Bit by the bug

portaflexer · #1 05-02-2007, 04:00 PM

Okay... I've always been a horizontal (fretted) bass player... I've always liked uprights but never really got into them. Well... this past week I was shopping for some PA speakers with my band and we stopped in a store that had one of these babies.

The owner was cool and told me to try it out... holy crap!!! It was soooo much fun to play. Now I want one! Granted I'll have to get used to the lack of frets and it will take me a while to play it well... but I can't remember the last time I played a bass that was that much fun.

I'm definitely smitten. I just thought everyone here could relate.

Tin-Foot Paul · #2 05-02-2007, 04:56 PM

Cool! Fun is what it's all about: new territory, new challenges.

Good luck and happy travels.

EggyToast · #3 05-03-2007, 12:02 PM

Yeah, uprights are pretty fun. One thing you should note is that the dean pace is permanently a "flat bridge" upright, so you'll never be able to bow it. I personally find the lack of curve on a fingerboard to be a bit more uncomfortable, but that's going to change based on personal preference.

mrpc · #4 05-03-2007, 01:15 PM

True, you can't bow the Dean from what I've seen. But Electric Uprights aren't really known for having good arco feel and sound. I wonder if the flat radius lends itself to slap style?

Peck_Time · #5 05-03-2007, 04:02 PM

Seeing as how the bass in the link has a 'Standard 35" scale', I would call it a FEBGOAS.

damonsmith · #6 05-03-2007, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrpc

True, you can't bow the Dean from what I've seen. But Electric Uprights aren't really known for having good arco feel and sound. I wonder if the flat radius lends itself to slap style?

I don't find that to be true at all. There are plenty of EUBs on the market with a good arco tone - of course that still depends on the bass player's arco abilty.
I had a student with a Dean - it was not a very good instrument.
As usual I'd reccomend an Ergo. They are in the same price range but you get way more bass for the buck.
My 7 Ergo string had it's first gig Tues. and was amazing, about 80% arco.
Second gig is tonight with Grant Calvin Weston.

EggyToast · #7 05-03-2007, 07:26 PM

Yeah, arco isn't going to sound as good as a fully carved upright... but by no means are they bad. Since it's all in the neck, a solid, quality piece of wood is going to reverberate quite well, transferring to the pickup and developing its own expressiveness. Put out through a good amp and it'll sound pretty nice.

Will it beat a $10,000 carved bass? Of course not. But there's a few good reasons why you'd still want to use an EUB even if you happened to have both!

The only thing I've noticed that really sets an EUB apart from an acoustic upright for arco playing is recording it.

damonsmith · #8 05-03-2007, 07:34 PM

The 7 string has a couple advantages - more sympathetic vibrations and
a huge slab of wood. I did a recording last week with it and the sound was really impressive. We used a mic on the speaker, a mic in front of the bass and a direct out of the amp.
It had a very dry and woody tone.
I have a nice German flatback that I love, but I use the Ergo a lot these days, nearly half and half.

mrpc · #9 05-03-2007, 07:38 PM

Well, it's just a matter of opinion I guess. I use an Azola Floating Top EUB, It gets great arco sounds, it's good to explore textures that only a pickup and electronics can offer.........but on the desert island I'm going to choose acoustic arco, it just moves me more. And yes, I've heard that the Dean is kinda crappy overall. Though I've never played one. I'm just wondering if there is any advantage to the flat fingerboard radius in terms of slapping rockabilly style. That's how Roy Husky's bass looked when I checked it out.

Callused Finger · #10 05-03-2007, 09:29 PM

35" scale is 7" shorter than a standard 3/4 db upright. Kind of defeats the purpose.

damonsmith · #11 05-03-2007, 11:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrpc

Well, it's just a matter of opinion I guess. I use an Azola Floating Top EUB, It gets great arco sounds, it's good to explore textures that only a pickup and electronics can offer.........but on the desert island I'm going to choose acoustic arco, it just moves me more. And yes, I've heard that the Dean is kinda crappy overall. Though I've never played one. I'm just wondering if there is any advantage to the flat fingerboard radius in terms of slapping rockabilly style. That's how Roy Husky's bass looked when I checked it out.

Azolas seem great, I am with you on Desert Island thing. I am kind of half acoustic purist really, I primarily play acoustic bass. But my Ergo makes arco portable and possible at loud volumes, for example the gig I did tonght: with Calvin Weston (Blood Ulmer, Ornette's Prime Time) and Weasel Walter (Flying Luttenbachers) not one but two great but very loud drummers and it was a blast.
I mostly played arco.

el_mariachi · #12 05-04-2007, 06:08 AM

Another big factor in good arco tone is the right strings. If you get strings geared more toward pizz style playing, then the arco tone is going to suffer. I agree with Damonsmith. My Ergo is a nice bass and is around the same price point as a dean. dean is really nothing but a fretless bass guitar turned upright. if you want an upright-like tone, you need the upright scale and a good set of strings.

mrpc · #13 05-04-2007, 01:29 PM

Wow, I love all this enthusiasm for Arco EUB! It truly is beautiful. At risk at here of going off subject, but......anyway, it sounds like it would be wise to explore the Ergo connection, portaflexer. I'd consider the Dean to be your initiation to the wonderful world of EUB.

portaflexer · #14 05-04-2007, 07:58 PM

I had never even heard of Ergos... but keep in mind I'm not an upright guy.

Anyway... I just looked at their website and they look pretty cool. The 4 string version is about $650. So what kind of strings are you supposed to string them with? I'm assuming flatwound bass guitar strings?

el_mariachi · #15 05-04-2007, 10:14 PM

No you string them with 3/4 double bass strings. standard flatwound electric bass strings would not be long enough for the ergo. you're talking a 34 or 35 inch scale of an electric bass compared to a 42" scale (average) 3/4 upright bass.

damonsmith · #16 05-05-2007, 01:25 AM

The stock chinese strings he puts on them will be fine for starters. URB strings are pretty sophistcated and (expensive), being used to good URB strings, and the fact that I had a set around, I had to change mine, but the stock strings are not super terrible, they certainly work.

portaflexer · #17 05-05-2007, 09:05 AM

Excuse my ignorance... like I said, I'm new to uprights.

That makes sense though... the scale is much longer. Actually, I just got my first set of flatwounds earlier this year. I put them on my Fender Jazz and I really like them. It made the bass sound a little more upright-ish... but still far off. I liked the way that Dean sounded, but then again... that's the first time I've tried an EUB.

portaflexer · #18 05-05-2007, 09:34 AM

I keep going back to the Ergo site. That bass is really calling my name. Man... I REALLY AM bit by this bug. I really really really really want one now. Thanks a lot guys... jeesch.

el_mariachi · #19 05-05-2007, 01:25 PM

Good to hear!! You really can't go wrong with the Ergo for how much it is. you'll do yourself well to read the Ergo megathread. lots of good tips to get the most out of it. and damonsmith said it well earlier. The stock strings aren't bad at all. but for those of us that plan on using it for performances right away, there is always a benefit to replacing the strings with better quality strings. But i've had my (used) ergo for a couple of weeks now and I am still using the stock strings on it.

catty · #20 05-05-2007, 01:57 PM

I got my Ergo four days ago, and have just last night and today spent some quality time with it. I think they're great. Stock strings on mine, and yet I think it sounds pretty good played arco. I'm quite suprised, actually, that it sounds so good directly into an amp--at low volume.