Double Bass Beginner Double Bass (revised-EUB??)

[Llewellen]

Yes, I play mostly URB these days, and have both a 3/4 size carved bass and an EUB. . I have an Eminence EUB that is very close in feel to my 3/4 size carved bass. It uses standard DB strings, and with care can sound pretty good when amplified. I regualrly use mine when gigging since I play alot of outdoor gigs that are fairly loud. Used ones here on TB regularly sell for $2k or thereabouts (might be more for you taking shipping into account). I like it much better than the "stick"-type EUBs. If you decide that its not for you, then you can resell it and recoup all or most of your investment. When playing unplugged, its loud enough for you to hear but not the neighbors. And lessons is a good idea, as I'm sure you've read about EB technique does not translate to EUB at all.

Good luck with your search!

Yes, some lessons at least initially so as to get the foundations of good technique in place right at the beginning. Have to be via skype though, which is OK.

 

[Llewellen]

As long as the front passenger seat lies down, you can get a double bass in virtually any car. It's just that you'll be unable to carry other people in the car.

That would make for a lonely ferry ride to Vancouver to visit the luthier

 

[turf3]

Well, I dunno, if you want to play double bass I'd go straight to the endpoint and start learning double bass. I've played other people's EUBs and they finger the same as an upright, but the response is quite different, to me at least. It's kind of like having an electric bass, but upright and fingered like an acoustic double bass. I can definitely feel the difference. To me the EUB is probably best treated as an adjunct to the upright acoustic for situations where the real thing isn't practical, or alternately treated as its own distinct instrument the way the bass guitar is.

Just my two cents and you can take it for what it's worth. But it's unlikely that you can't get a DB in your car, and I don't think the sound of DB bowing by a learner is anywhere near as hard on the ears as a violin.

 

[Llewellen]

Well, I dunno, if you want to play double bass I'd go straight to the endpoint and start learning double bass. I've played other people's EUBs and they finger the same as an upright, but the response is quite different, to me at least. It's kind of like having an electric bass, but upright and fingered like an acoustic double bass. I can definitely feel the difference. To me the EUB is probably best treated as an adjunct to the upright acoustic for situations where the real thing isn't practical, or alternately treated as its own distinct instrument the way the bass guitar is.

Just my two cents and you can take it for what it's worth. But it's unlikely that you can't get a DB in your car, and I don't think the sound of DB bowing by a learner is anywhere near as hard on the ears as a violin.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts. The thing is that I don't know with certainty if I am meant to be playing a double bass. My musical nature resides in the bass clef. I have been playing bass guitar since my mid-teens (after several years of classical piano training). If I was playing a reed or woodwind instrument it would likely be a bassoon or bass clarinet. My ear is naturally drawn to the tonality of a double bass but playing it is another matter.

Here's my thinking, after considering a lot of helpful advice here. If I start with a used EUB I can at least begin to learn technique. Admittedly, it's not the same as a double bass but I will begin to get a feel for what's involved in playing the instrument. If all goes well, I can sell (or keep) the EUB and move onto a double bass. Or I may find that the EUB is the instrument for me. After looking at the classifieds here on TB it seems that it would be a whole lot easier to sell a used EUB than an entry level DB. There would be virtually no chance of selling a DB for local pickup in my small community so the shipping charge would be daunting to a prospective buyer. In other words, in practical terms I could get into and out of (if necessary) an EUB easier.

 

[lurk]

Get a real bass. If you want to play bass, get a bass. If you really can't get to a luthier/bass shop, I have had students who bought entry level basses from String Emporium with very satisfying results. EUBs are fun toys, very useful tools for working pros, and can be wonderful instruments in their own right, but are a pale substitute for the real deal.

 

[bherman]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts. The thing is that I don't know with certainty if I am meant to be playing a double bass. My musical nature resides in the bass clef. I have been playing bass guitar since my mid-teens (after several years of classical piano training). If I was playing a reed or woodwind instrument it would likely be a bassoon or bass clarinet. My ear is naturally drawn to the tonality of a double bass but playing it is another matter.

Here's my thinking, after considering a lot of helpful advice here. If I start with a used EUB I can at least begin to learn technique. Admittedly, it's not the same as a double bass but I will begin to get a feel for what's involved in playing the instrument. If all goes well, I can sell (or keep) the EUB and move onto a double bass. Or I may find that the EUB is the instrument for me. After looking at the classifieds here on TB it seems that it would be a whole lot easier to sell a used EUB than an entry level DB. There would be virtually no chance of selling a DB for local pickup in my small community so the shipping charge would be daunting to a prospective buyer. In other words, in practical terms I could get into and out of (if necessary) an EUB easier.

As always with TB, you'll get lots of different pints of view on this. As someone who uses both an Eminence EUB and a DB regularly, I can tell you that in my view they're fairly close (at least in feel). Of course, the DB sounds better and feels better to play because of body resonance and size of the body vs the hip rest, but I would not compare playing the Eminence in any way to playing my electric bass, they are worlds apart. The DB and Eminence are some distance apart, but not that much (at least when it comes to moving around the fingerboard, pizz and arco technique, scale length, etc. I've even used the same strings on both (Spiro Weichs with medium E).

I'm sure that you will make the right choice for you, and hope that you have a chance to try an EUB before you buy, to see if you agree. At one point I even considered selling the DB and sticking just to the Eminence, but came to my senses (nothing compares to the experience of playing a DB). But its close enough to make playing either worthwhile, especially if in your case its a gateway instrument.

 

[TroyK]

Call Jake deVillers (the Bass Spa) and ask him if he has or knows of anything that matches your criteria. If he does, go see him in Cresent Beach. If he doesn't, you'll need to know him eventually. I drive from Seattle for him to work on my bass, you'll want and/or need for him to work on yours too.

 

[Llewellen]

Call Jake deVillers (the Bass Spa) and ask him if he has or knows of anything that matches your criteria. If he does, go see him in Richmond Beach. If he doesn't, you'll need to know him eventually. I drive from Seattle for him to work on my bass, you'll want and/or need for him to work on yours too.

Thanks. Another TBer tipped me to him and to Gerard Samija in Vancouver so I definitely will be in contact with them before making any purchase anywhere.

Ironic as it may seem, it is easier, quicker and cheaper for you to drive from Seattle to Richmond that it is for me to get there from Vancouver Island. Ferry lineups, ruinous fares, etc.

 

[Jeff Bonny]

If I were looking that bass Brent has would be on my short list.

Look everywhere you can get to and play EVERY bass you can get your hands on whether you think you can afford it or not. Build your database. There are some good players on the Island you should get in touch with. Isn't Rick Kilburn back there now? Just cold call people and say you're looking. The local community is pretty supportive of people on the hunt and lots of good basses get bought and sold via word of mouth. I got a smokin' deal a while back on a post war Pfretzschner in Seattle thanks to TroyK who saw it, told Jake de Villiers who told me. I sold that bass by word of mouth to someone Jake knew was looking. When I studied with Kilburn he told me about Michael Moore selling a really good bass in NYC which caused several instruments down the food chain to change hands fairly quickly.

 

[Llewellen]

If I were looking that bass Brent has would be on my short list.

Look everywhere you can get to and play EVERY bass you can get your hands on whether you think you can afford it or not. Build your database. There are some good players on the Island you should get in touch with. Isn't Rick Kilburn back there now? Just cold call people and say you're looking. The local community is pretty supportive of people on the hunt and lots of good basses get bought and sold via word of mouth. I got a smokin' deal a while back on a post war Pfretzschner in Seattle thanks to TroyK who saw it, told Jake de Villiers who told me. I sold that bass by word of mouth to someone Jake knew was looking. When I studied with Kilburn he told me about Michael Moore selling a really good bass in NYC which caused several instruments down the food chain to change hands fairly quickly.

Being completely new to the instrument, I had no idea who or where Rick Kilburn (or any other local bassist) is or is located. However, his website is active so I definitely will be in contact with him before making any purchasing decision. Thanks for the info.