Double Bass - I don't really get it

[GretschWretch]

And by the way, why do bluegrass bands make the bass player (upright) stand in the back? Everybody else gets to be up front whether they sing or not, and there's the bass player shoved into the background. Is it a sound/microphone thing? Am I the only one who gets pissed about this?

The bass notes throw such a long sound wave the instrument needs to be further back for the other musicians to hear a fully developed note, and the bass can still bleed into the microphone.
I was in a band that was on a four-band bill, and all the other bass players (bluegrassers) crowded the mic (and could not be heard front of house). I stood as far back on stage as I could get (I have a heavy-handed attack) and pulled aside a bit of the backdrop to expose the brick wall behind, so I had both the f-hole sound and the rebound off the wall going for me. After our set I heard the sound guys, who were set up two thirds of the way back in the hall, say I was so loud I didn't need a mic. I was playing a horribly set up Kay M-1.

 

[GretschWretch]

My best guess, is it comes from pre-amplification days, so the drummer and bassist could hear each other well.

From there, it just became 'the place' for the bassist to stand.

Drummers? Bluegrass bands?

 

[tfer]

I play bluegrass occasionally. With a drummer.

Actually, percussionist would be more accurate.

 

[Rib 13]

Just about any recorded pop music genre until slappity-whackity-poppity and keyboard bass became established.

Thats a fallacy

 

[fantasticplanet]

Often the sound is so dull most will not be able to tell if the player is a half step off a chord tone on beat one.

if this sounds dull to you, check for spiders laying eggs deep in your ear canals. only explanation i can think of.

 

[David Jayne]

The bass notes throw such a long sound wave the instrument needs to be further back for the other musicians to hear a fully developed note, ...

Another fallacy. Just doesn't work that way. The issue you are describing is about beaming of mids, which help to define notes, and which may be difficult to hear off-axis. Getting further away makes the sweet spot larger. The bass is equally present at any reasonable distance, including putting your ear right next to the source.

 

[David Jayne]

I doubt I can add anything of real value here, because it doesn't seem that you have made a real attempt to "get it".

An all acoustic instrument jam would help you understand. A good piano, bass, drums jazz trio, also all acoustic, would also help.

I have to commend you on your honesty and openness; it a fairly short post, you declared that you didn't get it and gave enough information to confirm the statement. Upright is definitely not for everyone. It's a much more difficult instrument to master than electric bass, requiring a much more specific technique, more hand / forearm strength, and a lot of dedication. ...

I agree generally, speaking as a failed double bassist. But it's not about strength. There are plenty of skinny women who absolutely wail on upright. It's ALL about technique. I didn't know that when I attempted it. Didn't get lessons. Didn't study properly. Hurt myself a bit. Got smarter about it but had long since given up. I'll get another one.

 

[edbass1]

I get the upright, I play it a bit myself, but I do think a lot of (mainly jazz) players are entirely guilty of listening with their eyes. I really think am electric player with the right approach sounds great in a jazz combo or a big band, but many band leaders or other musicians just won't have it on principle but I think listening with an open mind, it's actually a very strong sound. I get that if you come into a standard like Marcus Miller or flea it won't work but if you have a tasteful approach I think it works well. It's just tough getting people to abandon their preconceptions and just listen to the sound without worrying about the instrument it is coming from

I get a little sad as I enjoy playing the electric more (though I still enjoy upright), I probably do 10x the practice on electric and have a much better set up, but I've been getting a lot more work on upright even though I know I'm a worse upright player with a worse rig than my electric set up

 

[Thumper19605]

 

[HandsFree]

I played double bass for 10 years, but I can understand op's sentiment.
Loved bowing and playing symphonic music, but on jazz(y) gigs I found ultimately that there wasn't anything I couldn't do better on my bass guitar.
And all the hassle of properly maintaining it and transport just wasn't worth it for me in the end.

 

[PB+J]

It's also true that the upright bass is an "anachronism" but really, ALL instruments are anachronisms. Why are guitars still made of wood? Why bother to learn an instrument when you can just trigger samples? Why paint when you can take pictures? Why sculpt when you can program a CNC machine? It's a reasonable question. But people don't play instruments because they are no-nonsense marvels of efficiency and ease. People don't make art because it's streamlined and up to date.

Different instruments have different sounds and different advantages and disadvantages. The tuba can do a bunch of things a bass can't do. The electric bass can do a bunch of the things the upright can't do very well. The upright does a bunch of things the electric doesn't do well. It's why we have different instruments. You should try a good upright--really try it, like rent or borrow one, and maybe take a few lessons, and then decide if it's for you or not. Or don't. But don't dismiss the thing based on ignornace

 

[pedroims]

Hey.
I've played bass for a number of years- electric only- mostly R and B, blues, rock....

not sure why anyone would play one of those. Cause it looks cool? Often the sound is so dull most will not be able to tell if the player is a half step off a chord tone on beat one.

Double bass sound different than electric and many times DB is the right sound, and I don't agree with the statement that most people wont be able to tell if player is out of tune, in a Justin Biebier concert maybe but in a Jazz concert I don't think so.

And knowing how to play electric bass does not mean that you can play DB, yeah the musical approach is the same but the instrument itself is completely different.

 

[Big Heavy Bass]

Didn't Jaco once say in regards to the upright bass..."Too much work for too little sound"...haha. Having played a lot of upright in many different situations there were times that I could certainly relate to that sentiment..The upright can certainly be frustrating but also rewarding.

 

[PB+J]

unsubscribing

 

[Flaked Beans]

Hey.
I've played bass for a number of years- electric only- mostly R and B, blues, rock....

I like to play jazz standards for fun and have often toyed with the idea of joining a small trio. However, most want up right acoustic and I just don't dig the sound. Or the size!

At the risk of being a jerk, not sure why anyone would play one of those. Cause it looks cool? Often the sound is so dull most will not be able to tell if the player is a half step off a chord tone on beat one. (Mic'd on stage is a bit better but seems rare)

I know I've pissed someone off by writing this. But I need to be enlightened on this instrument. Please explain.
Thanks!

 

[Humbled]

I've played EB for 45 years, DB for 25.

If you have to ask, there's not much I can say to help you.

 

[mongo2]

Hey.
I've played bass for a number of years- electric only- mostly R and B, blues, rock....

I like to play jazz standards for fun and have often toyed with the idea of joining a small trio. However, most want up right acoustic and I just don't dig the sound. Or the size!

The group will want what it wants. Just like any other gig, if you can't provide what they want, you won't get the gig. It's as simple as that.

I had to drop acoustic upright from my arsenal due to the inability to recover enough strength to play it after surgery on my left arm. I've been using either a Hofner Ignition Club bass strung with nylon tapes, a '63 Silvertone/Dano Dolphin nose (tapes), a Krappy EUB with tapes, or a Kala UBass as a substitute that, so far, have been accepted by the Jazzers I've worked with.

I've also used washtub bass and EUB builds of my own using heavily modified 30" scale Bronco necks that people respond well to. One club owner requested that I use the washtub whenever we play there.

Found a picture of one incarnation of our group where I used an earlier version of the Washtub...

Here's another using the Kala Ubass...

View media item 5194

 

[Ulf_Hansson]

Double bass sound different than electric and many times DB is the right sound,

That would be the reason. Now, most of my gigs doesn't require the DB sound, but if needed and if I can get the proper transport there I'll bring my old big bass.

 

[P. Aaron]

Upright playing requires as much time & dedication to get it right. Perhaps even more so than electric bass.

For me it's being able to devote the time. A big concern is getting the right instrument that sounds good & keeps me playing it. The biggest concern is obtaining one that doesn't require continuing repairs that are prohibitively expensive.

As can be the case of upright basses, buying one is the easy part.

 

[Remyd]

There's no downside if you already have the van you need to haul it around. So, if you are a properly creepy van driving kind of guy, there's no downside at all.

I can get a bass in almost any vehicle bigger than a smart car. I gig out of a 2002 Corolla.