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Eb neck question

lorianb

lorianb

Apr 10, 2011
116
6
Ottawa
thejeers.bandcamp.com
#1
Before I get harangued, please be aware that I have read the various threads on the question of Eb vs D necks.

So my question to Patrick (and anyone else who wants to chime in with an answer) is : what if any, would be the reasons to avoid an Eb bass?

Some background on moi : new to doublebass (electric bass player with background in classical piano). I am not nor will I be a travelling and/or professional musician. My goals with doublebass are : to know the instrument inside and out, play as much and in as many styles as possible (community orchestra, chamber, some jazz, some blues and lots of freeform mixed in).

thanks,
lorian...

ps - yes there will be a teacher involved but not at the moment. :)
 
#3
Well, I mostly agree with the last poster, there is little to "avoid" with regard to the location of D or Eb on the G string, at the neck block position ...UNLESS you are planning on owning a number of double basses and need to adjust your playing quickly between them: for example, on a recital you might have one bass in solo tuning, one in orch tuning. You would need the "same" or as similar as possible length of string and at the neck block, where your thumb lands and its relationship to the first finger on D or Eb. Another situation might be if you are playing jazz in a club then the next day play in an orchestra. Chances are you might have two basses for that situation, and they need to have the same "feel" in order to play accurately in tune.

If you only have one bass, this is a moot point. You can get used to anything, D, Eb or even Enat. But if you are teaching a lot of students, this may come in as a problem when there is a wide variety of references out there. I usually put pressure on my students to make sure their basses are set-up in the "standard" D neck arrangement, simply so that visual and aural referencing is matched between us.

So there ya go...some reasons to think about the structure of the neck. Be aware that a GOOD luthier can change your bass to whatever you desire.

Best!
PN

PS: BTW, I have an extra long neck on my fretless elec bass so that the feel between the notes is very close to the double bass. Again, for switching back and forth on the same gig, I need to play in tune (wish I did!). :)
 
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