There’s a baby bass with a Ramirez neck listed locally that I can’t stop looking at. Fortunately I don’t have the funds at the moment and wouldn’t know what to offer if I did.
some day
some day
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Double Bass Baby Bass megathread
- Thread starter nil
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I couldn't get Reverb to show me transaction history to get a sense of current market for these
Here are a couple from Reverb:
Ray Ramirez Baby Bass Early 2000s Mahogany Sunburst | Reverb
Ray Ramirez Baby Bass Black | Reverb
There are also ones from here:
https://www.talkbass.com/search/37882036/?q=ramirez&t=post&o=date&g=1&c[title_only]=1&c[node]=144
Best of luck to you.
Ray Ramirez Baby Bass Early 2000s Mahogany Sunburst | Reverb
Ray Ramirez Baby Bass Black | Reverb
There are also ones from here:
https://www.talkbass.com/search/37882036/?q=ramirez&t=post&o=date&g=1&c[title_only]=1&c[node]=144
Best of luck to you.
Thank you!
Those are the full Ray Ramirez remakes, the one listed locally is a 60s Ampeg with a Ray replacement neck.
Others may disagree, but I'd think that less valuable than either a complete Ramirez or Ampeg. It is a pretty bass though!
I’m currently experimenting with a KK Bass Max on the E side of a wood bridge to try and get a tone that’ll allow me to use this bass in jazz settings. Mostly for reference I’m shooting for the 70s/80s Ron Carter/Buster Williams tone.
So far I’m getting a pretty decent sound using a fishman platinum stage into my Markbass 121p CMD, but I’m really lost with how to work this type of EQ chain.
If anyone could weigh in on this and maybe point me in the right direction I’d greatly appreciate it, as using the search function has given mixed results that don’t necessarily help me nail down this specific task.
So far I’m getting a pretty decent sound using a fishman platinum stage into my Markbass 121p CMD, but I’m really lost with how to work this type of EQ chain.
If anyone could weigh in on this and maybe point me in the right direction I’d greatly appreciate it, as using the search function has given mixed results that don’t necessarily help me nail down this specific task.
I don't know what the piece that the bolt for neck adjustments screws into is called but I believe mine is stripped. Got a replacement bolt and it still just spins around. Also where the bolt pushes against the neck, should it be going into the wood or just pushing against it?
Related to tail pieces, baby basses that have more traditional tailpieces with tailgut, is there a specific distance between it and the bridge?
Where could I get new diaphragm discs?
Related to tail pieces, baby basses that have more traditional tailpieces with tailgut, is there a specific distance between it and the bridge?
Where could I get new diaphragm discs?
I play electric bass - a Fodera. I’ve never played upright. I’m getting pretty involved with Cuban/salsa music, and I find myself looking at baby bass listings. How much of a step function would it be to get functional on a baby bass. And given that the other half of my life is spent playing jazz, is there a stick-type bass that would tick both boxes?
(Btw. Upright is out of the question - I’m 72, and couldn’t move an upright by myself 10 years ago!)
(Btw. Upright is out of the question - I’m 72, and couldn’t move an upright by myself 10 years ago!)
It of depends on a lot of things but it's definitely possible. I started playing upright in my 30s and I do gigs on baby bass.
Someone suggested mounting another pickup to the baby bass to play jazz. It's in this thread but I don't remember the user's name.
Someone suggested mounting another pickup to the baby bass to play jazz. It's in this thread but I don't remember the user's name.
I play salsa on a Clevinger EUB. It is built for jazz with a long sustain, but I shorten the notes by left hand finger or right hand damping. It might not be the original baby bass sound that adsorbs the vibrational energy by the membranes of the pickup, but there are baby bass models by other luthiers that don’t have the membrane pickup.
It works for me, I just need to care for every note how long it should sound.
I can change the articulation when I feel the bands needs something different that way and that is also something that is good for playing jazz (which I also do).
I find it most important to get an EUB that can be hold and played like a DB. Therefor you need one with a DB scale length and DB strings, a good body support, a straight endpin (at least if you want to bow too, I modified my Clevinger for this), a good glued on fingerboard (that can be replaced when needed and the most important of all a good setup.
BTW, I also play my big DB amped with that same group (11 musicians) if the stage room allows that and it is inside. It’s a 4/4 5-string carved DB and on the heavy side and I’m also over 60 years old. I won’t carry it without wheels more than 50 meters, but I can go two kilometers with wheels and just shortly lift it up when crossing a street.
Taking it up a staircase is no fun because of the size, but anything else is no problem.
Mounting another pickup at the bridge if a baby bass might work, but the sustain might be still a bit short because the membranes still absorb the vibration, shortening the note.
Since you haven’t played DB at all, I would recommend to rent a DB for at least half a year and get lessons by a teacher during that time to get the feel of a DB and learn how to handle it without being harmed (playing and transport) and if, you still feel you want some kind of upright, look for an EUB and always try before you buy. Maybe try several without buying, even if the best one is already sold then.
Or get good ones like the Yamaha, the Italian MK series etc. which are usually well set up. If you think about getting a cheap one, add $400 for a good setup by a bass luthier and $250 for good DB strings.
An old Ampeg Baby Bass is hard to find, expensive and may need replacement parts that are hard to impossible to get. And probably a setup too.
Since you come from the (bass) guitar world where every player has several different instruments for different sound, in the DB world players don’t have that many instruments, they would need to carry the doghouses around. Player often inly have one DB, some with a emergency replacement one or a less valuable or different string type one, very few a third one classical solo or 5-string orchestral one. But typically only one is taken out. I haven’t heard of a player taking two EUBs on stage. It is BG and DB or EUB typically if not only one of them.
So if you want to play jazz too, get an instrument that works for jazz and adjust the articulation for latin.
IMHO a membrane pickup baby bass only makes sense if you only play salsa on that instrument or older jazz styles that were played on gut strings unamplified at that time.
It works for me, I just need to care for every note how long it should sound.
I can change the articulation when I feel the bands needs something different that way and that is also something that is good for playing jazz (which I also do).
I find it most important to get an EUB that can be hold and played like a DB. Therefor you need one with a DB scale length and DB strings, a good body support, a straight endpin (at least if you want to bow too, I modified my Clevinger for this), a good glued on fingerboard (that can be replaced when needed and the most important of all a good setup.
BTW, I also play my big DB amped with that same group (11 musicians) if the stage room allows that and it is inside. It’s a 4/4 5-string carved DB and on the heavy side and I’m also over 60 years old. I won’t carry it without wheels more than 50 meters, but I can go two kilometers with wheels and just shortly lift it up when crossing a street.
Taking it up a staircase is no fun because of the size, but anything else is no problem.
Mounting another pickup at the bridge if a baby bass might work, but the sustain might be still a bit short because the membranes still absorb the vibration, shortening the note.
Since you haven’t played DB at all, I would recommend to rent a DB for at least half a year and get lessons by a teacher during that time to get the feel of a DB and learn how to handle it without being harmed (playing and transport) and if, you still feel you want some kind of upright, look for an EUB and always try before you buy. Maybe try several without buying, even if the best one is already sold then.
Or get good ones like the Yamaha, the Italian MK series etc. which are usually well set up. If you think about getting a cheap one, add $400 for a good setup by a bass luthier and $250 for good DB strings.
An old Ampeg Baby Bass is hard to find, expensive and may need replacement parts that are hard to impossible to get. And probably a setup too.
Since you come from the (bass) guitar world where every player has several different instruments for different sound, in the DB world players don’t have that many instruments, they would need to carry the doghouses around. Player often inly have one DB, some with a emergency replacement one or a less valuable or different string type one, very few a third one classical solo or 5-string orchestral one. But typically only one is taken out. I haven’t heard of a player taking two EUBs on stage. It is BG and DB or EUB typically if not only one of them.
So if you want to play jazz too, get an instrument that works for jazz and adjust the articulation for latin.
IMHO a membrane pickup baby bass only makes sense if you only play salsa on that instrument or older jazz styles that were played on gut strings unamplified at that time.
Check out some videos of Tony Banda playing an Azola bass. He gets a great sound. I had a Bug Bass before I got an Ampeg (which is now sold). I think the Azola basses can work for both, but my EUB days were spend playing exclusively salsa music, so I didn't need it to be versatile. The Bug Bass comes in all sort of configurations. One of my teachers in college had one, and he would show up on (jazz) gigs with it every once in a while.
The thing with the Ampegs is that the neck is thin. Switching from upright to BB wasn't too bad, but I definitely had to approach it differently or my hand would cramp a bit.
Tony Banda:
Here is Rene Camacho soloing in a jazz context
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/XjYcks6GT0M
The thing with the Ampegs is that the neck is thin. Switching from upright to BB wasn't too bad, but I definitely had to approach it differently or my hand would cramp a bit.
Tony Banda:
Here is Rene Camacho soloing in a jazz context
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/XjYcks6GT0M
Looking at an Ampeg baby bass, but the output on it is significantly lower than an electric bass.
Is this normal?
It looks and sounds great but it's pretty darn quiet, like I'd need to put a boost in the signal.
Is this normal?
It looks and sounds great but it's pretty darn quiet, like I'd need to put a boost in the signal.
I can’t respond to your question, but can I ask what music you want the Ampeg for, and is that what you’re playing now with your e-bass? I play jazz on my 4-string Fodera, but am studying salsa with a Cuban teacher, and have begun to think of getting a 5-string electric, or a baby bass. I’m telling myself it’s a distraction, and not to go there til I have to, but… bass lust!
If you put the same amount of plucking energy into the BB as into an EBG, specially if you have an active one, then you get a lot less volume out.
Put more energy into your finger like on a DB, maybe turn the gain more open too and you get a lot more thump from the BB.
Don’t see the BB as an upright EBG, it is a small DB without a resonance chamber that needs amplification, so play it like a DB. Don’t use too much amplification, use your fingers primarily.
Thanks for the feedback. I think I was unclear in my question.
I study and play upright. The feedback I’ve gotten from several prominent teachers is that, if anything, I pluck too hard.
I mean that A/B ing the instrument with a traditional fender electric, the output is dramatically lower, no matter how much power I put in the pluck
I primarily want it for situations where space and transportation are really important, to ease that load.
I always thought electric uprights don’t have the sound or physical playing feel of a traditional acoustic. I guess I still think that, but this thing sounds and feels good.
I play a little bit of salsa but I’m not very good. Who are you listening to for bassists?
Do you have any experience with fretless instruments? It might be a bit of a struggle dealing with intonation and note location, but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible. If it excites you to play, you might even practice more. I’d suggest playing one in person to experience the physical differences between that and your fodera. Ask your teacher!
If size is your concern there are builders who build stick shaped EUBs with diaphragm pickup.
I don't know if it's going to sound exactly the same but it's an option.
