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Electric Bass in Bluegrass

#41
The Tallahassee region used to host several three-day bluegrass festivals every year. I attended a few with an inverter, and a 25w tube amp, with a 115 cab. The campgrounds were full of stage acts waiting for their showtime, and random musicians wandering around. I always had folks eager to jam, electric or not.
 
#42
As long as you can get by any double-bass snobs in the band, go for it. My tips: Roll back the tone. You really don't want any kind of clank. Next, you want a nice attack and as little sustain as possible. Don't compress! I also do left hand muting to shorten sustain and to get a nice break between the tail of the current note and the attack of the next. Also, don't be too busy. A lot of one-fives and some walkups. Play only half as many notes as you think you should.

I'm lucky to have a Line6 Variax 705 modelling bass. It has a kay upright emulation that sounds pretty good in an ensemble setting. I use it with my big band for old swing tunes and it sounds pretty authentic. Unfortunately this bass is no longer in production. I think there might be a pedal or two around that can modify your response envelope and eq to emulate a more upright sound.
 
#43
as a mostly DB player in bluegrass/fiddle/americana bands, i see the visual part being the most important. who knew the upright bass in bluegrass is the Ariana Grande of Pop music....You gotta have the look!

i will also say that i have been switching over to more electric bass as our band has changed quite a bit. Our banjo player had to quit with carpal tunnel and now we've drums, strats and teles! There are songs that i cannot play an electric and get the sound i want for certain songs. The added percussion of the DB is a real game changer, especially when you have musicians with great dynamics.

learn to be a doubler.....i am...just in reverse
 
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#44
I played in a busy touring country rock band for 5 1/2 years in the late 70's/early 80's and we regularly played festival and opening act gigs including The Great Northern Bluegrass Festival in Mole Lake, WI every Summer where we shared the stage with all kinds of traditional bluegrass, newgrass, western swing, Americana and folk acts. I saw plenty of acoustic acts with electric bass that kicked @ss including Doc Watson who was the king of them all, IMHO.
 
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#47
This is not a question you should be asking us. This is something you should ask the folks in your band. For example, I have a couple bluegrass gigs coming up next week, and they only want me to play upright, so upright I will bring. So talk to the band, and under no circumstances would I show up with just an electric before discussing it. It matters not how many popular bluegrass bands have electric players. The only opinion that matters is the person paying you.
 
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#49
Alden Vines said:
What are y’all’s opinions on an electric bass setup for bluegrass? I’ve never played a bluegrass gig, but I’ve been thinking my Fender Am. Performer Jazz Bass w/ tone rolled halfway down would work, but that’s just me. What are y’all’s ideas?
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Audible gasp.....then silence......
Just kidding. While it’s not the traditional choice, it’s been done, and as a bass player, I would get really tired of shlepping a DB around. If I was going to play EB in a BG band, I would go with a P vs. a Jazz. Some others I’d look at would be a Jack Casady, Gibson EB2, Guild, and Hofner Beatle or Club bass. Probably a lot of hollow bodies out there that would work.
 
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#50
AGCurry said:
It can be done and has been done, but it's not ideal.

The New Grass Revival had a bass guitar, but, as the name suggests, they were "newgrass." Many bluegrass purists disliked them.

Aside from the visual aspect, there is something about the sound of the double bass that the bass guitar cannot do. Bass guitar, double bass, and tuba all inhabit the same frequency range, but they are not interchangeable.
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What's the best tuba for metal? ;)
 
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#55
I've been down this road about 12 years now.

I was an electric player (still am) but took the plunge into DB and bluegrass at the same time (to be in a bluegrass band and go to jams with them). Bought my first used chinese ply bass, which has been traded-in to upgrade twice now. And launched into all things bluegrass bass. Never looked back, and have enjoyed the ride.

I echo several others saying that it "can" be done. I've seen many pro acts on stage (Lonesome River Band being among the best) with an electric bass out there. Hot Rize has also been mentioned. But with every one of those, you'll get a thousand or more purists out there that say it "shouldn't" be done on electric. Bluegrassers are the most conservative and purist musicians I have ever met. Seems you get the most disdain from the mando and banjo players. I don't know why that is.

If you're going to outdoor festivals, which are a great way to play bluegrass with others (maybe no other way in some parts of the country) then you're going to need an upright bass. No where to plug in otherwise.

So leave the guitar for recording and/or stage shows. Get yerself a doghouse, and let her rip.
 
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#56
JimmyM said:
This is not a question you should be asking us. This is something you should ask the folks in your band. For example, I have a couple bluegrass gigs coming up next week, and they only want me to play upright, so upright I will bring. So talk to the band, and under no circumstances would I show up with just an electric before discussing it. It matters not how many popular bluegrass bands have electric players. The only opinion that matters is the person paying you.
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And I would add that if someone asks you to play bluegrass and you don't ask or don't know, you should assume you should bring an upright. If you don't have one, as @JimmyM, said, you should ask for sure.
 
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#57
I've played it with Fenders, Hofners, Upright Bass, and my favorite circa 1973, "Gut Bucket". Note the sliding rope capo.
20080_1344315653205_4348099_n.jpg
 
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#58
Play EB in a local bluegrass band. I have a Lakland long scale and a Gibson 2007 Les Paul Double Cut that both do an adequate job playing grass. Some keys are playing with the right hand up on the lower neck; roll off all treble, and play straight forward bluegrass style (roots and fifths with an occasional leading tone or walk down or up, but nothing that would take away from the vocal or lead). I have had no complaints. Another key is I keep the volume in a respectful level to the rest of the band. Use an Ampeg 108. Bass 2 o'clock mid and treble noon.
 
#59
Some "purists" will frown at the thought, but I've done it. You definitely cannot recreate a upright tone, but you can get a tone that works. If you play well, and with the right feel, that's more important.

Flats help. Foam under the bridge helps. A fretless helps. But you can make anything work.
 

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