Double Bass Stagg EUB megathread

[ajn]

If you are referring to the fork that the endpin sits on, my Stagg stand has a thumbscrew on the backside of the fork bracket that allows it to adjust up or down quite a bit.

 

[VWB]

My fork bracket is missing the thumbscrew, and the bracket seemed to be fixed in place, so I couldn't figure out what was going on. I just took another look at the stand and after giving the bracket a good hard push I was able to slide it all the way down, which is where I wanted it.

 

[Scottkarch]

Ok. Local store is taking a trade. 3 used basses for a new Stagg. I could have come out a bit ahead if I'd sold them myself. But I didn't want to deal with it and they were my 3 cheapest basses and I never play them.

I pick it up tomorrow.

 

[Scottkarch]

Just got it home. Plays really well with only a little bridge adjustment. I could drop the treble side of the bridge more if I can put a touch more relief in the neck.

Came with bag and the metal arms/braces. I doubt I'll use them much.

Taking it to practice tomorrow to see if I can play it live. That longer scale is a stretch.

 

[DoubleMIDI]

You need the right long support to avoid spinning the Stagg around its length axis.
Try it with and without support playing heavy pizz (or better bow) and you will see what I mean.
The rubber coating on the left support makes it even harder to get into thumb position. Remove the rubber coating or wind something less sticky around the left support.

 

[Scottkarch]

Thanks. I play in a cover band. Lots of rock and dance and a bit of blues and country. I won't be using a bow. I'll try with and without the arms. So far I haven't noticed too much tendency to spin. I will be plucking and seem to rest my thumb on the Lower fingerboard and haven't had much if an issue. But it's only about 15 minutes of playing.

I will get a bow some day to try out. Not sure what I'd play with it. Maybe the intro to every little thing she does by the police.

But I appreciate the advice. This will get more playing than the 3 basses I traded for it.

 

[Scottkarch]

Ok. Brought it to practice today. Played it on a handful of songs. It sounds really good.

I have a bit of buzzing at position 1 2 and 3 on the G string. But I knew that. Haven't worked on the truss rod yet. May have a luthier look it over. But it is fun to play. A lot harder than a Fretless BG. I'll beed to adjust a bit for some songs. Can't play quickly or play I carves easily at lower positions.

Band liked it and I'll play a few songs live in 2 weeks. Probably Black Keys Lonely Boy, maybe fat bottom girls, gunpowder and lead, and a few others.

I'm excited about this bass. I'll try and make it work in the band. I usually bring 2-4 basses to each gig so bringing this for a handful of songs is fine.

 

[Scottkarch]

After some conversations.. the band loved the EUB.. we're going to add a couple songs that work really well with it and have a part of a set where I play the Stagg. This should be a ton of fun. Don't think I'll ever get to playing runs etc as fast as my BG.. but I really expect this to be fun and unique in a pop cover band.

 

[SeosamhP]

Hi,

I'm new, and have looked at the newbie threads, but I didn't see any clear discussion of the Stagg color. I'm 'fretting' about which model of Stagg to purchase. Can anyone recommend a color? I don't know the precise difference between the metallic black and black, but on a guitar it seemed to be that metallic black had a kind of 'glittery' or freckled sheen, whereas the black was just pure black.

The wood effect seemed a nice idea, but it looks rather blocky and not very aesthetic. It didn't seem to fit the rest of the body, whereas the black was more coherent. The violin burst seems nice, though, at least from the front. It looks like it might blend in a jazz environment, too, if used instead of an acoustic. So, it's a toss-up between black and violin burst.

Any ideas? Does anyone out there have any preferences? It's hard to get a good look at the different models. I've googled and scrolled through many images - again, it seems like the violin burst is nice (though the back of the model is a bit patchy), whereas the black is at least uniform all over.

Thanks in advance for anyone who can help.

Best,

Joe

 

[butterfingers]

I seem to be the only one here who went for the see-thru blue, and I'm glad I did. It's a dark, deep blue, with the maple grain clearly visible beneath. But I imagine the metallic black looks nice too.

 

[flaquito]

I seem to be the only one here who went for the see-thru blue, and I'm glad I did. It's a dark, deep blue, with the maple grain clearly visible beneath. But I imagine the metallic black looks nice too.

Mine is also the translucent blue. I doubt I would have chosen that color, but I got it used. I wouldn't have known what I was missing... I love the color, and it works great with playing jazz.

 

[SeosamhP]

Thanks for the replies! I don't think I'll go with blue, though. It's a surface issue, but I can't buy one till I know for sure what colour to get! I think the black might be nicer than the metallic, mainly because the metallic seems a bit industrial. There are none for sale near me to gawk at, sadly. I will be ordering from Thomann once I make up my mind!

 

[butterfingers]

Re-reading the discussion, I think you would be best to get the plain black one - it looks like Thomann don't do the red or blue at the moment, and the metallic black sounds a bit gimmicky. From what I've seen, the Honey color looks gorgeous, but not if you prefer darker finishes, and the Violin Burst and Dark Brown look boring and artificial.

 

[butterfingers]

It's called "One Of Our Agents".

Percussion loop programmed in HammerHead 1.0
Organ and Mellotron strings: Nord Electro 3
Autoharp: iPad app
"Lead" bass guitar: Encore Precision copy played with a pick
Synth: Korg Volca Keys
Bass: Stagg EDB 3/4

 

[Scottkarch]

I'm trying to get rid of some strange buzz on the G string ( hey, no jokes ). if you slide up from just behind where the 1st fret would be up to about the 4th fret. As you slide up.. even very slowly, there is some bad buzzing at various spots near where the frets/positions would be. I've got the G side of the bridge jacked up super high... the upper notes are barely playable.. if you look at the bridge, it's really tilted. The bass side doesn't need it..

I added a 1/2 turn of relief to the truss rod, and no difference. Is there a chance that the fingerboard needs to be sanded/planed up there just a little bit?

E A D all play quite well.. and if I keep the bridge low, the G string is fine from the 4th fret/position upwards.. OR I can jack up the bridge a ton to get the G A B notes, but the rest of the neck has action that seems higher than it should be. I'm not expecting fretless bass guitar action. The fact that it's even intermittent in those first 4 positions is really strange to me.

Any thoughts anyone?

 

[rickybails]

Most fingerboards are going to have imperfections. It's such a cheap instrument we can't expect a perfect set-up from the factory. I would advise anyone buying a stagg to take it to a proper double bass luthier and get the action sorted which will likely include getting the fingerboard 'shot' (planed), with just the right relief (concave) profile so there's no buzzing anywhere. Well worth it. As a bonus all those 'fret' marks on the side will likely become spot on (well, at least that's what happened to mine).

Don't worry if your Stagg isn't the ebony fingerboard version - the white-wood fingerboard versions can be profiled and re-ebonised satisfactorily.

 

[butterfingers]

I have just started a poll here about what colour people's Stagg basses are. It's just for fun, but please give it a go!

 

[ErnieD]

I asked a online store if the Stagg EDB's they have for sale are the newest models; i.e. rosewood board-improved headstock. I think they only have the metallic black one; not my first choice but I think I could live with it.

They stated what they have are new in the box models and they did not even know there was a updated/improved model.

So good chance what they have are the newest models? They could not give me a build date.

Is there really an improvement to the 'newest' model? I think I only see one or few TBers here who say the newest model is better/best. So many others seem to have the older models, I'm guessing, but they seem to be pleased with them also. Thanks for any helpful replies.

 

[Nicolher]

Hi
It's not an updated version, it's actually 2 different models with different names!
If your online shop doesn't know what model they have it's most probably the standard version..
Check stagg web page for info
Standard model (plywood fingerboard)
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Deluxe model (massive rosewood fingerboard)
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Here, in Belgium (homeland of stagg's offices) the price is around 400€ and the deluxe around 600€

And, yes a massive fingerboard is probably a huge improvement to one of the biggest flaw of this model..
Never tried tough...

 

[ErnieD]

thanks so much for that info, very helpful.

I don't think I've ever even seen any of the Deluxe Staggs' for sale online at all; just the standard models.

I'll look around more for the Deluxe model. peace, e.