Question:
> Funny thing with most primo carved tops is, they sound absolutely gorgeous > in the practice room, and they sound amazing when bowed – but take ‘em out > on a jazz gig and you’re in for a shock. The sound just doesn’t cut
through. I have had exactly the opposite experience. I had a plywood bass for a long time, then last year I bought a carved bass (though not a "primo" one) and the improvement in tone was tremendous. Yes, I’m playing jazz with it, even blues in band with harp, guitar and drummer. Just another data point. – Gary Rosen
Response:
A good 41" scale bass and one that won’t get to high in price is the eminence bass. It does not have a wide body but it sounds like a good upright when amp’d. Also the John Gage bass I heard sounds nice.
Response:
Yea Jeff, I know they CAN be bowed, but I’ll never have 2 hrs of arco time per day to get there. I will be leaving the Spriocores on because yes, they are great for jazz. The sound I get with them, and the KTK pickups works for me. I was only kidding about the jazz bowing, it’s kind of a joke here in my little town of Grand Rapids, MI amongst us bass players. Dave Holland is one of my favorite jazz URB players, and he can play all the bowing stuff…. I’m just a hack. I’ve noticed that the Spirocores have gotten easier to bow as they have aged a bit – they’re not quite as squeaky. — David DeVos – JUST the bass player http://www.amyyoung.org http://www.tallmadgemill.com/rcmusic.html http://kf8ql.homestead.com
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->John – Good to know that. They DO sound nice bowed, which is a weakness >with my bass. Aside from being plywood, I’ve got Spirocores on it, and >they >suck for bowing – too squeaky and scratchy. I’ve been thinking about >trying >some other strings. I’ve read about some of the hybrid pizz/bowing >strings >that look interesting but having taken the plunge yet. Kind of $. >My bowing is also my weak area because all I ever do is jazz gigs. Jazz >bowing is pulling it out for the last note, right? > I’d leave the Spirocores on if you’re mostly playing jazz or other > pizz stuff. They’re not impossible to bow and you develop a real > sensitive touch trying not to squawk ‘em too much. Practicing arco a > couple of hours a day every day goes a real long way. > Oh yeah, if you think jazz bowing is only for the end check out > Michael Moore’s duo recordings with Gene Bertoncini. Serious stuff. > jeffb > "By the time Mozart was my age he had been dead for six years." > -Tom Lehrer
Response:
>John – Good to know that. They DO sound nice bowed, which is a weakness >with my bass. Aside from being plywood, I’ve got Spirocores on it, and they >suck for bowing – too squeaky and scratchy. I’ve been thinking about trying >some other strings. I’ve read about some of the hybrid pizz/bowing strings >that look interesting but having taken the plunge yet. Kind of $. >My bowing is also my weak area because all I ever do is jazz gigs. Jazz >bowing is pulling it out for the last note, right?
I’d leave the Spirocores on if you’re mostly playing jazz or other pizz stuff. They’re not impossible to bow and you develop a real sensitive touch trying not to squawk ‘em too much. Practicing arco a couple of hours a day every day goes a real long way. Oh yeah, if you think jazz bowing is only for the end check out Michael Moore’s duo recordings with Gene Bertoncini. Serious stuff. jeffb "By the time Mozart was my age he had been dead for six years." -Tom Lehrer
Response:
>Yea Jeff, I know they CAN be bowed, but I’ll never have 2 hrs of arco time >per day to get there. I will be leaving the Spriocores on because yes, they >are great for jazz. The sound I get with them, and the KTK pickups works >for me.
I’ll be blunt: if you don’t have a couple of hours a day it probably doesn’t matter what strings you use. >I was only kidding about the jazz bowing, it’s kind of a joke here in my >little town of Grand Rapids, MI amongst us bass players. Dave Holland is >one of my favorite jazz URB players, and he can play all the bowing >stuff…. I’m just a hack.
I figgered you were kidding… …and Dave Holland makes most of us look like hacks. You listen to his second solo disc One’s All? >I’ve noticed that the Spirocores have gotten easier to bow as they have aged >a bit – they’re not quite as squeaky.
They’re impossible when they’re new. Even after breaking them in it always seemed like I had the most problems with the A string on every bass I had ‘em on. jeffb "By the time Mozart was my age he had been dead for six years." -Tom Lehrer
Response:
John – Good to know that. They DO sound nice bowed, which is a weakness with my bass. Aside from being plywood, I’ve got Spirocores on it, and they suck for bowing – too squeaky and scratchy. I’ve been thinking about trying some other strings. I’ve read about some of the hybrid pizz/bowing strings that look interesting but having taken the plunge yet. Kind of $. My bowing is also my weak area because all I ever do is jazz gigs. Jazz bowing is pulling it out for the last note, right? — David DeVos – JUST the bass player http://www.amyyoung.org http://www.tallmadgemill.com/rcmusic.html http://kf8ql.homestead.com
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Funny thing with most primo carved tops is, they sound absolutely gorgeous > in the practice room, and they sound amazing when bowed – but take ‘em out > on a jazz gig and you’re in for a shock. The sound just doesn’t cut > through. > — > Learning funk bass? visit www.js3jazz.com/store.htm > "I am quite sure now that often, very often, in matters concerning > religion > and politics a man’s reasoning powers are not above the monkey’s." > – Mark Twain > I play a Christopher (Beijing) and it’s been a great instrument. I’d buy > it > from a violin shop though. I saw them as they came in, and they all > needed > new strings, the neck planed, an adjustable bridge to replace the fixed > bridge, and the finish taken off the back of the neck. > The local shop here did all those things for me, and had several in stock > that I could play to pick the best one. My bass teacher came with me to > help me with picking one out. > I also got to play some $20,000, and up basses. I was drooling over the > sound. But for knocking around doing gigs, you can’t beat plywood. > There’s > a picture of it on this page: > http://kf8ql.homestead.com/bass.html > — > David DeVos – JUST the bass player > http://www.amyyoung.org > http://www.tallmadgemill.com/rcmusic.html > http://kf8ql.homestead.com > >> I built a doodle bass and after dinking around with it, I think I can > >> handle the upright scale etc. Is there an inexpensive 3/4 or 1/2 scale > >> upright? I would probably amp it so the volumn of sound isn’t that > >> important. Playability and tone. They start at around 500 on ebay, but > >> what do you get? Also 1/2 vs 3/4?? > >> thanks > >> Steve > > I was shopping for an inexpensive upright a few months back and came > > across > > Palantino basses. The VB-009 sounds like it has a lot of decent > features > > for an URB under a grand, including a real ebony fingerboard, not > > "ebonized". I also heard a lot of good things about Christopher > uprights, > > but their cheapest model goes for about $1600. > > Bud
Response:
Funny thing with most primo carved tops is, they sound absolutely gorgeous in the practice room, and they sound amazing when bowed – but take ‘em out on a jazz gig and you’re in for a shock. The sound just doesn’t cut through. — Learning funk bass? visit www.js3jazz.com/store.htm "I am quite sure now that often, very often, in matters concerning religion and politics a man’s reasoning powers are not above the monkey’s." – Mark Twain
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I play a Christopher (Beijing) and it’s been a great instrument. I’d buy it > from a violin shop though. I saw them as they came in, and they all needed > new strings, the neck planed, an adjustable bridge to replace the fixed > bridge, and the finish taken off the back of the neck. > The local shop here did all those things for me, and had several in stock > that I could play to pick the best one. My bass teacher came with me to > help me with picking one out. > I also got to play some $20,000, and up basses. I was drooling over the > sound. But for knocking around doing gigs, you can’t beat plywood. There’s > a picture of it on this page: > http://kf8ql.homestead.com/bass.html > — > David DeVos – JUST the bass player > http://www.amyyoung.org > http://www.tallmadgemill.com/rcmusic.html > http://kf8ql.homestead.com >> I built a doodle bass and after dinking around with it, I think I can >> handle the upright scale etc. Is there an inexpensive 3/4 or 1/2 scale >> upright? I would probably amp it so the volumn of sound isn’t that >> important. Playability and tone. They start at around 500 on ebay, but >> what do you get? Also 1/2 vs 3/4?? >> thanks >> Steve > I was shopping for an inexpensive upright a few months back and came > across > Palantino basses. The VB-009 sounds like it has a lot of decent features > for an URB under a grand, including a real ebony fingerboard, not > "ebonized". I also heard a lot of good things about Christopher uprights, > but their cheapest model goes for about $1600. > Bud
Response:
I play a Christopher (Beijing) and it’s been a great instrument. I’d buy it from a violin shop though. I saw them as they came in, and they all needed new strings, the neck planed, an adjustable bridge to replace the fixed bridge, and the finish taken off the back of the neck. The local shop here did all those things for me, and had several in stock that I could play to pick the best one. My bass teacher came with me to help me with picking one out. I also got to play some $20,000, and up basses. I was drooling over the sound. But for knocking around doing gigs, you can’t beat plywood. There’s a picture of it on this page: http://kf8ql.homestead.com/bass.html — David DeVos – JUST the bass player http://www.amyyoung.org http://www.tallmadgemill.com/rcmusic.html http://kf8ql.homestead.com
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I built a doodle bass and after dinking around with it, I think I can > handle the upright scale etc. Is there an inexpensive 3/4 or 1/2 scale > upright? I would probably amp it so the volumn of sound isn’t that > important. Playability and tone. They start at around 500 on ebay, but > what do you get? Also 1/2 vs 3/4?? > thanks > Steve > I was shopping for an inexpensive upright a few months back and came > across > Palantino basses. The VB-009 sounds like it has a lot of decent features > for an URB under a grand, including a real ebony fingerboard, not > "ebonized". I also heard a lot of good things about Christopher uprights, > but their cheapest model goes for about $1600. > Bud
Response:
> I misread what you wrote, as I parsed that your choice was the cheapest > decent sounding bass regardless of origin. > Well, as I said, my opinion might not be worth a damn, anyway, because I’m > really not knowledgeable about uprights — I just know what I hear, is all.
And what basis is that to buy a musical instrument 
Glenn D.
Response:
> I built a doodle bass and after dinking around with it, I think I can > handle the upright scale etc. Is there an inexpensive 3/4 or 1/2 scale > upright? I would probably amp it so the volumn of sound isn’t that > important. Playability and tone. They start at around 500 on ebay, but > what do you get? Also 1/2 vs 3/4?? > thanks > Steve
I was shopping for an inexpensive upright a few months back and came across Palantino basses. The VB-009 sounds like it has a lot of decent features for an URB under a grand, including a real ebony fingerboard, not "ebonized". I also heard a lot of good things about Christopher uprights, but their cheapest model goes for about $1600. Bud
Response:
> I misread what you wrote, as I parsed that your choice was the cheapest > decent sounding bass regardless of origin.
Well, as I said, my opinion might not be worth a damn, anyway, because I’m really not knowledgeable about uprights — I just know what I hear, is all.
Response:
Poke around your local violin shops; You can usually find a nicely refurbished Kay, Englehart, or American Standard for around the same cheddar. — Learning funk bass? visit www.js3jazz.com/store.htm "I am quite sure now that often, very often, in matters concerning religion and politics a man’s reasoning powers are not above the monkey’s." – Mark Twain
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Bob Gollihur sells US made Engleharts for less than that. > Sure, but the point is, at that price point, to my ears, this Chinese-made > model is the best-sounding.
Response:
I am a big laminate fan myself. Lots of punch. BTW: When I played that symphony gig over the summer, one of the section bassists showed up with a 1920’s Am. Standard laminate. It fit right in with the $20,000 jobbers. — Learning funk bass? visit www.js3jazz.com/store.htm "I am quite sure now that often, very often, in matters concerning religion and politics a man’s reasoning powers are not above the monkey’s." – Mark Twain
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->I built a doodle bass and after dinking around with it, I think I can >handle the upright scale etc. Is there an inexpensive 3/4 or 1/2 scale >upright? I would probably amp it so the volumn of sound isn’t that >important. Playability and tone. They start at around 500 on ebay, but >what do you get? Also 1/2 vs 3/4?? >thanks >Steve > You get crap. > Unless you find a phenomenal 1/2 size stick with a 3/4. > If I were shopping for an inexpensive bass I’d be looking for another > ’30’s Czech plywood in the $1500 to $2500 range. You don’t get a whole > lot for less. > If I were serious about another upright I’d be looking at one of these > http://www.newstandardbass.com/index.htm > jeffb > "What other people think of me is none of my business" > -Dorthy Parker
Response:
> Bob Gollihur sells US made Engleharts for less than that.
Sure, but the point is, at that price point, to my ears, this Chinese-made model is the best-sounding.
Response:
> Bob Gollihur sells US made Engleharts for less than that. > Sure, but the point is, at that price point, to my ears, this Chinese-made > model is the best-sounding.
I misread what you wrote, as I parsed that your choice was the cheapest decent sounding bass regardless of origin. To the OP, check here for a wealth of knowledge: http://www.talkbass.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=44 Glenn D.
Response:
> I built a doodle bass and after dinking around with it, I think I can > handle the upright scale etc. Is there an inexpensive 3/4 or 1/2 scale > upright? I would probably amp it so the volumn of sound isn’t that > important. Playability and tone. They start at around 500 on ebay, but > what do you get? Also 1/2 vs 3/4?? > thanks > I don’t know a heck of a lot about uprights, but I’ve been toying with the > idea myself, and shopping around a little. The best cheap upright I’ve seen > is made in China and sold by a company called Eastman, and they sell for > around $1400. I’m sure you get much better quality as you go towards $2k in > price, but at the lowest end of the scale, this one had the best sound.
Bob Gollihur sells US made Engleharts for less than that. Glenn D.
Response:
> I built a doodle bass and after dinking around with it, I think I can > handle the upright scale etc. Is there an inexpensive 3/4 or 1/2 scale > upright? I would probably amp it so the volumn of sound isn’t that > important. Playability and tone. They start at around 500 on ebay, but > what do you get? Also 1/2 vs 3/4?? > thanks
I don’t know a heck of a lot about uprights, but I’ve been toying with the idea myself, and shopping around a little. The best cheap upright I’ve seen is made in China and sold by a company called Eastman, and they sell for around $1400. I’m sure you get much better quality as you go towards $2k in price, but at the lowest end of the scale, this one had the best sound.
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->I built a doodle bass and after dinking around with it, I think I can >handle the upright scale etc. Is there an inexpensive 3/4 or 1/2 scale >upright? I would probably amp it so the volumn of sound isn’t that >important. Playability and tone. They start at around 500 on ebay, but >what do you get? Also 1/2 vs 3/4?? >thanks >Steve > You get crap. > Unless you find a phenomenal 1/2 size stick with a 3/4. > If I were shopping for an inexpensive bass I’d be looking for another > ’30’s Czech plywood in the $1500 to $2500 range. You don’t get a whole > lot for less.
I’d check here, also: http://www.gollihur.com/ All Hail Bob! Glenn D.
Response:
>I built a doodle bass and after dinking around with it, I think I can >handle the upright scale etc. Is there an inexpensive 3/4 or 1/2 scale >upright? I would probably amp it so the volumn of sound isn’t that >important. Playability and tone. They start at around 500 on ebay, but >what do you get? Also 1/2 vs 3/4?? >thanks >Steve
You get crap. Unless you find a phenomenal 1/2 size stick with a 3/4. If I were shopping for an inexpensive bass I’d be looking for another ’30’s Czech plywood in the $1500 to $2500 range. You don’t get a whole lot for less. If I were serious about another upright I’d be looking at one of these http://www.newstandardbass.com/index.htm jeffb "What other people think of me is none of my business" -Dorthy Parker
Response:
I built a doodle bass and after dinking around with it, I think I can handle the upright scale etc. Is there an inexpensive 3/4 or 1/2 scale upright? I would probably amp it so the volumn of sound isn’t that important. Playability and tone. They start at around 500 on ebay, but what do you get? Also 1/2 vs 3/4?? thanks Steve
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