Double Bass Baby bass?

[ricfunk74]

I'm an electric player totally new to upright. I have an opportunity to purchase a 60's Ampeg Baby Bass in good shape for $2500. I played it a bit. It sounded like a baby bass should, but the string action was rather torturous. I would have to verify that it could be adjusted before I buy it. My question is............should I buy it or should I go for something like an Englehart ES9 with a pickup for a bit less money. My wife has a small KYDD EUB that sounds like a fretless J Bass to me. I've always been interested in Baby Basses and this is the first time that I've been able to actually play one. Do they tend to have high action?

 

[Francois Blais]

The neck angle is adjustable with a screw hidden by a button, a little below the neck heel on the back.
Do you have a particular reason to get a Baby Bass?
Great bass for salsa, but maybe somewhat limited for other styles.
The Englehardt may be a wiser choice.

 

[ricfunk74]

The neck angle is adjustable with a screw hidden by a button, a little below the neck heel on the back.
Do you have a particular reason to get a Baby Bass?
Great bass for salsa, but maybe somewhat limited for other styles.
The Englehardt may be a wiser choice.

I don't have a specific reason for wanting a Baby Bass in particular other than I always thought that they were cool and there happens to be one available locally.

 

[KUNGfuSHERIFF]

I've never played one I've liked, and the plastic bodies are known to split and to stink like vomit.

Like Francois said, they have "the sound" for salsa and meringue when plucked with the fingertips, but are primitive instruments not known for their sonic versatility. Not to mention the fact that $2500 is steep. I saw one today for $1900 and it's been on the market at that price for close to a year.

 

[ricfunk74]

I've never played one I've liked, and the plastic bodies are known to split and to stink like vomit.

Like Francois said, they have "the sound" for salsa and meringue when plucked with the fingertips, but are primitive instruments not known for their sonic versatility. Not to mention the fact that $2500 is steep. I saw one today for $1900 and it's been on the market at that price for close to a year.

Thanks! That's good info.

 

[audiorep2]

Try to find a mid 1990s Ampeg reissue made by Azola. Active and passive electronics . Lots of sustain. Much more versatile than the originals.

 

[brianrost]

The real advantage of the Azola is the double pickups, one is like the original Ampeg pickup and the other a modern piezo setup. With the piezo it will sound a lot more like a DB.

Amazingly, when Ampeg was selling them they were hcarging more than actual vintage Babys were going for at the time

 

[redwookie]

To my ear, the wood bridge pickup, the one directly attached to the bridge, on the Azola baby bass gives a more fretless electric sound. It definitely doesn't sound anything like my gut stringed upright.

My first upright lessons were on an electrjc upright. Then I bought an upright. What an eye opener! An acoustic upright is a very different instrument.

Baby Basses are great (I woodsheded with mine yesterday) and and can sound good in the mix with a band. But I agree $2500 seems like a premium asking and priced for someone looking specifically for the 'Ampeg Baby Bass' sound

 

[redwookie]

 

[robobass]

I saw one once where a jazz player had fitted a spruce plate in the bridge area and installed a conventional upright bridge and used an Underwood. It felt and sounded very natural. He was asking $3k though, so I passed.

 

[billhw13]

I use a KK Baby Bass and really enjoy the deep sound. I'm not a latin / salsa player, but I have found the tone is big and deep - great for other styles. Kris (at KK ) makes a very nice instrument. I have been wondering what the bass would sound like with a 2 pickup system, mixing the traditional magnetic diaphragm with a piezo type of pickup on the bridge (like a Bass Max). Anyone done this?

Some video of a blues things a few years ago.