Double Bass sound on an Precision Jazz Bass, is it possible?

[Mr. Moustache]

I'm in a fusion jazz group at present. When I first joined, the electric jazz bass sound was just what they wanted. Lately, however, we've been toying with a lot of pure jazz pieces that would naturally sound a lot better on a double bass. I know how to play double bass, but they're just waaay out of my price range at present. Point being, what's the best EQ or pedal to get the same short Midtone-rich sound of an upright on an electric?

Generally, I want something with a short, punchy attack that little jazz chorus could make into a convincing double bass.

[bongomania]

We get this question a lot. There is no good way to do it with a pedal. There are a couple of sample-playback or synth-type pedals out there which, if you have the proper synth bass to trigger them, will play DB sounds- but even then the playing/tones will be more like playing DB sounds on a keyboard sampler/synth than like playing a DB.

If you go over into the Basses forum and search on "upright", you'll probably find one of the many threads they've had on the subject ("DB" is too short for the search engine). But basically you want to adjust your finger technique more than anything. The guys that actually double on a regular basis say that the only convincing trick they know that really works is to play the BG using DB finger/hand technique. As a small improvement over that you can add a bit of foam down by the bridge to mute the strings, and you can emphasize the mids (which is why some people will say to use a P bass), and use flats and/or a fretless bass. But I've seen a lot of these threads, and invariably you get a dozen armchair bassists saying "P-bass with flats and a foam mute!" and you get a few crusty hard-gigging veterans saying "Nope, it's all about using DB technique".

[Mr. Moustache]

I'll definitely try the DB technique, I've toyed with it before but never taken it seriously.

Thanks for the tips

[Jared Lash]

Just to preface things, I never had good technique on the upright either plucking or with a bow. And I haven't really touched the thing since my sophomore year of high school. But I have worked on simulating the tone.

And to me, using DB right hand technique is not the best approach. At least not for me personally. Here's how I do it.

I rest the the edge of my plucking hand on the strings right around the bridge pickup for muting purposes. Then I pluck with my thumb with a downstroke. I give it a solid initial attack with my thumb, landing on the next highest string (E to A etc). On an upright, the process is reversed since you are plucking in the opposite direction, but it still helps. If I have to, I may also use my index finger too, plucking with the finger more parallel to the string rather than perpendicular, getting more flesh on the string.

Obviously a fretless works best, but also use a 5 string if you have one. Move everything up 5 frets and one string down. Using the thicker strings will give a better tone for this technique.

Turn up your low mids, roll off the highs and add a bit of reverb.

[Jared Lash]

As a final note, this technique works OK with really low action, but sounds better with higher action.

Also, be prepared to spend a fair amount of time practicing it. While I love pedals, I think a lot of people fail to realize how much of an effect different plucking hand techniques (and to a lesser extent fretting hand techniques) can have on your tone.

Hope that helps.