EUB as an current alternative

ding_man · #1 11-15-2008, 04:32 PM

First.. I tried to search around threads, but I wasn't finding exactly what I wanted. Sorry if I missed posts that would of helped my questions.

So I'm a jazz studies major with bass at Bowling Green State University. I am just now switching from bass guitar primarily over to upright bass. I use a bass owned by the school. When I go home.. I'm not going to have a bass. This is a problem.

College is expensive as it is and my family and I can just not afford in anyway to get an upright bass of almost any playable level.

So I want to get a cheaper EUB bass that can hold me over. What upright bass at a fairly cheap (well depending on your standards) level that can be bowed and played very close to an upright (like scale and set up) and has the means to be held like a real upright (like the bars to rest on and stuff that I've seen).

The actual sound of it does not have to be amazing. I will be doing a little gigging this summer with a guitarist friend at some coffee shops in restaurants in town, but when I come back I will continue to use a school's bass, and eventually I'll buy my own upright. But, who knows.. if I like the EUB enough I might still use it for gigs.

Thanks for any suggestions of things to check out and sorry if I missed any threads about this.

Marcus Johnson · #2 11-15-2008, 04:56 PM

This is for the summer months? Christmas break? Why not just rent the real thing? Maybe you could do something with Cincy Bass Cellar, rent towards ownership or something.

I've owned EUBs, but only because I needed them for touring. None of them have been real close to a double bass, in my opinion. I've never tried the Ergo EUBs, though.. they've gotten some good press here on the affordable end of the scale.

Uncletoad · #3 11-15-2008, 06:32 PM

Sending a PM about my 40's German Plywood bass. It's up for sale as I don't need three double basses. We're pretty close by each other.

ToneRanger · #4 11-15-2008, 07:10 PM

As far as I can tell, any decent sounding EUB is more expensive than a basic double bass. One of the better players I know does most of his gigs (any that require amplification) on a beat up ex-high school plywood bass that cost him virtually nothing.
Of course he's spent a little refining the setup and the pickup, but it actually works better for loud gigs than his 100 year old carved 7/8 upright.

Bungee · #5 11-16-2008, 08:36 PM

Ding Man

I was in your EXACT situation many years ago. I attended the exact same school and had the same financial issues - I'm sure that I studied with the same teacher that you are working with right now. I purchased an EUB at the time, figuring that was a good move based on my lack of money and limited transportation opportunities.

My advice to you is to forget the EUB and make it your goal to acquire a double bass in the near future. You can certainly get a plywood double bass, and probably even a hybrid, for less money than an EUB. I was finally able to purchase a double bass earlier this year, and I am now 38 YEARS OLD. I wish that I had made it my goal to purchase one 20 years ago - it would have happened then. It would have been so much easier to accomplish this when I was younger and did not have any family obligations.

You've got great resources there - people that will help you. If I had it to do over again, I would've just played an electric bass with flatwounds and developed my music skills/tune knowledge, etc. while saving up as much money as I could, so that I could pounce when the opportunity to get an instrument came.

You will not find that double bass tone without playing a double bass. I wouldn't even recommend renting one if you can avoid it. You need to own your own double bass. It doesn't have to be the greatest bass ever made, but I strongly suspect that you will love it more than an EUB. By the way, your instructor has a nice EUB that I've borrowed from him before - I'm sure that you can get a quality double bass for less money than the EUB.

Please seriously consider what I'm suggesting. Talk about this with your instructor. Feel free to PM me if you want to discuss this further.

abaguer · #6 11-16-2008, 11:40 PM

I think you should move towards getting a used plywood bass rather than an EUB. Unless you want the EUB for travelling/touring.

damonsmith · #7 11-17-2008, 01:25 AM

I know I am in minority but I far prefer my EUB over a plywood bass. I think they are useful to have and in the lower price ranges you just get a better instrument for the $$.

What I would say is to take double bass lessons from a double bass player and get as much time as you can on a real double bass so you are clearer about what you are going for with the tone and technique.

ToneRanger · #8 11-17-2008, 06:01 AM

I happily own and play an EUB because that is what I wanted, not because I couldn't get a 'real' bass. But if you really want an upright acoustic, I think you're better off with a cheap one of them rather than an EUB, which is quite a different creature.

damonsmith · #9 11-17-2008, 01:18 PM

I think you will be just fine with an Ergo an NS or an Eminence if you want to spend a bit more - read the megathreads on each to get the most out of them.
Having an EUB you can get a sound out of is getting more and more important.
One of those plus the school bass will hold you over until you can get a decent bass. They will also be useful for travel and loud gigs once you have that good bass.

Bassism · #10 11-17-2008, 06:54 PM

Unless you want an EUB specifically, it's not likely to satisfy you in the long run.
I just bought an old ply for 800 dollars that I much prefer to most other plys I've ever paid. It beats out my current 2200 dollar rental bass in every category, and I know that a good setup will bring even more out of it.

I don't think there are too many options in the sub 1000 dollar range for EUB, although I may be wrong.
I do know, however, that there are plenty of old basses around for under 1000, some of which can turn out to be quite nice.

Shop around and find a bass that turns you on. If that happens to be an EUB, then great. But if you're really looking for the tone and feel of a real bass, there are plenty to be had.

ding_man · #11 11-17-2008, 10:18 PM

Thanks for the advice. After taking all your advice I decided to save up money.. perhaps get ahold of a certain bass some offered to sell me.. or just wait fo the opportunity like Bungee said.