Ergo Megathread part I

[Basshappi]

Very nice, congrats!
I've been lurking at his site for years...............one of these days!

[scojack]

Nice one... cracking looking bass!
Id love to hear EUB in your context, looking forward to your soundclips.

[DoubleGStrap]

Thanks Guys, I really can't get enough of this thing.
To Basshappi: If you ever decide to stop lurking and buy something from Jesse/Ergo, I don't think you'll be disappointed. Especially for the price, I really don't think you can go wrong.
It's going to take some time to be able to play any of my band's tunes on an upright, but I'm doing my best and will post something as soon as I'm able...

[Barry Clark]

Originally Posted by DoubleGStrap

Hello All,
Last Wednesday I received my new Ergo 6-string, tuned F#-B-E-A-D-G:

I am totally new to double bass so I don't have much to compare it too, but as far as I can tell, this is an amazing instrument! Pictures don't do it justice, as I was very pleasantly surprised when I took it out of the box. Don't know how else to say it, but it looked much cleaner than I had anticipated.

I am in a Heavy Metal band and wanted the Ergo primarily to learn and play arco for something totally different, and I am not disappointed! Even played without an amp, arco notes are clearly heard and well defined. I cannot stop playing this EUB, even if I'm just practicing playing open strings F# up to G and back again, I just can't get enough. It has really inspired me to up my game and I've been practicing every spare moment since receiving it so that I can try and do it justice.

I primarily play 5-string electric bass but have always been enamored with the double bass. Seeing as I can't really afford a traditional upright, and also due to the style of music I'm playing, I feel like I got exactly the instrument and sound I was looking for. Not only that, but Jesse Blue (builder) was a pleasure to deal with and was always available to answer any questions I had.

I was finally able to bring it to the practice space last night and plug it into my Carvin rig (BX1200, 4x10, 1x18), which I've been waiting to do since the day it arrived. Played pizz sounded great, kinda like a cross between a fretless and an acoustic double bass, but I believe that to be because of the technique I'm using as I'm not digging in really hard with my picking hand and basically playing it the same as i would my electric. But played arco, it is absolutely gut-wrenching and can move some serious air. The two guitarists in my band both play seven strings with a low B, and I thought it would be nice to be able to play a few notes below them to keep things interesting, thus the 6-string with low F# tuning.
I know it may take a while, but once I get my chops up to par, I will try and get a decent recording of me playing arco with the band so you can get an idea of the sound.
Something about the Ergo just clicks with me and I feel like I've found a long lost friend that I never knew I had. It is beautiful in it's simplicity of design and also it's sound. Even my wife (a complete non-musician) remarked on how sexy it looks.

Anyways, sorry for the long post, just very excited/proud to finally be an owner of an EUB. If anybody has any questions about the bass, just let me know.

Very cool! Jesse told me about you the other day. I have an 8 coming and, funny enough, I have been using the EUB in more metal-ish type music. You will SOOOOO happy when you hear the room gain an extra 10 square feet every time you play in unison with a palm muted guitar.

I got an 8 string coming and I just can't wait!

Post clips as soon as you got them!

My latest thing has been playing the bass line to Death's Lack of Comprehension from the album called Human.

[Barry Clark]

Originally Posted by DoubleGStrap

Thanks Guys, I really can't get enough of this thing.
To Basshappi: If you ever decide to stop lurking and buy something from Jesse/Ergo, I don't think you'll be disappointed. Especially for the price, I really don't think you can go wrong.
It's going to take some time to be able to play any of my band's tunes on an upright, but I'm doing my best and will post something as soon as I'm able...

Absolutely! I have played everything from fretted 7 strings to fretless 9's and I gave them all up after a few months of the 4 string EUB I have.

Don't worry DoubleG, it won't take as long as you think.

[DoubleGStrap]

Barry, I just had to go and listen to Lack of Comprehension after you mentioned that. Humbling, to say the least. Are you playing that arco? Must sound INSANE!!! I have practice with the band tomorrow night and CAN'T WAIT!!! There is such a big difference playing through my Carvin rig at the practice space as opposed to the SWR Workingman's 10 that I have at home, turns into an entirely different instrument. Trying to play a low F# or B through a single 10" speaker might have something to do with that...

When I get good enough on the Ergo, I would like to eventually make it my only/primary bass, I'm enjoying it that much right now. I used to think my BC Rich Black Widow 5 was a beast, now it feels like a toy in comparison.

Also, thanks all for the kind words and support

and also too \m/ \m/

[Barry Clark]

Originally Posted by DoubleGStrap

Barry, I just had to go and listen to Lack of Comprehension after you mentioned that. Humbling, to say the least. Are you playing that arco? Must sound INSANE!!! I have practice with the band tomorrow night and CAN'T WAIT!!! There is such a big difference playing through my Carvin rig at the practice space as opposed to the SWR Workingman's 10 that I have at home, turns into an entirely different instrument. Trying to play a low F# or B through a single 10" speaker might have something to do with that...

When I get good enough on the Ergo, I would like to eventually make it my only/primary bass, I'm enjoying it that much right now. I used to think my BC Rich Black Widow 5 was a beast, now it feels like a toy in comparison.

Also, thanks all for the kind words and support

and also too \m/ \m/

Nope, playing it pizz. Getting those quick little notes took some time to work up to. The way I have to play it to keep pace is to play it almost like a bass guitar. Finger attack is perpendicular to the strings and incorporate the ring finger to more easily keep pace. After a couple months of my right forearm catching fire, I was able to play the meat of the song for reasonable amounts of time. The great thing about the upright and, indeed, the Ergo for me is that the sustain isnt as strong as a bass guitar. The note decays fairly quick in comparison. That allows me to really accent faster beats with playing in step. Just gotta mind the mud. That's all.

[DoubleGStrap]

Phew, that makes more sense. If you can ever get to the point where you can play that arco, you'll have to record it and post something.
I agree with you 100% on the playing style for the fast stuff. I play my Ergo just like my electric bass when woodshedding my band's Metal tunes. For me it's the only way to get up to an acceptable playing speed. I also have my electric bass in a much more vertical playing position so switching to the Ergo on the stand was a breeze as far as that's concerned.
Barry, how do you tune your Ergo? I'm assuming E-A-D-G but you never know. Also, when you get your 8-string, is it going to be coursed or how is that one going to be tuned? I find myself rarely using my G string (giggitty ) on any of my basses, and have always had the yearning to go lower instead of higher, that's why I opted for the low F#. I also enjoy playing notes a string lower but higher up on the neck (for example playing an E at the 5th fret of the B string as opposed to an open E). It gives the note a totally different timbre and makes it sound phatter. I've even noticed that I'll play the same note two different ways during the same bass line, just to get a little different vibe in different sections. Maybe I'm just a fan of the mud...

[Barry Clark]

Originally Posted by DoubleGStrap

Phew, that makes more sense. If you can ever get to the point where you can play that arco, you'll have to record it and post something.
I agree with you 100% on the playing style for the fast stuff. I play my Ergo just like my electric bass when woodshedding my band's Metal tunes. For me it's the only way to get up to an acceptable playing speed. I also have my electric bass in a much more vertical playing position so switching to the Ergo on the stand was a breeze as far as that's concerned.
Barry, how do you tune your Ergo? I'm assuming E-A-D-G but you never know. Also, when you get your 8-string, is it going to be coursed or how is that one going to be tuned? I find myself rarely using my G string (giggitty ) on any of my basses, and have always had the yearning to go lower instead of higher, that's why I opted for the low F#. I also enjoy playing notes a string lower but higher up on the neck (for example playing an E at the 5th fret of the B string as opposed to an open E). It gives the note a totally different timbre and makes it sound phatter. I've even noticed that I'll play the same note two different ways during the same bass line, just to get a little different vibe in different sections. Maybe I'm just a fan of the mud...

My four string I tuned to E-A-D-G. The 8 string will just F#-F uncorsed. I played Jesse's last year and loved it. The corsed ones are fun too! I mentioned this in another thread, but my use for the extended range basses isn't so much for the lower notes but so I don't have to change hand positions as much for the lower notes.

[foderaman77]

Originally Posted by Barry Clark

Very cool! Jesse told me about you the other day. I have an 8 coming and, funny enough, I have been using the EUB in more metal-ish type music. You will SOOOOO happy when you hear the room gain an extra 10 square feet every time you play in unison with a palm muted guitar.

I got an 8 string coming and I just can't wait!

Post clips as soon as you got them!

My latest thing has been playing the bass line to Death's Lack of Comprehension from the album called Human.

The 8string ergo is a nice EUB. I got one of the first ones. A pic of my 8stringer is on Jesse's site.

[Barry Clark]

Originally Posted by foderaman77

The 8string ergo is a nice EUB. I got one of the first ones. A pic of my 8stringer is on Jesse's site.

Very cool! I am definitely pumped about it.

Now I just gotta find folks to play with! Haha.

[foderaman77]

Originally Posted by Barry Clark

Very cool! I am definitely pumped about it.

Now I just gotta find folks to play with! Haha.

I dig.

[diamond_geezer]

I have an ergo 5 string eub and it is very fun. The b-string helps with jazz while remaining in the upright form I'm comfortable with.

[Barry Clark]

She is almost there!



Going to be gettin' 'er finish soon!

[DoubleGStrap]

SWEET!!! You must be very excited. It's funny, when Jesse was making my 6'er I had no problem with him taking all the time he needed to finish it, but once it was in the mail, waiting for UPS to deliver it was torture!

[Barry Clark]

Originally Posted by DoubleGStrap

SWEET!!! You must be very excited. It's funny, when Jesse was making my 6'er I had no problem with him taking all the time he needed to finish it, but once it was in the mail, waiting for UPS to deliver it was torture!

Well, I got my 4-string and I love playing that one so the wait isn't bad at all.

[foderaman77]

Originally Posted by Barry Clark

She is almost there!



Going to be gettin' 'er finish soon!

How many strings is this Ergo?

[Barry Clark]

Originally Posted by foderaman77

How many strings is this Ergo?

8

[foderaman77]

Originally Posted by Barry Clark

8

Welcome to the 8str Ergo club. My 8 is on Jesse's main web page. Is it tuned - F#-B-E-A-D-G-C-F?

[Francois Blais]

1000 posts reached.
Ergo megathread continues here: Ergo megathread part II