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Double Bass Electric Double/Standup/Upright Bass Recommendation

#21
Eminence and the BSX Allegro are intended to get closer to the true upright experience. They both of small acoustic bodies.

As previously mentioned, I believe the top of the line Yamaha Silent Bass is going to be closest to an authentic upright bass experience. I believe this bass uses digital modeling.

None of these are particularly cheap.

Also I am not aware of any cheap EUBs that really go for the authentic upright vibe.
 
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#24
djp420 said:
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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I was looking for the PBass of electric uprights too and I guess it doesn't exists.

AFAIK there isn't a recognized standard as in the electric bass world. Maybe the NS or the YAMAHA, as different as they are, could be something worth checking if you're looking for something "mass" produced.

I've personally tried the NS and I didn't like it that much. It doesn't sound nor feel to me like a double bass but your mileage might vary.
 
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#25
With a deep, abiding love of the EUB*, I recommend that you stick with the acoustic if the acoustic sound and feel is what you want. Many people have spent a lot of time and money on this quest, and I don't recall a single one that's actually found that grail.
It's been demonstrated by some that the audience rarely knows or cares about the sonic difference, but that's a separate consideration from how it sounds and feels to the player.

As some here are probably sick of me pointing out, EUBs are to acoustic basses what electric guitars are to acoustic ones: related to them and inspired by them, but ultimately a different kind of thing. The collective experience here is that looking for "the EUB most like an acoustic bass" is like looking for the cat that's most like a dog. I've had a cat that I often described as being like a Great Dane in Siamese form, but nobody was ever going to confuse him for actually being a dog.
 
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#26
I had an NS and really disliked the tripod stand and also bought the overpriced guitar strap harness that's BS. As cool as it looks and as convenient as it transported, it sounded weird and I could never get the right posture of playing URB. I ended up selling the bass, but still have the harness as a brutal reminder of an experience that wasn't quite right.
 
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#27
I have an old Palatino, which I gigged with for a long time, and never had any problem with. It's a chambered solid body, and is set up to have the feel of a DB. I don't know that I recommend it over the BSX or Eminence or Yamaha (those are better) but if you could find a cheap Palatino, you could definitely make it work, there is a mega-thread on TB where people mod these things out, and I never really modified mine to work in pro/semi-pro settings. The core upgrade for any EUB is strings, a set of Spirocores will make any of these instruments sound 10x better right off the bat - don't overlook strings, it's usually the answer.
 
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#28
I started with an UB but due to my small living conditions at the time, sold it and purchased an NS CR5M.
I went with the CR5M because I played 5 string BG. I advanced a bit with the CR5M but once you get the sound and feel of an UB in your system its tough to not have it! Fast forward 2 years and moving into a larger house, I sold the CR5M and purchased my second UB. It was a really good hybrid bass but the neck was like a baseball bat. Plus I found that most of the gigs we were getting were small and the UB took up a LOT of space. So...I purchased an NS NXTa and with the use of a Tech 21 bass DI box was able to get the tone really dialed in and as close to an UB sound as I could get. I've used the NXTa a LOT and that it's on a stand isn't a bother to me. I also purchased the end-pin brackets but having it on the stand is fine. There's give and take on any purchase and it also depends on how much $$$$ you want to spend. The NS CR4M would be the TOP of the list if $$ allowed.
 
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#30
An EUB is a great tool to have. The basics do seem to be an NS or Yamaha, NS is cheaper. It depends on if you can get used to the tripod - I played one with a tri pod for years, it was fine. If you want an exact version of your double bass that might be hard. If you want a bass you can use your double bass technique and bow on for loud gigs, it is pretty easy.
Make sure the fingerboard is double bass scale and curved so you can bow. I'd stay away from Ibanez, Kydd and Ergo (unless you REALLY like to tinker and can make your own pick ups, then an Ergo is great!)
 
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#31
djp420 said:
A "Fender American Precision Bass" of the EUB's
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For latin music, this is clearly the Ampeg Baby Bass. (Later by Azola). It is the sound of salsa.

==



For other excellent EUBs that give a good sound and playing experience in an easier-transportable-by-plane package... search out:

Eminence Electric Upright Bass.
Yamaha - Silent Bass (one being sold in the TB classifieds right now)
 
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#33
damonsmith said:
I can't really see the Eminence as an EUB, it is really a travel double bass. It is isn't "electric" enough. It really works like an amplified upright.
If you have a double bass and want something electric, that wouldn't be a strong choice. I like them, though. I wouldn't mind having the removable neck version.
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Don't agree with you on this, I have been using one for about 3 yrs now and in my way of looking at things, it is an ideal EUB. Easy to transport, amplifies very well depending on your choice of pickup (I've used both a Krivo magnetic - turn it all the way up! and currently a Realist lifeline, very upright-sounding with very little problem with feedback). Neck/fingerboard/scale almost the same as my DB, so easy to transition between the two basses. Not sure what you mean by not "electric" enough. With the Krivo pickup and low action, it sounds closer to a fretless bass guitar. But set up properly (higher action, Perpetual strings) it sounds remarkably close to my DB, but amplifies louder and is an easy carry.
 
#35
Luigir said:
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.
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It's not great at all. I played it at NAMM, and I'm sure they're trying to go after players that use the NS Omni Bass, but I'd put it more as a step up from the Dean Pace.

To the OP, I've been using my NS CR-5M for years when traveling with my URB isn't an option, or if I'm in an incredibly tight theatre pit. I bought the endpin attachment and the accessories that turn the tripod stand into a holder for the endpin, so it sits much more naturally on the body. With a set of legit URB strings, it's close enough that I'm not changing my technique drastically, and I'm still getting paid by the MD.


fdeck said:
Yes.

Or bull fiddle, dog house, or even just simply "the bass." ;)
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I call mine the "Git Fiddle," as that's what my grandpa used to call it when I'd be introduced to his Knights of Columbus friends - This is my grandson, Jon, who plays the git fiddle. And then the KoC people would nod, as if that was something incredibly important lol
 
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