EUB - EADG, BEAD or BEADG?

Mottlefeeder · #1 10-29-2008, 05:16 PM

I'm working towards my first EUB, to be used for a mix of plucked songs and bowed ballads in a church worship band.

I'm used to a 5-string bass tuned BEADG for the keys we usually play in, and I am not used to bowing, so would you recommend that I buy a 4-string EADG or a 4-string BEAD to get good string spacing, or a 5-string BEADG so I have one less thing to learn?

My short-list at the moment has a new NS Design Wav, or Aria SWB-Lite-Bis, or a s/h NS CR5 or NS CR5M.

Skribble · #2 10-30-2008, 10:04 AM

IMHO, it won't really matter - there's such huge transition from playing bass guitar to playing an upright (not to mention learning to bow properly...) that the absence of a low B will be the least of your concerns!

Sounds like the CR5 would suit your needs, but I have an inkling that they come with a high C rather than a low B, I might be wrong though.

Dave

bassteban · #3 10-30-2008, 10:14 AM

I'm not normal, but going from BG to DB is easier/more natural for me than from 34" to 35" scales. I'd *neeed* the low B if I were playing in church; my experience ther was in a large band w/lots of keys & other full-range instruments. I liked having lots of options as to high or low so I could go where it worked.
Beyond that, I can't bow to save my life...

damonsmith · #4 10-30-2008, 11:28 AM

You could also get BEADGCF (what I have) or F#BEADGC or F#BDEADGCF from ERGO.

Mottlefeeder · #5 10-31-2008, 02:46 AM

Thanks for your thoughts.

I'm asking similar questions in various places, and the consensus seems to be that -

a) Yes, a low B is very useful in a worship band

b) Yes, an NS CR5 will be more difficult to bow than a 4-string, but for short passages of longer notes, it is achievable.

On that basis, a used CR5/CR5M with better strings already fitted sound like a better option than a new 4-string plus a set of new strings, and the CR5M gives you more tone options than the CR5.

All I have to do now is agree a price.