Please recommend a DB for Bluegrass and the like

[fretmeister]

As it says really!

Something that is:

 

1: As cheap as is practical, and

2: Worth having, and

3: Will tolerate pubs and back of estate cars.

 

I know nothing about DBs and I can't imagine that a bow will be needed, but after chatting with some mates about the possibility of all all acoustic bluegrass band I am now researching.

 

I have played upright a bit - I had an early NS Wav bass - but I will have to put the practice in to get somewhere near competent again.

 

ta

 

 

[jrixn1]

Day trip to https://www.thedoublebassroom.com/

[Beedster]

Spend between 500-1000 on a used bass that you’re ideally either able to play first or can buy from a known BCer. Don’t buy new.

Get to know it acoustically and amplified before spending too much on strings/PUPs etc.

 

Have fun, it’s a great journey (both the instrument and the genre) 👍

 

It’s well known in Bluegrass circles that blonde instruments sound better BTW 😆

[fretmeister]

I once had a relationship with a blonde gymnast.

Does that count?

[Beer of the Bass]

If you're watching the classifieds/marketplace etc at the right time you can often find something. Mid 20th century or more recent German/Czech/Romanian student basses (whether carved or laminated) would likely be fine for the job if you can find a healthy one, and even the carved ones tend to be at the sturdy end. Certain Chinese basses too (like the Stentors), but the lowest tier of basses from China tend to have problems and aren't good value in the long run.

Used instruments bought from an active player have the best chance of not needing setup work when you get them - specialist retailers should be able to sort you with a reasonably set up instrument, but new instruments from large online stores will really benefit from being set up by a good luthier.

[pete.young]

1 hour ago, Beedster said:

Spend between 500-1000 on a used bass that you’re ideally either able to play first or can buy from a known BCer. Don’t buy new.
 

 

 

This. I bought a used Stentor student bass off Ebay for less than £500 and once set up it's fine. My band is not bluegrass (very little that claims to be bluegrass is), it's an old-time string band and it works fine for that and also for a Chicago-style blues band I also play with.

 

The challenge is getting it to sound OK amplified. As @Beedster says, a great journey.

[Beedster]

14 minutes ago, fretmeister said:

I once had a relationship with a blonde gymnast.

Does that count?

Sounds like s separate thread to me 😆

[Staggering on]

Laminated is the way to go I think. I have a '70's Czech laminated bass that is loud acoustically with Spiros and amplifies well too and has been played inside and out in all kinds of weather with no problems. Some bluegrass bassists play carved basses but they are more fragile and more sensitive to heat and humidity. On this side of the Atlantic old Kays and other US made ply basses are the most common for bluegrass/roots music. Set up and strings are important especially if you plan to play some slap and as usual with anything DB related there are many opinions on what is best and you will have to find what works for your bass and your style of playing.

Good luck, upright will change your life...in a good way.😊

 

 

Edited February 5 by Staggering on

[Beedster]

Just now, Staggering on said:

Some bluegrass bassists play carved basses but they are more fragile and more sensitive to heat and humidity

 

....and feedback

[Happy Jack]

If you're looking for reliable instruments that are rarely overpriced, then the two brands worth looking out for are Andreas Zeller and Stentor. 

 

I've had several Zellers and wouldn't hesitate to buy another if the need arose. Both manufacturers offer a range, but at the cheap end you should be looking at less than £1k for pretty much any of these.

 

Bear in mind that's not money spent, it's money converted into another form and it can always be re-converted back again later.

 

[petebassist]

If you happen to come across a Stentor 1950, they're light and slightly smaller bodied than many, much easier to lug around bars n pubs.

[Beer of the Bass]

26 minutes ago, Beedster said:

 

....and feedback

 

Is feedback really that big a deal for bluegrass settings? I always think of it as a style primarily played acoustically, and even when amplified there's rarely a drum kit or loud electric guitars pushing the stage volume up.

[Burns-bass]

Think we can all agree that a ply bass is the way to go. 

 

One thing to consider is the cost of a set up and strings. A good set of strings is £150+ and a set-up can cost anything from £100 to £rightening. 

 

When it comes to double basses there aren't many "bargains" to be had. An unloved, unused or uncared for bass is a money pit.

 

As someone said on here, buy from someone you can trust – either a dealer or a trusted forum member. Try before you buy and take lessons from someone who has played before to avoid short term pain  and long term damage.

[MrCrane]

1 hour ago, Staggering on said:

Some bluegrass bassists play carved basses but they are more fragile and more sensitive to heat and humidity.

But what about the basses?

[Beedster]

1 hour ago, Beer of the Bass said:

 

Is feedback really that big a deal for bluegrass settings? I always think of it as a style primarily played acoustically, and even when amplified there's rarely a drum kit or loud electric guitars pushing the stage volume up.

It’s a double bass, a large hollow resonant wooden box, if you’re amplifying it, feedback is an ever present threat 👍

[Beedster]

Just now, MrCrane said:

But what about the basses?

Think you’re getting confused with Jazz 😆

[Rosie C]

1 hour ago, Burns-bass said:

Think we can all agree that a ply bass is the way to go. 

 

One thing to consider is the cost of a set up and strings. A good set of strings is £150+ and a set-up can cost anything from £100 to £rightening. 

 

 

Agreed! I play a laminated bass - I think originally from Thomann. It's been dropped twice, has had various repairs, but is tough as old boots. Currently fitted with Innovation Rockabilly strings for bluegrass, and a Realist Lifeline pickup. That does feedback, but I run it through an EQ pedal with the lowest band wound right down which generally sorts it out.

[Beer of the Bass]

A decent, well set up laminated bass would be fine for the job, but IMO if a well sorted carved or hybrid bass comes up in the right place for the right price, it'd be daft to pass on it, unless you're planning on some seriously rough gigging conditions.

My carved bass has done outdoor festivals with camping, pubs, street performing and public transport and it's never caused me bigger problems than the occasional seam reglue, and that's a lightly built 100-year old flatback - something like a Zeller is built more solidly.

[NickA]

I play an old carved bass at "jazz in a pub" volumes ( sometimes quite loud). never had a feedback issue.... but all the other reasons to get a laminate bass I agree with.  double bass rooms sometimes has really nice ones for £1k or so by the looks.

 

https://www.thedoublebassroom.com/product/vintage-3-4-double-basses-1940s-1980s/

Edited February 5 by NickA

[tinyd]

12 hours ago, NickA said:

I play an old carved bass at "jazz in a pub" volumes ( sometimes quite loud). never had a feedback issue....

Yep, same (except my bass is a hybrid). In my experience feedback usually happens if the amp / pickup / preamp setup isn't optimal - but once you can eliminate the "boomy" end of the spectrum it's usually fine - certainly for jazz/bluegrass type volumes.

Edited February 6 by tinyd

[Happy Jack]

Whispering Bluegrass, the trees don't need to know ...