Double Bass Teen Town on Bass Ukelele (?!)

[Eric Swanson]

I know that this is the DB Forum. I offer this for a few reasons:

- The bass uke is being promoted as a substitute "travel" DB substitute (I actually took mine to Hawai'i a couple of weeks ago, because I didn't want to bring my DB)

- I love the genius/obsession/creativity of it

- I love to think that somebody out there in the world is practicing, and messing with, "Teen Town" on bass uke

- I thought that you all would dig it, if you haven't seen/heard it yet...

 

[bassist14]

great video, thanks for posting
now this smilie really makes sense:

 

[Greg Clinkingbeard]

13/8 is interesting.

 

[Eric Swanson]

13/8 is interesting.

Right? What next; does he play it in 13/8 on a unicycle, on a high wire?

Egads. It just makes me so happy to think of this cat busting this out on bass uke...

 

[MonetBass]

13/8 is interesting.

Yeah, I noticed that too. At first I thought the video was skipping.

Pretty dang cool nonetheless.

 

[Eric Swanson]

And I can barely play "Frere Jacques" in 4/4...

 

[Bruce Lindfield]

This has to be the coolest version ....;-)


YouTube - Teen Town ( Jaco Pastorius ) by Marcus Miller ( live )

 

[gavinrossdale]

Flat-out awesome. What a sound from the uke! And great job on "Teen Town." This would be perfect for my Link Removed...

 

[MR PC]

Like the Weather report version, the line in this promo video is doubled by synth......

I've played a few of these little buggers. It's pretty much an updated design of the Ashbory Bass. The strings on these bass ukes don't require the use of talc powder like the Ashbory does. Shops can't keep these in stock..the price is low and geared for the impulse purchase. It's easy to temporarily forget that you'll need an amp to be heard playing one the first time you try one.

The first one I tried, I liked a lot. Reminded me of a Sintir (Guembri). Maybe it was just the novelty, but the few others I've tried haven't inspired a purchase. I didn't check any of them out for build quality. But prolly ply, with poly glue. These will be around, very cool instrument indeed!

 

[buddyro57]

He took out the rests ( which contained all of the drum fills that Jaco played on the cut), thereby destroying the phrase organization of the piece.

Was it supposed to sound cool?

 

[Les Fret]

+ 1
Why did he play it in 13/8? The groove gets lost in 13/8 I think. Sounds better in 4/4 to me.
I play Teentown on my double bass from time to time. Good exercise.

 

[MR PC]

It isn't in 13/8. It's all digital cut and paste.

 

[Les Fret]

But then again; why?

 

[MR PC]

To sell more ukes, it's advertising. I'm looking for one to turn up used, cheap, because I think most people buying these don't know what to do with it once they get it home.....