To upright or not to upright?

[morf]

So I've been playing electric basses for about a year now. I know my fingerboard pretty well I can play most of the stuff without looking or having to concentrate on anything but my tone, which, no matter how hard I try to tweak, doesn't even come close to an upright tone.

I tried a couple of fretless basses and I liked playing them, but still, not enough "mwah". I was wondering if I should go the upright way. Have I played enough electric to give an upright a shot? Is there a chance I'll go forward with an upright or will it simply be too hard to play technique wise?

I'm really interested in the upright tone and whenever I try to play simply jazz lines on the electric I get frustrated because even with flats and fretless basses there isnt enough mwah and I can't bring myself to enjoy it as much as I enjoy hearing uprights.

So, should I go the upright way? If so, what are brands to consider for a starters upright?

[pklima]

See the newbie links in the DB forum:

BASS FORUM LINKS (Newbie Links): PLEASE READ BEFORE POSTING NEW TOPICS

We're a bunch of grumpy old men but we'll give you plenty of advice. Just don't say "upright".

And if it's the sound in your head - go for it. There's certainly no "minimum BG skills" requirement for starting on DB. Just discipline, persistence, a practice regimen and a teacher.

[MrLenny]

Look for a student model, plywood. Check into an adjustable bridge. Get a good method book, Edouard Nanny, classical
book with great figerings.
Get ready to tackle a beast. Maybe 6 months to a year from
now your intonation will start to sound OK.
Good Luck. Go for it and have fun.

[tkozal]

I am making the switch now. The biggest thing you will have to deal with is the longer scale length, 41-42 inches in most cases on 3/4 size instruments. It does take some adjustments, especially if you are a one finger per fret player like me. Hard to do down low.

Now I am making this switch after 30 years of BG playing, and its still hard.

"Modified Simandl" is what I have read for the technique I have been using..

[Clay_Bass]

If you can spend 1900 you can get a loaded strunal from David Gage. Theyre fantastic instruments for a great price. Comes with a realist pickup which are the best in the field IMO.

[morf]

Originally Posted by pklima

See the newbie links in the DB forum:

BASS FORUM LINKS (Newbie Links): PLEASE READ BEFORE POSTING NEW TOPICS

We're a bunch of grumpy old men but we'll give you plenty of advice. Just don't say "upright".

And if it's the sound in your head - go for it. There's certainly no "minimum BG skills" requirement for starting on DB. Just discipline, persistence, a practice regimen and a teacher.

Well, some of you are grumpy for some things. Just because I disagree with you on some things (I may end up changing my mind later on who knows) doesn't mean I think you're no good and can't give any advice though. On the contrary alot of people here are experienced players and can teach me ALOT of things. However I have my own way of learning music and though some of the advice given may work for some, it may not work for me. I respect everybody's opinion though, beginners' as well, just because on a certain topic we disagree doesn't mean you're wrong on something else and I shouldn't listen to you

Why not say upright?

Its definately the sound in my head, matches what I hear in old jazz records. I'll read that thread and check out the instruments mentionned, thanks

[Chunk-O-Funk]

Originally Posted by morf

Why not say upright?

I kind of got the feeling they don't like "upright" like some here don't like the word
"guitar" associated with electric bass.
They prefer Double Bass I think.

Great topic, I think there are a lot of us electric bassist who share an interest in certain music styles that would love to have a DB around. I know I would.

You'll never know where your sound is coming from unless you give it a shot.

[Ed Fuqua]

I say upright alla time. SMURF - the ONLY reason to play upright is because that's the sound you hear in your head when you hear BASS. It doesn't make a better musician or a better person. It IS a vastly different instrument than electric, the first thing to understand is that to a far greater extent that electric, the sound is physically manifested. And the best way to get to a big open warm swinging sound is to work on physical approach with a teacher.
I started on electric and bought an upright and just did what I had to do to get a sound. And was gigging and everything. But about 12 years ago I hit a wall I couldn't get over, around or under and it wasn't until I started studying with my teacher about 10 years ago that things started to get clear.
You say "I have my own way of learning music" and that's fine. The thing that you may be missing out on is that, though there are many paths, you are still trying to get to the same place. Don't let some situation in the past make decisions for you now.

[pontz]

I just did. I haven't picked up my BG since, except for rehearsals.

Have fun,
pontz

[morf]

Originally Posted by Ed Fuqua

I say upright alla time. SMURF - the ONLY reason to play upright is because that's the sound you hear in your head when you hear BASS. It doesn't make a better musician or a better person. It IS a vastly different instrument than electric, the first thing to understand is that to a far greater extent that electric, the sound is physically manifested. And the best way to get to a big open warm swinging sound is to work on physical approach with a teacher.
I started on electric and bought an upright and just did what I had to do to get a sound. And was gigging and everything. But about 12 years ago I hit a wall I couldn't get over, around or under and it wasn't until I started studying with my teacher about 10 years ago that things started to get clear.
You say "I have my own way of learning music" and that's fine. The thing that you may be missing out on is that, though there are many paths, you are still trying to get to the same place. Don't let some situation in the past make decisions for you now.

Thats not exactly what I meant. I currently have a very good bass instructor giving me lessons on everything. When someone tells me tabs are the devil and should never be used though, I'll laugh and decide that for myself

Double bass is pretty much the sound of bass in my head, for some songs and some genres. I think I'd have lots of fun playing a double, thats why I'm starting to get interested.

[CamMcIntyre]

Go for it. If you say upright, DB, etc doesn't make any difference to most people. I'm your age [or roughly there about], i've been playing DB for going on 5 years now, electric for going on 10 years.

In my mind, if you want to be available to do the widest variety of gigs-you need to be able to play both basses. I'm going to school for it with the intentions of doing musicals. Playing DB is a requirement.

take it easy.

[Snarf]

Yeah man, you say you want mwah? The DB is in the opposite direction of that. If you want THUMP and just smooth swelling tone (on lower action basses), DB is it.

I got my Kay for $1400. Best investment EVER. I had been playing electric for about 7 years at that point. The intonation came pretty quick (3 months or so) and now I'm able to play longer sessions without my hands cramping up (I got the bass this past February). It's a LOT easier to play really up tunes, and much harder to play ballads for some reason.

If you love the sound and want to make a big commitment to jazz or classical, it's all about DB man.

[morf]

Thanks, mwah wasnt the right term, I'll definately give it a shot