portunderground
New member
How different are the tones of the two? The only thing i know is that electric double bass can use bow. and that double bass cant really move around on stage. which one has a more raw acoustic sound?
fretless bass or electric double bass?
- Thread starter portunderground
- Start date
rottenramone
Active member
the acoustic will win hands down. but there are small electric basses which can cop the upright bass sound.
1) rob allen mouse bass http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6oApthi3VQ
2) ashbory bass http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Rh3G-D6u1c
3) godin a4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8sevqhYqpZE
1) rob allen mouse bass http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6oApthi3VQ
2) ashbory bass http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Rh3G-D6u1c
3) godin a4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8sevqhYqpZE
alanchia
New member
i can answer that, since i play edb in church complementing my regular fretted bass guitar.
the answer to your question is 'tone'. what are you really looking for?
a fretless bass has a 'mwah' factor which many bass players seek. the edb doesnt sound 100% like acoustic double bass (although close enough), in fact the tone is a class of its own (and still have the same 'mwah' factor like db). db and edb is more 'thumpy' and doesnt sustain as well as fretless.
thus selection is really due to the tone you seek. portability is secondary.
due to longer scale length in db/edb (41"+), you'll need to learn different fingering technique. string tension on db/edb is higher too (eg, G string is 65+ lbs, comparing G string in long scale 34" bass is about 34+ lbs). it can be painful at first (literally too since the action is so much higher), but can be overcomed.
arco (bowing) adds a different dimension to the bass tone. although not commonly seen in jazz, but there are many good jazz players who can bow too. am still learning to do this well.
ashbory is a good substitute for tone (almost gotten from rottenramone), but it has problems too. due to silicone strings, you must powder your fingers with appropriate powder to prevent string sticking to fingers. older ashbory is difficult to keep in tune. and the strings are hard to get in singapore.
visit zen guitarwerkz in peninsula plaza, they have stagg fretless bass AND the stagg 3/4 edb (the edb which i have). try play them to compare the tone for yourselve.
the answer to your question is 'tone'. what are you really looking for?
a fretless bass has a 'mwah' factor which many bass players seek. the edb doesnt sound 100% like acoustic double bass (although close enough), in fact the tone is a class of its own (and still have the same 'mwah' factor like db). db and edb is more 'thumpy' and doesnt sustain as well as fretless.
thus selection is really due to the tone you seek. portability is secondary.
due to longer scale length in db/edb (41"+), you'll need to learn different fingering technique. string tension on db/edb is higher too (eg, G string is 65+ lbs, comparing G string in long scale 34" bass is about 34+ lbs). it can be painful at first (literally too since the action is so much higher), but can be overcomed.
arco (bowing) adds a different dimension to the bass tone. although not commonly seen in jazz, but there are many good jazz players who can bow too. am still learning to do this well.
ashbory is a good substitute for tone (almost gotten from rottenramone), but it has problems too. due to silicone strings, you must powder your fingers with appropriate powder to prevent string sticking to fingers. older ashbory is difficult to keep in tune. and the strings are hard to get in singapore.
visit zen guitarwerkz in peninsula plaza, they have stagg fretless bass AND the stagg 3/4 edb (the edb which i have). try play them to compare the tone for yourselve.
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rottenramone
Active member
yes, the ashbory strings can get quite sticky if you have sweaty hands. and the strings will snap if its plucked too hard. but i've been told that there's another substitute silicone tubing which can be easily gotten off a hardware store.
portunderground
New member
about the db, it would give me more of the muted thumping sound which i am looking for. not a problem about the fingerings though. got practising on a acoustic one. How much am i looking at for one? Or, should i just convert my 4 stringer to a fretless?
alanchia
New member
edb price ranges a wide margin. from stagg 3/4 edb which is S$999.90 to yamaha slb-200 which is S$5.5K.
to change your existing electric bass to fretless or not, there is a separate thread discussing this. please find it first.
i'll still suggest you try both stagg fretless and the edb in the same shop first to compare which tone you like.
to change your existing electric bass to fretless or not, there is a separate thread discussing this. please find it first.
i'll still suggest you try both stagg fretless and the edb in the same shop first to compare which tone you like.
alanchia
New member
to be honest, it's still very loud when you arco unplugged.
for pizzicato, it's rather soft unplugged.
good thing about some of the edb, is that they may have headphone jack so that you can practise without using a proper amp. for me, i even tried connected to home pc (which has subwoofer speaker), and also recording too from the headphone jack.
for pizzicato, it's rather soft unplugged.
good thing about some of the edb, is that they may have headphone jack so that you can practise without using a proper amp. for me, i even tried connected to home pc (which has subwoofer speaker), and also recording too from the headphone jack.
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anonpersona
New member
Are there EDBs and DBs with fret lines on the neck out there?
alanchia
New member
db i am sure no fret line. edb may have fret dots at the side of fingerboard. even if not there, you can always make your own dot markers. like me, i made my own dot marker for the 1st fret position (even though stagg edb already has dots).
shinobi
New member
i think between a fretless electric bass and a db/edb, while the differences in tone can be compensated/simulated, there will be quite a difference in the way you play as well as what you actually end up playing.
the best way to approach this is to determine what kind of music you want to play and the kind of tone you are trying to achieve, and then getting the right instrument for it, rather than doing it the other way around.
the best way to approach this is to determine what kind of music you want to play and the kind of tone you are trying to achieve, and then getting the right instrument for it, rather than doing it the other way around.
