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Double Bass Baby Bass megathread

#81
EXPLANATION
hi...
I am ANDRES ORTEGA (M.O.G.COLOMBIAN BABY BASSES )
THIS PROBLEM NOT HAPPEN WITH MY BASSES ....IS A LUTHIER BUT ,NOT IS M.O.G. BASSES ....
THE PROBLEM IS : THE ALUMINIUM PIPE USED IN THE BODY .
OTHER LUTHIERS USE 25- 30 CMS ONLY !!!(THE BODY SIZE :LARGE ,87 CMS !...
IN REPLACE ,THEY USE: 25 CMS ALUMINIUM P.+A GALVANIZED WATER PIPE ...:S
THIS IS TRUE ....
PD. IN THE PAST ,THEY BUY TO ME THE PICK-UPS AND CHORDS ...THE SOUNDS ARE GREAT ! ..... IN THE PAST .
PD2 :
MY SELLS ARE ONLY BY INTERNET .I NOT PERSECUTE BASSISTS !
 
#82
Guys,

I'm primarily an electric bassist. I own an Ibanez BTB 405QM and an Ibanez SR506. I love my B string...but...I can make do with 4.

I primarily play in Latin/salsa circles, and, of course, the old heads are all in love with the Ampeg Baby bass sound.

Since I have two electric basses, I was wondering if it made sense to find an Azola or Ampeg baby bass at an affordable price (i'm a poor musician) and where could I find good used prices for them, OR, retrofit one of my electrics to sound like the baby bass.

I've been playing around with my BTB and taking off treble, and putting up the mid and bass up, plus playing a little higher on the fretboard, and I'm approximating the "ping, bummm" sound of the baby bass in Latin music. I have roundwounds on them right now.

What else cand I do to either make my BTB sound more baby bass, or where can I find ampeg or azola baby bass at less than $1,000 (I know, I'm asking a lot...but I can't throw down $1,000 right now).:D
 
#83
That's not enough money for a Baby Bass. Your about halfway there.

There is no substitute for the sound of the Baby Bass in that context. It also makes you play differently because of what it is, how it makes you play, and how it sounds.

Having said that I saw Ismael Miranda last year. His bassist used a Fender Jazz and played it headstock up sitting. He was amazing and sounded fine out front. When you are used to making that sound and playing in those styles perhaps it doesn't matter what you use.
 
#84
As you know, there are alternatives to an original Ampeg bass. There's a thread a little down the page from this one, 'Colombian Baby Basses,' in which mikjans reeled off a list of replica builders. Perhaps he and others on this board might have experience of them.

The bassist in my salsa group (I'm actually the pianist most of the time, not the bassist!) is in the market for an EUB at the moment, and is considering the Ergo because of it's value for money and because it preserves something of the physical approach of the double bass, which of course is shared with the baby bass.

Anyway, I thought I'd respond to your thread because I play salsa on the same bass as you, the SR506, when I'm not able to take my DB out. I like to palm mute at the bridge and play with my thumb. The lower range of the B string can be fantastic if you use it sparingly, in the same way as one might hit the open E on the double bass as an accent.

As an aside, and in the same vein as UnkieToad ( ;) )I did a record a couple of years ago with Dorance Lorza (Cafe Sexteto etc.) on which he played bass, half on his Ampeg BB and half on an old telecaster bass that happened to be in the studio. Mixed and mastered, it wasn't glaringly obvious which bass was being played. You don't mention whether you play double bass at all, but if you are able to bear in mind the physical 'limitations' (tell that to Brian Bromberg) of the doghouse when you're playing on the slab, it won't sound so slabby. :)

Good luck with the search!
 
#85
jamiefoxer said:
I've been playing around with my BTB and taking off treble, and putting up the mid and bass up, plus playing a little higher on the fretboard, and I'm approximating the "ping, bummm" sound of the baby bass in Latin music. I have roundwounds on them right now.

What else cand I do to either make my BTB sound more baby bass, or where can I find ampeg or azola baby bass at less than $1,000 (I know, I'm asking a lot...but I can't throw down $1,000 right now).:D
Click to expand...
You should probably switch to flatwounds, like black nylon tapewounds.
You could also try to put a piece of foam or rubber under the strings, near the bridge, to mute the strings. This could make it unnecessary to change drastically your plucking technique.
 
#86
francois said:
You should probably switch to flatwounds, like black nylon tapewounds.
You could also try to put a piece of foam or rubber under the strings, near the bridge, to mute the strings. This could make it unnecessary to change drastically your plucking technique.
Click to expand...
+1
Increasing your string height will also give you a more percussive sound.
 
#87
thanks for the advice...

No, I don't play upright...i'm actually a drummer by training, and later percussionist in all latin percussion instruments. I took up electric bass to supplement as a bassist because there weren't much latin bass players in the area (Western MA). At first I wasn't into it, but in the last year and half, I pick up the instrument for an hour or more every day and I've gotten pretty good on it. Thought it might be the right time to get a baby bass...but in reality, if I can do the job with an electric, I'd be happier saving my money. The bass player of Jimmy Bosch plays electric and Jose Gazmey of PR plays a Fender Jazz...plus Bobby Valentin also plays electric, and they all get a quite close sound of a baby bass.

I'll try the flatwound and foam ideas...see if I can make it sound good. I'll make my BTB405QM my "baby bass", and keep the SR506 for gigs where I need to have a more modern "timba" or "DLG" "growling" salsa sound.

If I really feel the need...I might just buy a fretless Fender Jazz of Ebay (prices are RIDICULOUSLY cheap) and set it up as my "baby". Might be good for me to finally learn how to play a fretless more accurately...
 
#88
I know Mauricio Ortega visits this forum often and I appreciate his helpful advice and advertisements about his basses. I was drawn to him by the substantially cheaper price of his Ampeg replicas.

I'd like to know from others about MOG Baby basses. Anyone played them? How do they compare, professionally speaking?

I don't wish to start a war of reviews between Mauricio and others who may think the bass needs some work on some aspects. I'm just a potential buyer trying to do the rounds and research before I commit to buying from Azola, Ray Ramirez, Sendel, or MOG. And price IS an issue...I'm a poor player.

Reviews of the MOG traditional baby basses (and others) are welcome here, please.
 
#89
anyone? I talked to a latin bass player about this, and he mentioned that the MOG basses had some sort of pickup issue that didn't make them sound too good. This came from a gigging salsa player who plays Sendel basses. He's the THIRD bassist here in the Western MA area who plays Sendel basses, and they're almost exclusively recommending those.

Any other thoughts on MOG, though? I'd like to get a thorough amount of information before picking one of the Colombian companies.
 
#90
Don't know anything about MOG. You have links or something?

I use a '67 Baby Bass. Nothing like it really. The Azola reissue comes close, I hear that Ray Ramirez's work does too.

Nothing out there under $2000 US that I've heard of does that sound right.
 
#91
I've seen two different bass players playing Sendels...they sound great. Perfect for Latin music.

One of them had the traditional Baby bass, and the other had Sendel's "mini Baby normal", which is a smaller version of the Baby bass. But, the sound he got out of it was indistinguishable from the regular size...and more compact, lighter, and with a more playable shorter neck.

MOG, I've heard, sells basses cheaper than Sendels, but so far, the only review I've heard of them is from one of the owners of the Sendels. He remarked that they had weaker sound as a result of a pickup problem. Of course, I don't wish to fuel wrongful information and harm Mauricio Ortega's business, which is why I really want reliable information from people who own MOGs. I just want to do my research right.

But, so far, what I've seen of Sendel replicas look good.
 
#92
so...after misfiring this into the acoustic DB forum...i just picked up the Merchant Vertical pictured below (this is after a little cleaning and such, as it was fairly gunked up) for what i think is a fairly good deal.

however looking at the merchant page, it looks like the pickup config is different from the current crop of MV basses (bridge pickups are in there as well). anyone familiar with these think they can take a look and maybe give me a guess at its age? i suppose i could email Merchant's shop, but i hate to bother him...plus this way i get to show it off a bit ;P

merchant_vertical.jpg
 
#93
Not sure about the exact pickup config especially since many of those basses are built to order but you just managed to pick up my favorite eub and I am JEALOUS. I have been having physical problems moving my DB and would love to have one of those. Usually there is both a mag and some sort of piezo pickup but the exact configuration may have changed at times.
Enjoy,
S
 
#95
actually, considering what i paid for it...i don't think i ever will. i paid a lot less than i've ever seen one of these go for (with gig bag and flight case) and so i'm stuck in a quandry. i wouldn't feel right charging market value for it and i couldn't let it go at the price i paid.

plus...i love this thing! :P

altho you have my word, if i ever do part with it...you'll get a PM first :)
 
#97
Guys,

I'm well acquainted with the Ampeg Baby Bass, as I come mostly from the Latin music edge of things. I personally like the sound of the Ampeg Baby Bass, but I understand how others have criticized its sometimes short, decaying, percussive sound (compared to DBs).

Is there anything that can be done if someone owns a passive, Ampeg Baby Bass or a replica? I'm a total newbie when it comes to pedals or other electronic devices...but is there anything that could help the sustain of an ampeg?
 
#98
It seems like you could replace or augment the bridge with a piezo bridge and an outboard buffer/mixer. That would probably work much better than trying to use a compressor/sustainer pedal. For a suitable buffer, check the "commercial marketplace" page for a DIY project in a mints tin.
 
#100
I have used my '67 Baby Bass in a variety of situations. I like it best with Spirocore Solo strings. I often run it with a Bartolini NTBT electric bass preamp. When I do I usually have the passive onboard tone knob all the way off, the volume all the way up and set the preamp with maximum bass and a modicum of treble boost. This is a great sound with tons of sustain with the stock pickup.

I also have an Azola Wood bridge and Bass Max pickup that I use on occasion for a more modern sound. I have mixed both of those sources through the Raven Labs MPBII to great effect.

The best tones have come from plugging the stock pickup (tone rolled all the way off, volume all the way up) into the front of my Walter Woods amp and into a Euphonic Audio VL 208 or 210 or into my vintage SVT and 810.

The latter will rattle your teeth. If you use that rig be sure to have sired all your children first. You may be unable afterward.
 

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