EUB for salsa/latin

[Kristian]

Hi,
Wich EUB would you recomend for playing salsa/latin?
I want that short "percussive" sound.
Are there any cheaper ones that sound good?
Thanks

[elgecko]

You want an Ampeg Baby Bass or one of its many clones. Alternatively, an NS EUB in arco mode and some judicous EQ can provide a servicable simulation...or you could just cram some foam under the strings of a conventional piezo-equipped EUB.

[Jazzdogg]

If you can find an Azola baby bass with a mambo mute, you'll be in heaven; they're no longer being made, so you'll have to find one on the used market.

[cujodos]

steer clear of sendel! M O G is the best of the colombian basses

[cujodos]

read the baby bass thread for information. lots to learn in there.

[Kristian]

So I guess that the MOG is the most easy way to get the right sound? They have some different models, wich ones do you use? Is the travelbase ok? There´s no prices on their website, how much are they?

I was thinking about the eminence bass also but is it to "jazzy"?

I´ve read the bass baby megathread but I still don´t know wich way to go.

[TimWatson]

I have had excellent results with the Kala U-Bass. The strings and output are perfect for Latin. fretless is my preference and it generally needs a preamp to filter out finger noise and high end but it is awesome. My YouTube channel is Watsontbass.

[RedLeg]

i play an azola bug bass for with Evah Pirazzi weichs and I get a good salsa sound.

That's me playin salsa in Iraq!

[cujodos]

contact maurocongo @babybassmog.com he will give you the info. i bought a sendel that's why i said to steer clear. it is a full size baby which i like but they are all much the same. it's a matter of looks for me. nicky can give you some info as well and had a travel bass for sale at 1 time. pm him. you will see his posts throughout the thread. m o g look good and plays good as well. the azola is great but much more expensive. if money is not the issue then the quality is quite good. if latin is your game then get a baby nothing else has the sound you want in my opinion. i use mine for playing country if you can imagine but it works great and much more portable.

[NickyBass]

In order of preference, I would go for:

-Original Ampeg Baby Bass. Some come close. None quite nail the tone.
-Azola with the 'Latin' pickup. There are built extremely well and sound great. But they are pricey....and they are hard to find.
-A Baby Bass copy. The Colombian basses are around $1200 shipped. MOG uses Thomastick strings, which is nice. And, to my ears, the MOG basses are the closest to the original tone...though the Blady and Sendel get the vibe of the original. There will be some finish flaws, and the build quality will not be perfect, but they are a lot less expensive than the Azola. I think they sound best with an external preamp. A lot of people are playing these for salsa.

-If you don't mind having a different body shape, the NS WAV basses are cool. They don't have the same pickup type, but you can get a usable salsa tone from them. The QC seems pretty consistant on them too.

-Another option is the Ray Ramirez bass. They tone is similar to the Colombian basses. The finish is a bit smoother, but they are a lot more expensive.

-The Azola Bug basses without the 'latin' pickup can also be very usable. It won't be the exact tone, but it works well with salsa. They are usually easier to find.

[Kristian]

Thank you for all your answers, now I know what to look for.
What do the original ampeg basses usually cost?

[patas75]

Any should work. I have an Ampeg Baby Bass Reissue and it tends to get a lot of sustain along with the thump. I find that changing my technique creates more of the "latin thump" then the pickup. If you want the "look" of a latin bass then a baby bass or copy will fit the bill.

[JimCurl]

I paid £600 for great baby bass in UK.
www. kkbaby-bass.com

[JimCurl]

I got baby bass from this people: www.kkbaby-bass.com
Great sound, good finish. I play Cuban Timba