Three bass solution

Thumpie · #1 02-21-2013, 07:56 AM

So I finally took the Belcantos off my new Shen and loaded it with Spiros. Jesus! I'm in love! This was going to be my "arco only" bass, but it sounds so good for pizz that I want to start gigging with it. Of course, the arco is now unacceptable--that scratchy mid-range sound bowed Spiros make isn't going to work on this bass. It's too punchy and not very dark.

So there's only one solution: 3 basses.

1. My ply beater for dangerous shows/tours.

2. The punchy little Shen for pizz. (recording/safe shows).

3. A yet-to-be-found third bass for arco strings/setup.

What more could you need?

KUNGfuSHERIFF · #2 02-21-2013, 08:02 AM

4. Carved flatback with guts high off the fingerboard for that old-school sound.

Thumpie · #3 02-21-2013, 08:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KUNGfuSHERIFF

4. Carved flatback with guts high off the fingerboard for that old-school sound.

So how many basses do you currently have?

eerbrev · #4 02-21-2013, 08:18 AM

I'm a 90% classical player and I bow spirocores. If you like them on that bass for pizz, take a few days and spend time learning how to bow them (their specific wants and needs on your bass), and you'll be a happy man. especially once they settle in they have a fantastic low end. I love my spiro low strings!

eerbrev

KUNGfuSHERIFF · #5 02-21-2013, 08:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thumpie

So how many basses do you currently have?

Three DBs and a pogo stick. More than any sane person needs.

But anyway, beat on those Spiros for a year or so (are they brand new?) and then come back and tell us how they bow. My trick is black bow hair and Pops'.

Champagne · #6 02-21-2013, 08:28 AM

And I thought 2 basses take up a lot of space, let alone 3!

You could also find a hybrid string you like and go with them to bridge pizz and arco.

Which Spiros did you load the bass with?

Thumpie · #7 02-21-2013, 08:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KUNGfuSHERIFF

Three DBs and a pogo stick. More than any sane person needs.

But anyway, beat on those Spiros for a year or so (are they brand new?) and then come back and tell us how they bow. My trick is black bow hair and Pops'.

Oh no, these Spiros (Weiches) are 3 years old and well played. For arco, they actually sound *better* on my Kay, which is a very dark bass. The complexity isn't there, but the Spiro arco brightness is knocked off.

I only use Pops. I used to have a black-haired bow, but I could never get into it...

I'm tired of trying to get Spiros to work with acro. They're not suited to my (acro) style, and I'll save a lot of headache by just accepting this. This is why I need another bass.

Thumpie · #8 02-21-2013, 08:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Champagne

And I thought 2 basses take up a lot of space, let alone 3!

You could also find a hybrid string you like and go with them to bridge pizz and arco.

Which Spiros did you load the bass with?

I loaded both mittels and weiches.

The Belcantos actually provided a good hybrid sound, but I gotta have that Spiro growl!

Thumpie · #9 02-21-2013, 08:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eerbrev

I'm a 90% classical player and I bow spirocores. If you like them on that bass for pizz, take a few days and spend time learning how to bow them (their specific wants and needs on your bass), and you'll be a happy man. especially once they settle in they have a fantastic low end. I love my spiro low strings!

eerbrev

I've been bowing Spiros for years. I'm done with them for arco.

Rick Auvil · #10 02-21-2013, 08:47 AM

Numerous gigs to use all three basses!

**MostlyBass** · #11 02-21-2013, 08:53 AM

I have one carved bass... But
-Orchestral bass
-Solo bass (orchestra tuning)
-Solo bass (solo tuning)
-Jazz bass
-Beater bass

Champagne · #12 02-21-2013, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MostlyBass

I have one carved bass... But
-Orchestral bass
-Solo bass (orchestra tuning)
-Solo bass (solo tuning)
-Jazz bass
-Beater bass

So, let me get this right. You have 5 basses, one of which is carved?

Jsn · #13 02-21-2013, 09:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Champagne

So, let me get this right. You have 5 basses, one of which is carved?

I think he's saying that even though he owns only one bass, this would be his ideal multi-bass setup.

Champagne · #14 02-21-2013, 10:08 AM

Yowsers.lol I could only imagine having 5 basses!

Thumpie · #15 02-21-2013, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Champagne

Yowsers.lol I could only imagine having 5 basses!

I once was up to three, but at the time I was only playing one. Having two (or three) active basses does take up a lot of space. I like to have them on stands where I can easily switch during practice.

hdiddy · #16 02-21-2013, 10:16 AM

Id rather sink the $$$ on what you'd spend for arco and pizz into one more expensive instrument and learn how to do most gigs with it. Beater bass is optional.

I'll take "Less is more" and "Quality over quantity" any day of the week and buy the best I can get a hold of. Better basses stand a good chance of doing both pizz and arco well.

Thumpie · #17 02-21-2013, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hdiddy

Id rather sink the $$$ on what you'd spend for arco and pizz into one more expensive instrument and learn how to do most gigs with it. Beater bass is optional.

I'll take "Less is more" and "Quality over quantity" any day of the week and buy the best I can get a hold of. Better basses stand a good chance of doing both pizz and arco well.

My particular needs call for different strings for different playing. And they're extreme: an aggressive Spiro growl for pizz and a super warm/smooth bow response for arco. I also prefer different fingerboard cambers too.

I hear you, and if I wasn't drawn to such polar opposites, I'd get one fine bass to do it all. (And my Shen does sounds good for both pizz and bowing, but it doesn't do what I need it to do, and I don't believe any bass could.)

Champagne · #18 02-21-2013, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thumpie

My particular needs call for different strings for different playing. And they're extreme: an aggressive Spiro growl for pizz and a super warm/smooth bow response for arco. I also prefer different fingerboard cambers too.

I hear you, and if I wasn't drawn to such polar opposites, I'd get one fine bass to do it all. (And my Shen does sounds good for both pizz and bowing, but it doesn't do what I need it to do, and I don't believe any bass could.)

I hear ya. I have 2 basses myself. One sounds great bowing and the other, my Pizz bass.

I still haven't found a stand I like yet. Looking for those wooden boxes, but I can't find one that keeps the end pin out. They lay together on the floor in the humidified room like my 2 dogs and I constantly have to step over them! I play them both every day.

Thumpie · #19 02-21-2013, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Champagne

I hear ya. I have 2 basses myself. One sounds great bowing and the other, my Pizz bass.

I still haven't found a stand I like yet. Looking for those wooden boxes, but I can't find one that keeps the end pin out. They lay together on the floor in the humidified room like my 2 dogs and I constantly have to step over them! I play them both every day.

I've thought of building a box so the endpin could stay out. They do seem to be the best use of space.

I don't *love* them, but the Engles Stand works well enough, and is a very quick change. (Note: they work best if you lower them to where the endpin touches the floor and the weight of the bass is mostly off the stand. The stand may lean back, but everything is fine.)

**MostlyBass** · #20 02-21-2013, 10:52 AM

I have one bass but I could see someone wanting five