First DB, Stentor Elysia 3/4 (UK)

[Grey Dad]

Hi Everyone,

Well, I'm an electric bassist of about 30-odd years standing and about two weeks ago I thought "wouldn't it be cool to finally learn double bass?" and now I own one!

It may be yet another mid-life crisis but I thought it may be helpful to share what I've learnt in this short period of rather intense activity with other UK electric bassists thinking of changing sides

The bass is a Stentor Elysia, 3/4 size, about 3-4 years old, hybrid I guess carved front and back, laminate sides. It's Chinese made although Stentor are a UK company and they 100% own the factory in which they are built. Mine has a few dinks but was never gigged and is in generally really nice condition. Private sale in Bristol, UK, found the ad on the net by googling "double bass bristol" and out it popped. Got the Bass, case, bow, stand and a BP100 pup (yeah I know) for £1400 (about $2200). Took it straight round to my teacher Greg Cordez where he put his near-as-dammit-new Velvet Anima's on for a really good price (and I got a free beer as well).

Here's some pics from my myspace page:















Digging around on the internet is incredibly useful way to do your "due diligence" but the information and advice received needs to be tempered with some contact with people who know what they are talking about. I was fortunate to find really good information and help from people by PM here and on basschat in the UK. Thanks in particular to Bruce Lindfield on here and the inexpensive UK basses thread which was a real goldmine of information:

Inexpensive Basses in UK?

This thread is also in the Talkbass "newbie links" stickie. There is a lot of other good information in the newbies threads there, well worth reading it through.

The following is what I took away from my researches, all IMHO , YMMV etc etc...

First off, get a teacher right from the start. I took this advice very seriously and found a great guy in the shape of Greg in Bristol. He's been incredibly helpful guiding me through all this: he is an electric bassist who's moved to DB and he also started on a Stentor double bass. He's also a pro gigging musician so I'm inclined to take what he says seriously. I'm really looking forward to more lessons with him so thanks a lot Greg.

Second, as an electric bass player I took a taster lesson with Greg before actually buying anything. It was enough to make me believe I probably maybe could actually play one of the damn things eventually, although it's very different to electric - but still great fun! I tried looking for basses to rent for a few months but I could find none available. There's also few places to actually go and try one in the UK, so again your teacher is your friend.

Third, good strings are really really important. Hearing and playing the difference between the Anima's and the original factory strings on the Elysia as Greg changed them was like night and day. Lower tension strings like the Anima's seem to make it easier for a limp-wristed electric bass newbie like me to play. DB strings seem *far far* more significant to the playability and feel of a DB than the strings on an electric - spend the money and get a good set and listen to what your teacher says!

Next, and another point I took careful note of on Talkbass, get the proper technique and tips to stop you damaging yourself - again, a teacher is crucial. This is the first thing I'm working on and I have a long way to go. I've found I also really need to build up my left hand strength, it's a different world on a DB

Finally, and this is a lot harder to put into words, playing an acoustic bass is a much more physical experience than an electric one and I'm maybe just starting to feel how this physicality affects your relationship with it. As a means of musical transport an electric bass is like a modern car, clean, efficient, power-assisted, does the job, whereas a DB feels more like a sailboat, it has a personality, a bit of soul, a bit temperamental sometimes and involves a lot of manual effort. You have to love it or it doesn't make sense to own one. At least that's my first impression as a guy who likes sailing and is not into cars much, so probably not meaningful, feel free to discard.

Anyway I'm thrilled - it's a lovely bass, I'm really happy and loving it (her, actually), even though I can't play for toffee yet. With the Anima's on she feels and sounds great. I'll get a set-up done in the next few months and put a beefier endpin on as Bruce has done with his. She should see me through a few years while I'm learning until I can get a nice Upton (lovely people there very helpful thanks Kate) or New Standard or something

Anyway, thought I'd share this and say thanks to everyone here for all the help and information which helped me to at least get to the starting blocks.

Cheers

Neil

[simandlhandle]

Thats great. Looks a lovely bass, nice sloping shoulders to make getting around it easier.

[Marcus Johnson]

Congratulations! Welcome, and thanks for your insightful post. That's a pretty bass, nice shape.

[LowNote]

Neil,

Congratulations on the new bass. I hope you enjoy the changeover as much as I did years ago. You might want to file away in the back of your head that I'm gigging around Scotland, and occasionally down into England as far south as Yorkshire, on a New Standard LaScala Hybrid bass that I shipped over from the U.S. when I moved here. If you ever want to see/play one, give me a shout if you're going to be in my neighbourhood and I'd be please to let you have at it.

Erik Hansen

[Grey Dad]

Originally Posted by simandlhandle

Thats great. Looks a lovely bass, nice sloping shoulders to make getting around it easier.

Thanks, at my age I'm going to need all the help I can get

[Grey Dad]

Originally Posted by Marcus Johnson

Congratulations! Welcome, and thanks for your insightful post. That's a pretty bass, nice shape.

Thanks Marcus - hope it didn't come across as too self-indulgent, it's been exciting and it's always great to learn lots of new stuff when you delve into things like this.

I've been hanging around lurking on Talkbass for quite a few years now but oddly it's the double bass side of things that's finally pulled me in more than anything.

[Grey Dad]

Originally Posted by LowNote

Neil,

Congratulations on the new bass. I hope you enjoy the changeover as much as I did years ago. You might want to file away in the back of your head that I'm gigging around Scotland, and occasionally down into England as far south as Yorkshire, on a New Standard LaScala Hybrid bass that I shipped over from the U.S. when I moved here. If you ever want to see/play one, give me a shout if you're going to be in my neighbourhood and I'd be please to let you have at it.

Erik Hansen

Hi Erik,

Thanks, I love electric bass and have had a ton of enjoyment out of it over the years (and still do) so I see this as adding something and taking me in new directions rather than complete a departure from electric. I'm not even sure what I'm going to play yet: I'm a rock/funk guy really but I have an interest in roots music and stuff like that. I think I've left this too late to become some amazing jazz or classical virtuoso (I've just turned 50 and besides I just don't have the talent ) but already this has opened up a whole world of acoustic music to me that I'm now starting to tap into for the first time.

I'm very interested in the fact you have a La Scala. They are beautiful looking instruments but of course I've never seen one close up. Thank you for the offer that's very kind - if I get somewhere close to you I'd love to meet up and try it out. I know another bassist in the UK via the net who has an Upton Professor he had shipped over so I have a standing offer to try that one out too!

Goody, now all I have to do is practice enough so I don't make a complete numpty of myself! I figured I'll learn on the Elysia and when I'm educated enough and know enough about what I want I can make an intelligent decision about the next bass. Then maybe I get to pass the Elysia on to another wavering electric bass player

Neil

[owen_liam]

That looks great! It's very similar in looks to my Stentor. I've been meaning to get a lesson or two with Greg as well, but the whirligig of modern life has prevented me thus far! I must get onto it sooner rather than later.

We should do a Bristol bass show and tell soon...

+1 on the strings advice too. Just changed mine and it was like buying a new bass. Inspiring!

[Grey Dad]

Owen, I'm looking around for a venue to host it so there may be a small charge I hope that won't put people off. I'd like it to be kind of informal so I'm thinking a coffee shop where people can mingle, have a drink and a chat. I'll let you know.

I was thinking if I brought my bass along and if you could bring yours then those that don't have one yet could have a go and try them out.

Greg's a cool guy, well worth a chat and lessons if you can grab him. He's pretty busy though, got a tour coming up and other stuff on at the moment.

By the way I love playing it, it's a very involving experience even though I can't play for crap at the moment

[Bruce Lindfield]

Thanks for the kind words Neil - that looks just like my Elysia and it looks like all-carved to me - rather than hybrid!

It sounds like we have had very similar experiences and come to the same point at the same stage in our lives!

And got the same bass!

[marvin spangles]

Originally Posted by Grey Dad

I'm not even sure what I'm going to play yet: I'm a rock/funk guy really but I have an interest in roots music and stuff like that. I think I've left this too late to become some amazing jazz or classical virtuoso (I've just turned 50 and besides I just don't have the talent ) but already this has opened up a whole world of acoustic music to me that I'm now starting to tap into for the first time.


Neil

Hey Congratulations.
I couldn't help but notice the level of enthusiasm coming out of your initial post. If you bring that positivity to your practice/bass playing you are bound to get loads back from the Bass. Incidentally I am now 53 and like you came to the Db relatively late so no I don't think you are too late at all.. The love of the instrument has taken me to places I didn't think I would have gone. In fact this last 4 years I have started to really take the bow seriously so I try and play as much classical as possible. The majority of gigs are either jazz or Roots music but I have a string ensemble which is a hobby and it gives me immense pleasure. Good luck with your new bass.

[Grey Dad]

Originally Posted by Bruce Lindfield

Thanks for the kind words Neil - that looks just like my Elysia and it looks like all-carved to me - rather than hybrid!

It sounds like we have had very similar experiences and come to the same point at the same stage in our lives!

And got the same bass!

No probs, thanks for the advice

I just want to make sure it's not all downhill from 50

It's a nice bass, I love it

[Grey Dad]

Originally Posted by marvin spangles

Hey Congratulations.
I couldn't help but notice the level of enthusiasm coming out of your initial post. If you bring that positivity to your practice/bass playing you are bound to get loads back from the Bass. Incidentally I am now 53 and like you came to the Db relatively late so no I don't think you are too late at all.. The love of the instrument has taken me to places I didn't think I would have gone. In fact this last 4 years I have started to really take the bow seriously so I try and play as much classical as possible. The majority of gigs are either jazz or Roots music but I have a string ensemble which is a hobby and it gives me immense pleasure. Good luck with your new bass.

Cheers Marvin, I am prone to these periods of wild enthusiasm. The problem with being 50 is that in my head I'm still 20-something, I think you get stuck inside somewhere around there.

The most amazing thing about it is that it's opened all sorts of avenues for playing and new music to explore. The event that kicked me off was listening to 3 girls in a local acoustic band singing 3-part harmonies and playing acoustic instruments at an event I didn't even really want to go to about 3-4 weeks ago. They were playing roots/bluegrass stuff, some traditional and others really odd things like All Apologies by Nirvana, Beatles and even Jeepster by T-Rex. I was entranced and so inspired by Amy the bass player singing well and playing her roots and fifths that I got the bug there and then. I've seen them since and Amy has been helping me out a bit too. Since then I've been all over the place searching stuff out. As a beginner to double bass this seems like an accessible route into playing live and gigging and there's lots of venues for it. I am a long way from attempting jazz and classical but here is something I can do quickly if I practise well.

I do in fact have my first gig lined up on March 6th! It's only a small event in the next village but a friend of mine is playing acoustic guitar/singing and doing 5 or 6 of his songs and 3 covers. He'd originally asked for me to back him up on electric bass but I surprised him tonight when he came round and I showed him "Elyse" We worked through the set and I now have some rough basslines for his songs which I need to polish up over the next couple of weeks. I need to polish my technique a bit but if I concentrate my intonation isn't too bad (at least at the top of the neck...). I plan to keep it simple and concentrate on "tone and timing".

Can't wait!

[MattyBass]

Congrats Buddy...
I just got a DoubleBass a few months back...
and I am loving it... My electrics are jealous.. lol
Although It has made me much better on electric as well..
Makes it seem like Im playing Mandolin when i play my 5 string... lol
anyways i am excited for you, and Elsye...
I am bit jealous... I wanna do a gig on my new bass...
Congrtats brother..

[owen_liam]

Originally Posted by Grey Dad

Owen, I'm looking around for a venue to host it so there may be a small charge I hope that won't put people off. I'd like it to be kind of informal so I'm thinking a coffee shop where people can mingle, have a drink and a chat. I'll let you know.

I was thinking if I brought my bass along and if you could bring yours then those that don't have one yet could have a go and try them out.

Greg's a cool guy, well worth a chat and lessons if you can grab him. He's pretty busy though, got a tour coming up and other stuff on at the moment.

By the way I love playing it, it's a very involving experience even though I can't play for crap at the moment

A coffee shop or something would be great. I wouldn't mind chipping in a few quid for comfy surroundings. Do you have any ideas about where? Grounded on Church Road perhaps? I'd also be happy to bring and share basses. Double Bass Players Anonymous!

I know what you mean about playing DB being involving. I think you have to develop a more physical relationship with DB than EB to get the sound...altogether more intimate! That's not to say that I've gone off EB; it's just a totally different experience!

[Grey Dad]

Owen I've played Elyse every day since I bought her - I can't say that I've played my electrics much since that day

One good thing is that I've now managed to get amplified!

The much derided BP100 pickup sounded pretty crappy straight into a little bass practice amp (no low end, loads of finger noise, no tone). I followed some advice and repositioned the two pickups on the *underside* of the bridge (closest to the tailpiece) which is smoother and flatter. I then took the output into a DI box and then straight into a powered PA speaker I had. Result: loads of nice even double bassie tone! OK maybe not hifi quality for the purists but easily good enough for me to gig with locally.

I need to contact one other teacher and see if we can set this taster gig up, I have a possible coffee shop close to the centre of Bristol which will hopefully be easy for everyone to get to. More later.

[Grey Dad]

Originally Posted by MattyBass

Congrats Buddy...
I just got a DoubleBass a few months back...
and I am loving it... My electrics are jealous.. lol
Although It has made me much better on electric as well..
Makes it seem like Im playing Mandolin when i play my 5 string... lol
anyways i am excited for you, and Elsye...
I am bit jealous... I wanna do a gig on my new bass...
Congrtats brother..

Hi Matty, thanks, I know what you mean 34" scale seems kind of tiddly after grappling with a DB

I have more news on the gig front!!

First I got together with my young singer/guitarist friend on Wednesday and we went through his songs for this acoustic gig in March. They are all originals so I need to make up bass lines for them as well. I didn't tell him about Elyse and he was blown away when he turned up I'm going to do quite simple lines and just reinforce what he's doing, concentrate on tone and keeping the timing. Looks like our drummer can't make it now so we're going to do just guitar and double bass.

Yesterday I also went to a local "acoustic club" in the next town to me about 4 miles away. It's been running for years, meets every week but I never went in before - turns out I know the guy who runs it from the local music store. Anyway, it was very eccentric, everything from complete beginners to novelty acts to some superb guitar and vocals, folk to blues to pop stuff. It's like a big private open mike night, practicing in a very large home with all your mates around to encourage you. So Nick and I are going to try a couple of his songs out there as a trial over the next couple of weeks

Anyway I was introduced to a few people and I learnt there hasn't been a double bass player in there for 7 or 8 years! Right at the end I was talking to a banjo player/teacher by chance (he's the only banjo teacher in the area and I love banjo) and he said he was just putting a bluegrass band together (there isn't much of that here in the West of England!) with a fiddle player and someone else and he needed a DB player and would I like to join - so I said yes! This is just what I wanted!

So one week after buying Elsye I seem to be in two acoustic bands!

So get out there Matty, I bet you there's loads of chances to gig.

Jeez, I'd better learn to play...

[MattyBass]

So How's Elsye Doin??