Alembic shorty v. acoustic upright

[hankster]

A lot of my work is with big bands - swing bands, 18 - 20 piece, standard arrangements.  I often do the gigs and rehearsals with my Stanley short scale, particularly as it is easier to read accurately (for me, anyway) with a fretted bass, and my stage footprint is smaller than if I am using the upright.  And from my standpoint the sound is a little punchier and more controllable.


I have had so many people say to me, "I usually don't like electric bass in a big band, but your sound is so warm and clear, I really love the sound of that bass". 


Of course I feel the same way...the attack and the sound shape aren't the same as an acoustic, of course, or even an electric upright (I also use an NS designs upright on many occasions) - but I really appreciate the Alembic sound, and I wonder if anyone else has the same kind of "I usually don't like electric basses but in your case I'll make an exception" experience.


Comments?  Questions?


R.


P.S. - Happy Holidays to all!

[edwardofhuncote]

I get that all the time, or used to. And don't get me wrong - I still love playing my old upright in a live, big venue setting when I can. The logistics are not as welcome as they used to be, but I'll never totally give up my upright.
 I can "get away with" playing my Alembic in an oldtyme string band, right here in the cradle of Appalachia, (where they still hang 'lek-tric bass players) simply by knowing how to fit into what music I'm playing, and more specifically, knowing what not to play. I bet it's the same for you. It's about doing a job with a superior tool.


FWIW, the closest thing I have ever gotten to an upright bass with a bass guitar, is a Starfire, with T-I Jazz Flats, favoring the neck pickup and rolling off the highs about 40%, and playing over the last fret. It's uncannily upright-ish... and I don't say that lightly.

[rv_bass]

Greg, my jazz band loves it when I bring my Starfire for that same reason!  Although they really love my “crazy looking” bass as well.

[pauldo]

“superior tool” 

When I played a Distillate in a swing band nobody complained... no upright comments made either. 

But we know that you can dial in such an array of tones that fitting in appropriately is never an issue.

[mario_farufyno]

I've never been able to play the big old brother, but love its tone and depth. When walkin jazz lines I play over the fretboard 20th fret or lower with neck PU soloed, it is not the same tone but got some vibe that really fits in.

[keith_h]

I haven't tried to get an upright tone out of my Alembics. I use to get a pretty decent tone for big band stuff with my old Vox Mk IV equipped with tape wound strings. I also had a bit of foam for dampening  between the strings and ashtray. 

[hankster]

I don’t try to get an upright sound out of any of my transverse basses - can’t be done. But sound techs and other musicians just love the warmth of the Alembic in a big band setting- for itself, not because it sounds like something else.