Bass recomendations.
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Posted on Nov 24, 2002 12:39 am
Walt
Chief Cook and Bottle Washer
Member Since: May 10, 2002
Fellow bassists!
Have any of you played a stick yet? I am looking to pick one up first of the year and do appreciate recomendations. Looking for the upright sound without having to buy a semi-truck to lug my gear.
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Nov 24, 2002 08:30 am I haven't toyed with one, so I can't help you there, but let me ask you this, what else have you tried to get the stand up sound? I know some folks use electric bass with dead strings, or flat-wound strings, EQ tricks to boost the mid or mid-lows and stuff like that...
Just a thought, this could turn in to an interesting thread...
Nov 24, 2002 12:35 pm i bet a noise gate with a slow envelope release could give you that quick in-out feel. it would kill the sustain of an electric bass but maintain that punchy attack. not sure if such a thing exists...
Nov 24, 2002 03:39 pm Killing the sustain on an electric bass can come fairly close -- I wove a strip of felt around and through the strings on my bass next to the bridge and, with flat wound strings, it came rather close to producing a good gut-bucket thump. Another player cut a block of wood that fit close under the strings, glued some thick felt to it and wedged it under the strings. That worked pretty well too.
Nov 24, 2002 07:23 pm whoa, great idea Robert. I think i'll try that at band practice on Saturday. I'm thinking maybe a giant rubberband around he entire body and touching the strings near the bridge... I'll have to mess around and see what works best. -j
WaltChief Cook and Bottle WasherMember
Since: May 10, 2002
Nov 25, 2002 10:25 am Thanks folks.
I do have the stingray fitted with flats and with a little finger work get pretty close to double bass sound. Havn't tried dampening the strings. Will try that next!
Dec 04, 2002 11:36 pm hey Walt, what do you mean "flats"? do you mean the shape of the top of the frets? -j
DanMember
Since: Nov 21, 2002
Dec 05, 2002 08:38 am Jamie, By flats he means flat-wound strings, very dead and thumpy sounding.
If you dont want to dish out the cash for flats, you could always use really old, dead string, and as I always say, the thicker the gauge the better.
WaltChief Cook and Bottle WasherMember
Since: May 10, 2002
Dec 05, 2002 01:32 pm Oops! Sorry, wasn't paying attention.
Yup Yup... Flat wound strings go through an additional process. They grind off the humps and it makes the string resonate a little less. Quick attack and decay.
Dec 08, 2002 05:22 pm oh, kinda like cello strings? i get it :O)
WaltChief Cook and Bottle WasherMember
Since: May 10, 2002
Dec 09, 2002 07:43 pm That's the ticket!
And if you roll the strings on an electric bass insead of pluck or snap them along with using the tips of your fingers arched on the finger board you can get an upright-esk sound. Still nothing like the sound of the real thing unfortunately. If you ever get a chance listen to Charley or Marilyn Haden or possibly Christian McBride. The can make a double bass sing, cry, laugh, or just plain sigh! I truely love the sound of the upright but can not haul it around. That is why I am looking into a stick. Kind of an upright bass without the body. Heard one a couple of times at blues concerts. Wow! Pick ups with controls like a bass guitar. Full string length and fingerboard of an upright. Without the huge body that goes with an upright! I fell in love right there. Long slender and breathy!
Dec 10, 2002 12:02 am what an amazing thing is it. i'd love to try one sometime. if i had a few grand to plop down on new intrument the stick could be the one. i'm still a bit new to strings, and well, playing music for that matter. i think the stick would be a much more advanced instruemnt for someone with many years under their belt. ;O) -j
WaltChief Cook and Bottle WasherMember
Since: May 10, 2002
Dec 10, 2002 08:26 pm Oh my friend,
The many years will come if you love your instrument. I am very fortunate in that I have always loved the sound of the string bass. At 9 I was too small physicaly to play an upright so I was started on chello. The fingering is much like electric bass, one finger per half step. If it is the sound of the string bass you love, I would recomend starting with a fretless bass guitar. This will give you ear training and target practice (moving to the right spot without the help of frets). From there it is a relitively minor transition of finger placement to move to the upright. But most important, pick the sound you love. That is the instrument that will captivate your imagination over the long haul. And soon, yes, you will be playing with the masters for you will be a master!
