Nut setup, a new bridge and fret dressing for the Stagg and you have a world class bass at less than half the cost of a student acoustic contrabass.
What is fret dressing?
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Double Bass Stagg EUB megathread
- Thread starter derrenleepoole
- Start date
What is fret dressing?
Well there it is then. I went back to the shop on Saturday to give one a spin. I think I'm going to pick a new one up this week as the one I have is on loan from a friend. In spite of some of the limitations, it's really hard to pass it up for the price. On the other hand, the NS didn't sit well with me, and perhaps that has to do with how I was taught to stand and situate myself to the instrument.
I figure if I am really not agreeing with the thing at first position I can have a local luthier bring the nut down to the proper height. I'm not really going for an acoustic-DB like sound - I'd rather take advantage of the solid-body and the ergonomics to maybe be a bit more acrobatic on it. The one I have at home has Corelli strings on them... 370M... they're incredibly light... seems to suit me well.
That, and I drive a smart car - so hauling a doghouse around is out of the question.
Congrats. I think you will be happy in the long run.
Now if I can just keep from lifting it off the ground during solos. Damn thing is too light. Not complaining about that fact when it's time to haul it to gigs though...did I mention that the hard case fits in the ski compartment of my sedan?
Barron said:
What did you in the end to adjust it? As said, I brought mine to a luthier who is now dressing the fingerboard. I'll get it back on Friday.
Joost
Lowered the bridge. The nut is fine. I'm coming from acoustic upright though, so high action doesn't really bother me. I just find I get a better tone with the electric this way.
By the way...the honeymoon is over. I recorded for the first time with it today and heard that hum rear it's ugly head. Not present in headphones or through an amp, just when recording direct with the sub bass turned all the way up. Looking for the solution...but it's not the end of the world as the recording actually sounds great and the intonation is wonderful. Actually sounds better than the miked acoustic (one of my main reasons for looking at an EUB...consistent recordings).
Believe me, it's still a 4.5 "winner". It's cheaper to keep her, as they say.
I got my Stagg back from the luthier. He dressed the fingerboard and replaced the nut. Cost me 170 euros. Would have been a bit more if he would have charged me his actual hours. But as he enjoyed the project he was so kind not to do so 
).
VERY well spent money! The Stagg is now SO much easier to play. Together with my original 389 euro it's still a good deal. However, Stagg could've done this easily in the factory and THEN they would REALLY have a killer...
Joost
).VERY well spent money! The Stagg is now SO much easier to play. Together with my original 389 euro it's still a good deal. However, Stagg could've done this easily in the factory and THEN they would REALLY have a killer...
Joost
After playing a few days, I noticed that the action of the A and D strings was still a bit higher then the E and G strings. This is due to the fact that the radius if the bridge is smaller than that of the fingerboard. So, I filed the slots of the A and D strings a few millimeter.
Now all strings are approx. 5-6 mm from the fingerboard (at the edge of the fingerboard). MUCH better than when I got it.
I'm still looking if further improvement is possible. Strangely enough (at least for me) the situation is now that the lower strings are more easily playable than the higher strings. So I wonder if the snare thicknesses are optimal. Shouldn't the G-(and D-) string be just a bit thinner to get lower tension?
Joost
Now all strings are approx. 5-6 mm from the fingerboard (at the edge of the fingerboard). MUCH better than when I got it.
I'm still looking if further improvement is possible. Strangely enough (at least for me) the situation is now that the lower strings are more easily playable than the higher strings. So I wonder if the snare thicknesses are optimal. Shouldn't the G-(and D-) string be just a bit thinner to get lower tension?
Joost
So... hi.
I always wanted to play DB and now decided that it is time to start. Since I'm short on cash, Stagg eub looks like my best and only choise. But I don't know anything about basses
So I got a few questions. Can I just buy it and play without amplifier? It don't need to be loud, all I'm going to do is practicing in my small room. And is it possible to learn how to play without a teacher (I guess there is a lot of books and tutorials in the internet)? I'm not a total noob to music, finished music school when I was a kid.
Sorry for maybe bad english and... why did you banned all emails from Russia?:scowl:
I always wanted to play DB and now decided that it is time to start. Since I'm short on cash, Stagg eub looks like my best and only choise. But I don't know anything about basses
So I got a few questions. Can I just buy it and play without amplifier? It don't need to be loud, all I'm going to do is practicing in my small room. And is it possible to learn how to play without a teacher (I guess there is a lot of books and tutorials in the internet)? I'm not a total noob to music, finished music school when I was a kid.Sorry for maybe bad english and... why did you banned all emails from Russia?:scowl:
The stagg has a solid body and therefor does not make any sound to speak of. So it needs to be amplified. However luckily, it has a build-in head phone amplifier.
I'm a newbie myself and I will follow the advice that is all over this forum loud and clear: "get a teacher".
Joost
So all I need to do is plug headphones in and no one will even hear me playing? That's just what I need. Will get an amplifier when I can play something.
And a teacher... if I only could find one :\
Thanks, that's a bit better already. I can't crank it in my apartment but I can tell it will get there. Still a bit nasaly.
Other things, mine is later 2009 model I think. It came with adhesive alu foil sheilding but it still picks up stray RF off lights sometimes.
The stock input jack is still junk, I replaced mine within days.
Whats the strap button for? It would be great to walk about with it strapped on vertically but that needs some kind of harness and something to project it out unless you're pregnant or have the beer belly from hell.
You sir, are a freaking genius! Now perhaps you can invent a harness that does the same and makes it walkaboutable?
I received my Stagg without the wire braces for steadying it. I made one from copper plated steel wire which I coated with heat-shrink tubing to match the bass finish. It seems ok, but I just didn't like it.
Instead I have made a foot which clamps onto the endpin, allows the bass to tilt in any direction, but keeps it from rotating. I haven't used it much, but I think I am going to like it better.
Here are a some pictures:
Thanks for the compliment, as for a harness to make the Stagg wearable, I am afraid it would have to be counterbalanced like a steadycam unit -pretty complicated. Although there is always the mysterious strap button... perhaps it's evidence that Chinese engineers are even now working on a secret project to make the bass wearable!
Seriously, the swivel foot works really well. It feels very natural, It allows the bass to lean in any direction, but keeps it from rotating. It did bring the endpin rattle back a bit if I get really animated, I may have to work on that. Does anyone know how the endpin fitting is attached to the body? I might be interested in starting fresh but I can't get the thing loose from the bass!
Seriously, the swivel foot works really well. It feels very natural, It allows the bass to lean in any direction, but keeps it from rotating. It did bring the endpin rattle back a bit if I get really animated, I may have to work on that. Does anyone know how the endpin fitting is attached to the body? I might be interested in starting fresh but I can't get the thing loose from the bass!
Found my answer in the tonequest.
The Trace wouldn't come around but plugged Sansamp rbi straight into power amp dialed back drive and presence, 50/50 blend, just a touch of extra bass, noon mid and treble off a touch. Instant DB.
Purists who don't agree can find another thread to mouth off in.
The Trace wouldn't come around but plugged Sansamp rbi straight into power amp dialed back drive and presence, 50/50 blend, just a touch of extra bass, noon mid and treble off a touch. Instant DB.
Purists who don't agree can find another thread to mouth off in.
I just purchased a new Stagg (it was $500 including shipping for those curious), and am waiting for it to be delivered. I did not get a chance to actually hold and play one in person, so I am not quite sure how it feels.
Anyways, I have a little experience playing a traditional 3/4 upright, and though I play it standing up, my orientation to the bass was always much more like a cellist than a bass player. That is to say, instead of basically flanking the bass from the side, I would stand directly behind the bass, so that if I tilted my head to the left, it would make contact with the headstock, if that helps you to picture it.
Even though I noticed right away that my stance was very different from most bass players (I did not have a teacher, given I had no suitable transportation for that mammoth instrument), I kept that stance because it did not put excess pressure on my left wrist, and allowed me to finger the board quite easily.
I know I should get a teacher upon receiving the Stagg, but in the meantime I wonder if my funky playing stance would jive, given that there is no large protruding body to rest against my own body. I know the stagg comes with 2 "handles" that can be optionally attached, but the main handle, which protrudes directly from the side of the fingerboard, would be useless in helping me, if I were to keep my stance. I suppose a cello stand may help in this situation (although I like to be able to rotate and move a little), but beyond that, does anyone know of successful bass players who utilize such a stance?
Thanks, Dan.
Anyways, I have a little experience playing a traditional 3/4 upright, and though I play it standing up, my orientation to the bass was always much more like a cellist than a bass player. That is to say, instead of basically flanking the bass from the side, I would stand directly behind the bass, so that if I tilted my head to the left, it would make contact with the headstock, if that helps you to picture it.
Even though I noticed right away that my stance was very different from most bass players (I did not have a teacher, given I had no suitable transportation for that mammoth instrument), I kept that stance because it did not put excess pressure on my left wrist, and allowed me to finger the board quite easily.
I know I should get a teacher upon receiving the Stagg, but in the meantime I wonder if my funky playing stance would jive, given that there is no large protruding body to rest against my own body. I know the stagg comes with 2 "handles" that can be optionally attached, but the main handle, which protrudes directly from the side of the fingerboard, would be useless in helping me, if I were to keep my stance. I suppose a cello stand may help in this situation (although I like to be able to rotate and move a little), but beyond that, does anyone know of successful bass players who utilize such a stance?
Thanks, Dan.
Well, I play my Stagg on a cello stand. I think I can imagine your stance, it's somewhat similar to mine - as the body of the bass is almost parallel to my tummy. Make sure the cello stand supports the Stagg on the body using the bout rest, and not like the Stagg stand which supports at neck.
I started playing this way on the Stagg for couple of years, and now am trying to play a acoustic double bass using the same stance.
I started playing this way on the Stagg for couple of years, and now am trying to play a acoustic double bass using the same stance.
Hi, For a suggestion on supporting the Stagg, take a look back a few posts, specifically at posts 269, 295 & 296. I made a "foot" which clamps onto the endpin, and allows the bass to tilt in all directions without allowing it to rotate. This has proven to feel quite natural to me.
I played acoustic bass in high school just over 30 years ago, and bass guitar since. The low price and easy storage of the Stagg allowed me to start playing upright again. I don't think you will be disappointed. I generally leave the sub bass boost control off or very nearly so, and adjust only the volume on the bass, doing tone adjustment in the amp or effects pedal.
You may or may not encounter a hum in the output, if you do have a hum, there are really good instructions on repairing it in this thread from user Mateybass. Not hard to do if your Stagg needs it.
ENJOY!
-srkendal
I played acoustic bass in high school just over 30 years ago, and bass guitar since. The low price and easy storage of the Stagg allowed me to start playing upright again. I don't think you will be disappointed. I generally leave the sub bass boost control off or very nearly so, and adjust only the volume on the bass, doing tone adjustment in the amp or effects pedal.
You may or may not encounter a hum in the output, if you do have a hum, there are really good instructions on repairing it in this thread from user Mateybass. Not hard to do if your Stagg needs it.
ENJOY!
-srkendal
