Double Bass Azola EUBs Megathread

[LyleRyan]

Sensicores are a perlon (like nylon) core string with a flatwound steel wrapping. I think they have been around for a while, but have never seemed to be as popular as other similar strings like Pirastro's Obligato or Evah Pirazzi. I learned about them from bassist Dave Roe. Dave does a lot off slapping and likes the fact that Sensicores have a smooth wrap and don't chew up his fingerboards like roundwound guts. Also, they aren't terribly expensive. I like the E&A better than the D&G. The E&A make a great combo with gut upper strings. (Dave Roe uses plain gut uppers)

Speaking of Dave Roe, here he is with my Acoustic Baby Bass, serial #1, back when Steve was just getting into this product line.

..Lyle

 

[Bobby King]

Cool! If any of you folks get to Nashville, make sure you go see Dave play with the Don Kelly band at Robert's on Lower Broadway. He's a great player!

 

[drewk]

Hi All -

So, the question is: Has anyone sold or bought a Bug or Lightning Bug lately? Any idea if they are increasing in value because they're not made anymore, or if the value is stable or declining because there are more EUB options than there were 10 years ago?

Hi Chuck, I have a 2008 Lightning Bug up for sale in the classifieds at the moment, I'm looking for €3,200 shipped (I live in Ireland), have had a few enquiries vie email, so the price I've quoted seems reasonable, but maybe others would like to jump in here, with their thoughts?

Cheers

Andrew

 

[Chuck_G]

Andrew -

Thank you for the response. I still haven't gone forward with the sale, so your information is very helpful!

Best,

Chuck

 

[NickyBass]

Hey guys. I really dig Steve's work, and would love to find a Bug Bass with the 'Azola Latin pickup' installed. I thought I would ask here if anyone has one for sale or trade---or if anyone knew where to find one.

 

[glenfong]

Updated my Ultracoustic Baby Bass with a Fishman Full Circle.
Lisa Gass at Los Angeles Bassworks carved a new bridge with adjusters. It is much closer to the sound that I'm used to (and a little louder than the stock unit) since my doublebass also sports the same pickup.

 

[Andy Allen]

Beautiful - Lisa does such great work!

Andy

 

[Francois Blais]

The ad to sale an Azola UltraCoustic Baby Bass has been moved to the Classifieds...

 

[patas75]

I'm looking at building a "mambo mute" for my BSX Allegro bass, similar to the Azola Mambo Mute and am trying to find the adjustment wheel but do not know what it's official name is. Do any of you know what they are called? A pic of the mute is in the quoted post.

Thanks

I've been reading this thread for sometime (because I own a Gypsy and am a novice salsa bass player - actually, I play piano).

Anyhow, when I purchased my Azola Gypsy, it didn't come with the mambo mute. Because my primary use for the bass is latin/salsa music, I decided to order a mambo mute.

I thought it would be as simple as calling Jill and Steve up, ordering the mute and having that piece sent to me.

I was told that now the process for getting the mute had changed and I had to send back my bass to them to be custom fitted.

At first I was reluctant, and even thought of making my own mute.

But after Jill's persuasion, I decided to send it. I recently got pictures sent of it and sound clips and the new design totally makes sense! (I even thought of a concept similar to this before I decided to send the bass back to them).

Here are the pictures - I will try to send the sound clip later:View attachment 146714

 

[anonymous122511]

I'm looking at building a "mambo mute" for my BSX Allegro bass, similar to the Azola Mambo Mute and am trying to find the adjustment wheel but do not know what it's official name is. Do any of you know what they are called? A pic of the mute is in the quoted post.

Thanks

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[patas75]

After I posted I thought of the bridge adjusters which I think should work. I was just wondering if they went by another name and sizes. Maybe with a larger wheel for easier access.

 

[anonymous122511]

After I posted I thought of the bridge adjusters which I think should work. I was just wondering if they went by another name and sizes. Maybe with a larger wheel for easier access.

Easier access for what? Go much bigger and it'll hit the bridge.

 

[hensonbass]

I have recently started playing my Azola UltraCoustic Bug Bass for the entire show on my road gig after retro fitting a magnetic pickup to compensate for the volume issues I had been having with the band I'm in. Every day I get to play that bass makes me so thankful I ordered that instrument even though I was never able to try one before the purchase. Steve Azola is an artist. I've never had an instrument I could express so much with in my life like my Azola. I hope he is finding happiness in his life these days. His work of art makes my musical journey so fulfilling.

 

[Steve Azola]

Does my heart good to read all the positive comments, thank you all so much. I check in here from time to time. Still have all the patterns, materials and most of my machinery stored here where I live. Someday I'll find my "mojo" again, meanwhile, I'm spending these days getting some cars ready for the Pebble Beach car show in a few weeks.

Thanks again, it has been an honor work with you all,
Steve Azola

It's not over yet...

 

[hensonbass]

Does my heart good to read all the positive comments, thank you all so much. I check in here from time to time. Still have all the patterns, materials and most of my machinery stored here where I live. Someday I'll find my "mojo" again, meanwhile, I'm spending these days getting some cars ready for the Pebble Beach car show in a few weeks.

Thanks again, it has been an honor work with you all,
Steve Azola

It's not over yet...

Good to hear from you Steve, rock on!

 

[Bobby King]

I put a set of Spirocore Solo gauge strings on my Azola Bug Bass and they sound great! Comfortable tension, not too floppy. Comparable to Weichs, but a little darker and punchier, with less whine.

 

[Jazzdogg]

I put a set of Spirocore Solo gauge strings on my Azola Bug Bass and they sound great! Comfortable tension, not too floppy. Comparable to Weichs, but a little darker and punchier, with less whine.

Are you bowing the Spirocore Solo gauge strings?

 

[Bobby King]

Are you bowing the Spirocore Solo gauge strings?

Yes, and that's one of the reasons I bought them. Previously I had Garbos with an Oliv G on the Azola. This combo sounded good for pizz, but Velvets are really not very bowable IMO. I'm commited to using Gamut Guts (love them!) on my regular upright, which are also pretty challenging for arco, and so I really haven't had a bass set up arco-friendly in a while. It's not that I do much arco professionally, but arco practice is a good thing and I enjoy it.

I've never really had a hard time with Spiros arco-wise, and the Spiro Solos are more or less like bowing Weichs. Brand new, the G is still a little whiney, but that tends to subside as the string ages. On the Azola, turning down the treble for arco seems to be the ticket. There's still a bit of that "giant mosquito" factor to the sound but it's a lot better than some EUBs I've played. The Solos have a nice pizz sound, a little more thump than Weichs.

 

[tornadobass]

On the Azola, turning down the treble for arco seems to be the ticket. There's still a bit of that "giant mosquito" factor to the sound but it's a lot better than some EUBs I've played.

I've also found that a Boss EQ pedal is good for switching between pizz and arco on my Bug, although I don't use it for arco very often. I can dial back the highs, add a bit more beef and take the volume down a little, all with one click of the toe.

 

[Jazzdogg]

Yes, and that's one of the reasons I bought them. Previously I had Garbos with an Oliv G on the Azola. This combo sounded good for pizz, but Velvets are really not very bowable IMO. I'm commited to using Gamut Guts (love them!) on my regular upright, which are also pretty challenging for arco, and so I really haven't had a bass set up arco-friendly in a while. It's not that I do much arco professionally, but arco practice is a good thing and I enjoy it.

I've never really had a hard time with Spiros arco-wise, and the Spiro Solos are more or less like bowing Weichs. Brand new, the G is still a little whiney, but that tends to subside as the string ages. On the Azola, turning down the treble for arco seems to be the ticket. There's still a bit of that "giant mosquito" factor to the sound but it's a lot better than some EUBs I've played. The Solos have a nice pizz sound, a little more thump than Weichs.

Thanks!