tinyd

Thanks for that - to me that still sounds more like a fretless bass than an upright. I found this clip which is a lot more DB-like to my ears: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrjoKSwt4iU From the comments he says he's using nylon coated strings and a foam mute....

I haven't managed to find any videos online of people playing them with (and I realise this isn't a tight definition) DB technique, with the kind of right hand technique in particular that @Linus27 identifies above. If anyone can point me to anything like this (or record it themselves) that wouild be very helpful, thanks!

There are a million examples out there but this is a nice clear example of the standard "anticipated" bass tumbao

The Latin Bass Book by Oscar Stagnaro is really good and he goes into tumbao and all the variations. You can start with the versions where you play on the 1 and then work your way up to the syncopated version where the 4 anticipates the next chord and ties over the bar line.

I was going to reply to the thread something along the lines of "you'll never get a BG to sound _that_ much like a DB but with the right strings, action and EQ you can at least get a good thumpy tone that will sit in the mix in a similar way"....but this video of the Marcustico bass is pretty impressive!

Thanks - I figured that might be the case alright....

@MuddBass Is the Earbox enough on its own for the job of hearing yourself? i.e. if the bass is going into the PA, does the Earbox make enough noise that you don't also need another speaker for the job of personal monitoring? I'm thinking of a small class D amp head with DI out to PA and an Earbox as the only speaker...

Not sure about your particular EUB, but middle frequencies with piezo pickups on DB often need to be cut drastically and you'll want to be careful with lows as well as they can quickly become "boomy".

Thanks @Paddy Morris - I'll keep an eye out for one of those. If I was going for a new cab, this looks like it might offer more bottom end than the C2 while still being light: https://www.thomann.de/ie/peavey_trace_elliot_bassbox_110.htm Thing is, I currently use an old (but working fine) GK MB150 combo which is OK in terms of volume etc but to me it's always sounded a bit "boxy" and as I said above, doesn't give me much clarity. So I'm looking for something that's about as loud as the GK, but with a more "hi fi" sound, plus cheap and light. I'm prepared to concede that this combination may not exist

Thanks @NickA - that's kind of what I was thinking too (i.e. 2x5 not pushing enough bass into the room). Thing is, the thing that most bothers me when gigging is that I can't hear myself that well, and the C2 seems like it would do this part pretty well. Plus the acoustic sound of the bass itself is often pretty good for smaller / quieter gigs in terms of bass projection. I guess the good thing about going for an amp + cab means that I can always get a bigger cab for the gigs where I need it....

Does anyone have any experience or opinions of using one of these for DB gigs? I play either a regular rockabilly gig but with a quiet-ish drummer, or jazz gigs without a drummer at all. I really like small/light gear so I'm going to pair it with a TC BAM200 head, but I don't want to get one of these if it just can't keep up. For reference, I currently have an (old) GK MB150 that I want to replace with the new rig. The other alternative is to get the TC BC208 cab, which is much bigger. But if I can get away with the C2 then that will make me happy

There's a guy on Talkbass who recommended a Warwick Gnome + TC BC208, which is along the lines of what you're describing. I reckon I'm going to try that combination when I scrape some cash together....

For what it's worth, I've had my Westbury for 6 years and there are no obvious signs of it coming apart anywhere. Can't guarantee anything, but might be worth taking into account @Richard Jinman

I've got one of these and it's excellent - well made with decent padding and pockets plus loads of handles which makes it easy to get it in and out of cars etc https://www.gear4music.ie/Woodwind-Brass-Strings/Westbury-Deluxe-Padded-3-4-Double-Bass-Gig-Bag-with-Wheels/1MBI?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=order-confirmation&utm_content=ord-line&utm_source=txn-email (It's got wheels as well.....)

In terms of the action/string height, if you measure at the end of the fingerboard you'll be able to compare with what other people use. Mine go from about 6mm on the G to about 10mm on the E which is probably fairly typical for pizz/jazz playing. If yours are significantly higher than this then it might be worth reducing.

There's a good video somewhere from Victor Wooten where he plays a bassline along to a metronome and he increases the gaps between the clicks so it starts on every two beats, then once per bar, then every two bars etc. I tried it and it's hard, especially when you get to one click every four bars, but it probably does wonders for your internal time if done regularly.

Yep, lie bass on it's back etc and you should be fine! I really like my Realist Copperhead btw - it's the best of the pickups I've tried

It's pretty easy as long as you take all the sensible precautions around preventing the soundpost from slipping by not removing all strings etc.

If you're playing jazz, I reckon that listening to when Paul Chambers changes between two-feel and walking on albums like Relaxin', Steamin', Cookin' etc is a great starting point, as these are pretty close to being "canonical" small-band jazz recordings. Although it sounds slightly counterintutive (less notes, so must be easier, right?), two-feel can often be harder than walking as well (which might be another reason why you prefer to walk). In general it's a good skill to be able to switch between the two at will over any particular tune, particularly because when you're playing with other people switching might be the most appropriate choice.

I agree completely except the "wearing on the fingers" bit - I find that playing root/fifth two-feel stuff is harder on the hands than walking. Something about shifting position and fingers more frequently means that I'm less likely to "cramp up"....

@Richard Jinman "are yours low or medium tension?" The message quoting got a bit messed-up, but mine are lights (as were the Spiros that I had previously)

I got a set of these after starting off with Spiros - they're similar but as @TheRev says, a bit more traditional, sound wonderful and slightly easier on the fingers. Not cheap though, but I've had the same set on for years and they still sound pretty good.

That's a decent review. I think you'll get a very similar sound from any uke-bass with those strings since unlike a DB, the body is so small that it contributes very little to the overall sound.

Yep, I agree on going DB if that's what you want. Somebody here (sorry, can't remember who) phrased it something like "there's nothing like pulling a note out of a big piece of wood" and I have to say that it was bang on. You will also end up getting gigs (and you can debate about how shallow this is) based purely on the look of a DB. Of course, EUBs are great and if I had room and money I'd get one as well....

I think it depends on what you're looking for, but for me I was interested in the "mini-DB" aspect so fretless made sense and I do (kind of) play it like DB in terms of shifting and fingering, although obviously I just use the first three fingers rather than 1, 2 & 4