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Double Bass Looking forward to fun "gig" tonite!

E

Ed S

Nov 14, 2019
1,983
3,032
#1
I got asked to participate in a nonpay performance this eve that I'm looking forward to.

Pre-COVID, my regular jam was 4-5 hrs every Sat morning at a local farmer's market. This is going to be 5 of the best pickers from that group (plus me! ;)) Gonna be totally low key. Just an hour, with a setlist of tunes we've played together many a time. So no pressure/rehearsal, etc. Essentially just a high level jam w/ an audience.

For me, the coolest thing is the location. We'll be set up on the porch of this really cool old house. Pleasant Home Foundation

Weather is supposed to be a perfect fall evening. Just before I head out, I'll put in a session w/ 3 of the 4 members of my classical quartet. Nice to have something like this to look forward to all day!
 
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#3
I think most of the time, with either my quartet or my string band, I find myself having to devise set lists, lead songs, or else I'm playing things that are newer to me. All that is fun, but today, I'm just coming in as a hired gun, w/ no responsibility other than to drive a solid beat. One guitar and the mando are probably my fave rhythm mates, and all the material is second nature to me. Good mix from waltzes to up tempo fiddle tunes. Plenty of folk who are gonna show off, so all I gotta do is do what I do best - and have fun! Maybe I'll sneak in a break on Ashokan Farewell...

If anyone happens to think of me sometime between 630-730 central, think of me w/ a big old grin on my face! :D
 
#4
So that was fun.

First, because I got the chance to play both of my basses so close to each other. I started off playing classical on my hybrid, mostly arco. The damned thing sounded so amazing, that I wondered if I ought to bring it for the gig. But the ply was already in the car.

I had played at this place before, but had forgotten how incredible the acoustics were. Tile floor, w/ limestone kneewalls/columns, and relatively low ceiling. From the first tune, I was amazed at the BOOM I was getting. Had to remind myself that I wasn't amped. Then another picker took a turn on my bass for a couple tunes, so I got to listen from out front. The entire group sounded great - but especially my bass... I know a lotta folk like to diss Engles, and everyone is welcome to spend their money however they want. But I tell you - on that occasion, in that location, playing that music, you'd be hard pressed to find ANY bass that sounded better!

Then, to make things perfect, we were welcome to the open bar, and had an entire table at the dinner! Probably paid better than most of my "paying" gigs!

Life is good!
 
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#5
No kidding—glad you had a blast! I think can believe how great your bass sounds in context. You have guts on the Engle, right?

The reason why I ask is that I’ve got a set of Evah Slaps on a used Schoenbach (Strunal) ply bass that I got for a steal of a deal to keep at work and play outdoors in cold/wet weather. It sounds great in the context of the outdoor old time jam I have been going to this summer and the other musicians have also been very positive about what the sound adds to that experience.

I have played this student level ply, including some bowed breaks, at rainy bluegrass sets in the farmers market and at the (cool/damp evening) old time jam all summer and, while it is not as rich under the bow as my carved Hofner, the ply with gut-a-like strings just really sits well in those contexts.

I guess we are both very fortunate to have two great tools to choose from to play with different groups of great people. I hope you get to play at that spot again soon—before it gets too cold!
 
#6
Yeah - Evah guts on the ply. I've got the set up perfectly dialed in for my preferences. As I've worked on my arco, I'm more confident bowing on the ply. As you say, it doesn't have the sound of the other, but sure fits the bill for bluegrass. Neck is def narrower than the Upton, but I don't even notice it if I'm not playing them back-to-back.

EP weichs on the Upton hybrid 7/8. I HATE that as I've developed some meagre arco ability, I'm wondering about different E-strings... :D

Try to find an opportunity to have someone else take a couple of tunes on your bass, so you can go out front and hear how good it sounds!

I'd love to have our quartet play up on that porch, to hear how that bass sounds bowed!
 

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