upright bass

[foggyvalley]

I realize this may seem like an odd request, but my gospel bluegrass band is looking to convert our electric bass into an upright bass. Can anyone recommend a reputable dealer or private owner? We're looking for a entry level instrument that we won't be afraid to take outdoors. Thanks

[mandroid]

You mean converting the player to another instrument, right?
interstate music is one online catalog.
Good idea, 3/4 (of'fullsize')Doublebass viols, student models of laminated wood do the job , low bass tones move sturdy materials well.
and you could never bow a fender bass anyhow. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif
http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

[mandofiddle]

From what I've seen and been told, bluegrass players play a 3/4 size upright bass, not a full size. Look for a Kay branded bass, as that's the norm around here for what all my bass player friends look for.

[Willie]

Foggyvalley...where are you located....I have an old Kay I`ll let go...I live in central Maryland....If you are close by lets talk....Willie

[Merc]

3/4 is the way to go for size and is pretty much standard. #I used to play Upright for about 2 years. #You should be able to find all the info you need at www.gollihur.com, it's got links, a classified section and more for anything that's URB. #Another site to check out for basses and strings is Lemur (try a search but I think it's www.lemur-music.com). #That should get you to where you need to go. #Best of luck.

[Rroyd]

4/4 basses are relatively rare, with 3/4 basses being the most commonly used, not only for traditional music, but classical as well. If your bass player also plays center for a pro basketball team, he might find a 4/4 to his liking, but most of us would find one a bit uncomfortable to play. I've seen a couple of 7/8 basses in use, but never a 4/4.
Some of the new Chinese-made basses are an excellent value if you can't find a used European or domestic one, starting at about $700, and many that I've heard sound very good.

[mandroid]

I went to the interstate site and 3/4 is what is in your student range, 3/4 in the artist range :solid carved spruce,on those
new student ones around a grand, artist 5Gs.
Got a Bus?, I thought VW transporters were made for Bassists. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif

Hey, Thats an idea!, Manute Bol needs a post basketball gig.

[Samando]

My band recently bought a Shen bass, (3/4) and so far are loving it! They sound pretty darn good.. and aren't all that pricey.
(We got ours through a middle-man for around 1 grand.. which put us in the hole a tad.. but hey, we love our bass!!) #

Check em' out!
Samual Shen Basses (http://cscproducts.com)

[Dennis Schubert]

Yes, 3/4 size is the way to go, and laminated basses have a "survival" advantage when traveling, compared with a solid wood instrument. Even in a padded gig bag, a bass fiddle has to tolerate rough handling when stowed and unpacked from the car, etc. Like Rodney D., they get no respect...

My bass player (and wife) plays a 3/4 size Englehardt C-1 that she found by advertising in the newspapaper, "bass fiddle wanted". We put on new strings, lowered the action just a bit, and it was ready to go.

Additional comments: If you play on stage, you may find that hearing the bass through the monitors (in front) may cause the band slight timing problems. I can't explain why -- maybe it's a time lag thing -- but it's better to hear the bass from behind, IMHO. So, a small bass amp on stage is a valuable accessory.

Our bass is set up with a BassMax pickup, runs straight to an AcousticImage amp. The amp has a D.I. output built right in, so for many gigs we can just plug-and-play without a bass mic. Adjust amp for stage volume, take bass out of monitors (cleans 'em up for vocals), and send the D.I. output to the main mix.

Previously, we used a Fishman pickup but the BassMax has about 2x the output and a better sound, at least to my old ears. And, we'd used a variety of bass amps, but the AI is a "Cadillac" among a bunch of also-rans.

BTW, a friend of ours bought a new 3/4 size Palatino bass --it was a bargain, and sounded like one too. Not recommended.

[Dennis Schubert]

Another thought on basses: When the Dillards were traveling extensively years ago, Mitch Jayne used a 1/2 size bass, which he called a "high-C" bass. It was tuned A-D-G-C, and he told me that it would fit in many of the overhead bins in airplanes! Hmmm....

[mingusb1]

Hey, already a lot of good info here. #I am a BG and OT bass player and have been doing it for about 8 years on a mid-90's engelhardt. #I'll summarize a few points I think are important:

-3/4 is the standard.
-start with plywood if you travel, have changing temp/humidity, etc.
-kay is great, but almost trendy now, don't get hung up on the brand. #We could argue if plywood "opens up", but I think it might.
-spending a couple hundred bucks on set-up is worth it.
-check the www.talkbass.com classifieds. #lots of good basses there, and tons of info.

-regarding a monitor or amp, if you are playing relatively quiet venues, you can use your bandmates as monitors. #That is, you can stand close behind them and bounce the signal off of their backsides. #They will hear (feel) it, and you can hear it. #Another advantage of this is that you can prevent too much of the bass getting into the mic (like a single condensor set-up) if the guitar player (for example) is directly between the bass and the mic.

Finally, in my experience bass pick-ups are pretty lousy. #If you use a pick-up it will sound a lot like an electric bass (but with more string noise), and then what have you gained? #The pick-ups are hot and can NOT send the warm low-end of an upright. #A simple approach is to set a mic in the saddle with a piece of foam. #Even a basic mic like a 57 will sound far better than a pick-up (in my opinion). #Beyond that, mics built for bass drums work very well for upright bassess.

Good luck!
Z

[mandofiddle]

Got a Bus?, I thought VW transporters were made for Bassists. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif
LOL. Our bass player has one of those Honda Insights. You know, the small hybrid car? He manages to fit his upright bass, his bass amp, bass preamp, music stand and his dog all in the car.

It's quite a sight.

[Scotti Adams]

..I always thought a PT Cruiser would be great to haul a bass around in....plus you would look cool too... http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/cool.gif

[foggyvalley]

Man are you guys awesome, what great info! I'll get to work on the sites right away. I'm in central CA so if any of you hear of something in my next of the woods drop me a line. goutesrm@hotmail.com
thanks again

[blammo]

Here's a topic I started on www.rockabillybass.com concerning upright bass miking. Obviously I'm still trying to figure it all out…but some respondents posted some very helpful information.

http://www.rockabillybass.com/discus/messages/6/4168.html?1089214065

(Keep in mind these rockabilly guys are a different breed… http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif )

Also, I play a very old solid wood upright of undetermined origin. It sounds great, and while it's probably more subsceptible to cracking than a plywood bass, it can almost always be repaired. Plus, because it's kinda valuable, it'll always be worth repairing. I've heard some of the new "bargain" uprights can cost their purchase price once over in repairs & set-up just to get them playable!

Just don't buy a new one on ebay, unless it's local & you can check it out in person (it might seem cheap, but shipping is expensive enough one way…if something is damaged, then the $$$ adds up pretty quickly)

Good luck though, & congratulations! I started out playing bluegrass on an electric upright bass & man, I got some dirty looks until I started bringing the acoustic upright. The bluegrass police never sleep. LOL

[mingusb1]

Yeah, I've hauled my bass around in a Datsun 510 hatch, an old honda civic, and a mazda hatch. #One bonus is the neck sticks between the seats so the driver gets an armrest out of the deal!

Foggy, if you're in central CA you ought to contact Lemur Music in southern CA. #See www.lemurmusic.com. #The shop is devoted totally to the string bass (now how cool is that!?). #I have been really happy doing business with them (no financial interest here).

Scotti, have you driven the PT cruiser? #I'm sort of looking around for a new set of wheels and thought that would be a great bass-car!

Z

[Scotti Adams]

...no never have driven one but Ive got a couple of friends who have them....it would be cool if they would put suicide doors on them and a big ol V8...

[Doug Edwards]

Our group has seen several sound comapny mic a Bass using a heavy wire holder for a dynamic mic, such as an SM57 or SM58. We found out a local guy, Neal Baccus of Glen Rose Music, used to make them.

[softshell]

Look at Englehardt, King Double Bass, or Kay if if you can find one.
http://www.kingdoublebass.com/mainmenu.html

http://www.gollihur.com/kkbass/basslink.html

http://www.engelhardtlink.com/

and talk to these people, they probably could help with your search
http://www.shankstrings.com/home.html

[mandroid]

I see orchestra classical double Bass' with extended fretboard, above the nut, to the top of the scroll. get a low C that way.
attached capo at the nut when open E is used.
not a BG thing , definitely a 4/4 body,