So I think I want an upright bass, input needed

M

millsart

New member
Long as I can remember I've always thought it would be awesome to have a nice 3/4th size upright bass (give or take hotrod flames lol)

The sound and look etc is just so cool. Who doesn't like an instrument bigger than they are right ?

Anyways, never played on one though and really dont know what I'm getting myself into.

Ive got an 4 string electric and know a little but hardly consider myself a good bass player. I know uprights are fretless which alone would be tough, but how about the playing postion, string tension etc ? In other words, is an upright an instrument one can pick up with little experience and start playing or is it something thats better suited for someone with years of experience on electric fretted or fretless basses ?

Additionally, how decent are the low end offerings in the $700 range ? Are they decent or total garbage ?

Thats about the cheapest I've ever seen anything and dont want to waste my money on something I couldnt even learn to play because its such a peice, know what I mean ?

At the same time, I'm not going to drop $4k on a King Double Bass or anything like that no matter how nice I hear they are


So if anyone has any advice, or knows any good resoucres even, please let me know

cheers
 
Re: So I think I want an upright bass, input needed

String tension is high, gauge is quite thick. You'll have to condition your hands to build up strength, and developing good intonation is a worthwhile effort. This isn't a bass guitar; even with an acoustic pickup, you're gonna have to work this puppy.
 
Re: So I think I want an upright bass, input needed

well the understatementologist hit the nail on the head... it takes some getting used to but it is quite fun to play.
 
Re: So I think I want an upright bass, input needed

Once you put a pickup on it and stick it through an SVT, the quality of the bass really doesn't matter a whole lot---most people end up making it sound like an bad electric anyway. I've been playing with upright bass for about 25 years and I think it works best at moderate to low volumes. I see quite a few older ply basses on CL from guys who try it for the look and realize it's way too much hard work...
 
Re: So I think I want an upright bass, input needed

yep, just like everyone else has said, its a totally different beast.
 
Re: So I think I want an upright bass, input needed

URB.

Several years back, the guy who played(s) keys with me let me borrow his late father's 1920s Kay URB.

We were going to be doing an acoustic show, so I figured I'd learn the songs on the URB. I did figure I'd have to maybe dumb down my parts a bit, but I figured I've got 25 years experience, I can totally do this in 2 weeks.

Wow. I got my tail beat down. That scale difference is a mother****er. Plucking the strings tore up my fingers. Heck, even just standing with it in proper position was hard on my back.

URB players deserve props.
 
Re: So I think I want an upright bass, input needed

For those first couple of weeks, the strings will tear your fingers up. I got a boil on one of my plucking fingers. :eyecrazy:
 
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