Precision - Closest Config to sound like an upright

[DoctorZeus]

I have been fooling around with a side project. I have a Precision and am trying to make it sound like an upright. Just because I am doing some cello suites and such. I think it would be fun.

I was wondering where to start or if someone has already done this. Strings, Pedals, Pickup swaps, etc,

 

[jd56hawk]

You forgot to tell people not to reply with "Just get an upright!" or "Have you considered a Kala U?" etc.
Other than that, start with GHS black tapewounds.

 

[DoctorZeus]

You forgot to tell people not to reply with "Just get an upright!" or "Have you considered a Kala U?" etc.
Other than that, start with GHS black tapewounds.

I know. I just ignore those people. It's the price you have to pay to get good information.

 

[ClusterFlux]

Yeah, I'm sorry, I know you don't want to hear it, but: It's not happening. EB and DB are both tuned in 4ths and use EADG, but otherwise they're different instruments. It's like trying to make a clarinet sound like a saxophone.

I recommend you simply focus on the music you want to play, and don't worry about the tone.

 

[jd56hawk]

Forgot to mention this...a string mute will help.

 

[C Stone]

Fretless P with nylon tapewound strings and a mute is about as close as you get.

 

[DoctorZeus]

Fretless P with nylon tapewound strings and a mute is about as close as you get.

Any tapewounds? I see many choices so I don't know.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

This question comes up every 3-4 days. Maybe we'll find a solution this time.

 

[REV]

A lot of upright tone is in the right hand (provided you are right handed). Play up over the end of the neck, use a foam mute at the bridge. You can also mute a little with your fretting hand. This should get you close.

 

[jd56hawk]

Any tapewounds? I see many choices so I don't know.

I have the GHS strings on seven basses and D'Addario black tapewounds on three.

 

[chazolson]

Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose.

 

[Leo Smith]

Leo Fender originally wanted the P bass to sound like an upright..... you can start with medium flatwounds and a foam mute at the bridge, maybe pluck with your thumb with the hand anchored on the pickup cover.....

 

[J Wilson]

I'd add a big part of this is suggesting an upright bass by playing things in the manner of an upright player.

When synths and drum machines became common, the experienced would hear horn lines obviously played on keys, or drum tracks where evidently the drummer must have had three legs and five arms.

So, think Ray Brown or Ron Carter instead of Jaco or Geddy. And fretless if at all possible, hard to Q out the fretted tone.

 

[bherman]

Well, I play upright and also P bass. When I want to make my P bass sound like my upright, I play like I always do, but think about note choices more (open strings). I use flatwounds (Pyramids mostly, lately trying LaBella Olinto Flats which I like alot). I disagree with the foam mute - that just deadens the sound and the sustain, and my DB has tons of sustain.

 

[C Stone]

Any tapewounds? I see many choices so I don't know.

LaBella Black Nylon or RotoSound 88LD

 

[JRA]

This question comes up every 3-4 days. Maybe we'll find a solution this time.

i hope so --- please lord, let this be the time!

I know. I just ignore those people. It's the price you have to pay to get good information.

"good information" = sorry, but every experienced player (any bass instrument) knows an EB doesn't "sound" like a DB, vice versa, and no bass instrument sounds like another bass instrument. however, all bass players (any bass instrument) can fill any 'bass space' in an informed way by knowing what and how to play their instrument in order to suggest/cover the space played by any other bass instrument. it's a concept, not a specific sound.

I think it would be fun.

it is fun: takes a little knowledge/experience, a lot of "attitude," and just enough chops to cover the notes in the music you're playing. my advice: don't chase the tone, instead: cop the feel! good luck!

 

[Rocket Queen]

I have been fooling around with a side project. I have a Precision and am trying to make it sound like an upright. Just because I am doing some cello suites and such. I think it would be fun.

I was wondering where to start or if someone has already done this. Strings, Pedals, Pickup swaps, etc,

If you stay tuned in fourths, I suspect that the fingering may become a bigger issue than the tone...

 

[sharkansas]

To me, the best option for sounding like a finger style upright is good palm mute technique.

But for cello stuff, I really enjoy owning the bass guitar sound and trying to make it sound fluid, even, and musical. It is really technically difficult but rewarding. Cello music is mostly meant to be played with a bow and I’m not sure there’s any way to make a bass guitar sound like a bowed cello/upright.

(Background: I also play upright but I’m not very good.)

Edit: For anyone who may be interested, the attached arrangement is the famous Bach cello suite prelude, transposed to D, which is an excellent key for a 4 string 20 fret bass guitar

 

[mrcbass]

For me, I find that Js or PJs offer a better DB feel than a P. But, when I want my P to approximate a DB I:
1. Use flats (I find Chromes fit me well). I didn't find that tapewounds were better (didn't like them period personally).
2. Pluck over the fretboard for fatter sound
3. Use fretless (I know, not an option here)

It's hard to get much mwah out of a fretted P, but I find that I can get the general DB feel with 1 and 2 above. I can get pretty damn close with a fretless.

 

[frankie5string]

What if someone told you no two upright basses sound alike? ;-)