Double Bass Technique on short scale (35") EUB

[honza992]

Hi All

I am a electric bass player but have recently bought a Dean Pace Bass which has a 35" scale.

The reason for buying this was that I am struggling with tendinitis, so am hoping that the vertical position may reduce stress in my wrists.

I have never played upright before, so would like some advice about left and right hand technique. I have been reading about DB techniques, such as Simandl and Rabbath, but my instinct is that these are really for long scale instruments rather than the short scale Dean Bass.

Can anyone offer any advice about fingering technique on a 35" vertical scale? Are there any books/DVDs/vids that you found useful?



PS - I KNOW that many players feel that the Dean Pace bass is just a vertical bass guitar. If I thought my hands could cope with a long scale DB then I would have bought one, but they won't. So please don't bother posting if you are just going to make condescending comments about short scale, flat radius EUBs.

(To everyone else, thanks so much for any advice. What a great community TalkBass is.)

Edit: Moderators, I wasnt sure whether this topic was best placed in the EUB or Technique forums, feel free to move!

 

[JtheJazzMan]

Damn, I wasnt going to say anything about the scale length but you got the flat radius in there too

If you want to go with a 4 finger technique then I suggest you get the action nice and low, if it is not already set up that way

 

[longfinger]

Hey there,

The double bass method books for 42" scale instruments are still all good and valid. Start with the Simandl New Method. If you have hand problems, you want the smaller scale to be an easier thing to play. So a 42" scale technique on a 35" scale bass will be easy on the hands to do. If you try and push your hands to 'do more' on a 35" scale, then you'll still have hand problems.

I play a Fender fretless, 34" scale, and to play in tune in the first 6 or 7 positions, without wiggling my left hand, I still have to use 124 'upright bass' fingerings to cover a major 2nd. The Simandl method will be fine up for the first 6, 7 or 8 positions.

 

[TheSuzie]

One of my former teachers used 124 on all his instruments from 30" to 42" string measure and it worked very well for him.

Peace,
S

 

[patman01]

I use the std 124 on a Pace--works fine

 

[Jack Clark]

One of my former teachers used 124 on all his instruments from 30" to 42" string measure and it worked very well for him.

I hope it's some encouragement to the original poster that on my strange 26"-scale upright bass instrument I use Simandl/Shmuklovsky 124 left hand positions for a major second interval, too. I just switch to 123 at 3rd position instead of 6th.

 

[caribconsult]

I've been looking at the Dean 4 string EUB and I'm pretty impressed by what you get for very little $$. I currently play a fender style EB, but upright intrigues me for playing with my jazz combo.

I'd really appreciate some comments by any who've used the Dean 4 string EUB regarding sound quality, construction, etc. Thanks to any who reply.

 

[Eric Moesle]

Haven't owned one, but I've played one for about 30 minutes and have experience with other EUB's on the market.

The electronics on the Dean sound more like a bass guitar, not like an upright or even an approximation of an upright like many other EUB's.

The fingerboard is flat, so you can't bow on it at all. Most of the other "main" brands of EUB's have a radius fingerboard more closely approximating an acoustic upright's feel and permitting bowing technique. Bowing may or may not be for you, but almost all instructors will agree that bowing is the #1 way to work on intonation with an upright.

 

[jgeary]

I appreciate the answers here. I've had arm, neck and hand issues and I've been trying to determine how I can play an EUB, shorter scale (don't have one yet - still have a 41" scale EUB). I didn't think of using the 124 with a shorter scale instrument. Duh.....Just goes to show how one can get into a particular mindset!
Thanks.
Jill