Hey Chuck Norriss - it's black walnut (in Trans Black) - with - says Jesse - "gorgeous bright red Honduran Mahogany 'ears'"... (assuming you were asking/interested)
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Double Bass Ergo megathread part II
- Thread starter Barry Clark
- Start date
If you ever have trouble with the pick ups balancing, cut the weak one - I mean really cut it with wire cutters, put the strong one on the bass side and cut the bass on your amp. Problem solved.
I think it is less of an issue for four strings, but my seven always had trouble until I did this. The stability is amazing.
I think it is less of an issue for four strings, but my seven always had trouble until I did this. The stability is amazing.
So I tried bowing my bass again last night.
I can't find the A string without hitting the D or E. Is it just me? (probably)
Could the bridge be wonky? Any helpful tidbits?
I can't find the A string without hitting the D or E. Is it just me? (probably)
Could the bridge be wonky? Any helpful tidbits?
I think the bridge curvature is a little flatter than a typical upright, but I haven't played an URB for so long I can't say for sure. It definitely has taken a bit of practice for me to find the A string without also catching the D string.
Okay so I am not the only one..... (I kinda knew that already but it's nice to have someone else admit to the same issue)
The only "real" Upright bass I have ever played was pizz only, so no frame of reference. Not to mention that was probably 18 years ago!
Thanks
The only "real" Upright bass I have ever played was pizz only, so no frame of reference. Not to mention that was probably 18 years ago!
Thanks
Hi Ted,
By coincidence, I have just become the proud owner of a lefty Ergo 8 string. I've previously owned a NS CR5M.
The BEST strings I've ever played (and put on my NS) are Tomastic Spirocore concert strings. They will cost you a poopie-load of dough, but they are so worth it. You can get the standard 4 string set for under $200, but the low B for my NS was a custom order and cost me almost $300 alone (plus the wait time). I'm going to do a couple repairs/mods on my Ergo, and plan on re-stringing it with Spirocores. Just have to save up the ~ $800 it will probably cost me. I'm thinking too to have the entire set custom wound with both ends tapered.
By coincidence, I have just become the proud owner of a lefty Ergo 8 string. I've previously owned a NS CR5M.
The BEST strings I've ever played (and put on my NS) are Tomastic Spirocore concert strings. They will cost you a poopie-load of dough, but they are so worth it. You can get the standard 4 string set for under $200, but the low B for my NS was a custom order and cost me almost $300 alone (plus the wait time). I'm going to do a couple repairs/mods on my Ergo, and plan on re-stringing it with Spirocores. Just have to save up the ~ $800 it will probably cost me. I'm thinking too to have the entire set custom wound with both ends tapered.
Strings, Strings, Strings. Like so many others, I have struggled with the string issue for my Ergo. Even after talking with Jessie I wasn't crazy about altering my strings - cutting, etc. So I worked with my luthier to come up with a solution allowing me to use standard length ¾ upright strings - Corelli 370's in my case. Here are photos of what we came up with. So far I am really happy with the results! The different lengths caused us to stagger the string brackets on the back. We also upgraded and relocated the plug to the side.
I hope this info helps.
I hope this info helps.
Mine has the low B, but I may switch to the C after awhile. I have it in the shop getting the set up tweaked a little and a couple of hight spots leveled. This is my first attempt at upright, and since I live in a condo the EUB seemed the right way to go. If I have some measure of success, I think I'll begin a search for acoustic DB. Next stop... a few lessons to get off to a good start!
Is there a specific thread for strings for the ergo? If not there should because I don't really want to go through 30 pages that may or may not include string discussion and I'm trying not to clog up the works with the same questions already asked.... Real basic, $100, pizz that fit? Thomastick? Just any that fit as I need kinda soon and don't have time to alter right now. Thanks guys!
I just tied knots in the ball ends of a 3/4 set and they work fine. I bought used from the TB classifieds to keep the price down.
Cool thanks. Do you remember what they were and what length by chance? I'm looking at the helicore that are 43 1/2" which sounds like it could be a lot of knots!
They are Tomastik Super Flexible and I just tied one knot and let the excess dangle. Not the prettiest, but functional.
I use Spiro Mittels. I had to trim them a bit and tie knots but they worked. I had the A string slip out of tune but they've been very stable since.
The NED Traditional strings for their EUBs are shorter Helicore strings. Don't know how much shorter, since I don't own one.
So fellow ergoists I've finally pulled "Moe" (named after the mahogany) back out to finally do something about that horrible stand. Lucky for me the singer in the band is also a very talented sculpter artist so we got together and here is X-1 stand. This is just a proof of concept to see if it would even really work so yeah it's pretty ugly right now. Of course the idea is to use it like a regular upright with an endpin leaning the bass into the thigh. After a few hours and a nice blister it seems this concept just might work! For now we have just used the existing mounting point for POS stand but that will all change. So far my observations are that the neck is going to need to be at a steeper angle, there has to be something to lean against the left knee to hold it up and it's got to be heavy enough to not lift off the ground. Obviously this is an evolving idea but my thoughts are just the one side of the outline of the bass out of aluminum since it's nice and shiny and would kind of stick to the modern look. When we come up with the knee rest solution it might work out to have a floating f-hole. So it would be empty space with the exception of the outline of a bass. I'd love to hear your thoughts opinions and suggestions. We gotta move kinda quick due to an album release coming in December so all the input I can get would be a big help.
I still have the original POS strings on it from 3 years ago and haven't played in probably a year because of the stand issues. I had truly forgotten how good this thing sounds! We mic'd its up first just because we had all forgotten how good it sounded and it was very impressive. A very acoustic sound that one just doesn't expect from a stick of wood. Then I ran it through my rig (I use a tone hammer pedal as my preamp) and after some knob twiddling I was able to get a super nice sound. A lot of EUB just sound like a glorified electric fretless to me (most of them are double or triple the price too!) but no one could ever say that a fretless would do the same thing. Yes the stand is trash and the strings only slightly better than trash but the price and the product is worth every bit of having to fix things up a little bit. String to string balance isn't too great but I'm getting new strings and a compressor so im sure those will help a lot. I've moved the bridge around so many times I gave up but I'm confident I can get it to work.
Well, welcome back Moe. Glad to get ya back off the shelf! Thanks guys and hope everyone has some good gigs this weekend!
I still have the original POS strings on it from 3 years ago and haven't played in probably a year because of the stand issues. I had truly forgotten how good this thing sounds! We mic'd its up first just because we had all forgotten how good it sounded and it was very impressive. A very acoustic sound that one just doesn't expect from a stick of wood. Then I ran it through my rig (I use a tone hammer pedal as my preamp) and after some knob twiddling I was able to get a super nice sound. A lot of EUB just sound like a glorified electric fretless to me (most of them are double or triple the price too!) but no one could ever say that a fretless would do the same thing. Yes the stand is trash and the strings only slightly better than trash but the price and the product is worth every bit of having to fix things up a little bit. String to string balance isn't too great but I'm getting new strings and a compressor so im sure those will help a lot. I've moved the bridge around so many times I gave up but I'm confident I can get it to work.
Well, welcome back Moe. Glad to get ya back off the shelf! Thanks guys and hope everyone has some good gigs this weekend!
