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Who's tried Double Bass and failed. Why?
- Thread starter jmone
- Start date
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- double double bass eb why?
...do you see a pattern? Yes, upright is a different animal. But I LOVE that animal and none of my electrics sound as interesting as my acoustic upright.
I play primarily electric bass guitar and on gigs I play the NS design CR4M - the NS has several advantages - no feedback, intonation markers, easy to amplify and easy to transport. I have the 41" scale, so its the same as acoustic upright. I find the NS design to be manageable in every aspect. But...it does not sound quite like the acoustic. I almost always have the NS design on my stage. I amplify using EA doubler and NL-210 or iAMP800 with NL-210 x 2.
The acoustic I use for a little folk band I am playing with or some jazz gigs, but even there I prefer the NS design because its so much easier to play. I have the acoustic and I continue practicing and getting better at it. I am actually almost not pathetic anymore (started 1987 in high school). I have had many, many , many bass lessons on upright.
So....want to start with upright and want to gig it soon -> NS design
...want to learn acoustic upright > rent acoustic upright, see if you like it. I got a rent-to -own deal, own the Shen SB80 3/4 size
I use k&K PU ($100) and EA and it sounds really good.
I play primarily electric bass guitar and on gigs I play the NS design CR4M - the NS has several advantages - no feedback, intonation markers, easy to amplify and easy to transport. I have the 41" scale, so its the same as acoustic upright. I find the NS design to be manageable in every aspect. But...it does not sound quite like the acoustic. I almost always have the NS design on my stage. I amplify using EA doubler and NL-210 or iAMP800 with NL-210 x 2.
The acoustic I use for a little folk band I am playing with or some jazz gigs, but even there I prefer the NS design because its so much easier to play. I have the acoustic and I continue practicing and getting better at it. I am actually almost not pathetic anymore (started 1987 in high school). I have had many, many , many bass lessons on upright.
So....want to start with upright and want to gig it soon -> NS design
...want to learn acoustic upright > rent acoustic upright, see if you like it. I got a rent-to -own deal, own the Shen SB80 3/4 size
I use k&K PU ($100) and EA and it sounds really good.
- Oct 7, 2000
- 18,619
- 38,939
- Disclosures
- Endorsing artist: Musicman basses
Not motivated enough
. DB is hard! Electric bass is easy!I don't ever want to have to lug that thing anywhere.
I got my degree playing double bass but I never play it nowadays. I wouldn't say that I failed at it, but I wasn't in love with it. I'm in love with the bass guitar - 10 hours could go by and you'd have to pry it out of my hands. However, back in school with 8 hour practice days it felt like punching the clock each time.
I played violin in my childhood. It was small enough to carry around, and reasonably loud for what it was. Electric bass is bigger, granted, but it can shake a place like nobody's business, and it fits in my car, with room to spare.
When I think about buying an acoustic upright, I let my mind wander to the image of a woman I've played with a few times (musically) who plays a harp. Watching her load in and out (she needs a huge SUV just to carry the thing around in)...yeah, I'm good with electric.
When I think about buying an acoustic upright, I let my mind wander to the image of a woman I've played with a few times (musically) who plays a harp. Watching her load in and out (she needs a huge SUV just to carry the thing around in)...yeah, I'm good with electric.
devnulljp
Supporting Member
Nah, you can do it. I went through all the same pain as you trying to get my Fenders to sound like an upright, but it just wasn't the same. Especially playing jazz. Now, I love playing the electric, but I sold an old Strat to fund a plywood upright -- not the greatest bass on the face of the earth but it did the job. I was gigging with it inside of 2 weeks, so the transition isn't that hard if you put your mind to it. Got me loads of gigs ... I've never been busier, everyone seems want an upright player. I enjoy it.
TL;DR It's a bit early to say whether I have succeeded or failed but either way I love playing DB and cannot see me giving it up any time soon.
I bought a Stagg EUB on a whim a few years ago, I downloaded a few lessons and played it a few times then it sat neglected for a long time. It was not in a convenient place in the house which did not help.
Fast forward to a year ago and I did some re-arranging of the house and moved the EUB to far better place, every time I passed it I stopped and played it for a few minutes. Just after this our band (of old gits) decided to downsize/down-volume and work on a stripped down acoustic set.
I did a few rehearsals with the Stagg then splashed out on a far better EUB. (FarWest Redhead Link Removed ) and have played that for almost a year.
I played it for the first time in public at an open mic night 3 weeks ago and was smitten. All my fears of bad intonation were unfounded, playing in a group setting is vert different to practising at home and analysing every note. Yes there were errors but they were not howlers and I was correcting as I went along. I even sang lead on one song where I didn't get chance to look at my left hand.
Earlier that day I was in my local music shop (where I am the unofficial electronics tech, I don't get paid in money) and they had a CCB BSO* that I acquired with no money changing hands. When I got it home a few days later I did a few adjustments on it and haven't stopped playing it since.
I did a bit of experimenting with DIY piezo pickups and built the excellent @fdeck II HPF and now have something that sounds better amplified than it does acoustically! The acoustic sound is improving, I put that down to the fact that I am getting better at playing it.
There is another open mic night next week, I am undecided whether to take the EUB or DB. The EUB is more convenient but the DB just looks the part, decisions, decisions!
*Cheap Chinese Bass, Bass Shaped Object as the DB stalwarts refer to anything that they consider to be unworthy of expending their playing skills on.
I bought a Stagg EUB on a whim a few years ago, I downloaded a few lessons and played it a few times then it sat neglected for a long time. It was not in a convenient place in the house which did not help.
Fast forward to a year ago and I did some re-arranging of the house and moved the EUB to far better place, every time I passed it I stopped and played it for a few minutes. Just after this our band (of old gits) decided to downsize/down-volume and work on a stripped down acoustic set.
I did a few rehearsals with the Stagg then splashed out on a far better EUB. (FarWest Redhead Link Removed ) and have played that for almost a year.
I played it for the first time in public at an open mic night 3 weeks ago and was smitten. All my fears of bad intonation were unfounded, playing in a group setting is vert different to practising at home and analysing every note. Yes there were errors but they were not howlers and I was correcting as I went along. I even sang lead on one song where I didn't get chance to look at my left hand.
Earlier that day I was in my local music shop (where I am the unofficial electronics tech, I don't get paid in money) and they had a CCB BSO* that I acquired with no money changing hands. When I got it home a few days later I did a few adjustments on it and haven't stopped playing it since.
I did a bit of experimenting with DIY piezo pickups and built the excellent @fdeck II HPF and now have something that sounds better amplified than it does acoustically! The acoustic sound is improving, I put that down to the fact that I am getting better at playing it.
There is another open mic night next week, I am undecided whether to take the EUB or DB. The EUB is more convenient but the DB just looks the part, decisions, decisions!
*Cheap Chinese Bass, Bass Shaped Object as the DB stalwarts refer to anything that they consider to be unworthy of expending their playing skills on.
Me. Because I didn't want to drop money on strings, a setup, and lessons - all of which I believe are necessary to play well the big thing I've got sitting in my living as a museum piece now
And there also is the weight thing. The bass has to be transported, and even a 1/4 sized DB weighs around 20 pounds. But nothing else moves air the way a DB does, which is why I and a lot of others are willing to endure the problems.
And for all we know, the big thing sitting in your livng room could be a St. Bernard. Pics?
A lot of the appeal of upright for non-bassists is the image and, for that, an NS won't cut it. Just something for the OP to keep in mind if he is looking to get hired as a double bassist.
I played DB on and off for years, but never got good enuf to go beyond Big Band. I probably did not put the time into Simandl with bow and then got the really stupid idea of playing 4 fingered......injured, game over.
I guess i never really loved upright as much as EB. And you need to love that urb to drag it around.
Some positive points for my Eb came out of this esp. position shifting ease. I modified my strict Jaco method 4 finger method to a hybrid 3/4 method that I really like.
I guess i never really loved upright as much as EB. And you need to love that urb to drag it around.
Some positive points for my Eb came out of this esp. position shifting ease. I modified my strict Jaco method 4 finger method to a hybrid 3/4 method that I really like.
I've had "jazz friends" try to influence me to take it up and I've tried playing them and while I've been able to usually coax from them something resembling a "musical bass line" I've still been intimidated by the weight and size of the thing. Also the fact that I already have too much physical "stuff".
I have a decent collection of Brian Bromberg's upright recordings, some Mingus and some Scott LaFaro so I continue to further get that sound and style drilled into my head but I still don't think I have the overwhelming desire necessary to really make those sounds and genuinely play that monstrosity of an instrument myself.
I have a decent collection of Brian Bromberg's upright recordings, some Mingus and some Scott LaFaro so I continue to further get that sound and style drilled into my head but I still don't think I have the overwhelming desire necessary to really make those sounds and genuinely play that monstrosity of an instrument myself.
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yeah i took lessons in college when i wanted to "double" on upright and electric. cost of an upright (and strings), the rigorous lessons (you have to learn this way, the only way), always having to have a teacher (i'm a DIY guy, self taught on electric), and the many many conversations with friends who played and have all sorts of physical ailments now (hands cramp, circulation, nerve issues, wrist problems, etc.) due to playing this massive wood box with bridge cables for strings, and i was done with it after a year of playing.
after all that i realized i don't even like music with an upright (see bluegrass, classical, bebop jazz, etc) and don't even like the tone, i've left the DB world and never looked back.
for some it's great, and that's wonderful. for me it wasn't and that's ok too.
after all that i realized i don't even like music with an upright (see bluegrass, classical, bebop jazz, etc) and don't even like the tone, i've left the DB world and never looked back.
for some it's great, and that's wonderful. for me it wasn't and that's ok too.
I think this is an important point to make with regards to playing any instrument really. Isn't it usually a sound we hear that inspires us initially?
Ya' know like I hear Paul CHambers play 3 or 4 notes, and I want to go play my upright.
I tried it last year.
Got a playable no name upright really cheap. I was playing in a roots/rockabilly band & some places they were playing demanded it. Audience & venue. I play that stuff fine on electric. Anyway it was a 3 member band. Got a K&K pickup & preamp & worked on it. This band wanted me to use "their" amp. (Fender Rumble 2 10 500 combo with 1 15 extension cabinet). They also wanted to play pretty damn loud. That amp rig with that pickup was pretty bad as I couldn't get it over the guitar without feedback not to mention I had a rig (Phil Jones) that was more suitable. Then they wanted me to get metal strings and use a P bass pickup. That does NOT sound like an upright. Also they were much more concerned with me slapping the thing that actually playing it. (I got that down half assed). I mentioned that have a P bass or two so what's the problem?
Anyway,they broke up,with good paying gigs left, because the drummer's a psycho. Most of their audience wanted to see somebody slap it & toss it around. They didn't care if it sounded musical. Don't get me wrong, I admire the good rockabilly guys who do both but a lot of the fans of that stuff just want the trappings.
Haven't been playing upright as much but I haven't given up either.
Got a playable no name upright really cheap. I was playing in a roots/rockabilly band & some places they were playing demanded it. Audience & venue. I play that stuff fine on electric. Anyway it was a 3 member band. Got a K&K pickup & preamp & worked on it. This band wanted me to use "their" amp. (Fender Rumble 2 10 500 combo with 1 15 extension cabinet). They also wanted to play pretty damn loud. That amp rig with that pickup was pretty bad as I couldn't get it over the guitar without feedback not to mention I had a rig (Phil Jones) that was more suitable. Then they wanted me to get metal strings and use a P bass pickup. That does NOT sound like an upright. Also they were much more concerned with me slapping the thing that actually playing it. (I got that down half assed). I mentioned that have a P bass or two so what's the problem?
Anyway,they broke up,with good paying gigs left, because the drummer's a psycho. Most of their audience wanted to see somebody slap it & toss it around. They didn't care if it sounded musical. Don't get me wrong, I admire the good rockabilly guys who do both but a lot of the fans of that stuff just want the trappings.
Haven't been playing upright as much but I haven't given up either.
Take on the upright has been great for my electric playing. Its taken me from a bad electric player, to being bad at electric and upright. That said, it looks and sounds great.
It's still on my to-do list, but the few times I toyed with one, it was ergonomically challenging and kind of physically demanding. I'd definitely use it for more aggressive styles like bluegrass and rockabilly, and I know a couple of those guys in my town. Their hands are all calloused and beat up in ways and places I never could have imagined.
That, and size, expense, new maintenance routines, etc., it's a big investment of time, effort, and money, and very different from the world of electric bass.
That, and size, expense, new maintenance routines, etc., it's a big investment of time, effort, and money, and very different from the world of electric bass.
yes it was important for me, i realized i was doing it for the wrong reasons, because electric players SHOULD be able to double on upright OR that pros play both.
complete bull sh|t on both.
