Author Topic: Electric Upright (Read 98 times)

mike1762 · « **on:** November 13, 2010, 02:56:29 AM »

Just for tickles and grins, I bought a Stagg EUB. In 30+ years of playing, I don't think I have ever touched a DB!!! This is REALLY different, but it's been fun playing around on it. Stagg is the Squire of the EUB world, but it doesn't seem too bad (for my purposes anyway). I'm strictly working on pizzicato, but you can bow it. My problem: I think think it has too much sustain. Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't you going for a woody THUMP with these things??? I can think of several things I can do to it to make that happen, but I want to be sure I'm headed down the right path.

jet_powers · « **Reply #1 on:** November 13, 2010, 06:36:06 AM »

ANYTHING you do with it that makes you happy is the right path....

jazzyvee · « **Reply #2 on:** November 13, 2010, 06:55:11 AM »

I'll be curious with your findings on that bass as I was looking at one last year but couldn't get used to those metal bit of wire you have to slot into the body though it was very easy to play especially with the action lowered via the bridge screws.

I may still get one if I can't find an acoustic DB at the right price.
Jazzyvee

fmm · « **Reply #3 on:** November 13, 2010, 11:08:15 AM »

I have one and I noticed some issues:

The rubber tip on the end pin lasted about an hour. I replaced it with a ribber tip for a cane and a hose clamp.

There's evidence of stress cracks in the tail piece, but so far it's fine.

The nut is not vey durable. Mine essentially crumbled in about a year. I'm currently procrastinating on carving a new one.

mike1762 · « **Reply #4 on:** November 13, 2010, 12:17:46 PM »

It was definitely in need of a set-up upon arrival. I still need to file the nut slots down, but I agree with FMM that it really just needs a new nut (ebony?). I was thinking of floating the piezo element on some rubber in order to decrease the sensitivity of the PUP (that would decrease the sustain wouldn't it???) or maybe just mute the strings with a sponge. I like the bridge... it's more like that on an electric bass than a DB. The metal arms are kind-of weird, but you can remove them if you want (you probably need the body bar to keep the bass from spinning, but I'll probably take the other one off).

mike1762 · « **Reply #5 on:** November 13, 2010, 01:26:11 PM »

The sponge thing works!!! As an added bonus, the green sponge looks really bitchin' on the sunburst finish. I guess I need to figure out a way to attach a less conspicuous pad to the bridge (something like the old Music Man bridges).

funkyjazzjunky · « **Reply #6 on:** November 15, 2010, 01:52:37 PM »

Mike,

I play (or try to play) 60's and 70's Jazz and the sustain is often a key component of the sound. What music do you play

mike1762 · « **Reply #7 on:** November 26, 2010, 07:28:52 AM »

Oh well... I just returned the 2nd Stagg. The pre-amp was messed-up in the 1st and the headstock was cracked in the 2nd. I'm thinking about just biting the bullet and getting an actual DB.