Double Bass Which EUB to choose switching from acoustic

[Don1989]

Hey guys, I've been reading posts here (there's a lot of abbreviations and stuff i don't get but that's not really a point here) but I'm wondering what would your guys advice would be on this one. So i have a bass that sounds amazing, it's an italian made 3/4 wooden bass i bought for 5000eu some years ago. However now i moved and don't have the place to keep it, plus I'm tired of carrying it around and not being able to take it on a plane..
So I'm considering of selling this beauty and getting an EUB. The problem is that so far I didn't find any eub that would sound as an acoustic upright and i really hate that 80's touch to the sound. I've seen folks talking about toneprints and stuff, was wondering if it's possible to make an eub sound like a beautiful acoustic one? That's probably a stupid question but i can't seem to figure this out. What would be your advice?
Thanks!
Don

 

[Ludwig]

Electric Upright will always feel and sound different to an acoustic double bass.
Maybe your best bet as a substitute would be a Yamaha SLB300.

 

[Michal Herman]

I have MK Bass electric studio-fly model: Contrabbassi elettrici MK
For pizzicato it sounds very close to the acoustic bass with a piezo pickup. It sounds very scratchy when bowing, but that's what you get from a standard piezo pickup. Also the shape and overall balance is very similar to the acoustic bass which makes quite comfortable when switching between them.

 

[DoubleMIDI]

EUBs never sound or feel like an acoustic DB unamplified. They could be get closer than a simple piezo pickup sound using some higher tech postprocessing like the Yamaha SLB300 or a better EUB with a tone-printing post-processor like the Tone Dexter, but they always miss the complex mechanical feedback from a DB-size moving top back to the strings.

Hollow body or suspended top (some MK basses) give some feedback, but not on the same frequencies, so they are better, but not the same.

In general, EUBs are a lot more expensive than a similar sounding DB, the more the better sound you want.
There is no replacement for a high quality DB, which is the reason why people using high quality instruments on a plane play removable neck DBs, which are a lot more expensive than your DB in your sound quality range.

Try a Yamaha SLB300 (which would be the easiest to find, even if you have to drive a long way) and if you are not satisfied, find a way to keep your DB.
Some bands might not even accept the look of an EUB, so you might even loose jobs with it.

 

[Don1989]

Thanks for the replies everyone!
Well that was exactly my point - my bass is not something insanely good, but i was wondering if I could find something similarly sounding in EUB world.. But in this case why some people prefer eub over acoustic ones? What are the advantages I'm missing here?

 

[Up and Away]

The main advantages of EUB's are that they are easier and safer to transport, they take up less space on crowded stages and they are not nearly as fragile as a DB.
I have a Shen DB I use on most gigs but I use my Yamaha SLB 200 for most rehearsals and gigs where space is going to be limited, or for jamming with friends. It fits in almost any vehicle and is easy to carry on trains or buses. As mentioned above, in some bands the only thing that fits with the band's image is a DB so that might be a problem but if you have both you can play whatever instrument is needed.
Like any wooden instrument you have to be careful with it but it doesn't have the humidity and temperature sensitivity that a DB has and is generally a robust and strong instrument.
As far as the sound is concerned my SLB 200 sounds pretty much like a DB to most people. Remember this forum is made up of bass players and we are the ones who are most sensitive to the sound of the instrument, almost everyone else just hears the low thud and doesn't analyze the sound like we do, to them it's just a funny looking thing that sounds like a bass. I think this is something we often worry about too much, especially for live music where most audience members(not bass players) aren't aware of the fine points of the sound of the bass but just hear those low notes. With the right amp or PA a decent EUB can sound almost like a DB, especially if the musician uses DB techniques on it, and they are becoming more common in some genres that have always used DB like country, folk and some bluegrass bands.
Nothing (yet) can replace the sound of a DB and I prefer to play my DB but in my opinion there is definitely a place for an EUB in many bands.

 

[BobKay]

I own the Yamaha SLB300. I bought it about two years ago when I was 73 yrs old. At the time I owned a hybrid and a full ply 7/8ths. I bought it for one reason - so that I could continue to play gigs. As I aged, it was becoming more difficult for me to handle the upright. Not because of weight, but because of its large size.

So for me, the reason was solely convenience. And, two years later, knowing what I know now, I would make the switch again. Being able to play in front of an audience, even without a perfect "acoustic sound," far outweighs sitting at home.

On the performance of the SLB300:
1. I absolutely agree with DoubleMIDI in that there is no EUB that will sound like an acoustic bass unamplified. If that is a requirement, then you may as well stop looking.
2. Once I plugged in either of my two basses, I found the Yamaha could get pretty close in sound quality. Close enough that my bandmates in two different groups were satisfied with sound.
3. The EUB, Yamaha or any other, is only the first step in the signal chain. In both of my gigging situations I plug into an amp on stage, then go to the board via a line-out from the amp. I get a good sound on stage, and the final sound the audience hears is driven by the settings on the board. Don't forget that, unless you only play into a FOH system, you will also need amplification. In keeping with the smaller size and ease-of-handling idea, I use a Phil Jones Double Four amp on stage.
4. The biggest issue for me, switching to EUB, has been taming the sustain.

Hope this helps.

 

[BobDeRosa]

Hey guys, I've been reading posts here (there's a lot of abbreviations and stuff i don't get but that's not really a point here) but I'm wondering what would your guys advice would be on this one. So i have a bass that sounds amazing, it's an italian made 3/4 wooden bass i bought for 5000eu some years ago. However now i moved and don't have the place to keep it, plus I'm tired of carrying it around and not being able to take it on a plane..
So I'm considering of selling this beauty and getting an EUB. The problem is that so far I didn't find any eub that would sound as an acoustic upright and i really hate that 80's touch to the sound. I've seen folks talking about toneprints and stuff, was wondering if it's possible to make an eub sound like a beautiful acoustic one? That's probably a stupid question but i can't seem to figure this out. What would be your advice?
Thanks!
Don

I'm kind of in the same place you are. Love my Juzek's sound and feel, but it's clumsy to transport. When I start thinking about an EUB substitute, I look primarily at Yamaha SLBs. But you might also want to think about Alter Ego, which Marco Panascia uses. Here's a sample, but as good as it sounds, Marco says he still prefers borrowing or renting an upright when he travels.

 

[Ketbass]

The main advantages of EUB's are that they are easier and safer to transport, they take up less space on crowded stages and they are not nearly as fragile as a DB.
I have a Shen DB I use on most gigs but I use my Yamaha SLB 200 for most rehearsals and gigs where space is going to be limited, or for jamming with friends. It fits in almost any vehicle and is easy to carry on trains or buses. As mentioned above, in some bands the only thing that fits with the band's image is a DB so that might be a problem but if you have both you can play whatever instrument is needed.
Like any wooden instrument you have to be careful with it but it doesn't have the humidity and temperature sensitivity that a DB has and is generally a robust and strong instrument.
As far as the sound is concerned my SLB 200 sounds pretty much like a DB to most people. Remember this forum is made up of bass players and we are the ones who are most sensitive to the sound of the instrument, almost everyone else just hears the low thud and doesn't analyze the sound like we do, to them it's just a funny looking thing that sounds like a bass. I think this is something we often worry about too much, especially for live music where most audience members(not bass players) aren't aware of the fine points of the sound of the bass but just hear those low notes. With the right amp or PA a decent EUB can sound almost like a DB, especially if the musician uses DB techniques on it, and they are becoming more common in some genres that have always used DB like country, folk and some bluegrass bands.
Nothing (yet) can replace the sound of a DB and I prefer to play my DB but in my opinion there is definitely a place for an EUB in many bands.

This for me too. To add, in bad weather or hot weather, I’ll use mine also. I have a Knutson Messenger EUB. I love it for all of the above but it doesn’t compete with my Shen Hybrid for that “sound”. I will say though, when I run it through my AI Coda series amp with the volume way down and mic’d with a SM57 going to the PA it is pretty darn close to an upright pizz. If only because the low volume tames the sustain. My only small gripe is that the neck is 39.5” and my Shen is 42.5”, so switching back and forth always takes a hot moment and unfortunately John retired and won’t make me a 42.5” neck for it. I think there is still one in the classifieds

 

[jthisdell]

I use an NXT eub mainly because it will fit in my Miata, a db will just not. (Yes, I can get eub, Berg 210 cab, TH500, small pedal board w pre, music stand, mic stand, small knapsack in my Miata. Occasionally I need to throw a pair of 10" monitors and additional cords in but then it gets full.) I like it and my bandmates and audiences always seem to like it however I can see if you are coming from db you may not, I play primarily bg. As to the sustain, using synthetic core strings really helps, I use Obligatos which work on solid body instruments well, not sure how they would work on a hollow Eminence, etc. DB players again, may not view them favorably but it makes sense that a dead string will calm the excessive sustain from a solid body instrument.

 

[DoubleMIDI]

I use my (Clevinger) EUB for rehearsals and in the traditional Cuban popular and salsa using ensemble that basically has no professional music background.
The technician thinks it sounds better with the 10 piece band than my big upright.

The DB now stays at home mostly as it becomes more difficult to haul it around with progressing age. But I still feel better playing that than the EUB. It feels more at home and the sound is more inspiring for the notes I’m gonna play.
The EUB is always a bit sterile (solid body), harder to bow (if needed) and you only hear the amp output unless you practice alone at home purely acoustical. Even the weight is not much different, but the handling is easier.

If I don’t need to carry an amp to the rehearsal space, the EUB always wins for transport and handling.
If I can play purely acoustical with the DB, the DB wins, even in public transport (with a bass buggie).
If I need an amp anyway, the DB wins for gigs if I can go by car close to the building. otherwise only if the EUB is not accepted.

I don’t have an ensemble for it, but the EUB can be an instrument of its own if used with a bunch of effects where the acoustical sound of a DB might interfere with the processed sound. Think about Eberhard Weber (not the first Colours of Chloe disk, that’s a DB). Like in the United Jazz & Rock Ensemble for example. This is specially important when you rehearse at room volume at home. Then you hear the DB acoustic interference at most.

If you paid 5000 (US$/€) the instrument shouldn’t be that bad. Mine is in a similar price range.
So think about getting a removable neck EUB, MK EUBs are good, and keep your DB for those occasions when you might need it or for a later more DB-friendly home.
Or sell your DB if you are not too much connected to it and only play where the EUB is accepted.
But if you buy a higher end EUB like the Yamaha, be prepared to loose a lot of money if you want to buy new and sell it later.
Your decision, we cannot help you with that.

 

[bherman]

I use an Eminence EUB with a piezo (Realist Lifeline) and Pirastro Perpetual strings. I much prefer the EUB for playing live, as others have noted, its easy to carry, takes up less space on the stage and is easy to switch back and forth with another bass (important as I play in a band where its about 50/50 EUB and electric bass). When amplified at fairly loud volumes, I much prefer the EUB - easier to tame feedback and avoid boominess. These days, my 3/4 bass stays home and is what I practice on.