Double Bass Ibanez UB804 EUB.

[Pocket Dave]

A quick pic of my UB804 rig the past couple nights. Aggie TH-500 into a couple of vertically stacked 210's:

 

[matthewbrown]

I recently bought the UB805 and am having noise issues. Lots of hum, gets worse as I touch the strings. Has anyone else run into this, or is it normal behavior for these pickups?

I had an issue with mine. There is a ground wire under each pickup, and one of them had become disconnected. They are very thin wires! I also replaced the electronics cavity cover with a new one, as the one I had was warped. I suggest checking each individual pup with you hand to see which ones might be involved, then checking underneath, or having your tech do so.

 

[bassbrad]

Going to be getting back in shape on my UB804 as I have been invited to join a Django Jazz group that also does some standards, bossa nova and Western Swing from the period. One reason this interests me is I have never played in a Gypsy Jazz style and to inspire me to get my EUB chops up to speed.

 

[bassbrad]

Working through those trusty old Simandl exercises really tuned up my hands, for pizzicato at least - still need a lot of work on arco before I am bold enough to whip some bow out on any gig.

I have been trying my various preamps with the UB804 to see which might offer the optimum performance, luckily so far all of them have worked well with different characters. My favorite so far is the Southhampton Ictineo that really works to enhance characteristics I like to hear paired with a Zoom MS60B or MS70CDR. Bass Jive gets honorable mention as do the various @Sushi Box FX pedals I have tried.

Amp wise I am going between the Alto TX310 and a TC BAM200 into a Walter Box 1x10.

I had an issue with mine. There is a ground wire under each pickup, and one of them had become disconnected. They are very thin wires! I also replaced the electronics cavity cover with a new one, as the one I had was warped. I suggest checking each individual pup with you hand to see which ones might be involved, then checking underneath, or having your tech do so.

When I first pulled it off the rack to play I was getting some extraneous noise on the D & G strings but after working the volume and tone puts and sweeping the trim pots that has gone away.

What strings are you using? I still have the original set but am thinking of trying a light set of D'Addario flats or Rotosound Trubass 88 that I have in the stash.

 

[matthewbrown]

Working through those trusty old Simandl exercises really tuned up my hands, for pizzicato at least - still need a lot of work on arco before I am bold enough to whip some bow out on any gig.

I have been trying my various preamps with the UB804 to see which might offer the optimum performance, luckily so far all of them have worked well with different characters. My favorite so far is the Southhampton Ictineo that really works to enhance characteristics I like to hear paired with a Zoom MS60B or MS70CDR. Bass Jive gets honorable mention as do the various @Sushi Box FX pedals I have tried.

Amp wise I am going between the Alto TX310 and a TC BAM200 into a Walter Box 1x10.


When I first pulled it off the rack to play I was getting some extraneous noise on the D & G strings but after working the volume and tone puts and sweeping the trim pots that has gone away.

What strings are you using? I still have the original set but am thinking of trying a light set of D'Addario flats or Rotosound Trubass 88 that I have in the stash.

I was using D'Addario flats. I have since sold the UB804 and I now play an Ibanez SHF500 fretless semi-hollow EB strung with LaBella Deep Talkin' Flats. I like it much better -- it's a very comfortable bass. It sounds very much the same to my ear as the UB804 played pizz.

 

[4Mal]

Me and my 804 with Willy & Nelson a few weeks back. It pretty much goes everywhere I play.

Stock D'Addario chromes. I'm getting excessive string grind lately In a rock setting it's pretty cool but I'd like to dial it back a bit. Do I need to raise the action ? Suggestions welcome.

 

[Pocket Dave]

Clip from a while back - I've since lowered the stand slightly to allow for more of a traditional technique off the sides of my plucking fingers.

 

[Francois Blais]

Stock D'Addario chromes. I'm getting excessive string grind lately In a rock setting it's pretty cool but I'd like to dial it back a bit. Do I need to raise the action ? Suggestions welcome.

Grind?
Is there a truss rod on this EUB?

 

[4Mal]

Grind?
Is there a truss rod on this EUB?

As I understand it, yes. Gotta get it out of the bag to check. In the middle of a 4 gig run so I'll wait till Tuesday to start adjusting...

 

[bassbrad]

Yes there is a truss rod as well as height adjustment on the bridges. I have never touched the truss rod but am getting a bit of buzz out in the 1st position on the G string but who actually plays an Ab or G# there anyway.

I did recently need to adjust the piezo levels as half of my strings were fritzing out, a few passes of the trim pots cleared that up.

 

[Francois Blais]

As I understand it, yes. Gotta get it out of the bag to check. In the middle of a 4 gig run so I'll wait till Tuesday to start adjusting...

There should be a slight concavity in the fingerboard (scoop).
I wouldn't touch the bridge saddles height before making sure the FB scoop is ok.

 

[4Mal]

Anyone have a line on a good foam mute for my 804? I'm usimg my original Barker but it ain't young amd it close to it's last legs... I have about 80 gigs on my 804 now and love it.

I'm running mine into an HX device (Stomp or Helix Floor). The HX hosts 3Sigma German Bass IR's Liking those a lot.

 

[Francois Blais]

I thought about the Ninomute, but here's what I found on Gollihurmusic:

IMPORTANT NOTE: Neither NinoMute model (Full Size nor OmniMute) will fit the Ibanez UB804 electric upright bass. Despite its short (34") scale, it has a very wide string spacing at the bridge (30mm - which is over an inch). We're not sure why they spec'd the instrument to have such a wide string spacing - that's wider than a typical 3/4 size upright (with a 41.5" scale!) so it's a pretty unconventional choice. But since the NinoMutes are designed to fit the more common string spacing (closer to around 7/8"), they don't fit the wider string width on the Ibanez.

 

[Mouldy]

Anyone have a line on a good foam mute for my 804? I'm usimg my original Barker but it ain't young amd it close to it's last legs... I have about 80 gigs on my 804 now and love it.

I'm running mine into an HX device (Stomp or Helix Floor). The HX hosts 3Sigma German Bass IR's Liking those a lot.

Are you trying to play quietly to not wake family or trying for the shorter decay for gigs. If it's the latter I noticed someone put foam near the bridge as many do on their P basses.

 

[bassbrad]

@4Mal On the ninomute facebook they demo using one of their mutes on an 804, I'd say it would be worth an inquiry as to which one.

<iframe src="Facebook" width="267" height="476" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe>

@Mouldy there are some styles of music where a muted bass thump is relevant for example Latin music

I use microphone foam pop screens when a muted tone is needed on any of my basses. I cut them in half and stuff between or under the strings and adjust until the desired thump is achieved.

 

[4Mal]

Are you trying to play quietly to not wake family or trying for the shorter decay for gigs. If it's the latter I noticed someone put foam near the bridge as many do on their P basses.

Gigging. At home I play through phones almost always. Only time I make noise is when I need to prove out cabling or rig changes.

 

[matt27]

Does anyone know of a sound sample of this instrument with NS710 strings on it? Especially when bowed?