Ergo Megathread part I

[damonsmith]

Originally Posted by ElBajista

Out of curiosity, are these Ergo basses easily played Arco? I imagine that the 4 string version would be the same as any other DB or EUB, but what about, say, the 6 string version?

Anyone ever played Arco with a 6 string Ergo?

- The 6 is great for arco, the bridge needs to sit just right for all the strings come out clearly. It takes some getting used but well worth it.

I work on Simandl and other exercises an octave lower to get used to the low B, and work on solos up the G string as well as across to the C. I also work on things like Bach up a fourth.
It is a great instrument.

[damonsmith]

Originally Posted by Duuuuuuuuuude

I saw a few posts here about applying a tung oil finish to the Ergo. Did you strip off the old finish before you applied the tung oil? Give it a light sand first?

I love my Ergo, but honestly find the finish less then professional quality. I showed the bass to a carpenter friend and he says that it seems to have been rushed. He pointed out a couple drips and pitting in the varnish which he says is a tell tail sign that the finish was applied in one thick coat rather then several thin ones. Also, in a few places the wood was not sanded smooth before the finish was applied. I love the bass but I'm a bit disappointed by the finish.

Anyone else have these problems?

It is a workhorse, not a fashion accessory. Play the $hit out of it until it dies and buy another one. My finsh looks fine, I wouldn't have minded having it sloppy in places if I could have gotten it faster.
I won't pretend it is 100% perfect in every way, but Jesse gives WAY more than enough for the $$.

[jonrey]

Hello all - I haven't posted here before, but here goes. I have an Ergo five string that I am relatively happy with - but I've reworked it extensively. I bought it used on ebay and then went nuts on it. Here are the details.

1. Pickups. I've done a whole lot of experimenting on the piezos. I got some from Jesse and realized that they were probably just cut from Radio Shack buzzers. I've bought a whole punch of them with marginal results. I tried several different types, sizes, etc., and was never really happy with the sound. So I had an Artec PP-537 bass guitar piezo (made for under the saddle acoustic bass guitars) that seems to work pretty well. I like it because it comes in this brass sleeve that makes it very stable. I made a new bridge for the bass out of maple, and tried K&K's attached to the bridge with mixed results. I have Fishman pickup that is also from under-the-saddle acoustic bass guitar that I'm going to try next.

2. The stand - I replaced the stand with the sturdiest Pearl drum hardware I could find. The supplied stand allowed the bass the move around alot. I used this bracket on the bass:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/produ...ket?sku=447961

The stand consists of these two pieces:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/produ...der?sku=448799
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/produ...and?sku=448794

All of this isn't cheap, but the bass is very stable now. The stand hardware is all heavy duty.

3. Tuning keys. The Gotohs were funky. One of them stripped after I tried to put on Spirocores. I replaced them with Schallers:

http://www.schaller-guitarparts.de/1138.htm

I'm still struggling to get even tone out of the bass. I have some other mod's. I'm going to try.

[damonsmith]

sounds cool. I got even tone by moving the bridge around. What I am looking for now is a light, strong telescoping stand, since it won't fit in my case.

[Madness]

I wanna get my upright chops back, and I'm not terribly concerned with the Upright sound and tone. Would this be a good option for me?

[damonsmith]

Originally Posted by Madness

I wanna get my upright chops back, and I'm not terribly concerned with the Upright sound and tone. Would this be a good option for me?

A good option and likely the Cheapest as well.

[Madness]

Originally Posted by damonsmith

A good option and likely the Cheapest as well.

Thanks for the reply. I was curious about getting leverage. I see a lot of EUB's with a bar (see, Palatino). This one doesn't have such a device, is this a problem?

[Geezerman]

Just sent one in for a classic 4 string, woot my first upright experience in 4-5 weeks!

[EggyToast]

Originally Posted by Madness

Thanks for the reply. I was curious about getting leverage. I see a lot of EUB's with a bar (see, Palatino). This one doesn't have such a device, is this a problem?

No, the bar is useful more for those who are used to an upright and prefer something to allow them to space themselves properly.

The important things, namely when to transition to thumb position, is handled quite subtly yet effectively on the Ergo; the neck changes from a curved neck to a standard 'block,' so you feel the difference and go "oh, right, gotta change." Probably won't be a problem for you starting out, though.

The hardest thing, for me, to get used to on a stick upright is simply the best angle and height for the bass.

[*fenderbass*]

I really like my Ergo but couldn't get used to the tripod stand. To me it just didn't feel like an upright bass because it didn't lean into me and move with me while I play.

I found a solution to my problem that didn't involve any permenant modifications to the bass......

[*fenderbass*]

I picked up a piece of aluminum tube that slides over the existing cymbal stand top. It's held tightly with a piece of rubber hose and hose clamps.

For now I'm using a piece of scrap steel for the arm that leans against my side. I'm working on something better (open to ideas) but for now it works well. No drilling, glue, welding, etc...

I like playing it more than ever. Now it feels like an acoustic double bass as well as sounding like one.

There are no rattles and I can take the "endpin" off and use the tripod stand with no problem.

[damonsmith]

I am not really sure why but the stand has been no problem for me.
One thing I'd like to add is that the carbon fiber bow is not working so well, a wood bow brings out a much warmer tone, so I am using that primarily with the Ergo. The carbon bow is great when I need to project on my double bass, but I have a volume knob for that on the Ergo.

[willgroove2]

I am using my ergo four string live this week since getting it in mid Dec. I'm playing a jazz club here in Chicago called the back room, It's a bi-level club that seats about 150-165 but is a fairly loud room. four piece band with a vocalist,We are playing a mix of jazz,blues R&B and pop. My rig is a epfani 502 head into a edens 4 ten cab,I'm running the ergo thru a K&K preamp into the passive input on the amp and have the EQ set flat on the amp and use the EQ on the pre amp. we are there until sunday and I'm still toying with the sound but it sound's pretty close to the sound I have in my head. I't sound like a amped upright not a acoustic Bass but for me that work's. I'm getting a ton of "what's that?" questions from the crowd .I will change out the string's soon but for what the price point is, I recommend checking a ergo out if you want a nice entry level and beyond EUB

[Geezerman]

Getting my bass tommorow, too bad I have work, and then school untill 10PM, it's almost here!

[giedosst]

Damm, just got my ergo 5 string, I love this bass, tight! I am surprised and please on just how kick ass this instruemnt is. Simple smooth, easy to play and looks cool!

[giedosst]

Hey fellow Ergo owners.
I got a question.
I just gt my 5 string Ergo. All the strings sound loud and full except the e. I have to pluck it twice as hard to get it to sound even and thats only halfway up the neck. I played it with out it being plugged in and the e plucks and sounds great, but when I plug it in it sounds like its not getting amplifyed. Has anybody had this problem? If so how did you fix it. I love this bass, and this is the only thing I can't get to sound good.

[saxnbass]

I have that problem too. I've heard that you just need to move the bridge around in the slot. I haven't tried it yet as I don't play mine very much.

[Tin-Foot Paul]

It was the same with me. Your bridge probably shifted during shipping. Loosen the strings and move the bridge until it's pretty much centered left and right. For my bass, it also worked best when the bridge was a little bit higher than the center of the slot. Make sure it isn't pointing down or up too much either. And make sure it isn't touching the sides of the slot. It might take a little bit of trial and error adjusting until you get the original set up.

[giedosst]

Hey.
Ok tried that. It did'nt work, but I noticed a bloob of glue on the piezo strip under the a and e string, would that have anything to do with it?

[saxnbass]

That could be it, cause Piezos work on vibration.