. Superbly crafted."

"ES9 • Standard 3/4 size
Here is the top professional bass in a beautiful, natural blonde finish. Same quality construction as used in the "Supreme" model (listed above). Startling to look at. Talked about wherever seen."



But there's nothing wrong with any of them in my opinion. If I hadn't got such a good deal on my ES9, I would be getting an EC1 or EM1.

Also, you're right about setup making a difference. But that is the case on any instrument, for a while my Chinese Bass sounded better than his EC1, because I got somebody who knew what they were doing to set it up, and his hadn't been setup by someone who was very experienced. A good setup, can make any instrument sound better. Shoot my ES9 sounded better when I left with it than it did when I decided to buy, just because Jerry Fretwell moved the soundpost to get the sound I wanted.

[sbassface]

I have an ES9, the ebony makes it project off the bass more possibly...

Setup is key.

[ElwoodGruff]

Originally Posted by sbassface

I have an ES9, the ebony makes it project off the bass more possibly...

Setup is key.

I don't know if the ebony thing is true or not, but I believe it. Because I replaced the fingerboard on my Chinese with ebony and it projects alot more since I did.

[drurb]

Spruce top, maple back, close-grained spruce? That's some fanciful description of the veneers. I never liked that the word laminate or plywood never appears. Of course, we all know that these are ply basses but I do wonder about less-informed folks reading those descriptions.

[pbass2]

Originally Posted by Gearhead43

Man, do yourself a big favor and go join Rockabillybass.com, then ask these questions.

Nobody cares over here.

There is no difference in "sound" per se, between the different Engel models, just different wood for the fittings and fancy veneer.

I'm going to look at a used EC-1 locally this week. This is informative since I don't know much about DBs at all. I'm missing something I guess, what do you mean by "Nobody cares over here"? Doesn't sound like the OP is asking a rockabilly specific question (but what do I know . . .).

[400$Bass]

Originally Posted by pbass2

I'm going to look at a used EC-1 locally this week. This is informative since I don't know much about DBs at all. I'm missing something I guess, what do you mean by "Nobody cares over here"? Doesn't sound like the OP is asking a rockabilly specific question (but what do I know . . .).

I know you understood what you read because you got the clear educational intent of my reasonable basic question. Which is always the best most intelligent method of reading and interpreting post on a forum.

In my question there was nothing mentioned about rockabilly, hillbilly, sillybilly or any of the billy or billies for that matter. I rest my case.

[Bass]

Originally Posted by 400$Bass

....Different finish and shape for sure, and the ES-9 is looked on as a throw back to the early days of Rock/Rockabilly...

Maybe not in your question, but you said "Rockabilly" in the preface so it was implied.

And by "nobody cares over here" I will go out on a limb and say that Gearhead thinks that the vast majority of TalkDoublebassers regard Englehardt's as inferior instruments, as they are not well suited for playing in an orchestra. And therefore very few people here have an interest in Englehardts.

Like Gearhead said, if you were to ask a question about Englehardts on www.rockabillybass.com you'd stand a better chance of getting an intelligent response.

[drurb]

Originally Posted by Bass

Maybe not in your question, but you said "Rockabilly" in the preface so it was implied.

And by "nobody cares over here" I will go out on a limb and say that Gearhead thinks that the vast majority of TalkDoublebassers regard Englehardt's as inferior instruments, as they are not well suited for playing in an orchestra. And therefore very few people here have an interest in Englehardts.

Like Gearhead said, if you were to ask a question about Englehardts on www.rockabillybass.com you'd stand a better chance of getting an intelligent response.

I agree that more detailed information would probably be available over at the rockabilly site. I'll crawl out on the limb a bit. For me, it's not that Engels aren't well-suited for playing in an orchestra but that, IMO, they are not among the best or even the better designed, built, finished, playing, and sounding ply basses. I do understand that they have a special niche in the rockabilly world. For just about any genre, an Engel wouldn't be my first choice. That's my opinion anyway-- to each his own.

[Bass]

Fair enough, my speculation of why people here don't like Englehardts may be mistaken.

Ha ha ha, Gearhead blows a gasket again!!

[CindyB]

Originally Posted by 400$Bass

In my question there was nothing mentioned about rockabilly, hillbilly, sillybilly or any of the billy or billies for that matter. I rest my case.

Hmmm...

Originally Posted by 400$Bass

I know there is a difference in the price of a new Engelhardt EC-1 and a new ES-9. Different finish and shape for sure, and the ES-9 is looked on as a throw back to the early days of Rock/Rockabilly. Where the EC-1 to me is a school student model more so.

Hmmm... Sounds like a billy to me

Originally Posted by drurb

I agree that more detailed information would probably be available over at the rockabilly site. I'll crawl out on the limb a bit. For me, it's not that Engels aren't well-suited for playing in an orchestra but that, IMO, they are not among the best or even the better designed, built, finished, playing, and sounding ply basses. I do understand that they have a special niche in the rockabilly world. For just about any genre, an Engel wouldn't be my first choice. That's my opinion anyway-- to each his own.

I asked some questions about Engels here a while back and responses and PMs similar to this one. Vague suggestions that Engels are not all they should be, but no specifics or suggestions of better. Are there better basses than Engels? Of course. Are there better in the same price/feature range? Now there's an interesting question. If I hadn't stumbled onto my King I would own an Engel EG9 right now - and I spent a lot of time looking at options. BTW: I play blues and Rockabilly.

Gearhead is a little grumpy over here (the air's a little thin for him with all the ivory towers), but he's right - if you're looking for Rockabilly info, RAB.com is the place to be. In spite of your original post you say that you're not looking for that kind of info so you're probably right where you should be. I hope you find a bass you really enjoy.

Cindy

[drurb]

Originally Posted by CindyB

I asked some questions about Engels here a while back and responses and PMs similar to this one. Vague suggestions that Engels are not all they should be, but no specifics or suggestions of better. Are there better basses than Engels? Of course. Are there better in the same price/feature range? Now there's an interesting question.

Well, I must admit that I deliberately avoided going far enough out on the limb to answer this question directly. I agree with you completely that a crucial question is whether one can do better for the money. With regard to the ES-1, my answer is a resounding, "ABSOLUTELY!"

[CindyB]

Originally Posted by drurb

Well, I must admit that I deliberately avoided going far enough out on the limb to answer this question directly. I agree with you completely that a crucial question is whether one can do better for the money. With regard to the ES-1, my answer is a resounding, "ABSOLUTELY!"

Specifics man, specifics. Generalizations are not information.

Who, what, when, where, why, and how.

[drurb]

Originally Posted by CindyB

Specifics man, specifics. Generalizations are not information.

Who, what, when, where, why, and how.

Well, uh, generalizations sure ARE information.