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Double Bass Ergo Megathread part I

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#241
Thanks for the input, Sheldon. You ever regret selling your Ergo? I know you love that Eminence..

I just wanted to tell everyone that the Neet 61" bow case just got here. Talk about fast shipping!

It's all black except for the center section, which is the Navajo print, and it's fine, not tacky at all. Anybody want a picture?

It's not heavy, heavy duty, but it is sufficiently padded for most purposes. I wouldn't drop the bass onto concrete, for instance, or have something heavy fall over on to it. I'd liken the thickness to a medium-weight gig bag.

I'll spray it with waterproofing spray, and it'll be good to go.
 
#244
I've grown very interested in these basses. Having played electric bass for around 4 years, and trombone/ tuba for about 10, I'd like to expand my playing into the upright realm. I've dabbled on a 'real' upright before, even had one on loan from a school, but they were all set up for orchestral playing and were just too big for me to handle.

I saw their prototype 7 string bass viol, and then read about the price drop, and figured this would be a superior product to the Ghettotronix thing I was also considering.

Is mahogany the only body wood he uses? What kind of finishes are available? I'd just like to know some of these before I contact Jesse himself.
 
#245
All mahogany I believe, it's a great tone wood. Natural and stained like the pic with the case above.
Contact Jesse, he will answer all your questions. Here's my natural finish 5:
ergo.jpg
 
#246
butchonbass said:
All mahogany I believe, it's a great tone wood. Natural and stained like the pic with the case above.
Click to expand...
Very nice five, Butch! I like the natural finish mahogany a lot. The classic finish is the darker stain, which is what my four has. It's a rich color with its own appeal.

Yes, Jesse can build Ergos out of several different kinds of wood. I'd say there's probably a premium in pricing over the mahogany.

His standard wood used to be cherry. He liked it a lot, it was inexpensive and plentiful, but apparently a lot of customers didn't think it was a good wood for this instrument and asked for a more traditional tonewood.

He did lower his prices recently, by about $50. I just noticed that on his website. This is a good idea, because it keeps him competitive with some of the other options for EUBs under $1000, such as the new NS Designs WAV bass, the Dean Pace (such as it is), and the Palatino.

And Sheldon, I asked Jesse for a new set of piezos for my bass, as you suggested. When I put the original piezos back in, I got a good sound out of the treble side, but the bass side piezo has never sounded right. Replacing them completely should do the trick. Jesse didn't charge me for the replacement, which was nice of him to do.
 
#247
Alright. I read all 10 pages of this.

I am fairly certain now that an Ergo is for me.

Just a quick question about putting the ergo into an amp. I have a peavy, and I read really early in this thread that it didn't have a very nice sound to it.

Just wondering if anyone has had similar issues.

I am going to stick with a 4 string, because I can't be bothered with the problems people seem to be having with the models with more strings... just not worth the risk and I am completely content with 4.

I don't think there is anything else I need to really ask, because of what I've read here, thanks again everyone, really helpful information!
 
#251
adamtmitchell said:
Just a quick question about putting the ergo into an amp. I have a peavy, and I read really early in this thread that it didn't have a very nice sound to it. Just wondering if anyone has had similar issues.
Click to expand...

Adam, welcome (in advance) to the Ergo club. They are really fun, attractive instruments that can get the job done for a lot less than what most EUBs go for.

I do want to respond to your query about sound issues. I've posted quite a bit about the pickup and electronics in the Ergo I have. It's my opinion that one of the two piezo pieces in my instrument developed a bad solder joint. That's why I went through a phase of trying to create replacement pickups out of Radio Shack buzzers, EMI piezo films, etc. Finally, Sheldon (speedster), who is a former Ergo owner, suggested I just ask Jesse for new pickups. I will post on here when they get here (still haven't) and when I get them installed.

Part two: bear in mind that any instrument with piezos, going straight to an output jack, is going to have low output and imbalanced tone if run straight into the average bass head. The input impedence of most bass amps is quite low. Piezos have a very high output impedence. They like to see a high input impedence also, not a low one.

So - for best results with an Ergo, you'll want to get some sort of piezo preamp. This should interface the piezo to the bass amp input and take care of the impedence mismatch, and it might also boost the gain a bit.

Some possibilities would include the Fishman Platinum, the discontinued Raven Labs MDB-1, the famous Bayou Cables Altoid box preamp, and a number of other preamps available through Bob Gollihur.

A preamp helps out a straight piezo system quite a lot.

You'll want to use a quality instrument cable, probably one made with Canare CS-6. CS-6 is renowned for not attentuating highs.

Also, it does help to shield the jack, jack plate, and jack cavity with copper foil or shielding paint. Piezos are susceptible to hums and buzzes, and this will alleviate the problem somewhat.
 
#252
I played a gig with my ergo last night and I had to take the bus, so asked the leader to work out having the other band lend a bass amp. The guy had crate power block head. it sounded amazing. It weighs 4.5 pounds. I went out and got one today and it was $100 from Guitard center.
It says it is a guitar amp but it really matches up well with my ergo 6.
The gig was really loud and it worked great it is also working well for providing a full sound at a very low volume.
you can see it here:
Link Removed
 
#253
I have been using a Powerblock as a power amp by plugging my K&K Pure Preamp in between my DB with a Bassmax and the Powerblack's CD input. I had to crank the preamp's internal gain pot to get enough drive but this setup allows me to bypass the Powerblock's internal distortion and speaker simulation circuits. It sounds quite nice and very clean this way all the way up until the power section starts to clip.

Be aware that the rated output wattage is at 10% distortion so it will only deliver about 100 watts clean. Also important to know that it is stereo with a bridged mode switch. Can handle 4 ohms on each side but only 8 Ohms bridged.

I love the light weight of this amp and hearing that it works well with the Ergo is a big plus since the Ergo is on my short list for my next bass.

Peace,
S
 
#254
I'm slowing setting aside cash to purchase one of these. Jesse answered all of my questions the same day I e-mailed him. Since I start college soon, I may have to hold off on spending the money for a few months.
 
#255
I received a 5-string Ergo from Jesse a couple of weeks ago.

It's a fine instrument and very reasonably priced. Jesse gives prompt and cordial customer service.

I've played a Kydd a few times and liked it a lot but the Ergo is less than half the price and much more like an upright.
 
#256
I got my ergo 4 string yesterday after ordering it on nov 1 so it took about 6 week's. I had to leave for a rehearsal so I only got to unpack it and make sure it worked,I plugged straight into my studio mixer and listened thru my monitors. It's sound very much like a amped acoustic bass to me. the fit and finish quality is high and I'm looking forward to developing a sound on this bass.
 
#257
I saw a few posts here about applying a tung oil finish to the Ergo. Did you strip off the old finish before you applied the tung oil? Give it a light sand first?

I love my Ergo, but honestly find the finish less then professional quality. I showed the bass to a carpenter friend and he says that it seems to have been rushed. He pointed out a couple drips and pitting in the varnish which he says is a tell tail sign that the finish was applied in one thick coat rather then several thin ones. Also, in a few places the wood was not sanded smooth before the finish was applied. I love the bass but I'm a bit disappointed by the finish.

Anyone else have these problems?
 
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