Double Bass

Frankiestylee

Anybody know anything about double basses? I've been totally taken in by this instrument and I just found out at the weekend that they're tuned like a bass guitar. Had a lil go, pretty interesting to play.

Just wondering if anybody knows anything about them? I'd have no idea where to go, but I think they have them on Thomann... might take an aul look. Obviously since I'm just beginning I'd like to take a look and maybe buy a cheap one to learn on.

fish-head

I know a fellah in an Irish psychobilly band who gigs with a Thomann bass, one of the cheaper ones and all, and finds it perfectly useable and he's no boring old slapper, he's a man with a fair amount of skill.

I'm in love with the double bass too but everytime I get closer to buying one two words set me back. Amplification and transportation.

Doctor J

Have a read of some of the threads here Frankie. I know nothing about double bass so can't offer any insight but you should be able to learn what to look out for from the chats there. Interesting choice of instrument, let me know how you get on with it.

Frankiestylee

Ah yeah, I know amplification and transport would be an absolute bitch, but I figure it is doable. If needs be you can buy specially designed pick-ups and um, yeah you can get gig bags etc for them. I've seen people transport them around all day with any forklifts so it is a go-er

I tend to see a load of folk groups around Europe and it's through this that I've developed my love for the double bass. Recently it's been rekindled by a legendary Slovakian chap who was able to jam out to Irish dance music while drinking a glass of red wine, and a Danish dude who was pretty much playing the kind of music most acoustic based singers would wet themselves about (early 20s Danish music students, playing their own version of Danish folk tunes... think there was about 4 violins,double bass and the most amazingly funky guitarist I've seen in a long while, great stuff)

I'll have a look at those threads there Doc J and I'm sure they'll be useful.

I was wandering around thomann and though their starting models are a bit more expensive then I thought, it's still far more doable then some other things.

unclebill98

Have a double bass myself. With Fishman pick up. Got it from http://www.crehans.ie/home.asp

One of Irelands best music shops for trad/classical gear. Got the bass/pickup/case and bow off them. They make there own universal models that are great. Played one of them and another one they had there for over 6k and I thought the Universal model was far better...but that was my wallet talking!!

I bought the bass without the pickup but the following week Niall came and picked me up and picked me up in there van wit the 2 dogs in tow drove me to thet shop fitted the pickup, gave me some lunch and dropped me back. I can not fault this shop.....

Frankiestylee

If you don't mind me asking, how much did your bass set you back?

I'm still playing with the idea in my head. I can see it being class for loads of things, but at the moment I'm playing bass in an indie band... it wouldn't be suitable for that at all. I'm kinda trying to get involved with trad music, but I dunno if the double bass is used for that or if the guitar will prove more useful.
For my solo stuff, well, it'd only be used for recording really as I won't ever be playing it and performing, well, I can't see it happening.

unclebill98

I paid about 2500. It inc pickup/softcase with wheels/rosion/bow. They might have 2nd hand and diff models to choose from.

As for recording it. A nice 414 about 2 feet and you'll get a savage sound.

Lastly, even if you dont use it reg it will always look great in the sitting room....

Frankiestylee

unclebill98 wrote:

I paid about 2500. It inc pickup/softcase with wheels/rosion/bow. They might have 2nd hand and diff models to choose from.

As for recording it. A nice 414 about 2 feet and you'll get a savage sound.

Lastly, even if you dont use it reg it will always look great in the sitting room....

Heh heh, don't think the last bit of logic will fly at home, I just got rid of a piano a few months back that was surviving using the same logic. Poor choice on my part, now I'm actually using piano in a lot of my recordings and I'm resorting to keyboards.

2500 is way to steep for me at the mo, but there are cheaper (and no doubt less quality) instruments out there that I may look at.

The thought has also occured to me that instead of investing in a double bass I should perhaps look at a new regular bass as it's kinda the workhorse of my trade at the mo

John

You got rid of the piano!?! Where do you keep those pictures of you as a kid now?

Have you looked at electric double basses? I've seen a few different people using them and they can sound pretty good, not quite the same as a normal double bass and not like an electric bass but still sounds lovely.

Frankiestylee

Ah, we put in a bookcase and computer desk, so there's still embaressing photos galore.

Yeah, I was looking at the electric double basses... but in a situation where I'd have an amp I'd most likely be playing a normal bass, and in a place without electricity, well, the aul e-bass would be a bit useless. I'm really thinking of using the double bass for traditional folk music. I've kinda got sucked into that world of late and I'm finding the guitar to be a bit secondary when playing with a fiddle,accordian etc etc etc. I know the guitar can rock out the folk, I saw an amazing Danish dude over in France, but well, just looking to keep the options open.

John

Don't worry, I'm not trying to talk you out of a double bass! I think you should get me one too.

Frankiestylee

John wrote:

Don't worry, I'm not trying to talk you out of a double bass! I think you should get me one too.

You should get your super mice to build us both some. I'm sure their tiny hands would result in awesome detail

JacoStanley

I got my bass from Crehan's. Very friendly family run business. Mine is the student bass for €1500. I manage to fit it into my little car no problem. I have a little rig for it and my electric which I can fit on a small luggage trolley. It's a very physical instrument and prepare for some serious cramp but once you get going you'll find how expressive it can be. Have to get an adjustable bridge fitted at some stage.

Frankiestylee

Is that student bass a full size one? Thomann seem to be loving their own brand 3/4 size ones... 3/4 size sounds interesting.

JacoStanley

Frankiestylee wrote:

Is that student bass a full size one? Thomann seem to be loving their own brand 3/4 size ones... 3/4 size sounds interesting.

It's 3/4. I've played a 1/2 sized one which was very managable. Saw that in McCullogh Piggots.

Frankiestylee

So 3/4 is actually more of the norm then? I kinda imagined a full size would be the standard.

A half size eh? in McCullogh Piggots? I might have to pop in and check it out.

Dord

3/4 size is the standard.

Frankiestylee

Jaysis... if 3/4 is the standard, shouldn't they call it 1 and call full size 5/4 or something? This instrument is already getting messy before I've even got it!

unclebill98

Hi, I spent about 10 months looking around Dublin looking for D-Bass. Even rang some place in bray only to go out and they don't have them in the bloody shop.. after your man talks tons about them. Waltons, McCullogh Piggots d-bass are very poor quality. Go to Crehans, ring before hand to make sure they've them on display, the place is tiny.

3/4 size is the best option. But its still a monster to cart around. It will fit in a Fiat Punto, but its not easy and theres no room for anyone else.

If the size is an issue, try and electric upright?? I've played them, sound wise there not bad. Bit if its image your after forget it!!

Frankiestylee

Size is always going to be an option, but so is electricity. In a situation where I could use an electric double bass I could just as easily use a normal bass, it's more an acoustic bass monster I'm after... but not an acoustic bass, they strike be as being a bit useless for some reason.

unclebill98

Well there is the Takamine B-10

http://www.takamine.com/?fa=detail&mid=1455&sid=172

There was one in MusicMaker and I will not go down the ave about that story! It can be played like a cello and bowed also. Nice pre amp out of it and its small and light.

but I think your likely to ay about 2k online for that and over 3k in Ireland.

options options options....

www.zetamusic.com
http://www.nedsteinberger.com

THere are tons more...

Frankiestylee

What sort of sound do you get out of an acoustic bass like that takamine? I always kinda assumed they'd be very quite and kinda lost in mix if you were just playing acoustically without mics.

unclebill98

I'm not sure. Its got a big body on it so its going to produce alotof sound. I've seen a trad band with a Acoustic Bass, the warwick one

http://www.musicstore.de/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/WFS/MusicStore-MusicStoreShop-Site/en_EN/-/EUR/ViewProductDetail-Start;pgid=TOZgS8fSZObR0000000000000000PJg7Gi7b?CatalogVideo=&ProductUUID=KB7VqHzmiT4AAAETWdM9M2Mr&CatalogCategoryID=60jVqHzmWdoAAAERNZsvKPl9&JumpTo=OfferList

and they sounded grand. I'd say the D-bass would be better. when your unplugged. To be certain about cutting it unplugged and 1/2 or 3/4 Dbass is your best option.

Frankiestylee

I guess I'm just going to have to try out the various options and see which suits, so um, anybody know of a magical music store where they might have an acoustic bass, 1/2 double bass and a 3/4 double bass available for an aul try?

JacoStanley

Frankiestylee wrote:

I guess I'm just going to have to try out the various options and see which suits, so um, anybody know of a magical music store where they might have an acoustic bass, 1/2 double bass and a 3/4 double bass available for an aul try?

Crehan's!

Frankiestylee

Oh so Crehans would have acoustic basses aswell? Cool... I kinda assumed they might be like the double bass mecca of Ireland but without anything else, or something.

dimebucker

Learn the rules - feylya

Rigsby

dimebucker wrote: »

snip

This thread is four years old, so if the OP has not found what they want by now, they never will.