Fully Carved Eberle Used for Bluegrass

Nobow · #1 03-01-2011, 07:30 AM

I am wondering if anyone is using a carved German made Wilhelm Eberle for playing bluegrass music and how it is working out for you.
I have a 1995 Eberle that is set up with an adjustable bridge and Spirocore mittles E&A with Golden Spiral D&G. I do like the tone and combination of sustain and punch that come from this setup. I also have a 1976 Englehardt ES-1 that I have been using for 35 years now and consider it a very good bluegrass bass. I got the Eberle a while back while trying to get an old Epiphone that did not work out and ended up with this carved bass(long story). Anyway, at first I was thinking of only the possibility to sell it. After getting it set up properly and trying it out a couple times I begin to see the possibilities of it's sound with the contemporary band I play with. I will be using the Eberle indoors and the ES-1 outdoors at jams and gigs. Thanks,

Nobow

Matt Ides · #2 03-01-2011, 10:23 AM

I use a fully carved bass for Acoustic America/Folk music. I find that the pizz sound melds well with the other instruments. The other thing is that acro work at home really opens up the bass for rehearsals and playing. I think the more you play the Eberle the more it will open up even further.

Nobow · #3 03-01-2011, 01:30 PM

Thanks Matt, you're right about it opening up more and more. When I took it to the first jam to try it out, I thought what have I got here; a waste of money for sure but then about an hour later I begin to see a great difference in the sound as it began to open up. I don't know anything about using a bow but I'm sure it would sound very good and even be getting better. Thanks,

NoBow

Nohandles · #4 03-06-2011, 07:53 AM

Fully carved basses sound great- very rich tones. With the playing I do though- out in the weather at festivals the conditions have to be right to bring it out there. I have a German fully carved bass I recently acquired that has the best sound I've ever heard. I do take it to indoor jams during the winter months without incident so far but I am very carefully to let it warm up in the case before getting it out. Perhaps this summer I will be brave and take it to the festivals I like attending.

Nobow · #5 03-07-2011, 07:11 AM

I'm looking forward to using my carved bass outside for a gig or jam. I have a friend who also has a carved bass, (don't know the maker) who has not had any problems with his here in and around Memphis, TN. We have a fairly humid climate year around which I understand is not as near a problem for carved basses as a very dry climate. I also have an Englehardt 1976 ES-1 that I will use if I have any doubt about the weather, winter or summer. It has endured many festivals and jams outdoors with me the past 35 years with no apparent damage, so far.

NoBow

Matt Ides · #6 03-16-2011, 01:28 PM

Nobow, how has it been going using the Eberle? My carved bass continues to open more and more and I love the sound with the current group.

Nobow · #7 03-16-2011, 09:08 PM

Matt,

I'm really liking the Eberle more and more every time I use it. It is like you say, opening up more and the tone is getting better each time. It is getting deeper and richer. The group I'm playing with likes the sound of it also. The Spiros along with a Golden Spiral G, were not new when I put them on, but are now broken in enough to give a good deep tone with just enough sustain to make it fit the sound of our group. It also holds it own well in a good traditional jam session. I'm looking forward to using it as much as I can this season at some of the local festivals and gigs we have coming up. Like Nohandles though, I will be careful of the weather. I'm glad I have my Engle to use when in doubt about the weather or situation.

Thanks for asking, I'm glad you are having as much fun with yours too. What year model is yours? Mine is a 1995.
NoBow

Matt Ides · #8 03-17-2011, 05:34 AM

I use to have one of the eberle ply basses a few years ago. Currently I have a snow bass that is fully carved. It is my first carved bass and I really like the complexity of sound compared to the laminates I have had over the years.

Nobow · #9 03-17-2011, 07:32 AM

I see now what they mean when they say a carved bass will give you the best sound. Of course that depends on the type of music you are playing I'm sure. I play bluegrass exclusively and my ply Englehardt does a great job of producing the good traditional bluegrass sound but I'm beginning to like the sound of the carved bass on the more contemporary style of bluegrass our band plays. It's nice to have a bass for both.

NoBow

LeslieD · #10 03-20-2011, 05:49 PM

I used my plywood Eberle for years for classical and then bluegrass. Two years ago I picked up a hybrid Eberle and was very pleased with the richness of the sound (as compared to the ply) and it still had the nice punch it needed for bluegrass. I'm not surprised that a carved Eberle works great for bluegrass as well, and for a long time now I've felt that Eberles are kind of a well-kept secret in the world of folk and bluegrass music.

I did play a fully-carved 1930s Otto Rubner bass (that according to the shop owner was built in the same town where the Eberles were built and had the same exact feel of both of my basses). That carved bass would have totally been amazing for bluegrass, except that I didn't have $15k on hand to buy it.

Thanks for sharing your Eberle experience!

Nobow · #11 03-21-2011, 08:45 PM

In the world of bluegrass, which is the only world I've been in now for 35 years, you don't see carved basses very often. This is the first and only fully carved bass I have had the experience of playing. I hope I run across another from time to time. I'll be on the lookout for them now that I have one and have really gotten to like and appreciate the the sound. Thanks too, for sharing.
NoBow

troutmask · #12 04-13-2012, 02:29 PM

I came across a willhelm eberle (German) fully carved upright made in 1980, the luthier bought the last one of two from somewhere in new york, it was made in the "musima atalier" . Spruce top, Back is two piece plain maple with matching ribs, neck, and scroll. Lining is reinforced on the outside of bass ribs for double strength. It's in mint condition, you wouldn't know it was made in 80'. About what price would a bass like this be worth? The luthier has it listed at 4500$. Does that sound pricey?

Nobow · #13 04-13-2012, 04:37 PM

From all the info and comments I could find on TB it would seem to me that would be a high price to pay for a fully carved Eberle. I don't know what the year 1980 would have in increasing the price but I doubt it would bring it up to that price. I did not even know what year my model was until someone here on TB told me where to look. It's on the bottom of the bass stamped where the end pin assembly is. It is a 1995 model made in Germany by Wilhelm Eberle.
Check out all the post on this bass here in the search field. I'm sure you will then get an idea of the going price. There are not that many of them around these days I guess, mostly the ones that are mentioned are the Eberle Plys. All of the post I see about the Eberles, Ply or Carved are positive. I have only one issue with mine and that is, it's not loud enough. Playing in a band is great but not loud enough in a jam session, that's where my 1976 Engle S-1 comes in on top.
NoBow

John Crosley · #14 04-13-2012, 05:19 PM

The only bass I own is a carved William Lewis that I use for everything. Yeah, I worry about it during the outdoor stuff, but I haven't done many of them. The band either doesn't know the difference between the sounds of carved v laminate, or they are just happy to have an upright in the band as a different sound instead of a bass guitar. If you watch any of the Transatlantic sessions, Danny Thompson usually plays bass, and it is a fully carved instrument with Spirocores.

John Martyn with Kathy Mattea - May You Never - YouTube