I already play upright for 6 years or so. I Play electric bass (professionally) for over 30 years.
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Double Bass NS Omni Bass vs NS full scale
- Thread starter Les Fret
- Start date
I already play upright for 6 years or so. I Play electric bass (professionally) for over 30 years.
It was more for others reading it than for you.
I don‘t like the NS instruments, since they typically come with a stand and don‘t move with the player. An endpin is available but rather expensive. Also low clearance below the strings where the fingerboard of a DB normally ends.
But I‘m coming from the DB side.
I think BG players are the main customers the instruments were developed for.
They are instruments of their own kind that can be used as a replacement for a DB with some drawbacks.
Yes, I think they have to be treated as their own thing. Not as an electric bass, not as an acoustic upright, but as another instrument with its own voice. then you have the least chance to get disappointed....
One more question for the Omni Bass:
would you be using a bass or cello bow for it? Since the scale is between a 3/4 scale upright and a cello. What bow would work the best?
would you be using a bass or cello bow for it? Since the scale is between a 3/4 scale upright and a cello. What bow would work the best?
The Omni Bass is what's called a "Mini EUB" because it's an EUB made in a reduced size w/ a 34 inch scale.
The Omni Bass is a combination of an Electric Bass (34 inch Scale & Pickups) & an Upright Bass (it can be played with a Bow), so if you treat it as a special Bass with its own voice, then people coming from Double Bass can have a lot of fun with it.
To me, the sound is more similar than different between the scales, having owned both. Ive tried many strings on my Omni, im now back to the D’addario Omni strings. I have good results using an NS cello bow on my Omni.
My fav ‘other’ string was EB Group Flats. I use the endpin stand for my Omni and NS Cello.
My fav ‘other’ string was EB Group Flats. I use the endpin stand for my Omni and NS Cello.
The last question was a while ago, but for my DB scale EUB I rather use a lighter violone bow (can be ordered rather cheap, probably not that cheap currently, from China via eBay or AliExpress) if I mainly play on the upper strings, not needing an orchestral low string power. I prefer black hair for a solid body EUB (specially if the bow comes from China) because it grabs the strings better.
A violone bow has a size in between a bass and a cello bow (at least the two I have) and may not be too heavy for a shorter scale.
But it depends highly on the strings used. I have no experience in bowing bass guitar strings. Flatwounds might work better, at least an outer metal winding be is needed. A stiff core might be harder to bow and doesn‘t sound good.
Strings with a solid steel core like with most BG strings are no longer sold for DBs as they are harder to play and sound very shrill and metallic.
A violone bow has a size in between a bass and a cello bow (at least the two I have) and may not be too heavy for a shorter scale.
But it depends highly on the strings used. I have no experience in bowing bass guitar strings. Flatwounds might work better, at least an outer metal winding be is needed. A stiff core might be harder to bow and doesn‘t sound good.
Strings with a solid steel core like with most BG strings are no longer sold for DBs as they are harder to play and sound very shrill and metallic.
I’ve heard good things about GHS Precision Flat for Omni, but I haven’t tried them. Flexibility is important for arco esp for cello, I’ve found, but nonetheless, some eb strings work fine (for me) with Omni, perhaps in spite of solid cores. String surface is a factor as well. The Group Flats have a great satin-y feel and grab rosin well.
Ihave been playing the Ibanez Ub-804 for 9 months or so. Love it. i'm using chromes in it. Oddly enough they feel better on it than my generally preferred TIJF's.
What makes a big difference - and this would apply to the Omni as well ... I am often but not always playing through an IR host. An Hx Stomp in my case. I'm using the German Bass IR's from 3 Sigma. That fattens things up a lot!
What makes a big difference - and this would apply to the Omni as well ... I am often but not always playing through an IR host. An Hx Stomp in my case. I'm using the German Bass IR's from 3 Sigma. That fattens things up a lot!
