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Double Bass Stagg EUB megathread

#301
I've been trying out rockabilly slapping on my stagg and it's not playing ball. It seems none of the fingerboard "chick" is making it into the pickup. All I can hear thru the headphones is a heap of thump, which could be technique and or strings with too much tension but I'm pretty sure there isn't any of the HF in the signal anyway.

Anyone else?
 
#302
Downunderwonder said:
I've been trying out rockabilly slapping on my stagg and it's not playing ball. It seems none of the fingerboard "chick" is making it into the pickup. All I can hear thru the headphones is a heap of thump, which could be technique and or strings with too much tension but I'm pretty sure there isn't any of the HF in the signal anyway.

Anyone else?
Click to expand...

The Stagg has piezos below the bridge for strings and thus you won't get the rockabilly clicks by slapping on fingerboard.
 
#304
Thanks, the bridge pickup gets oodles of thump so I wonder how it gets that but zero click. I have some pizeos to play with and a 2nd input on the Jansen bassman amp, might fly.

Somehow I think the thumping coming thru from the bridge pickup is going to be too much unless I can eq the click in really loud and use a light touch.

On another note, man the HF feedback gets baaaaad if I stand right in front of the amp. Made everyone jump for their mic last night.
 
#305
What's the dealio on modding the bridge p'up with rubber? I'm not that great of a handyman/luthier. Let off strings, yank bridge out as unit, no wires or anything to break? Put back with rubber under bridge feet? I think I can handle that.

Doing that mod would help with extraneous thumping if I slap?

I was reading it makes it lessens the mwah. I kind of like having that "mwah from hell" for occasional effect. The bandmates love it and 99.9% of the audiences I deal with probably just think that's a normal DB sound anyway.

On the other hand it is hard to control it when I'm wanting more of a regular DB mwah.

Dilemma.
 
#307
How big is the effect of damping the bridge itself? This compared a simple piece of foam near the strings?

Occasionally, when I want some damping to get a closer approximation of an acoustic sound, I put a simple piece of foam that I cut like a kind of comb on the strings close to the bridge. Moving the "comb" along the strings changes the damping and it can be removed instantly. The "mwah" that I have on around the 10-14th position on the G and D strings is reduced indeed but I need to dampen a lot before I get rid of it.

I would assume that the "mwah" comes from the fingerboard. I have had my fingerboard dressed by a luthier and since then the playability has been increased dramatically, but the mwah is still there. And I don't like it. So, I consider to go back to my luthier for a fine tuning. Would that make sense indeed?

Joost
 
#309
srkendal said:
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!
Click to expand...

Now I'm getting a bit more experience on my Stagg, I think I start seeing the benefit of your approach. I may try something similar. However, as your original design makes the Stagg look a bit like a vacuum cleaner ;) I may try a different approach based on your philosophy. Have you figured out how to get the pin out in the meanwhile?
 
#310
Yes, it does look like a vacuum cleaner!:crying:

an approach which might be more aesthetically pleasing could involve using a round base with non-skid pads, and with a universal joint in the center like those used in socket wrench sets.

I am still trying to figure out how the end pin fitting is secured. No Luck! I am sure I can make something to replace it with small enough clearance that it won't rattle, so I may just do that and have it ready before committing irreversible mayhem on the factory setup!
 
#311
Downunderwonder said:
What's the dealio on modding the bridge p'up with rubber? .
Click to expand...

It's basically a way to cut down on the microphonic quality of the piezo, but in my experience it did very little to help. Even with foam under brigde feet, the piezo still picks up every little movement or bump to the body onstage. At louder volumes, it's not so apparent, but it is annoying.
 
#312
mccartneyman said:
Even with foam under brigde feet, the piezo still picks up every little movement or bump to the body onstage. At louder volumes, it's not so apparent, but it is annoying.
Click to expand...

What kind of foam are you using? Many of them will compress and not deaden sound as much as you would like. I used a 1/4" piece of Sorbothane between the piezo elements and the bridge feet, which deadens the sound very well.
 
#313
mccartneyman said:
It's basically a way to cut down on the microphonic quality of the piezo, but in my experience it did very little to help. Even with foam under brigde feet, the piezo still picks up every little movement or bump to the body onstage. At louder volumes, it's not so apparent, but it is annoying.
Click to expand...

If you attached a contact-mike to a acoustic double bass, it will too pick up movement or bump on the body too.
 
#314
Hello, I'm a long-time lurker and this is my first post on the forum.

Just thought I'd offer a few words about the Stagg EUB.

I've had mine since summer 2009, had been playing a cheap Chinese 3/4 acoustic string bass for years before that and was utterly fed up with the twin nightmares of transporting and amplifying it. Speaking from a purely personal viewpoint The Stagg is a joy to own and play, I've used it for gigs and recordings and never had any problems with it thanks to following the hints and tips in this megathread.

However, I fell victim to the "headstock design fault/bag strap broke/neck is made out of low quality woods" syndrome a few weeks back.

Yep, the strap 'went' en-route to a gig, the bass hit the deck, the head came off. Fortunately I was able to borrow another string-bass at short notice. Which left me with a long piece of wood and a set of strings where there used to be an EUB.

Fortunately my friend's father, who builds and repairs lutes, came to the rescue and offered to repair it for me. Being a half decent luthier his immediate reaction was shock at how poor the quality of the wood on these things is. He was also less than impresssed with the headstock design and came up with the simple, but genius idea of enclosing the back of the headstock. This combined with his excellent repair job means that the bass is now vastly improved. The tuning is more stable, the headstock is more robust and frankly, I think it looks better.

I've included some photos for anyone interested to see what it looks like, admittedly the cracks could have beeen filled in a bit more prettily, but I was in a hurry to get the thing back in time for some recordings, also, I'm not that fussed by appearances, I just wanted the thing back & playable.

Main reason I'm sharing this is to warn all you good folks out there that the shoulder strap on the bag that these basses come with is not to be trusted. I was aware of this, but stupidly never got round to re-inforcing it. Also, other owners may want to consider making this modification to the headstock. A decent piece of wood, some good glue and a lick of paint will help re-inforce these nice looking but flimsy headstocks.

Cheers.

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#317
srkendal said:
I am still trying to figure out how the end pin fitting is secured. No Luck! I am sure I can make something to replace it with small enough clearance that it won't rattle, so I may just do that and have it ready before committing irreversible mayhem on the factory setup!
Click to expand...

It's relatively easy to remove the end pin.

1: Remove strings from tail anchor.
2: Unscrew 4 screws holding tail anchor box to body.
3: Underneath you will find further screws which screw into the end pin plastic body. Remove these and the whole end pin assembly should just pull out.

P.S. The end pin rattle is caused because the hollow shaft on the body which the end pin travels through is slightly on the narrow side which means the flex in the pin allows it to come into contact inside the body. Just needs a long enough drill bit to widen it up a bit.
 
#318
For all those who've been wondering why there's a strap button on the Stagg, if you have a guitar strap, connect both ends to this button, wrap it around your body over one shoulder and underneath one armpit and shorten it. If you have the hip brace in, you can shorten the strap sufficiently to pull the brace into your body, this will then enable you to lift the whole bass up without hands and walk around whilst playing it in the upright position. A locking strap nut might be advisable though.
 
#320
4strings2many said:
Just took the plunge....I'm lovin' mine. There is some buzz in the E, A and D strings from about the fourth fret and below...I'm hoping to be able to raise the nut a bit...should solve the problem.
Click to expand...

RAISING the nut? If you go over this thread, you'll see many comments that, at least for most samples, the space at the nut is considered to be already quite a bit too high. As I posted earlier. I brought mine to luthier, who lowered the nut and dressed the fingerboard. Since then playability is MUCH better.

Joost
 

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