Alembic Guitars Club

Alembic products => Alembic Basses & Guitars => Topic started by: hendixclarke on September 10, 2008, 05:31:46 PM

Title: Upright basses with a bow
Post by: hendixclarke on September 10, 2008, 05:31:46 PM

Who else out there besides Stanley Clarke, play big bass with a bow?
 
I just love what Stan does with them. I was listening to an old RTF No Mystery Track 7 on CD. DAMN that was good. Stan must had been a teenager back then...

Title: Upright basses with a bow
Post by: jacko on September 11, 2008, 04:22:42 AM

I guess every Bass player in every orchestra around the world can switch happily between Pizzicato and arco.
 
Graeme

Title: Upright basses with a bow
Post by: jseitang on September 11, 2008, 07:41:13 AM

i majored in classical bass in college. i played german bow, and im tellin you, its no walk in the park.

Title: Upright basses with a bow
Post by: olieoliver on September 11, 2008, 07:49:49 AM

OOps dbl post
OO
 
(Message edited by olieoliver on September 11, 2008)

Title: Upright basses with a bow
Post by: olieoliver on September 11, 2008, 07:50:42 AM

OOPS, again
 
OO
 
(Message edited by olieoliver on September 11, 2008)

Title: Upright basses with a bow
Post by: olieoliver on September 11, 2008, 07:51:02 AM

I play upright some and use a bow some but have never mastered it. Need to work on it more but after 3 or 4 squeaks I get frustrated and give it the finger(s).  
 
OO

Title: Upright basses with a bow
Post by: dannobasso on September 11, 2008, 11:54:17 AM

EDGAR MEYER y'all!

Title: Upright basses with a bow
Post by: worldfamousandy on September 11, 2008, 12:20:42 PM

Ray Brown, occasionally.  I like Black Orpheus on the album of the same name (Ray Brown Trio, with Jeff Hamilton and Gene Harris).  Check out Gary Karr's stuff, too.

Title: Upright basses with a bow
Post by: hendixclarke on September 11, 2008, 04:02:26 PM

Thanks Andy -- Gary Karr's music is wonderful. How did I go through life all this time, and never heard his music...?
 
This is why I love/hate this site so much. Thank you from the bottom of my heart Andy.

Title: Upright basses with a bow
Post by: pauldo on September 11, 2008, 04:52:45 PM

I play upright with a bow (french style) ! :-)
I am getting better with alot more practicing,,, I used to be afflicted like Olie. The squeeks are not as frequent now but for some reason my left (fingering hand) is not as dexterious when I am bowing,,, it must be all my thoughts sinking into my right hand and departing the left.
 
 
Edgar Meyer fer sure!!!
Renaud Garcia Fons is certainly worth a listen also.

Title: Upright basses with a bow
Post by: 811952 on September 11, 2008, 06:21:38 PM

The trick (or one of about a hundred) is to not move the bow too fast.  More pressure at first, to get the string speaking, then feel for a speed where the bow seems connected to the string and not sliding (or careening, as my technique has been characterized) across the strings.  
 
The fullest tone comes when you have the most resistance against the string, if that makes sense.  Louder near the bridge and the bow moves more slowly than when nearer the end of the fingerboard.  
 
I play both German and French, and definitely prefer French.  
 
John

Title: Upright basses with a bow
Post by: jseitang on September 11, 2008, 06:47:58 PM

check out giovanni botessini guys

Title: Upright basses with a bow
Post by: darkstar01 on September 12, 2008, 09:25:51 PM

francois rabbath.

Title: Upright basses with a bow
Post by: David Houck on September 12, 2008, 09:46:44 PM

Glen Moore

Title: Upright basses with a bow
Post by: richbass939 on September 13, 2008, 06:40:18 AM

A couple of questions for you arco folks.  
Do you wipe the resin buildup off the strings between songs or leave it there?  I've seen it done both ways by professionals.  
For you German bow people, do you hold the bow the French bow way or put your ring and middle fingers through the frog?
Rich

Title: Upright basses with a bow
Post by: 811952 on September 13, 2008, 07:10:27 AM

I would clean the rosin off fairly regularly.  It's been awhile, but I used a fairly soft/sticky rosin that built up quickly.  I don't know if cleaning it is really necessary or does any good, but I figure it can't hurt.  I would also clean it off the top of the instrument with Fiddle Bright (if I recall correctly) every so often..
 
As for the German bow thing, the ring and middle fingers shouldn't actually pass through the frog.  It hinders mobility and isn't necessary, though most people hold it that way.  
 
Playing French with a German bow is no big deal with a little practice, but not optimal because the bow wants to rotate.
 
John

Title: Upright basses with a bow
Post by: hankster on September 13, 2008, 12:37:46 PM

Neil Swainson.  John Carter.  Michel Donato.  (the departed) Slam Stewart.
 
and many others, no doubt.
 
Rick

Title: Upright basses with a bow
Post by: hendixclarke on September 13, 2008, 07:18:03 PM

I wish Alembic create a big bass.

Title: Upright basses with a bow
Post by: 811952 on September 13, 2008, 08:04:44 PM

My Series 1.5 is awfully large.  ;)

Title: Upright basses with a bow
Post by: darkstar01 on September 13, 2008, 08:18:23 PM

how about some avant garde? henry grimes, alan silva, barry guy, mark dresser.
mark dresser makes some insane sounds with his bow.
he also uses a pickup that amplifies overtones and other sounds that are usually missed that's  mounted over the nut of his bass... i was kind of wondering if anyone knew anything about it. i have no idea what it is, i found a page one time that explained it, but i'm not a tech guy so it didn't make much sense to me. any clues?
oh, and alembic makes the classico. does that count?

Title: Upright basses with a bow
Post by: adriaan on September 15, 2008, 03:25:21 AM

hendixclarke - never heard of the Classico?
 
[edit] oops - darkstar01 beat me to it.
 
(Message edited by adriaan on September 15, 2008)

Title: Upright basses with a bow
Post by: jacko on September 15, 2008, 03:29:12 AM

Austin, any news on yours (http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=7116)?
 
Back on topic - Miroslav Vitous.
 
Graeme

Title: Upright basses with a bow
Post by: funkyjazzjunky on September 19, 2008, 12:50:01 PM

Fran?ois Rabbath's Reitba