Double Bass Should I jump?

[Bill Thorsberg]

I am what Id call a mediocre electric bass player. I play with some friends at small venues and at church sometimes hymns and contemporary Christian music. I've been playing my beloved Fender 1972 Jazz since High School and I'm not classically trained. I've been curious about learning to play an acoustic upright bass for some time and now have a chance to purchase a used and nicely maintained bass from a neighbor. I don't really know where in the house I'd put it, if my wife will even let me have it, and I certainly don't know how to play the thing - yet...

What are some of your thoughts - you upright acoustic bass playing people?

Here's a pic. Englehart C-1, possibly early 80s vintage. Serial # 31,756.....Comes with stand and electric pickup.

 

[Slaphound]

I am what Id call a mediocre electric bass player. I play with some friends at small venues and at church sometimes hymns and contemporary Christian music. I've been playing my beloved Fender 1972 Jazz since High School and I'm not classically trained. I've been curious about learning to play an acoustic upright bass for some time and now have a chance to purchase a used and nicely maintained bass from a neighbor. I don't really know where in the house I'd put it, if my wife will even let me have it, and I certainly don't know how to play the thing - yet...

What are some of your thoughts - you upright acoustic bass playing people?

Here's a pic. Englehart C-1, possibly early 80s vintage. Serial # 31,756.....Comes with stand and electric pickup.
View attachment 3900119

Most will tell you to have it looked at by a qualified luthier or someone who sells upright basses, to make sure its in stable condition. You need to concern yourself with a sound post, the floating wood bridge, the neck joint and the tail piece. Plus more. It's not like an electric bass guitar where you can see for yourself what the condition is. Unless you're familiar with an upright bass, it's the best thing to do. Then the price. If its being given to you, then I'd say to take it. You can learn all about it after. If you need to pay for it, then I'd make sure its up to snuff. From the picture, it looks nice.

 

[Mgaisbacher]

I'd also say it wouldn't hurt to have someone who knows what they are looking at check it out with you or for you. There is not anything that immediately jumps out for that picture but that doesn't mean anything really. I would do some research on engelharts and just know what you are buying and how much they are worth, there are better options for a first upright but also much much worse. If you are interested and it is in good shape, and for a good price, why not?


I am very curious of what the thing hanging off the tail piece is. If that's the pickup, I've never seen that before.

 

[ArteK]

As for transitioning from electric to upright, I found that to be not that bad an ordeal.

You could find an upright teacher (which is what most people here would recommend). I mostly taught myself through some introductory training videos, but I'm sure I could have been better off with a real teacher. I'm sure I have lots of bad habits, and some of the basic mechanics took me a while to discover on my own. The teacher will help you to avoid bad technique that can make playing upright difficult, painful, and even destructive (carpal tunnel, etc.)

But I played a contradance band gig the night I picked up my first upright (mostly 1-5 root notes in 3 chord songs), so like electric bass, you can become serviceable in a short time. But hand positioning for intonation and plucking technique will require some instruction (whether that's a video or a teacher).

Also, I had played some fretless bass previously, so I understood the idea of fretting the note "on the dot" as opposed to "behind the fret location", so part of it was already there.

 

[Don Hergert]

I am very curious of what the thing hanging off the tail piece is. If that's the pickup, I've never seen that before.

Looks like it might be some sort of contact mic. Hard to tell.

In looking at the pic, the action looks really high and there are no adjusters on the bridge. That could be an indicator of neck heel issues or neck warp.

If it were me and I was seriously interested in this bass I'd definitely have it examined by a qualified double bass luthier. I'd at least have it looked at by a reliable friend who is currently an experienced player of a double bass, to see if it's worth it to take it to a luthier for further examination. Before purchasing it.

From a playing standpoint, a double bass is a very different instrument than an electric bass, the tuning is really the only thing they have in common. Your experience playing electric bass will help you know some of the bass lines that you want to play, but the techniques are completely different and the sounds that are produced with a double bass are also very different. So be prepared for a learning curve, and a good teacher for at least a couple of lessons would probably help a lot.

And lastly, be prepared to have to store and transport a large instrument that is often clumsy and in the way, along with any amps or other electrical equipment that you need.

Other than that, it really is lots of fun. Really!

 

[Ed S]

And, of course, the big question - price?

 

[bherman]

One additional issue is the commitment you'd need to be willing to make to get reasonably proficient at DB vs electric bass. It's much harder to play (on both your hands) and much less forgiving to be able to get a good sound and play in tune. If you are willing to commit to regular practice (like at least 5x/wk of an hour) then you'll make progress, albeit slowly. If you dont have the time or inclination, then its probably not worth it. Also as others have pointed out, it looks like it needs a good setup and probably a new bridge or the current bridge fitted with adjusters to make it playable. Nothing like starting out with a bass with very high action to discourage you from the get-go. Keep in mind that repair work on a DB is much more involved and costly than electric bass. A setup and bridge work will cost you several hundred, and new strings if needed are upwards of $200, depending on what type.

Having said all that, I love playing DB and if you are seriously interested and have the time and $$, go for it!

 

[Carl Hillman]

In looking at the pic, the action looks really high and there are no adjusters on the bridge. That could be an indicator of neck heel issues or neck warp.

This ↑

Those strings look to be so high as to be practically unplayable. Looks like the neck was improperly reset or the fingerboard is warped downward.

You might get a slightly more accurate evaluation here if you posted more/better pictures and what the seller was asking for the bass.

 

[Bruce Calin]

That's a DeArmond pickup that's now considered an antique. They were made in the '50's(?) by a company that also made a popular pickup for acoustic guitars. They may still be in business but I doubt it. They were great if you wanted your bass to sound like you were playing in a large barrel. It is actually kind of a collector's item now. Somebody who has a Kay bass and wanted to get a real sort of old school sound to go with a vintage B-15 might go for it(not me).

 

[CaseyVancouver]

I am what Id call a mediocre electric bass player. I play with some friends at small venues and at church sometimes hymns and contemporary Christian music. I've been playing my beloved Fender 1972 Jazz since High School and I'm not classically trained. I've been curious about learning to play an acoustic upright bass for some time and now have a chance to purchase a used and nicely maintained bass from a neighbor. I don't really know where in the house I'd put it, if my wife will even let me have it, and I certainly don't know how to play the thing - yet...

What are some of your thoughts - you upright acoustic bass playing people?

Here's a pic. Englehart C-1, possibly early 80s vintage. Serial # 31,756.....Comes with stand and electric pickup.
View attachment 3900119

Upright is awesome and will open you up to other styles of music and challenges.

The De Armond electric pickup is useless. I tried a used one in the early ‘70s and I recall both myself and the salesman laughed in horror. He also had the original ‘50s Ampeg bass Pole pickup that further amused us, but not in a good way. My bass was a Kay, and the amp an Ampeg b15 which I still own.

Modern pickups are the way to go, about $100 used or $250 new. Amps that work well with upright may be very different than what you are used to.

The advice about getting a second opinion on this bass is gold. Upright is so different than electric, and many opinionated electric players make expensive preconceived assumptions. The action may be high on that bass.

Note that decent strings like Spiro’s cost about $250, but they last forever. Even a cover is expensive, and mandatory if taken out of the house. I would consider a decent bow worth owning.

 

[KUNGfuSHERIFF]

The neck probably isn’t warped, given that it’s strung with Supernils, which, for the benefit of the OP, cost $100 and aren’t worth $10. No, the strings are high because the bridge is set 2” too far toward the fingerboard. Betcha it was used for bluegrass.

OP, 1983 was the absolute nadir of Engelhardt production. I restored an abused ‘82 so I know.

On a good day, that bass is worth $500 to $800. Eventually, because the fingerboard is maple slathered in black house paint, it will wear out and need to be replaced at a cost of $1000 plus another $300 for a new bridge.

So, conservatively, you’ll have $1800 in a bass you might be able to sell for $800 and it won’t sound like much.

Id recommend a well set up Shen SB-80 from a good professional bass shop nearby, if that’s possible.

 

[damonsmith]

I don't know what world you people live in where you know a luthier with the $%@ing time to go out and "examine" an at best, $800 bass!
And: even if you do know such a person - leave them alone anyway, they have real repairs to do that people are waiting on!
That is the most unrealistic advice regularly given on here.
Go with @KUNGfuSHERIFF's advice above.

 

[Dr. Love]

There’s been some good advice here, especially about it being a possible (probable) money pit. The bridge could be moved to the correct place quite easily, but the fact that it’s so far out of place and the Stone Age pickup makes me guess it hasn’t been used in a while, and I would worry about the level of care it’s been given.

 

[damonsmith]

If you can get it for $400-600 it could be worth it.

 

[SAlcott]

Pass.

 

[Sam Dingle]

No find a Shen

 

[Papageno]

You have 2 different questions to answer:
1. Whether you should start learning and playing DB.
2. If the answer to question 1 is yes, whether you should buy this bass.

Concerning question 1, as was already said, the DB is a really different instrument from the BG, that cannot be learned and played casually. You need to find a good teacher (preferably a classical DB teacher), and be ready to commit to a significant daily practice time (1 h/day would be desirable). If this is possible, then I would say go ahead; you will not regret it. Otherwise, forget it; you will save time and money.

Concerning question 2, gave someone familiar with DB advise you about the instrument. The most important thing is to get a well set up instrument. I learned playing the DB with an instrument with string action too high, and gave up after a few years because I got discouraged. It took me 25 years to resume playing with a well set up instrument, and this has been a daily joy since then.