Ergo Megathread part I - Page 37

Taylor Livingston · #**721** 10-24-2008, 10:50 AM

I have Corellis on mine as well. I have a 15-band graphic that I'm using, and as I said, the issues are not as much about equalization but compression, which will obviously not be fixed by an EQ or by playing harder (seriously, I couldn't be playing any harder than I am now).

Technique will definitely help, but I have played several low end DBs with my crappy technique and found I like them more. Perhaps the Ergo just isn't right for me? I'm going to try shifting the bridge around and see if that helps, as per an email from Jesse.

FLHippy · #**722** 10-24-2008, 11:08 AM

C johnson: Try this... take a wide shoelace and tie it around the whole bass just below the bridge. It will cause a little bit more pressure to be added onto the pickups. See if you get the sound your after then.

When my bass was new I did this for a while but after some time it wasn't nessecary any longer.

damonsmith · #**723** 10-25-2008, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by conical johnson

I have Corellis on mine as well. I have a 15-band graphic that I'm using, and as I said, the issues are not as much about equalization but compression, which will obviously not be fixed by an EQ or by playing harder (seriously, I couldn't be playing any harder than I am now).

Technique will definitely help, but I have played several low end DBs with my crappy technique and found I like them more. Perhaps the Ergo just isn't right for me? I'm going to try shifting the bridge around and see if that helps, as per an email from Jesse.

An Ergo is not the same as a double bass, but if you do have double bass technique you will get a much better sound out of it. The first difference is most tone problems with double bass are solved by technique and not gear.

Taylor Livingston · #**724** 10-30-2008, 12:12 PM

I built a little piezo buffer, and that helped a little with the equalization. I also fiddled with the bridge quite a bit, and tried the string around the bass thing. These things seemed to work a little bit, but getting the bridge in a spot where all the strings sound good was tough. I also tried various bits of foam and cloth jammed under the strings as a mute, but it sounded very fake.

Then I tuned the bass up 3 semitones and it made a world of difference with the envelope. The Corelli "mediums" seem to be a bit on the light side, so tuning them up to G has really given them an attack similar to a real DB.

I see what people mean about the "edge" these strings have on their attack, and maybe in the future I should try some more "traditional" sounding strings. For anybody watching this thread who's thinking about getting an Ergo, I would suggest trying to find some heavier strings if you don't want to have to lose a few low notes. I went with the Corellis because they were the cheapest 1/2 size strings Bob Gollihur carries, but there also some Pirastros that are supposed to sound more like gut (and are pricier) in 1/2, or you could use standard size strings and modify them.

I was a little afraid to tune up, out of fear of damaging the tuners or strings (or the bass even) but it seems to be fine. This is definitely the biggest improvement so far, and also the easiest. It's nice when it works out that way.

Taylor Livingston · #**725** 10-30-2008, 03:19 PM

So, a quick question: is the bridge radius on the Ergos similar to a DB? I had heard mention that the radius seemed shallow and therefore hard to bow, but not sure how true that is. I need to get a teacher for arco anyway, but I'm just wondering if I should get the bridge made more curved to make arco easier or...?

damonsmith · #**726** 10-30-2008, 04:09 PM

The radius is fine. It is more how you play it than the strings you put on it. I use Spriocores with no modification and they are fine.

Taylor Livingston · #**727** 10-30-2008, 06:17 PM

Sure, but you were already able to play arco before you had your Ergo, right? I'm just curious if I could make it a little easier for myself while I'm learning. Is there any reason why a tighter radius would be bad?

damonsmith · #**728** 10-31-2008, 12:50 AM

It should be fine - the first Ergo I ever saw was when a guy brought one over for lessons. It was fine teaching him arco. The party line is legit bass lessons are mostly arco - the ones I teach certainly are.

wigglee · #**729** 11-07-2008, 05:16 PM

i have an ergo 6 and i'm bothered by a weaker level from the E and B strings........does anyone have a theory on a solution? I could fiddle with the dreaded pup position (again!) or just raise the action for those strings. I have Spirocores and an EA head with 1 meg input impedance, but no buffer circuit or separate pre. I try playing harder and cranking the low end but it just ain't cutting .

Taylor Livingston · #**730** 11-08-2008, 12:09 AM

Definitely try shifting the bridge around. Jesse's usually watching this thread, so he may have already sent you an email about it, but you can play with the tilt of the bridge as well as the forward/back position. It's finicky, and moreso with more strings I'd imagine, but you should be able to find a spot that works best.

damonsmith · #**731** 11-09-2008, 10:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wigglee

i have an ergo 6 and i'm bothered by a weaker level from the E and B strings........does anyone have a theory on a solution? I could fiddle with the dreaded pup position (again!) or just raise the action for those strings. I have Spirocores and an EA head with 1 meg input impedance, but no buffer circuit or separate pre. I try playing harder and cranking the low end but it just ain't cutting .

I pried the pick ups loose so they sit in the right place, mine has sounded great for a year or so.

kissmybASS01 · #**732** 11-27-2008, 05:18 PM

I think I'm having a GAS attack again

I deciding on either a new tube head or an affordable EUB. I've been poking around and looking at both Palatinos and now an Ergo 4 string.
I've been seeing lots of comments about how some of these affordable EUBs don't compare to an "actual" upright regarding sound, playability, etc. That is fine with me. I live in the central Canadian prairies of Manitoba where our temperatures fluctuate from -40C to +40C, with bone dry winters and sopping wet humid summers. Not such a good climate for a real upright (even though there are several in our city, and I'm sure their owners take good care of them)

I would like to how good are these Ergos "right out of the box," and are there any special equipment required - such as an outboard pre-amp or something in order to perform with them live. I'm primarily an EBG player, but have played actual DBs in both a orchestral and jazz setting, and have played one of those KYDD EUBs in the past.

The price seems doable, and it looks pretty cool. Is this bass really worth looking into? As well, I would be buying one sight unseen, and unplayed.

BTW, my rig is definitely not set-up for upright basses. Marshall MB450h head, Marshall 410 cab, and Genz Benz 212 cab. Bull in a china shop, eh?

Showdown · #**733** 11-27-2008, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kissmybASS01

I would like to how good are these Ergos "right out of the box," and are there any special equipment required - such as an outboard pre-amp or something in order to perform with them live.

You will need an outboard preamp. And the strings that come on them aren't very good, so you would want to put on some better ones.

kissmybASS01 · #**734** 11-27-2008, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Showdown

You will need an outboard preamp. And the strings that come on them aren't very good, so you would want to put on some better ones.

I have a POD XT Live so can I use that, or do I need an actual preamp.

Taylor Livingston · #**735** 11-27-2008, 10:10 PM

A preamp made specifically for piezo pickups will sound better than plugging directly into a bass amp, but you can build or buy a little piezo buffer circuit (I made one of these for about $15) that will do the impedance matching you need.

I would say the main thing to change out of the box is the strings. $100 is about the least you can spend on a new set of DB strings, so factor that into the price.

Here's how I feel about these: they are definitely somewhere in between BG and DB. I think I put a little too much faith in people who said they could sound nearly like a real DB - now that I have one I realize it is impossible to make a solid body instrument sound like an acoustic instrument. As long as you keep this is mind, and listen to all the samples of Ergos you can find, they are cool instruments.

Showdown · #**736** 11-27-2008, 11:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kissmybASS01

I have a POD XT Live so can I use that, or do I need an actual preamp.

You need a preamp with an input impedance of at least 1M ohm to work with piezo pickups. I don't know if the POD XT has that. The Boss GT-6B does, so it is possible the POD does. Check the manual.

kissmybASS01 · #**737** 11-28-2008, 06:06 AM

Thanks for the input, conical! It's too bad Ergo doesn't offer an onboard pre-amp as a "factory option" like air conditioning or cruise control

The only sound example I found which demo'd the sounds I was looking for were on the Ergo site. There were a couple on Youtube: one with this dude with lots of tattoos bowing a 6-7 string Ergo and going thru some kinda sequencer. Sure it sounded cool, but I'm interested in hearing the clean unprocessed sound. The other vid was a 4 string ergo, but played by this dude who "just brought it home today" and happens to be a guitar player playing bass. Again, not so much.

PS If you're that tattooed guy or the guitar guy, my apologies!

damonsmith · #**738** 11-28-2008, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kissmybASS01

Thanks for the input, conical! It's too bad Ergo doesn't offer an onboard pre-amp as a "factory option" like air conditioning or cruise control

The only sound example I found which demo'd the sounds I was looking for were on the Ergo site. There were a couple on Youtube: one with this dude with lots of tattoos bowing a 6-7 string Ergo and going thru some kinda sequencer. Sure it sounded cool, but I'm interested in hearing the clean unprocessed sound. The other vid was a 4 string ergo, but played by this dude who "just brought it home today" and happens to be a guitar player playing bass. Again, not so much.

PS If you're that tattooed guy or the guitar guy, my apologies!

The Ergo based on upright bass, which means the tone production is mostly in your hands and not in store bought boxes. You need upright bass lessons and you need to play it like an upright bass or you will just hear whiny piezo pick ups.
However, getting an amp that handles piezos well like a little GK is a good idea.
There is a video on youtube of me:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7UAIWlQxQI
Just made on digital camera so there is some distortion. Ergos seem to mellow as they age, mine is a year older now and has much warmer sound than that.

Taylor Livingston · #**739** 11-28-2008, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kissmybASS01

Thanks for the input, conical! It's too bad Ergo doesn't offer an onboard pre-amp as a "factory option" like air conditioning or cruise control

The only sound example I found which demo'd the sounds I was looking for were on the Ergo site. There were a couple on Youtube: one with this dude with lots of tattoos bowing a 6-7 string Ergo and going thru some kinda sequencer. Sure it sounded cool, but I'm interested in hearing the clean unprocessed sound. The other vid was a 4 string ergo, but played by this dude who "just brought it home today" and happens to be a guitar player playing bass. Again, not so much.

PS If you're that tattooed guy or the guitar guy, my apologies!

Here are some good samples of an Ergo from earlier in this thread (I don't really blame you for not going through the whole thing, as it is very long at this point, but there is plenty of good information if you have the time). I don't know why Jesse doesn't put these samples up on his website. I have to say that I have yet to get a sound quite this good from my own Ergo. Part of the problem is amplification: I am using a tube amp with a 15" speaker (though it is a full-range speaker, an EVM 15L) for my bass guitar, but it's pretty much the antithesis of the kind of amp and cab people generally use for DB/EUB, and I can't afford 2 rigs.

I have been pondering a string change lately, thinking Obligatos or Belcantos. The Corellis definitely are too low tension and too bright; they pull the sound too far toward fretless BG for my taste.

kissmybASS01 · #**740** 11-28-2008, 03:07 PM

Thanks again conical. The only trouble with these "mega threads" is to the visitor who need to wade thru posts upon posts of purely technical stuff. Gems like those awesome sound clips get buried and all the eye can see are posts about string selection, cases, and sound balance between certain strings. Don't get me wrong, this I'm positive, is very useful to "those in the know," but to the observer

<--me it gets a little over-whelming at times.

It's too bad our CDN/US exchange rate is all messed up. This time last year, our buck was worth more than the US green back. This is a big factor for me right now.