Double Bass Alternative - Semi-Acoustic Fretless

[eoinwalsh]

Hi.

I'm looking for a bass that would be a good alternative to double bass for straight ahead jazz.

I think Alain Caron uses some kind of acoustic/electric fretless. Does anyone here know exactly what it is he uses?

Also, do any of you have any other suggestions for an instrument like this?

Thanks.

 

[AMJBASS]

The Rob Allen Mouse(especially fretless) gets reasonably close to the sound you are looking for. Alain's bass is a custom made "MF". Its really a great sounding instrument. Probably the closest I have heard an electric bass get to an upright. I saw him play it in a trio setting at the Upstairs in Montreal. The real truth though is that you can never get a "true" Double Bass out of electric. It just doesn't swing the same(for lack of a better word). The attack and decay are different.

 

[KJung]

If you have the cash, the Rob Allen basses are IMO as close as you can get. Of course, they aren't going to replace a DB playing a jazz ballad in a good listening room. However, in a relatively loud, busy mix in a live setting, you could never tell the difference out in the audience unless you looked IMO (i.e., by the time you crank up a DB with a pickup through an amp, much of the 'DBness' is lost anyway).

Magnificently made instruments, and if you don't go crazy on fancy tops, etc. the Standard model (the 34" scale 4 string) is amazingly good, and a very good price/value.

IMO and IME!

 

[Gorn]

I don't know what Alain Caron plays but the Carvin AC40F/AC50F is a great choice. People also like the Rob Allen mouse and the Godin A4.

 

[hentor]

There's also the F Bass Alain Caron Classic, which has an incredible upright tone.

George has done some major work combining flatwounds (Labella Tapewounds actually) with piezo pickups, a chambered body and a specialized preamp in creating an incredible sounding bass.

http://www.fbass.com/models/model/acc

He also can install magnetic pickups in it to give you standard fretless sounds as well...

 

[Gorn]

The ubass is a great option for jazz:
@1:16 he starts playing

 

[iiipopes]

Go visit the EUB subforum on the DB side of the board.

 

[basspraiser]

Rick Turner Ren 4 or Ren 5 fretless with the tone rolled off....

 

[TolerancEJ]

This is Alain Caron's acoustic-electric. It was made by a Montreal luthier Michel Fornelle.

http://www.mf.qc.ca/Guitar_Bass_Engl.html