JJB

Hi all I’m an amateur DBist playing arco and pizzicato, most styles of music. I can’t keep at home a full size DB due to moving to a smaller place. Is Yamaha’s SLB100 (whose full top to bottom frame on the right-hand side appeals to me) still worth it in terms of sound and overall playability (it was released in 2000 after all IIRC) or does the SLB300 (and SLB300 pro?) knock it off the park? Or any other electric EUB? To be 100% clear, while sound is important of course, handling (to be just as close to a full bodied DB as possible) is just as important to me too. Hence the appeal of the SLB100 when I look at the apparent extra support of its full side frame Vs other EUBs. If it’s totally quiet while unplugged, even better but not essential. Thanks in advance

A very late addition to this thread to provide all with an up-to-date review: an excellent service. Friendly, very efficient, he under-promises and over-delivers on timings. It's the third time I've come to him (2x bass and once for a guitar) and I'll keep coming back.

Thanks. It's definitely within my budget and it does have a contraption to keep the proper angle while playing, but I see no info about the shape of the neck or the weight.

I've posted the same question on talkbass.com and the MK bass was recommended there too, thank you.

Thank you. They certainly aren’t cheap new… (hence your mentioning “second-hand”). No weight info though, suggesting they may still be heavy?

Thanks for this insight, I'll look into that too.

Nancy, I’m a bowing (and plucking) double bassist (and electric bassist before that, to give you some context) who has been in the same situation. 1- DB vs violin or cello bow? Physics mean that the speed with which you move your bow have an impact on loudness AND pitch. So a violin requires faster and longer movements with the bow because of its higher tuning, while a DB requires slower movements, hence the length difference (as well as the overall build strength - as raised before on this thread, you let your DB bow rest more on the strings so it needs to bear your arm’s weight). 2- “German” or “French” bow? It’s a matter of preference AND teacher availability. Both bows have completely different holding techniques and moderately different movement / bowing techniques. A (competent!) teacher for one type of bow will be understandably reluctant to teach the other style. UK teachers and orchestras tend to prefer the French bow. However, both bows essentially sound the same and can do the same things. if you don’t know and don’t feel strongly drawn to either, go for the type that matches the teachers you can get. Unless you have existing wrist and arm problems in which case one type of bow might suit you better over the other type. 3- price? Around £100-200 for a starter one. I appreciate it’s not as cheap as a normal person would imagine but a bow that’s too cheap will definitely have balance issues and give you bad habits. Last point: please please please get a teacher. Bad DB techniques can ruin your hands and wrists and severely limit what you can do with the instrument. Best wishes.

Hi all The title says it all. I’m looking for an upright electric bass that has the same feel as a DB (ie (1) the back of neck has the same feel with a heel at the level of the D, (2) adjustable external bars (or equivalent) to maintain my body at the right angle with my instrument and (3) a fret board and bridge allowing for arco playing, light weight (ie less than 6-7 kg) for less than than £2,000, ideally not much above £1,000. All these criteria are very important: hence I haven’t bought an NS Design NXT4 as it has no heel to speak of, or it would give me bad habits when I go back to using an acoustic DB. Thanks in advance.