Good Idea?

James Gibson · #1 10-29-2007, 11:18 PM

I'm a jazz studies student at the University of South Carolina. I've been thinking recently about getting a cheap electric upright for late night practicing in the dorm. It seems like it would be a good alternative for those late nights when i'm itching for practice or those days i just can't make myself walk to the School Of Music to the practice rooms.

I don't want to give off the impression that i'm discounting the value of practicing on an actual bass. It just seems to me that getting a cheap electric upright for practicing would be convenient for in the dorm/traveling.

Is there anyone else out there who has an extra practice instrument like this?

Can anyone point me in the direction of a cheap EUB? I've seen the Dean's on Musician's Friend, but i've never remotely liked anything dean's made, i'm not even a huge fan of Musician's Friend.

Silversorcerer · #2 10-29-2007, 11:35 PM

Check the EUB threads. There are some models discussed there that might make sense to check out. These might not actually be "cheap" though. As long as the mensur is 3/4 and the fingerboard has the right arch, it's probably OK for practice. Are there DB's at the school that you can get some time in on also?

I can see space being an issue in a dorm. But it didn't stop me from taking my ported 2x15 Acoustic 106 cab to college my freshman year. That was a long time ago, but that thing plus the 50 Watt Marshall was more space than a DB would fill.

James Gibson · #3 10-29-2007, 11:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silversorcerer

Are there DB's at the school that you can get some time in on also?

Yeah, I'm actually renting a nice '66 Juzek from the school. It stays in the lockers at the school though, when i'm not recording or gigging.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silversorcerer

I can see space being an issue in a dorm.

Nah, It's not really space that's a problem. I got plenty of space. But just having a DB-esque instrument nearby seems like it would be cool to me.

Cathead · #4 10-30-2007, 04:50 AM

I have a Palatino EUB with a headphone jack, and the fingerboard is just like an acoustic upright. You can get one for less than $700.00. I like mine.

Ed Fuqua · #5 10-30-2007, 11:14 AM

The main thing about practicing is physical, and it's going to be hard to get a physical approximation of your instrument with a cheap EUB.
I dunno, when I was in school (back near the dawn of time) you could get into practice rooms pretty late and even if I couldn't get a practie room, there was always someplace to go.

From playing at my crib and not wanting to wake my girlfriend up to playing in hotel rooms etc., rather than spending several hundred to a few thousand dollars on an instrument you don't really play I'd just spend a few bucks on a dishtowel. Roll/spin it up (like you were going to pop somebody on the butt with it) and weeave it through the strings between the bridge and the fingerboard (but close to the bridge). That will mute the strings enough so that it's quiet enough (unless somebody is trying to sleep in the same room), you'll still be able to hear pitch AND (most importantly) you'll practice on the instrument you play.

Other than that, if you can absolutley NOT practice on the bass you play, I think you'd be better off spending the time transcribing or at the keyboard.

Silversorcerer · #6 10-30-2007, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by James Gibson

Yeah, I'm actually renting a nice '66 Juzek from the school. It stays in the lockers at the school though, when i'm not recording or gigging.

Nah, It's not really space that's a problem. I got plenty of space. But just having a DB-esque instrument nearby seems like it would be cool to me.

If space is not a problem, there was a nice used German laminate for sale under $1K on the TB classifieds;- + what Ed sed.

You could get that (or a similar used DB) and save the rental fee, and since it is already used, there is a good chance of recouping the investment when/if you upgrade.