Make a Jazz sound like an upright?

DrVenkman · #1 10-21-2010, 02:23 PM

I've got a Squier CV Jazz and a GK MB210. I'm playing with a 5-person combo that does primarily folk-rock type stuff, but we're doing a couple of songs where I'd love to come as close as possible to the sound of an upright (think smoky club at 2:00 AM for the kind of vibe I'm going for).

I know I'll never really get that sound, but what's the best I can do with the equipment I've got? I'm not interested in buying a pedal or anything like that. What are the settings on the bass and amp and any playing techniques (where to pluck, whatever) that will get me as close as is possible?

Tangentor · #2 10-21-2010, 03:00 PM

With my passive Jazz, I get closest to that feel by dialing both pickups in at 100%, then backing the bridge pickup off a hair - you can totally hear the difference just a tiny turn makes - then plucking right at the end of the neck (right on top of the last fret) in a lazy, cool way that sounds more 'wooden.'

I have a GK MB500 head, which I believe is the same as used in your MB210. That amp is so capable of dialing in tones, you should be able to experiment & find something that sounds good for this... BUT, you might find that the plucking style mentioned above goes farther toward that sound than any EQ change that might mess us the rest of your set.

JayB · #3 10-21-2010, 03:05 PM

Flatwound strings would be my first stop.....

sleeplessknight · #4 10-21-2010, 03:34 PM

You can get a passable upright "thump" to your sound by laying the knife-edge of your hand across the strings just a little bit in front of the bridge, using your thumb to play the notes. That will deaden the sustain in a very upright-ish fashion. Ed Friedland has written some stuff on "the thumb thing" before, Google/Youtube might be able to help you out.

SnakeKappele · #5 10-21-2010, 03:50 PM

LaBella flatwound strings, a piece of foam under the strings at the bridge, and pluck on the neck side of the neck pickup.

It'll get you close.

DrVenkman · #6 10-21-2010, 03:55 PM

Thanks for the help everyone!

JimmyM · #7 10-22-2010, 02:10 AM

why has nobody mentioned playing as an upright player would? you can do stuff like use dead flats and different eq's, but i've found the best way to do it is by trying to imitate the way upright players play.

Shakin-Slim · #8 10-22-2010, 02:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

why has nobody mentioned playing as an upright player would? you can do stuff like use dead flats and different eq's, but i've found the best way to do it is by trying to imitate the way upright players play.

Too right. I would say what is most effective, however, is getting an upright. I know that's not a constructive comment, but it has to be said.

lowfreq33 · #9 10-22-2010, 03:10 AM

All about the stroke. Use the side of your finger, not the tip, and pluck against the fretboard.

nukes_da_bass · #10 10-22-2010, 03:18 AM

Get rid of those bloody frets- nothing screams upright as much as no frets! +1 to all the other suggestions especially flats and hand muting.

Samsound · #11 10-22-2010, 05:27 AM

As mentioned, pluck at the neck with more horizontal contact area (ie side of finger).
To get the "dead string" thumpiness, there are two muting techniques I use:
1-use forearm to mute strings near bridge; use thumb to pluck at neck.
2-use fretting hand to apply light muting just ahead of the fretted notes; pluck at neck

1 is a little easier at first, but the right arm angle feels kinda awkward, especially on the G and B strings.
2 for me is more flexible, more controllable, but a little trickier, because you have to adjust the muting point fir each string, in addition to moving your "mute" with each note. Once you get it down, though, it's easier to be more consistent.

sevenyearsdown · #12 10-22-2010, 05:41 AM

I was gonna type of whole rant here, but the short answer is that the average bass guitar is not going to sound like an upright. Only guys who don't play upright have these incorrect theories about how to make a electric bass guitar sound like an upright.

JimmyM · #13 10-22-2010, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sevenyearsdown

I was gonna type of whole rant here, but the short answer is that the average bass guitar is not going to sound like an upright. Only guys who don't play upright have these incorrect theories about how to make a electric bass guitar sound like an upright.

ahem...i play upright, too. you are right that nothing will sound like an upright, but if you want to do a fairly reasonable imitation of one with an electric, it's not impossible.

SnakeKappele · #14 10-22-2010, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sevenyearsdown

I was gonna type of whole rant here, but the short answer is that the average bass guitar is not going to sound like an upright. Only guys who don't play upright have these incorrect theories about how to make a electric bass guitar sound like an upright.

What exactly makes the theories incorrect?

sevenyearsdown · #15 10-22-2010, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

ahem...i play upright, too. you are right that nothing will sound like an upright, but if you want to do a fairly reasonable imitation of one with an electric, it's not impossible.

I didn't say impossible, but I respectfully disagree with your opinion unless we are talking about Rob Allen level stuff. When it comes to Fender slabs, IME I've never heard what I what I would consider a reasonable imitation of upright bass.

dmusic148 · #16 10-22-2010, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

ahem...i play upright, too. you are right that nothing will sound like an upright, but if you want to do a fairly reasonable imitation of one with an electric, it's not impossible.

It's possible to fool people who don't know what an upright actually sounds like, sure. 'Reasonable imitation?' Not really. For the OP's purposes, sure. Neck pickup, tone rolled down, palm muting.

Tampabass · #17 10-22-2010, 01:10 PM

funny.
The OP started off by saying "I know I'll never really get that sound," trying to head off the inevitable Grump Brigade comments.

And yet some people still feel compelled to tell him he'll never get the upright sound without an upright.
Well, d'uh.

Yes, there are techniques to create a broad array of sounds from a bass guitar. That's the simple question he was asking.

By the way, I'm a doubler.

**yodedude2** · #18 10-22-2010, 01:17 PM

may i gently suggest you read more carefully before you post. the op stated "...as close as possible to the sound of an upright..." (emphasis added)

if he wanted to sound 'as close as possbile' to the sound of a tuba, i'm sure he'd appreciate constructive advice in that area as well.

thanks all, ron

Quote:

Originally Posted by sevenyearsdown

I was gonna type of whole rant here, but the short answer is that the average bass guitar is not going to sound like an upright. Only guys who don't play upright have these incorrect theories about how to make a electric bass guitar sound like an upright.

JimmyM · #19 10-22-2010, 01:21 PM

man, what a bunch of sticklers!

DrVenkman · #20 10-22-2010, 03:04 PM

So I did some experimenting based on input here, and I've settled on:

- a piece of foam by the bridge
- roll off the bridge pickup just a little
- pluck with the side of my fingers right by the neck

Does it sound like an upright? Well, not really, and I didn't expect it to. But as a contrast to the 'normal' jazz bass sound for a song or two per set I think it will work pretty well and capture the vibe, if not the exact sound. We'll see how it goes over tonight.

Now, could someone help me get a tuba sound out of my jazz?