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Double Bass Yamaha Silent Bass vs. Eminence?

#3
I've played the Yamaha but own and love an Eminence 4 string. It has a great tone plugged in and is plenty loud for bedroom practicing. If I had to be picky it's only real fault is that at plays a lot easier than my Shen-100 so after a few gigs on the Eminence, I usually start tinkering with the setup on the Shen to try to get it playing better ;)
 
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#4
For my wants/needs/druthers I'd go with...

The Yamaha SLB-200LTD
- standard string length of 41 inches.
- hollow body design and internally mounted pickup system with built-in electronics/preamp, or direct out from piezo for external preamp.
- detachable frame approximates my DB better than an Eminance's small bouts.
- better portability than the Eminence (*even removable neck model) Perhaps the Eminence is also potentially more fragile?
- ebony fingerboard, tailpiece, nut and the saddle material is also ebony.
- curly maple neck.
- adjustable bridge (redesigned).
- hollow cavity in body reduces weight (gives better tone, too, supposedly).
- high ratio-tuners.


The other Yamaha Silent Bass models do not appeal to me, just the LTD. Here's a link to its development and how it differs from the others.

"SPECS:
Body Color: Antique Brown Color
Width: 456mm
Height: 1698mm
Depth: 330mm
Weight: approx. 6.9 kg (15 lbs. 3 oz.)
Body: Spruce and Mahogany
Side/Frame: Beech and Aluminum
Neck: Maple
Finger Board: Ebony
Bridge: Maple
Tuning Pegs: Custom Worm Gear Type (Gold Color)
Tailpiece: Ebony (Reverse type)
Strings Scale: 1,040 mm (41")
Strings: D'Addario Helicore Hybrid (Light)
Pick Up System: Piezo Pickup
Master Volume: Yes
Other Control: Treble, Bass, Active/Passive Direct Selector Switch
Connectivity: LINE OUT
Power Supply: 9V Battery Included
Battery Life: Manganese battery: approx. 1,000 hours, Alkaline battery: approx. 2,000 hours (Continuous Use)
Case: Soft Case Included"


There are many pros & cons to each instrument. However, while the Eminence is enjoyed by many players, for me it just doesn't light the fire, flip the switch etc, so I'd go with the Yammy given the choice. I've tried the SLB, but not the Eminence because I've never had the opportunity and even if given that opportunity I doubt I'd try it – it simply holds no allure to me whatsoever.
 
#7
I have a removable neck Eminence but I haven't tried the Yamaha. I have researched all of the EUB offerings before I bought the Eminence several years ago however.

I like my Eminence and its portability is very good. It fits in a golf bag and the airlines have no issue taking a golf bag. I find there's very little adjustment between playing my upright and the Eminence. In some ways, the Eminence is easier to get around on, reaching the 3rd octave for instance. It bows okay and has an okay pizz sound. I think that the Eminence tends to appeal to Bluegrass and folk players more than classical or jazz players. When I play the Eminence, I miss the depth of the tone that my upright has because it is a small, plywood bass after all. Many people have complimented me on the tone of my Eminence when amplified in a jazz setting. I don't agree with them, but it suggests that most people have different standards than I do.

Both basses are made by reputable, reliable firms that service their instruments, so that shouldn't be part of your consideration.

Personally, I'm getting ready to turn my upright into a removable neck bass, but if I had to pick between the two your considering, those and the Messenger are probably the only EUBs I'd consider unless you're playing Latin jazz. I'd try both for a bit before I bought. Ah, one other possibility is the NS Designs EUBs. They don't really sound like an acoustic bass, but they have a pleasant sound to many players, their price is reasonable and they're very portable. The big downside I saw to the Yamaha is that it's priced too high retail and the Eminence is more reasonable. Whatever you buy, I'd buy it used. If I didn't buy it used, I'd buy the Eminence or NS from Gollihur.

Hope that helps.
 
#9
Don Kasper said:
Tom,

Are you having your bass converted to a removable neck by someone in Los Angeles/OC?
Just wondering, as I suspect you've done some research.
Thanks.
don kasper
Click to expand...
Hi Don,
I'm still researching, but based on the results from Chris' travel bass thread, I'm seriously considering having Lemur do the conversion. Aside from the cost and convenient, I'm not sure my hybrid is worth converting. I did like Lemur's video on their case, etc. I thought it was very well thought out, and they seem to have a good reputation, but I haven't dealt with them yet myself. I do REALLY miss my upright when I travel to Louisville for the Aebersold jazz camp. That's when I try to push myself and having a bass that sounds "thin" doesn't excite me in the same way.
Have any thoughts?
 
#10
Hi Tom,

I don't travel at all, but the idea of altering my carved Juzek, to add a removable neck, is terrifying. My bass has never had a serious (catastrophic) structural repair or alteration, only a new bassbar about 22 years ago, (along with the usual seams, fingerboard dressing, C-ext., etc.). I just wonder how the sound would be altered, even if done by the most qualified luthier.
I only have 1 bass. If I had a second, less valuable instrument, I MIGHT consider having it converted.
On the other hand, there seem to be a growing number of shops/makers that are offering this service to existing instruments, or as an option to a new instrument.
Have you spoken with Lisa Gass or Jon Peterson? I wonder if they have an opinion?
Thanks.
don kasper
 
#11
Don Kasper said:
Hi Tom,

I don't travel at all, but the idea of altering my carved Juzek, to add a removable neck, is terrifying. My bass has never had a serious (catastrophic) structural repair or alteration, only a new bassbar about 22 years ago, (along with the usual seams, fingerboard dressing, C-ext., etc.). I just wonder how the sound would be altered, even if done by the most qualified luthier.
I only have 1 bass. If I had a second, less valuable instrument, I MIGHT consider having it converted.
On the other hand, there seem to be a growing number of shops/makers that are offering this service to existing instruments, or as an option to a new instrument.
Have you spoken with Lisa Gass or Jon Peterson? I wonder if they have an opinion?
Thanks.
don kasper
Click to expand...
Asking Lisa or Jon is a good idea, I think, although, my understanding is that Jon is only occasionally working out of his house these days, is that not true? I did note that both Jon and Lisa have pretty concrete opinions on things, and while I like to hear what they have to say, recognizing that it's an educated opinion, I don't always agree with them. I suppose some of that might be that Jon was a folk player and Lisa is, I think, I classical player, while I only do jazz and the different styles of music want different things from their basses, no? Lisa, for instance, told me that she hates angled end-pins, but I didn't really get a meaningful reason why.

I thought a long while before I considered the idea of installing a removable neck on my upright, but actually, my removable neck Eminence and the feedback at large suggest that it won't have much of a negative impact on the tone of the bass. With a Juzek, I'd certainly think thrice. If I rarely travel, I'd just stick with the Eminence. For many gigs, the folks I play with are plenty happy with the Eminence, but when I go into the practice room arco, it's lack of depth and resonance, maybe like the difference between an 8 foot Steinway and an upright? Great for the hotel room and okay for the casual gig, but, when I really want to make art, it's not keeping up its end, IMO.
 
#12
Hi Tom,
I don't know how much Jon is working these days - I thought you might have spoken with him when he was still in LBeach.
I think having "concrete opinions" comes with the territory - they both have great reputations for quality work.
I guess I'd like to hear as many viewpoints as possible before making that decision. It seems like such a new concept, that there must be a wide variety of approaches and opinions as to how or if it should be done.
I guess like a heart transplant, you don't want to be the first (or second!). I suspect the learning curve is pretty steep, (for the luthier), in the first dozen or so conversions, until the bugs are worked out, and the system is then put to the test over time by the player.
Thanks.
don kasper
 
#13
Don Kasper said:
Hi Tom,
I don't know how much Jon is working these days - I thought you might have spoken with him when he was still in LBeach.
I think having "concrete opinions" comes with the territory - they both have great reputations for quality work.
I guess I'd like to hear as many viewpoints as possible before making that decision. It seems like such a new concept, that there must be a wide variety of approaches and opinions as to how or if it should be done.
I guess like a heart transplant, you don't want to be the first (or second!). I suspect the learning curve is pretty steep, (for the luthier), in the first dozen or so conversions, until the bugs are worked out, and the system is then put to the test over time by the player.
Thanks.
don kasper
Click to expand...
Excellent points, thanks Don. I haven't had contact with Jon since before World of Strings closed but I visited him every few years before that. I trusted Jon's advice and, actually, I think he did alright by me, but that's not the typical view of other bassists I've spoken with.

It seems as though Chadwick has been doing these for several years. How long has Lemur done them? Smart question I'd like to find the answer to. I'll let you know how it goes. I'm probably not that motivated until June of next year, so I have some time time to decide. I do know that my $3.5K Chinese hybrid was a good deal when I bought it a few years ago and sounds remarkably good for what it is, but that doesn't mean that they didn't cut some corners - thin fingerboard, etc - to realize that price point, so maybe I'd do better buying a new La Scala and having that converted. Don't know.
So, I just checked Lemur's website and their video was posted in 2010. 3+ years is encouraging. Has anyone heard any negative things about Lemur's converted basses?
 
#15
Don Kasper said:
Tom,
Keep us posted - I wonder if anyone out here has had the "procedure" done to their bass? Maybe we'll hear from some LA/OC bassists.
I see a Reality Show - "The Removable Necks of Orange County"?
don kasper
Click to expand...
Mos def! Coming to you soon on A&E along with whatever other mind-numbing video we can film but hype ad nuseum!
 
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#16
Les Fret said:
Anybody know the exact difference between the Yamaha SLB200 and the SLB-200 LTD? Does the LTD have active and passive preamp? and the 'normal' one only active? any other differences? Any help is appreciated since I have my eye on a used one.
Click to expand...

Check the link in my previous post, IIRC the differences are are mentioned. Again, IIRC, the LTD has a tone chamber ie it's hollowed out a bit, Ebony nut, board and saddle ... I'm just going from memory. Please confirm the differences at Yammy's website. Gotta run...
 

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