Double Bass Thinking of buying an EUB... advice please?

[Happy Steve]

hmmmm... I still have a catalogue somewhere with Chris Minh Doky saying SLB100 has D neck. my SLB300 is definitely D neck. the SLB200LTD I tried had D neck. I have a very old URB with a D neck that I started on, and Eb necks are kind of my kriptonite... I'd have noticed.

Hi Vedi, the difference between my URB and the Yamaha is clear to me, but it is hard to make it clear here on a web page. I thought these pics might support my point, but I guess you could 'argue the toss' whether the measurements are that different. Both basses are normal 3/4 scale. You can see from the wood grain that my Yamaha is the standard (non LTD) SLB200.

probably not that important to the OP
Steve

 

[vedi]

Hi Vedi, the difference between my URB and the Yamaha is clear to me, but it is hard to make it clear here on a web page. I thought these pics might support my point, but I guess you could 'argue the toss' whether the measurements are that different. Both basses are normal 3/4 scale. You can see from the wood grain that my Yamaha is the standard (non LTD) SLB200.
View attachment 4203714 View attachment 4203715
probably not that important to the OP
Steve

yeah, mate, what is normal 3/4? I've seen 40,5 cm and 42 cm, and everything in-between. so, what's the length of the moving string on your basses?

but, D neck is when you reach the heel with your thumb and have the note D under your index finger on the G string. Eb neck when there's Eb there.

I was only stating that Yamaha EUB has always had a D neck. it is highly unlikely that they would switch just for one series (btw, LTD differs only in wood, and 300 is pretty much the same - both frame extensions from 200 fit 300 as well.)

 

[Francois Blais]

yeah, mate, what is normal 3/4? I've seen 40,5 cm and 42 cm, and everything in-between. so, what's the length of the moving string on your basses?

I hope it was inches!

 

[vedi]

I hope it was inches!

that's what she said...

but yes, you are absolutely right, inches...

 

[Wasnex]

My impression is 42" is considered sort of a standard, but yes there is variation.

 

[Happy Steve]

Lets ask yamaha.

 

[Ludwig]

If you move the thumb to the neck heel, the note opposite the thumb decides D or Eb neck, not with what finger you press down there. If you keep the hand shape of the lower notes, usually the index finger is not opposite the thumb.

 

[Happy Steve]

Well this is surprising to me..

Hi Steve,
I have liaised with my colleague from Japan, Naoki. He was able to provide the following response:

Are these instruments fitted with a D or E-flat neck position?
⇒D neck
Would there be any variation made for the Japanese market we are unaware of?
⇒We don't have any variation for Japanese market. It is only model for global market available.​

I hope this info helps. Enjoy your SLB200!​

Soooo...
- @vedi , your information is confirmed.

- I will need to modify my technique when playing the Yamaha. What lands me squarely on a D on my URB is placing me on a sharper fingered pitch here.
? different profile of the neck heel so I am moving my thumb too far south ?
? Yamaha construction optimised for much lower string height than I have set up.. so stopping the note increasing the pitch ?

Anyway, I can certainly recommend a Yamaha URB to the OP if having a responsive manufacturer is a factor. (I have no connection to Yamaha or its employees)
Steve

 

[Reg Braithwaite]

I kind of like the NS sticks, too, and they even make a 34" scale upright (that is 1/4 scale for DB) that is very interesting. I may get one some day, but I tune in fifths and have no idea what kind of strings I could get on it for that tuning.

I just purchased an NS Design Omni Bass, that’s the 34” scale product they make. Mine is a five-string. You can do your own string mixing and matching, but FYI, NS sells three string sets specifically for this instrument, and they claim the strings are designed for both pizz and arco playing.

The three sets are a low B bass set, a high C bass set (that’s what I play), and of interest to you, a high E cello set (CGDAE) in fifths (thank you Captain Obvious). The strings are manufactured by d’Addario. My understanding from the years of discussion on the megathread is that this instrument was originally called the “bass cello,” and thus they offer strings tuned in fifths and its compatible with their cello end pin.

Many pardons if you already know this in even more accurate detail than I’ve relayed. INAE by any means.

For the OP, this is definitely NOT the instrument you want if your real desire is to play double bass. The scale length is obviously wrong, and if you read various threads here, you’ll find experienced players articulating(heh) their discomfort with the way the neck is designed, it does not mimic the way a DB is shaped, so you’re probably not going to teach yourself the correct technique to cross over to a true DB.

I think of mine as a BG with upright ergonomics. It’s easy on my back, and my arthritis doesn’t complain as much with the entire left shoulder/arm/hand position playing an upright fingerboard.

I use a TC BodyRez to add some acoustic tone, but it’s still no Yamaha SB-300.

 

[N. Kentucky Bass]

After months of consideration, I chose an MK bass from Italy, which is mentioned by one of the posters above. It is well constructed, and looks attractive to my eyes. It has pleasing tone played pizzicato, and good tone bowed. It does not sound as full as my DB, but it sounds nicely different from my bass guitars. I enjoy playing the MK bass almost as much as the acoustic DB.

Can you expand your thoughts about not sounding as "full" as the DB? Do you mean not as full when played acoustically? I love my double bass but it sounds much better to my ears when I hear it recorded or if someone else is playing it and I'm listening from the front. If you, as the player, are hearing more of it from a speaker cabinet, isn't the MK just as full? Which model did you buy? Thank you!

 

[Cartier76]

Can you expand your thoughts about not sounding as "full" as the DB? Do you mean not as full when played acoustically? I love my double bass but it sounds much better to my ears when I hear it recorded or if someone else is playing it and I'm listening from the front. If you, as the player, are hearing more of it from a speaker cabinet, isn't the MK just as full? Which model did you buy? Thank you!

@Ukiah Bass thank you, what a juicy question from an accomplished bassist to a rank beginner! My bass playing, particularly with bow, falls short of my ability to write what I enjoy about learning to play upright bass, coming from bass guitar.

What I want to do is record a bit of both the MK bass and the Lisle hybrid double bass, which would better exhibit the character of the instruments than my verbal description. Allow me a few days to see if I can produce something worth sharing here. This could be a disaster since I have been learning double bass only since last October. My skill will not be an adequate measure of the quality of either of these instruments, and I treasure both of them.

Meanwhile, I will try to post a photo of both instruments, with our dog Jimmy getting in some publicity. This is MK’s StudioP Up model, poplar body, maple neck, African pear fingerboard. At my request Mirko left the fingerboard natural color rather than stained black.

 

[Reg Braithwaite]

FYI, NS sells three string sets specifically for this instrument, and they claim the strings are designed for both pizz and arco playing. The three sets are a low B bass set, a high C bass set (that’s what I play), and of interest to you, a high E cello set (CGDAE) in fifths (thank you Captain Obvious).

Dropping a correction here for future bassists discovering this thread through search: NS Design no longer sell fifths tuning strings for the Omni Bass.

At the moment I’m writing this, I am aware of just one source for strings developed specifically for fifths tuning on an Omni Bass: Gollihur Music have sourced a specific set of strings from Lenzner for fifths tuning. They claim to have both 4-string (CGDA) and 5-string (CGDAE) options available.

Thank you, please carry on!

 

[jthisdell]

I have had a NS NXT4 for 7+ years now, have used it in Bluegrass and Gipsy Jazz settings, I like it but have little DB experience and no other EUB experience to compare it to. It benefits greatly from synthetic gut strings that tame the resonance from the solid body and of course a good quality pre amp with a high impedance input. With these it gives a good thump. The newer version of the NXT (the NXTa) has an internal preamp that may eliminate the need for an external pre. I gigged with it in about two weeks, but that was rough. A huge advantage is that it fits in my Miata.

 

[Reg Braithwaite]

I will try to post a photo of both instruments, with our dog Jimmy getting in some publicity.

I’m hearing “These are a few of my favourite things” playing in my head looking at the photo of Jimmy, the basses, and what I presume is your lovely garden.

 

[Cartier76]

I’m hearing “These are a few of my favourite things” playing in my head looking at the photo of Jimmy, the basses, and what I presume is your lovely garden.

Reg, you are admirably insightful.
The garden is showing benefit of more divine than human or canine care. Texas coast has gotten good rain this year.

 

[djc03006]

I have an amazing EUB but I just don’t play it anymore. It’s a Knutson Messenger Custom DLX and it has a one of a kind blue-green sunburst. I have the gig bag, stand, and flight case for it. It sounds really great for an EUB, and it has a neck with the reference points you need for upright. I’m thinking of selling it.

Still thinking of selling it?