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Double Bass Dean Pace EUB megathread

#101
I'm lovin' it more all the time. My bass instructor showed me some upright techniques for right-hand and that also helped get the sound I want.

One word of warning. The thing comes with no instructions (at least mine didn't). The piezo pickup takes two 9-volt batteries. You need to unplug the patch cord when you are done playing/practicing or the batteries will run down. If you start getting a bad tone from it (it sounded to me like I was running it through a fuzz box), then your batteries are probably low.
 
#102
It came today, batteries included. (I'm used to checking because I play Ernie Ball basses, and they're all chock-full of batteries.)

Took me a while to figure out how the stand worked. At first, the nut was about a foot over my head and I figured that wasn't terribly ergonomic. Luckily, I have a drum key and that's what I used to loosen some collars and slide some tubes down until it's now comfy.

Straight up and down wasn't all that natural for me, so I leaned it out a bit away from me, just a bit, not much, and now I think I've got my "position".

It's probably all wrong, but I'm an electric bassist, dammit, don't yell at me!

I'm thinking now about strings. I have a set of TI Flats but those might be too light for this baby. I want something thicker, maybe - but possession being what it is, I'll probably put the TIs on there and save some cash.

Played for a couple of hours, mostly rockabilly and throwback country stuff - okay, I can do that! Also experimented with some Norah Jones - I'll have to work a bit on that stuff, so easy on electric bass, but this is different.

It is what I thought it would be - a fun toy. If I ever get confident enough to play it in public, I'll let you know!

Jack
 
#105
A friend of mine had problems using tapes with his EBMM bass equipped with piezos. I'm hoping that was unique to the EBMM designed piezos as I really want to put some tapes on this Neck On A Stick.

Nothing to do but try it, I suppose.
 
#107
I don't know what strings Dean put on that thing at the factory, but they are terrible. I imagine that decent strings will make a big difference in tone.

If the tapewounds don't work, I'll probably get some LaBella Deep Talking Flats for it. I love those things on my electric basses.
 
#108
bovinehost said:
I don't know what strings Dean put on that thing at the factory, but they are terrible. I imagine that decent strings will make a big difference in tone.

If the tapewounds don't work, I'll probably get some LaBella Deep Talking Flats for it. I love those things on my electric basses.
Click to expand...


The tapewounds ARE Deep Talkin' Flats. And, the LaBella tapes are pretty cheap if you get them through Carvin. Just order a couple of cleaning cloths, or some (gasp) pics since the lowest shipping rate is pretty ridiculous. :D I'd send you the ones I tried in the Bongo, but as they are cut for the Bongo, I don't think they'd fit the Pace.
 
#110
Hey all - I'm really close to making the plunge. Few questions:

1. The Rotosounds you speak of here, are they nylon? Could you give me a link to the place you ordered them from and/or tell me the exact guages?

2. Is the bass noisy at all? Someone here is trying to sell one, but when I searched other posts by the guy I saw he complained about an electronic buzz that didn't sound too good. He should delete that thread if he really wants to sell it. :)

3. Is it super difficult to set up oneself??? I'm pretty good at setting up my electric basses, but know nothing about these things. Am I going to have to search out a pro, or is it fairly intuitive?

4. Will I never have GAS again if get this.

Thanks
 
#112
Bassic83 said:
I would think having nylons on would not give you a bridge ground, hence hum.
Click to expand...

The guy with the hum didn't say he had nylon strings on it. I just looked up the only rotosound strings I could find that had the number 88 in them and they said they were nylon. Wanted dar512 to be a little more specific about the strings he said made it sound great. The hum/buzz question still remains. Is the bass noisy at all? Thanks for the other info.
 
#115
Just ordered mine. I emailed Dean about the noise thing and they assured me there would be no problem. If there is I'll simply send it back. I should be getting it Wednesday. Same day my Bongo 5 is due to return from it's hospital visit - it ironically had a buzzing problem. :)

Now the string thing. Even if I don't hate the strings it comes with I will hate the strings it comes with because I'm impressionable and the brainwashing has been done. That's not entirely true, but I'm expecting the worst.

Can ya'll chime in on links to the least expensive strings that are going to give me the closest to upright tones that I can get with this thing? I understand it's not going to sound like a DB, but I need as nice and warm and thuddy sound I can get. I'll be using it for this gig - there's lots of downloadable vids and mp3s for anyone interested in lending a hand - and checking out an incredibly talented woman...

Link Removed

thanks ya'll!
 
#116
Joe Nerve said:
Can ya'll chime in on links to the least expensive strings that are going to give me the closest to upright tones that I can get with this thing? I understand it's not going to sound like a DB, but I need as nice and warm and thuddy sound I can get.
Click to expand...
I'd get black nylon tapewounds.
There are several brands; Fender, Carvin, LaBella, RotoSounds, etc.
Although maybe the most expensive, I think the Rotos are the best.
Carvin's are actually made by LaBella. So they are the same string, and their tone is clearer than the Rotos, for what it's worth.
Don't forget that buying cheap is more often than not the worst investment!
My $0.02!
 
#119
I played a Dean Pace at the local music shop last week and really liked it. I play BG, but am itching for an upright tone. But with 6 people in my band (two drum kits, 5 keyboards and two guitarists with enormous pedal boards) there isn't much room on stage for a real DB. It's also mounted to the tripod stand so I won't have to switch basses between songs, just slide the BG onto my back and play the EUB. I was looking to buy a used Ergo and was skeptical about the Dean. But it sounded MUCH better than what I was expecting.

For us bass guitarists trying to make the switch to DB, it's much easier to learn. It's an upright fretless BG, so it's much easier to play because we're used to the feel of it. Whereas a DB took me a long time to get used to the longer scale.

I'm ordering one next week.

I hope the DB guys don't bash me now because I don't have the cash or trunk room for a DB. :D
 
#120
I have a couple of acoustic DB´s, a 3/4 scale EUB (two, actually, although one is up for renovation any year now) but I still use my 34" scale EUB for 95% of my gigs (the rest is EBG). Haven´t been bashed by any of the guys in the band, nor by fellow bassists, so far. Most look at my little bass and think it looks cool and played right it sounds good enough. Some have rented it when logistics stopped them from bringing the big bass. Sure, you gonna meet the "this is not a real bass" argument sooner or later. But just like a Strat is not a Fleta or a Rhodes is not a Bosendorfer, an EUB is not a DB. It´s all a matter of function. And I´d rather hear a good EUB player than a bad DB player in a band.

In the immortal words of Jimme Lunceford: "´t ain´t what you do, it´s the way that you do it!" (Which, BTW, is a great swing tune with a strong bassline played by Mose Allen, one of the first EUB players!)

Mikael
 

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