What is the Forum's Opinion of Ray Ramirez EUB's

Ritchie Ray · #1 05-10-2007, 04:08 PM

What is the forum's opinion of Ray Ramirez EUB's? I mainly play electric fretless basses. I don't know alot about EUB's and I'm looking to purchase a higher end EUB. Suggestions on brands that have a proven track record. Thanks for any insights.

bongomania · #2 05-10-2007, 04:35 PM

The Ramirez basses are specifically built to sound and play like the old Ampeg Baby Bass, which is a different animal from most "modern" EUB's. It uses a different type of pickup, and is known for a percussive boom tone with not much highs or sustain.

Your best bet would be to describe the type of tone you're after, naming specific artists/genres/albums if possible, and then people can point you in the right direction.

Or check the FAQ for a list of EUB's and commentary about them.

Ritchie Ray · #3 05-10-2007, 04:40 PM

Thanks for the feedback....your suggestion is much appreciated! I need to put some thought into describing what tone I'm after, artists & albums I enjoy that have that sound. Great looking dog....Thanks again!

macmrkt · #4 05-11-2007, 10:42 AM

Be careful ordering from Ray. I've been stalled by him on my order for nearly a year. Someone else posted a similar issue and finally took delivery of an unsatisfactory bass. Might be hit and miss at best.

This is not an issue on any other EUB commonly mentioned, but it is on Ray's. IMHO, after owning a dozen EUB's, Azola is the best that can be easily gotten in the US.

Ritchie Ray · #5 05-11-2007, 10:48 AM

OK Bongomania! I listen to Brian Bromberg and Christian McBride. I predominantly play electric fretless where I use a chorus on the bass to simulate a longer sustaining of the notes. I like a fat sustaining robust sound in the lower octave and a somewhat bright cut-through sound in the 2nd and 3rd octaves....while maintaining a fat sustain. I want to emulate my fretless sound on the EUB. Brian Bromberg plays both upright and fretless and I really appreciate his sound. I can afford to purchase a higher end EUB so if there are several choices...I'll check them all out!

Ritchie Ray · #6 05-11-2007, 10:56 AM

Thanks Mcmrt for the heads up on Ray Ramirez EUB's. I'll check out Azola!

bongomania · #7 05-11-2007, 11:31 AM

It sounds like what could work best for you is one of the solid no-body type EUB's such as the NSD (Ned Steinberger Design). Go check out the threads about the NSDs first thing. In fact, there are two threads about them stickied at the top of the forum page. There are many other brands of that type, though.

I recently bought a BSX Allegro, and I find that if I raise the action it plays/sounds more like an upright, and if I lower the action it sounds more like a fretless BG. Fantastic tone both ways.

Ritchie Ray · #8 05-11-2007, 11:42 AM

Great! I'll check out both NS Design and the BSX Allegro. At one point, I owned a Double Bass and studied/played classical music. So it sounds like the BSX can be bowed as well? Another individual recommended the Azola EUB...any comments on this EUB? Thanks again, I appreciate your help with my search.

anon_6j591b0 · #9 05-11-2007, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ritchie Ray

Thanks Mcmrt for the heads up on Ray Ramirez EUB's. I'll check out Azola!

If you're looking for sustain a baby bass (or clone) isn't gonna give you that. The sound is typically thumpy and lacking sustain. If you like the shape you should check out some of the Azolas but avoid the vintage baby bass.

I had a '60's Ampeg Baby Bass and spent a lot of time trying to get magnetic p.ups on it that would give me more sustain but it never worked as well as I'd have liked. I did learn a lot including that you can't polish a turd. I had an original Azola Bugbass and that thing had sustain for miles.

jeff

damonsmith · #10 05-11-2007, 02:00 PM

Azolas seem to be top shelf. They are expensive too. I play an Ergo and like it a lot, they are have good prices and a very woody sound with a lot of sustain.
You can also get them with extended ranges, I have a 7 string.

ChasFL · #11 05-11-2007, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbonny

If you're looking for sustain a baby bass (or clone) isn't gonna give you that. The sound is typically thumpy and lacking sustain. If you like the shape you should check out some of the Azolas but avoid the vintage baby bass.

I had a '60's Ampeg Baby Bass and spent a lot of time trying to get magnetic p.ups on it that would give me more sustain but it never worked as well as I'd have liked. I did learn a lot including that you can't polish a turd. I had an original Azola Bugbass and that thing had sustain for miles.

jeff

Jbonny
I played a 60's Ampeg Baby bass for years in a jazz and blues group, but I had swapped the original metal bridge for a wooden bridge and used a Bass Max pickup http://www.urbbob.com/bassmax.html and always got a great sustain tone. I preferred the feel of playing the baby bass over the bug bass but like you, did not care for the original thump tone.

anon_6j591b0 · #12 05-11-2007, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChasFL

Jbonny
I played a 60's Ampeg Baby bass for years in a jazz and blues group, but I had swapped the original metal bridge for a wooden bridge and used a Bass Max pickup http://www.urbbob.com/bassmax.html and always got a great sustain tone. I preferred the feel of playing the baby bass over the bug bass but like you, did not care for the original thump tone.

I'm sure changing to a modern peizo installed in a wood bridge made a huge difference. Stock they have nuthing but thud and the magnetics I fooled around with addressed different problems than the setup you used.

Marcus Johnson · #13 05-11-2007, 02:51 PM

I have an NS and an Azola (still haven't sold it as yet). The NS is the BassCello, and is more growly in the "fretless bass" sense when using the EMG pickups. The "double bass" piezo sound is shorter and more thuddy, good for arco or mimicking the pizz sound of a double bass.

The Azola, on the other hand, sounds like the growliest double bass you've ever heard. It's fitted with spiros, and has a much more faithful DB sound than the NS (expected, given the difference in scale length). Very full of character. I actually used it to overdub some low arco parts (it has a low B string) on some recordings with a string quartet, and no one ever noticed it to my knowledge. Great bass.

ChasFL · #14 05-11-2007, 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marcus Johnson

I have an NS and an Azola (still haven't sold it as yet). The NS is the BassCello, and is more growly in the "fretless bass" sense when using the EMG pickups. The "double bass" piezo sound is shorter and more thuddy, good for arco or mimicking the pizz sound of a double bass.

Now that I think of it Marcus, it was a long time ago, it wasn't the Bass Max for Double bass but the piezo pickup that the same company K&K makes specifically for the Ampeg baby bass and Azola baby basses that I had purchased from Steve Azola online.

Elmarito · #15 05-21-2007, 05:38 PM

I play a Ray Ramirez Travel Mate bass. For latin grooves it sounds great. What I like is the thump that other players on other brands do not prefer. For me, the more my bass sounds like a drum the better.

It was delivered on time. It is light, looks great and does not have the hefty price tag of other brands.

I would not have bought it if I saw a forum like this one. It makes you wonder who replys to this forum and why.

I think you wait quite a long time for an Azola bass order. They are nice folks but, it is a business and they charge you a lot. I would not trade my bass for any of they're current models.

I think I would pass on most other brands out there too. I do not see other people playing EUBs that much out there. I have not been blown away by the other US brands made off shore or where ever.

I guess I am quite satisfied with my bass and I am delighted that I have the only one I have ever seen.

macmrkt · #16 05-21-2007, 05:43 PM

Bought my Azola new from a store. No wait. Same price as Ramirez. Great for Latin and more traditional jazz. Hope I get my Ramirez that I ordered nearly a year ago when it was promised in 4 weeks.

**Francois Blais** · #17 05-21-2007, 08:34 PM

Maybe he forgot you?
I hope not!

JohnLopez · #18 01-18-2008, 07:07 AM

After being in search of a good EUB that could make two jobs (Salsa & Jazz) without the need of having to bring my big double bass and the electric bass to a gig

I decided to start a search for that instrument. Last year I went to Miami, FL and saw Eddie Guagua Rivera playing with Giovanni Hidaldo(Conga virtuoso) to my surprise Eddie was playing a Beautiful Cedar Baby Bass made by Ray Ramirez. After having listened to that sound and try out Eddie's bass I definetly change my mind. I called Ray and ask a lot of questions and beleive me this guy is not joking. Ray really knows about bass making business.
I placed my order and he told me 3 months and complete the bass in 2 months.
The sound of my Ramirez Bass is what I have been looking for years. I recommend this bass to anyone that wants a Custom made instrument very well made and finally a well sounding bass.

BigBeatNut · #19 01-18-2008, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ritchie Ray

OK Bongomania! I listen to Brian Bromberg and Christian McBride. ....

Hi Ritchie ... did you get anything yet ?

I'm kind of interested because those two guys form a large part of my listening too. I went for a BSX Allegro in the end ... because I liked the tone, but coincidentally Brian Bromberg sometimes plays one too, though I suspect he records with that lovely antique URB he owns. There's a video on youtube of BB playing 'chameleon' on the BSX if you want to check it out.

Andy

jubaro · #20 01-22-2008, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by macmrkt

Bought my Azola new from a store. No wait. Same price as Ramirez. Great for Latin and more traditional jazz. Hope I get my Ramirez that I ordered nearly a year ago when it was promised in 4 weeks.

When I ordered my Ramirez EUB it takes 5 weeks from the time I placed the order to the time I received it. I'm very satisfied of my Ramirez EUB and I think that it is a matter of the kind of music you'll play and the tone you're looking for. In my case I use my EUB to play latin music, like salsa and other latin grooves. It has a percussive and fatter sound neccessary for the latin music.