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Double Bass small electric which sounds like an upright?
- Thread starter jzucker
- Start date
Just to clarify, i studied bass in a jazz program. Earlier in life I studied with my pops who was self taught jazz upright player, and I took a couple years of lessons studying jazz in college but I never formally studied with a classical teacher. By the time I got to college, I could already play over changes and improvise jazz solos so I skipped out on some formalized study and I was actually a jazz guitar major so there was no requirement for me to complete formal classical studies in DB..
I think getting a well set up hybrid or better instrument with low tension strings (solo strings tuned orchestra) plus just a few a few lessons with someone who really understands the ergonomics of the instrument - specifically the left hand and you will find it less strain on your body as a whole than the bass guitar and more than likely zero strain on your forearm Playing sitting can help as well.
Sitting, you can use the weight of the arm as opposed to the shoulder and traps to hold the strings down. For the double bass, your thumb is only a guide and you only really need to engage any pressure from it for a low F and F#, even still the primary power comes from your upper body or arm weight.
As a DB player who has no drummer - I play in Old Time Fiddle/Bluegrass bands, I can't get what I need out of a BG. There is a percussive aspect of the DB that cannot be duplicated on a BG.
I'm sure some of the recommendations above will work for you but only if you have a drummer.
Wish I didn't read this thread. Now I want a 1/4 sized DB.
I'm sure some of the recommendations above will work for you but only if you have a drummer.
Wish I didn't read this thread. Now I want a 1/4 sized DB.
It’s true, “sounding like an upright” can be pretty subjective. I find the fretless Gold Tone 23” fretless gets me enough in the zone to be happy. I never tried the 25” but it sounds similar on vids. The stock strings are definitely part of the sonic formula, IMO, though lots of players complain about the feel. No issue for me. But if you plan to slap? That might be tough.
That Marcustico bass sounds very nice. I haven't heard anything like it on the EB side. I understand about the upkeep and warranty, but it checks a lot of boxes.
Yes, if it was made in the USA I'd order it. However, i've been burned buying non-returnable instruments from EU so i'll wait until one shows up stateside on the used market...
I recall seeing a bass somewhat like this from a US maker, I can’t remember the name of the maker or the bass but I believe he’s based in Woodstock. I think it was the bass that Steve swallow used, semi-hollow
Body. You might Google that and see if anything comes up
it's this bass. I listened to quite a few clips of it. I think it has more of an acoustic/baritone guitar vibe than upright bass. I love swallow's playing with it but as he plays with a pick, it's hard to tell if there is any upright vibe...
Also, the base price is $7k!
Moto is a great player. Makes it sound like a classical guitar.
I slap, and was able to work out a method to slap on my Kala. That said, nothing is as fun as slapping an old Alcoa double bass.
Yes, thats the one, they have a simpler model that can get closer to the DB sound but I had no idea they were that expensive! Somewhere on TB I recall seeing another US-made bass similar to the Spanish one but cannot recall where - I assume you've searched TB extensively so I wont try.
looks like the simpler, 4 string model (AE4) is $6,875. The only clip I could find is this and it sounds to me like a typical fretless bass but with some hollow character, not much DB vibe but it could be the way he's playing it...
Agree, doesn't sound like what you are looking for (his technique doesn't help!). I've tried a bunch of what's out there as I was seriously thinking of getting out of DB playing and the top three for me (in order) are Rob Allen MB-2 or Mouse, with tapewounds; Rick Turner Renaissance with TI flats; and UBass (serious playability issues for me though). The RA and Renaissance got me 90% of the way there.
I wonder what a Lamont flatback, or bowlback, with a piezo saddle pickup, would sound like? (It's based on the Ernie Ball Earthwood; they also appear to offer a bowl-back version reminiscent of a guitarron.)
Other than Lamont's website with several very nice pictures and a couple testimonials, these folks have a very low internet profile so I wonder if they really exist at a commercial scale.
Other than Lamont's website with several very nice pictures and a couple testimonials, these folks have a very low internet profile so I wonder if they really exist at a commercial scale.
I never thought the rob allen had the DB vibe but in searching I found this one. Which doesn't sound as much like a DB as the marcustico but...
Again it could be technique and strings as much as anything. Looks interesting though.
Interesting thread.
• Bass and tone being sought are found and presented as a thread premise.
• Then, they are disqualified for multiple reasons.
• Many good-faith ideas, alternatives, recommendations, and successful experiences are offered.
• They are summarily dismissed.
• The sought-after-but-disqualified instrument is mentioned repeatedly in rebuttal.
• A circular logic pattern is established and continued.
Conclusion: that which is sought after exists, but is not wanted. If only frogs had wings. .
• Bass and tone being sought are found and presented as a thread premise.
• Then, they are disqualified for multiple reasons.
• Many good-faith ideas, alternatives, recommendations, and successful experiences are offered.
• They are summarily dismissed.
• The sought-after-but-disqualified instrument is mentioned repeatedly in rebuttal.
• A circular logic pattern is established and continued.
Conclusion: that which is sought after exists, but is not wanted. If only frogs had wings. .
FWIW, I saw Mr. Montgomery play with Red Norvo on vibes at the Tropicana hotel in Vegas in 1970. They played from 3-6 am(!) which was not that unusual for Vegas at that time. Monk played a P-bass with a large felt pick. The bass had a somewhat upright-like sound and since he had played the big bass for years and had that concept in mind for that music it was very appropriate.
