Is there anywhere in the UK I could try out a range of EUBs?

[BassDeLune]

Hi

I've been playing a Stagg EUB now for about 3 years. I bought it as an entry-level instrument to see how I'd get on with it. Well, the exercise was successful - I love playing it, and the band love it too. Now I'd like to look into maybe moving up to a better quality instrument, but which one? What I could really do with is to find somewhere which stocked a range of EUBs and try them out. I live in the North West of England, but I'm willing to travel pretty much anywhere - maybe make it a weekend away with the wife, I'm sure she'd love spending a day hanging round a guitar store!

Does anyone know of any such place?

Thanks

[andyonbass]

Check out [url=http://basschat.co.uk/topic/283463-double-bass-bash-derby-oct-2nd/]This Thread[/url].
Might be some EUB's present although it's more than likely you'll end up with DB Gas!!

[BassDeLune]

[quote name='andyonbass' timestamp='1473782750' post='3133086']
Check out [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/283463-double-bass-bash-derby-oct-2nd/"]This Thread[/url].
Might be some EUB's present although it's more than likely you'll end up with DB Gas!!
[/quote]

Thanks, Andy - might just give it a try!

[bassace]

There'll be at least two EUBs at the bash that would represent an improvement on the Stagg.

[TheRev]

I'd say the chances of finding a shop with one decent EUB in stock never mind a range is between slim and none (and slim is on tour).

Promenade music have three EUBs listed on their website - if any of them are in stock, that would be a good place to start.

[TheRev]

Also, in terms of a step up in quality from the Stagg, there isn't a lot out there for less than £800 ish for an Aria SWB LITE or £1100 ish for one of these:
http://farwestmusicalinstruments.co.uk/the-redhead/

After that, you're in £2K+ territory for a Yamaha SLB or an Eminence.

The FarWest basses are nicely made and sound good, I'd definitely recommend giving one a try if you find yourself in Cornwall.

[BassDeLune]

Thanks, TheRev. Promenade only have the NS in stock, and personally I don't really like them. More like an upright fretless than a DB, IMHO.

I'd pay the £2k+ for a Yamaha or Eminence if I had tried out the field and decided it was the right one for me, but without doing that, it's too much to risk just on the reviews. That FarWest looks lovely, and I like the price, but Cornwall is a long way just to try one make.

Thanks for the input, though.

[TheRev]

[quote name='BassDeLune' timestamp='1473892054' post='3134003']

I'd pay the £2k+ for a Yamaha or Eminence if I had tried out the field and decided it was the right one for me, but without doing that, it's too much to risk just on the reviews. That FarWest looks lovely, and I like the price, but Cornwall is a long way just to try one make.

Thanks for the input, though.
[/quote]

Totally understand - we've all been there!
I'll be bringing my Eminence to the double bass bash, so if you can make that you're more than welcome to try it out.

I was able to try a Yamaha SLB in London, but bought the Eminence unseen on spec as the consensus on Talkbass at the time was that the Eminence sounded more acoustic, plus it was about £400 cheaper. I was extremely pleased with the Eminence and played nothing else for 3 years until I bought a big bass.

If you're enjoying your Stagg, then to be honest, you'll love either the Yamaha or the Eminence - both are light years beyond the Stagg in terms of sound, playability and build quality. Yes, 2 grand is a lot of money for a bass that you've not seen in the flesh, never mind played, but I think that the majority of people on here who own basses of this level bought them on spec and no-one has said they regretted it.

[BassDeLune]

[quote name='TheRev' timestamp='1473926501' post='3134108'] Totally understand - we've all been there! I'll be bringing my Eminence to the double bass bash, so if you can make that you're more than welcome to try it out. I was able to try a Yamaha SLB in London, but bought the Eminence unseen on spec as the consensus on Talkbass at the time was that the Eminence sounded more acoustic, plus it was about £400 cheaper. I was extremely pleased with the Eminence and played nothing else for 3 years until I bought a big bass. If you're enjoying your Stagg, then to be honest, you'll love either the Yamaha or the Eminence - both are light years beyond the Stagg in terms of sound, playability and build quality. Yes, 2 grand is a lot of money for a bass that you've not seen in the flesh, never mind played, but I think that the majority of people on here who own basses of this level bought them on spec and no-one has said they regretted it. [/quote]

I'll definitely try to make it to the double bass bash, so I may take you up on your offer. While I've got you, so to speak, how do you rate the medium priced basses you mention, the Aria, and the FarWest, in comparison to the Eminence & Yamaha? And in comparison to the Stagg?

[TheRev]

My first EUB was an Aria SWB Lite (the one the Stagg is based on). Compared to the Stagg, the Aria is vastly superior in build quality and noticeably better sounding. The playability is similar, which you'd expect from such similar designs.

When I bought the Eminence,it was a massive improvement in all aspects. It feels,plays and sounds much more like a double bass than the Aria. It was a lot easier to play due to the design of the endpin which stopped the bass from spinning away from you - my playing improved dramatically as a direct result of this as I wasn't constantly fighting to keep the bass in the correct playing position.

I've only had limited experience with the Far West bass - the bassist in a band (Willie and the Bandits) that I was sound engineering for at a festival had one and I had a bit of a chat and a noodle backstage after their set. The sound was great out front - it sounded like an amplified double bass, Fell wise, it was obvious that it was a quality instrument and it felt pretty comfortable to play.

Edited September 15, 2016 by TheRev

[Owen]

[quote name='BassDeLune' timestamp='1473892054' post='3134003']
Thanks, TheRev. Promenade only have the NS in stock, and personally I don't really like them. More like an upright fretless than a DB, IMHO.
[/quote]

I used to have an NS which was very similar to an upright fretless. Then I jacked the bridge up and put DB strings on it. Now it does not sound like an upright fretless.

[stingrayPete1977]

I've modded my Stagg to take regular 3/4 strings and it's now strung with Spirocore weichs which cost half what I paid for the Stagg,lol. Feels nice now though.

[BassDeLune]

[quote name='owen' timestamp='1474048695' post='3135309']
I used to have an NS which was very similar to an upright fretless. Then I jacked the bridge up and put DB strings on it. Now it does not sound like an upright fretless.
[/quote]

Ok thanks, that's interesting. Maybe I'll have a try on one again with that in mind.

[BassDeLune]

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1474057889' post='3135383']
I've modded my Stagg to take regular 3/4 strings and it's now strung with Spirocore weichs which cost half what I paid for the Stagg,lol. Feels nice now though.
[/quote]

What mod did that require? And how long do you think the spirocore's will sound good for before they'll need changing?

Although my issues with the Stagg aren't so much the tone but with the playability - I don't like the hip brace position, and I feel it's not helping me develop a good technique - and the build quality. There's lot of extraneous noise - it's not noticeable live, but in the studio the rattles & creaks seem to come out with a vengeance Our recording engineer hates it!. Now I've had it a few years the lacquer on the fretboard is starting to wear and the wood is showing through. The turning head on one of the machine heads dropped off the recently - it will just push back on, so no immediate problem, but generally I feel It's just getting a bit 'tired', so it may be time for a change.

[andyonbass]

Bass Direct sell [url="http://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/BSX_Basses.html"]BSX Basses[/url] and have a pre-owned [url="http://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/Clevinger_Concerto_4.html"]Clevinger[/url] in stock according to their web site........

[Owen]

[quote name='BassDeLune' timestamp='1474099034' post='3135549']


Ok thanks, that's interesting. Maybe I'll have a try on one again with that in mind.
[/quote]

If you are coming to the DB bash then I will put it in the car. Tell me if you are.

[Beer of the Bass]

[quote name='BassDeLune' timestamp='1474099943' post='3135562']


What mod did that require? And how long do you think the spirocore's will sound good for before they'll need changing?

[/quote]

Spirocores are probably the longest lasting strings available. I replaced my 8-year old set this year, but there are quite a few bassists who would have kept them on...

[Mr Bassman]

I've got 3 EUB's which you're welcome to have a look at.

Yamaha SLB100, Clifton (made in Britain) and an Eminence. I'm using the Eminence mostly so could be persuaded to part with one of the others, if not both.

The Yammy & Clifton are similar in that the have a solid body with removable body parts.

Not sure if I can make it to the bass bash, if I can I'll bring them along again.

[stingrayPete1977]

[quote name='BassDeLune' timestamp='1474099943' post='3135562']


What mod did that require? And how long do you think the spirocore's will sound good for before they'll need changing?

Although my issues with the Stagg aren't so much the tone but with the playability - I don't like the hip brace position, and I feel it's not helping me develop a good technique - and the build quality. There's lot of extraneous noise - it's not noticeable live, but in the studio the rattles & creaks seem to come out with a vengeance Our recording engineer hates it!. Now I've had it a few years the lacquer on the fretboard is starting to wear and the wood is showing through. The turning head on one of the machine heads dropped off the recently - it will just push back on, so no immediate problem, but generally I feel It's just getting a bit 'tired', so it may be time for a change.
[/quote]

I had to countersink the ball ends into the wooden block tail piece and unwrap a tiny bit of the silk on two strings I think where they go over the nut, they should last a decade possibly longer as I never play the Stagg at home anymore and mainly use my upright for gigs if there is room on stage. The endpin rattle can be solved by wrapping some tape around it inside the cavity, do you also have a chunk of foam under the strings below the bridge?

[stingrayPete1977]

[quote name='owen' timestamp='1474101780' post='3135585']


If you are coming to the DB bash then I will put it in the car. Tell me if you are.
[/quote]

Same here, I wont bring the eub unless anyone wants to try it specifically

[BassDeLune]

[quote name='andyonbass' timestamp='1474100488' post='3135569'] Bass Direct sell [url="http://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/BSX_Basses.html"]BSX Basses[/url] and have a pre-owned [url="http://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/Clevinger_Concerto_4.html"]Clevinger[/url] in stock according to their web site........ [/quote]

By coincidence I'm down that way on business later in the week, so was going to call into them anyway. :-)

[BassDeLune]

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1474154567' post='3136004'] I had to countersink the ball ends into the wooden block tail piece and unwrap a tiny bit of the silk on two strings I think where they go over the nut, they should last a decade possibly longer as I never play the Stagg at home anymore and mainly use my upright for gigs if there is room on stage. The endpin rattle can be solved by wrapping some tape around it inside the cavity, do you also have a chunk of foam under the strings below the bridge? [/quote]

Yes, I've done the tape round the endpin now, and will try the foam under the strings next time I amp it up - funny thing is I don't seem to get much of this noise through the headphones

[BassDeLune]

[quote name='Mr Bassman' timestamp='1474105085' post='3135604']
I've got 3 EUB's which you're welcome to have a look at.

Yamaha SLB100, Clifton (made in Britain) and an Eminence. I'm using the Eminence mostly so could be persuaded to part with one of the others, if not both.

The Yammy & Clifton are similar in that the have a solid body with removable body parts.

Not sure if I can make it to the bass bash, if I can I'll bring them along again.
[/quote]

Thanks for the offer, Mr Bassman. I don't know yet if I'm going to the Bass Bash either. I'll let you know if I am. If not, maybe some other time.

[BassDeLune]

[quote name='owen' timestamp='1474101780' post='3135585']
If you are coming to the DB bash then I will put it in the car. Tell me if you are.
[/quote]
[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1474154645' post='3136005']
Same here, I wont bring the eub unless anyone wants to try it specifically
[/quote]

Thanks both. I'll let you know if/when I find out if I'm going

[stingrayPete1977]

Thanks

The foam behind the strings below the bridge really makes it more thumpy,I'd say it's the best mod I did,even my stock strings weren't too bad compared to some people's findings.