Weird question for the Bass Guitar side (EUB content)

[two fingers]

So I have a chance to pick up an Ergo EUB. For those unfamiliar they were around for 10 or 12 years. They made inexpensive EUBs.

I play a little bit of upright. I'm not amazing at it. I've done it in public well enough that only a "real" upright player would know the difference. I have one. I noodle on it at my house from time to time.

But I'll likely never take it out of the house again. I really would like to find an inexpensive and compact EUB to incorporate into my band.

I'm asking here because I'm primarily a bass guitarist (electric bassist?). The reviews on these things are mixed. I know they didn't come with a preamp, so I'll need to grab one. (I actually have a couple of bass guitar preamp pedals and one of those might work. I also have a Rolls Red Square DI that has a really nice preamp in it.)

Have any of you guys had any experience with one of these Ergo EUBs? I'm not even opposed to tweaking the bridge. (There are a couple of articles and YouTube videos about this.)

I may ask over on the double bass side as well. Maybe they'll take it easy on a hack like me.

 

[svlilioukalani]

NS makes a affordable bass that is easy for electric players to transition to.

 

[two fingers]

NS makes a affordable bass that is easy for electric players to transition to.

I forgot to mention, the one I'm interested in is 41" scale. Does NS make a 41" in the affordable line?

 

[Passinwind]

I've owned a BSX stick EUB since 2003 and the vast majority of my gigs for over a decade were on that bass. Personally, I wouldn't go cheaper than that for a (used) gigging instrument, but my bedrock qualifiers for a new buy would be: 41" minimum, no tripod stand (end pin only), must have tummy rest of some sort, must be active and usable with non-magnetic strings and regular upright strings in general, must be bowable. YMMV, best of luck!

 

[Beej]

I've owned a BSX stick EUB since 2003 and the vast majority of my gigs for over a decade were on that bass. Personally, I wouldn't go cheaper than that for a (used) gigging instrument, but my bedrock qualifiers for a new buy would be: 41" minimum, no tripod stand (end pin only), must have tummy rest of some sort, must be active and usable with non-magnetic strings and regular upright strings in general, must be bowable. YMMV, best of luck!

I've been tossing around the idea of building an EUB but wasn't sure what kinds of parameters to go with. This is an excellent start, thanks. What do you envision for a tummy rest? A wing or other means to stop it rotating on the pin while playing?

 

[India_Sierra]

An EUB of any variety would be a viable choice IMO, so long as the instrument is functional. They overcome so many of the inherent problems with the upright bass, I'm surprised they aren't more popular.

 

[Passinwind]

I've been tossing around the idea of building an EUB but wasn't sure what kinds of parameters to go with. This is an excellent start, thanks. What do you envision for a tummy rest? A wing or other means to stop it rotating on the pin while playing?

Yep, IME any sort of T shaped wing is pretty workable if it's placed well, but something a little more swoopy looking would be my preference. Assume the player has to do page turns on physical charts from time to time. Does the bass balance well enough for a few seconds with both hands off?

I left out what may IMO be the most important thing though: there need to be at least a few landmarks on the neck and at the body join that telegraph playing positions without having to look, and it's probably best to have the join at one of the usual standard note locations used on regular uprights. All of this assumes that you want some crossover to playing acoustic upright, otherwise it's kind of moot.

 

[Beej]

Yep, IME any sort of T shaped wing is pretty workable if it's placed well, but something a little more swoopy looking would be my preference. Assume the player has to do page turns on physical charts from time to time. Does the bass balance well enough for a few seconds with both hands off?

I left out what may IMO be the most important thing though: there need to be at least a few landmarks on the neck and at the body join that telegraph playing positions without having to look, and it's probably best to have the join at one of the usual standard note locations used on regular uprights. All of this assumes that you want some crossover to playing acoustic upright, otherwise it's kind of moot.

Good thoughts, thanks. I was planning to have a raised bump/thumbstop at D on the G for a reference, in addition to a raised volute under the first position. Basically the same as a DB. Glad to hear that may be the right track.

 

[Passinwind]

Good thoughts, thanks. I was planning to have a raised bump/thumbstop at D on the G for a reference, in addition to a raised volute under the first position. Basically the same as a DB. Glad to hear that may be the right track.

IMO that's great. Fingerboard radius and/or width can be a perfectly workable cue as well. And if you use side dots making some or all of them a little proud so the player can feel them might be worth considering.

 

[Beej]

IMO that's great. Fingerboard radius can be a perfectly workable cue as well. And if you use side dots making some or all of them a little proud so the player can feel them might be worth considering.

Brilliant.

Sorry for the sidetrack @two fingers ... sidebar over.

 

[two fingers]

Brilliant.

Sorry for the sidetrack @two fingers ... sidebar over.

No worries. I'm learning as we go.

 

[Eilif]

I've owned a BSX stick EUB since 2003 and the vast majority of my gigs for over a decade were on that bass. Personally, I wouldn't go cheaper than that for a (used) gigging instrument, but my bedrock qualifiers for a new buy would be: 41" minimum, no tripod stand (end pin only), must have tummy rest of some sort, must be active and usable with non-magnetic strings and regular upright strings in general, must be bowable. YMMV, best of luck!

Out of curiosity, why no tripod? I've been less than impressed with the various attempts I've played by companies seeking to emulate the side of an upright bass. A tripod seems like a great option and supremely portable.

2 Fingers,
Good luck with this. I think with almost any good preamp you should be set. If the price was right, I'd be tempted by the Ergo, but I'm such a ham, I can't resist bringing my upright on stage, even just for the visual appeal

 

[Pilgrim]

So I have a chance to pick up an Ergo EUB. For those unfamiliar they were around for 10 or 12 years. They made inexpensive EUBs.

I play a little bit of upright. I'm not amazing at it. I've done it in public well enough that only a "real" upright player would know the difference. I have one. I noodle on it at my house from time to time.

But I'll likely never take it out of the house again. I really would like to find an inexpensive and compact EUB to incorporate into my band.

I'm asking here because I'm primarily a bass guitarist (electric bassist?). The reviews on these things are mixed. I know they didn't come with a preamp, so I'll need to grab one. (I actually have a couple of bass guitar preamp pedals and one of those might work. I also have a Rolls Red Square DI that has a really nice preamp in it.)

Have any of you guys had any experience with one of these Ergo EUBs? I'm not even opposed to tweaking the bridge. (There are a couple of articles and YouTube videos about this.)

I may ask over on the double bass side as well. Maybe they'll take it easy on a hack like me.

There is an EUB forum that's full of info and people who can help. I have an NXT EUB, and it's fine - but even with EQ, it's really tough to get near that upright bass sound.

I had a white plywood King upright for years, but couldn't move it across country and sold it. I still regret that.

Electric Upright Basses (EUB's) [DB]

 

[ProbablyTooLoud]

There's an EUB subforum on the DB side if you don't get what you're after over here.

 

[Passinwind]

Out of curiosity, why no tripod? I've been less than impressed with the various attempts I've played by companies seeking to emulate the side of an upright bass. A tripod seems like a great option and supremely portable.

2 Fingers,
Good luck with this. I think with almost any good preamp you should be set. If the price was right, I'd be tempted by the Ergo, but I'm such a ham, I can't resist bringing my upright on stage, even just for the visual appeal

You can’t dance with any bass on a tripod that I’ve ever tried, and I prefer different neck tilt angles depending on which position I’m playing in. The Yamaha Silent Bass gets the side feel the most right of those I’ve played, but I hear you. The Steinbergers are my absolute least favorites, just completely their own feel and not like a “real” upright in the slightest. But all EUBs seem to bring pretty substantial compromises IMO, so as usual we get to pick whatever tradeoff set that works for us.

 

[Flaked Beans]

Used to own and play NS eub's for a few years Nah. Back to my double basses since 10 years ago.

 

[Kenan]

In my experience, when people want the upright, they want the full dog house. It's more about the visual than the sound, to be honest. In most scenarios, the EUB won't cut it. The big exception is salsa music, where it would seem that EUB's have become the norm.

 

[J Posega]

I had access to an Ergo at a university I attended. I have little to no experience with acoustic upright.

With those two things in mind, I would still love to own an Ergo someday.

Three things to be aware of:

1. Without a body, you don't have something to lean against yourself/something for you to lean against.
2. The tripod stand doesn't allow for the same kind of movement (rocking, pivoting, swaying) as an acoustic bass on an endpin.
3. Strings that fit can be hard to find unless you mod the bass or the strings.

The piezo elements are cheap but effective and sound best run through a proper acoustic bass preamp. There's an Ergo club thread or two on the DB side of the forum with tons of useful info.

 

[two fingers]

I had access to an Ergo at a university I attended. I have little to no experience with acoustic upright.

With those two things in mind, I would still love to own an Ergo someday.

Three things to be aware of:

1. Without a body, you don't have something to lean against yourself/something for you to lean against.
2. The tripod stand doesn't allow for the same kind of movement (rocking, pivoting, swaying) as an acoustic bass on an endpin.
3. Strings that fit can be hard to find unless you mod the bass or the strings.

The piezo elements are cheap but effective and sound best run through a proper acoustic bass preamp. There's an Ergo club thread or two on the DB side of the forum with tons of useful info.

Any suggestions for a preamp? Thanks

 

[Ed Goode]

I've owned a BSX stick EUB since 2003 and the vast majority of my gigs for over a decade were on that bass. Personally, I wouldn't go cheaper than that for a (used) gigging instrument, but my bedrock qualifiers for a new buy would be: 41" minimum, no tripod stand (end pin only), must have tummy rest of some sort, must be active and usable with non-magnetic strings and regular upright strings in general, must be bowable. YMMV, best of luck!

I’ll agree with this in total … realizing that you’re not primarily a DB player and therefore have no “pre-set” DB habits it will likely make it easier to seek out an EUB. The Ergo is not it, IMO, for all of the reasons @Passinwind outlines in his comment. Even with no real DB traits I fear you’ll find these stick-type EUB’s to be a lot of effort and frustration for very little reward. At least the BSX has something of a body and reference points to aid in the playing.

The best bet is an Eminence but it’s not cheap, even used. However, it’s the closest I ever came to a good DB substitute …