franzbassist

[quote name='TheRev' post='638024' date='Oct 27 2009, 03:25 PM']Is the beast specifically for double bass or for 'acoustic' instruments in general? The inclusion of the onboard FX and chorus in particular just screams 'singer songwriter' at me - especially the second channel for plugging yer microphone into.... TBH, other than the anti-feedback knob (which would need to be tuned for bass specific frequencies to be much use?) I don't see why it would be any better than a LMII or LMK for DB.[/quote] Interest is just out of curiousity really. Although my gigs can be a combination of electric and acoustic bass guitars as well as my new EUB, I was just wondering of anyone had tried it out, and whether it was very loud? I love my LMK so don't anticipate changing any time soon...

Hi John I've shipped loads of basses over the years all around the world. I think it's actually pretty simple once you get going. As you have the original case, just get a couple of big boxes from your local guitar store (ideally bass, but guitar work okay if you put them end on end) and double skin it in them with lots of packing tape. Then just comapre a few costs from the various couriers (UPS, FedEx, DPD etc.) and make sure you ship it for the appropriate value, and ideally use a trackable service. Cheers Gareth

[quote name='RussFM' post='637709' date='Oct 27 2009, 10:55 AM']Looks so much better without the yellow![/quote] I know, [i]much[/i] more classy!

I see Markbass make an amp specifically for acoustic instruments - the AH250 - has anyone tried this? It's only rated 150 watts at 8 ohms and 250 watts at 4 ohms so not usre how loud it gets, but the acoustic-friendly features are there. Anyone road tested one? Cheers Gareth

As the OP, I'd like to thank everyone for the suggestions and comments. I've now been playing my EUB as often as I can for two weeks - I ended up getting an Aria instead of the Eminence I craved - and it came with side dots. However, to be totally honest, I hardly ever look at them! I've always had good intonation on fretless bass and I guess this is carrying over to the upright. The biggest issue was the increased scale length, but even that has been less of an adjustment that I thought it would be. Cheers Gareth

I bought an LMK five months ago and really like it. Two chanels, nicely simple, but versatile eq, stays clean and is VERY loud. Highly recommended.

Eminence are imported by SMART Distribtion. Ian, their MD, posts on here and especially under the Affiliates section. I think they're based in Kent somewhere, but when I checked as I wanted to try one out Ian said they don't hold stock and just bring them in as and when people order them; very short lead time though. The base model, fixed neck 4 string, is around £1800, which was too much for me to take a punt on an untried format, so I plumped for the Aria SWB. I'm actually glad I got the Aria as it's sonically more versatile (mag and piezo pickups) and smaller, although the aesthete in me much prefers the look of the Eminence. Cheers Gareth

Received a set of Thomastik Spiro strings from Owen. In good nick and he even managed to beat the Royal Mail strike! Buy from him, you know you want to.

Nothing too fancy, just a good solid reliable bow that will work well with my lovely new Aria EUB. Any suggestions? Should add I was a cellist until my late teens, so I am familiar with technique, just been out of the loop a while... Thanks Gareth

I'm using a Markbass LMK (two channel amp) into either one, or both, Euphonic Audio CXL112 and NL210 cabs. As I can play a combination of electric, acoustic and EUB bass at a gig this works really well; the amp can take two instruments no problem, is clear, uncoloured and loud, and the cabs give a very true response. I couldn't recommend this setup highly enough.

[quote name='BigBeatNut' post='631334' date='Oct 20 2009, 02:01 PM']When that arrives I'd be very interested to A/B that with my Rob Allen Deep 5. Andy[/quote] Yep Andy, you are already on my list of people to show the bass to!

I have one of these arriving in the very near future - a Veillette Archtop Bass. More versatile than a Rob Allen and Godin as it has the magnetic pickup as well, and the piezo can dial in a nice uprightish tone. Still need an amp though...

Thanks Dave. Does your Aria have the mag pickup as well as the piezo? I am very aware of the need to pick strings with good metallic content to make sure I can use both pickups.

BB This is all new to me, and as DB string are pretty pricey I'd like to make an informed first choice as I don't want to be changing sets on a regular basis! Starting with a quality set of strings that are generally popular is as good a place to start as any; it'll certainly help me set an (ahem) baseline on which I can make more informed decisions in future. What do I want in terms of tone? Well, initially I'll be using the bass for some country, folk and old blues tunes, so I guess I want something that sounds traditionally "acoustic" and woody, but I also want something that isn't too tight under the finger, with a bit of "give" but not too much roll under the finger. Cheers Gareth

[quote name='scojack' post='630073' date='Oct 19 2009, 09:29 AM']Nice one Gareth, As a long time BG player (like me) , how are you finding adopting to the Left Hand Technique? IanM[/quote] Hi Ian, and to everyone else who has helpfully responded so far. I think that is the thing that'll take the most adjustment, and also why the suggestion of lessons is a good one. I've been watching a lot of DB players on Youtube and the like and trying to see what they do, and combine that with what feels comfortable to me. I have pretty big hands so it doesn't seem to be an issue with the stretches, but my thumb seems to shift position a lot depending on which string I am playing and where on the fingerboard I am. Sometimes it's flat and facing up to the head of the neck, othertimes just the thumb pad is pressing on the back of the neck, and a couple of times I've found myself gripping the neck baseball style. General update: Played the bass a lot over the weekend, in short bursts, and I'm getting very comfortable with it. There seems to be a slight rattle when I play open E hard, but you can't hear it amplified so it isn't an issue. I'm thinking a set of better strings may improve it even more, as the strings seem pretty tight compared to the amount of oscilation a lot of players get in videos I've watched; I'm thinking light Thomastik Spirocores may be the ones to get? Also planning on upgrading the end pin to something more substantial as the original flexes a bit too much for my liking. Also need a stand and decent hard case... Cheers all Gareth

I've ummed and ahhed about getting an EUB for a long time, but the music my band have been playing in the last year has made having [i]that[/i] sound all the more appropriate, so I finally took the plunge last week and got an Aria SWB Lite-BIS courtesy of Al at The Gallery. Wow... So why the Aria? Well, I spent a good amount of time on the WAV and a few minutes on a Palatino as well, but to me the Aria is a much better instrument both in terms of playability and especially the sound you can get out of it. I'm sure this is due to the two pickups; the piezo gives a lovely air to the notes, with lots of finger and body noise, while the magnetic pickup dials in lots of body. The two band eq works on both pickups at the same time, so you balance the output of each pickup using their volume controls. A little bit of hiss from the mag, but I can live with it and may improve the shielding in due course if it proves to be an issue. I've played a lot of fretless, almost exclusively in the last few years, so the plain fingerboard holds no fear for me, and even the bigger stretches due to the longer scale are okay as I have big hands. The neck is obviously much deeper though, so that will take a bit of getting used to, as will the higher action, but that's all part of parcel of going upright I guess. So I dive straight in and take the bass to rehearsal the night I get it. I set the end pin so first position is at eye level and make sure I'm plucking the strings near the end of the fingerboard with the side of my fingers. Straight away the tone is really good, with the bass carrying through really well, and the band absolutely love the look and tone. So I am really chuffed. The Aria is a quality starter I think, and should keep me going for a good few years. Gareth

[quote name='BassBod' post='625190' date='Oct 13 2009, 04:38 PM']I guess i'd better go into hiding for a few months...change my name...maybe take up the banjo....[/quote] Banjobod? No no no, has no ring to it at all!