Double Bass Ergo megathread part II

[Francois Blais]

100cm. strings are designed for a shorter scale than regular , so that's normal they appeared too stiff on a 105 cm instrument scale.
Super-Sensitive was bought by D'Addario by the way.
I think they kept the Red Label line though.

 

[bassically_eli]

Preamp: possibly a Zoom A1 Four since it's designed specifically to handle mic'd or piezo acoustic instruments

The Zoom A1 Four lists the input impedance as 500 kOhm, which is generally considered too low for piezos. The min recommendation for piezos is typically 1M Ohm. Does your Ergo have a built in preamp?

 

[J Posega]

The Zoom A1 Four lists the input impedance as 500 kOhm, which is generally considered too low for piezos. The min recommendation for piezos is typically 1M Ohm. Does your Ergo have a built in preamp?

No preamp. I just assumed since the A1 series was designed for use with acoustic-electric instruments that it would have the proper input impedance to work with the passive piezo setup on an Ergo.

Does anyone know of a possible small pedal (I don't want a belt pack or something that only runs on a battery) piezo buffer/preamp in the $100-150 USD range that I could just throw on my current pedalboard to make the Ergo play nice with my pedals and amp? I know it will "work" without it, but I'd like to optimize the tone.

 

[bassically_eli]

No preamp. I just assumed since the A1 series was designed for use with acoustic-electric instruments that it would have the proper input impedance to work with the passive piezo setup on an Ergo.

Does anyone know of a possible small pedal (I don't want a belt pack or something that only runs on a battery) piezo buffer/preamp in the $100-150 USD range that I could just throw on my current pedalboard to make the Ergo play nice with my pedals and amp? I know it will "work" without it, but I'd like to optimize the tone.

That's a reasonable assumption, and I don't understand what in the world Zoom was thinking. The older MS-60B has a 1M Ohm input impedance and is still in production (same for the MS-50G and CDR--the CDR has stereo inputs), as does the A3 (not in production, but not hard to find used ones) which also has a second channel for a mic. Fdeck's HPF v3 has a power jack input. Most if not all Boss pedals have a 1Meg input. The Behringer ADI-21 is ~4M-Ohm, dirt cheap, and works nicely with piezos. Lots of other options too.

 

[J Posega]

That's a reasonable assumption, and I don't understand what in the world Zoom was thinking. The older MS-60B has a 1M Ohm input impedance and is still in production (same for the MS-50G and CDR--the CDR has stereo inputs), as does the A3 (not in production, but not hard to find used ones) which also has a second channel for a mic. Fdeck's HPF v3 has a power jack input. Most if not all Boss pedals have a 1Meg input. The Behringer ADI-21 is ~4M-Ohm, dirt cheap, and works nicely with piezos. Lots of other options too.

I didn't know that about the MS series - the CDR lived on my board for years, then I briefly had the BT, but now my multi effects needs are covered by a Line 6 HX. I'm still hopeful that Zoom revamps the MS line - it still sounds good, but digital audio has grown leaps and bounds.

Looking into the TC Electronic Bodyrez and Boss AD-2 right now.

As a perpetual flipper, I'll probably buy something and then buy something else and do some A/B testing, some flipping, some more testing, then ultimately end up buying back something I shouldn't have sold in the first place.

 

[J Posega]

My Ergo arrived just now. It’s got its fair share of wear but everything seems to be working as it should. I ordered a Boss AD-2 since this has such a low output going into my pedalboard and Fender Rumble.

One thing of note is the multi-color silks on the strings. Are these the stock strings, or are they replacements? They sound and feel good so I’m not inclined to replace them until I’ve sorted out the stand which is very wobbly.

 

[eli]

Looks like quite the hodgepodge of strings there!

 

[gscroggin]

Nice congrats! If they’ve got silk at the top they’re probably not stock strings. My recollection is that the stock strings had solder on the ends.

 

[eli]

That's only the low B. The E string just barely fits in the tuner, but string bass low B strings usually don't. The solder isn't to replace the silks; the string is so fat, to fit into the tuner it is necessary to remove the outer winding down to the tuner. The solder keeps the rest of the outer winding from unraveling.

 

[J Posega]

Nice congrats! If they’ve got silk at the top they’re probably not stock strings. My recollection is that the stock strings had solder on the ends.

No silks at the tuner end. The E is soldered and stripped back.

 

[Francois Blais]

I think these are no-name cheap chinese strings.
The only set I know to use a multi-color structure at the tailpiece end is the Pirastro Jazzers, and they don't use the same colors.
The original Super-Sensitive Red Label strings Jesse was putting on have red silks at the talpiece.

 

[J Posega]

The silks in question.

 

[J Posega]

I definitely need to replace my whole stand. The current one is wobbly in a way that does not inspire confidence. Not just because it's been repaired with some sort of epoxy putty and screws, but also because it's just so flimsy feeling.

Luckily, I know some drummers with extra gear, so I'll be upgrading soon on the cheap.

 

[KPopOnBass]

Hey there Ergo-nomicists! Not much action on this thread lately... it seems Jesse has mostly stopped making these basses and there's just not a lot of Ergo-related news to share?

Advance notice to those here that in a couple of weeks (after some travel out of town) I will likely be putting my venerable 5-string Ergo up in the classifieds. PM me if you are interested in grabbing it before I put it out to the general public. It's from 2012 and served as my #1 for several years, but has gradually been supplanted by other basses as my needs and skills have changed over the years!

This unique piece of art has an amazing trans-black/tattoo finish over every inch of it, courtesy of Jesse's daughter. Numerous small dings from lots of use, nothing major. The electronics have never given me a moment's trouble. The stock stand has been replaced by a much beefier stand and the cleanest version of the "drum tom" attachment I've seen anywhere. It still has the original strings (I tried others and went back). The low B is thunderous, especially when bowed, and the fretboard marker system is the best out there for us electric-to-EUB crossover players, IMHO. The tuners are stock... it stays in tune well, but that's the one thing I'd want to upgrade if I were keeping it. Teaser pic:

 

[MisticoRitualista]

Does anyone know if Jesse is still making these?

I had a gorgeous lacewood Ergo 4 string years ago but sold it at some point & would love to get another one if possible.

 

[eli]

His old website ergoinstruments.com is no longer active. He has a fb page under Ergo Instruments, but the last post is two years ago and that lists a website ergoblu.com that is also no longer active. Can't tell from here. You could try the email address on his fb page [email protected] ... good luck. Bet you'll have better luck finding one on ebay or Reverb.

 

[J Posega]

The one I’m selling popped up on reverb. It was the first I’d seen for sale in quite a while. I just don’t have time to learn good technique.

 

[DoubleMIDI]

As far as I can remember there was some posting here on Talkbass that Jesse stopped making Ergo EUBs some years ago.

 

[Tom Howland]

Hi All.
Been looking for an Ergo 4-string. Anyone have one for sale or trade ???

 

[Upstate SC Bass]

Hi All.
Been looking for an Ergo 4-string. Anyone have one for sale or trade ???

I am guessing you have not looked on the classified because I saw one just listed in basses for sale within the last couple of days