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Double Bass Is it a sin to use effects on upright?

#21
burnunit said:
I don't see anything wrong with it. As soon as you have a pickup involved, you're into effects right there...
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Whoa! I wouldn't go that far at all. For many of us, the holy grail of amplification is "the acoustic sound of the DB but bigger." No pickup is ideal and there are always compromises. Those are not "effects" as usually discussed because such effects are added intentionally. While the use of effects with the DB is definitely not for me, I'm with the folks who say, "If you like them, use them." To each (artist), his own.
 
#24
I do it all the time - have fun.
I'm looking forward to checking out the albums suggested, thanks guys. I'm always on the lookout for more out-there upright players.

Also - I'd suggest trying out a magnetic pickup sometime. There are lots of advantages and disadvantages (bad with the bow, for one...) to them, but it has definitely helped me get into more distortion and volume level before feedback.
 
#28
lousybassist said:
Another great example of what an effected upright can sound like, is Vincent Guerin, a.k.a. Schizoïd Bass' album Free Juke Box, which can be downloaded for free from the excellent netlabel Link Removed.
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Just got around to checking this out. I actually like it a lot, it's similar to the stuff I was doing with my effected bass, but a hell of a lot better!
 
#30
Dirty D said:
Just wondering. I couldn't find a topic on this. I have been playing for a little while and just started messing around with: Delay, Overdrive, and Reverb and am kinda digging the sound. Anyone else, or am I alone and ridiculous?
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There have been several threads about this that I have read before - I just see it as a waste of time and effort.

So - for me the only reason to drag around a large, fragile, awkward hollow instrument is to get that acoustic sound you can only get with a real DB.

I also own a BG and a solid body EUB - these are much more durable, easier to amplify and carry around - so, if using effects then these are much more sensible options.

It's just a wasted effort to use a DB when you are going to end up with the same sound as an EUB...:confused:
 
#31
Ordinarily I'd agree with you, Bruce, but I heard EST live and when he uses distortion and other effects with his db it almost always sounds really cool within the context of their music. It isn't really for me, personally, and I'm not even sure I like it on the same pieces on their cds, but live it was really striking (I used a thesaurus to avoid saying "effective" :D)
 
#32
Is it a sin to use effects on upright?
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If so, then Charnett Moffett is going to hell.

I saw him at the old Yoshi's on Claremont St. years ago and he was doing all sorts of loops and layering with different effects on URB.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0YX3ygQjYE&feature=related

I can't say that is what has personally attracted me to playing Double Bass, but I could see where it could be used tastefully at times within the context of modern styles and sounds.
 
#33
drew_bassmore said:
If so, then Charnett Moffett is going to hell.

I saw him at the old Yoshi's on Claremont St. years ago and he was doing all sorts of loops and layering with different effects on URB.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0YX3ygQjYE&feature=related

I can't say that is what has personally attracted me to playing Double Bass, but I could see where it could be used tastefully at times within the context of modern styles and sounds.
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Well - he may be a great player and have phenomenal technique - but the sound is just very "electric" to me - it's the sort of sound I have heard from Jaco, Alphonso Johnson and many other Jazz bass guitar players ....?

I can't see the point really...:confused:

It's just like you are creating technical difficulties for yourself and then congratulating yourself on overcoming these..?

I don't see that it's really about music-making - more like sport or performance art.
 
#34
Dave Whitla said:
Ordinarily I'd agree with you, Bruce, but I heard EST live and when he uses distortion and other effects with his db it almost always sounds really cool within the context of their music. It isn't really for me, personally, and I'm not even sure I like it on the same pieces on their cds, but live it was really striking (I used a thesaurus to avoid saying "effective" :D)
Click to expand...

I know it may seem a bit in poor taste now (?)- but I never really got EST - to be honest I always found them a bit dull and lacking in musical interest. What I means is that the music never seemed to be going anywhere..?

I listened to several recording and live gigs on Radio 3 and it's like I'm waiting for something to happen or a tune to appear...but it never does...
 
#36
Bruce Lindfield said:
It's just like you are creating technical difficulties for yourself and then congratulating yourself on overcoming these..?

I don't see that it's really about music-making - more like sport or performance art.
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I think that there are a number of people (like myself) for whom playing upright is not particularly more difficult than playing BG - and is in some ways eaiser.

I learned on upright and only picked up bass guitar years later. While bass guitar has some obvious advantages, I just can't seem to improvise as well on it - it's not my natural instrument. Especially when it comes to walking lines, the notes just flow out better on upright for me.

So, I suppose that a person like myself could just get an EUB, but I already have a couple of acoustic uprights that I like - I just outfit one of them for "rocking out". Anyway, I don't really like the looks of EUB's - sorry to bring up "looks"....

As for sound - I don't think that I could get the same tone out of a BG. I do have an "electric-y" sound, but I find some uniqueness to it. I think the scale length might have something to do with it - I certainly like to be able to have high tension and be able to really dig in.

I guess it's also kind of like how the guys in my swing band use old Epiphone archtops - those have magnetic pickups on them, but I don't think they could get the same sound and feel on a strat....
 
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#37
caught charnett early on with courtney pine. the man is a monster, no doubt, but the effects ... to me it's hot dogging. personally, i *hate* bass solos, perhaps more than drum solos. the joy of playing bass is being supportive and being able to play behind or in front as *you* feel it fits ... it's a pretty damn powerful role in and of itself, so why the need for a solo (i'm talking extended solos like this)?

meanwhile, FX ... for me, i'd much rather hear someone like charnett just *play*. it's not like he needs the effects! dunno ....

jeff.

Bruce Lindfield said:
Well - he may be a great player and have phenomenal technique - but the sound is just very "electric" to me - it's the sort of sound I have heard from Jaco, Alphonso Johnson and many other Jazz bass guitar players ....?

I can't see the point really...:confused:

It's just like you are creating technical difficulties for yourself and then congratulating yourself on overcoming these..?

I don't see that it's really about music-making - more like sport or performance art.
Click to expand...
 
#38
I've been looking into a pickup for my upright because I've been wanting to experiment with playing arco though my BG's Bass Cry Baby Wah.

Feedback can become even more of a problem with some effects, particularly any kind of compression. I once had a friend's pickup start howling like crazy because I had the gain too high. I suppose if you're looking for that kind of sound then go ahead, but just beware of the physics you're working with.
 
#39
dgelting said:
I think that there are a number of people (like myself) for whom playing upright is not particularly more difficult than playing BG - and is in some ways eaiser. ....
Click to expand...

But you still have the issues like feedback, transporting the thing - how awkward that is and how fragile a DB can be if you take it on the road...?

There are many difficulties - which wouldn't apply to a solid bodied EUB for example - and by playing through effects, you are throwing any chance of an acoustic sound out the window!! :eyebrow:

Most effects are designed for guitars and have most effect on the higher end of the audio spectrum - I just don't see this as compatible with bass, as such!?
 
#40
I personally don't use any on DB but it certainly shouldn't be off limits. One of the first albums that I heard that featured effects on DB was John Abercrombie's "Current Events" with Marc Johnson. He uses a synth effect on his bass for the first track. My first copy was on vinyl and it just sounded HUGE! Very tastefully done. Just got the CD version and it sounds even clearer and deeper.

http://www.amazon.com/Current-Event..._1_14?ie=UTF8&s=dmusic&qid=1222160895&sr=1-14

It's all about context.
 
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