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Double Bass Electric Double/Standup/Upright Bass Recommendation

djp420

djp420

Sep 14, 2019
54
50
Brooklyn
www.soundlaboratories.us
#1
I just entered the world of the Double Bass. Or is it an Upright Bass? Anyhow, like I said I just entered the 3/4 Upright Bass world. Or is it a Standup Bass? Never mind, what this thread is really about learning about electric Upright Bass ownership. Since I started playing the Double Bass (3/4's) I cannot put the critter down. I've been playing the Electric Bass Guitar since the early 80's and it's really my thing. I play often.

I am wondering who can share with me what Electric Double Bass would be awesome to own but won't shatter the bank? I generally play American P Bass's, a Rickenbacker 4003 and I especially love my US made G&L L2000e and El Toro Basses. I say this to demonstrate that I am not a fan of inexpensive instruments that have obstacles like how some inexpensive Fender models having sharp fret ends and so on.

I was looking at Ibanez Electric Double Basses, they seemed interesting, any thoughts?
 
#2
I use an older BSX. Found it used at a good price. It feels allot like my real upright, so it a good transition between the two.

Can’t comment on the Ibanez, never seen one in the wild. The NS Wave is a great bass. I wish I never sold the one I had. The dots on those neck make it an easy transition. It’s a blast to play. If you can play a frettless electric. You will quickly be all over the bass.
 
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#3
svlilioukalani said:
I use an older BSX. Found it used at a good price. It feels allot like my real upright, so it a good transition between the two.

Can’t comment on the Ibanez, never seen one in the wild. The NS Wave is a great bass. I wish I never sold the one I had. The dots on those neck make it an easy transition. It’s a blast to play. If you can play a frettless electric. You will quickly be all over the bass.
Click to expand...


BSX's aren't cheap.
 
#6
djp420 said:
BSX's aren't cheap.
Click to expand...

Compared to what? Check out pricing on my favorite of those I've tried, the Yamaha Silent Bass. ;)

You can occasionally find a used BSX four for around or under a grand with some effort. Mine was $900 and that proved to be money very well spent.
 
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#12
The DB (and EUB) world are very different than bass guitar. Its very easy to find a decent playable electric bass for not much money, not so with upright bass (acoustic or electric). Most of my gigs are done using an Eminence EUB- they're pretty pricey new but I found mine used for around $1100. It has the same fingerboard scale as my DB so I can use the same strings, so it feels very much like playing my DB. Most of the stick-style basses do not really feel, play, or sound like a DB. Its possible to find a decent DB (think something like a Shen 80 - plywood bass) used for around $1K, and there's alot of not so good basses for less. Strings, pickups, setup and repair work - everything is much more expensive with a DB/EUB vs a bass guitar. Prepare to go down a rabbit hole - not trying to discourage you, but its a hard instrument to do on the cheap.
 
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#13
djp420 said:
I just entered the world of the Double Bass. Or is it an Upright Bass? Anyhow, like I said I just entered the 3/4 Upright Bass world. Or is it a Standup Bass? Never mind, what this thread is really about learning about electric Upright Bass ownership. Since I started playing the Double Bass (3/4's) I cannot put the critter down. I've been playing the Electric Bass Guitar since the early 80's and it's really my thing. I play often.

I am wondering who can share with me what Electric Double Bass would be awesome to own but won't shatter the bank? I generally play American P Bass's, a Rickenbacker 4003 and I especially love my US made G&L L2000e and El Toro Basses. I say this to demonstrate that I am not a fan of inexpensive instruments that have obstacles like how some inexpensive Fender models having sharp fret ends and so on.

I was looking at Ibanez Electric Double Basses, they seemed interesting, any thoughts?
Click to expand...

Ibanez upright bass is too short. It has a 34 inches scale while a standard double bass has around 41 inches. This difference is huge and might let you think that you can keep the electric bass fingering on double bass which is simply not true.

For electric upright basses you might look at mk basses:
Mod.Studio - Contrabbassi Elettrici MK
 
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#16
devnulljp said:
If you really want to play upright, don't waste your time with an EUB. They don't feel or sound the same. They're fine if you only need it occasionally, but if you're going to play upright get a proper doghouse.
Click to expand...

I sort of agree with this. Some EUBs are more like an upright than others, so it depends on what you buy to some extent. The high-end Yamaha Silent Basses are among the best if you want an EUB that emulates the upright experience.

I went a different route and had my organization buy a 6-string NS Design for my use. The current EU6 is almost identical to the bass I had. I thought it was an amazing instrument, but it did not sound like an upright. That was fine for me as I bought it partly to emulate a fretless bass guitar sound.

During some concerts I switched between a fretted Yamaha TRB6, the 6-string NS Design, and a real upright bass. I chose whichever instrument best matched the arrangement. The real upright got the call for traditional swing and the NS Design was used for more modern compositions.
 
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#19
Lee Moses said:
If I'm reading the O.P. correctly, he already owns an acoustic (double) bass. He now wants to know which EUB would be best for him.
Click to expand...
Yes thank you! I do have a 3/4 Upright Bass. I recently got it and love it!!! I am loving it as much as my Bass Guitars. I've been looking at EUB's (electric upright basses) on Reverb and eBay. Being a long time bass guitar player I know there are variables in quality which to me helps my experience on the instrument. For example a Rickenbacker 4003 is not for every music style but works very well for punk and prog rock. It would be great to have one that emulates the sound and experience of the EUB without the heft of the acoustic 3/4 URB. A "Fender American Precision Bass" of the EUB's Not an EUB that feels and plays like a Fender P but one that is good like a P bass if that makes sense? As a side note I love the P bass, the thicker the neck the better.
 
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