Small body?

Marcury · #1 12-17-2007, 10:37 AM

Last night I saw a string band and the bass player had an upright with a small body. It wasn't a traditional small bass, but looked like the lower bouts had been "left" off. I've been searching here and on the rest of the web, but couldn't find anything.

Anybody here know what I saw and where I can more info?

**Jeremy Allen** · #2 12-17-2007, 10:53 AM

http://www.czech-ease.com/index.php

Marcury · #3 12-17-2007, 10:59 AM

Thanks, that looks like it. Have you played one?

**Jeremy Allen** · #4 12-17-2007, 12:47 PM

I played one at Gage's shop--you should just call them up and make an appointment to check it out if you're interested. They're fun to play and sound good through an amplifier; the downside is, they're goofy looking (I think) and, acoustically, they sound pretty much what you would expect a plywood bass missing half of its body to sound like.

Do a search here for the terms "czech ease." There have been many discussions on TB about this bass, and at least a few of our members own and use them regularly.

Marcury · #5 12-17-2007, 01:08 PM

Great. Thanks!

Bass · #6 12-17-2007, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeremy Allen

...the downside is, they're goofy looking (I think)...

They sure are! Ugh.

Marcury · #7 12-18-2007, 09:36 AM

Yeah , it's a bit goofy, but sounded better then a lot of EUBs I've heard, and the price is good, now that I know what it is.

**Jeremy Allen** · #8 12-18-2007, 09:58 AM

Just don't forget to add $1700 for the flight case (assuming you buy it for its intended use). Somehow $4500 seems like a lot more than $2800 to me.

I agree though--I would buy a Czech-ease in a second before I would consider spending the same amount of money on an EUB.

neal davis · #9 12-18-2007, 10:43 AM

I agree it is not the perfect sounding bass but the tone I get with mine is quite usable and I actually perfer it in some rooms compared to my other bass, and I can still play it acoustic on gig with a drummer without an amp which I had to do last week because the club didn't get our backline for us. It may not be the best looking thing but it is really useful when you are jamming 6 guys in a estate car or van from the airport; and at least I can fly easy with it without spending an arm and a leg which is I guess the whole point

**Jeremy Allen** · #10 12-18-2007, 11:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by neal davis

I can still play it acoustic on gig with a drummer without an amp which I had to do last week because the club didn't get our backline for us.

Wow! Impressive. I don't want to come across as down on the Czech-ease--if I could get through an outdoor orchestra concert in the summertime with one, I would own one. I look forward to playing the new and improved version at IAJE if Gage brings one up to Toronto next month.

neal davis · #11 12-18-2007, 09:41 PM

I would show you mine but I'm back to Europe for another tour the day before IAJE starts, who knows, maybe we'll run into each other at the airport. The new one is so much better, if they don't have one at IAJE check out the Long and Mcquade on bloor they always have one of the new ones in stock.