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Double Bass Good EUB for crossing over from EB

ed morgan

ed morgan

Feb 7, 2015
340
306
frazeysburg,ohio
#1
Hi everyone. I'm usually on the electric bass side but I
have wanted an upright bass for years. I don't have room for an acoustic one and I like the sound of an electric better anyway so I'm thinking about an eub. In your opinion what is the best bang for the buck when looking at eub's,and which has the closest sound to a traditional electric bass? Also,are eub's tuned different than an EB,and if so,do they have to be or can they be tuned the same as an EB?
 
#4
ed morgan said:
Thanks,I'll check these out.
Click to expand...

Seems you'd also be a prime candidate for an NS Design Omni Bass. <-- That's the NXT version, they also make a top shelf version. 4 and 5 string models, comes with a "wearable" strap contraption (and can be played on optional stands as well.) The CR model even comes with magnetic pickups (that can blend with the bridge pickups). You can even "rotate" the bass down and play it horizontally. Might be worth a look.
 
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#7
You may need to decide exactly what it is you're looking for.
The big difference between EBG and EUB is scale length. (And that fretted/fretless thing...)

The OmniBass is a cool instrument with more of a cello-like scale (although it is typically tuned like a bass, in 4ths, not like a cello, in 5ths...)
Since I was looking for an introduction to DB, the 41" scale was important to me, so I went for an NS Design NXT-5. They're also available in 4-string versions which are lighter and cheaper. Upscale a bit is the CRM-4/5 which has magnetic pickups in addition to the piezos.

An NXT with Contemporary strings (these come with the instrument) can do a really good job of sounding like a fretless EBG if that's what you're going for.
I found them a bit too bright to really sound like DB, and I've already got the fretless EBG front covered.
With Traditionals and a bit of foam behind the bridge to dampen the sustain a bit it cops a very convincing DB sound.
And of course the fingering and arco aspects should transition quite well to DB, in the event I ever have that much room for instrument storage...
 
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#8
Ed

I am in the exact same boat as you... Eb player wanting to learn upright.

A friend is loaning me his NS CR4M and I really like it so far...

I can make it sounds like an upright ( pretty much anyways) or a fretless bass with a few knob changes.

These are not cheap but seem to be a good deal for the quality..

I have not tried the NXT series yet.

I heard good things but think I will stick with the CR.

Trying to work out a deal with the " loaner"now.

Have fun...

Peace

Doug
 
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#10
Thanks everyone,these are great suggestions! The sound I'm looking for is double bass sound tone-wise with a little more sustain and zero rattle/buzz,definitely fretless. I asked about tuning because years ago I played a double bass and it was not tuned like a normal bass guitar,none of the playing patterns were the same at all. Took me awhile to figure it out. The same night I played a fretted double bass,the only one I've ever seen,and it was tuned like a normal bass. I didn't know cellos were tuned differently so maybe the first bass was tuned like one of those. I'll definitely check out all your suggesting!
 
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#12
Fifths is adhered to by some jazzers, too.
Fifths-tuning drives me mad on mandolin, fuming on fiddle... Never tried it on bass (nor kazoo, and I had a gig once requiring DB & Kazoo).
I recently got to play a 5-string NS cello (tuned BEADG) and a 4-string NS Bass (EADG); no idea what exact models/quality they were, but both were tremendous fun to play despite the strings being nearly on the fingerboard yet not buzzing (my DBs are set about 7mm-9mm).
Best wishes in your EUB quest EM!
 
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#14
I got a NS Designs NXT4 about a year ago and it made the transition pretty easy. I was able to gig with it after about six weeks, although that was a struggle. Really after 4-6 moths it got pretty natural. The fret markers make intonation pretty easy but getting good tone has been a job. I switched the strings to traditionals and got a pre with a super high impedence input and then finally bought a much flatter cab and am finally happy with the sound. I tune mine EADG (as it should be). But like, you, storing and transporting a full DB was just not an option for me and while I would love to really play a full DB, I could not have possibly transitioned to one this quickly. Lately I have found myself taking my Fender P to gigs, unpacking it, tuning it up, playing my EUB all night and then packing my P back up for the trip home! I have not had the chance to try the CR series and would love to but have learned to be able to get along well with my NXT.
 
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#16
jthisdell said:
I got a NS Designs NXT4 about a year ago and it made the transition pretty easy. I was able to gig with it after about six weeks, although that was a struggle. Really after 4-6 moths it got pretty natural. The fret markers make intonation pretty easy but getting good tone has been a job. I switched the strings to traditionals and got a pre with a super high impedence input and then finally bought a much flatter cab and am finally happy with the sound. I tune mine EADG (as it should be). But like, you, storing and transporting a full DB was just not an option for me and while I would love to really play a full DB, I could not have possibly transitioned to one this quickly. Lately I have found myself taking my Fender P to gigs, unpacking it, tuning it up, playing my EUB all night and then packing my P back up for the trip home! I have not had the chance to try the CR series and would love to but have learned to be able to get along well with my NXT.
Click to expand...
What preamp and cab did you end up using?
 
#17
I got a radial bassbone od because I switch between by BG and the EUB and I needed a pre with the super high 10 ohm impedance for the EUB. There are other less expensive options such as the tone bone v2 which was not available when I got mine. Also the fdeck has the right input impedance and a hpf for less money if you don't need to double. I bought a Bergantino NV115 but also really liked the Berg HD112, I think the EUB benefits from a flatter more hi hi cab.
 
#20
jthisdell said:
Probably a typo, he meant a 10 MehOhms input impedance
Click to expand...
10 - 10,000 what's the difference?
Click to expand...
I wasn't going to comment but now it's a bit silly.

a MehOhm is an Ohm that doesn't really care. It's just OK.
(Yes, I know that's a typo too - in a post pointing out typos...)
A MegOhm, on the other hand, is a Million Ohms -- not 10,000.
(Yes, I suspect jthisdell was not intending to be taken literally either...)
 

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