Double Bass Thinking of getting an EUB - Will this do?

[Seb Peters]

Well, yeah. I'm thinking of getting an EUB, as the DB is an instrument I've always loved, but I don't have the space and I'm not in a practice-friendly situation.

I've been browsing through, and money is pretty low on the ground, so my two options are the Stagg (Invalid Link Removed) or the Harley Benton (Invalid Link Removed) unless you can recommend anything else similar in price.

I think the Harley Benton seems better quality, but I'm hoping someone will know what it's like played arco.

Looking forward to hearing from you!

 

[josiah goldfish]

Actually, I'd go for the stagg. The body brace on the Harley Benton is wrong (ie unfixablly wrong) and the tailpiece rattles. On the stagg, the pizz sound is better (IMHO) but the strings buzz. However, most people find that the buzz is purely down to the cheap strings.
The stagg is easier to mod, but I don't currently own either of them, so I don't know whether or not they've improved.
Btw, you can get a thomann 3/4 acoustic DB for -£400, not much more expensive than an EUB

 

[Seb Peters]

Thanks - I may have to go for the acoustic... Will update in due time!

 

[OldFenderPlayer]

After 30 years away from the double bass, I purchased a Stagg Electric Double Bass about a month ago. A few days after I received the bass, I ordered the stand that goes with it (its a must have, if only to hold the bass upright when you are not playing it).

The bass adjusts easily; I lowered the bridge so the strings were all close to the neck as possible, then slowly raised the bridge to the point there was minimal buzz but the lowest possible action. This was done over a few days time while playing with recordings of my combo.

The active pickup works great. But you need to keep the "sub bass" knob at 100% to get a realistic upright sound.

I've only used it on a single two-hour jazz standards gig, but it played very well. The other band members loved the sound, and a few people I talked to in the audience said you couldn't tell by listening that I wasn't playing an acoustic bass.

I did record the gig using my Zoom H2 recorder, and sometimes the bass sounds like a double bass (specially on slow tunes when I can use alot of vibrato), but on the faster tunes there didn't seem to be much difference tone-wise than my fretless Fender Precision. But I've only been playing it a few weeks and I need to work on my right hand technique, in order to get that nice "attack" you hear just before the actual note.

I'm already happy with the Stagg EDB and I hope I can get a few years use from it before deciding to move up to another model.

 

[chuck norriss]

Will you post the gig on soundcloud? I'd like to hear it.

 

[allroundbassnut]

After 30 years away from the double bass, I purchased a Stagg Electric Double Bass about a month ago. A few days after I received the bass, I ordered the stand that goes with it (its a must have, if only to hold the bass upright when you are not playing it).

The bass adjusts easily; I lowered the bridge so the strings were all close to the neck as possible, then slowly raised the bridge to the point there was minimal buzz but the lowest possible action. This was done over a few days time while playing with recordings of my combo.

The active pickup works great. But you need to keep the "sub bass" knob at 100% to get a realistic upright sound.

I've only used it on a single two-hour jazz standards gig, but it played very well. The other band members loved the sound, and a few people I talked to in the audience said you couldn't tell by listening that I wasn't playing an acoustic bass.

I did record the gig using my Zoom H2 recorder, and sometimes the bass sounds like a double bass (specially on slow tunes when I can use alot of vibrato), but on the faster tunes there didn't seem to be much difference tone-wise than my fretless Fender Precision. But I've only been playing it a few weeks and I need to work on my right hand technique, in order to get that nice "attack" you hear just before the actual note.

I'm already happy with the Stagg EDB and I hope I can get a few years use from it before deciding to move up to another model.

how is the stagg when bowed out of interest?
and how does it fair for a bass guitarist switching to stand up??

 

[Ed Fuqua]

If you're really interested in DB, get a DB. The EUBs generally fall into two categories - things for bass guitarists who want to look like they're playing upright and things for double bassists who travel a lot and can't carry their DB with them.
Neither ad/link mentions what the string length/mensure is, if it's less than 39/40 inches, then basically you just have a fretless bass guitar on a stick. There are some basses with a longer mensure but do nothing to approximate the curvature of fingerboard and bridge and there are others that will even copy the curvature and overstand of your DB.
But none of them really SOUND like a DB. You might be able to get them to sound like a badly amplified DB, but they don't really fool anyone.

 

[Joaquin Turina]

Hey, first time poster over here, you have a great forum!

I'm an classical DB player and I'm going to the US as an exchange student for a year (non music related). I was thinking about getting an eub so I dont loose all my technique.

I want a cheap thing (I dont want to be very worried about selling it when I'm coming back home), $1000 maximum. It would be great if it had shoulders (technique reasons) and it could be played with headphones.

So far stagg looks like the best option, but palatino, ergo and the cheaper ones from ns designs also stood out. What would be your choice? Do you have any recomendations?

Thanks a lot in advance.

 

[DoubleMIDI]

In the cheap range the Stagg may be the best out of the box. The Palatino needs some work done, as I read.
For a good simulation I would rather try a Yamaha (shoulders, quality) but it is in a different price range.
Maybe you want to get a cheaper well setup DB (renting or buying and resale) during that time? I think an EUB is not something you can use as a practicing instrument for the big one. It is a different thing, even holding it.

 

[Joaquin Turina]

Thanks a lot for the advice Doublemidi!
Obviously the yamaha one would be the ideal, but it is very expensive...

About a real DB, it's an option. But im really having a hard time finding a house to stay over there. Most people dont want an international student that is going to be partying all day. If to that you add a double bass inside the house...

 

[poisonoakie]

http://www.messengerbass.com/
these are amazing.

 

[DoubleMIDI]

Well, the messenger bass is even more expensive than the Yamaha...

I read that the Stagg is sensitive to string tension (may break the headstock), so better get some lower tension strings if you want to replace the stock strings. Downtuned Spiro solo, standard tuning Innovation strings or standard tuning SuperSensitive Supreme or Pinnacle might be a good replacement. (Or any downtuned solo strings.)

 

[matthewbrown]

If you're really interested in DB, get a DB. The EUBs generally fall into two categories - things for bass guitarists who want to look like they're playing upright and things for double bassists who travel a lot and can't carry their DB with them.
Neither ad/link mentions what the string length/mensure is, if it's less than 39/40 inches, then basically you just have a fretless bass guitar on a stick. There are some basses with a longer mensure but do nothing to approximate the curvature of fingerboard and bridge and there are others that will even copy the curvature and overstand of your DB.
But none of them really SOUND like a DB. You might be able to get them to sound like a badly amplified DB, but they don't really fool anyone.

In many situations, DB's ARE badly amplified, and some very good EUB's sound as good as many such DB's. Nothing sounds just like a good DB played well acoustically. But if you're playing outside or in big halls to crowds, or if you travel often, you may want to go with a good EUB. The fact is that many DB's are set up to be amplified; if they weren't, the folks who play them couldn't do half what they do with them.

 

[Ed Fuqua]

In many situations, DB's ARE badly amplified, and some very good EUB's sound as good as many such DB's. Nothing sounds just like a good DB played well acoustically. But if you're playing outside or in big halls to crowds, or if you travel often, you may want to go with a good EUB. The fact is that many DB's are set up to be amplified; if they weren't, the folks who play them couldn't do half what they do with them.

Which is your considered opinion, based on precisely what experience?

 

[matthewbrown]

A) Playing and hearing an Azola Acoustic Baby Bass, B) Listening to David Bromberg recordings C)Countless experiences listening to DB players playing live in jazz clubs

Let's face it, once a DB is amplified, it's not an acoustic instrument anymore. And I NEVER hear anyone play one unamplified unless it's playing in an orchestra. Anytime there's a a drummer, out come the pickups and amps. I LOVE the sound of an acoustic DB. But it's a very rare occasion when you hear one -- unless you play one yourself. No surprise there -- DB's are pretty quiet unless they're amplified.

Please remember that each of us hears differently, Ed. You're entitled to your opinion, based on your ears. I'm allowed to differ.

 

[matthewbrown]

Invalid Link Removed

On amplification, or it's lack, none other than Ray Brown:

"Ray Brown: Were not discussing tempos, now. Were discussing solo lines. That’s a big difference. Nobody dared play anything that fast because you couldn’t hear it."

 

[Ed Fuqua]

Well I PLAY an unamplified DB on the majority of my gigs. And so do any number of folks here in NYC. Just because you haven't heard an unamplified bass outside an orchestra, doesn't mean that it doesn't happen a lot. Just because you don't see any giraffe where you live doesn't mean giraffes are extinct.
My opinion isn't based on my ears, it's based on my experience. That's outlined pretty well here. It includes playing a LOT of unamplified DB.

 

[matthewbrown]

Ed, I'm not saying no one plays unamplified DB's. But I go to hear live music fairly often outside of NYC, and in my experience, I have never seen any DB player without an amp playing anything but classical or in a pit. DB's are wonderful, but DB's are so often amplified that it makes sense for many people to play EUB's, which have lots of advantages, including the one the original poster mentions (size). I'm not going to convince you, apparently, that an EUB can be a worthwhile replacement for DB live, even though I play one live instead of DB all the time, as do a lot of other players, especially touring players, for whom size is a major consideration. The advantages of the EUB I play - - an Azola Acoustic Baby Bass -- are obvious. It's easily amplified and gets a good sound. It's small. It's not a DB, just a good, workable substitute for one, useable in many situations. Nothing wrong with that, IMHO. You keep posting that EUB's are no substitute for DB's, but in practice, in the real world, they often are, even given their limitations. I like DB's. I like electrics. I like EUB's. They are not interchangeable, but they all have their uses.

 

[Ed Fuqua]

The number of players who are switching to options that are more like an actual bass (like the Czech Ease) or are opting for a removable neck upright are growing exponentially. If what you want is the sound of a double bass, get a double bass. If you want to play bass guitar, play bass gutar. If you want to play an electric upright, play that. But if what you want is the double bass, half stepping is NOT the same thing.

You certainly can do whatever you want. Not only is it only no skin off my nose, it's gonna be one less on the train. But you tell me; if you're looking for advice about whether or not a Hyundai Tiburon is going to be like driving a Ferrari Barquetta, do you really want to hear from somebody who doesn't drive a Ferrari a lot?

 

[bobsax]

Hi Ed
I hear what you are saying. Nothing sounds as great as real DB. In the Vanguard recordings Scott Lafaro sounds pretty far from the mic and he sounds great. I do a loud restaurant trio piano ,EUB and sax. I don't know if an un amped DB would cut through unless you play like Scotty.
I have to agree about the bad recordings of DB's that sound like EUB's. I have some Ray Brown and RonCarter stuff from the 70's that sound like EUB's.