Belinda Posted June 21, 2010 Share Posted June 21, 2010 At first I had a thought ..... and the thought grew stronger ...... then I discovered this forum ..... and Hey Presto, the thought became a reality I will shortly be taking delivery of an Aria SWB Lite One Oak It's all your faults - this forum has been most enlightening and does not appear to be elitist. You have provided so much information that I felt confident enough to take the plunge - and indeed, it is a plunge because I have neither seen nor played one of these Several years ago I borrowed a DB because a string group needed some low end and basically I played it for just a few weeks. I was then asked to play in a band as the bassist but having carted the DB (I'm 5ft 2) in and out of the car and up a down stairs a few times I soon bought a very cheap bass guitar and amp (£200!!!!). It wasn't long before I outgrew that and have gone through various amps and guitars and am currently playing a Fender Jazz (not an actual Fender unfortunately) with a Mark Bass combo amp. The band is a swing / 40's 7 piece and the sound is good but I feel that a DB sound would enhance it - hence my thought process I do have questions and they are probably silly ones but .... here's the first .... am I right in assuming that my combo amp will be fine with the Aria?? - Told you!!!! Also, people seem to be changing strings - is this necessary or preferential? Being a complete girl (I wish) I don't understand what people mean about a pre amp - this has caused me a fair bit of confusion, hence my first question Anyway - I'm sure I'll have more if I can't find the answers in older posts Your's expectantly Belinda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mottlefeeder Posted June 21, 2010 Share Posted June 21, 2010 [quote name='Belinda' post='873906' date='Jun 21 2010, 09:30 PM']At first I had a thought ..... and the thought grew stronger ...... then I discovered this forum ..... and Hey Presto, the thought became a reality I will shortly be taking delivery of an Aria SWB Lite One Oak It's all your faults - this forum has been most enlightening and does not appear to be elitist. You have provided so much information that I felt confident enough to take the plunge - and indeed, it is a plunge because I have neither seen nor played one of these Several years ago I borrowed a DB because a string group needed some low end and basically I played it for just a few weeks. I was then asked to play in a band as the bassist but having carted the DB (I'm 5ft 2) in and out of the car and up a down stairs a few times I soon bought a very cheap bass guitar and amp (£200!!!!). It wasn't long before I outgrew that and have gone through various amps and guitars and am currently playing a Fender Jazz (not an actual Fender unfortunately) with a Mark Bass combo amp. The band is a swing / 40's 7 piece and the sound is good but I feel that a DB sound would enhance it - hence my thought process I do have questions and they are probably silly ones but .... here's the first .... am I right in assuming that my combo amp will be fine with the Aria?? - Told you!!!! Also, people seem to be changing strings - is this necessary or preferential? Being a complete girl (I wish) I don't understand what people mean about a pre amp - this has caused me a fair bit of confusion, hence my first question Anyway - I'm sure I'll have more if I can't find the answers in older posts Your's expectantly Belinda[/quote] Strings that are designed to be plucked will have good sustain, but strings designed to be bowed will have very little sustain. That may be the cause of the string changing discussions you have picked up. David Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mykesbass Posted June 21, 2010 Share Posted June 21, 2010 The combo should be fine - I play mine through a Yamaha BBT head and 110 cab - sounds good to me! I'm still using the stock strings and am happy with them for plucking - haven't tried using a bow for over 30 years so couldn't comment on that aspect. Pretty sure they would be set up for jazz/pop/acoustic rather than classical anyway. Hope you enjoy it when it arrives. Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mateybass Posted June 22, 2010 Share Posted June 22, 2010 (edited) [quote name='Belinda' post='873906' date='Jun 21 2010, 09:30 PM']I do have questions and they are probably silly ones but .... here's the first .... am I right in assuming that my combo amp will be fine with the Aria?? - Told you!!!! Also, people seem to be changing strings - is this necessary or preferential? Being a complete girl (I wish) I don't understand what people mean about a pre amp - this has caused me a fair bit of confusion, hence my first question Anyway - I'm sure I'll have more if I can't find the answers in older posts Your's expectantly Belinda[/quote] Your amp will certainly work with your Aria, it really depends if it's the sound you want. Strings are changed for many reasons, some as mentioned by a previous poster have to do with the way it will be played, arco or pizz. Other reasons have to do with the sound you'll get from an Electric Upright Bass (EUB). Many people are disappointed that their EUB doesn't sound like a proper double bass and try to emulate the sound by changing to non-steel cored strings. I have to say that trying to make a solid-bodied EUB sound like a DB is a bit like trying to make an electric guitar sound like an acoustic guitar. You can get close but it'll never be exact. You could spend an awful lot of money in the search for the right sounding strings, the right amp. Alternatively, just enjoy its differentness and save yourself some money. A pre-amp is an amplifying circuit inserted in the audio signal chain between pick-up and amplifier, hence pre (before amp). When discussed with regard to double bass and most acoustic instruments, it is usually to boost the signal and enhance the sound that is obtained from a piezo pick-up before it gets to your amp. Your Aria has a piezo but it also has a built-in preamp so you have no need to worry. If your amp EQ controls are limited, you could try an inline EQ footpedal to help you get closer to a DB sound. I'm sure you will find a guitarist who would lend you one to try before you buy. Have fun with your stick Edited June 22, 2010 by Mateybass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigBeatNut Posted June 22, 2010 Share Posted June 22, 2010 [quote name='Belinda' post='873906' date='Jun 21 2010, 09:30 PM']... am currently playing a Fender Jazz (not an actual Fender unfortunately) with a Mark Bass combo amp. .... am I right in assuming that my combo amp will be fine with the Aria??[/quote] The EUB and DB I have haven't been gigged to any extent so I can't really comment. However I do know of one classically trained DB player who also plays BG and DB in blues bands, and he says that the markbass 121P combo he has is the only amp he's found that works well with both DB and BG. Suspect that (like me) you've luckily made the right choice. Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Belinda Posted June 22, 2010 Author Share Posted June 22, 2010 [quote name='BigBeatNut' post='874109' date='Jun 22 2010, 08:33 AM']The EUB and DB I have haven't been gigged to any extent so I can't really comment. However I do know of one classically trained DB player who also plays BG and DB in blues bands, and he says that the markbass 121P combo he has is the only amp he's found that works well with both DB and BG. Suspect that (like me) you've luckily made the right choice. Andy[/quote] When I was out to buy an amp I was looking for something small and light - the MarkBass outshone everything and I can carry it!!!!!! It was the pound notes, I suppose, that made the difference as it was several hundred more than the cheapest I will not be doing any arco - thankfully - I did try it but there was noone able to show me how to use the bow and all my playing friends are wind and brass mainly. So it seems that the string issue may now drop to the bottom of my list My next conundrum will be finding a tutor in the Medway Towns area who won't make me play arco Like others, I only want to make sure I have the good habits first. I noted that some people recommend a DVD - if I have no luck then I'll have to go down that route. I bought a 'how to play' DB book when I borrowed the first one and the opening lines almost were ... your tutor will show you how to hold it!!! Thanks for all your reassurances everyone - expectantly yours ... Belinda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcater Posted August 14, 2010 Share Posted August 14, 2010 Belinda another Aria EUB player in the area, I'm in T Wells. Hope it's going ok. I recently stopped using the satandard pick up on the Aria. Attached an old fishman pick up to the bridge. Can't tell you how happy i am with it. Try this to hear it [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AL9r8aeaVpk"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AL9r8aeaVpk[/url] jeff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KevG Posted August 14, 2010 Share Posted August 14, 2010 Limited EUB experience, but my East Coast Stagg clone sounds great through my Markbass CMD 121P with all eq set at neutral and the bass down on the EUB itself. Have loved playing mine for the past 18 months or so, hope you do too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheRev Posted August 16, 2010 Share Posted August 16, 2010 (edited) Hello and welcome to the dark side.... Those short, flat bass guitars will never feel quite the same again and you will become increasingly obsessed with the fingering of your left hand and the works of Paul Chambers. On the subject of chanhing strings: EUBs are generally a lot brighter and have more sustain than proper DBs, so if you are playing pizzicato, using a set of hybrid or orchestral (or gut, if you've go a bob or five) will tame some of the brightness and sustaing and give you a more DB like sound. However, if you like brightness and sustain then stick with the stock strings. I changed the stock strings on the Aria I had for a set of Helicore hybrids and loved the softer, slightly thuddy sound, but having given some old live recordings made when I still had the stock strings on a good listen - it still sounded pretty double-bassy in a band setting Recordings are here: [url="http://www.myspace.com/redlemonsound"]www.myspace.com/redlemonsound[/url] Enjoy your new bass! Edited August 16, 2010 by TheRev Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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