Double Bass What bass is Don Was using?

[Reiska]

AND YOU THOUGHT TOTING A DB WAS TROUBLE!

Luckily, they exist in different sizes and I quess that one on the video is the most hardcore orchestral version. I attended a improvisation class with a columbian lady ( studying and working here in Finland ) who plays all kinds of harps, really really really well. We went home together a couple of times on a tram, my bass on a pulley and her, what, half size? harp in a bag with wheels. Luckily it was daytime and so the transportation wasn`t too crowded. We barely made it to the middle space that`s meant for baby carriages, wheelchairs and such.

I really like the sound of that band and the music. I think that the harp and the player fits the ensemble wonderfully and makes it interesting in a very cool way. Can`t say anything about the bass though.

 

[chuck3]

That's such a great Tiny Desk clip. That I have better upright technique than Don Was pales once you hear the overall sound of the quartet and especially the contributions of the harp player. She's great.

 

[martinc]

Luckily, they exist in different sizes and I quess that one on the video is the most hardcore orchestral version. I attended a improvisation class with a columbian lady ( studying and working here in Finland ) who plays all kinds of harps, really really really well. We went home together a couple of times on a tram, my bass on a pulley and her, what, half size? harp in a bag with wheels. Luckily it was daytime and so the transportation wasn`t too crowded. We barely made it to the middle space that`s meant for baby carriages, wheelchairs and such.

I really like the sound of that band and the music. I think that the harp and the player fits the ensemble wonderfully and makes it interesting in a very cool way. Can`t say anything about the bass though.

Reiska: Send him an e mail. He is still an active producer.

 

[Reiska]

Reiska: Send him an e mail. He is still an active producer.

Thanks for this martinc, but I`m not the OP ( if you`re on the bass issue )

This thread had me getting interested though! Good stuff.

 

[martinc]

Thanks for this martinc, but I`m not the OP ( if you`re on the bass issue )

This thread had me getting interested though! Good stuff.

Reiski: my apologies. I was replying to ole Jason.

 

[coldtrain]

I'm friends with his nephew (also a musician) so I'll see if I can find out some more information.

 

[eh_train]

Hey Coldtrain,

No need, as I found an email address online, which turned out to be valid!

Mr. Was very kindly offered the following info, and agreed to let me share his response:

"David Gage told me that it’s an English Church Bass.... about 200 years old...originally had 3 strings and the fourth was a modification done over 50 years ago....it’s really big - larger than full size - and is cumbersome as a mothershager....the neck is as thick as a small tree!

That said, it’s got a low end and presence that’s unlike anything I’ve ever heard. Bought it from Gary at Stein on Vine in Hollywood

The warmth of the instrument gets a bit lost in the acoustics of the theaters we play but I dig using it anyways. It’s so hard to maneuver that I’m forced to hit fewer notes and make each one count - which is perfect for Wolf Bros where the task is keep a groove and low end going while allowing Bob the space to phrase with nuance."

Mystery solved? Church basses were usually small-ish, but maybe "it came from a church" was intended? Who the maker is will probably never be known...

Cheers,

Paul

 

[martinc]

Hey Coldtrain,

No need, as I found an email address online, which turned out to be valid!

Mr. Was very kindly offered the following info, and agreed to let me share his response:

"David Gage told me that it’s an English Church Bass.... about 200 years old...originally had 3 strings and the fourth was a modification done over 50 years ago....it’s really big - larger than full size - and is cumbersome as a munnyfunster....the neck is as thick as a small tree!

That said, it’s got a low end and presence that’s unlike anything I’ve ever heard. Bought it from Gary at Stein on Vine in Hollywood

The warmth of the instrument gets a bit lost in the acoustics of the theaters we play but I dig using it anyways. It’s so hard to maneuver that I’m forced to hit fewer notes and make each one count - which is perfect for Wolf Bros where the task is keep a groove and low end going while allowing Bob the space to phrase with nuance."

Mystery solved? Church basses were usually small-ish, but maybe "it came from a church" was intended? Who the maker is will probably never be known...

Cheers,

Paul

Not sure if it helps but check out American bass viol (church bass) on Wikipedia.

 

[eh_train]

Not sure if it helps but check out American bass viol (church bass) on Wikipedia.

The 6 or so I’ve seen have been cello sized, nothing like the bass in question.

 

[ole Jason]

Thanks for the info! Agreed that it obviously doesn't fit the definition of what we'd typically call a "church bass." Really cool instrument though, those tuning keys are wild.

 

[Reiska]

I`m no expert of any kind but I recall John Feeney talking about basses in church in the early times. Pipe organ technology wouldn`t allow to produce low enough pipes yet and so there were allways someone playing the bass part on a string bass. Violin was considered the instrument of streets and wasn`t allowed in churches, but basses fullfilled this function. So, maybe there`s more to these " church basses " than the small cello or bassetto -style instruments. A huge bass-heavy instrument that Don Was describes would propably work out better than a small one in a church and with pipe organ.

 

[GretschWretch]

Maybe it's a "cathedral bass." "Munnyfunster" has just made reading this entire thread worthwhile for me.

 

[eh_train]

Maybe it's a "cathedral bass." "Munnyfunster" has just made reading this entire thread worthwhile for me.

Hey GW,

Because I was quoting Don, I quoted him exactly. "Munnyfunster" wasn't what he said. The miracle of technology...

 

[yodedude2]

Hey GW,

Because I was quoting Don, I quoted him exactly. "Munnyfunster" wasn't what he said. The miracle of technology...

aw man...i am disappoint...

 

[OldFenderPlayer]

I’ve seen Don Was playing upright bass on numerous “tribute” shows on TV. He is always solid, great timing and playing in tune. That’s more than enough to earn my respect and admiration.

 

[brbadg]

NEEDED to retire about 20 years ago. FIFY

Sorry to report that's not happening. Signed,a fan.

 

[eh_train]

Sorry to report that's not happening. Signed,a fan.

 

[freshbass]

haha True enough. His career is a little outside my areas of interest but I gather he doesn't normally play upright from what I read when I was looking for information on the bass.

as an old guy w/ an upright and arthritis I've had to adapt to whatever makes me hurt less, classical proper technique be out the window.

 

[Jason Sypher]

It's simply massive. I used to drool over such basses however, as he stated, a lot of that low end spread gets lost in a normal performance. It could very well be considered a 5/4 sized bass. I wonder what the mensure is. He is a great bass player. I've lost a few playing opportunities because Don was in the area and I wasn't. I always enjoyed listening to his approach on tunes I have also played on. He has a great concept in general. Tiny Desk is a tricky gig. The engineer there is fantastic. I don't see a mic on the bass. It definitely makes sense it being a three string bass played in church, likely just doubling the continuo part, played mostly in the first few positions maybe to the octave. Interesting for a collection bass but not one I would choose as an all arounder.

 

[Chris Fitzgerald]

The bass is wearing an Ear Trumpet Nadine mic in the second pic of the OP. Not that I care. He produced three of my favorite Bonnie Raitt albums: Nick of Time, Luck of the Draw, and Longing In Their Hearts. Three of my favorite albums of all time. He can do whatever he wants at this point AFAIC. Not that he should give a poopie what I think. Go, man… do your thing!