Double Bass Want to sound like an upright? Please read on...

[damonsmith]

Hmmmmm .... I've been reading this Thread .. A 5 string ERGO is up for sale here in Denmark - and I am considering buying it. Have always wanted a DB - but have never played one - only Electric basses. (mostly 5 strings)

There are only very few - but very bad clips on Youtube of the Ergo basses ...

What can I expect..?? Woould like an EUB that is close to an amplified "real" DB .. Will I get that with the 5 string Ergo ??

Only if you study double bass technique and use an amp that handle piezo pick ups well.
Nothing sounds like DB without first being played like one.

 

[Francois Blais]

Only if you study double bass technique and use an amp that handle piezo pick ups well.
Nothing sounds like DB without first being played like one.

Great statement!
Should be stickied!

Edit: done!

 

[StringThing]

So.... Back it up a bit.

A good instructor or a beginning instructional link?
What is a good Amp for Piezo Pickups?

 

[alanchia67]

Perhaps start by watching Francois Rabbath's dvd.

 

[Downunderwonder]

Egads, if I wanted to pay a teacher I'd be practicing instead of looking fro tips on the internet. Finally found someone with something useful to say, sorry I forgot your name...re Stag EUB..

Some people say it sounds similar to a fretless bass guitar, which is true enough if you turn the sub-bass control full. What I prefer to do to get the woody sound is to turn the sub bass control off and then, on the amp EQ, add a little bottom, quite a bit of middle, cut the top end and it sounds pretty much like a double bass. Whether this EQ method is suitable for your needs or style of music is another question and I guess the only way you're going to find out is to try one.

Regarding cutting through, I played a festival at the weekend (sort of Americana/Folk/Soul/Rock) and it sounded awesome in the mix (the engineers commented on how good it sounded too) and distinctly different from my fretless bass. I never seem to have any worries about it not being heard against drums and guitars. All I can advise you is that when EQing, don't apply the same principles as you do with your bass guitar... think wood.

EDIT, had a chance to make some volume and the sansamp RBI straight to poweramp really delivers the goods with my Stagg, sub bass off, drive 9 o'clock, presence 9.30ish, 50/50 blend, touch more bass, noon mid, touch less treble, basically flat EQ in other words.

 

[CopperheadLXXIX]

Proper technique is obviously the most important to getting a more DB tone on an EUB, but I also find that adding just a *hint* of reverb to an otherwise dry signal can give an EUB (or at least my Ergo) a little more "body" and make it sound a touch closer to a true acoustic upright.

 

[Downunderwonder]

Any hint on what flavour hint of reverb to add? I have a Alesis multiverb with more verbs than Latin just sitting in my PA rack.

 

[Dusty89]

Study Jaco in depth.

 

[Francois Blais]

Any hint on what flavour hint of reverb to add? I have a Alesis multiverb with more verbs than Latin just sitting in my PA rack.

I'd try the most subtle one first.
It's really something you'll find out with your ears only, I'm afraid.

 

[CopperheadLXXIX]

Any hint on what flavour hint of reverb to add? I have a Alesis multiverb with more verbs than Latin just sitting in my PA rack.

I'd maybe try small/medium rooms or possibly dark plates first and go from there.

 

[dbassnut]

Something slightly off topic but you have to admit she does sound like a double bass. Check out the walking bass line.

YouTube - Theremin Walking Bass - Pamelia Kurstin

 

[Downunderwonder]

find another thread for that theremin stuff ta.

So... went with a touch of MidiverbII #23 reverb at last night's gig and Bob's yer hairy arsed Aunty. Thanks for the tip.

 

[GrowlerBox]

Something slightly off topic but you have to admit she does sound like a double bass. Check out the walking bass line.

YouTube - Theremin Walking Bass - Pamelia Kurstin

So, would a theremin be a good transition instrument to DB?

 

[Downunderwonder]

How about string choice for upright sounds on EUB? Is there a general type of string better for solid body piezo pickups played pizz, or does it depend on the specific model?

I don't know much at all about strings but the stock ones are guaranteed to be cheap and cheap usually means nasty.

 

[Francois Blais]

I use orchestral strings to get a darker, warmer tone, with less sustain and growl.
Some well known orchestral strings: Pirastro Flexocor and Original Flexocor, Pirastro Passione (new product), Thomastik Belcanto, D'Addario Helicore (orchestral type).
There are other brands, just a selection of popular ones.

 

[horstenj]

On my Stagg I played with different kinds of foam between body and bridge, actually to reduce microphony. The microphony hardly changed. However, very much depending on the type of foam, the sound got more mellow and less sustain. To my untrained ears more like an acoustic bass.

 

[nicechuckh]

The Palatino EUB sounds best with some foam under and over the pickup

 

[buffalobillh]

NS sure can get close, especially with Daddario NS Traditionals.

Here are some vids. They have youtube quality sound (poor), but you can get some idea. Good speakers/headphones are best.

Bob Wills & The Texas Playboys (some of these guys are well into their 80's, but still going)

The Texas Playboys - Bring It On Down to My House

Texas Playboys - Ida Red

Billy Mata & The Texas Tradition

You Had a Call

Flag City Opry

I Fall to Pieces

Bobby Flores - An Empty Bottle

Amber Digby - Lie to Him

Billy Mata - The Other Woman

 

[Downunderwonder]

The Texas Playboys are a funny lot. Nice bass sound but bass player looked very bored!

I doubt NS d'Addario will fit on a Stagg unfortunately. Steinberger just has to be different doesn't it. Seems like a good idea to design a string specially for electric though. [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Of the regular d'Addarios what would be best at emulating the NS style goal of producing harmonic tone at the expense of volume? They got ones for orchestra ( bowing ) pizz and hybrid. Light, medium and heavy gauges. I'm picking Francois would be recommending the orchestral ones in general for that reason? How about the gauge?

 

[Downunderwonder]

lifted this from a bass shop catalogue

Helicore Hybrid light
(hybrid string has a dampening ingredient inside winding darkening sound and reducing sustain compared to jazz string)
A lighter guage string with more emphasis on Pizz playing but still fine for arco

Meaning it's more dark like an orchestra string but being lighter gauge makes it nicer to pluck, but still good to bow? Talk about having cake and eating it.

I'm picking I should go with light orchestra strings?? 240 NZ smackers is a bit to blow on an experiment!