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Double Bass To double or not to double suggestions

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dbass87

May 16, 2010
224
4
#1
Right now I'm playing with a jazz fusion band, we lost our sax player so now it's guitar, drums, and myself on bass. I was playing upright, but I brought the BG to our last practice and it just seemed to click well with what we're doing, since a lot of it has taken a more funk direction, and the punch of the BG is nice.. but we're still playing a couple straight ahead such as Milestones. For walking parts I usually like upright, but can pull it off on BG. Anyway, for gigs I'm wondering what I should do, if I should mess with upright at all, since most of what we're doing works pretty well with BG.. right now I have a GK MB115, so if I doubled I would be using my upright with a RevSolo thru an Fdeck into the GK, and just removing the Fdeck and switching amp EQ settings when going to BG. But this seems like it might be troublesome to mess with mid-gig, would I just be better off sticking with BG only for this band? I really prefer upright for the few straightahead tunes, and I think DB might make a group stand out more (?) I like the idea of using DB with a jazz fusion group, but BG gives that punch and it would be somewhat more practical with my setup... Any thoughts, rig suggestions, observations, etc?
 
#2
I have an anaphylactic allergy to playing any sort of walking line on porkchop. My throat closes up and I can breathe in about 30 secs.

So then the choice is to nix the walking altogether, bring both basses, or get comfy playing it all on DB.

Personally I'd go the DB only route. The trick is this. You need to hear DB on those tunes. Don't play porkchop licks on DB and then wonder why they don't translate. Embrace that 'real bass' and learn how you can best make it shine in the funkier situation.

Just as a side, one of my main gigs is with a band that does lots of mixed meter funk. Pretty slamming stuff. It took me a while to find the right place for the DB. I had to resist the urge to overplay and overamplify. Now I am a rock that will not be moved (or however that saying goes).
 
#3
I have doubled in a couple of bands. The band I'm laying with now, I run both basses through an A/B switch, and have an EQ pedal in front of the DB so I don't have to mess with the amp every time I switch. I already had both pedals, so it wasn't any big deal. I plug that into a Mesa Walkabout or for big rooms an SVT.

It makes switching fast and simple, we're playing honky tonk/rock, so the DB tone isn't as much a factor for me.
 
#5
If you want to double with this band you will have to put the effort in to making the transitions easy and the basses sounding good. That may mean new equipment and figuring out how to use it. There is more to think about here than playing one bass on a gig. You also need to decide if one bass or the other serves the music well enough, and if using both is worth the trouble. I have played in numerous fusion bands and have rarely played both on our gigs (but have used both on albums). Musically, I have no aversion to playing what is required on either bass, so it is a judgement call made between my preferences and those of the band. Without hearing you and your band, it's impossible to give musical advice for your individual circumstance.

Play whatever you enjoy most, and if using both is your answer to the problem, go for it.
 
#6
dbass87 said:
I like the idea of using DB with a jazz fusion group, but BG gives that punch and it would be somewhat more practical with my setup
Click to expand...
Playing DB is rarely the practical solution.

I'd be interested in hearing more from anyone about what "punch" means in this context and if you can achieve that on your upright - maybe it's EQ, maybe it's strings, maybe it's your setup, maybe it's all those things plus your pickup.

-S-
 
#7
I triple: DB, EB and tuba. I've been known to bring any one, two, or all three, depending on what the gig needed. I suggest that anything you can do to be more versatile will get you more contacts and better gigs, as you will be able to execute the required musicality better.
 
#9
Personally, I would try to do as much on DB as possible. Even the funkier stuff. With a punchy setup, I see no reason to be averted from the DB in a fusion context and I myself like it better than the slab. I keep my electric around for more of the rock or metal-oriented gigs or instances where feedback would be an issue. But still, feedback issues are more reserved for groups that like to be loud for the sake of loud and I've not met many fusioners with such a mindset.
 
#10
Try getting a magnetic pickup for your upright - you'll be able to get that "punch" you desire, and still have the feel and looks of the upright. If you need a natural sound for a particular song you can switch between two different pickups (with the necessary eq, of course).
I had a similar situation 12 years ago when my band started: we began as a jazz group and have evolved into a hard rock band. I've been playing upright the whole time!
 
#11
thesandman said:
I have doubled in a couple of bands. The band I'm laying with now, I run both basses through an A/B switch, and have an EQ pedal in front of the DB so I don't have to mess with the amp every time I switch. I already had both pedals, so it wasn't any big deal. I plug that into a Mesa Walkabout or for big rooms an SVT.

It makes switching fast and simple, we're playing honky tonk/rock, so the DB tone isn't as much a factor for me.
Click to expand...

I regularly double and also use the AB and EQ option.

I am actually heading toward tripling on upright, fretted electric and fretless electric. For me they are all different beasts and I want that range of sounds.
 
#12
Thanks to all for the input...

I guess one other route that might make the switch easier is if the venue has a PA with good monitors or we bring our own PA, to run the slab thru the system and use a monitor when playing that, and use my amp for my DB only, and can mike thru the PA as well
 
#13
Enjoy your musical life! If doubling or being a multi-instrumentalist appeals to you then do it. I think it is a great commitment of time and energy but well worth the effort if that is what you love. For me, I just can't hear playing most of what I think of as jazz on anything but a double bass.

However, if I'm playing motown or R&B style tunes or fusion or some forms of rock, I'm going to break out one of my lectrics, the Old Fender P Bass, my fretless Fender Jazz or my 6 string Yamaha. It's all good. Enjoy your musical adventure!

Best,

T
 
#17
It is a PITA to drag both a BG and URB to a gig. Sometimes there's no room to put the other instrument and in worst cases, the instrument that is not being used is often in harm's way (drunk audience members, thieves, careless staff). Fortunately, if you do union gigs, there is a 15%-20% overscale for "doubling." Makes the extra trip to the parking lot worth it. When I used to double regularly on unionized shows; the overscale really added up.
 
#18
dgelting said:
Try getting a magnetic pickup for your upright - you'll be able to get that "punch" you desire, and still have the feel and looks of the upright. If you need a natural sound for a particular song you can switch between two different pickups (with the necessary eq, of course).
I had a similar situation 12 years ago when my band started: we began as a jazz group and have evolved into a hard rock band. I've been playing upright the whole time!
Click to expand...

I'm doing this with my road gig and it has been so rewarding for me. The slab stays in the trailer until something breaks down.
 

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