I'm writing a paper about the transition from double bass to electric.

[EthanTheBassist]

I think this is the best place.

I'm writing a 3-5 page paper for my Intro to Rock class about the transition from the Double bass to the electric bass.

I've covered about a page or two each of the double bass' history and the electric bass' history. Now I just need a page or two more about where they converged.

I've mentioned Leo Fender not inventing but successfully marketing the electric bass.

I just don't know what pushed the uprighters to take up the electric. Any thoughts (sources would be great ). I've read that as drumming got louder, and the music in general, the double bassist could no longer project anymore and needed amplification and sustain. Is there truth to this?

Oh, I guess I'm talking more about the jazz/rockabilly/rock/country doublebassists rather than the orchestra cats.

Thank you all!
Ethan.

[drurb]

Oops, I think you meant to go here.

Check this related thread.

[Uncletoad]

The first editor of Bass Player, Jim Roberts wrote a great book about that. Good reading and a great thesis.

[thirtypoint87]

The name Freddy Tavares may be worth looking in to. There's plenty of info out there; much of that transitional history is found in the world of rock 'n roll/country/rockabilly, and much of it starts in California, where Fender was based.

good luck!

[SpamBot]

Don't forget Tutmarc!

[MysticMichael]

Originally Posted by EthanTheBassist

I just don't know what pushed the uprighters to take up the electric. Any thoughts (sources would be great ). I've read that as drumming got louder, and the music in general, the double bassist could no longer project anymore and needed amplification and sustain. Is there truth to this?

Yep, that's it in a nutshell. The bass guitar was invented to accomplish just that, using the structural advantages of the guitar - first the hollow body, later the solid body - in order to allow for greater volume and sustain...without feedback, such as exists when one tries to use a magnetic pickup on the bass fiddle...

MM

[EthanTheBassist]

Thank you all for the speedy replies! I will definitely be looking into all of that this week! I've found it easy to search for them separately, but I didn't really know how to search for the transitional history. But I guess now I know what to search for! And thanks UncleToad for the book reference! I need a book source still! Thanks all!
Ethan.