Hi, I just got my Palatino tonight. I'm also new to UB, but I'll try it on a couple songs tonight with my band at practice. I'll give you my impressions in few days (I'll be out of town for 3 days).
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Double Bass Palatino EUB
- Thread starter mhicks
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Hi, I´m from Austria, that´s why I can´t speak English - and I´m 50 years old, that´s why I´ve got a Palatino EUB (to save my back).blueboss said:
Well, first let me say that I spent EUR/$ 600 for the EUB, and gave more than 600 bugs to my violin-maker. At least I ordered a "Schertler-PU" (more a mic than a piezo) - so my Palatino costs me ca. 1,600 ... but finally it really will be MY instrument! Nearly all parts changed ...
To answer your question:
If you change the strings,
change or modify the bridge,
leave out that Palatino "coat hanger"
(which makes it impossible to bow the E-string ... I´m standing on right leg, with my left knee behind Palatino),
you will get an excellent string instrument for bowing too (!).
It´s a lot of fun playing e. g. "Bach, Cello Solo Suiten", indeed!
Ok, here are my first impressions on my new Palatino Ve-500. I think the pickup/preamp are not great, the output is a bit low, and the it produces a hiss, especially when the tone control is turned up to the bright position. But overall I'm happy, for a bass that cost me less than $600 (thanks to Robert from www.folkmusician.com). So, I'm going to try to upgrade the pickup/preamp, the strings, and maybe the bridge.
SebbyNC said:
I would really advise to change the bridge. On mine it changed a lot the sound quality (even more than changing the strings)
If you change the strings, change the bridge you'll not regret it.
An additional possibility is to experiment with the angle of the bridge: slight adjustments produce considerable differences in sound (!). I don't know why ... cause it's not only the pressure, applied to the piezo ... I've tested the build in pickup, a fishman too, than a "realist-like", and made a lot of experiences with distinct materials under the bridge. To leave the "mysterious world of piezos" I'm looking forward to the "STACK-B" ...
wphantom said:
I saw your first impressions about the Palatino and that you changed the bridge with an 1/8 bridge, I wonder if it's easy to find one? I will check that, but any info would be appreciated.
Christian Klein said:
Interesting. I realized yesterday that my bridge wasn't perfectly perpendicular to top of the bass (it was leaning slightly toward neck), so I adjusted the inclination so it's now perpendicular. Maybe I'll try later to compare with an inclination toward the bridge. What is your current setup Christian?
Maybe some pix say more than my terrible English words
So pls take a look at my modified Palatino:
PS: My violin-maker told me, that he could not use a "standard 1/8 bridge". He had to take a pice of wood, creating a very personal bridge for me (and the Palatino too ;-)
So pls take a look at my modified Palatino:
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PS: My violin-maker told me, that he could not use a "standard 1/8 bridge". He had to take a pice of wood, creating a very personal bridge for me (and the Palatino too ;-)
Christian, how much did it to have this bridge custom made for you? I've seen the same kind of asymmetric bridge on an Eminence bass. I'm interested to get a better bridge too.
It´s hard to say, I guess around $ 300, maximal 400.
I try to explain:
On the one hand my violin maker is very expensive (many musicians of Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra trust in him), on the other hand we have a good relationship, talkin for hours and hours, for that reason he knows me (playing, giging, fee) very well, let´s say he is something like a doctor (or a therapist ;-) and he is interested in innovations too.
Into the foot of the bridge he also made a depression for the piezo, etc. - I think, he spent many hours in research ...
That's why I can't tell you exactly how much my new Palatino bridge is, but I think 300 is realistic.
I try to explain:
On the one hand my violin maker is very expensive (many musicians of Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra trust in him), on the other hand we have a good relationship, talkin for hours and hours, for that reason he knows me (playing, giging, fee) very well, let´s say he is something like a doctor (or a therapist ;-) and he is interested in innovations too.
Into the foot of the bridge he also made a depression for the piezo, etc. - I think, he spent many hours in research ...
That's why I can't tell you exactly how much my new Palatino bridge is, but I think 300 is realistic.
SebbyNC said:
Hi,
I've bought mine at Invalid Link Removed (a french manufacturer. It cost me around 50$ for a 1/8 double bass bridge.
As Christian said, the 1/8 bridge is not completely compatible with the palatino but the width at the bridge was the good one.
The 1/8 Bridge is far too high but I've cut the feet and replaced it by the original ones with the the adjusters screws.
I then remove a little piece of wood on the top and shape it back to the correct thickness. All of this was done in an hour of wood working without particular skills (but patience). This is probably an uggly way and will note compete with a real costum-made bridge by a good luthier.
I'm not sure about the price of the later option but, a friend of mine paid 300 euros (around 385 USD) for a new bridge, a new soundpost & a fingerboard dressing (strings not included) with a good luthier here in France.
Sylvain Clement
Thanks Christian. It looks like your violin maker has indeed spent a lot of time to design this new bridge. I think I'll try to see a violin maker in my area.
Also, for the Palatino I found that the sound is very thin, not a lot of low end, except if I pull the strings up. I was guessing it is the piezo pickup which is responsible. So I finally bought a new pickup, a Schertler Electrostatic with preamp. It was a huge improvement even with a basic install. I think after trying different postitions for the pickup element, I will have a nice, more even sound. What I like in this pickup is that I don't need to modify the bridge (I try to install a KK MAx pickup, it would have required to enlarge the wing space). Anyway, now the sound is full with a normal plucking technique.
Also, for the Palatino I found that the sound is very thin, not a lot of low end, except if I pull the strings up. I was guessing it is the piezo pickup which is responsible. So I finally bought a new pickup, a Schertler Electrostatic with preamp. It was a huge improvement even with a basic install. I think after trying different postitions for the pickup element, I will have a nice, more even sound. What I like in this pickup is that I don't need to modify the bridge (I try to install a KK MAx pickup, it would have required to enlarge the wing space). Anyway, now the sound is full with a normal plucking technique.
i have just orderd one of these today and will have to wait 120 days to recive it, thier on back-order. I guess that thier pretty good EUB'S. Any one ues the stock pickup? if so what amp do you use? how does the combo sound? is it realy chamberd? what strings work well for this bass or eub's.
tall dave said:
I had to wait for 3-4 weeks before getting mine. I think for the price it's really nice for starting playing upright bass with a normal 3/4 size. Though, I think the pickup/preamp isn't good enough for playing gigs. I had replaced it with a Scherltler pickup/preamp, but I found that it's too sensitive to feedback in my hands. So I just bought a used K&K Bass Master Pro it seems really good. I just installed it, I still need to tweak things on it but it's promising.
My Palatino also has a problem, the neck is not perfectly aligned. But it's still playable.
The stock strings are probably quite bad (bowed sound is very screechy). I just ordered a set od Pirastro Flat Chrome Steel strings, which should be very good for both pizzicato and bowing.
Hi, i agree... They are great basses for someone brand new to UB or EUB for the price. Had mine now for about 6 months. I dont think it sounds too much like a proper double bass, but sounds cool enough through my trace elliot acoustic bass amp and defo looks cool at gigs compared to BG. When i bought it i had a bit of fret buzz on the G string due to a tiny lump which my teacher kindly sanded away for me. but now ive gone and bought a 3/4 size Acoustic DB, pickup arrives next week just in time for my first gig on the upright...EEEEK!!! Ill have my blagging skills polished hopefully.
Guys, I have come to find out that these EUB's are being manufactured right here in Shanghai, that's where I'm currently playing. Tried one out in a local music store. It's not a very good bass. Plugged it in and the metal tail-piece after ring was just as loud as the open G string! Guess that's an extra added bonus, a built in tuning referance. The thing played a big loud G that rang long after the stopped string, very weird. The store owner looked very nervous when I asked for a rag. Stuffed it in under the tail piece, that stopped it. Has a very skinny neck, skinnier than a Kay. Very narrow too at the end of the fingerboard. Had a bad buzz at the F on the E string in half position. G string sounded quite bad in thumb position, very whimpy sounding thruout. Might be those awful Chinese strings though. They are thin, like solo strings, you can buy a set here for about 18 bucks, new.
The pickup is something that sits under the bridge, which is a thin piece of wood with adjusters whose threaded ends look to be very small in diameter. The whole thing is very microphonic. Here's the kicker, you can buy one of these things here in Shanghai brand new for about $300 bucks, including the gig bag . IMHO they are worth about that. I hated to see posts from guys that are sinking more money into these things for new bridges and pickups. I suppose if I had one I'd want to do the same. And plain the fingerboard too. But for what it costs to get one on e-bay, plus the cost of the neck pickups, bridge and fingerboard work, I think one could do better putting their money into even a used EUB that's a bit more well put together to begin with. IMHO.
The pickup is something that sits under the bridge, which is a thin piece of wood with adjusters whose threaded ends look to be very small in diameter. The whole thing is very microphonic. Here's the kicker, you can buy one of these things here in Shanghai brand new for about $300 bucks, including the gig bag . IMHO they are worth about that. I hated to see posts from guys that are sinking more money into these things for new bridges and pickups. I suppose if I had one I'd want to do the same. And plain the fingerboard too. But for what it costs to get one on e-bay, plus the cost of the neck pickups, bridge and fingerboard work, I think one could do better putting their money into even a used EUB that's a bit more well put together to begin with. IMHO.
Mike, I had no doubt this bass would cost far less in China than here. I got mine at $600 shipped, new. Add $200 for a new pickup/preamp, it makes a $800 bass, new. Used EUBs on eBay are hard to find at this price, unless they are just simple sticks like the Dean Pace, which is not what I want. I wanted a cool looking bass (after a couple gigs with this Palatino bass, I can say that the looks factor is more important than we could think, it's usefull for my new band), not as big as a real 3/4 acoustic DB (my car is a small).
I know this bass is not high quality, but I haven't had any problem with the end pin nor with the fingerboard (I think the bass was setup here in the US, which was included in the final price). Now that I know that I can eventually play upright bass, I will certainly sell this bass one day for higher end bass. Being back-ordered in many places, I should not have any problem to sell it.
Anyway thanks Mike for your review, it will make potential buyers more aware of the potential flaws of this bass.
I know this bass is not high quality, but I haven't had any problem with the end pin nor with the fingerboard (I think the bass was setup here in the US, which was included in the final price). Now that I know that I can eventually play upright bass, I will certainly sell this bass one day for higher end bass. Being back-ordered in many places, I should not have any problem to sell it.
Anyway thanks Mike for your review, it will make potential buyers more aware of the potential flaws of this bass.
I can't stop playing ...
After I´ve got a Schertler-PU and spent many days to find a good position on Palatino, I gave it up ... and went back to a very cheap one (ebay Germany EUR 70,-). Believe it or not, with this pickup my Palatino sounds great!!!
As I told you, my violin maker made a gab for that PU in the foot of the bridge. I don't know exactly why it is working _now_, maybe pressure and the angle of the bridge too.
What do I call a good sound?
* All tones all over the finger board are powerfull, "woody", just like on a DB.
* Bowing and pizz (I'm changin often within one song) are on the same volume level.
* Both, pizz and arco, can be played from ppp to fff.
* The sound is "open" (not "piezo-pressed") and very warm.
* Stuff like vibrato a.s.o. is coming precise and living through the amp.
After decades of carring my DBs, I just wanted to travel just like my colleague (a femal tenor sax player with "400 watts in her beauty case" ...). 80 percent of my gigs are with amp (or PA too), so it makes no sense to carry a $2000 double bass with an $1500 amp - to sound like a $100 bass guitar ...
My "Palatino Story" is a story of wrong tracks - but now I've got what I ever wanted to have:
* A light, slim, good looking instrument.
* No batteries, pre amps, further wires, a.s.o.
* A natural sounding bass instrument, for (lovely!) bowing too
* No special strings, just my usual orchestra stings
(did I told you, that on Palatino I'm using 10 years old stings? ;-)
Since one week or more I can't stop playing ... classical music, jazzish, pop, a.s.o. ... after so many years of braking my fingers in classical stuff, now on my Palatino I can play it for hours and hours, without getting tired (!) cause all power is made by the amp - a new and cheering experience ;-)
What should I say? - I'm very happy, and playing and playing and playing ......................
Mike, you are right. If I would play the Palatino "as it is" , I would close my ears and run away)
So let's say, $670 for Palatino plus PU - and new strings plus violin maker (which is indispensable for every instrument I buy, old or new - to make it my personal instrument).
Last but not least it's good to have this forum for sharing thoughts and experiences - so everybody knows, that the Palatino is not a "buy&play"-instrument ;-)
After I´ve got a Schertler-PU and spent many days to find a good position on Palatino, I gave it up ... and went back to a very cheap one (ebay Germany EUR 70,-). Believe it or not, with this pickup my Palatino sounds great!!!
As I told you, my violin maker made a gab for that PU in the foot of the bridge. I don't know exactly why it is working _now_, maybe pressure and the angle of the bridge too.
What do I call a good sound?
* All tones all over the finger board are powerfull, "woody", just like on a DB.
* Bowing and pizz (I'm changin often within one song) are on the same volume level.
* Both, pizz and arco, can be played from ppp to fff.
* The sound is "open" (not "piezo-pressed") and very warm.
* Stuff like vibrato a.s.o. is coming precise and living through the amp.
After decades of carring my DBs, I just wanted to travel just like my colleague (a femal tenor sax player with "400 watts in her beauty case" ...). 80 percent of my gigs are with amp (or PA too), so it makes no sense to carry a $2000 double bass with an $1500 amp - to sound like a $100 bass guitar ...
My "Palatino Story" is a story of wrong tracks - but now I've got what I ever wanted to have:
* A light, slim, good looking instrument.
* No batteries, pre amps, further wires, a.s.o.
* A natural sounding bass instrument, for (lovely!) bowing too
* No special strings, just my usual orchestra stings
(did I told you, that on Palatino I'm using 10 years old stings? ;-)
Since one week or more I can't stop playing ... classical music, jazzish, pop, a.s.o. ... after so many years of braking my fingers in classical stuff, now on my Palatino I can play it for hours and hours, without getting tired (!) cause all power is made by the amp - a new and cheering experience ;-)
What should I say? - I'm very happy, and playing and playing and playing ......................
Mike, you are right. If I would play the Palatino "as it is" , I would close my ears and run away
)So let's say, $670 for Palatino plus PU - and new strings plus violin maker (which is indispensable for every instrument I buy, old or new - to make it my personal instrument).
Last but not least it's good to have this forum for sharing thoughts and experiences - so everybody knows, that the Palatino is not a "buy&play"-instrument ;-)
Hello,
After a few months of research I have found you can not buy an UB for less then 2000.00 (that would be worth playing, including a setup) Here in the N.Y, N.J area. At 599.99 at interstatemusic.com for the bass, 98.00 for better strings and 200.00 to 300.00 bucks for a nice small amp to practice and learn at home, (but if I decide to use my current amp I can get a good setup at David Gage with the 2 to 3 hundred bucks, maybe even a new pickup) this I the best I could deal with for under 1000.00 bucks. I have heard the feel of the neck is really close to the real thing and with the chambered body you get some vibration to get a good feel of what note youre hitting, and I have heard this is important when learning to train your ears to pitch. Coming from Eb I love the bass and have wonted and needed to learn the upright for years but never thought I could afford it and am very excited with my new purchase and I hope it comes sooner then October.
After a few months of research I have found you can not buy an UB for less then 2000.00 (that would be worth playing, including a setup) Here in the N.Y, N.J area. At 599.99 at interstatemusic.com for the bass, 98.00 for better strings and 200.00 to 300.00 bucks for a nice small amp to practice and learn at home, (but if I decide to use my current amp I can get a good setup at David Gage with the 2 to 3 hundred bucks, maybe even a new pickup) this I the best I could deal with for under 1000.00 bucks. I have heard the feel of the neck is really close to the real thing and with the chambered body you get some vibration to get a good feel of what note youre hitting, and I have heard this is important when learning to train your ears to pitch. Coming from Eb I love the bass and have wonted and needed to learn the upright for years but never thought I could afford it and am very excited with my new purchase and I hope it comes sooner then October.
yesdot said:
Yes, there's a long list of back-orders for them in Australia.
I'd buy one if they were half the price. The one I saw was $1599 retail ($1200 US).
