Tale of 2 Basses

Rayzorx · #1 02-27-2007, 08:03 PM

I decided to take the plunge and finally buy my very first URB this year. After reading dozens of threads on TB, I contacted Steve at Ideal Music. Many Q&A Emails, and several phone calls later, I placed an order for a Roma hybrid bass. It was January 15th.

The bass was shipped and I drove to the trucking terminal to pick it up. When I saw the box, it appeared to have had something dropped on it. Actually it had been dropped off the back of the semi, and landed on the scroll end. The neck was snapped clean off. Needless to say I was sick and didn't sleep a wink that night.

The next day I called Ideal and explained to Steve's Mom what had happened. I was worried that I was now stuck with a broken instrument.
She assured me that it would be taken care of and that I would have a bass.

Several more phone calls and Emails later, they told me they were going to send me another bass. But not another Roma. Instead, since I had been waiting for so long without an instrument, Steve offered to upgrade me, to an W. Eberle hybrid!

I now have the new Eberle bass in the studio and I couldn't be happier. I just want to say that Steve and his Mom are rare and special people, and the music community is lucky to have them among us. I'm not trying to make this sound like an endorsement, I just wanted to recognize them for the fine folks they are. (I hope they don't mind me saying so on TB.)

BTW, I'm getting to like the color too.

drurb · #2 02-27-2007, 09:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rayzorx

...I'm not trying to make this sound like an endorsement...

Well, why not? Sounds like they deserve one!

RevJPBass · #3 02-28-2007, 08:30 AM

After a lot of dithering, I took the plunge and got an Eberle hybrid from Ideal. I ordered the thing late Tuesday afternoon and it was at my door on Friday! I took it to band rehearsal last night, and this is a serious bass!

Great big tone, great punch, nice attack, good growl, focused but woody old school sound. I had the guitar player thump on it a bit so I could hear it from the front- it sounds like what I have in my head when I think "string bass sound".

I had a wonderful time conversing with Steve's mom, Kate. The first call I made she excused herself because she had the entire Academy of St. Martin's in the Fields orchestra in the store. Anyway, she was most accomodating, was willing to put on whatever strings I wanted, (Obligatos), upgraded the endpin, etc. When I mentioned Kolstein strings, she didn't have any, but was willing to get a set right away, saying "I know Barrie very well." My purchasing experience could not have been better, and I am thrilled with the bass's performance.

The bass arrived with a very playable setup, the neck is nice and fat- which has already changed and improved my left hand work. I can't imagine a better value for the money. I have no clue how many of these they have left, but my advice is to snap one up if you want a great bass for little cash.

RevJPBass · #4 02-28-2007, 08:34 AM

Everyone complains that the color of these basses is weird. I agree, its a strange orangey color, but in person, it's much nicer than it looks on the website. I actually like it, it reminds me of an old mahogany speedboat. Our guitar player has a gorgeous Bourgeois archtop, and its a kind of mahogany red color. The Eberle, while not finished to that high level, blends nicely with that color. I think there are a few places that could use a little rubbing out on my bass, but I'm going to live with it, at least for now.

Rayzorx · #5 02-28-2007, 10:20 AM

I agree. The color is better live than in the pictures. And now that I've played it for a couple of weeks, the sound is really starting to come out.

+1 on Steve's Mom. She is the one of the sweetest lady's on the planet.

RevJPBass · #6 03-02-2007, 02:48 PM

Ok, so I took my new Eberle out for her first outing with the band. This is a loud big band in an environment that is also loud, lousy acoustics, etc. The band leader was totally impressed with the sound, compared to my old Kay, and frankly, so was I. Focused, punchy, and woody is how I'd describe it. I am pretty blown away by the response I get- when I hit that string, it's just there, like BAM! And the above post has me thinking- it gets better than this? Woohoo!

Rayzorx · #7 03-02-2007, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RevJPBass

Ok, so I took my new Eberle out for her first outing with the band. This is a loud big band in an environment that is also loud, lousy acoustics, etc. The band leader was totally impressed with the sound, compared to my old Kay, and frankly, so was I. Focused, punchy, and woody is how I'd describe it. I am pretty blown away by the response I get- when I hit that string, it's just there, like BAM! And the above post has me thinking- it gets better than this? Woohoo!

What string do you have on yours? And how long have you had it?

I've had mine for about 2 weeks now. When I first started playing it, I noticed that the E & A strings didn't seem to have the punch and projection that the D & G do. But now they all sound about even. I have the DiAddario Helicores, and have been mostly bowing.

RevJPBass · #8 03-04-2007, 09:41 PM

Ahh, strings. I asked Kate to put Obligatos on it. I'm not entirely pleased with them, I have Kolstein Heritages on my old Kay and I liked them better. I'm thinking of swapping the strings from one bass to the other. Someone on here mentioned that Obli's took too much effort to make sound out of them. I think, for pizz anyway, that's true. I've only bowed the new bass for practice. And now I've had the bass for ten days.

Rayzorx · #9 03-05-2007, 01:46 PM

I almost went for the Obligatos but I knew I'd be playing arco so I got the Helicores instead.

I'm having bridge adjusters added so I can lower the action a bit. They stock bridge has them at about 14mm off the end of the fingerboard. BTW, if you haven't got it, check out Rufus Reids Evolving Bassist book. He's got some really detailed descriptions of how he sets the string height and spacing.

RevJPBass · #10 03-05-2007, 09:07 PM

I have a new spare bridge with adjusters in it- I'm thinking of doing it myself- trimming it up and fitting it. My action is kind of high too, I think actually I'd like it there for heavy bow work, but for jazz pizz, I want it a bit lower.

Rayzorx · #11 03-06-2007, 01:00 PM

Rev:
If you're going to do the trim job yourself, here's a link to some good procedures for bridge adjusting.

http://www.ehhs.cmich.edu/~dhavlena/bassetup.htm