Poll: The Best EUB

DrGroove · #1 08-15-2001, 10:12 AM

What's the best Electric Upright Bass on the market today?

Why?

**Francois Blais** · #2 08-15-2001, 08:23 PM

Although I own a Carruthers and like it a lot, I voted for Azola.
I previously owned a basic BugBass, but wasn't extremely happy with the instrument overall.
However, Steve Azola probably has the widest range of EUBs and options on the market.
Original BugBass, Lightning Bug, BugBass II, Floating top Bug, MiniBass, Mini Baby Bass, Acoustic Baby Bass, he also builds the basses for Martin Clevinger, as far as I know.
The Azolas are very kind.

Bass Boy · #3 08-16-2001, 03:27 AM

I agree with Francois. I own a Carruthers but feel that the most DB like I have played was a floating top Bug Bass by Azola. Bill Merchant also makes great EUBs that are very DB like.b. If my Carruthers had the fingerboard cut like a DB (as it soon will) I would have voted for it.

Bob Gollihur · #4 08-16-2001, 07:20 AM

Not to dampen enthusiasm, but the best EUB for what? There is such a range of instruments available which are designed to appeal to double bassists, and others to electric bassists, with many in-between. Sound, feel, and look, are all part of the equation, so I can't vote for a "best" - not even my own homemade one

bassgeek · #5 08-16-2001, 09:28 PM

I'll have to go with Bobby G. on this one. As far as emulating the acoustic, some are far better than others, while there are EUB's which are awesome "stand alone" instruments that don't really try to approximate the sound and feel of the doghouse. For the former, the German Vektor bass gets my vote in the "feel" category and the Ned Steinberger bass wins in the "not trying to be an upright" category. Has anybody tried the Impression Bass from Linc Luthier?

**Chris Fitzgerald** · #6 08-16-2001, 10:58 PM

Bobby G? BOBBY G??!??!?? You mean, as in ALL HAIL BOBBY G?

That must be what you mean, but somehow, it just doesn't sound right.

bassgeek · #7 08-17-2001, 07:53 AM

BOBBY G- the hip-hop alter ego of (All Hail) Bob Gollihur.

Bob Gollihur · #8 08-17-2001, 07:55 AM

Nobody has regularly called me Bobby since my mother, and she stopped about 40 years ago

I think I missed mentioning one EUB I saw at NAMM -- and it deserves a mention due to its uniqueness AFAIK - the Conklin MEU.

Pardon my crappy scan - it's not shown being worn on the Conkin web site ( www.conklinguitars.com ) but is pictured. Kyth, the fellow in the scan, proudly showed me his seven string MEU - yes, seven strings! I tried it and was surprised at how comfortable it was to wear, and how easy to play- of course, action is low a la bass guitar. I put a pair of asterisks in the scan to show where the strap attaches. Unfortunately, I didn't audition it plugged into an amp and can't assess its aural delivery, but it felt and sounded good acoustically.

An interesting animal.

JT- Conklin should take the two photos of the MEU being worn and showing the strap that's in their brochure and use them on their web site; it's really hard to imagine the instrument hanging off your body without a photo.

Bass Guitar · #9 08-17-2001, 07:58 AM

A seven string MEU? Drooool...

It would be expensive, I would imagine. The MEU has received rave reviews - I almost bought a 5-string version about 2 years ago, but went for a much cheaper alternative...

Wait till John Turner finds out - he might go for a double-necked EUB

Bob Gollihur · #10 08-17-2001, 08:02 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bass Guitar
A seven string MEU? Drooool...

It would be expensive, I would imagine. The MEU has received rave reviews - I almost bought a 5-string version about 2 years ago, but went for a much cheaper alternative...

Wait till John Turner finds out - he might go for a double-necked EUB

Yes, and I picture it with a neck on each side of his neck... and then we'll read of his demise as the result of a ghastly stage accident.

Bass Guitar · #11 08-17-2001, 08:04 AM

LMAO!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHEHEHEHEHHOHOHOH!!!

That made for a nice visual in my head!!! ROTFL!!!

Don Higdon · #12 08-17-2001, 08:24 AM

It's like calling Henry Kissinger 'Hank'

Bob Gollihur · #13 08-21-2001, 05:16 PM

Here's the photo I took of the seven string Conklin MEU EUB; he smiled in the other picture, but this is a better view of the bass

http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?...251&p=53217352

Interesting, eh? Very comfortable to play.

Bass Guitar · #14 08-22-2001, 12:58 AM

Wow! That is one nice 7-string EUB. I was saving up for a 7-string fretless, but one of these would do just fine... I figure that since it's a custom MEU it would cost a mint. It's a beautiful instrument, and the reviews have been great. The neck is huuuuugggggeeeeee.

coyoteboy · #15 09-03-2001, 04:09 PM

Hey, Mr. G., does he use a bow on that there 7? How does the MEU sound when bowed?

Bob Gollihur · #16 09-03-2001, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by coyoteboy
Hey, Mr. G., does he use a bow on that there 7? How does the MEU sound when bowed?

Yes, I also got a chance to bow it since I wondered how difficult it might be with seven strings in an arc like that. It wasn't bad at all, though I didn't hear it through an amp since it was occupied at the time with my son playing a bass guitar through it.

dhosek · #17 10-29-2001, 12:52 PM

btw, there are some better pictures of the 4 & 5 string MEUs at http://www.conklinguitars.com/meuhome.html

Don Higdon · #18 10-29-2001, 12:56 PM

To each his own
Yuk.

Limezone · #19 10-29-2001, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Don Higdon
To each his own
Yuk.

This time I have to agree with Don.

At what point does it stop being a bass and start becoming a harp?

nil · #20 10-30-2001, 07:26 PM

This is starting to sound like a BG thread...

"do you really need more'n 4 strings?", etc