Fretless Acoustic Bass Guitar with tape wounds and a foam mute: anywhere close

It'll probably get you pretty close. My experience though...

I was interested in getting that upright sound a while ago. Went through a couple of nice basses, got pretty close. Then I got an upright and realized I didn't want my electric basses to sound like anything other than an electric bass - I was never able to 100% cop the upright vibe, so why bother?

I'd say get the fretless acoustic, but only expect what it can deliver. You'll like it better if you don't compare it to an upright, and instead use it for what it does - earthy, airy fretless tone. Not upright tone.

 

+1

See if it will suffice.

However, if that ABG still isn't satisfying your soul, start saving! Meanwhile, you'll be able to cop a similar vibe until you have enough dosh for what speaks to your heart.

Also, put the word out that you're looking for a decent, but cheap upright. You want to catch a bass you have to put out some lines and be patient. Find "that" guy/gal who has an upright that isn't using it and borrow it, you may eventually be able to wiggle it out from their grasp. That's how I got my first upright.

Best thing I ever did was to get a DB, doors opened and continue to open for me to new musical experiences.

Best of luck with it.

Cheers,
FF
Small apartments, small cars... these are mere mental obstacles in your path to DB and matter not one wit. Where there's a will, there's a way, as they say.

 

What you are describing is exactly what I use as a backup for my DB. I took an Ibanez AEB-10 and had it defretted. I have tapewounds on it and also a little foam wedge. I also covered the soundhole with a custom pickguard and added a passive singlecoil pickup. With the right finger technique I call get a good thumpy tone. Very lightweight and great for those long gigs when I get tired of playing the upright.

 

Actually, I would do both.

BTW, have you seen Ed Friedland's palm muting video on youtube?

 

Ummmm. You aren't going to get the feel of a DB playing an ABG. Not even close.

 

there is one distinct characteristic that you will nail in common with both;

it'll be way too soft or feedback

 

Take a look at something like this: http://ergoinstruments.com/

I have one in a 5 string and it is just great. With the right eq and some subtle air effects, it gets close enough. It uses 1/2 scale upright strings instead of electric bass strings and IMHO that makes a huge difference.

But I would still love to have the real thing some day...

 

Sure, but I was talking feel, not sound.

 

The Ergo should teach you a lot more about playing the DB. It is the right scale length and it is bowable. There are other electric upright basses (EUBs) out there that you could consider. The Ergo is one of the more affordable ones however and it seems to be well liked.

Ken

 

I thought a wash tub and broom stick was the poor mans upright.

However, what you'll have is a very nice ABG. The foam will cut down on sustain and bring out the thump. Gotta go fretless. Additionally, study DB players to cop the technique and style; especially if you're looking to play jazz.

Most importantly this...

 

This is frick'n' cool! Love the mods, particularly the covering of the sound hole.

To the OP:
As has been mentioned, there are Ed Friedland's tips/videos as well as others expounding on how to emulate an upright vibe... Also try to use upright fingering, where the ring finger is used to support the pinky when stopping notes. If you play only with index, middle and pinky, that will help you get in an upright-like mode of thinking. The tips, fingering, thinking in conjunction with foam, flatwounds and tone rolled back will all add up to get you as close as possible until you've got the coin jar full and can break open the piggy bank for your DB.

Cheers,
FF

 

Physical feel.

You started out the thread with, "I want to learn upright bass..." The only way you are going to be able to learn DB technique is to play a DB or EUB; not a guitar. Kind of obvious, but I was pointing out they really are two different instruments in context of your opening statement.

 

^^^

The bridge saddle can be filed down, or a new one installed to go the other way. There's also a truss rod for neck adjustment.

It's possible the instrument hadn't had any kind of set up. It's also possible it did have a set up, but the string height through you for a loop. The thing about ABG's is that in order to generate any kind of acoustic volume, you need to dig in and get the strings vibrating. You gotta have the strings up off the board to accomplish this.