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Double Bass Looking to get into upright

B

BellBottomBlues

Feb 21, 2007
1,853
7
New York
Disclosures
Endorser:Fender User:Rotosound, LaBella, Ashdown, Lindy Fralin
#1
Hey all

Im looking to get into Upright basses, and awhile I posted in the regular DB forum, but I was told that I'd spend close to 2 grand on a decent one, so now I'm gonna go towards the EUB route.

My dad decided to get me an upright bass for graduation, but I know we dont have the money for an acoustic upright, and I see EUB for under a grand.

Whats the best one for around $1000?
 
#2
BellBottomBlues said:
Hey all

Im looking to get into Upright basses, and awhile I posted in the regular DB forum, but I was told that I'd spend close to 2 grand on a decent one, so now I'm gonna go towards the EUB route.

My dad decided to get me an upright bass for graduation, but I know we dont have the money for an acoustic upright, and I see EUB for under a grand.

Whats the best one for around $1000?
Click to expand...
Try Azola they sound quite close to the DB even when bowed though I'm not sure if your budget can get you one. If you can save-up after your graduation I suggest you go get yourself a DB. Nothing beats the real thing!;)
 
#4
I'm not so sure it's a worthy transitional choice. It's to easy to transfer EB chops to the longer scale and "upright" fingerboard of the EUB. ie. play with your hands not your arms and shoulders. If you do that, when you finally get yourself a DB you may hurt yourself or at least not be able to get the true DB sound. At that point you'll first need to unlearn bad habits and relearn to play correctly.

I think it's better to learn the DB properly and then transfer that proper technique to the EUB rather than try to go the other way.

Be patient, save all the dough, buy the best real bass you can, and get lessons right away so you start off on the right foot.
 
#5
Uncletoad said:
I'm not so sure it's a worthy transitional choice. It's to easy to transfer EB chops to the longer scale and "upright" fingerboard of the EUB. ie. play with your hands not your arms and shoulders. If you do that, when you finally get yourself a DB you may hurt yourself or at least not be able to get the true DB sound. At that point you'll first need to unlearn bad habits and relearn to play correctly.

I think it's better to learn the DB properly and then transfer that proper technique to the EUB rather than try to go the other way.

Be patient, save all the dough, buy the best real bass you can, and get lessons right away so you start off on the right foot.
Click to expand...


I completely agree. I couldn't agree more. There are instruments in the $1500USD range, but they are not generally that fantastic. Here in Boston over the weekend, I looked at a few great instruments (for the price) at around $3000USD. And if you go straight to the EUB but still think that in the long run you'll be transitioning to double bass, then at least go for an EUB that is more similar to a double bass than the ones which have been mentioned so far.

Thanks,
Rick McLaughlin
 
#6
BellBottomBlues said:
Hey all

Im looking to get into Upright basses, and awhile I posted in the regular DB forum, but I was told that I'd spend close to 2 grand on a decent one, so now I'm gonna go towards the EUB route.

My dad decided to get me an upright bass for graduation, but I know we dont have the money for an acoustic upright, and I see EUB for under a grand.

Whats the best one for around $1000?
Click to expand...

Funnily enough I found that a decent EUB was more expensive than a comparable Double Bass!

So - I paid nearly £2,000 for my EUB, but only £1300 for my DB - which I now much prefer!! :p
 
#7
What do you folks think about the NS Wav 4? I'm looking for an EUB to just add more tonal variety and it most likely won't be my main instrument. I plan on teaching myself this without lessons.

Before you say I need lessons, realize that I play bass, banjo, mandolin, harmonica, violin, and the classical harp all without training. And I dont suck. lol
 
#8
Uncletoad said:
I'm not so sure it's a worthy transitional choice. It's to easy to transfer EB chops to the longer scale and "upright" fingerboard of the EUB. ie. play with your hands not your arms and shoulders. If you do that, when you finally get yourself a DB you may hurt yourself or at least not be able to get the true DB sound. At that point you'll first need to unlearn bad habits and relearn to play correctly.

I think it's better to learn the DB properly and then transfer that proper technique to the EUB rather than try to go the other way.

Be patient, save all the dough, buy the best real bass you can, and get lessons right away so you start off on the right foot.
Click to expand...

- You are likley right about this. But, a WAV4 or an ERGO are better instruments than the DBs in their price range.
We should also note the boy genius here does not plan on learning the instrument properly so he is better not wasting any more of dad's bread than he has to.

An Mr. Genius, for the record, the double bass is unlike any of the instruments you mentioned, with the possible exception of Violin.
You'll excuse us if we are not impressed.
 
#9
Im not a genious no, but I pick up on instruments quickly. As for upright bass, I have reasonably good pitch and fretless has never been a problem for me. Ive never had a problem in any of the times Ive played upright. (Only on a few songs on borrowed basses, I plan on getting my own and becoming reasonably proficient at it.)

Also one would think electric bass is a bit similar to the double bass.
 
#10
BellBottomBlues said:
Also one would think electric bass is a bit similar to the double bass.
Click to expand...
This will be your first mistake. Your second is that you think you know anything at all from playing a few tunes on the bass at 17 years old.

Don't misinterpret these responses as being mean. We are being old and experienced. This instrument can hurt you if you don't play it properly. Continue in your arrogance and ignorance as you must but be warned. This ain't no banjo.
 
#12
BellBottomBlues said:
Also one would think electric bass is a bit similar to the double bass.
Click to expand...

NO, NO, NO, NO, NO!!!!!!!!!!

Bass Guitar is horizontal, Double Bass is vertical. Even if you do get an EUB, it is a completely different thinking to the approach of playing the instrument physically. An actual acoustic DB is an extremely physical instrument, an EUB is not so physical, but you still need to take a certain physical approach with it. Listen to these guys and take heed of what they are telling you, or you could seriously hurt yourself. Also, I am suprised I haven't seen/heard anyone else say it...FIND A TEACHER!!!!!!!!!
 
#13
BellBottomBlues said:
What do you folks think about the NS Wav 4? I'm looking for an EUB to just add more tonal variety and it most likely won't be my main instrument. I plan on teaching myself this without lessons.

Before you say I need lessons, realize that I play bass, banjo, mandolin, harmonica, violin, and the classical harp all without training. And I dont suck. lol
Click to expand...

Ah! The folly of youth :hmm: The expression 'Jack of all trades, master of none' springs to mind :eyebrow:
 
#14
bassist1962 said:
Also, I am suprised I haven't seen/heard anyone else say it...FIND A TEACHER!!!!!!!!!
Click to expand...
uncletoad said:
Be patient, save all the dough, buy the best real bass you can, and get lessons right away so you start off on the right foot.
Click to expand...

Perhaps I should have been more specific?;)
 
#15
bassist1962 said:
An actual acoustic DB is an extremely physical instrument, an EUB is not so physical, but you still need to take a certain physical approach with it.
Click to expand...

- This is another discussion, but I find myself getting more physical with my EUB to get the right sound.

With the double bass I have a really good sense of co-operation between my bass and my body and I get a really big sound with out much effort, but with the EUB I end up digging in more.
 
#16
Hey- Here's a shout from the other side of the tracks!
First, congrats on learning to play your own way and in your own time. Folks who can't/ won't think outside the music box have a hard time imagining there can be any other way. You can always join their club, but they can never join yours.
Second, as a self taught Bass Guitarist who finally was able to afford an upright- check this link on eBay -
http://cgi.ebay.com/Clevinger-Solid...oryZ4713QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I own one and it is physically close as you'll get to a traditional upright as far as neck size, scale and string spacing. Also excellent arco response. These are hard to find as they are not retailed and must be ordered from Martin Clevinger. He kind of wrote the EUB book post Ampeg.

I have small hands and had absolutely no upright experience when I got mine. (an OPUS 4) It was an incredibly smooth transition, a fine instrument that will inspire you. BTW I have no connection to that ebay auction, I just love these basses!

Get some instruction if you need to. Just don't let it hobble your instincts.:D
 
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#17
emblymouse said:
Hey- Here's a shout from the other side of the tracks!
First, congrats on learning to play your own way and in your own time. Folks who can't/ won't think outside the music box have a hard time imagining there can be any other way. You can always join their club, but they can never join yours.
Second, as a self taught Bass Guitarist who finally was able to afford an upright- ...
Get some instruction if you need to. Just don't let it hobble your instincts.:D
Click to expand...

Genius happens, but it is rare. It is much, much rarer when self declared. In my experience what lessons do is speed up the process.
Whether or not you and Mr. Bellbottom are saying the word genius, it is what you mean.
I study every day so at this point I have learned as much on my own as from my teachers.
Still, in my experience those proudly claiming to be self-taught have fallen into two categories:

a. They sounded like it.
b. They were old.

Plugging away at it for a few decades normally gets the job done, as does a few years with a good teacher.
Part of it is this instrument is rough, "talent" can cause as much trouble as it solves, a good ear can hinder your progress as much or more as a mediocre ear.
As Mr. Toad says, it ain't no banjo.
 
#18
emblymouse said:
Get some instruction if you need to. Just don't let it hobble your instincts.:D
Click to expand...
No teacher worth their salt would hobble your instincts.

I imagine there are bad teachers. I've managed to avoid them.

I'm a pretty talented fellow. I'm far from Genius. I play Electric Bass, Double Bass, Guitar, Piano, Trumpet and Voice. I've taken lessons on them all. There is no substitute for the growth I've had by one on one interaction with competent instructors.

In no instance was my instruction a hindrance to my progress. Many times my delay in getting proper instruction cost me lots of extra shed time I could have avoided with earlier proper instruction.
 
#20
Wow, I'm learning alot reading this so far.

So what would you say to a person like me? I am a good jazz trombonist with a degree there, who now plays bass, who wants to learn upright, who can't afford one and doesn't have access to a teacher less than 1.5 hours away. I understand the dangers of learning by myself, and the extreme benefits of a great teacher. Is there anything I can do or do I just find a way to make it work?

It all kind of reminds me of what a teacher told me once, "There's no magic (way to practice)." You've just got to hack it out and do it.
 

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