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Double Bass Entry Level EUB recommendations?

gimmeagig

gimmeagig

Feb 25, 2004
2,891
1,198
Coeur D'Alene,Idaho
#1
Hi,
I know there are a million Palatino and Stagg and other threads about relatively inexpensive EUBs and i've tried to read through them for a while now.The more I read the more confused i get.
I am an advanced electric bassist and I want to try the EUB. Jazz trio and some Latin.I want to be able to gig with it.
I want to stay under 800.- because i don't know it the EUB is for me.It might bee too frustrating to relearn the stuff that i already know how to play on electric.So I'm still a little on the fence about it.I love the sound of Brian Bromberg on the upright and I know I'll never get there soundwise and abilitywise.
Anyway, can you guys recommend a bass that might be OK for me? I'm not looking for elaborate reviews just a simple recommendation.If I get a good number of responses I'm hoping I'll be able to make a decision much easier.
Currently I'm leaning towards the palatino mainly because it is cheap and it looks nice.They say the fretboard is ebony and i suppose that is a good thing( if it is true:))
Tanks
 
#3
I definitely second Francois' recommendation for an Ergo. Don't worry about the stick look. When you see one in person, it's a lot prettier in certain respects than WAV's, Palantinos, and so on. They definitely have the upright shapes on the neck and board areas. You can get higher quality electronics on other EUBs, but the Ergo pickups will get you a good, solid, usable sound.
 
#4
I wonder if I bought a stick type bass if I couldn't add a few curves to it myself? I'm somewhat handy and it might be a fun project.I did listen to a sample of the Ergo bass and it does sound pretty good.It also seems like i might be able to get into the higher ranges without having to learn the thumb position.I suppose I could also get a 5 and go EADGC.
Looks like the Ergo does nor rest against the body with some type of a bracket.It must be mounted on a tripod.
How is that compared to the ones that use a pin?
 
#6
I like the Ergo too but I think I'm leaning towards the Stagg at this point.
I found some youtube clips and soundsamples that sounded really good.The Ergo seems to have more of a singing quality kind if like a fretless bass compared to the stagg that seems of have quite a bit of punch, which I would want for the latin stuff that I'll be doing with it.
 
#7
I can speak to the comparison between the Ergo and the Stagg as I have played both side by side for about a week. The Ergo is far better, both in terms of build quality and sound. I could not get a nice sound out of the Stagg. The pre-amp is not very good and neither is the in-bridge pickup. It didn't help that it had the original strings on it.

I would not say that the Ergo has an inherently bright sound to it. Strings, in my opinion, are the deciding factor in the brightness or lack therefore in the sound. If you use orchestral strings, you will get a nice thumpy and dark sound. Hybrid or pizz strings will take you into a more bright sound.

I play both proper DB as well as the Ergo, which I use for most of my gigs, and I have no problem at all switching between them, even with it being on the tripod. The technique transfers fine for me.

The aesthetic of the Ergo is a bit quirky, I will give you that, but I have personally never looked upon EUBS as particularly pretty instruments, even the high end ones. They are just extremely convenient in terms of transport and dealing with high volume gigs, while still allowing you to play like a DB player and to retain some of the tonal qualities.

If you would ask me, I would say that these factors are the most important in achieving the most DB-ish tone on an EUB, in order of importance:

1. Technique
2. Set-up (high string height)
3. Orchestral strings
4. Make of the bass
 
#9
I had the NS WAV for three years and never really was happy with it. Even after I changed to "real" upright bass strings, it just never gave me a sound I liked. I sold the WAV earlier this year but just bought a used Stagg so I'd have something to play duuring acoustic sets at my church for Christmas. So far, I like the Stagg better. It sounds much more like what I had in mind than did the WAV. Does it sound just like a upright? No, and I think from reading the various threads here that most players think that no EUB sounds just like an upright. But the Stagg gives me a woody sound, which I never achieved with the WAV. There are some problems with the Stagg -- mainly that the pickup system makes the body terribly microphonic. However, if you search for mateybass's posts in the Stagg megathread here on TB, you'll see a pretty easy fix to dampen the piezo system and lessen this. I also like playing the bass on a endpin, which allows you to move more than having it on a tripod like the WAV. (You can get an endpin adapter for the WAV.) I let a classically trained bassist play the Stagg this week, and he much preferred it to a WAV he had tried and also to a Messenger he had borrowed. He liked the hip brace and the body extension that allows you to approximate where you should go into Thumb Position. I'm basically a bass guitarist who wants to play EUB a few times a year, and the Stagg fits the bill for me. There were several listed on Ebay over the last three weeks, new, for around $500 with shipping, in a variety of colors. I scored mine with all accessories and bow for $400 with shipping.
 
#10
I'd like to weigh in here- I have owned 2 Ergos, a Carruthers, a BSX, a custom-built Schwestka, a Clevinger, and now an Eminence. Your opening statement about not wanting to spend over 800. is understandable but naive (and I say that from experience!). An Ergo has some good features, but you will spend more than the purchase prive trying to get it gig-worthy (strings, case,probably a pickup up-grade). If you live close to Chattanooga, then go for it, but I'd say to read the Ergo Megathread before committing funds. I was bitterly disappointed in all of the aforementioned instruments until I bought my Eminence- but they are pricey. Good luck...it aint an easy road.
 

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