Ergo Megathread part I

[bassmutant]

I have just recieved mine today, a eub 5, it is fantastic. The friends I had around tonight couldn't believe how something so small could sound so much like an Upright. I had been playing with a cheap 3/4 chinese bass this weekend off and on with some friends, and the ergo blew it out of the water for sound, for about 500 dollars less, according to the friend who owned the double bass. I don't think it sounds anything like a standard fretless, and I've got a fretless bass and play it regularly. One thing I truly appreciate is the 3/4 scale length. The low b on this definitely doesn't sound floppy or distorted whatsoever, and this is one five string I won't be converting over to my standard High-C setup, eadgc. Anyways, I'll get some recording done with my friends soon and will post on the link below. Sorry to semi-hijack, but I was going to make a new thread when I saw yours freshly posted. These ergo's are worth every penny imho. I would like to play some higher end URB's for comparison, which I'm sure isn't much, but for the price, this bass is hot.

[Eggman]

Originally Posted by bassmutant

...for the price, this bass is hot.

+1

I leave mine set up and play it every time I walk past it. No worries about the hijack - we can use this thread as an Ergo feedback thread. I would like to try a 5 string. Guess I will add on in the future!!

[Justice]

Hey, welcome to the Ergo Owners Club! Heh, don't know why I'm saying that since I'm a total URB noob!

BUT! I currently own Ergo number 0005! Which is a solid purpleheart 5 string that had been converted to EADGC. I'm currently converting it back to BEADG and stringing it with a set of LaBella Supernils. I'm going to have to modify the tuners just a bit to fit the supernils but that should be easy, and after a few tests tonight, it looks like I will be able to successfully bump a Supernil E over to B. I chose the Supernils because I wanted a very low tension string and these look like they will work just fine!

What kind of strings did Jesse put or your Ergos? I would like to know for future reference.

Also, could one of you post a pic of the mounting system where the stand attaches to the bass? I want to see what it looks like because Jesse has offered to upgrade mine to that since mine is done a little different and i'm having problems with it.

Thanks, congrats on your new EUBs!

[Bass_me]

Hi Ergo owners.
I just got a Ergo 5 string yesterday but I am not as happy as you. The finish is really great, it is so beautiful but......

The bridge is so low that the C string literally is flying over it. Further more this string is also frayed! The bridge being so low doesn´t offer the best opportunitie for the vibrations to reach the amp and the sound to be great so the bass doesn´t have any resonans at all. My frettless sounds much closer to a DB.
Jesse will send me a new bridge and a new sting, I hope that this will make me glad.

Have any of you changed the strings? I think they are rather cheap once and a new and better set would make it sound way better.

And Justice: Does your Ergo sound good without your Behringer BDI21? (I know that we have been talking about this before - sorry). I can see that there is to models of that Behringer BDI21, one of them named "Acoustic" and the other one named "bass", which one would you recommend?

[Eggman]

Originally Posted by Bass_me

Hi Ergo owners.
I just got a Ergo 5 string yesterday but I am not as happy as you. The finish is really great, it is so beautiful but......

The bridge is so low that the C string literally is flying over it. Further more this string is also frayed! The bridge being so low doesn´t offer the best opportunitie for the vibrations to reach the amp and the sound to be great so the bass doesn´t have any resonans at all. My frettless sounds much closer to a DB.
Jesse will send me a new bridge and a new sting, I hope that this will make me glad.

Have any of you changed the strings? I think they are rather cheap once and a new and better set would make it sound way better.

And Justice: Does your Ergo sound good without your Behringer BDI21? (I know that we have been talking about this before - sorry). I can see that there is to models of that Behringer BDI21, one of them named "Acoustic" and the other one named "bass", which one would you recommend?

That is surprising - you would think Jesse would have seen all that before shipping. My experience with the Ergo is obviously short - but has been very positive. I have not changed strings. I do know that Jesse buys his strings in bulk, non-name brand from China - so probably of lower quality. My strings are fine for now. Jesse and I had a couple of conversations about action and string height. My bridge is set up well - string height is fairly DB-like. I play mine through my Bose PAS (CR) system and it sounds great - no pre-amp or effects. My band mates dig its sound and have requested it be played on some songs previously tagged for BG.

Good luck - I hope Jesse makes this right for you.

[Justice]

Originally Posted by Bass_me

And Justice: Does your Ergo sound good without your Behringer BDI21? (I know that we have been talking about this before - sorry). I can see that there is to models of that Behringer BDI21, one of them named "Acoustic" and the other one named "bass", which one would you recommend?

I'm in the process of restringing mine right now (waiting for one more string, had to send one back for an exchange) but remember, mine is only the 5th Ergo that Jesse made, he may have made improvements to the tone circuit. That said, when i tested it with the strings that came on it (not the original strings) I was just playing through headphones plugged into my mixer. I got what (IMO) was a good sound going direct into the mixer, but when I used the Behringer BDI21 as a sort of "preamp" into the mixer, I got what I thought was a nicer, fuller sound.

I just recieved the Behrigner ADI21 (acoustic DI box) this week and have not had a chance to try it out yet. When I get my string situation sorted out, I'll try it and let you know.

Eggman, are you using a sub with your Bose PAS? I have some friends that use them and I could see how it would work well for an EUB.

Once I get a few hours on mine I hope to replace my electric bass with the Ergo one some songs during our shows as well.

[Eggman]

Originally Posted by Justice

Eggman, are you using a sub with your Bose PAS? I have some friends that use them and I could see how it would work well for an EUB.

Justice - I use 2 subs as Bose suggests for bass.

[Bass_me]

Yes, I must say that it was a little disappointing to play it the day I got it. My expectations was high but the bass just didn´t sing and had no warm and DB-like sound at all. I really hope that a new bridge will do it. By the way - what is your string height at the bridge? And how much does the string press on the bridge, I mean can you easily pull them away from the bridge?

This being said I must state that the bass is absolutely beautiful and the finish is in top! And Jesse has through out the process been great to correspond with.

Does anyone have some sound samples with their Ergos?

What about to tone control on the back of the bass? I do not think that it change the sound much?

[Bass_me]

Hi Ergo owners.....

Would some of you reveal your string height (e.g. at the second octave)?

[Showdown]

Originally Posted by Bass_me

Yes, I must say that it was a little disappointing to play it the day I got it. My expectations was high but the bass just didn´t sing and had no warm and DB-like sound at all. I really hope that a new bridge will do it. By the way - what is your string height at the bridge? And how much does the string press on the bridge, I mean can you easily pull them away from the bridge?

Did you get the new bridge yet? How did it work out for you?

I bought a 4 string Ergo last year. When I bought it I had never played URB at all, so Jesse said he would set it up with low action to make the transition easier. After a year of playing it I'm ready to increase the action so I was thinking about asking Jesse if he would sell me a new bridge.

[speedster]

I have the 4 string Ergo and run the same Thomastic Sprial Core (reds) on the Ergo as I do on my 3/4 German Upright.

Good sound, good tone and the feel is almost identical to my acoustic with these strings.

Lots of people who hear the Ergo and play it like it and I've personally recommended the bass to quite a few folks as it is really a good bargain at the low price.

Run mine through a Gallien Krueger MB150 combo and it delivers close to acoustic (plugged in acoustic) sound.

I run an underwood pickup on the acoustic, intonation is great on the Ergo, only problem I've had in almost the year I've used it is the solder holding the wires on the pickups under the bridge have broken free and I've had to resolder them.

Just wish there was a hard shell case available for its 55" length.

[speedster]

I've got a 4 string Ergo that I bought off Jesse last fall, for the money I can't say enough good things about it.

Does it sound as good as my 3/4 German Bass plugged into my amp. No it doesn't but it does sound pretty damn good and has excellent tone as close to any EUB I've heard in the top line big money bass's.

Playability is excellent and the setup it came with is excellent, I installed Thomastic Sprial Core (reds) on the bass immediately upon receiving it. Feel is virtually the same as the Acoustic German upright.

I bought it because I've been lugging around the 3/4 bass for 10 -12 yrs now to gigs and jams and needed to have a van or SUV to tote it around. I always ended up driving the band as we needed the vehicle to transport the bass.

Further to that I developed some tearing and pulling of muscles in my left hand and carpal tunnel in the left wrist and extended playing of the acoustic caused considerable pain during rehearsals and jamming.

The Ergo has solved all those problems and my hands and fingers didn't cramp during this summers touring and playing schedule at all.

The EUB is easier to play physically and sounds great overall, does it meet the standard of the Acoustic on stage ? No but it certainly does the job. Stays in tune better and is a hell of alot easier to transport around.

Plug into a GKMB 150 combo amp with both acoustic and Ergo and don't have to juggle any settings other than volume on the amp all the eq's remain the same.

Used an Ampeg Baby bass with this amp and liked the sound (similar but not as good as the Ergo) but couldn't keep the damn thing in tune at outside festival gigs and it was a lot bulkier.

Overall I love the Ergo for the money, would I have a high end EUB ...............yep if I could afford to layout $4000 - 5000 you bet.

I just don't hear that much difference in the bass's to justify saving up to do so, win the lottery and then I'll consider it.

[Eggman]

Originally Posted by speedster

Just wish there was a hard shell case available for its 55" length.

I use an expandable fishing rod carrier. I think these might work too: www.sportube.com

Eggman

[speedster]

That case looks as though it might just work out well, have you got one and if so how do you like it.

I'm in Ontario Canada so likely I'll have to import it....

Currently using a snowboard case but it is big and bulky, Jesse didn't have any of the long bow cases when I bought my Ergo so I compromised.

Cold damn winters up here and I wanted to protect the bass.

Always afraid of damage with the soft case though, that's actually how the wires came loose on the pickup this time I believe as the bridge got bumped around.

Heading for Nashville in October so I want a case that will protect the bass for the 15 - 20hr drive with a car crammed full of instruments, equipment and clothes.

I'll be doing some research on the tube to see if I can purchase it locally if you are having good luck with yours let me know.

Email address at home here is skspeedie@bmts.com

Thanks man

[Eggman]

Originally Posted by speedster

That case looks as though it might just work out well, have you got one and if so how do you like it.

I'm in Ontario Canada so likely I'll have to import it....

Currently using a snowboard case but it is big and bulky, Jesse didn't have any of the long bow cases when I bought my Ergo so I compromised.

Cold damn winters up here and I wanted to protect the bass.

Always afraid of damage with the soft case though, that's actually how the wires came loose on the pickup this time I believe as the bridge got bumped around.

Heading for Nashville in October so I want a case that will protect the bass for the 15 - 20hr drive with a car crammed full of instruments, equipment and clothes.

I'll be doing some research on the tube to see if I can purchase it locally if you are having good luck with yours let me know.

Email address at home here is skspeedie@bmts.com

Thanks man

I had a fishing pole case and it worked well. I don't travel much with my equipment so I am currently using the long bow case (www.thebowman.com). I like the looks like the single pair ski case would work well.

[Bass_me]

Originally Posted by Showdown

Did you get the new bridge yet? How did it work out for you?

I bought a 4 string Ergo last year. When I bought it I had never played URB at all, so Jesse said he would set it up with low action to make the transition easier. After a year of playing it I'm ready to increase the action so I was thinking about asking Jesse if he would sell me a new bridge.

Hi
Haven´t got the new bridge yet. In the moment I have placed som matches under the bridge, making it high enough to actually play on the bass. But still the C and D strings are not high enough.
That is why I was wondering how high you other Ergo-guys strings are? I do not hope that it is something with the construction of the bass that is costing me problems.... ...please

[speedster]

I was reading your post regarding thin sound and not warm and thick like a regular upright db.

Not sure if you are aware or not of the problems with peizo pickups having a very high output frequency.

Quite a few amp's do not match well to this high frequency and therefore the sound is quite thin and tin sounding which is not due to the bass or string set up but directly related to the matching problem of the high frequency.

Running a pre-amp such as fishmans B model (cheap but works) will convert that frequency on the output side prior to going to your amp.

Some amps handle the high frequency's with no problem such as the one I run which is a Gallien Krueger MB 150 and I know there are several others on the market as well.

Same thing happens if you line direct to the board, you end up with a thin tinny sound. Directly related to the peizo frequency.

The GK has a built in pre-amp with various eq settings along with filters for contour etc that can be tweaked to roll of the highs etc etc and what ever you set them at for the sound you want is what gets sent to the board on the line out off that back of the amp. The sound guy can then set his board flat and the house is hearing basically what you are hearing. No thin sound just big punchy bottom end bass.

I have the cheaper S version of the GK 150 and therefore the line out is a 1/4 inch jack which is a bit of a pain, I've found that running it to a Di box colours the sound and until recently I had patch cords from 1/4 to XLR so I could go direct to the board. Recently I ran into a 1/4" to XLR adapter with no cord therefore no problems with wire breakage due to high use.

For a couple hundred more dollars the GK - 150 E model is available which has two XLR outputs, one is prior to the pre-amp and one is post pre-amp, this is a nicer amp but I couldn't get one at the time I needed it.

Anyway I would suggest you try a couple amp's or buy yourself a Fishman B pre-amp (cheap at around $40 - 60 US) and you'll likely be pleasantly surprized.

I know if I plug into any Peavy equipment with any instrument with Peizo pickups the sound is aweful unless I run the pre-amp, similar results with Fender amps however the old Traynor tube amps are pretty good as are the new Yorkville.

Good luck and if you really want that Ergo to come alive buy yourself a GK MB 150 of either series ..... you won't be disappointed and as an added bonus if your ever recording the amp has 0 noise ratio on the recording console which always makes the engineer happy as he isn't filtering out various frequency's....

[Francois Blais]

Originally Posted by speedster

Not sure if you are aware or not of the problems with peizo pickups having a very high output frequency.
[snip]

I suppose you meant very high impedance?
It's true that piezo pickups need an input with a very impedance to avoid loading and the thin sound you described.

[godoze]

Originally Posted by Justice

Hey, welcome to the Ergo Owners Club! Heh, don't know why I'm saying that since I'm a total URB noob!

BUT! I currently own Ergo number 0005! Which is a solid purpleheart 5 string that had been converted to EADGC. I'm currently converting it back to BEADG and stringing it with a set of LaBella Supernils. I'm going to have to modify the tuners just a bit to fit the supernils but that should be easy, and after a few tests tonight, it looks like I will be able to successfully bump a Supernil E over to B. I chose the Supernils because I wanted a very low tension string and these look like they will work just fine!

What kind of strings did Jesse put or your Ergos? I would like to know for future reference.

Also, could one of you post a pic of the mounting system where the stand attaches to the bass? I want to see what it looks like because Jesse has offered to upgrade mine to that since mine is done a little different and i'm having problems with it.

Thanks, congrats on your new EUBs!

DId you get this from THor ? IF so i am the original owner of that beast..

My 2p. I am a double bassist and was looking for the whole portabiity thing I have owned 2 Ergo's and was severely unsatisfied with both.

The tone was soo nasily and thin that it had no bottomewhat soever. However, Jesse told me b4 i bought that you absolutely had to run these things through a preamp. That helped but to my DB ears they just didn't cut it.

[Justice]

Originally Posted by DZ

DId you get this from THor ? IF so i am the original owner of that beast..

My 2p. I am a double bassist and was looking for the whole portabiity thing I have owned 2 Ergo's and was severely unsatisfied with both.

The tone was soo nasily and thin that it had no bottomewhat soever. However, Jesse told me b4 i bought that you absolutely had to run these things through a preamp. That helped but to my DB ears they just didn't cut it.

Hi DZ, I got the 0005 from Joe Turski, who got it from Thor. So now I have e-met all of the previous owners of 0005!

I'm still in the process of changing out the strings on it and converting it back to BEADG, problem has occured that Quinn's is out of Supernils (aparently I got the last set they had in stock) and I need an extra E so they are trying to track one down for me.

As for the preamp, I have noted the same thing. When I plug the Ergo direct into my mixer, the sound is very thin. But when i used my Behringer BDI21 Pre/DI box, it fattened it up nicely. I also picked up Behringers ADI21 Acoustic Pre/DI box but have not had a chance to try it with the Ergo.

It should work out fine for me since I'm not really after the acoustic UB sound, but the visual style of the EUB.