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Double Bass Stagg EUB megathread

#722
(Previously posted in another topic):

butterfingers said:
Mine is now my go-to bass. I'd leave it plugged in if it didn't drain the battery! My elder son, Thomas (14) was working out an acoustic blues guitar arrangement of "Iko Iko" yesterday, and I joined in on my Stagg. It rocks! I'll have to record it some time.
Click to expand...

Oh look - there it is. ;)
Vocals, rhythm and lead guitars - Thomas
Wurlitzer piano and Stagg EUB - myself

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#726
At the risk of re-hashing things things that might have already been gone over in this thread (sorry - its huge!)... I've got a couple questions. First is has anyone put something akin to weedwackers on this thing, and if so, what kind of chores did that entail?

Second, is it ok to file that bridge? Even with the cheap factory strings on it, as soon as I slap the E string, that thing slips right out of the groove and down to the edge of the groove. I'm not sure what the bridge is even made of, so I don't want to get to filing on it then it be some kind of crazy composite material that is now trashed.

Third, is there a bead on a specific brand/model of replacement tuners that can just be dropped in without any extra modifications? The tuners DO scream cheap-chinese-hardware-please-replace me.

Thanks for any tips/anwwers, and sorry if I'm beating a dead horse!
 
#727
Scottkarch said:
i have accidentally unplugged it while playing. Once live and a few times at practice... stepped on the cord. Still better that the jack is angled down and no damage was done.. but I need to watch that more... or do something about it. I just don't know what.
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Had the same problem but found that hooking the lead around the turn screw at the top of the end pin (stand) stops this happening)
 
#728
Just bought one too, used and relatively cheap. It's mainly going to be the bass to take to the campsite in the weekends and holidays so I can play/practice in the caravan. It sounds pretty good through amp but on the headphones there is a lot of hiss. When playing unplugged it buzzes like crazy so there is some work and experimenting to be done. But being cheap it is the perfect hobby bass to try out all things I would not do on my German carved DB. I am curious to see how I will like it. I guess I will now have to read all 37 pages of this thread...
 
#729
Stiffwagon said:
At the risk of re-hashing things things that might have already been gone over in this thread (sorry - its huge!)... I've got a couple questions. First is has anyone put something akin to weedwackers on this thing, and if so, what kind of chores did that entail?

Second, is it ok to file that bridge? Even with the cheap factory strings on it, as soon as I slap the E string, that thing slips right out of the groove and down to the edge of the groove. I'm not sure what the bridge is even made of, so I don't want to get to filing on it then it be some kind of crazy composite material that is now trashed.

Third, is there a bead on a specific brand/model of replacement tuners that can just be dropped in without any extra modifications? The tuners DO scream cheap-chinese-hardware-please-replace me.

Thanks for any tips/anwwers, and sorry if I'm beating a dead horse!
Click to expand...

Any material the bridge might be made of, is going to be strong enough for you to file a little. Think about it, if it was a soft material that is easy to 'trash' the strings would break it. Just a little filing should solve your issue easily.

Weedwacker strings should work fine. Because it has a piezo pick up it should just work. Note that those types of string sometimes need to be stretched a little when putting into the tuners, otherwise by the time you wind it all the way on, there is too much string around the tuners.

Finally, as for the tuners, there are some double bass tuners out there. Which can work.

I recently had to replace one of my tuners than broke, I ended up having to remove the pole and attach it to the replacement tuner, meant I had to do a little filing. The main thing to note is that the standard (similar looking) elephant tuners have a longer pole on them, the current ones are shorter so the ends don't touch from opposite sides of the head.

Personally, I think the existing tuners are fine.

When I broke mine, it was because it fell over and landed right on the head, it snapped the leaf clean off the tuner.
However I just kept playing, the break didn't even put it out of tune.
 
#730
Well ... to anyone who wanted proof... yeah, you can get weedwackers onto it ... but man, is it a pain in the neck! It took me a few hours. That headstock is just a terrible design. Almost impossible to get in there! Also, the strings were GIGANTIC and I had to tediously shave them down and convince them into their place with some need-nose. Man, I don't want to do that again! Total pain.

I don't have it plugged into anything, just the headphones ... but my first impression is that it sounds ... really quiet, and kinda crappy. We'll see how it goes.

IMG_91661.jpg

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IMG_69641.jpg
 
#731
So far I like the Stagg a lot. It does have some issues though. The most annoying is the fact that the bridge consistently tilts towards the end the fingerboard after some playing. The bass has its original strings and action is pretty average. So, I put the bridge on and set it straight (while taking care the pickup wires are dead centre) and play away. After a while the bridge is leaning towards the fingerboard again and the whole thing starts over.

I do not pull the string excessively, in fact this sometimes even happens over night when the bass is just standing... It appears to be a design fault.

Anyone with similar experience? I found some online but they offered no solution...
 
#732
If the angle on both sides of the bridge is not the same, the bridge might move to one end. On the Stagg it does easily because the friction between string and bridge is low due to the painted bridge.
First try to set the bridge so that it leans a bit towards the endpin, so that the angles are equal. If this doesn't work, get a round file and file away the paint in the string grooves of the bridge (thay need to be a bit lower anyway, at least on my Staggs). You can lubricate them again with graphite from a soft pencil if you feel the friction is a bit high.

Nothing to worry about (except if the instrument was badly made).
 
#734
I liked the Stagg so much that I decided to buy me one of the upgraded RDL models. This model is better in quite a few aspects. Of course the rosewood fingerboard which on it's own is a valid reason to upgrade but also the better tuners, stronger head and screwed in body supports (no more supports flying all over the place) are very nice. And of course I could now pick the color I like and I must say the honey is a lot nicer looking than plain black in my opinion!

Of course it still is a cheap EUB and that shows in the sloppy endpin, cheap strings and floppy bridge. The one on this bass was even worse as on my old Stagg: one of the long threads just kept on turning in the bottom part of the bridge and the adjusters were very wobbly. But hey, you get what you pay for and overall I am very happy. The endpin rubber is also much more slippery as on the old Stagg, while sitting it is getting away from you rapidly...

After a day of joyful tinkering (shielding the electronics (still just one small piece of shieling tape present), fixing the rattling endpin, taking off any blurs from the joint between the rosewood fingerboard and the neck and some minor work on tuners, nut etc) the bass is pretty much ok. I also gave it a bit more neck angle by making a wedge that fits between neck and body. All I have to do now is carving a new bridge (one that is a bit better suited for bowing) and have the fingerboard planed. The RDL version also has a totally flat board with no relief whatsoever... And of course change the strings (I bought some nice Presto Balance that were only used a few weeks) and endpin rubber. But tinkering is half the fun for me!

One thing happened today that when my daughter moved the bass a bit to get inside a drawer the blue led came on spontaneously.... And stayed on untill I removed the battery. Putting a mini or normal jack in the sockets and taking it out again a few times did nothing. I have tried up to 4 different batteries, all with the same result. Must be a loose contact or something...

Has anyone experienced something like that?

I have yet to take of the electronics and do some tests. Now it sure is handy to have to Stagg around for comparison! Of course I could take it back to shop but as I have changed a few things on the bass this could mean difficulties with warranty etc. So this evening it is out with the screwdrivers and multimeter again... If nothing works I guess I could always wire in a regular on/off switch.

To be continued...
 
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#736
The new bridge is ready. The block of maple I got was not of the best quality. After carving the bridge it broke in three pieces due to internal cracks in the wood. But after I glued the whole thing together again and reinforced it internally with a wooden dowel it will never break again.

The end product does not even look to bad! And the bass sure plays a lot more like a regular DB and bows a lot better. I might make a new bridge in the future but for now I just intend to play it for a while.

Here a few pictures of the finished bass.

EDIT 24-6-2014
Got my FB planed last weekend. The luthier also changed the string distance at the nut (smaller, 10 mm heart to heart). I also changed the strings to a set of Evah Pirazzis Weich, just like on my normal bass. And turned a sleeve from a piece of aluminum so I could fit a decent rubber on the endpin (so it will not slide when playing sitting down).

All this made the bass really super. Yes, a Stagg is cheap and the quality might not be that good in some places but with some TLC you can make it a really nice EUB!
 
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#737
Hi Guys.

I think it was touched on briefly in this thread, but can anyone clarify how the Stagg performs in higher positions and thumb positions with the left support bar? One online reviewer on YouTube said that the support was in the wrong place, being a little too high?

I'm interested in learning UB on the EUB, until I can get the space for an acoustic, so I want to make sure I can learn the whole fingerboard with proper technique on the Stagg. (I'm also generally interested in the EUB apart from the acoustic. I'm learning cello, but am drawn to the upright, so I'd like to play around with the electric upright for its own sake.)

Thanks,

Joe
 
#738
Just to clarify, the YouTube reviewer seemed happy with the right support bar, against the body, but didn't like the left support bar. For me, if I can't practice proper technique, there isn't much point in my buying the stagg.

Thanks,

Joe
 
#739
Scottkarch said:
i have accidentally unplugged it while playing. Once live and a few times at practice... stepped on the cord. Still better that the jack is angled down and no damage was done.. but I need to watch that more... or do something about it. I just don't know what.
Click to expand...
I loop my cable up through the body rest and back down to the jack with plenty of slack. I plant myself behind my pedal board and cast the rest of the cable out of the way. This serves double duty, not stepping on it and pulling out, and having the hang point up high leaves me free to pedal away under the cable.
 

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