Thank you for directing me towards that thread Francois (I'm sorry, I can't locate the c with the cédille) - that was really interesting.
I was extremely fortunate in '86 to pick up my Z bass with its canvas bag for around £400 direct from the BUCA factory in the Netherlands (it was a demo instrument for prospective buyers and I contacted the factory on the off chance that they might part with one, but as a university student I couldn't afford a brand new model).
It was the best musical purchase I ever made and I'd never part with mine - it has served me well for all types of music: trad. and modern jazz, R&B, folk, covers - you name it. I have a photo of Ray Brown trying out a Z bass at the factory and I like to think in my more fanciful moments that it might have been mine as RB was one of my early inspirational figures on the double bass.
It has a Polytone pick up mounted perpendicularly to the adjustable bridge and I have always used this with a Polytone Minibrute amp (which I formerly used with an old double bass and polytone pickup horizontally between the legs of the bridge). It has a fine warm tone with real depth and speaks well arco with either a French or German style bow. For more contemporary users of the EUB, there is no 'on-board' adjustment (which might be less attractive), but the amp gives plenty of scope and I sometimes use this with an Ibanez phaser to give the sort of tone that Sting used in 'Moon Over Bourbon Street' on 'Dream of the Blue Turtles'.
At the time I bought mine Henk Bosch van Drakestein (Dutch Swing College Band) was playing a 5-stringer and I contacted him to discuss the bass. He was a real gent and sent a 2-page A4 letter discussing how to damp the tone, adjust the action, etc. as well as sending a signed photo on stage with his bass.
Best wishes
Ian
