Double Bass Ibanez EUB for 2018

[Tom Lane]

I want one. I just wish it was magnetic in pickups too -- will this give enough volume without feedback in live situations if piezo only? It sounded really cool with the bow!! That's something you can't get on an fretless electric bass guitar. And it it did have that floppy sound you sometimes get on uprights, but in a different way. I think it sounds unique, quite frankly.

You're talking about the NS Omni bass? Not the Ibanez EUB, right? The Omni, IMO, has it's own unique sound. It's somewhere between a FBG and a DB; pleasing but not part of either tradition. It's essentially a solid bodied instrument so acoustically it's very quiet. The high end NS models make good use of their two pickup system and it can get very loud on stage without feedback. I play mine just as I play my DB, with TP above the octave, 124, etc, but even with the strings raised as high as they'll go, the action is a few mms too low. I use it once a year when I travel and expect to have some downtime. Takes me 30 minutes to adjust to the different string length, and otherwise it's loud enough acoustically for me to hear myself playing along to iRealB without amplification.

 

[PauFerro]

You're talking about the NS Omni bass? Not the Ibanez EUB, right? The Omni, IMO, has it's own unique sound. It's somewhere between a FBG and a DB; pleasing but not part of either tradition. It's essentially a solid bodied instrument so acoustically it's very quiet. The high end NS models make good use of their two pickup system and it can get very loud on stage without feedback. I play mine just as I play my DB, with TP above the octave, 124, etc, but even with the strings raised as high as they'll go, the action is a few mms too low. I use it once a year when I travel and expect to have some downtime. Takes me 30 minutes to adjust to the different string length, and otherwise it's loud enough acoustically for me to hear myself playing along to iRealB without amplification.

I am asking about the new IBanez EUB in the subject line...it seems perfect for me in terms of scale length. It looks very traditional in its colors, and I loved the sound of it, particularly with the bow. It was very unique. I liked the way it sounded pizzicato, too. Sounds to me that it might be really quiet based on your assessment of the low end NS Design model. LIkely?

 

[HateyMcAmp]

The idea that a magnetic pickup is somehow nessesary is for basic performance volume is a strange one. I have a Krivo I’ll use for really big, loud stages with rock drummers, but piezos work for everything else for me. I went over to the mag not because of feedback, but for a better sound in the mix I work in often. I’ve seen bands play 10,000 seat amphitheaters with piezo equipped DBs and EUBs (Greensky, Stringdusters, even Modest Mouse.)

 

[Callused Finger]

Pretty nice for $900. I miss my CR4M but get a lot more use out of the CC Jazz V I traded it for.
EUBSFB (Electric Upright Short Finger Board).

 

[PauFerro]

Ordered one, but am not pleased that it won't be available until September 2018 -- and I have a gig planned that requires such an instrument in June 2018 in a foreign country. Not sure what Ibanez is trying to accomplish with limited production, other than to perhaps test the market.

 

[PauFerro]

Why not just buy a used NS Design Omni bass? It'll be more expensive but you'd have it sooner.

I looked into it but it was more expensive than I was comfortable with. I have a quote from Gollihur for all the parts to an upright that I was going to assemble into an EUB like my existing acoustic bass, but with piezos and an electro magnetic pickup. Toying with that idea, and I if I do it, then cancel the Ibanez.

 

[DoubleMIDI]

I would never plan to take an instrument to a tour that I don't already have and know that it works for me in the state it is.
What if it does not work for you as expected?

 

[PauFerro]

I would never plan to take an instrument to a tour that I don't already have and know that it works for me in the state it is.

What if it does not work for you as expected?

I would be built and tested in advance. If it doesn't work, I'll go electric. I can dismantle one of my short scale bolt-on electrics and put it in my luggage as backup-- done that lots of times.

I gig a lot, and have one pro bono performance a month between now and June where the expectations are low. I test all my new equipment live there, in the worst of conditions (wind, sun, humidity), a large projection area, backline and PA combined, and a lot of sight reading. And of course, with backup equipment on hand.

I also took formal luthier training from a professional luthier in electric basses many years ago and built a few instruments for local gigging musicians (custom) and myself. And have a full blow workshop.

So, this project would be tested and tried in advance. It's not exactly like an electric bass, but has many elements in common, such as a neck pocket and a slab. With pre-fab parts I think I could make it work with the limited time between now and then.

It's a matter of getting the commitment to do it. I am getting older and little funned out with building projects, but I may do it. Have a bit of time to germinate on the idea as I have a quote from Gollihur and can visualize how it would work.

 

[damonsmith]

Most, if not all EUBs with traditional scale fit in an overhead bin.

 

[Tom Lane]

Most, if not all EUBs with traditional scale fit in an overhead bin.

I don't think that's correct. I've been told by multiple sources that that's incorrect because the standard DB neck length exceeds the airline Max. Support?

 

[SAlcott]

If my recent trip to Japan is any indication, any instrument bigger than a violin or viola is not going to get on board in the passenger compartment-hard case only, BTW. My 30" scale bass guitar had to be checked baggage in a flight case. My EUB with a traditional (41 1/8") scale is about 60" long. It's probably not going to fit in an overhead baggage bin.

 

[damonsmith]

I don't think that's correct. I've been told by multiple sources that that's incorrect because the standard DB neck length exceeds the airline Max. Support?

They go in the overhead bin behind the other luggage. I used to fly with my Ergo 7 string often until the pick up stopped working.

 

[tfer]

Ordered one, but am not pleased that it won't be available until September 2018 -- and I have a gig planned that requires such an instrument in June 2018 in a foreign country. Not sure what Ibanez is trying to accomplish with limited production, other than to perhaps test the market.

Just saw this post.

This EUB is a part of the Ibanez Bass Workshop series. When I purchased my Ibanez Portamento fretless, I was informed by the Ibanez rep that they do two runs a year of each Workshop series instrument. They aren’t in full time production. They are never sure what the demand will be like for these instruments, so they hedge their bets.

The Bass Workshop series tries to push the envelope for bassists, and some of the instruments that get beyond the planning stage are a little...odd!

I love Ibanez for what they are trying to do for bassists, as opposed to a certain company that does all of its R&D at the paint desk in Home Depot, but if the few hundred dollars in price didn’t matter, I’d probably find an NXT Omni bass.

 

[PauFerro]

Just saw this post.

This EUB is a part of the Ibanez Bass Workshop series. When I purchased my Ibanez Portamento fretless, I was informed by the Ibanez rep that they do two runs a year of each Workshop series instrument. They aren’t in full time production. They are never sure what the demand will be like for these instruments, so they hedge their bets.

The Bass Workshop series tries to push the envelope for bassists, and some of the instruments that get beyond the planning stage are a little...odd!

I love Ibanez for what they are trying to do for bassists, as opposed to a certain company that does all of its R&D at the paint desk in Home Depot, but if the few hundred dollars in price didn’t matter, I’d probably find an NXT Omni bass.

Which company are you referring to in the part in bold?

 

[tfer]

Fender.

Haven’t done a thing since Leo got bought out.

NAMM, sees the release of relics and new paint colors.

 

[Eric Hochberg]

I don't think that's correct. I've been told by multiple sources that that's incorrect because the standard DB neck length exceeds the airline Max. Support?

When I was doing a lot of international travel in the early 2000's, I had almost no trouble transporting my bass guitars or 41" scale Clevinger EUB in the overheads, all in soft cases. Only got stopped once when we took a commuter size plane in Poland.

 

[PauFerro]

I had to fly last week -- I found the airline (American) was even forcing people with overhead carry-ons to check them at the gate before they boarded. It seems the stowing of overhead carry ons is a major reason they have problems getting people on and off the plane fast (my guess).. It also makes the ride a bit unpleasant too because of all the waiting and the swinging of the bag as it gets pulled out of the overhead bin. Plus, it lengthens the line upon entry and exit due to all the distance used in dragging the carry-on if one of those luggage types with wheels and handles.

 

[PauFerro]

I bought one of these electric uprights.

MASSIVE POSITIVE COMMENTS from listeners and fellow musicians alike. It has that massive growl and sustain you hear in a fretless, but is more double bass sounding than a fretless. But unique as well.

Comes with a black, sturdy stand. 34" scale, upper register is way easy, and my band keeps asking me to bring it to gigs. I have been told by one of my band members its the best purchase so far in the electric/eub realm.

Very happy.

 

[mrbaloo]

I bought one of these electric uprights.

MASSIVE POSITIVE COMMENTS from listeners and fellow musicians alike. It has that massive growl and sustain you hear in a fretless, but is more double bass sounding than a fretless. But unique as well.

Comes with a black, sturdy stand. 34" scale, upper register is way easy, and my band keeps asking me to bring it to gigs. I have been told by one of my band members its the best purchase so far in the electric/eub realm.

Very happy.

Congratulations!

 

[Kirk Bryant]

I just bumped into one of these today at a store I go in a couple of times a year. I played it for a few minutes and was surprised how much more I liked it than most of the more reasonably ones I've tried in the past. I can see both sides of the scale thing" but it's undeniably easy and slightly addictive to play. I was zipping around like I had power steering on an upright. Made me laugh when I played it.
It seems pretty well made has an organic look to it. The satin finish looked a felt good.
I thought the neck was a bit fat for my tastes, A deep U shape. It has a trussrod so it could be most any thickness you wanted. (Theoretically) Tone was good i would have liked a preamp with more tone control either a three or four band would be a huge improvement. The most natural tones came with the tone rolled well down. It has a voice that's neither upright nor fretless electric. More of a hybrid sound.