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Double Bass somebody slap me - uninspired

sonicnuance

Supporting Member
Commercial User
Aug 30, 2003
1,479
457
California, USA
www.sonicnuance.com
Disclosures
Engineer & Owner, Sonic Nuance Electronics
I go through these fazes every so often... if I can't get a sound I want out of my bass then I don't even wanna play

This usually happens when I try to make an instrument sound different from its "native" tone. For example, trying to make a Pbass sound like a Jazz has never worked for me.

Right now I'm playing along with some acoustic jazz CDs and can't get my EUB (BSX Allegro Acoustic) to sound like an acoustic upright bass. (to be fair, its much closer than a bass guitar could get and the "native" tone of the instrument is unique and does sound good) I've tried strings, eq, action, technique and adding foam to kill sustain. The closest I can get is with orchestral strings, high(ish) action, foam mutes and careful right hand technique.

Somebody slap me and just make me practice, I hate when I get this way. Life is tough on a tone nazzi

Thanks for listening to my rant
 
I've gone through a bunch of strings on my Azola Bug and finally settled on Velvet compas 360's. They sound much better than any steel string which all sound twangy on this bass. More organic sounding than obligatos. I'd say it's approaching a nicely amplified double bass sound- very little twang - not too thumpy. Strings and amps seem to make a big difference with this bass - more so than with my acoustic upright. With the wrong amp/string combination I don't even want to play it. With the right one it's a lot of fun.

IMO an EUB will never sound like an URB played acoustically (no amp).
 

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