umph Posted June 4, 2008 Share Posted June 4, 2008 where would be a good cheap/sensible place to start? not sure if i wanna drop £500+ on something i wont be using that much, not looking to get a double bass though as i just don't have the room to store one or transport it unfortunatly ;/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheRev Posted June 6, 2008 Share Posted June 6, 2008 Why not try one of the Stagg uprights? Lots of people on here have recently picked them up and all seem happy with them. They sell for around the £350 mark so they're well under your £500. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Linus27 Posted June 7, 2008 Share Posted June 7, 2008 I can't recommend the Stagg highly enough and I am sure others on here will feel the same. I have wanted to dip my toes in the world of EUB for the last 10 years or so but they have always been to expensive. Then the NS Wav 4 came out and it looked like a realistic option at £700 so I started saving up for a year. However, I heard about this Stagg EUB that came out at £350 and one came up for sale on here for £200 and I grabbed it. For the money, it is an amazing piece of kit. You really can't fault it for that price. It also sounds superb, some say more like a double bass than the NS Wav 4 which has been compared to sounding like like a electric fretless. The action may be a little high but this can be solved by filing away at the nut a little so the strings sit lower down. I had to do this a fair bit to my E and A string and now it is a dream to play. Also, some of the intonation cane be a bit out but once you learn where the correct places to fret are, then it makes no difference. It certainly has not been a problem for me. I also recommend lessons to get you heading in the right direction. I have been playing electric for 20 years and it is a totally different beast. jakesbass on here will sort you with lessons. Drop him a PM. I am sure he will be able to help you out or point you in the right direction. Either, way just do it. One of the best things I have ever done. Get yourself a Stagg EUB, get some lessons so you have something to work towards and your love every minute of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maxcat Posted June 7, 2008 Share Posted June 7, 2008 + lots to Linus. Great bit of kit, Best value for money purchase I have made in an age. Re invigorating on the bass playing side as well. No drawbacks. Buy with confidence mate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
umph Posted June 7, 2008 Author Share Posted June 7, 2008 thanks! definatly looks like a bit of a cheaper option than importing one of a luthier from the states etc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Finbar Posted June 7, 2008 Share Posted June 7, 2008 Why would you import from a luthier in the States? Luthiers in England make them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
umph Posted June 7, 2008 Author Share Posted June 7, 2008 works out cheaper from the states from what i've seen so far can get some for like £300 there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
endorka Posted June 7, 2008 Share Posted June 7, 2008 [quote name='Linus27' post='214264' date='Jun 7 2008, 11:23 AM']For the money, it is an amazing piece of kit. You really can't fault it for that price. It also sounds superb, some say more like a double bass than the NS Wav 4 which has been compared to sounding like like a electric fretless.[/quote] I have a suspicion that those who make this claim are playing the NS Wav in "pizz" mode, which is designed to sound like a big fretless bass. With the pickup switch in "arco" mode it sounds more like a real DB, even when plucked. I have some examples here; [url="http://www.jenniferclarkbass.com/audio/Leana_Medley.mp3"]http://www.jenniferclarkbass.com/audio/Leana_Medley.mp3[/url] [url="http://www.jenniferclarkbass.com/audio/BassSolo.mp3"]http://www.jenniferclarkbass.com/audio/BassSolo.mp3[/url] Those recordings were straight DI'd from the instrument. I've had the better results through Trace Elliot amps and speakers, where in certain situations you'd be hard pushed to tell the difference between the WAV and an amplified real DB. I've played both the NS and the Stagg, and in my opinion the NS is the better instrument in most respects by a significant margin; however, for the price, the Stagg is exceptional value. Jennifer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rainbass Posted June 7, 2008 Share Posted June 7, 2008 [quote name='Linus27' post='214264' date='Jun 7 2008, 11:23 AM']I can't recommend the Stagg highly enough and I am sure others on here will feel the same. I have wanted to dip my toes in the world of EUB for the last 10 years or so but they have always been to expensive. Then the NS Wav 4 came out and it looked like a realistic option at £700 so I started saving up for a year. However, I heard about this Stagg EUB that came out at £350 and one came up for sale on here for £200 and I grabbed it. For the money, it is an amazing piece of kit. You really can't fault it for that price. It also sounds superb, some say more like a double bass than the NS Wav 4 which has been compared to sounding like like a electric fretless. The action may be a little high but this can be solved by filing away at the nut a little so the strings sit lower down. I had to do this a fair bit to my E and A string and now it is a dream to play. Also, some of the intonation cane be a bit out but once you learn where the correct places to fret are, then it makes no difference. It certainly has not been a problem for me. I also recommend lessons to get you heading in the right direction. I have been playing electric for 20 years and it is a totally different beast. jakesbass on here will sort you with lessons. Drop him a PM. I am sure he will be able to help you out or point you in the right direction. Either, way just do it. One of the best things I have ever done. Get yourself a Stagg EUB, get some lessons so you have something to work towards and your love every minute of it.[/quote] +1 for the Stagg as a starter into the world of the upright bass on a budget! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Linus27 Posted June 7, 2008 Share Posted June 7, 2008 [quote name='endorka' post='214530' date='Jun 7 2008, 06:27 PM']I have a suspicion that those who make this claim are playing the NS Wav in "pizz" mode, which is designed to sound like a big fretless bass. With the pickup switch in "arco" mode it sounds more like a real DB, even when plucked. I have some examples here; [url="http://www.jenniferclarkbass.com/audio/Leana_Medley.mp3"]http://www.jenniferclarkbass.com/audio/Leana_Medley.mp3[/url] [url="http://www.jenniferclarkbass.com/audio/BassSolo.mp3"]http://www.jenniferclarkbass.com/audio/BassSolo.mp3[/url] Those recordings were straight DI'd from the instrument. I've had the better results through Trace Elliot amps and speakers, where in certain situations you'd be hard pushed to tell the difference between the WAV and an amplified real DB. I've played both the NS and the Stagg, and in my opinion the NS is the better instrument in most respects by a significant margin; however, for the price, the Stagg is exceptional value. Jennifer[/quote] Hi Jennifer, hope you didn't think I was saying the Stagg is better than the NS Wav?? I was just saying that as an entry model to try the world of EUB, the Stagg is ideal as its so much cheaper than the Stagg. However, not sure I would agree on the sound. After reading through the massive thread over at Talk Bass and hearing in person some NS Wav's, there does seem to be a general feeling that the stock NS Wav sounds similar to a fretless. However, changing the strings I beleive can improve on this. As a point, when I can afford it, I will probably move up to an NS Wav from my Stagg. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Linus27 Posted June 7, 2008 Share Posted June 7, 2008 Hey, there is a Stagg EUB for sale in the For Sale section. Grab it before it goes and it will sell very quickly. [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=21139"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=21139[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
endorka Posted June 8, 2008 Share Posted June 8, 2008 [quote name='Linus27' post='214647' date='Jun 7 2008, 10:06 PM']However, not sure I would agree on the sound. After reading through the massive thread over at Talk Bass and hearing in person some NS Wav's, there does seem to be a general feeling that the stock NS Wav sounds similar to a fretless.[/quote] Based on that thread, you may well get that impression, but did you listen to the audio samples of the NS Wav I posted? While it is arguable (and variable) how much they sound like a real DB, in my opinion they sound nothing like a fretless bass guitar. As you say, replacing the stock strings helps, as does raising the string height, as does using proper double bass technique as opposed to playing it like a bass guitar. As I mentioned before, I think the misconception comes because people are deriving their opinion whilst using the wrong setting of the NS Wav. I actually think this is a problem with the naming of the switch by NS Design, who refer to "arco" and "pizz" modes, which implies that one is for bowing and the other is for fingerstyle. While broadly true, it doesn't give the full picture - the "arco" mode can be used for both bowing and pizzicato playing, and due to the way the pickup is configured in this mode sounds like a double bass. The "pizz" mode cannot be used for bowing, and is configured to behave a bit like the pickup on a bass guitar. A better naming convention would have been "double bass" and "bass guitar" modes. I'm not one for apologetics for any gear, and I have all kinds of instruments - fretted and fretless basses, the EUB, and a proper double bass, so have no vested interest in any of it. I guess the naming of these two modes and people's consequent (mis)interpretation of their functions annoys me a bit though :-) Regardless of all this, I agree that the Stagg is an excellent entry level instrument. One of my students has one and it has a very impressive sound. Do you know of any alternative stands that are available for it? My student's one was supplied with a couple of the hip brace things, and I would be interested to know if there are any other options, e.g. something similar to the NS Design end pin stand. Jennifer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
umph Posted June 8, 2008 Author Share Posted June 8, 2008 [quote name='Linus27' post='214652' date='Jun 7 2008, 10:18 PM']Hey, there is a Stagg EUB for sale in the For Sale section. Grab it before it goes and it will sell very quickly. [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=21139"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=21139[/url][/quote] not got the cash atm thanks for the heads up though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcater Posted June 9, 2008 Share Posted June 9, 2008 I know it's not as cheap as it could be but i use an aria swb lite which i bought second hand for £600. Using this through an EBS microbass 11 has given a remarkable mellow tone, the treble on the bass needs to be set quite low, but it works like a dream regardless of which amp / cabs i use - Hatrke, Mark bass or EBS. I previously used a jazz bass for the trio i'm playing with but doubt that i'll ever go back to it apart from recording - & that's only because my intonation is not yet as good as it should be. PS anyone aware if there was ever a user manual with the aria? [url="http://www.jazbak.co.uk/"]http://www.jazbak.co.uk/[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheRev Posted June 9, 2008 Share Posted June 9, 2008 [quote name='jcater' post='215507' date='Jun 9 2008, 03:49 PM']I know it's not as cheap as it could be but i use an aria swb lite which i bought second hand for £600. Using this through an EBS microbass 11 has given a remarkable mellow tone, the treble on the bass needs to be set quite low, but it works like a dream regardless of which amp / cabs i use - Hatrke, Mark bass or EBS. I previously used a jazz bass for the trio i'm playing with but doubt that i'll ever go back to it apart from recording - & that's only because my intonation is not yet as good as it should be. PS anyone aware if there was ever a user manual with the aria? [url="http://www.jazbak.co.uk/"]http://www.jazbak.co.uk/[/url][/quote] I use a SWB lite one as well - as far as I know there's no manual. Are you using the stock strings? I'm thinking of changing to Hybrids or orchestrals to lose some of the sustain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcater Posted June 10, 2008 Share Posted June 10, 2008 Yes i'm still using the stock strings but probably going to order Thomastik Infield Spirocore medium tension. I've had such good experience with their strings on my fender jazz, using the jazz flat set, that i'm thinking of giving them a go. Any thoughts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheRev Posted June 10, 2008 Share Posted June 10, 2008 The Spirocores seem to the the string of choice for jazzers wanting a bit more sustain from their proper double basses but I think they may be a bit bright for EUB. I'm thinking about D'addario Helicore Hybrids or maybe something synthetic/gut simulating type string like Obligatos. I'm basically trying to get a more thumpy DB type sound with a fairly quick decay but given the price of DB strings I'm reluctant to just 'have a go'. I did hear a EUB with Velvet strings (Garbos, I think) which are synthetic gut and it sounded amazing but at about £150 a set it's an expensive risk. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eubassix Posted June 30, 2008 Share Posted June 30, 2008 .. of interest at all?.... [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=18614&st=0&gopid=229520&#entry229520"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=...mp;#entry229520[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steveshone Posted July 31, 2008 Share Posted July 31, 2008 check out 'Ebay'- I got a Carruthers upright - RRP $6000, made in Cal. USA for a fraction - which I wont divulge here, but the it''s the only electric upright I've checked, that feels like, and sounds like the real thing. This bass has actually has an acoustic cavity designed into it, and has an active eq powered with parametric middles. Two piezo pickups. A brilliant design. The bass splits in half for air travel, and assembles again in seconds. Cant recommend it enough. But whatever you get - check out ebay - there are loads of bargains to be had!!! good luck Steve! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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