Double Bass Baby Bass megathread

[Rahn Yanes]

I've had an Ampeg Baby for almost 30 years now, and it's been subjected to all kinds of weather and humidity conditions and it has never given me any problems. I do treat it like I treat my larger upright acoustic basses, carefully, but I've been happy with it from day 1. When I got it, I had Don Underwood himself modify it with a wooden bridge and his pick-up, giving it a more acoustic sound, which I love.

Rahn Yanes

 

[mturkis]

Will do. Where are you located? Sonoma County?

 

[ChasFL]

I played an Ampeg baby bass for years here in Florida and I never had any trouble with it as far as humidy or heat problems went. I had played several outdoor shows with it, so it was well tested to some hot and humid outdoor elements. Of course, outside of playing outdoor shows, I always had it stored and played it inside of air conditioned environments.

Actually, as I was a Luthier for Guild Musical Corporation in Rhode Island during the early 80's, I noticed that EB's need to have their necks straightened for intonation more often down here in Florida than up north (about once a month here with frequent playing as compared to around once every 6 months up north), but of course that aspect doesn't apply so much to EUB's and DB's.

 

[frankytorres]

I live in vallejo ca and work in san francisco ca as a sound technician.

 

[mistergroove]

What do you think about LaBella strings?,did you hear about this strings?specially Black nylon tape?,I used These on my baby bass AMPEG ,and I am satisfaded, but I can not compare because I never had other strings ,therefore I need other opinions like yours.Thanks!

 

[mistergroove]

What do you think about LaBella strings?,did you hear about this strings?specially Black nylon tape?,I used These on my baby bass AMPEG ,and I am satisfaded, but I can not compare because I never had other strings ,therefore I need other opinions like yours.Thanks!

 

[Uncletoad]

I had a set of the Black Tape Labellas for Baby Bass. I didn't like them near as much as the Spiro Solos.

 

[mistergroove]

Thanks for your answer uncletoad,but I saw the Thomastik Internet catalog and I am confuse because they put by information about the set string the next:
3/4 Bass
Solo Tuning
A(I) $35.30
E(II) $37.50
B(III) $41.95
F# (IV) $47.75
Set $162.50 Set
Thats means that they are in other tuning? We have to turn that? Please explain me that,thanks!Or should I buy the Set model "Spirocore Light"?

 

[Francois Blais]

Solo-tuning is a whole step above orchestra pitch, thus F# B E A.
Strings made for that pich are thinner than normal.
Think of them as ultra-light gauge.
When tuned at regular orchestra pitch (EADG), you get an extra-light string.

 

[Uncletoad]

Thanks for your answer uncletoad,but I saw the Thomastik Internet catalog and I am confuse because they put by information about the set string the next:
3/4 Bass
Solo Tuning
A(I) $35.30
E(II) $37.50
B(III) $41.95
F# (IV) $47.75
Set $162.50 Set
Thats means that they are in other tuning? We have to turn that? Please explain me that,thanks!Or should I buy the Set model "Spirocore Light"?

Solo Tuning Spirocores are designed to have similar tension as Orchestra tuned Spirocores but at solo tension which is tuned up from E to F# A to B etc. What people do often is tune the Solo sets to Orchestra tuning, E A D G, and experience an even lower tension than the light or Weich strings.

The bounce of the solo strings tuned standard is part of the sound you are looking for. Weich or light strings are not the same.

dooh...beat me to it...

 

[v4tuna]

I'm looking at an Ampeg Baby Bass and am wondering what they are worth....the guy wants $1000

I was looking for an acoustic upright for oldtyme bluegrass but found this instead any opinions?

 

[Uncletoad]

I'm looking at an Ampeg Baby Bass and am wondering what they are worth....the guy wants $1000

I was looking for an acoustic upright for oldtyme bluegrass but found this instead any opinions?

That's half of what they usually sell for unless something is broken or missing.

It's not much use for Bluegrass though. Buy and old plywood German for $1000 to $2000 instead.

 

[waltwallace]

Yes, buy an old plywood for playing bluegrass, and buy the ampeg baby bass and you might be able to sell it for a profit.
Rudy's on 48th st. had one on their website and when I stopped by I was told it sold for $3900.

I'm selling one for $2500 and posted it in classifieds.

 

[Uncletoad]

Yes, buy an old plywood for playing bluegrass, and buy the ampeg baby bass and you might be able to sell it for a profit.
Rudy's on 48th st. had one on their website and when I stopped by I was told it sold for $3900.

I'm selling one for $2500 and posted it in classifieds.

Perhaps the one at Rudy's was White or Black and mint. That's the highest price I've ever heard of for one.

Typical sunburst ones with intact sides and no issues have yet to command over $2200 that I have seen...although in NYC everything is more expensive.

 

[waltwallace]

Perhaps the one at Rudy's was White or Black and mint. That's the highest price I've ever heard of for one.

Typical sunburst ones with intact sides and no issues have yet to command over $2200 that I have seen...although in NYC everything is more expensive.

The Rudy's ad (in my browser's cache... they took it down from the website as it had sold) said
"1963 Ampeg Baby Bass Upright
Mint conditions, sounds fantastic.Beautiful fiber glass body with nylon strings. With original gig bag."

The guy I spoke to said it was red (tho the pic that was on the website looked sunburst) and that it was mint. He said one would only sell for $2000 if it was really beat. And, yes everything in NYC is more

 

[Uncletoad]

The Rudy's ad (in my browser's cache... they took it down from the website as it had sold) said
"1963 Ampeg Baby Bass Upright
Mint conditions, sounds fantastic.Beautiful fiber glass body with nylon strings. With original gig bag."

The guy I spoke to said it was red (tho the pic that was on the website looked sunburst) and that it was mint. He said one would only sell for $2000 if it was really beat. And, yes everything in NYC is more

Yea Red '63 Mint you can name your price.

$2500 in NYC makes sense. Out here in the Land Of Cows they just look at it and say "what the hell's that?".

 

[robgrow]

I paid $200 for a sunburst BB in perfect condition with padded gig bag back in '73. Ah the good old days.

+1 on not recommending an Ampeg for Bluegrass. A decent plywood DB would be way better.

 

[v4tuna]

Thanks all

I bought the Upright ...german ply real nice

The Ampeg was not really for sale it seems....he may have searched ebay and saw a higher value....which is fine It is his treasure after all

 

[waltwallace]

If anyone is looking for an Ampeg Baby Bass, please see my post:

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?p=6808569

 

[djstugots]

I have a sendel baby bass and the aluminum bridge sounded like crap. I ordered a custom maple bridge from Ray Ramirez website, and it sounds great now.