Baby Bass megathread - Page 2

Paul Warburton · #21 11-08-2004, 04:22 PM

This is TBDB....the DB standing for DOUBLE BASS.
I don't have a problem with you asking a question about an instrument that doesn't have much to do with our instrument, but please don't try to tell us what not to joke about!

Marcus Johnson · #22 11-08-2004, 04:41 PM

Uh..well..in all fairness, Paul, the headstock...whoops, sorry, the scroll

....does point skyward on the Baby Bass. And it predates a lot of the EUBs that are discussed here. Its somewhat muddy sound has propelled a lot of great salsa bands and recordings over the years.

Paul Warburton · #23 11-08-2004, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marcus Johnson

Uh..well..in all fairness, Paul, the headstock...whoops, sorry, the scroll

....does point skyward on the Baby Bass. And it predates a lot of the EUBs that are discussed here. Its somewhat muddy sound has propelled a lot of great salsa bands and recordings over the years.

Whats that got to do with the double bass? And those ARE trully headstocks.
Believe it or don't, I rented one to play with "Little Stevie Wonder " in the 60's. The damn thing kept swinging around on me because they have no RIBS...I ended up playing the back as much as the front. If I tried to play anything higher than an F, I'd almost drop it.

mikjans · #24 11-09-2004, 04:46 AM

I posted a query but so far no one has cared to supply information, just showed what chips they carry on their shoulders. On the positive side, there´s been no coke jokes, though.

mikjans · #25 11-09-2004, 11:43 AM

Can somebody please straighten this out? Are EUBs off topic here? I can see a lot of other threads concerning such instruments, incl those that are more of the FEBGOAS kind (to use Bob Gollihur´s brilliant acronym - "fretless electric bass guitar on a stand").

If EUBs are off topic, I apologize for starting this thread. If not, I guess some people just have a bad bow hair day...

Sam Sherry · #26 11-09-2004, 12:48 PM

Naw, Mik, I don't think you're out of line at all.

For better or worse, the topic of Ampeg-brand and Ampeg-style EUBs is pretty specialized. Most players have never held one in their hands.

If you run a search for "Ampeg Baby Bass" in DB forums you'll find a few threads which may be on topic.

Good luck, brother.

brianrost · #27 11-09-2004, 02:33 PM

I used to own a real Ampeg Baby Bass some years back. The Bladys copy is a great price, far cheaper than Azola and ordering from PR you don't have to deal with foreign currency or customs.

The Ampeg magnetic diaphragm pickup is an acquired taste, as it doesn't sound much like a real DB. However the sound has become the standard in a lot of Latin music from Cuba and P.R. which is why all the copies are out there (and most from Latin America).

Playability of a Baby Bass is a lot closer to a real DB than stick basses and they are easily bowed.

I sold mine because it sounded like crap through the amps I owned at the time (Fender Bassman!!). I bet through my current rigs it would actually be usable, but alas it's long gone and I can't afford to buy another (I let mine go for $700 back in the 80s).

You can still buy real Ampegs used for less than a new Azola BB, Ray Ramirez's prices are lower than Azola but more than these Colombian models.

I have never played any of these copies so can't comment about how they might sound.

T-Bal · #28 11-09-2004, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikjans

a bad bow hair day...

Aleph5 · #29 11-10-2004, 11:09 AM

I see plenty of other EUB posts here. I think my BB plays better than some other EUBs. And at least Barry Bales' Azola gets a thunderously awesome tone. Check out "Forget About It" on the AKUS Live CD!

BTW, I think Ampeg may have also made some fake ribs to widen the upper bout.

Paul Warburton · #30 11-10-2004, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikjans

Can somebody please straighten this out? Are EUBs off topic here? I can see a lot of other threads concerning such instruments, incl those that are more of the FEBGOAS kind (to use Bob Gollihur´s brilliant acronym - "fretless electric bass guitar on a stand").
If EUBs are off topic, I apologize for starting this thread. If not, I guess some people just have a bad bow hair day...

mik, if you're refering to me when you say what you said about someone "having a bad bow hair day" , I actually have more hair on my bow than I do on top of my head.
I admit that it sounds like i'm trying to ride you on this...I apologize if I came off that way, but I really am not. You had a legit question and as I said, I have no problems with that. As Sam says, if you dig around in the Archives and the search function, you'll find a ****load of stuff on Ampegs, including one where we talked about where Ampeg got it's name to begin with.
We joke alot about my age here on TBDB, because i'm one of the senior posters @ 63. I'm old enough to remember that the name of Ampeg came from the fact that their first product was an upright bass pick-up that was a microphone mounted on the end of the part of the end-pin shaft that is the extra length of the shaft that is inside the bass, which was called the 'PEG' in those days. Hence the name Ampeg .

And, if you dug back far enough in the Archives of the old jazz magazine Downbeat (one of our TBDBers said he has a bunch of old Downbeats laying around where he works.. I can't remember who it was)...maybe he could find one with an advertisement for The Ampeg BabyBass with pictures and endorsements by Gary Karr with that rib/shoulder extension brace that Aleph mentions in his post, to help the bassist play in the upper positions! My man Red Mitchell, and west coast jazz bassist, Jimmy Bond. I'm not putting you on!!

mikjans · #31 11-11-2004, 01:01 AM

Paul,

No hard feelings here. Actually, I think I know quite a lot about the Zorko and Ampeg (I even contributed a bit to the Ampeg book that came out a few years ago, although mostly on the Ampeg/Hagström connection). While researching for a book on EUBs, I have searched old jazz mags, incl Downbeat for information. Actually, Red Mitchell (who is also one of my men, I had the joy of seeing him live a few times while he lived in Sweden) endorsed the Zorko (although probably in ads only), and Jimmy Bond did ads for the Framus Triumph bass. Besides Karr, the Ampeg BB was also endorsed in ads by a number of 60s latin bassists, and by Richard Davis and Mingus!! (I doubt they did much with those basses live, at least not Mingus...).

I was merely intrigued by the fact that one Colombian town, Cali, can show at least four makers of Baby Bass replicas as well as updated designs of the same bass. And so, posted a the question.

Cheers, Mikael

Paul Warburton · #32 11-11-2004, 08:33 AM

Mikael....I'm glad I didn't give you any more **** than I did. I had no idea you were an expert!
Now, after you refreshing my memory, I remember that some of those endorsements were the Zorko. I do admit a certain amount of negative experiences with these things...only the Little Stevie Wonder one from a first hand, playing level.
Did you get to know Red at all in Sweden?

mikjans · #33 11-11-2004, 10:37 AM

I had planned to interview Red Mitchell, but then he moved back to the States, and soon after his return he passed away. I wrote his obit for Bass Player magazine (to which I sometimes contribute), but I never got to know the man, which is a pity.

Mikael

Paul Warburton · #34 11-11-2004, 04:10 PM

Yeah, he was a piece of work. I've posted alot of Red stuff on TBDB. If you haven't done so and are interested, do a search under his name.

Flat Bass · #35 11-28-2004, 06:42 PM

I found one for sale somewhere. I do not have chance to play it before. Any of you guys know anything about these things? It looks just like a Ampeg baby bass with sunburst finish. But it looks like it has a wood bridge with adjusters and maybe a K&K bass max with 3 knobs on around it, preamp maybe?

Thanks

Marcus Johnson · #36 11-28-2004, 07:21 PM

I don't know about the Baby, but I do own a floating top Azola Bugbass, so I can vouch for the quality of construction. It's a really nice bass. The ebony fingerboard is beautiful.

Bob Gollihur · #37 11-28-2004, 07:45 PM

I played one at Sam Ash a few years ago, it was a very nice instrument. Great sound in comparison to the originals. It has a piezo in the bridge (Bass Max) and another system at the feet. Auditioned it through a Hartke 10" kickback and it impressed me, but I would have liked to have more time with it.

ctxbass · #38 11-29-2004, 02:23 AM

I had one for a while. Mine had a maple bridge with no adjusters.
The string height is easily adjusted using an allen wrench and changing the neck angle. You can get very low or high.

The bass has a bridge wing pickup and also the traditional Baby Bass diaphragm pickup under the bridge feet. There is a tone control, a blend control, and a volume control. The volume control is also push-pull so you can turn off the battery powered preamp and get the original Baby Bass sound.

Marcus is right about the quality. The instrument feels great and the 41.5" string length makes going from DB to BB easy.

mikjans · #39 11-29-2004, 01:31 PM

If you buy an Azola bass, you will not, I think, be dissatisfied with the after sale service the Azolas supply. Steve and Jill are great guys!

Flat Bass · #40 11-29-2004, 03:09 PM

Well thanks for all the input fellas. You know how much one would be worth? This one is just like a ampeg baby bass great condition with the bass max and wood bridge with adjusters I think?