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Double Bass Can I play an EUB for Bluegrass

B

billm67

Nov 23, 2006
55
2
Central, PA
#1
I have never played an URB...but I love Bluegrass. I have played EB for 15 years and I also play banjo, mandolin and guitar. I would really like to learn to play an URB, but I don't have a place to put it. I drive a four door cab truck and I don't have a cap on the back...so I need something I can get in the cab of my truck. I am thinking about a an NS NXT and use a GK MB200 with an Ashdown 210 cab. I know it is not the most normal thing....but does anyone out there use an EUB for Bluegrass. I already get enough odd looks when I pull a Taylor out at a jam session (I live an hour away from Nazareth).

Any one have any experience using this type of bass in this setting?
 
#2
Blueground Undergrass was a band that used electric instruments and a drumset in their bluegrass music. I think as a result, they weren't very accepted in the propper bluegrass circles. Since bluegrass is based off heritage and tradition, the style of music almost demands nothing change. If instruments start changing, then so does the sound and thus, bluegrass is now modern folk.

I'm also a huge closet bluegrass fan. Grew up on it in the mountains of NC. I'd say get you an upright 3/4, lower the peg all the way down and squeeze that bad boy in your pick-up. Find you a circle somewhere and get to pluck'n away. I've seen uprights stuffed in backseats plenty of times, so it can be done.
 
#3
If you really can't fit a 3/4 (which I think you might be able to), get a 1/4 size and play seated or with a long pin. A compromise, but still a viable acoustic bass with high string height. You can usually find them pretty cheap.

I would think the only times you want an EUB for bluegrass is if your doing prog/jamgrass which uses electric sounds / drums. Its really a different instrument.
 
#5
MR PC said:
I isn't unusual to hear bluegrass bands with EUB's. Especially touring groups.
Click to expand...

Agreed. I used to use one in a bluegrass band! I definitely should have added the touring caveat; even some super trad groups use them on the road. I don't mean to discount their usefulness for a performance musician, but he was asking about informal jams which are almost always acoustic. I know from experience needing a power outlet (and needing to explain what you are playing) can be frustrating in that scene. YMMV.
 
#6
billm67 - I have a 4-dr p/u truck & have no problem whatsoever fittin' an ol' 3/4 Kay into the back seat from the driver's side with the neck laid across the front passenger seat with the back adjusted just a touch down to the rear.

I'd suggest that, first of all, you try to fit a full size URB into your truck before you give-up on it, which sounds to me like what you would really, truly rather/want to play - am I right or wrong? ;)
 
#8
I'd say if you're just getting into bluegrass, go bluegrass all the way. Get an upright - it doesn't have to be anything beyond an old beat-up one that you configure to get decent action. And get going!

Yes, easier said than done, but if you put some work into it and keep at it for a while, you'll get there. And I guarantee you'll be happy doing it.

And I'd suggest NOT getting a 1/4 bass. It wouldn't be loud enough in a bluegrass group setting (unless maybe you're a duo), AND you'd still have to deal with buying and selling the thing and transitioning to (and buying) a standard 3/4 upright later. Skip the middle step.

I'd also suggest not doing the EUB unless/until you feel like you really need one, or some kind of touring situation requires that you go that way. IME, I've found EUBs to be just too "in between" - not really an upright (even in the hands of great jazz players), and if I wanted electric, I'd just play my bass guitar(s).
On the other other hand, if money, time, and storage space weren't issues, I'd have and play any number of basses.
 
#9
There' s an older fella in my bluegrass club who uses an electric upright bass. It sounds good and all. He uses an EUB because he doesn' t want to transport a double bass.

Myself I prefer an upright bass. I tried a pbass before but prefer the sound and feel of an upright bass.

good luck,

Fred
 
#15
Well...the wife and I were talking this weekend and she said"you're not bringing a huge bass into.here too". Seeing as though I have three guitars, two banjo, two mandolins, an electric bass, a couple of amps and a decent sized pa system at the house (think bi-amp with sub cabinets) I can't really blame her. If I am going to do this...it looks like an EUB is all I'll be able to get away with. Most.of the jam.sessions I get to now just have an electric bass player...so I'm not really.worried.about.whether they would accept an EUB. I have a cool idea for.festivals too. I just bought a GK mb200 and it would be fun to build.a.compact cube with a kappalite 3012ho speaker. Duracell makes a little battery powered inverted that would run off amp for at least a couple of hours. Put it on a little folding luggage cart and carry the Eub in the case in the other hand and I'd be set. I am leaning towards an NS designs nxt4 as the eub. I could always pick up some other jobs and play it in church too. I have a pair of 2x10 cabinets that I could use for real jobs.
 
#16
My brother played bass in a successful gigging bluegrass band for years using a Fender Jazz bass with coated strings. He played well above the neck pickup (sometimes over the fretboard itself) to get an open, hollow sound.

His main instrument is banjo, but he also plays guitar, piano, and just about anything else with strings.

The band played a festival that did not allow "amplified" instruments. He borrowed an upright bass and played all their sets with it.

It's a shame that some bluegrass people are so closed minded. Wonder how long it took before the upright bass was accepted over the washtub bass or blow jug?

It's 2011. Play electric.
 
#17
People's expectations are ridiculous sometimes. I've had gigs where the bandleaders insisted on upright when the EUB was working better in the mix...but it didn't look right. Or times where someone wanted my Jazz Bass rather than the Alembic, same reason. I'd prefer it to be what SOUNDS good in the context of the ensemble, but whadda I know, I'm just the bassist. And yeah, my old Kay sounds fantastic, but so does my Fender Jazz.
 
#19
The NS is a pretty decent EUB but pretty expensive for a stick bass, you can get an Ergo a way cheaper. I would highly recommend the Eminence as they are a hollow wood bass with sound post etc.

Dang good sound, really cuts through the mix with next to no feedback issues no matter where the placement of the amp or monitors are....
 
#20
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