Maybe the question should be: "Which EUB sounds most like a well amplified double bass?" My Merchant Vertical Bass (EPs, Full Circle) gets pretty close, in my opinion.
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Double Bass Which EUB sounds most like a double bass ?
- Thread starter 6stringbassist
- Start date
Well, the Ray Ramirez is a great Baby Bass replica, but I wouldn't call that a double-bass tone, with all due respect.
The Baby Bass has its own voice, which is unique.
I've played the Kolstein and Czech-Ease and I still think they're not close to the Volante. I'm just trying to be honest. I'm talking about a sound and feel like the best amplified double basses. It's the only bass that drummers have actually commented that it felt as good as my double bass ON A GIG. Recordings are different, but if someone wanted a bass to travel with that would function the closest to an amplified double bass, the Volante is it. There are many improvements that could be made to it. It certainly isn't perfect and I hope it's designers would take some suggestions that I've made to heart, but boy has it made my life easier.
I've played Mike's Volante and he's telling it like it is. It does sound more like a great amplified DB than any others I've played and heard including the Kolstein and Czech Ease (which I wouldn't classify as an EUB anyway). I like the old Merchant for how it plays and what it can do, but the Volante has a more acoustic sound.
I'm a guitar guy..
Couple of notes.
I have played Ashbory and acoustic bass for years and learned a few things.
1-Enclosure plays a HUGE role in the sound.. I have a freak cabinet with a folded driver that acts more like a thud-sub.. folks can not tell in a recording if an Ashbory+this cabinet is upright (average listeners that is)
2-preamp... not sure of your setup.. there are some tone shapers that can help dial this in. I have tried the $$$$ Roland stuff still can't get over the delay/latency.
3-Strings.. for the they did make a ton of difference.. bad strings just sound like amplified bad strings.
Like noted, these are notes from a guitar boy playing in the real world.. I have bought tons of gear to replace good stuff --- realizing I was blowing loot on the wrong goodies.
Couple of notes.
I have played Ashbory and acoustic bass for years and learned a few things.
1-Enclosure plays a HUGE role in the sound.. I have a freak cabinet with a folded driver that acts more like a thud-sub.. folks can not tell in a recording if an Ashbory+this cabinet is upright (average listeners that is)
2-preamp... not sure of your setup.. there are some tone shapers that can help dial this in. I have tried the $$$$ Roland stuff still can't get over the delay/latency.
3-Strings.. for the they did make a ton of difference.. bad strings just sound like amplified bad strings.
Like noted, these are notes from a guitar boy playing in the real world.. I have bought tons of gear to replace good stuff --- realizing I was blowing loot on the wrong goodies.
- Jul 28, 2009
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- Disclosures
- Is not compensated for endorsements. Does not sell for profit.
I find it remarkable that a EUB would sound better than a Czech Ease or Kolstein Travel Bass which physically are far closer to an actual upright bass. How does Volante create acoustic resonance from a solid body EUB?
No upright electric is going to sound just like an acoustic upright. But the hollow body models will more closely immolate the sound.
For instance I have an Eminence with Velvet Amena strings played through a Sansamp Para driver DI into an Acoustic Image Coda amp. It is remarkably close but you can still tell. You aren't and never will move the air an upright. With electronic equipment available today I think an amplified 2 x 4 with strings could sound good. Find the right combination and you will be close.
For instance I have an Eminence with Velvet Amena strings played through a Sansamp Para driver DI into an Acoustic Image Coda amp. It is remarkably close but you can still tell. You aren't and never will move the air an upright. With electronic equipment available today I think an amplified 2 x 4 with strings could sound good. Find the right combination and you will be close.
The Eminence sounds great. It is essentially a double bass with a small body. IMO it is perfect for travelling/playing on small stages, and its unlikely that other than the looks anyone would even question if it sounds like an amplified DB or not.
- Jan 25, 2006
- 1,292
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- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist; Arnold Schnitzer/ Wil DeSola New Standard RN DB
Mike could you expand your comments about the Volante over a Czeck -Ease or Kolstein? I've borrowed a Kolstein for a few shows and once I got used to the smaller scale, I remember feeling pretty comfortable and liking it better than my Eminence for some fairly higher volume Jazz and pop shows. You could bow it and it had some girth and a more complex acoustic quality to the sound. I would expect the same from the CE since it has most of the cavity size of a real DB. Does the Volante make much acoustic sound as the CE and K? From the looks of it the Volante looks like like a Merchant Vertical bass w/ hinged wings (faux bouts) on it.
THNX, BG
I'd sure like to know exactly what Mike Arnopol's complete rig is: strings, pre-amp, amp, cab(s), cables, the whole works.
If you get a chance, could you please fill us in, Mike?
If you get a chance, could you please fill us in, Mike?
The pizz sounds very "real" to me in the jazz solo sample, too.
And there are two arco samples at that same website: the PIAZZOLLA and the ETTORRE.
Yeah, I agree. Nothing sounds like an "unplugged" upright bass. And while certain characteristics are hard to copy even when you do plug an upright in, when you add the "plugged in" part, I think there are a lot of things that sound like that.
I guess my question is which double bass? Just like electric bass guitar I have found there is no 'one' upright bass sound.
But I have heard some EUB's that just sound more like an electric bass guitar to me. Then again that may have been the player and not the instrument.
..and I have to throw this in: if you have to ask which sounds closer to an upright, you haven't played an Ergo.
When you play a Ergo the way an upright is generally played, it is scary how upright-y it sounds.
But I have heard some EUB's that just sound more like an electric bass guitar to me. Then again that may have been the player and not the instrument.
..and I have to throw this in: if you have to ask which sounds closer to an upright, you haven't played an Ergo.
When you play a Ergo the way an upright is generally played, it is scary how upright-y it sounds.
Well, I can't really say I'm weighing in on the subject--I don't even play DB, after all. All I'm saying is that the sound clips on the Alter Ego website would have fooled me if you had told me they were from an amplified acoustic DB--both the arco and pizz clips.
Not wanting to take the time to learn to play DB is root of your issue. No EUB will sound like a DB without being played like one. NONE. ZERO.
Take some lessons with a real double bassist, including the bow as well as pizz and keep your NS.
I should also note that DBs fit in nearly every car. I get to a lot of gigs in the girlfriend's Mini.
This.
That is what I love about my EUB. I play it like an upright: sounds like an upright. I play it like a bass guitar: sounds like a bass guitar.
Make sure to copy and paste that statement on hand for each time this convo comes up
Surely theres even MORE variation in double basses than electrics. BG's come off a production line and are all fitted with very similar strings.
Wooden acoustic basses are unique, and the individual setup widens that difference.
Alas, double bassists can be cruel to their own kind as much as other musos. Theres a definite "bell curve" type spread of sounds with a large portion having a stereotypical sound, while less players on the fringes pursue a different sound, and unfortunately they are the ones who are met with the "not a real bass" comments.
