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Double Bass Touring Bass

#4
Double basses please! I'm not worried about my p-bass on the road.

I'm 24 - I could very well be in a 15-passenger w/ a trailer on the next tour. Sometimes singer-songwriter/bass duo in a sedan. Would you guys bring a new carved bass out ($4k-6k)? Or should I be shopping for a plywood?

Thanks!
 
#5
I probobly wouldn't be putting my new carved bad in a trailer, if it fit nicely in the van or sedan I wouldn't be to worried about it, ive had gigs where I put my shen willow in a 15 passenger van, we took the front passenger seat out and put the bass there with the neck going into the extra space between the first row of seats and the door, just be very careful getting it in and out. That being said, I once had to put my bass in a luggage truck for a five minute ride and I was freaking out lol
 
#6
I brought my bass across Canada, tied to the inside of a trailer (U-HAUL) with padding on the floor and the contact point of the wall. Thinking about this puts me back into perspective of how tough basses are. It also stayed in there overnight for 3-4 days, during summer. One small crack and that's it.
 
#7
@chris1125 I'm thinking about getting a Shen Willow 3/4 or similar bass. Do you like it?

I guess something like that would have to stay near home for in-town gigs and sessions. Do you all have a second bass that gets taken out - like a cheap plywood or something?
 
#8
cjac9 said:
@chris1125 I'm thinking about getting a Shen Willow 3/4 or similar bass. Do you like it?

I guess something like that would have to stay near home for in-town gigs and sessions. Do you all have a second bass that gets taken out - like a cheap plywood or something?
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I love my shen, I haven't played another bass that even compares in the price range, I have the 7/8 version but the 3/4s are nice too. Since I've bought mine two of my friends have bought the 3/4 version because they liked it but it was a little to big for them I guess. I think it's really easy to play but I'm 6'5" haha. I used to have two backups, a shen 80 and shen 150 and ended up selling them both since I loved the willow so much I never touched the other two. The willow is very durable but I avoid some gigs like outside in direct sunlight or wet conditions and particularily small stages where the drummer is to close, I also constantly remind the manager of the orchestra I'm in that there has to be adequate room for the bassists and avoid bringing it to educational concerts with kids running around.

This being said i've never had any problems in the sunlight or humidity and while there are plenty of scratches on the 6 year old bass only 2 of them are noticeable from few feet away, one of them a kid dropped a metal stand on it (hence the avoiding educational concerts) and the other from a very sharp belt I had to wear while I was a interlochen :/
 
#12
cjac9 said:
@fingerbun so you have two? Is that pretty common?

A cheap ply for outdoor gigs, close quarters, etc. and a nicer one for roomy indoor stages and studio work?
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Hi, dunno what is common, but I know I am not the only bassist who uses two. Danny Thompson is one example who leaves his carved bass at home and takes a Check-ez on the road.

About me, I am older, and used to be fulltime as an electric player many years ago, now just a weekend warrior. Took up upright three or four years ago as part of coming out of musical retirement. I do get paid to play. I am not a studio hotshot but I have done a few studio sessions and played on two indie released albums since taking up upright. (Only one of which I would put on my resume!) I haven't toured in years.

I do clubs and bars with folk and jazz bands (both small and large) using the ply I bought when I started learning. Orchestral and studio work get the carved bass, a 19th century French instrument. The basses are setup for this. The carved bass has a higher action and no pickup.

I won't take the carved bass anywhere there is a serious risk of harm. It is just too expensive.

Obviously the carved bass has immeasurably more resonance, volume and projection, but I have spent a fair bit of money on the setup of the ply, and since it's amplified I can partially compensate for its limitations electronically. I wouldn't use it for a bowed gig but it is workable for pizz. Plus, while you can't polish a turd, a lot of the tone is in your hands.

On the plus side, the ply copes better with extremes of temperature, knocks and bumps and so on than a carved bass would. Only once have I had tuning problems due to temperature, playing outside in 40 degree heat (that's celsius, so 104 Farenheit).

I will probably reach the point where I have to have a carved bass for bar gigs for prestige...just like I wouldn't personally turn up with a Squier rather than a Fender. But it hasn't come up yet.
 
#14
@chris1125 I have a Czech flatback from the 1850s - sounds like God! It's really beat up and has developed a weird buzz. It's fixable but I'm not willing to spend anymore on this bass. Thinking I should sell and get something else. Maybe two (a ply and a newer carved.)
 
#15
cjac9 said:
@chris1125 I have a Czech flatback from the 1850s - sounds like God! It's really beat up and has developed a weird buzz. It's fixable but I'm not willing to spend anymore on this bass. Thinking I should sell and get something else. Maybe two (a ply and a newer carved.)
Click to expand...

Buzzes can be as simple as an open seem or loose end pin. If it really sounds great to you you may find that you're not happy with some of the modern instruments, shens are great but can't compare in sound to a high quality instrument from the 1850's. If the buzz is minor I would just wait for a shen80 or something to pop up in the area, used they usually go for under $1,000. Or you can save up and get a custom bass that feels more like your Czech. Have you taken the bazz to a luthier about the buzz?
 
#16
@chris1125 I've already put $2k+ trying to fix the buzz and it's still there a little bit. It comes and goes. I'm scared to play out and have been bassless for almost 9 mo's. I just need to get into a situation that works for me and get on with my career!
 

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