Where are the EUB stockists/shops in England?

[boostybaboon]

Hello there, happy new year to one and all,

I'm an electric bass player intrigued by the idea of playing the electric upright. My question is - are there shops with a selection of electric uprights in that I could have a play of before buying? My internet searches seem to suggest that shops stocking electric uprights are few and far between - unless [i]you[/i] know different! I live in Milton Keynes and don't mind traveling a bit within reason.

I quite like the look of most of the NS basses. Will it be much of an adjustment for me to go from playing the regular 34" scale electric to the longer scale of most electric uprights? If money were no object I'd probably go for one of the NS omni bass cello instruments - don't suppose anyone knows of a UK stockist of those? To be honest though, I think in terms of price the closer towards the NXT end of the market or cheaper the happier my wife will be.

I [i]think[/i] what I'm after is an electric upright which feels more like an electric guitar to play rather than feeling like a double bass. I like the low action and lighter string feel of the electric bass, and when I've borrowed double basses in the past I've been a little bit put off by the higher action and the extra force required to depress the strings (yes I know, I'm a wimp ), so for my personal preference the lighter feeling the electric upright is the better. Do NXTs feel like playing double basses, fretless electrics or somewhere inbetween?

Cheers,

Ian.

[bartelby]

[url="http://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/Home.html"]Bass Direct[/url], just outside of Leamington Spa, are an NS design stockist. I bought an NXT on Tuesday, was used to the scale length by Wednesday afternoon.

You can set the action on NS Design uprights, via 2 screws behind the rear plate. I left mine as it was set, medium/low action, but it still takes more effort to play than a fretted or fretless bass.

It doesn't feel like a fretless bass as the action, playing position, scale length and string spacing are all completely different. I have no idea if it's like a real double bass as I've never played one.

Edited January 1, 2011 by bartelby

[The Burpster]

or The Gallery in Camden - also NS stockists and have others in too.....

[franzbassist]

Happy New Year

Both good shops and you can't go wrong with either. Bass Direct also have the fabulous BSX bass, which is more like a proper upright (I own one), as well as the 35" scale flattish fingerboard Dean Pace, which I've heard is quite like a fretless bass. The Gallery usually have a nice mix of stock too.

Cheers

Gareth

[boostybaboon]

Thanks very much for those replies, those shops are just the ticket and not too far away from me here.

Does the NXT come with the tripod stand included does anybody know? I'm assuming the instrument is actually playable on the tripod - or is the tripod just supposed to be like a guitar stand? I see you can optionally have an end pin also for £200 (ouch!). I will want to bow it sometimes if I get one.

I am severely tempted by the take it away facility from bass direct. Much food for thought for me, thanks again folks.

Cheers,

Ian.

[BassBus]

As has been said already electric uprights are completely different beasts to bass guitars. I never understand why players use the pizz/mag pup tones on EUBs. Might as well stick with a BG.

All NS basses come with a stand. NXTs have a lower spec tripod. CRs have a decent heavy duty tripod which is much better.

NS basses have the scale length of a double bass which will take a bit of getting used to. A lot of players have changed the stock strings for proper orchestral DB strings which give a much darker, warmer sound.

I'd say persevere and try some proper DB technique and you'll get the most out of an EUB.

[Doddy]

I think that if you are after something with light strings and easy action,you may as well just buy a fretless bass guitar. Otherwise,you'd be better off with something that feels more like a proper upright-unfortunately these often cost a fair bit. It's worth noting that playing Something like the NS Bass Cello or Dean Pace won't make you an upright player,as the jump from one of those to an actual double bass is huge. To me,those kind of basses are really just vertical fretlesses. If you want to use it as a step towards playong double bass you'd probably be better off with something like the Stagg or Palatino bass. An inexpensive double bass would be even better.

[boostybaboon]

Thanks for the advice there in those last two replies, I appreciate it.

I have many reasons for wanting to give the upright electric a go. I'm not playing in any bands at the moment and am having difficulties finding opportunities to play. Unfortunately what I'm best at (funk/pop) I'm not finding very enjoyable to play, mainly for reasons of volume (these days, my ears can't take the volume that most bands seem to like to play at, even with earplugs in).

Playing the electric upright I'd be able to play with a local ensemble who need upright players, which will improve my playing from score. If that works out it would open up other doors due to the contacts in that group, generally broaden my playing opportunities where I wasn't expected to stand on top of my amp turned up to 11 next to a drummer going mental. Would be nice to occasionally be able to hear the notes I and everyone else was playing.

I'd probably get some lessons too, if any self respecting double bass teacher is prepared to lower themselves to teach me on an electric instrument

So that's the vague plan - you probably think I'm utterly mental. The first step is to go to a shop and try an electric upright, most likely something like the NXT or similar (arched finger board, DB scale, bowable). If I like it I'll get it and take it from there.

Unfortunately I really don't get on with double basses. I can't properly explain it - I just don't bond with them as instruments. It may well be that after 5 minutes of playing an EUB I discover I can't get on with EUBs either, in which case back to square one! Anyone need an electric bassist in north bucks?

And in the case I buy one and it all turns out to be a hideous mistake, in a year's time you can expect to see an advert for a second hand EUB on this board and someone might pick up a nice bargain due to my foolishness!

Cheers all,

Ian.

[BassBus]

Have you had any lessons on double bass? From what you are saying I'd say go straight to DB. When I started playing DB the trumpet player in the jazz band I play in said I'd never be short of work with a DB. Didn't believe him at the time but that has proven to be the case.

The action on a DB can be altered to your taste by a good luthier who understands them. The first DB I had was pretty well unplayable until the action was lowered. My current DB was set up for jazz playing and is very comfortable.

Perhaps hire a DB and get some proper lessons. It might be that some good technique would help you bond with the instrument. They have a wonderful sound even if they are a pox to cart around.

Edited January 2, 2011 by BassBus

[Doddy]

[quote name='boostybaboon' post='1075181' date='Jan 2 2011, 12:16 PM']Playing the electric upright I'd be able to play with a local ensemble who need upright players, which will improve my playing from score. If that works out it would open up other doors due to the contacts in that group, generally broaden my playing opportunities where I wasn't expected to stand on top of my amp turned up to 11 next to a drummer going mental. Would be nice to occasionally be able to hear the notes I and everyone else was playing.[/quote]

It's worth keeping in mind that people are more likely to hire a 'proper' upright player than an electric upright player. If that's your aim,I really think you'd be better off renting or buying a real upright first.

[boostybaboon]

They're good points about double basses you make there, the couple of DBs I've played have been pretty cheap instruments, maybe I've just never played a good one, or a properly set up one. Having some lessons and playing on a quality instrument might open my eyes to something.

I do love technology though, which is part of the appeal of the EUB. I also live in a small house. However, it is always good advice not to prejudge things, so I ought to play a good quality DB preferably set up low-n-loose, play an EUB also and compare and contrast. As Sherlock Holmes would say "It is a capital mistake to theorize before one has data."

Jazz double teachers in north bucks? I can only find one on teh interwebz on a very quick and cursory search - a mr oli hayhurst [url="http://www.olihayhurst.com/"]http://www.olihayhurst.com/[/url] seems to do jazz so maybe he's worth a contact, a half hour's drive away only. I'm sure there are others too.

Cheers all,

Ian.