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Double Bass Ibanez EUB for 2018
- Thread starter TolerancEJ
- Start date
When I asked if the store had a bow, the only thing he could produce was a cello bow with insufficient rosin. Hence I could get no real useful info.
I got my Ibanez UB about a month ago and I took it to my regular bass repair guy to lower the nut. While at his shop, he gave me a set of the NS Design 710 34" bass strings that a customer had given him. I put them on the bass and they've made all of the difference in the world. The bass sounds incredible, excellent sustain and tone - they work great with a bow too.
To buy the set is really expensive, $108.00 online. Compare that with the Chromes that come on it that cost Ibanez about $5.00 a set in bulk, the difference is night and day. If they used this quality of string as stock, they'd have to raise the price of the instrument $100.00. I'm really fortunate to have stumbled upon these strings, they've certainly transformed this bass into a genuinely viable instrument. I play regular acoustic bass too but I'm no purist. I'm a busy, working player and the Ibanez is perfect in the pit where there is usually no room for my upright. It sounds great, is portable, fun to play and it gets the job done well at a reasonable price.
To buy the set is really expensive, $108.00 online. Compare that with the Chromes that come on it that cost Ibanez about $5.00 a set in bulk, the difference is night and day. If they used this quality of string as stock, they'd have to raise the price of the instrument $100.00. I'm really fortunate to have stumbled upon these strings, they've certainly transformed this bass into a genuinely viable instrument. I play regular acoustic bass too but I'm no purist. I'm a busy, working player and the Ibanez is perfect in the pit where there is usually no room for my upright. It sounds great, is portable, fun to play and it gets the job done well at a reasonable price.
Just got mine. Love it. But the tone knob seems to make very little difference. I don't really care because I like the sound (with NS strings) and I can adjust at the amp. But I would like to know something is wrong. Anyone have the same experience? (I have emailed Ibanez..the online store has no clue).
The tone knob is essentially a roll off to get rid of excess treble or finger noise, it is not what we think of as an active eq in the true sense of the word. It's not broken, but I'd put an alkaline battery in it if you haven't already.
FYI, any time you use a piezo the quality and tone of strings very much will make a huge difference. It’s catching the full bloom of the string, as opposed to magnetic frequencies.
I am an amateur at this. But thanks for the knowledge (I wish Ibanez included a manual specific to the instrument). While I am being needy,can anybody recommend a good cheap bass bow (for pure fun, not gigs)?
Get a good fiberglass bow stick with real horsehair. They are light weight and aren’t too fragile or prone to breaking. I use Carlson Swedish rosin and it’s the best I’ve used.
I will jump in. I traded for a new Ibanez EUB from Dave's Guitar in Madison, WI 2 months ago. It's a nice bass in my opinion. At first I swapped the strings for NSdesign cello strings, OK but too floppy (bowed nice however). Then tried D'Addario Nylon Tapewound, the feel and sound I like but bowed terrible. Ended up with Thomastik-Infeld Jazz Flats. Bow's (Arco) nice and not that floppy. As to playing in a mix, used it in Big band rehearsal the other night with a Fender Rumble 100 combo amplifier. It call's for a LIGHT touch when plucking. To me anyhow. When I had the rare solo and dug in the sound got really farty. So, when I play it in that setting, Big Band, it's best to keep my technique as light as possible. I like that it uses electric bass strings that are readily available and the portability. It is a heavy transport especially with the stand, compared to my NSDesign NXT with upgraded stand it's a little heavier. Still, both my EUB's are easier to transport compared to my Plywood bass Mom bought me in 1966 for 4th grade strings. In the Big Band I had a favorable reception, however the solo's tempered that (haha) a little. As an aside changing the battery requires skill and a small flat head screwdriver to separate the contacts. I can see that easily damaged if care is not taken.
There is no such thing as a good fiberglass stick! Fiberglass bows are horrific! Carbon fiber is fine, and you can get one on EBAY for $50. Get a German bow if you don't already play arco.
A fiberglass stick with real horsehair is an excellent option for the casual arco player. They are durable and cost effective. A French frog gives you better control, German is fine if you are looking for acoustic volume. I use both depending on the gig.
A fiber glass stick is not an excellent option for anyone, they are not any cheaper than a Chinese carbon fiber. Played properly, there is no real difference in French or German grips. The key difference is that the French doesn't work at all until you develop the proper grip, the German works better out of the gate.
I'm an electric player (mostly fretted, some fretless) with pretty much zero DB/EUB experience. After years and years of desire for an EUB, I traded in a bunch of credit card points and picked up a UB804.
So far, it seems like a really good-sounding fretless, with a little DB flavor, that is difficult to play. I'm still using stock strings and am trying to dial in some tones. And my intonation kinda sucks so far.
Naturally, I have questions.
• Any tips on right-hand technique? At the moment, I'm plucking in a way that is similar to an EB -- e.g. one finger per string, mostly perpendicular to the string, not using the weight of the arm.
• The tone seems to get really thin, and the open G has a bit of vibration. Is that typical, or is that an adjustment issue?
So far, it seems like a really good-sounding fretless, with a little DB flavor, that is difficult to play. I'm still using stock strings and am trying to dial in some tones. And my intonation kinda sucks so far.
Naturally, I have questions. • Any tips on right-hand technique? At the moment, I'm plucking in a way that is similar to an EB -- e.g. one finger per string, mostly perpendicular to the string, not using the weight of the arm.
• The tone seems to get really thin, and the open G has a bit of vibration. Is that typical, or is that an adjustment issue?
Francois is right...upright lessons...EUB and upright bass are such different animals from electric bass work you really need some lessons to play properly and it can save you from injury as well...
But here is a good video on right hand technique for pizz, and Chris the author is here on TalkBass:
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The plot thickens 
I'm curious, how would I get injured? It's a 34" scale, so I shouldn't have an issue with reach in the left hand. The strings seem to be standard electric flatwounds, and don't seem to need to be plucked with more force than an electric bass.
I'm curious, how would I get injured? It's a 34" scale, so I shouldn't have an issue with reach in the left hand. The strings seem to be standard electric flatwounds, and don't seem to need to be plucked with more force than an electric bass.
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