Upright thump

[stickynotes]

Anybody out there found an electric bass that gets a reasonable upright sound. I know there's no substitute for the real thing but there must be a hollow body or even an acoustic/electric out there that gives you a pretty good thud for rockabilly type stuff.

 

[mongo2]

I've been using hollowbody basses to mimic uprights for decades. My current favorites in no particular order are a Gretsch Electroline G5442BDC, Epiphone Jack Casady Signature, and a Hofner Icon Club Bass. Many will get you there if you use flats (I use Labella nylon tapes) maybe a mute, but that's just part of it. I found that adjusting my technique, plucking position, note selection, and mindset went a long way getting me more into the upright-esque realm.

One of my favorite upright simulators is the old 18" scale Guild Ashbory (now available from DeArmond/FMIC). I've used an Ashbory since the mid 90s.

I've just recently purchased a Gold Tone MicroBass which uses "rubber" strings like the Ashbory but it's a 23" scale small acoustic guitar type design. It also appears to be a promising upright simulator. There's also the Kala U-bass which is a 20" scale ukulele style and also uses "rubber" strings. Kala also makes a solidbody version using the same scale.

 

[ROOTSnFIFTHS]

My Fender Road Worn with Labella Deep talkin' flats and a piece of foam stuffed under the stings at the bridge gives a pretty reasonable upright sound.

I just tried it next to my upright and it is close in an ensamble.

 

[dmac1961]

Single coil P bass w/ flats, tone rolled down around half and plucked between the 12th and 15th frets.

 

[Stumbo]

There's another thread on the same topic going on in the Gen. Instruction forum you may want to check out:http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f22/making-electric-sound-like-upright-1047455/

 

[jasper383]

Kala U Bass or a Rob Allen bass.

 

[stickynotes]

Thank you guys for the great ideas that I will be following up on. Now I've got an excuse to go to the next guitar show.....grin. Upon reading some of the other threads I went to youtube and listened to a couple demos of the Gretsch Junior Jet with one pickup. Seems to have possibilities for upright simulation. I'd like to hear one with some foam muting.

 

[fish slapper]

Rob Allen Mouse . Right hand close to the 12th fret will also help.

 

[Stilettoprefer]

Fretless P bass with flats and bare rosewood board with pretty tall action. Tone rolled way down, plucked right at the end of the neck. If you need more thump, shove a piece of foam under the strings right at the bridge.

 

[Justice4trance]

I chanced upon 'NS design omni 5' in YouTube .
Fretless sound with a tad of upright thump tone IMO

 

[mtb777]

My Tacoma ThunderChief Fretless 5 does it pretty good. Was even closer when I had Tomastik Acousticores on it.

 

[ffutterman]

Same as others have said. Flats, fretless, passive with tone rolled off, and plucked at the neck will give you a nice warm thump.

 

[Gorn]

 

[bachlover]

I didn't need another bass but after I played this one I couldn't resist it's thumpy upright sound. It's incredibly close! The Godin A5 I own is an older model, the Ultra available now comes with a soapbar pup as well as the piezo and has a connector enabling the player to hook up to a synth.