EUB in Australia

phippsyg · #1 11-15-2007, 07:06 PM

Am looking to buy an EUB here in Australia. Am wondering if people could let me know what is available here. I really like the look of the Azola basses but think it could be a bit pricey getting one here. Also like the idea of the alter-ego. Like many people I am looking for something that sounds as close as possible to an upright and feels like an upright which can be played arco.
Thanks!

ToneRanger · #2 11-15-2007, 09:50 PM

Check out http://www.billpaulineubs.com/
Beautifully made from the best Australian tonewoods. Not sure about current pricing, but I'm pretty sure they're still well under $2K
I have Bill's original prototype ( www.fittell.id.au/eub ) which I'm VERY happy with; his design has been refined quite a lot since he built mine. He's since had a custom preamp designed by BJ Amplifiers ( http://www.bjamplifiers.com.au/ ) which really brings the basses alive.
Mine works equally well for pizz and arco (or it would if I could play arco properly).
Bill is a great guy to deal with and is happy to take on board your design ideas.

Other EUB's available in Australia:
The Bass Centre sells the NS Wav for $1999 - (I haven't had a chance to try one yet but they seem good value) and the 'Riley', which is sold elsewhere as the Palatino, for $1299. I tried one and decided to give it a miss (OK basic construction, but pickup, preamp, strings, tailpiece & bridge all needed to be modified or replaced IMO)

I've also tried the Guscott ( http://www.guscott.com.au/gus_eub.html ) but it was way out of my price range and sounded very muddy.

mikjans · #3 11-16-2007, 02:04 AM

It seems there are quite a few EUB builders in "Oz", beside the two mentioned.

These make semi-acoustic models:

Ross Anderson http://home.iprimus.com.au/rossjazz/Double_Bass.htm

Arts Music (Paul Davies) http://artsmusic.com.au

Epoch (carbon fibre) http://www.epochstrings.com.au

Ian Noyce http://www.noyceguitars.com

Dan Robinson, Anakie, Victoria (website is down), <danrobinson@optusnet.com.au>

Neville Whitehead http://www.nevillewhitehead.com

These make solidbody EUBs:

Adrian Ross (electric violin maker mostly, company called Arcane Instruments) <musician@iinet.net.au>

Rad Brashaw, Beaconsfield Lutherie ph +61-8 93361168

Tom Flew (may have stopped making EUBs) <tomflew@hotmail.com>

Mathew Ingram, Melbourne (no contact info)

Kent Guitars (may have gone out of business)

Mario Scida, Auburn Strings, Hawthorn, Vic. http://www.auburnstrings.com.au

Mark Seres http://www.markseres.com

Philip Smith (Tasmania) <luthier@telstra.com>

Tim Kill http://www.timkillcustom.com

Tivoli Instruments http://www.tivoli-instruments.com

Andrew Harris/Bela Guitars (may have gone out of business)

Fin Mathews, Bendigo, Vic <mathewsinstruments@bigpond.com>

Happy hunting!
Mikael

phippsyg · #4 11-16-2007, 03:32 AM

Thanks! That was what I was after. Would be interested to hear about peoples experiences with any of these makers.

I had a browse of the sites and did a bit of a search.I am leaning towards the more traditional curved shape than the stick look. Purely out of look! I guess they just appeal to me more. I seem to keep going back to the look of the Azola basses (minbass) as well. Alter -ego had some basses in Sydney recently, unfortuneately they left 2 days ago!
Thanks.