New Czech Ease basses

ScottyAx800 · #1 07-31-2010, 02:11 PM

Has anyone gotten a chance to play the new Czech Ease basses? I noticed that they offer hybrid and carved models, as well as a bass designed to replicate the classic Kay sound. I am interested in hearing any and all reports, especially on the hybrid model, as I am considering making the switch from my Engelhardt to one of these in the near future.

Any and all replies greatly appreciated!

PB+J · #2 08-01-2010, 07:45 AM

I can't really answer your question, but I've always thought if I was in the market for a more portable double bass that still sounded and played like a double bass, I'd get a good small 3/4 bass--like the size of an englehardt--and put a removable neck on it. Pin the soundpost in place. Then you could quickly take the neck off, and put it in a case/bag the size of the body. Still big, but you'd be playing your bass, a good bass with no compromises

Tanglehead · #3 08-04-2010, 01:09 PM

You mean like this?:

http://foldingbass.com/

I just saw Paul Unger play one, and then he demonstrated the conversion to a body-sized object. It took him literally 2 minutes. It was a bass event, and nobody in the room was aware that it was a folding bass until he mentioned it.

I've just sold a Christopher and am thinking about getting this for road work. Sure seems like it would make things easier when traveling.

If anyone has comments on the Chadwick, I'd love to hear them.

(I have no affiliation with Chadwick or any brand mentioned in this post - just in case anyone was wondering. I was simply impressed with the one I saw Unger play.)

kmanley_29649 · #4 08-04-2010, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PB+J

I can't really answer your question, but I've always thought if I was in the market for a more portable double bass that still sounded and played like a double bass, I'd get a good small 3/4 bass--like the size of an englehardt--and put a removable neck on it. Pin the soundpost in place. Then you could quickly take the neck off, and put it in a case/bag the size of the body. Still big, but you'd be playing your bass, a good bass with no compromises

I'm with you. Part of the appeal of the double bass, to me at least, is the size and the look of it. The Czech Ease is just ugly, in my opinion. It just doesn't look right to me.

robobass · #5 08-05-2010, 02:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tanglehead

You mean like this?:

http://foldingbass.com/

That's way cool! Any idea what it costs?

**Freddels** · #6 08-05-2010, 04:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by robobass

That's way cool! Any idea what it costs?

$3599 plus shipping.

http://foldingbass.com/faq.php

robobass · #7 08-05-2010, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freddels

$3599 plus shipping.

http://foldingbass.com/faq.php

Not bad! It seems like a much better way to go than the CE. We've got to hear one of course (maybe it's my browser, but I wasn't able to see or hear a playing demo on the website), but it's really impressive how quick and easy it breaks down, and the neck and FB fit inside the body, so you really have an incredibly compact travel package. The only disadvantage I can see compared to the CE is if you play wound gut or Oblis, which don't like to be constantly taken in and out of tension. It says on the site that although a carved top version is in development, for now it is only available with a ply top. Also,

robobass · #8 08-05-2010, 10:08 AM

Update:
I looked at the website more thoroughly and it seems there simply isn't a video or audio clip of the Chadwick bass being played. Perhaps they're still putting it together, but I find the ommision a bit disturbing. Has anyone here played one yet?

**Freddels** · #9 08-05-2010, 02:57 PM

I assumed the music with bass playing while the folding/unfolding demo was that bass.

Tanglehead · #10 08-06-2010, 04:20 PM

I head Paul Unger playing one, with and without a pickup. His action was way low, and he tunes in 5ths, so there was more fingerboard noise that I would hope for, but I think that's his setup and style of playing more than the bass. This was in a room full of bass players and everyone was surprise, after he'd played several tunes, that it was a folding bass. I noticed the back was in three sections, but I just thought it was a 3-piece back. The gap at the edges of the rear panel looked way more seamless in person than they do on the website.

Unfortunately, I didn't realize how close I'd be to buying one (I can pull the trigger TODAY at this point) so I didn't ask him to try it out.

Sorry to shift the point of this thread away from the CE, but I was responding to a comment about building a folding bass. Seems like it makes sense to benefit from Chadwick's R&D time rather than trying to reinvent the wheel.

I'd love you hear from others who might have played one of the Chadwicks NEXT to a CE...

b

hdiddy · #11 08-06-2010, 04:43 PM

I'm no touring professional but I think the Folding Bass makes me a little nervous: too many moving parts and with strings going up and down, your setup will likely change the bass won't be able to settle in. Not to mention that the strings will go dead after not too long from all the tension/detension. And if you're a tweaker who likes the bridge exactly in the same place every time you go to play....

CE looks more viable: the design is simpler, less moving parts - less things to break. Just my $0.02.

Phil Redman · #12 08-08-2010, 07:44 AM

Don't know much about the new CE models but I'ver heard both Chris Wood and Dave Holland perform on CE basses. Chris was getting a great sound out of it through an Ampeg fliptop with some mic blended in. Dave's sounded okay through a GK combo with a Full Circle (his playing was fantastic though!). The CE basses look weird but IMHO they sound perfectly fine. I've always thought that in some ways these basses may be superior to a "normal" bass when playing amplified. Seems like most players have to roll off bunches of low end anyway so a bass that already does that for you might be just the ticket for plugged-in gigs.

Cheers,
Phil