Double Bass Electric upright bass for Psychobilly?

[NeesiesNotDead]

This question has been asked a lot id assume but I am a classical player originally but need to purchase my own upright bass preferably an electric upright bass since it’s more affordable and can work for electronic side projects but I am going to be playing Psychobilly style bass in a bit of a slower punk/riot girl band aswell as wanting to do some bluegrass and electronic maybe jazz and need something maybe that is less than $600 but the things I have found are all sold out I was looking at a Palatino 550 just as a starter but I’m not sure if it will be accessible. Is there any very cheap recommendations that can work for Psychobilly slap bass well and also what strings would be good to use for this on an EUB? Any advice from upright players for what you think I should know would also be very appreciated!

 

[BobKay]

If you become serious about bluegrass, there again, an EUB isn't going to work;

With respect for your experience, Don, that statement should be taken with a grain of salt. Bluegrass bands have been using electric basses for decades. The Virginia Squires, Blue Highway, occasionally the Osborne Brothers and Lonesome River Band (IIRC) come to mind. I'll admit that there are purists who scoff at anything but an upright, but they also scoff at anything but a Martin D28 or an F-style mandolin, or any set list that isn't traditional.

 

[Don Hergert]

I agree that that is somewhat regional. But in my experience in the western USA it pretty much applies and I wouldn't be surprised if in much of the South where bluegrass developed that is also consistent.

Not that I agree with it, but I've witnessed complaints at great bands at shows and festivals about electronic instruments. And it's a very rare jam where amps are welcome.

Like you, some of my bluegrass heros played with some electronic instruments even in the 70s, but people around me complained.

I have been surprised at acceptance of my Alcoa, but it is acoustic, it sounds acoustic, and is considered an American made classic from the 30s.

 

[Jaycat]

It's right there under your right hand ring finger, between and below the "L" and ";/:" key. The full stop/period key.,

If you want people to respond to posts, using sentences will generally be helpful.

Oh I don't know, it worked for James Joyce.

 

[rumblinbass]

This question has been asked a lot id assume but I am a classical player originally but need to purchase my own upright bass preferably an electric upright bass since it’s more affordable and can work for electronic side projects but I am going to be playing Psychobilly style bass in a bit of a slower punk/riot girl band aswell as wanting to do some bluegrass and electronic maybe jazz and need something maybe that is less than $600 but the things I have found are all sold out I was looking at a Palatino 550 just as a starter but I’m not sure if it will be accessible. Is there any very cheap recommendations that can work for Psychobilly slap bass well and also what strings would be good to use for this on an EUB? Any advice from upright players for what you think I should know would also be very appreciated!

Will an EUB work for Psychobilly? I don't see why not.
Will it be different than an acoustic? Absolutely...but so what.
That decision really comes down to you. If it works for you, then it works. If it doesn't, then it doesn't.

I have seen electric bass guitar used for rockabilly, psychobilly, bluegrass...why wouldn't an EDB work?

I picked up a used Stagg EDB a couple years ago for $550 just so I could bet back into playing upright without dealing with the size and cost of an acoustic upright. I liked the Stagg EDB because it's scale length is close and used ones pop up from time to time.
It doesn't feel exactly the same but I knew that going in.

Strings are also going to be something you need to explore. I don't really know much about this. I would assume that low tension strings would be preferred, especially for slap.
I have a set of used steel stings on my Stagg that I picked up in TB classifieds.
I would like to try guts but they can be pricey (even used) and more that I want to spend.
Maybe a set of synthetic guts would be worth a shot.

 

[turf3]

From what I read, all the "rockabilly" and "psychobilly" players in the modern day use the upright bass more as a prop than for its particular upright bass acoustic qualities. They tend to use super-heavy built basses that will stand up to acrobatics, heavily amplified (often with electromagnetic pickups), and using super-low-tension strings to do a lot of slapping for percussion effects. If you were to take one of those basses to a jazz gig it'd probably sound about like playing on a cardboard box unamplified. Saying that, purely from the sonic standpoint, it seems like anything with slapping potential and pickups would work. But with the EUB you're going to lose much of the visual impact of the acrobatics. If your particular performance practice isn't slapping-heavy, heck a regular electric bass might work fine.

 

[Keith Rawlings]

To the OP: look for a solid plywood bass with a good setup. I’ve seen some older ply basses that are built like a tank for fairly cheap around here (under $1500; some as low as $500). You can slap an EUB, but it’s going to take some EQ’ing to get it to work and sound good. The bassist from the Hollisters (90s country/rockabilly band from Houston) slapped an Ampeg Baby Bass and it sounded really good. Those are tough to find and can be expensive and you really want the look of a full sized upright for psychobilly IMO. Don’t get a bass guitar either. It’s fun for surf stuff but nothing else in this genre.

You can rent something too; but don’t stand on it. I regret doing that on my old Kay as parts inside ended up coming loose and it really appears to have weakened the lower and upper bouts on the side I stood on (and the guitarist stood on too).

 

[Bag of Lazers]

A cash strapped but well trained upright player I know went for the Harley Benton EUB 500 and has said great things about it. I don't see it on Thomann anymore but I guess you could reach out to them to see if they will restock. Like any other bass you'll probably want a decent preamp on the floor but the problem is still that the classic upright is very much part of the whole billy aesthetic.

 

[mikeGJ]

From what I read, all the "rockabilly" and "psychobilly" players in the modern day use the upright bass more as a prop than for its particular upright bass acoustic qualities. They tend to use super-heavy built basses that will stand up to acrobatics, heavily amplified (often with electromagnetic pickups), and using super-low-tension strings to do a lot of slapping for percussion effects. If you were to take one of those basses to a jazz gig it'd probably sound about like playing on a cardboard box unamplified. Saying that, purely from the sonic standpoint, it seems like anything with slapping potential and pickups would work. But with the EUB you're going to lose much of the visual impact of the acrobatics. If your particular performance practice isn't slapping-heavy, heck a regular electric bass might work fine.

I agree that you need a sturdy box that you can lay down and tap dance on, if you are going to play 'billy. Also needed is the ability to spin on the neck/peg axis, for similar reasons.

 

[nealw]

It’s refreshing to see that the reputation of the DB side of TalkBass for elitist pomposity is still well-deserved.

Personally, if I didn’t have access to a real upright for bluegrass or rockabilly/psychobilly, I’d use a p-bass or hollow-body electric (The Blasters, among many others, made some fine music with a slab). EUBs don’t look or sound remotely like an upright and I wouldn’t find them inspiring in those settings. Plus, audiences and players in those genres can be a bit judgmental (much like some contributors to this thread, but for different reasons).
But hey- if you have an original psychobilly-inspired project and EUB is your thing, don’t let me or anyone else stop you. Do your thing!

 

[fdeck]

I'm assuming you're young, and are playing a school or rented bass, just because it's consistent with your backstory.

I think if you've already got a way to play and learn on an upright -- yours or someone else's -- you'll continue to improve on that instrument. If you're enjoying that, don't stop doing it.

Meanwhile I'm not terribly concerned about your picking up a second instrument of whatever kind. An EUB will always be handy, especially if you don't want to own a car. A slab would be just fine too. If you're playing with friends who are all learning the ropes together, chances are they'll be happy with whatever instrument you choose, and fitting in with "the scene" might not be all that important. Slab would also have the benefit that a bassist who can double on upright and slab is more versatile and it gives you more options later.

I got an electric bass in middle school, and it didn't stop me from improving on the cello, which was my main instrument. But I got an electric bass, and became proficient on both instruments. I joined a punk rock band with some friends. All of the adults thought it was stupid.

With the benefit of age, and having kids who grew up playing music, I know that young people try different things and it's just not a matter of life and death to choose the "right" thing, because it'll change anyway.

 

[NeesiesNotDead]

i did end up buying an acoustic as seen in one of my more recent posts and i am very happy with it and did end up learning to stand on it! thanks for everyones advice!

 

[Keith Rawlings]

Nice! That pattern is way cool!