Reasons why String Bass is better than electric

[lloccmttocs]

Hey everyone, I crossed over to the string bass from electric bass about 3 or so years ago, and now I can't get enough bass. I really enjoy String bass much better than electric. In my opinion its more deep and versitile than the electric bass.

Originally I wanted to title it top 10 reasons. Then I quickly realized if more than 10 people posted it would ruin the effect of the title. So... go

[Bassist4Life]

Originally Posted by lloccmttocs

Hey everyone, I crossed over to the string bass from electric bass about 3 or so years ago, and now I can't get enough bass. I really enjoy String bass much better than electric. In my opinion its more deep and versitile than the electric bass.

Originally I wanted to title it top 10 reasons. Then I quickly realized if more than 10 people posted it would ruin the effect of the title. So... go

I did the opposite. I was a double bassist that switched over to electric. I appreciate both instruments; however, I'm in love with electric bass.

Now, back to your thread.

The double bass moves air in a way that the electric bass can't. It has a more organic and woodsy sound (for obvious reasons). There is a percussive sound and decay to the notes that can't be matched on an electric. I think that some electric bassists come close to matching the double bass sound, but you're never going to match it exactly.

Does this make the double bass "better"? I don't know. I consider it to be different, but I have a tough time saying that it's "better". I guess it depends on the context it's used in.

Joe

[Noir]

bla...

apples and oranges.

[TroyK]

I agree. It's not better. It's a different instrument. I prefer it, but that doesn't make it better.

[hdiddy]

Still then, why do you prefer it?

I just like the size and the big acoustic body. Something that makes it really organize to play. You feel the instrument shaking through you body. And it takes your entire body to play it as well, so it's easy to get totally absorbed into your playing.

[Alex Spradling]

You really have to be a musician to play double bass. On the electric you can get away with a lot of stuff. Can't read, Bad technique etc. etc. On double bass (in order to play even moderately well) you have to have that stuff down. And if you want to play jazz you need to have some rock solid theory under your belt. True the same goes for jazz on the electric, but in the technique department, double bass is completely unforgiving. You need to spend a great deal of time with the instrument just to develop a moderate amount of facility.

[Stan Haskins]

Double basses burn longer, don't they?

Plus, there's none of that "burnt electric" smell I used to hate when heating my house with Fenders

[Edwcdc]

Originally Posted by Alex Spradling

You really have to be a musician to play double bass. On the electric you can get away with a lot of stuff. Can't read, Bad technique etc. etc. On double bass (in order to play even moderately well) you have to have that stuff down. And if you want to play jazz you need to have some rock solid theory under your built. True the same goes for jazz on the electric, but in the technique department, double bass is completely unforgiving. You need to spend a great deal of time with the instrument just to develop a moderate amount of facility.

I agree that if you have bad technique it will come through more when playing DB but I don't think you have to know how to read to play it. Knowing how to read is a big help especially if the gig requires it. I played in high school and could read enough to get by. These days I can't read a lick but every time I play a DB it doesn't suck. Don't get me wrong, after 5 minutes I need to get a glass of water and let my forearms cool down. I would love to own a double bass but I don't know where I would put it. My wife thinks I have too many guitars as it is.

[hdiddy]

Originally Posted by Stan Haskins

Double basses burn longer, don't they?

Plus, there's none of that "burnt electric" smell I used to hate when heating my house with Fenders

Actually, I would think a DB would burn faster than a porkchop. There's alot of surface area and the wood is relatively thin. The wood is usually very very dry. The body of a DB would go up like a matchstick. Only the neckblock (is that they call it? I forget) and the endblock would take a while to burn.

Meanwhile, a porkchop is heavier and the wood denser. I would think it would take a while to burn a slab body completely. I think a porkchop would keep you warmer longer but a DB makes you hotter faster.

[Michael Case]

Burnt porkchops. Yum yum.

[Dbassmon]

Which is better seeks a qualitative answer, therefore, the question is flawed. The questions is truely about preference; which do you like prefer or like better, DB or Bass Guitar.
I like them both. Please don't make me choose!

[Michael Case]

I really like burnt porkchops. Just like Mom used to make.

[TSP]

One definite reason that springs to mind is:

...because they can be played in the absence of electricity. OK, not a big deal for most gigs, but for the few where it matters it's a deal-breaker :-)

(Pedantically, I'd have thought that technically an electric bass is a 'string bass' too... the term is meant to distinguish those basses with strings from those without strings, as I am reminded every time my brass banding friends use 'bass' to mean a tuba.)

[Just some guy]

Originally Posted by hdiddy

Actually, I would think a DB would burn faster than a porkchop. There's alot of surface area and the wood is relatively thin. The wood is usually very very dry. The body of a DB would go up like a matchstick. Only the neckblock (is that they call it? I forget) and the endblock would take a while to burn.

Meanwhile, a porkchop is heavier and the wood denser. I would think it would take a while to burn a slab body completely. I think a porkchop would keep you warmer longer but a DB makes you hotter faster.

There really is only one way to find out. Anyone have an instrument we can "borrow" for a while?

[hdiddy]

Originally Posted by TSP

One definite reason that springs to mind is:

...because they can be played in the absence of electricity. OK, not a big deal for most gigs, but for the few where it matters it's a deal-breaker :-)

Which reminds me of a funny experience I had. My downstairs neighbor is kinda boorish. He likes to blast his stereo while watching TV even late at night, but I think most people who live in my condo building would just rather avoid him as he is a bit short tempered and not very friendly. No I don't like him either. When I first moved in I could hear him screaming at another neighbor through his walls. Dude definitely has issues.

I don't care about my noisemaking with my bass as he doesn't care about his TV as there are strict rules about times of the day you can make noise. They're all association rules so you can't practice after 10 and be loud after 11 otherwise you'd get fined. If you play by the rules, there's nothing anybody can really do.

So when I practice, I think he's ok with my arco scratching, but hates my jazz pizz as he only turns up his stereo during the latter. One day while I'm practicing and he's watching TV and the power goes out and he has to suffer my playing as my practicing doesn't stop. So he starts banging on his ceiling as I keep strollin along. Sometimes I really like being mean!

[hdiddy]

Originally Posted by Just some guy

There really is only one way to find out. Anyone have an instrument we can "borrow" for a while?

Not yet, I'll try to picking up a BSO for $20 from eBay for the experiment.

[Marcus Johnson]

Diddy, you need to buy a tuba. And a handgun.

[hdiddy]

No need Biggus. I already got an Accordion. Do you think my ice axe is enough tho? The old lady has a thing against guns .

[Silversorcerer]

Top 10:

1. The rig is intimidating enough to keep most wanna-bees off of it
2. It doesn't hang around your neck for 3 hours
3. The strings last longer than 6 months
4. It looks much classier in your living room
5. It can play a larger repertoire if you can
6. Needs no electricity
7. Never needs a fret job
8. Never needs intonation adjusted at bridge
9. Stiff enough in the neck not to need a truss rod
10. If it floods you can straddle it and float to safety (using you slab bass as a paddle)

[Mudfuzz]

I don't know about #3, I have two BGs with strings older then 10 years on them