Double Bass carruthers sub-1 and strings

[rvandivort]

Hi am new here. I play the above instrument and have in the past year switched from d`addario hybrids to pizzacatos.(back in may) I have been amazed at the higher frequency reponse. As have my fellow musicians. A full half octive use--and more consistency between strings at the high g level. I play through a GK400rb3 with max contour level through a peavy 2-10. Wonderful JAZZ sounds. A full half octave above high G I should say--ooops. I don`t think the difference between the various eub`s is all that great. It`s more the player. I teach bass--learned on old plywood basses 40 years ago,have had students that sound great on a Kay!--with substandard strings. Press down hard with the left hand and hurt for a while--maybe a year or two. Hurt on the left side of your body---hands,forearm,shoulder,back,and chest--pump that left peck!! Get callouses on your right fingers. Kill the midrange whenever you can, because that is what makes the whooomf, or cardboard sound. Also, I have seen mention of the acoustic value of certain instruments in this forum. That will happen to a certain degree. But, YOU ARE PLAYING BASS! So, it will only happen at higher levels if at all. The speaker cabinet is your "acoustic" replacement for the "doghouse". Actually, I would prefer that carruthers would have NOT hollowed out the body and the neck. See LES PAUL guitar! Sustain is where it`s at--and even so, my instrument has 15-20 seconds of it.That`s where the sound is so different from an electric bass guitar.I have played with a 79 year old guitar player for 15 years who switched from a L65 gibson to Godin solid body---He didn`t sound any different!!

 

[Francois Blais]

Hi there.
I'm not sure what's your point exactly.
It'd be a good idea to fill out your profile so we can know more about you whenever we want to:
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/profile.php?do=editprofile

You seem to like a fretless BG kind of tone.
Maybe you should switch to another EUB?

I'm in the opposite direction you are.
I also own a Carruthers SUB-1 but am more interested to get a more DB-like tone.
I've mostly like the instrument with orchestral type strings.

Well, to each his own!

 

[rvandivort]

Hi Francois, I guess it depends on the music you wish to play...Maybee..But, I play gypsy jazz, bebop, neobop, funk ,rock. I play regular gigs, weddings, wine tasting`s...Whatever. The major point was the d`addario strings (pizzacato) expanded the tonal quality to a decernable degree. The 79 year old guitar player I referenced before was quite amazed after the string switch. " Where did you get all the highs?"......and the sustain.More consistency between all strings without dropoff. They are high tension strings, which require more effort, but allow lower action. Which I haven`t exploited yet. I have 6mm on g and 9 on e. I teach jazz ensemble at the local community college-Wenatchee Valley College. I haven`t bowed yet on these..but I think you could--with effort. I`m pretty sure all the greats have this . Christian Mcbride, Ron Carter, Stanley Clarke, David Frieson (who now plays an eub pretty much exclusively).And John Clayton. Im` guessing ....but I think that`s so.