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Double Bass Stagg EUB megathread

#381
Hi everyone,
I've decided I'd like to dabble with an EUB. I've been playing EB for 15 years or so and have always liked rockabilly/phsycobilly, I'd love to have a DB, all black with some cool hotrod pinstriping, you get the picture, but I really don't have enough room or a place to practice where it won't upset people. I don't have money to burn either so don't think I'll get a DB cheap enough that'll be usuable.
I've had a good read through lots of threads on here and reviews on other sites and decided that a Stagg EUB is probably the one for me, I've had to give up the cool look ;) for something practicable that I can learn on, and if I like then look at going acoustic.
Now I realise that rockabilly slapping won't be happening on a Stagg and that they need a bit fettling to make them nice but Stagg seem to have addressed a couple of issues and I'm more than happy to put a bit of work into fixing the other issues.
So mind made up off I go to browse for the cheapest supplier (no dealers local) and I come across the Rocket by Stagg EUB. It looks identical to the 'normal' Stagg but is 3/4 of the price :confused:.
Does anyone know anything about the cheaper Staggs, even better does anyone own one?
I'll probably get the dearer one as I assume it uses better quality parts but it seems silly to spend extra if they are the same thing.
Any help would be most gratefully appreciated :)


A couple of links for 'normal' and cheapo ones.

Rocket by Stagg Electric Double Bass Outfit (3/4 Size) | eBay

Stagg 3/4 Burst Electric Double Bass | eBay

What's the difference :help:.
 
#382
Maud said:
What's the difference :help:.
Click to expand...

I've always assumed these to be the same instrument, but just that Normans were discounting it more than anyone else. I'm sure that a few months ago when I looked on Normans website they were selling it at around £350, because remember thinking smug that I'd bought mine for £250 last year. But now it's back at £250 again.

Anyway - I bought one from Normans for £250 and it's great. They are also now discounting the stand as well (essential if you are gigging and very useful if not) which with their current 10% off everything comes out about £20.

The thing is, the price is deceptive. First you will need to pay for a Luthier to sort the action out - the nut needs trimming and the fingerboard needs shooting and repainting. I was lucky to find a classical instrument luthier who know what he was doing and I got a great job done for £40 but other's have had to pay a lot more. Next, to get a great sound out of this you need a good amp. Not a good bass guitar amp that will colour the sound and make it sound just like a bass guitar, but a PA-type amp or specialist DB amp that will push a load of air and not colour the sound at all. You need at least 200W I reckon and to get a good sound at the lowest frequencies the bass puts you need to spend quite a bit. The best sound I've got out of it was straight into an 800W PA. Finally you may need some good strings. A good set of strings is going to cost £120+. If you just want to try playing it, you just need the Luthier work and a good pair of monitor headphones.

Still stonking value.
 
#383
Thanks Ricky :).

I recall your post about yours so I feel happier about the cheaper price.
The nut and fingerboard are no problem, same with electrics shielding if needed and any other little bits, I like working on instruments as well as playing them.
I like the idea of getting rid of the black coating and coating the fingerboard properly anyway.
It seems Normans only do them in Met. black and I'd rather the violin burst to match the re done finger board but I won't be paying the extra for it. I may see if I like the black and if not strip it back and do a nice burst finish on it. I do vehicle paint refinishing as my trade and do lots of custom work on hotrods and V Dubs so can turn my hand to this no problem. My bass guitar rig is a home brew one comprising of two 15" cabs and 2x10 cab bi amped through a stereo power amp so won't add any colour to the sound, I was thinking of getting a Behringer AD121 to just a little 'something' if needed and hope it should sound good through this set up. I will mainly use it for practice through headphones though.
I'll probably add a peizo to the fingerboard and just put some weed wackers on and play with mixing the bridge and fingerboard pick ups to get a decent (hopefully) rockabilly slap going on. It's all a bit trial and error really but I've done lots of research so won't be going in blind.
Basically like your previous post said, this isn't an alternative to a DB, it's this or nothing.

One more thing, are Normans doing 10% off the £250 price as I couldn't see anything on their site about it?

Thanks again :)
 
#385
I've read most of this thread and am very interested in the Stagg EDB as it ticks a number of boxes for me. I describe myself as an ex-Double Bass player as I have not owned a Double Bass for a few years and have been playing Electric Bass Guitar. However, I've got an urge to get back into Double Bass but no money. My main thought is that if I get a Stagg I can get back into learning DB technique for when I get some money, which I expect to be a few years down the line. I also expect to use the Stagg on the few Jazz gigs that I am able to do at the moment, given family commitments.
So my question is: is the Stagg sufficiently close to the feel of a Double Bass that I could spend a couple of years on it getting my strength and technique together?
From all I have read it looks like it's pretty close to a DB but I just wanted to get some opinions from those who have this instrument.
 
#386
clodhopper said:
So my question is: is the Stagg sufficiently close to the feel of a Double Bass that I could spend a couple of years on it getting my strength and technique together?
Click to expand...

For pizzicato, I would say it is, yes. I'm in a similar position - used to play acoustic Double Bass years ago, but now have neither space nor money for an instrument. The Stagg has allowed me to get my strength and technique back. I don't need to play arco so that's not a problem. As I've said in my previous posts, you need to budget for a luthier to sort the action - out of the box mine was a bit buzzy and the notes not quite in the right place (but you may be luckier). I would also recommend the stand as it's a long awkward shape to have to keep putting down - easier for other to trip over.
 
#387
I played double bass in High School, and had not touched one since spring of 1978! I got a Stagg 2 years ago, and love it! I tend to agree with others on the thread that it doesn't quite sound exactly like the real thing, but it definitely doesn't sound like a bass guitar. The feel of the strings is just about right, and of course the scale is right. As far as arco goes, the sound isn't bad. I did have to really load up on rosin at first, but I think that may always be necessary with brand new strings and a brand new bow. (using a school instrument I certainly never had either!) Playing arco after a 30+ year break is not a pretty thing either, but then I was never a virtuoso. After a few hours of practice it sounds pretty good most of the time. Arco on an amplified instrument is kind of intimidating, any mistakes are right out there!

I wholeheartedly recommend the Stagg, especially with the huge gap in price between it and the rest of the EUB offerings.

My Stagg was damaged (the headstock was shattered) so the action is the way I set it up with a new nut and am added low B string, but I haven't had to do any fingerboard work. My electronics had a 60 cycle hum, but shielding the cavity with aluminum tape cured that immediately. There are pictures of my Stagg and a series of very helpful posts earlier in this thread by mateybass on most of the necessary mods.
 
#388
I'm an electric player of around 20 years, and am starting upright bass lessons in a couple weeks. After reading this entire thread, I just picked up a Stagg in great condition off of craigslist.

Thanks to the great info from Mateybass, I've eliminated my endpin rattle, and foil-shielded the electronics compartment as a precautionary measure. In addition, I added a power switch to the back to avoid needing to unplug the cable to keep the battery from draining. It interrupts the positive lead from the battery. It pops if I don't turn my amp off first, but at least I have a way to turn off the preamp now.

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The last thing to do is get it professionally set up. The action really isn't too bad as far as I can tell, but it mwahs a bit on the G. Does anyone know of a good luthier in the central Indiana area? I also foresee a possible C string addition in the future...

I'm really looking forward to learning how to play this, and it's been really hard not to try to learn on my own and pick up bad habits in the process! Thanks to all of you who have contributed really helpful information to this thread.
 
#391
Hey everyone!

As a longtime electric bassist, I purchased the Stagg as an introductory method of finally crossing over into the double bass world. For the price, it plays nice and sounds okay (not great, but good enough for a starter instrument).

Some of the position dots are slightly off, but I was able to make the corrections myself.

I'm working on a track and I recorded myself playing the Stagg, but I can't get the sound I want from it in my DAW.

I'm using Reason 5 for drums and some midi work and Pro Tools 9 to track the bass. Any tips on EQ'ing the Stagg so it sounds great? I know its got some limitations, but any help or advice would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!
 
#392
I just got one of these after perusing Craigslist the other day. Being sold by Victor Lintz Music in Gaithersburg Maryland. $350 with the gig bag. the owner said he had a bunch of them, but not an unlimited supply. I guess they are last years model and they seem much improved overall compared to the basses mentioned in the old posts. I'm not associated with these guys, but just passing along some info.

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I like it, but like some mentioned, the nut and action are pretty high, so it needs some adjustment. Not a big deal. Sounds good, no humming. Nice finish work, but I'm still checking it out.

Definitely an easy entry to the world of the upright.
 
#394
Thanks so much to whoever it was in this forum that had the stand idea. Tried to find the original thread for your deserved credo's but couldn't find it...

Anyway- the idea for a Stagg stand is to use the bottom of a snare drum stand. I bought a used Yamaha one from a music shop for $30. I measured the diameter of the rubber knob on the Stagg (5/8") and the hole in the stand was just over 5/8 with a nice nylon or plastic bushing on top.

No modifying / nothing. Just slide off the top drum holding part.
Done.

Nothing but S house luck, the stand with some persistance actually fits inside the parts cabinet of the hard case!
Pictures
 

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#395
btate said:
Thanks so much to whoever it was in this forum that had the stand idea. Tried to find the original thread for your deserved credo's but couldn't find it...

Anyway- the idea for a Stagg stand is to use the bottom of a snare drum stand. I bought a used Yamaha one from a music shop for $30. I measured the diameter of the rubber knob on the Stagg (5/8") and the hole in the stand was just over 5/8 with a nice nylon or plastic bushing on top.

No modifying / nothing. Just slide off the top drum holding part.
Done.

Nothing but S house luck, the stand with some persistance actually fits inside the parts cabinet of the hard case!
Pictures
Click to expand...

I have the official Stagg stand, but have been meaning to try this option as well.... glad to hear it works!

What I'm jealous about though is the hard case! Not real happy with the soft case; didn't take long for the endpin to poke a hole through the bottom. Going to start looking for a hard case now!:smug:
 
#398
Gene, your profile doesn't list your location, so I'll assume you're in the U.S. I got mine here: Invalid Link Removed

It says out of stock and coming soon, but I think they must drop-ship them or something, because mine came pretty quickly. It was the best deal I could find anywhere.
 

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