Francois,
The quartet sound s great, you guys have a nice "click". Which bass and set-up are you using ?
The quartet sound s great, you guys have a nice "click". Which bass and set-up are you using ?
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Double Bass Ergo Megathread part I
- Thread starter learning_towalk
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I actually went to David Gage's shop and "test-drove" a bunch of basses with different strings before I bought my last set. They weren't my bass, of course, but it was a lot better than nothing. I at least got to see how the strings felt and responded under the bow. I bought the strings from Gage's shop, of course, since he was nice enough to let me test them out. There might be a bass shop in your area that would do the same thing.
Living in Maine can be a good thing, and a bad thing. When it comes to finding someone who doesn't only know how to read "tablature", it can be a bad thing. Not a whole lot of educated players up here, and the few guys that have been together have been doing it for years, like I said, I'm in no mood to be an aggressive player, I don't need it... so I sit quietly when I do see a rare group of actual players.
As for "bass stores", sure, if you mean the shoe & not the instrument. I just have to rely on boards like this to get my information, one thing I won't do is shop Amazon to save a few $$$, the dealers that are out there need our support. I purchased my AI from Gollihur.
As for "bass stores", sure, if you mean the shoe & not the instrument. I just have to rely on boards like this to get my information, one thing I won't do is shop Amazon to save a few $$$, the dealers that are out there need our support. I purchased my AI from Gollihur.
A good set of strings, any of the ones mentioned are going to give you a better tone than the stock strings. I use Spiro weichs, any of the Spirocores are going to be best for the pizz sound you are looking for.
In my experience, Bob Gollihur has saved me quite a few $$$.
Also, I second Francois's comment:
Also, I second Francois's comment:
That's the vibe I'm getting from the internet conversations I've accessed. Here again, yet another choice. The question is... will it require much effort to make them work on the Ergo ?... also as I tend to bite into my strings with some conviction what weight set would I feel most comfortable with. I wish I had more time to practice, I keep swearing I'll make some, but with two small companies to run I can only squeeze out about an hour a day... I actually keep the Ergo next to my desk at work (it pays to be the boss).
Here again, I apologize about this constant line of questioning, but you guys are miles ahead of me on these subjects.
1/2 size Spirocores are available on Bob's site, and I think they should fit without modification (thought I've never tried this myself). I made my 3/4 Spiros fit my just tying a knot in the ball end and clipping a bit of the top off; not a big deal at all.
As far as tension, that's a really personal thing; I have the Mittels on my Ergo now, and they're fine. If you're unsure, I would start with the Weichs, if only because they're basically the benchmark jazz string that everything else is measured against.
As far as tension, that's a really personal thing; I have the Mittels on my Ergo now, and they're fine. If you're unsure, I would start with the Weichs, if only because they're basically the benchmark jazz string that everything else is measured against.
All I do is clip off some of the end - the yarn part and they fit the stock tuners and stay in tune fine. I use my old double bass strings.
I would get Orchestra gauge (reds).
Thanks!
I play a Carruthers SUB-1 EUB.
Don't remember the strings I had then though!
A few months ago, I put a K&K Big Twin on the bridge and stopped using the stock pickup, which is what was used for the recording at that time. Not bad, but too midrangey for my taste.
You can make an end pin out of the cheap stand that comes with the wav for under two dollars!!! I don't know if anyone else has tried this but I took the screws out of the bottom of the center chaft and slid the whole tripod leg system off the center shaft and purchased a rubber table leg foot (purchased at a Hardware store for $1.98) to put on the center shaft. Now I have an end pin that slides up and down to your desired height and no crappy screws that come loose while I play. This is working so nicely and it was all built from that horrible stand and $1.98. If interested in more info I can send you a picture or try and explain it in more detail but really this modification to that stand is extremely simple. It kinda blew me away that I haven't seen a thread with this done already. Oh and by the way, playing with the end pin is so much more natural than a stiff tripod that doesn't move with you.
Peace
pmarche
Peace
pmarche
I tried a version of that by just closing the stand, it is nice for a minute, but too unstable for arco.
Damon: If you just put some extensions on the endpin stand so you can rest it against your body it's almost as stable as a DB. I have one at my hip and one at my knee, and it works great (see pic one page back). I practiced the Vivaldi Cello Sonatas on it last week, and it felt great.
Showdown: The NS designs stands screw into the backs of their basses, so no, an Ergo wouldn't fit without some serious modding. The NS basses I've played aren't a whole lot sturdier than the Ergo's stock tripod anyhow, in my opinion. In my experience, no tripod stand is sturdy enough to really dig in without the bass flopping around (that includes those massive DW stands). The sturdiest thing I've found has been the endpin stand I made in the same manner as pmarche suggested, plus the body-rest extensions.
Showdown: The NS designs stands screw into the backs of their basses, so no, an Ergo wouldn't fit without some serious modding. The NS basses I've played aren't a whole lot sturdier than the Ergo's stock tripod anyhow, in my opinion. In my experience, no tripod stand is sturdy enough to really dig in without the bass flopping around (that includes those massive DW stands). The sturdiest thing I've found has been the endpin stand I made in the same manner as pmarche suggested, plus the body-rest extensions.
There are a lot benefits to the stand, and I got used to it pretty fast. A normal endpin would be nice only if it meant less stuff to pack. Once I got a nice, stable stand it was just fine.
I end up playing the Ergo a lot because on the stand it is ready to go. With my double bass it is more like formal practice session, since I have to pick it up and all.
I end up playing the Ergo a lot because on the stand it is ready to go. With my double bass it is more like formal practice session, since I have to pick it up and all.
I have a 6 string Ergo, recently purchased from Jesse, and have had a lot of problems with the pickups. First there was the uneven balance issue, I fooled around with it until finally some sort of happy medium was acheived. Then I played it on the main stage of the Iowa Jazz Festival yesterday, it futzes out on me at mid set. All of the sudden- I just lost all my signal and punch- the bridge is too unstable in that wide slot, and the transmission of sound from string to pickup is just way too unreliable- it was on the stand, did not receive any kind of bump that I know of- and I do not have a heavy attack- so its not that. This is ironic because I really love the bass- and I think if it were dependable, it could be my main axe. So- my question: Have any of you had similar problems? Have you solved them? I think that if I could get the bridge to sit on a Realist piezo element it would be much more stable....Any help?
The pick ups are glued in, once I pried them loose so they can go exactly where I wanted them the problem went away. I think it is way more delicate for extended range Ergos, my 7 string took some time to get that adjusted.
Right, I did have to reposition the elements. How hardy are they? And, what did you do with the foam? I actually tried to trim as much out as possible (don't know if that was good, but the foam actually buffered contact with the bridge feet....can't see that as helping. Finally, what about bridge movement? Are you having problems with that?- I appreciate your advice and have checked out some of your youtube vids-
JS
JS
Two questions:
How is it flying with this thing? you store it underneath?
also, how difficult is it to raise the action on the bridge? I was thinking if the bridge is floating more or less, you could throw a shim underneath it... could also alter the pickup's response, don't know.
thanks.
How is it flying with this thing? you store it underneath?
also, how difficult is it to raise the action on the bridge? I was thinking if the bridge is floating more or less, you could throw a shim underneath it... could also alter the pickup's response, don't know.
thanks.
I put a shim under mine with no problem, but mine just sits in the slot. Damnsmith said a couple of posts up that his is glued in, so that would be harder. Mine is an older Ergo, so he must have changed the way he does it since I got it. If yours isn't glued in you shouldn't have any trouble.
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