Double Bass Yamaha SLB300 New model

[bassically_eli]

Does nobody here use Spirocore mediums anymore? They used to be the standard for jazz players. I've never used anything else. They are expensive.

They're certainly not cheap up front, but they last for years, so I they're actually a great value over time. I use Spirocore E&A, and I spend way more on my G&D strings over time in spite of the fact that they cost less per string (because my G&D strings wear out so much faster). Used Spirocores shouldn't be too difficult to resale if you don't like them, although it does seem like the Weichs are more popular these days. In fact, I would consider it a bonus if someone else broke in some Spirocores for me!

 

[Fred Hammon]

They're certainly not cheap up front, but they last for years, so I they're actually a great value over time. I use Spirocore E&A, and I spend way more on my G&D strings over time in spite of the fact that they cost less per string (because my G&D strings wear out so much faster). Used Spirocores shouldn't be too difficult to resale if you don't like them, although it does seem like the Weichs are more popular these days. In fact, I would consider it a bonus if someone else broke in some Spirocores for me!

No. I crave the sound of new strings. Spirocore mediums in particular. After a year of playing they just sound too lifeless and inarticulate to my ears and I'm pretty much done with them. I'd change them sooner if I could justify the cost and I have. It never occurred to me that I could sell them. I should mention that I play pizz pretty much all of the time.

 

[bassically_eli]

No. I crave the sound of new strings. Spirocore mediums in particular. After a year of playing they just sound too lifeless and inarticulate to my ears and I'm pretty much done with them. I'd change them sooner if I could justify the cost and I have. It never occurred to me that I could sell them. I should mention that I play pizz pretty much all of the time.

Lots of used strings for sale here on TB; you should list them. If I ever decide to try the D&G Spirocores, I would totally go for your used ones.

 

[BobKay]

Me too. Ditto Sweetwater. They sent me an email saying it was finally in stock so I immediately pulled the trigger. It wasn't, as it turned out so I have to wait until sometime in May as well. I'm now resigned to the fact that I'll have to take it in for a bridge set-up.

Does nobody here use Spirocore mediums anymore? They used to be the standard for jazz players. I've never used anything else. They are expensive. How will they work on the SLB300? Can it handle the tension?

I use Spirocore lights on mine; previously Evah lights. Can't help on the mediums question. Although I bought mine used, neither the previous owner or I have had to have any bridge work done. I might like a little more adjustment room, but it is not too bad.

 

[Kentos]

Me too. Ditto Sweetwater. They sent me an email saying it was finally in stock so I immediately pulled the trigger. It wasn't, as it turned out so I have to wait until sometime in May as well. I'm now resigned to the fact that I'll have to take it in for a bridge set-up.

Does nobody here use Spirocore mediums anymore? They used to be the standard for jazz players. I've never used anything else. They are expensive. How will they work on the SLB300? Can it handle the tension?

I uses to use Spiro meds until I sold my SLB300. They sounded really nice and easy to play. If you love to play them on regular upright bass, you would love them on SLB300 too. The tension didn’t bother me at all. I found they are stretcher on SLB300.

 

[gtmalone]

Thanks for all the info, guys! I got away from upright for various reasons and sold it a few years ago. I played the SLB300 for a few mins at the Dallas JEN conference back in Jan. I liked the way the neck felt on the SLB compared to the upright I had (Calin-Wulter Carcassi). Couldn't make a whole lot out of the SLB sound since it was noisy in the area and they had it in a small PA speaker. I'm liking what I hear on videos that have been posted!

I placed an order with Sweetwater about a week ago. Supposed to be here mid-May. Excited to get it!

Bass arrived Thursday! Here are my first impressions.

I'm liking the sounds! I've played it through the B15 only so far. The Mic3 with the blend about 3 o'clock is what I like best at least with the B15. I'll try it with the Ampeg PF500/PF210 today. Build quality is good but I expected that from Yamaha. The action is too high for me even with the bridge adjusters all the way down. That was a common complaint about it. I'll need to take it to a luthier to fix that. The nut might need to have the slots a smidge deeper. Have to see where the action is after the bridge work.

Strings, eh, don't know yet. Have to wait on the bridge work but they feel pretty stiff. They are D'Addario Helicore Hybrid Light.

I may need to get the knee pad attachment or make one. It tends to rotate while playing depending on the playing position. I had the same deal with the upright and I usually had to put my left knee against the back. It fits against my body pretty much like an upright. The knee pad is about 100 bucks. At this price point I think it should be included with the bass.

Only takes a couple mins to get it out the case and ready to play. Nice case, well padded.

I'll need a stand. Yamaha wants about 200 for theirs and not sure it will work with this model so I'll have to check into that. At the JEN conference they had rigged up a cymbal stand and some other pieces to hold it. Electrical tape was involved. That seemed a little too rickety for a $4K bass.

It's going to take a while to get back in the groove with it although my intonation was better than I expected. Only one ear was bleeding and just minor eye twitching.

 

[vedi]

if I may be so bold: try the shoulder extension first. the knee pad comes into play for sitting position IME.

I bought non-Yamaha EUB stand for €80, works great.

Bass arrived Thursday! Here are my first impressions.

I'm liking the sounds! I've played it through the B15 only so far. The Mic3 with the blend about 3 o'clock is what I like best at least with the B15. I'll try it with the Ampeg PF500/PF210 today. Build quality is good but I expected that from Yamaha. The action is too high for me even with the bridge adjusters all the way down. That was a common complaint about it. I'll need to take it to a luthier to fix that. The nut might need to have the slots a smidge deeper. Have to see where the action is after the bridge work.

Strings, eh, don't know yet. Have to wait on the bridge work but they feel pretty stiff. They are D'Addario Helicore Hybrid Light.

I may need to get the knee pad attachment or make one. It tends to rotate while playing depending on the playing position. I had the same deal with the upright and I usually had to put my left knee against the back. It fits against my body pretty much like an upright. The knee pad is about 100 bucks. At this price point I think it should be included with the bass.

Only takes a couple mins to get it out the case and ready to play. Nice case, well padded.

I'll need a stand. Yamaha wants about 200 for theirs and not sure it will work with this model so I'll have to check into that. At the JEN conference they had rigged up a cymbal stand and some other pieces to hold it. Electrical tape was involved. That seemed a little too rickety for a $4K bass.

It's going to take a while to get back in the groove with it although my intonation was better than I expected. Only one ear was bleeding and just minor eye twitching.

 

[Hasty]

I'll need a stand. Yamaha wants about 200 for theirs and not sure it will work with this model so I'll have to check into that. At the JEN conference they had rigged up a cymbal stand and some other pieces to hold it. Electrical tape was involved. That seemed a little too rickety for a $4K bass.

I played that bass at the JEN conference too. That stand at the JEN conference is actually the "official" stand made for the bass. I had the rep look it up to be sure.

I have an SLB-200 and ordered the K&M upright bass stand. It's a great stand and works better than the Yamaha stand IMO. For me, the 300 felt exactly like my 200... the only difference was the sound.

 

[El Thumpo]

I have both the official Yamaha stand and the K&M Model 14160 EUB stand, which I was previously using with my Azola.

To my surprise, I find the K&M to be a far superior choice for the SLB 300. The “official” stand is bulky, awkwardly designed and reliant on threaded bolts that loosen and fall out. The K&M…well, it’s K&M quality (superb), folds up nicely, and just works. Also takes up less space on stage.

 

[gtmalone]

I played that bass at the JEN conference too. That stand at the JEN conference is actually the "official" stand made for the bass. I had the rep look it up to be sure.

I have an SLB-200 and ordered the K&M upright bass stand. It's a great stand and works better than the Yamaha stand IMO. For me, the 300 felt exactly like my 200... the only difference was the sound.

Interesting on the stand comments. The rep told me they made it out of a cymbal stand and some other pieces.

Took the bass to a luthier yesterday and had the bridge shaved down to lower the action. Much better. Probably going to change the strings to something lighter with less tension but will play it a few days before I do. I had a set of Corelli 370M on the upright I used to have and liked them pretty well. Primarily jazz and pizz playing.

 

[Dutch Williams]

Swear this is my last post but this bass suuuuuuuuuuucks lol

 

[Hasty]

Interesting on the stand comments. The rep told me they made it out of a cymbal stand and some other pieces.

Took the bass to a luthier yesterday and had the bridge shaved down to lower the action. Much better. Probably going to change the strings to something lighter with less tension but will play it a few days before I do. I had a set of Corelli 370M on the upright I used to have and liked them pretty well. Primarily jazz and pizz playing.

That's so odd. It was the younger rep I talked to because I asked if that was the actual stand that was recommended for the SLB. Like you I thought it looked odd. When he pulled it up on the computer it was the BST-1... I agree it was a beast of a stand and I didn't care for the contact points on the upper bouts. It does look very much like a cymbal stand and weighs about the same. The only ones available at that time were in the UK... so I happily ordered the K&M 14160 stand. It's so much lighter than the Yamaha stand and folds up to a size very similar to a K&M mic stand.

 

[Luigir]

Swear this is my last post but this bass suuuuuuuuuuucks lol

What are your concerns about this bass?

 

[gtmalone]

That's so odd. It was the younger rep I talked to because I asked if that was the actual stand that was recommended for the SLB. Like you I thought it looked odd. When he pulled it up on the computer it was the BST-1... I agree it was a beast of a stand and I didn't care for the contact points on the upper bouts. It does look very much like a cymbal stand and weighs about the same. The only ones available at that time were in the UK... so I happily ordered the K&M 14160 stand. It's so much lighter than the Yamaha stand and folds up to a size very similar to a K&M mic stand.

The guy I talked to was older. They should coordinate their information.

 

[El Thumpo]

Swear this is my last post but this bass suuuuuuuuuuucks lol

I’m sorry you had a bad experience, Dutch. I couldn’t be happier with mine.

 

[gtmalone]

Installed the Corelli 370M set on the SLB300 today. So much easier to play. Bought them from Gollihur. Their comments said they would have a little edge on the sound and they do. It's not bad. I think only another bass player would even notice it. Pretty sure that will go away with playing time. Otherwise the strings sound good. I'm still surprised at how good this bass sounds!

There is some hiss in the preamp but it's only noticeable with the bass volume cranked up and the amp volume cranked up. Normal playing is not a problem. I don't know about recording since I haven't done that yet.

 

[El Thumpo]

I still haven't reviewed my SLB300 yet, because I'm too busy playing it! But here's a post on the tweaks I've made, which as far as I'm concerned tipped it from being an intriguing novelty into a genuine workhorse instrument.

First of all, I purchased the extension frame, which fits the 200 models as well. Keeps it from twisting away and deepens the pivot point against your body, getting it closer to double bass ergonomics. I bought mine on Ebay for about a hundred bucks.

Getting there! But I was still frustrated with what I've found to be a common problem with electric uprights: the tuners. They're almost always glorified electric bass tuners, and the ones on the SLBs are no exception. You're never getting the fine control over the string length and tension that upright tuners are designed for. So I bought a set of Roth & Junius Deluxe Machines from Thomann, hoping I could just swap out the old tuners and drop them in.

Well no, I couldn't. It was going to take some reaming and shimming, as I discovered when I put it in the extremely capable hands of Matt Bohn, The Bass Doctor, who has his workshop in the hills above Santa Cruz, California. If you live within a 200-mile radius of the guy, I'd consider it worth the trip.

Matt carefully considered their placement and position, because the SLB peghead is small and crowded. But he figured it out, and I couldn't be happier with the result.

Not only do they tune beautifully (and look beautiful), their extra mass makes the SLB feel more like an acoustic upright under your fingers. There's a presence, a heft, that was otherwise missing. Still fits in the carrying case just fine.

Seriously, one of my least-regretted purchases in a long while. Combined with the extension frame, it's a significant upgrade in look, feel, and playability. 10/10 would recommend.

 

[gtmalone]

I still haven't reviewed my SLB300 yet, because I'm too busy playing it! But here's a post on the tweaks I've made, which as far as I'm concerned tipped it from being an intriguing novelty into a genuine workhorse instrument.

First of all, I purchased the extension frame, which fits the 200 models as well. Keeps it from twisting away and deepens the pivot point against your body, getting it closer to double bass ergonomics. I bought mine on Ebay for about a hundred bucks.
View attachment 4701018

Getting there! But I was still frustrated with what I've found to be a common problem with electric uprights: the tuners. They're almost always glorified electric bass tuners, and the ones on the SLBs are no exception. You're never getting the fine control over the string length and tension that upright tuners are designed for. So I bought a set of Roth & Junius Deluxe Machines from Thomann, hoping I could just swap out the old tuners and drop them in.
View attachment 4701021

Well no, I couldn't. It was going to take some reaming and shimming, as I discovered when I put it in the extremely capable hands of Matt Bohn, The Bass Doctor, who has his workshop in the hills above Santa Cruz, California. If you live within a 200-mile radius of the guy, I'd consider it worth the trip.

Matt carefully considered their placement and position, because the SLB peghead is small and crowded. But he figured it out, and I couldn't be happier with the result.

View attachment 4701030 View attachment 4701031

Not only do they tune beautifully (and look beautiful), their extra mass makes the SLB feel more like an acoustic upright under your fingers. There's a presence, a heft, that was otherwise missing. Still fits in the carrying case just fine.

Seriously, one of my least-regretted purchases in a long while. Combined with the extension frame, it's a significant upgrade in look, feel, and playability. 10/10 would recommend.

Thanks for the info! I was thinking about that extension as well.

 

[BobKay]

I really want the frame extension, but I haven't been able to find one. I'll check E-Bay.

 

[Hasty]

Well crud.

I looked at the shoulder extension a while back (and the knee extension) but wasn't sure if they were worth the effort. And here you are spending my money before I even realize it.

Also, those tuning machines look so very very nice.

sigh... off to the inter webs search engine I go.