The (unofficial) Upright Bass Showcase Thread

[edwardofhuncote]

This came up tangentially on the Pictures Thread... Adriaan spotted an upright bass with what appeared to be a fine adjuster on an E-string. The bass in question also had a C-extender on the E, so all I can come up with was the adjuster on the tailpiece allowed her to go another step lower than the open C. (skip forward to about 2:50 for the capo type)

I'd love to try one, but on a good day I'm doing good with standard pitch tuning.

[cozmik_cowboy]

See my response to Adriaan over on the other thread.

On a good day, I'm not even close to doing good in standard!

Peter

[fmm]

After playing for 54 years, I have my own upright.  It's nothing special, completely laminate, but IT'S MINE.

Every year my brother-in-law enters the Iowa State Fair banjo competition (he's a pretty good player), and I accompany him.  In previous years, I would rent an upright for a month.  This year, there were no basses available in the entire state.

So I bought one.

I Des Moines music shop had one for $650, including a bag, stand, bow, and most important, 3 instruction books on bluegrass bass.

We came in second (and since the same person has won first place 15+ years in a row, that's good enough for us).

I have a former student who builds basses (www.nicklloydbasses.com, check him out) who sent me a Gage Copperhead pickup and a set of decent strings, essentially doubling the value of the instrument.
I used it for a community theatre production of Bright Star, my first use of an upright in the pit since 1976.  I seriously need to work on my upright chops.
I just got it back from the shop: new adjustable bridge, and the luthier killed a rattle.
I'm looking forward to bringing it to big band & church gigs when the weather gets a bit warmer.

[jazzyvee]

I like it Jacko... totally counts as an upright! 

I guess this qualifies then

[edwardofhuncote]

I like it Jacko... totally counts as an upright! 

I guess this qualifies then

Absolutely, 100%. 😎

[edwardofhuncote]

After playing for 54 years, I have my own upright.  It's nothing special, completely laminate, but IT'S MINE.

Congratulations & Compliments! 🥳

[David Houck]

... So I bought one ... a Des Moines music shop had one for $650, including a bag, stand, bow, and most important, 3 instruction books on bluegrass bass ...

Congrats; it looks really nice!

[edwardofhuncote]

Unless my eyes deceive me, those strings look like Pirastro 'Evahs' too Michael... definitely top-shelf wires if so. And as you say, with the David Gage pickup and adjustable bridge and setup there, you easily doubled the value. I say well done.

I just finished up a very tricky repair on an all solid wood, carved top and back, Eastman bass for one of my shop customers. They're nice, but man they sure are fragile. This one had a 17" long split from the tailblock up towards the c-cutout, and was badly misaligned and splintered in one spot. It was a tough one, but I got it.

Oh yeah, the point I was getting at; Strings. I swapped out his very worn Evah Pirazzi set for a new D'Addario Zyex set. I'm not picking the latter over the Evahs, but for half the price, they are very nice strings. Good hybrid... they take a bow well, and feel nice and smooth for general pizzicato play. I switched-off to them when my favorite Obligato set hit the $250 a few years back. Truthfully, someone of my limited capacity will never hear the difference in my own playing. I do appreciate nice strings though.

[fmm]

Edward:

The strings are D'Addario Helicore Lights.

Take a look at the Nick Lloyd basses site, I think you might get a kick out of it.

Speaking of bows, I now have 3.  A French and a German, both fiberglass, and a carbon fiber French that looks really cool, but does nothing to improve my tone, which is dreadful.

Several years ago I was the IT volunteer for a bass summer camp that was set up in several cities (I handled the Twin Cities).  Francois Rabbath was the main clinician.

Nick Lloyd brought a couple of his basses for the students to try out.  One of my students was there, and as I was playing a Lloyd bass, I let him know that the bow he was using cost more than my Alembic.  He very carefully set everything down.

[edwardofhuncote]

Edward:

The strings are D'Addario Helicore Lights.

Take a look at the Nick Lloyd basses site, I think you might get a kick out of it.

Ahhh, the teal green threw me off. Helicore is a mighty strong contender too.


I'll check him out!


*very cool

[David Houck]

... the bow he was using cost more than my Alembic ...

   !!!!!

[cozmik_cowboy]

... the bow he was using cost more than my Alembic ...

   !!!!!

My response exactly!

Peter

[fmm]

Apparently it was a really good bow.  I don't know, I can't tell.

[cozmik_cowboy]

So, I went to the Nick Lloyd site, and I (who know nothing about doghouse basses except they sound great and can be a bear to mic), and I noticed that he offers 3/4 & 7/8 sizes.  Is 4/4 not a thing?

Peter

[edwardofhuncote]

So, I went to the Nick Lloyd site, and I (who know nothing about doghouse basses except they sound great and can be a bear to mic), and I noticed that he offers 3/4 & 7/8 sizes.  Is 4/4 not a thing?

Peter

No, there are some for sure. I have one... it was gifted to me many years ago. It's huge. Gamba-style flatback Bohemian that started life as a 3-string and got converted to a 4-string sometime in the early 20th Century. I haven't had it strung up in 20 years, but it sounds heavenly. Golly that thing is a double handful to play though. Fractionals are more commonplace though as folks dropping that kind of ka-ching want an upright that fits just right. My main gig-bass is a 3/4 with an unusually longer scale. I can play other basses but would rather not.