Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Double Bass Gigging with an EUB
- Thread starter bobbykokinos
- Start date
I have two fully carved DB's that are old and fancy and I also own a Eminence EUB. I find in the 'gig' world (outside of classical music) the EUB has pleased everyone who hears it. It has a good sound that is direct and simple. And it's also practical because it's smaller and more durable.
Believe it or not I showed up to a pit orchestra gig that I thought warranted an EUB type of vibe and it turned out the director wanted a real DB. Whoops! Luckily it was a rehearsal and afterwards I told the conductor I would bring my DB and he said, "NO. I can hear this EUB better and it's keeping the group in sync so don't bring the 'real' one." I was kind of shocked in a way! The bottom line is the conductor felt it was the right musical choice.
What would be interesting is this:
If I brought my EUB and one of my DB's with a Realist pickup and played them for the other musicians and said 'pick the one you like best', I think most of them would choose the DB because it, in general, has a richer, more harmonically complex and thus pleasing tone. That's my guess anyway.
Also I think in general the louder the gig is, the better the EUB serves the music. The quieter, the DB wins. I'm just glad I can choose from both sides.
Believe it or not I showed up to a pit orchestra gig that I thought warranted an EUB type of vibe and it turned out the director wanted a real DB. Whoops! Luckily it was a rehearsal and afterwards I told the conductor I would bring my DB and he said, "NO. I can hear this EUB better and it's keeping the group in sync so don't bring the 'real' one." I was kind of shocked in a way! The bottom line is the conductor felt it was the right musical choice.
What would be interesting is this:
If I brought my EUB and one of my DB's with a Realist pickup and played them for the other musicians and said 'pick the one you like best', I think most of them would choose the DB because it, in general, has a richer, more harmonically complex and thus pleasing tone. That's my guess anyway.
Also I think in general the louder the gig is, the better the EUB serves the music. The quieter, the DB wins. I'm just glad I can choose from both sides.
I hope not. It's one of the same questions I've asked myself. I'm playing an original BugBass and am considering getting into Bluegrass. I'm wondering whether or not the traditionalists will bash me if I show up with the 'Bug. Certainly, it won't work for a lot of pick and grin sessions on the grass without AC, but for festivals and most gigs, that shouldn't be a real problem.
FWIW, the bassist for one of the more popular local BG bands uses a mid-70's maple/maple P-Bass and a GK-150. Another uses a NS Designs EUB. They don't seem to have problems, but they are long-established and made their name with URB.
On a personal note, I paid $1k for my slightly used original BugBass with OEM gigbag. You can't even hardly find a P.O.S. DB for that. And certainly not the same quality as the Azola. Sure, I'd rather play a "real" DB, but as a dabbler/doubler, I just can't justify doing so. Still, I have a few concerns with acceptance of the EUB in certain situations. This thread is doing just that.
Carry on thread, carry on!
dcr
FWIW, the bassist for one of the more popular local BG bands uses a mid-70's maple/maple P-Bass and a GK-150. Another uses a NS Designs EUB. They don't seem to have problems, but they are long-established and made their name with URB.
On a personal note, I paid $1k for my slightly used original BugBass with OEM gigbag. You can't even hardly find a P.O.S. DB for that. And certainly not the same quality as the Azola. Sure, I'd rather play a "real" DB, but as a dabbler/doubler, I just can't justify doing so. Still, I have a few concerns with acceptance of the EUB in certain situations. This thread is doing just that.
Carry on thread, carry on!
dcr
mrpc said:
Are you kidding? Someone comes on here to ask about EUB's and people give their honest opinions and it turns into EUB bashing?? I dont really think so.
The fact of the matter is I like playing both EUB's and DB's. They both have their place and both have pros and cons. While looking for information on here (the reason I was started this thread), I came to the conclusion that a DB would be the best choice for me.
I think its hardly bashing an EUB. Actually, if you havent noticed, many people are giving the EUB's PRAISE for sounding so similiar to the instrument that it is meant to emulate. Thats why its such a hard decision for some of us between the two.
bobbykokinos said:
Bobby,
That's true. I have noticed some honest praise too. And my sincere apologies to anyone whom I may have offended with my assesments. Really.
I wouldn't expect anybody to come right out and admit to posing or role playing in regards to their interest in EUB's though.
And Bobby, I hope your new instrument works out for you, sounds like you've found something you like alot.
mrpc said:
Oh dont sweat it.. I took no offense to it at all as I'm sure others didn't. I just didn't want to seem like I was personally trying to bash EUB's. On the contrary, I like EUB's ALOT and with I could afford both and EUB and DB. Eventually I will probably purchase an EUB when I become old and gray and dont want to carry around the DB anymore
But for me at this point in my musical career, I tought a DB would be the best choice. We'll see if I'm singing the same tune in a couple months after carrying it up and down stairs for gigs.On a side note, I did purchase a double bass. Now, let me preface this by saying I tired a bit over a dozen different basses in my area. I was looking at spending around $4000. Several years ago I was close to purchasing a $13,000 BEAUTIFUL Pollman, but didnt. But, I think I have a decent ear and have some knowledge about double basses. Why am I giving this information? Because some of you may laugh at what bass I bought. Even though all of the negative comments about Carlo Robelli basses (at SamAsh), and seeing as I was having no luck finding a decent bass that I thought felt good, I went to SamAsh as one last ditch effort. Normally, I do not like purchasing from big chain stores like that. Id rather give my money to a local shop.
But, anyway, I digress. I walked into SamAsh and found a Robelli for 53% off which brought it down to $625. So, what do I have to loose to try it out? I played it and was absolutely shocked. It was noticably better than the other basses I had played. The neck felt great, how the bass sat against my body felt great, and the projection of the sound was great. I still thought it was too good to be true. So I candidly talked to a couple people about Robelli's. From what I have heard quality control has gotten better from basses that come out of China (which, if you keep up with electrics, you've probably noticed that with the Essex line of basses). And every once in a while you'll get a "factory freak". A bass that plays substantially better than the others. I truely believe I got a factory freak and fell into a great deal.
I'm trying not to get too excited because with Spring coming up and the weather changing, I hope the bass just doesnt implode or something. But so far, and after my first gig with the yesterday, I've been throughly pleased.
Im going to take it to a gig this weekend hopefully with my new Bass Master Pro pickup. I'll try to get some MP3s up if we record.
Also I think in general the louder the gig is, the better the EUB serves the music. The quieter, the DB wins. I'm just glad I can choose from both sides
I view it the same way. I do a fair amount of road work and the EUB has always won out for that. Also some gigs demand a heftier more focused tone than the pleasingly complex upright tone, so if you can't really hear the nuances of the sound, EUB also wins out in that area. Anything at lower volume levels with acoustic instruments, the DB wins hands down.
I view it the same way. I do a fair amount of road work and the EUB has always won out for that. Also some gigs demand a heftier more focused tone than the pleasingly complex upright tone, so if you can't really hear the nuances of the sound, EUB also wins out in that area. Anything at lower volume levels with acoustic instruments, the DB wins hands down.
Doug, I had to play my Bugbass II on bluegrass gigs for several months while my New Standard was being repaired. I got lots of kidding about it, but nobody gave me a hard time at all. It actually generated lots of favorable curiosity and attention. I think that, once they see you can play, it doesn't matter so much what instrument you're using.
...I just got a battery-powered Phil Jones Briefcase in case I need to jam with my Bug!
mchildree said:
Oh great, just what I need. Something to get my GAS flowing again!
But seriously, that's a great idea. I know about the Pig Nose and Hog and those, and while I'm not a "tone Nazi" by any stretch of the word, I do prefer to use good quality gear. I might actually have to look into one, if I decide to get really deep into it.
Thanks!
dcr
And another question Mike:
How do the two compare in sound? I don't have any real experience to compare the two. From what I can recall, the Azola doesn't "bloom" like a URB -- it's a much more quick response. And of course, the "reverb/depth" isn't there, but tone-wise if you compare the two in a full-up band setting where everybody's jamming along, can you really tell the difference?
Thanks again!
dcr
How do the two compare in sound? I don't have any real experience to compare the two. From what I can recall, the Azola doesn't "bloom" like a URB -- it's a much more quick response. And of course, the "reverb/depth" isn't there, but tone-wise if you compare the two in a full-up band setting where everybody's jamming along, can you really tell the difference?
Thanks again!
dcr
Having ploughed through the posts on this thread, and several other similar threads on these boards, I'm coming to the conclusion that this whole DB vs. EUB thing is really a pretty sterile debate.
Do piano players spend ages discussing whether a Fender Rhodes is a "better" or more authentic instrument than a concert Steinway? No, because there's a recognition that each have their pros and cons and require a particular technique to get the best out of them. So it is with DBs and EUBs. One is not more of a bass than the other, they're different is all.
I think part of the issue is that electric uprights are a relatively recent innovation and in part are marketed as being "exactly like a DB but smaller (or lighter, or whatever)". Of course, nothing is quite like a DB except a DB but if it makes a good sound and does what you want it to do, who cares what you play?
I've been to all kinds of gigs over the years and heard EUBs that sounded great, and expensive hand-carved DBs that sounded utterly pants - and vice versa, which inclines me to think it's not so much which instrument you play, but how you play it and what you play on it that counts.
Of course some people will prefer one kind of instrument over the other, that's their perogative, but maybe it's time to put the vast amounts of hot air being expended on this interminable debate to a more productive use?
As regards band leaders who ask for a particular "kind" of bass, I haven't really had a problem in that regard. I feel that if they're paying me to turn up and do a gig, they're quite entitled to specify what equipment they'd like - within reason. Most people are more than happy with the EUB. Of course, in terms of getting work it does help to be sufficiently versatile to be able to offer them a choice.
Do piano players spend ages discussing whether a Fender Rhodes is a "better" or more authentic instrument than a concert Steinway? No, because there's a recognition that each have their pros and cons and require a particular technique to get the best out of them. So it is with DBs and EUBs. One is not more of a bass than the other, they're different is all.
I think part of the issue is that electric uprights are a relatively recent innovation and in part are marketed as being "exactly like a DB but smaller (or lighter, or whatever)". Of course, nothing is quite like a DB except a DB but if it makes a good sound and does what you want it to do, who cares what you play?
I've been to all kinds of gigs over the years and heard EUBs that sounded great, and expensive hand-carved DBs that sounded utterly pants - and vice versa, which inclines me to think it's not so much which instrument you play, but how you play it and what you play on it that counts.
Of course some people will prefer one kind of instrument over the other, that's their perogative, but maybe it's time to put the vast amounts of hot air being expended on this interminable debate to a more productive use?
As regards band leaders who ask for a particular "kind" of bass, I haven't really had a problem in that regard. I feel that if they're paying me to turn up and do a gig, they're quite entitled to specify what equipment they'd like - within reason. Most people are more than happy with the EUB. Of course, in terms of getting work it does help to be sufficiently versatile to be able to offer them a choice.
I can think of one other situation in which I'd use my Azola (besides road work)...I've used it on pop gigs instead of one of my slabs. I can play as loud as I need to, the bandleaders love the sound and the look, and I can play something with a 41" string length that points towards the sky, as basses are meant to, instead of a strap-on. 
allthumbs said:As regards band leaders who ask for a particular "kind" of bass, I haven't really had a problem in that regard. I feel that if they're paying me to turn up and do a gig, they're quite entitled to specify what equipment they'd like - within reason. Most people are more than happy with the EUB. Of course, in terms of getting work it does help to be sufficiently versatile to be able to offer them a choice.
I tend to agree with you ...apart from that last bit maybe...
So - Eberhard Weber has played the same "home-made" EUB for the last few decades and manages to get plenty of work...?
I don't know if anybody has told him he needs to be more versatile...?
