Double Bass Volante Bass

[Mike Arnopol]

Hi all
I'm new to this forum. I play bass with jazz vocalist Patricia Barber.
We do a substantial amount of touring around the world. I've stopped traveling with a double bass as it is becoming nearly impossible, and my basses have incurred too much damage. I've played every EUB out there and traveled with an Alter Ego for two years. Until I was in Paris and a friend suggested that I try a new bass named Volante. This isn't meant as a plug, but this is BY FAR the best out there. It fully disassembles and fits in a hard shell golf club case. It is the only EUB where the drummers (and me) felt that the walking sound and feel were the equal of my good bass. It really is fabulous in sound and feel. I'm now friends with the company owner, but have no other agenda other than sharing my positive experience. Oh and the action height is adjustable immediately with an allen wrench--the neck pivots and is removable. I did a search and was surprised that no one had mentioned it. It is pretty new, though.

 

[daHammer]

Hi,

You've either told us too much or not enough. How can we find out more?

 

[mikeGJ]

Interesting bass. Folds for travel, looks like a traditional UB when set up.

Pictures from the selected builder's (Maurice Dupont's) site here:

Invalid Link Removed

Click on "voir les modeles" under "Contrebass" for a detailed image popup.

Google "volante avigdor", and use the "translate this page" links to read the "CitizenJazz.com" pages, which discuss the Volante bass (in english: "flying bass") with the designer, Patrick Avigdor.

The Dupont link will probably show up with the same Google search.

- Mike

 

[bongomania]

Fascinating! Any Francophones able to find out how much one would cost in USD?

 

[Mike Arnopol]

I think it's about 3,000 euros (without the case--the SKB golf case works perfectly) So about $3900 for the bass, about $160 for the case and then shipping and duties. Patrick is a good guy to work with---very personable and responsive. I've got a Full Circle on mine and it sounds and plays fabulously.

 

[Jeremy Allen]

I've played every EUB out there and traveled with an Alter Ego for two years. Until I was in Paris and a friend suggested that I try a new bass named Volante.

Was this the "acoustic" Alter Ego you were playing, or the solid body (BabyEgo) one?

 

[Mike Arnopol]

It was the Alter Ego with the tuners on the tailpiece and the floating top. I toured with it for 2 years. The Volante is much better. If you want your bass to feel and sound like a real double bass.

 

[GGTBass]

Mike has told it like it is but just wanted to let the guys in the UK know that the Volante is now available to try out in the heart of the Essex countryside. Bass specialists Sandarac are handling Dupont instruments and have one in their showroom. Enjoy

 

[jfv]

Need someone in the US to start carrying them, as
good as the thing seems to sound it looks a bit
cumbersome, would be nice to see one up close.

 

[Bad_Boy]

Mike - I've just seen a video of you playing the Volante with the Patricia Barber Quartet great playing & a great sound.

Can you explain a little more about the pick-up / amp / string combination you are using?

Thanks

Martin

 

[massimo]

VOLANTE BASS is the only one that feels like a real d.bass , especially concerning the phisical sensation (also easy to play and the neck feels great). I played one equipped with a gage pickup and i was satisfied with the sound. If one day i'll travel so much to justify the purchase of a EUB, this'll be my first choice.

 

[Mike Arnopol]

I just played the main concert hall at the Montreal Jazz Festival and as is typical, the sound guys agreed that it was one of the best amplified double bass sounds, period. I still love mine. I think it sounds even better with the Full Circle.

 

[ctregan]

I just played the main concert hall at the Montreal Jazz Festival and as is typical, the sound guys agreed that it was one of the best amplified double bass sounds, period. I still love mine. I think it sounds even better with the Full Circle.

Does the Volante come with a full size bridge? What is the bridge ht.?

 

[Mike Arnopol]

It's a full sized bridge, but maybe about 1 cm shorter. It can use a full height bridge as the neck angle is very easily adjustable.

 

[longfinger]

I just played the main concert hall at the Montreal Jazz Festival and as is typical, the sound guys agreed that it was one of the best amplified double bass sounds, period. I still love mine. I think it sounds even better with the Full Circle.

Congratulations on getting a good compliment. I did notice a lot of EUB's on the free outdoor shows at this year's Montreal Jazz Fest. Some were visually pretty, some were not, but generally the EUB's I saw sounded very good.

 

[CraigScott]

Hi Fellow Bassists. I recently purchased a Volante Bass from Sandarac in GB. It has the Full Circle Pickup, and I am using Spirocore Weich strings. It is fantastic, sounds great, very good to play and most importantly the physical reference points are virtually identical to a Double Bass. I cannot recommend it highly enough.

 

[sas]

I got mine one and a half years ago, direct from the builder. Agreeing it is great, however I quickly dumped the Full Circle, couldn't dial in a useable tone - but a Schertler Dyn-B works very well on this! makes perfect use of the dormant acoustic qualities of the bass, which is no surprise when you inspect the construction principles closely borrowed from the real thing.

For those gritty loud gigs, I have a Wilson-equipped bridge handy, also very useable. In both configurations, you cannot tell the difference from a nice acoustic similarly picked up.