Marc S

When I'm playing acoustic pub jams, I often take my tiny Tanglewood Elfin bass. It's about 25" scale.... I'm 6' and yes, it does look a bit "toy-like" - but do I care? Nah! Actually, it's often my backup bass too - surprisingly, it sounds like a full size Precision (don't know what pickups they are, but they sound great) and it probably only weighs around a kilo..... maybe even less

Hi Al Krow, I know what you mean. It might just be that when a DB / EUB is on a stand, you just end up playing it as though it's more of a "static" instrument In fact, having done both, I'd say this is what I do myself - almost even without realising it.... I often play with the bass on a stand, for reasons of logistics in rehearsal, and to make doubling up a bit easier when playing live. It's surprising how much simpler it is when you're onstage actually, and how much time & faffing it saves When I first started playing, other DB players told me you need to "dance" with the instrument. It does somehow feel a bit more natural when playing a bass off the stand. Though I must admit, I find it easier to play on the stand... The DB in the 2 video clips, and of course the nature of the songs themselves also will dictate how much movement / dancing with the bass there is. Thinking about Matt the bass player in the JSM video, he defnitely moves about more when he's playing his 5 string bass guitar..... I saw Imelda May at Cambridge Folk Fest a couple of years back. She was great, as was her DB player. Love that song too

The trouble with a lot of YouTube clips, is that they're normally so compressed and the sound tweaked to the extent that you can't really hear the bass that well.... Anyhow, here's Matt aka "Matt the Hat" as he's known locally with Jamie Smith's Mabon

I've also seen one in action ( a few times in this particular case) bass player (nice bloke and talented guy) Matt Downer, playing live with Jamie Smith's Mabon Certainly sounded good live - though I didn't think it sounded just like an acoustic DB..... Actually, in Mabon, the other instruments are quite different to the usual (whatever that is! lol) being acoustic guitars, violins and piano accordion (Jamie is something of a wizard accordion player). I'm not sure whether they don't want a typical DB sound here, so it's being EQ'ed to sound like it does, or whether it doesn't sound particularly like an acoustic DB, and they aren't trying to achieve that sound..... I should ask Matt really..... next time I see him Or will he think I'm being offensive about his sound? lol EDIT: Matt also plays bass guitar with Mabon live - he usually doubles up

Hi again XoSo, Glad to hear the neck may be OK. Yes, slackening off strings then shipping the bass could have caused temporary problems But once the bass is set up, make sure the luthier has it for a couple of days - to make sure everything has settled down well - I understand your impatience! lol As others have said, once you've got it back and played it for a few hours, don't forget to post some piccies and some thoughts on the bass I really hope the neck is fine - I'm sure it will be....

Yep, in complete agreement there Coilte Though I suppose "The Wheels On The Bus" and "Agadoo" are not particularly mature.....

I had one of those Steve Browning. I thought it looked cool, with maple board - a nice contrast However, it weighed almost as much as two small fishing vessels! lol And the neck was very wide and very deep - I bought it thinking I'd get used to it in fact, it's the bass that put me off Fenders, which was also for a very long time. Gladly, I have seen the light now though

Hi DiMarco, Yes, being a Mod / Administrator on a forum must be a real thankless task..... But the guys on here carry on regardless, and do a great job, I must say Still, on to pastures anew for you anyway - so just join in the discussions here, and forget all the past nonsense elsewhere Welcome to BassChat good sir. There are a few fellow "gear addicts" on here too - so you're not alone lol

Hi XoSo, I'm really sorry to hear of your woes mate, I really am That's every instrument buyers nightmare. Of course, it may be that this is something that happened in transit? Who knows at this point. Also, it may be that your guitar tech can fix it..... hopefully this is the case it can be sorted Truss rods can be replaced - so hopefully it can be fixed.... I'd get a written / printed report from your tech / luthier, and I'd be emailing the people who sold it to you Best of luck with it mate

Hello dasitor, Glad you joined in, and didn't just observe from a distance BC is much more fun, and much more useful as a resource, if you're a member. I feel it's far better to be able to post questions and answers, and join in topics more I too gave up playing, but for an even longer spell than you - over 20 years actually! Still, never mind - we are both playing bass again Welcome to BassChat Marc

Me too Sylvia Bluejay Problem identified, diagnosed and fixed within seconds Truly impressed..... Does he move even faster if he drops a tenner?

Ha ha, my own thoughts too I don't know you from anywhere else either Just wanted to add; "Funkfingers" is a fab user name Welcome to BC

It all depends on the design of the EUB stand. The NS stand works perfectly well for just leaving the bass on, while you're not playing, but you can also play the bass on that stand too. I don't know how secure the bass is on the stand, whilst you're playing it, as I've not played one. I've seen players do so though, and it seems to be fine.... However, The stand for the Stagg EUB is secure enough to leave the bass on, but due to the design it's not possible to access the top half of the finger board I bought a stand when I had my Stagg, and couldn't help thinking the manufacturers had missed a trick here - if they'd designed & built a stand which allowed you to play the bass while it was in-situ, I think they'd sell one to almost everyone who had bought the bass The EUB stand I "made" from the cymbal stand worked really well though - it was really quite steady & I always felt it was secure I also had a KYDD "Carry On" EUB recently. I bought it to try it out really - it was very compact & packed away neatly + quickly That employed a photographers tripod as stand (a Manfrotto, for those interested) which packed down quickly and easily, was very lightweight and always seems really stable & secure BTW I only sold the KYDD as it was 30" scale, and I was struggling to swap between all the different scales! lol If you are looking for a stand for an EUB, I'd seriously look at adapting Cymbal stands and / or Tripods The Drum shop near me (Drum Depot) were really helpful guys, and seemed really interested in the EUB and how they could help me make a decent quality stand for it, at a low price

Oh no Lewis..... you've been trying to thin the herd! You're as bad as me (nearly!) lol

That's a neat idea Paul S. I once put an EUB stand together, using a second-hand cymbal stand, and the bracket off something else (I forget what it was off) Turns out, the drum shop also had a bolt to fit the back of the EUB perfectly too I know a lot of DB players don't really like uprights being on a stand, and it's probably best practice to play without using a stand as often as you can But if you ever "double up" - playing upright on half a set, and bass guitar (or other instrument) for half a set, the stand is a god-send

Having not played an NS design EUB, thanks for that appraisal Sylvia. It's nice to know the pros and the cons, from someone who actually plays one, rather than someone who dislikes them. I quite fancied an NS myself, after buying a Stagg - which was also my first foray into the world of upright... I've heard others say that they don't really sound much like a DB, rather like the Stagg (which sounds more like a big fretless bass IMHO) I've heard sound clips from the Yamaha SLB's and that EUB does sound much more DB-like.... of course, this could be achieved by effects units or sound processing of some sort... Looking at photos of the NS. I think I'd get confused by all those dots too, and I have heard of owners "dabbing" over them with a felt-tip pen (or even model makers black paint!) to help prevent confusion But as Sylvia says, the NS does look quite cool, and the fact that it's designed to be played on the stand could be really useful In terms of an EUB sounding more like a true acoustic DB, the best I've heard was the Emminence. Because it has a small, slim chambered body, a bit of careful EQ'ing and you can get a very DB-like sound. I now have a KK EUB (bought from that nice chap Happy Jack of this forum). In my opinion, the KK sounds more like a Double bass than my old Stagg did, and it looks really cool, and is a fab design, shape & colour too. Though its' main con is that it's still quite heavy, compared to a Stagg. Al Krow, if you're intent on upgrading from the Stagg - take a bit of time, do a bit of research and play as many EUB's as you can Pop along to a basschat meet, or maybe post a few questions and request that you try other BC members basses? We're mostly friendly folk on here I can't see your location (NB. This may have disappeared since the recent forum update, so you might want to add it, so people can see where you are) I'm in South Wales, and would be more than happy for a fellow BC member to come & have a try of my bass(es) Good luck in your search PS. The Stagg is an excellent, and inexpensive introduction to the world of upright bass

Hi Stu, Welcome to BassChat Join in the discussions whenever you can - enjoy