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Double Bass Electric to Accoustic

B

Blair_thejrs

Jan 24, 2010
21
0
#1
Hi guys,

I have recently been asked to play bass in my schools summer show, the musical is "All shook up" - which is a mish mass of Elvis songs.

I myself play electric bass which is fine for the most part yet songs such as "That's All Right" are marked to be played acousticly and I personaly think that would sound realy cool and bring something more to the show and music. "Thats All Right" is very rockabily.

How hard would it be to make that transistion to double bass for 2 or 3 songs, most are either a root 5th vamp, or long held minums.

My ears are okay, as I know to play a fretless instrument they have to be at certain standards.

Please dohnt take this post the wrong way like im an electric bass player thinking it will be easy to just make that change. I know it wont be but is it viable with my experience.

Thanks
Blair
 
#2
I've been an electric player for 7 years and just picked up an upright a couple of days ago. The transition isn't as brutal as I was afraid it would be. I'm already familiar in a sense, so it's not totally a new cup of tea. Getting used to playing in a radically different position and different techniques are what matter most to me in the transition. (And learning bowing)
 
#3
Hi.

While the transition was pretty painless for me, and it probably is painless for You as well, the difference between the rehearsal and the gig is like a night and day.

Unless a proper stup is used, the treshold of feedback is well below the treshold of You hearing the bass. And this isn't just from the only gig I've played, with a home-made pickup system through my regular tube rig, but from countless trials and errors and lenghty soundchecks with howling DB's.

If You have plenty of time to learn and an unlimited time with the instrument you're going to play, give it a chance by all means. If possible, do a dress rehearsal early also to get familiar with the monitoring.

I'd "fake it" with a felt mute on a BG if it was just for a few tunes, but the feeling would be lost.

Regards
Sam
 
#4
Complete newb here as well...

For rockabilly, what are the key things to look for in a starter DB, say on CL, eBay, emporium, etc.

size: 3/4, 5/8, 4/4?
i suspect set up for jazz (as opposed to classical)?
pickups installed?
gut strings?
ballpark for starter DB?

thanks in advance!
 

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