Double Bass First upright day!

[MostlyBass]

Yeah, strings make a HUGE difference.
As you're new I'd avoid gut strings since they're rather unstable (sensitive to weather, go out of tune). A string with a great pizzicato (plucked) sound that's easy on the fingers are Pirastro Obligato strings. They have a synthetic core with a metal wrapping. The feel soft, have a gut-like sound and feel with their lower tension, but project well and are pretty stable. They also sound great bowed if you want to use your bow and they always make less expensive basses sound great - I've put them on some cheap school instruments at work and the difference is incredible.

I also like Pirastro Flat-Chromesteel strings.

Some people do (and cellists do this a lot!) use different strings - usually in pairs... A type for E & A and a type for D & G. My bass has an extension (see my avatar) and I've experimented with a different low C string and then have the same brand on my A, D & G.

At this stage though, I wouldn't worry about. I'd just throw on Obligatos but see what the shop says.

 

[fuzzy beard]

Havent even gotten into bows yet! That just seems like a headache. German? French? $100? 4000? there may be more options on bows than basses LOL I would like to have one just to try it out but havent tried to figure that all out yet.

Any links on good info about bows?

 

[MostlyBass]

yeah - check my out my site:

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I'd recommend a carbon fiber German bow.

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[fuzzy beard]

Man where do i find one of those fiberglass bows at? Thats what i am looking for something i can use enough to see what its all about. But affordable enough i dont have to sell a kidney!

 

[christw]

Well i am 5'8'' and over 200lbs. And the guys at Cincinnati bass celler said they think it is a 5/8 not a 1/2. But either way they felt it fit me well. But they did say i was more than able to play a 3/4. And i did play a Shen 3/4 while i was there.

What did you think of the Shen? I'm playing on an SB80 that I just finished paying off to The Loft in Columbus. Total cost ran me $1550 with the free setups and repairs so long as it's being rented to own. I also had the ability to upgrade to a more expensive bass although I don't think I'll need one of those anytime soon. I'm pretty happy with the bass and the variety of sounds I can get from it although I still haven't laid my hands on any other upright in my life (yet!)

From my admittedly limited experience I'd testify that it's a good beginner bass option if yours doesn't work out for you in one way or another.

 

[TroyK]

Thats what i am looking for something i can use enough to see what its all about. But affordable enough i dont have to sell a kidney!

Here's where I go off the reservation. I bought a bow off of eBay years ago for $50 and used it for several years. My teacher had no issues with it. Once I settled into a little bit better what I wanted, I paid a few hundred bucks for a nice upgrade, but it didn't hurt me at all to spend a few years with something inexepensive. I ended up selling it to a classical percussionist for $20 to use on vibe keys on some particular piece, so the net for me was about $8/year. If money is an issue, start with something cheap and simple. Others will disagree and you should listen to them, but there's my story. No regrets.

As for French/German. Pick one. If you're going to take lessons from a classical player, pick whatever they use or prefer to teach. Otherwise just pick one, don't spend too much money and if it doesn't feel right after a year, then spend a year with the other one.

 

[seang15]

Man where do i find one of those fiberglass bows at? Thats what i am looking for something i can use enough to see what its all about. But affordable enough i dont have to sell a kidney!

Gollihur. Google it know it, love it, live it, play it. All praise!

 

[Matt R.]

I have a cheap $60 eBay bow too. It works just fine for my purposes as an acoustic upright noob. I'll definitely upgrade at some point though.

 

[fuzzy beard]

What did you think of the Shen? I'm playing on an SB80 that I just finished paying off to The Loft in Columbus. Total cost ran me $1550 with the free setups and repairs so long as it's being rented to own. I also had the ability to upgrade to a more expensive bass although I don't think I'll need one of those anytime soon. I'm pretty happy with the bass and the variety of sounds I can get from it although I still haven't laid my hands on any other upright in my life (yet!)

From my admittedly limited experience I'd testify that it's a good beginner bass option if yours doesn't work out for you in one way or another.

Well first thought on the Shen was that it had a neck on it like a telephone pole I had a hard time getting to the E string.

 

[fuzzy beard]

Here's where I go off the reservation. I bought a bow off of eBay years ago for $50 and used it for several years. My teacher had no issues with it. Once I settled into a little bit better what I wanted, I paid a few hundred bucks for a nice upgrade, but it didn't hurt me at all to spend a few years with something inexepensive. I ended up selling it to a classical percussionist for $20 to use on vibe keys on some particular piece, so the net for me was about $8/year. If money is an issue, start with something cheap and simple. Others will disagree and you should listen to them, but there's my story. No regrets.

As for French/German. Pick one. If you're going to take lessons from a classical player, pick whatever they use or prefer to teach. Otherwise just pick one, don't spend too much money and if it doesn't feel right after a year, then spend a year with the other one.

Makes sense to me! I hope to have the same luck you did!!

 

[drurb]

Well first thought on the Shen was that it had a neck on it like a telephone pole I had a hard time getting to the E string.

Ah, but consider that it's the thinner necks that will get you in the end:

With regard to the thin neck profile, BEWARE. You might not know even after you try it. Many newbie and BG-convert players find thin necks to be comfortable at the outset. Then, reality hits. For many players, as pointed out here, those skinny necks lead to left-hand fatigue because they inhibit maintenance of the left-hand claw and proper spacing of the fingers. Try this out-- fold your left hand about half way down and stretch your fingers apart as far as you can. Now, fold your hand down further and try to maintain that finger spacing. It can't be done. It's just a matter of the mechanics of the hand.

 

[s_mcsleazy]

i love upright basses, i just dont have the money for one

 

[christw]

You know, I really never did mind the telephone pole neck. That's coming from a fan of Carvin and Ibanez electric necks. My bass John built me also has a relatively thin neck based loosely off the neck of an Ibanez SR5006E which I find to be incredibly comfortable. I saw the upright as a different animal altogether and expected it to be a different (but awesome!) experience.

 

[MostlyBass]

Here's an article on choosing French or German bow. Shameless plug - I'm one of the quoted sources.

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[ole Jason]

French or German doesn't matter, just pick one. Some people will tell you to try both and see which feels better but if you don't know what you're doing you're not really going to be able to make an informed decision.

French is probably a little more common among teachers in the US but if you're near Cinci I'm sure you can find teachers doing either or both.

 

[MostlyBass]

Regardless - get a teacher BEFORE trying bows as you won't know what you're doing or what to feel for anyway.