Ergo Megathread part I - Page 2

olivier · #21 10-07-2004, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hdiddy

snip...Seems like Paul is the only that has voiced any kind of experience with it (is that true?). Only one way to find out. But when that Thoma sells for $900-1000, I'm pretty suspcious that it's not all that great. Is it me or is it a little bit of CCB I smell?

I think it's unanimous that if you want to learn to play a DB, go buy a DB and don't bother ****ing around with a substitute for all the previously mentioned reasons.

I sat in with The Jug Addicts (a Brooklyn-based jug band) for two songs on one of those skinny BSO at the Barbès bar, last june. I could play it, but it has a thin acoustic sound so, as mentioned several time before, you won't learn to make DB ring on it. Barely less bulky than the real thing. I am not sure that the "better than nothin" argument is valid. Once you buy such a thing for slightly less $ than an Englehardt, you're stuck with it, the resel value is rather low.

quatre03 · #22 10-09-2004, 09:34 PM

Ive been looking into one of these Ergos, because ive heard from several ppl that they are really good, I under stand that there are better basses out there, there always is and there always will be. I cant really spend more that $1000USD. plus im really into haveing a wider range that just 4 strings. so Im looking at the 6 string EUB model, along with my soon to be fretless conklin gt-7 and my next perchase of a conklin gtbd-7.

hdiddy · #23 10-10-2004, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by olivier

I am not sure that the "better than nothin" argument is valid. Once you buy such a thing for slightly less $ than an Englehardt, you're stuck with it, the resel value is rather low.

Better than nothin? I don't remember saying anything like that but oh well.

No I agree, I think it's not a good choice for a first DB. Looking at things again, for myself it maybe would've been a better choice to get one of these than a Ergo. I just wanted something that had a similar shape and feel as a DB for practicing late at night, in which case NO noise and NO sound was better. The Ergo feels kinda awkward for this purpose for reasons I mentioned before, but I'm sure it fits someone elses bill.

learning_towalk · #24 10-10-2004, 01:16 PM

I bought an Ergo...and I really really enjoy it! for live use it's great, I'm gonna be picking up an acoustic DB though for practicing purposes....and If i like it better mic'ed than I may sell my Ergo, but for live stuff this thing deffinately kicks some serious booty!

hdiddy · #25 10-10-2004, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by learning_towalk

I bought an Ergo...and I really really enjoy it! for live use it's great, I'm gonna be picking up an acoustic DB though for practicing purposes....and If i like it better mic'ed than I may sell my Ergo, but for live stuff this thing deffinately kicks some serious booty!

Um... if you haven't tried a real DB before your Ergo you're in a for a surprise. Put it this way, I won't be surprised if you end up selling your Ergo. I don't think it even holds a candle to even a basic level DB.

quatre03 · #26 10-10-2004, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hdiddy

Um... if you haven't tried a real DB before your Ergo you're in a for a surprise. Put it this way, I won't be surprised if you end up selling your Ergo. I don't think it even holds a candle to even a basic level DB.

im sure i cant but im not going to spend 2000 on a decent DB.

plus i like the idea of a 6 string upright

hdiddy · #27 10-10-2004, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by quatre03

im sure i cant but im not going to spend 2000 on a decent DB.

plus i like the idea of a 6 string upright

5 string yes, 6 string? I don't think they make them on a real bass. 'Sides... why? Only plank spankers need more than 5. IMO, it's hard enough with just 4... I don't need another string to worry about intonation with.

IMO, I'd save your pennies up and buy an Englehardt for $1200 IIWY.

learning_towalk · #28 10-10-2004, 07:08 PM

well I have played several uprights before from Englhardt, old Epiphones, Slap Kings, and a few Juzeks (which were great)...but I opted to get this due to size....fits in the van alot easier than a DB would....I absolutely love this thing, but I think I wanna sell it so that I can get an Englehardt to play with....but overall I think it's a great bass that's lots of fun to play....would be great for Latin music, or jazz....but it's not my cup o' tea for bluegrass....because I have to bring my amp around to go to practice .....but it's great none the less

bassmutant · #29 10-14-2004, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hdiddy

5 string yes, 6 string? I don't think they make them on a real bass. 'Sides... why? Only plank spankers need more than 5. IMO, it's hard enough with just 4... I don't need another string to worry about intonation with.

IMO, I'd save your pennies up and buy an Englehardt for $1200 IIWY.

Idk if there are factory made urb's that have 6 strings, but doesn't ratso harris play a six string urb?

reiver1 · #30 11-12-2004, 06:42 AM

My Ergo arrived yesterday. Excellent fit and finish, an absolutely beautiful piece of Walnut and light as a feather. The stand weighs more than the bass.

I took it to rehearsal last night and ran it straight into the church sound system. WOW! A deep, woody, boom. Very DB like.
Of course I had to listen to all the, "Hey, somebody stole the bottom half of your bass" jokes, but the guys were impressed with the quality of the sound. I strung it with Superflexibles and they seem like a good choice for now.

I'm still puttering around with setup, but I LIKE this bass.

MichaelVee · #31 11-12-2004, 09:55 AM

Outstanding, Eric.. Glad you like it.

It's good to read a good initial review of an Ergo! There have been quite a few uncomplimentary things said about them on Talkbass thus far. Scattered among those have been a few genuinely happy owners' remarks.

Keep posting about your experiences with the Ergo.. the sound, the playability, all of it. For those of us who have, or who are contemplating getting, one, it's invaluable to hear.

It's an interesting and simple EUB design, which Jesse doesn't intend to compete with a either a full blown DB or a high end $$$ EUB like an NS.

An Ergo looks to me like one might fit in nicely with my small collection of inexpensive, but agreeable and usable, bass guitars.

I'm probably going to make the short drive down to Chattatown to try out one at Jesse's place.

"Let's get the gig done and go home.." and affordable instruments can get the job done. Thanks, Jesse...

learning_towalk · #32 11-12-2004, 05:31 PM

i love mine...I run it with a Sansamp Acoustic preamp for my Slamgrass band....man this thing is soooooooo easy to lug around/amplify....and I can make it sound super thick so it does GREAT for bluegrass....I am however saving up for an Emenince because my favorite bluegrass bassist, Ben Kaufman of YMSB, uses one and I LOVE his tone....

i only have one beef with the stick...the stupid peice in the back that goes into the cymbal stand has come loose....I emailed Jesse and he said to take it out and epoxy it....but I haven't had a chance to yet...and that's my ONLY beef with it

great product for a GREAT price

Marcus Johnson · #33 11-12-2004, 06:00 PM

Okay, I'll bite...what's "slamgrass"?

hdiddy · #34 11-12-2004, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by learning_towalk

i only have one beef with the stick...the stupid peice in the back that goes into the cymbal stand has come loose....I emailed Jesse and he said to take it out and epoxy it....but I haven't had a chance to yet...and that's my ONLY beef with it

Mine came loose upon arrival. I don't think I'm going to bother to epoxy it. IMO, that connector to the cymbal stand is real hokey. I'll probably remove the mount altogether and build my own. Maybe something out of wood or metal that's a monopod and I can mimic eminence's foot to do it too along with a body rest. The cymbal stand just doesn't do it for me.

reiver1 · #35 11-13-2004, 06:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hdiddy

Mine came loose upon arrival. I don't think I'm going to bother to epoxy it. IMO, that connector to the cymbal stand is real hokey. I'll probably remove the mount altogether and build my own. Maybe something out of wood or metal that's a monopod and I can mimic eminence's foot to do it too along with a body rest. The cymbal stand just doesn't do it for me.

The jury is still out on the stand. It does support the Ergo well and in any position I want and even more importantly, I can walk away from the instrument and know it will be in exactly the same place when I return.
But I agree that the connector could be a potential problem area, and the stand does rattle a bit when I'm low on the E string. It doesn't come through the pickup though.

Let us know when you figure out a monopod?

learning_towalk · #36 11-14-2004, 12:04 PM

well we were having trouble determaining what genre we are because we're not straightup bluegrass....So I heard the term Slamgrass a long time ago in regaurds to high energy bluegrass....I liked the term and we've adapted it to form our own genre...

Slamgrass as a style can be defined as---New age bluegrass (newgrass),mixed with dirty jug band music, and major old time appalacian influences (our banjo player mostly plays clawhammer).....

so yah that's Slamgrass

We are starting to build a huge following...I think the fact that we're all under 21 and playing this style is really drawing people's attention...

I guess you could say if Yonder Mountain String Band and the Old Crow Medicine Show had a kid it would be us....The Algood Potato Association

hdiddy · #37 11-15-2004, 04:14 PM

OH BTW: I found something kinda fun the other day...

Lately I have been playing the Ergo sans tripod. Why? Cuz I have this weird noise rule in my apt. building that if I bother the neighbors after hours that I could get fined. It was the reason why I got the Ergo in the first place, but found that it still transfers alot of energy into the floor. Since I don't want to give anybody any reason to complain, I've been making and effort trying to isolate the bass.

So this is what I found that was kinda nifty. You don't have to make any mods:

1. Collapse the shaft so that it's completely closed and remove it from the legs.
2. Find a chair. Ones with a flat seat seem to be better.
3. Reset the angled connector so that it the shaft is paralell with the ground. The angle of the stick itself should be whatever you like it at.
4. Sit down on the chair and put the shaft under your left leg to hold it down. Essentially you're just sitting on it.

VOILA! Instant seated position! And you don't look like you're playing a cello. Just make sure you put enough weight down so that the stick doesn't lean over on you. You can sit in it normally and bring the bass in as close as you need, and you probably won't get any back problems unless your'e doing something funny. I like mine where it's oriented like a Real Bass and where I'm not sitting underneath the stick itself.

I've also been playing with the idea of making an attachment for the shaft that will acts as crossbar to keep everything from twisting/leaning over on me. I've been sitting on this super flat dining chair - the cheap one I got from IKEA. I just put a pillow underneath me to isolate the stand from the chair.

One caveat tho: I'm tall enough (5'10") that the nut is just about the right height. If you're shorter, it may not work for you.

Try it, you might like it!

reiver1 · #38 11-15-2004, 04:41 PM

I'll be durned,,,,,,it works.

Cool idea, especially sinceI don't have a lot of space in my practice area (read: office)

MichaelVee · #39 11-15-2004, 07:38 PM

Since I haven't played an EUB yet, I have to ask-

If you were playing an Ergo seated, in a regular chair, not a stool- how long a tailpin (I think that's the correct term) would be needed to play it correctly?

Jesse might offer an adjustable tailpin, with a rubber foot, as an option, as opposed to the big ol' cymbal stand set up. I don't know, haven't asked him. I bet he would do it as a custom order.

hdiddy · #40 11-15-2004, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MichaelVee

If you were playing an Ergo seated, in a regular chair, not a stool- how long a tailpin (I think that's the correct term) would be needed to play it correctly?

I dunno... when the shaft is short, it's extends way pass my skinny A$$ that's for sure!

I would think I don't want it stopping halfway past my thigh... that would be uncomfy. Don't think it would work on a stool nor where the chair seat has too much of a curve.

I should patent my idea before Jesse gets a hold of it... the Bass Chair.