I have the 4-string version. It’s definitely a ‘double bass simulator’, not a real upright at all, but I don’t care. I LOVE IT. If you feel the need to make it sound like a double bass, then you can. But screw that! It has its own unique sound that has its own worth. If you want to use it as an electric fretless you can just flip it sideways onto it’s stand ah la ‘Fearless Flyers’ styles. For the price, this is excellent value.
Thought about getting one of these but went with an NS Wav instead. After hearing that tone I’m glad I did! Still, very cool of Ibanez to keep trying new things.
Same here. The ibanez looked great, but the NS seems to sound better, and you can use all the double bass strings you want. The Corelli 370Ms sound amazing on it.
Same here. I have a NS Design CR5 Omni Bass, which has both magnetic and piezo pickups, so it can switch between a normal fretless tone and an electric upright tone (which sounds more like an upright than the Ibanez), and it also has pizzicato and arco settings so you can bow it with better response. The CR5's upright tone isn't 100% realistic--more of its own unique hybrid of upright and electric, but it gets closer than the Ibanez for sure. The strap/harness system is also very good, allowing you to move around in standing position while playing.
I have one and love it.. you can dial in a really nice tone with a bit of patience and care with amp settings etc... great sustain too, its definitely not an upright but great fun to play and just really cool 😁
@@metallsnubben Yeah! The only thing I have found to improve that sound is using an instrument body impulse response in the manner of a cabinet sim. They need to start building something like that into piezo preamps.
@@metallsnubben I have a double bass body IR which I sometimes put regular fretted electric bass through instead of an amp-sim. Doesn't sound like a double bass but it does make it boom a bit like one.
I had a 4. The stock strings are chromes, and they are very brittle sounding. GHS or Thomastic flats will make it very much more upright in sound. I will be owning one of these soon.
For anybody thinking of getting one of these, that is the only tone you can get from it. There is a surprising amount of thump and low end if you play it properly
as always a great review! I had one of these but like all EUB's it just didn't sound like my carved upright, even with labella tape wound strings, and my Ibanez srh500F was actually easier to use and sounded better to my ears.
Oh wow! That sound! I play fretless bass, I have the Ibanez SRF 705 which also features the piezo pickups however this upright bass sound incredible! I want one now! How on earth I would switch as it's very different from bass guitar. I guess I would need to take classes. Gorgeous sound, especially on the low end❤
I know this is an older video but just found it. My son plays bass and wanted to learn upright. We tried all the electric ones and the closest you can get to an acoustic sound was the NV designs. We got him one of those as it was going to be used in his jazz band at school. However, since then, we found him a real upright which he has been playing for a bit now. It plays very differently from an electric and obviously sounds better. He also has a Ibanez SRH500F which is the fretless version of that model. He can actually get a better upright sound out of that than any electric upright. Between the pickup and amp settings, it gets close. Just has that odd fretless sound compared to an upright. lol. I think these electric uprights are great o get someone interested in learning to play but, for me, the Ibanez falls a bit short on sound compared to others on the market. Maybe it plays more realistically than the NV designs but he tried them long before he got his real upright so does not rememeber.
My interest in getting one of these is non-existent. I will always tune in tho, to see/hear Lars play, Frank and Phil too for the record. All are fantastic!
As an upright bass player I see one major flaw with this bass, it doesn’t have the neck heal of a traditional upright bass. As any upright bass player will tell you, we use the heal as a guide for good intonation. I had another brand, similar to this bass, it had a very small body & a traditional heal, I loved it except it weight and balance was way wrong….sold it. You almost had me running out to purchase one🙃
Interesting to know that the weight distribution is thag important for an upright player, I didn't think that would be as big a factor considering they rest on the ground.
I have the four string version and play it through an Ampeg preamp pedal, roll the tone back and it sounds MUCH more like an upright than the demo here
EUBs are a niche. They don’t work if you are thinking convenient upright bass. It’s an instrument on its own and it’s really a clumsy fret less bass guitar. The Yamaha is pretty good and as near as your going to get to an upright but it’s nearly 4x the price.
Guys, could you make a bit longer video for that bass? Most people who looking for a 5 string version review, want to hear low B in a context. There are many videos dedicated to 4 stringed instrument, but, unfortunately they cannot show how very low notes are sounding. So, I’m able to hear just a few seconds of performance on 5 stringed Ibanez Upright only on this channel and I find this review surprisingly short. You are doing great work, guys, really, but this review looks for me very formal.
I had something similar (although not nearly as nice) as this, a Dean 4-string. If you have proper training on upright, these things feel STRANGE. Not only is the scale way off, but the heel is in the wrong place and the instrument's position is totally fixed in place on account of being on a tripod. I'm not sure who these instruments are for, really, aside from bass guitar players who want to double without ACTUALLY doubling (a cheap upright + pickup costs less than one of these, it just takes up way more space)
That's actuakly is a hybrid fretless bass. Can play upright, but can play like playing fretless bass guitar. But i'm soo curiuos of sound when wlectric upright bass is slapped, i don't know sounds like slap upright bass or slap fretless bass
@@adams115 the tone isn't really an upright and I cant really convince myself to get one if I can't play it as a fretless electric as well. Would make a great video if they pivoted it sideways on the stand or took the connector off the stand and attached it to a strap
It depends on the setup. When my five string Was delivered the setup was rubbish. I've set the action, hi so I can use it with a bow. The tone is much more like an upright bass now. it appears to me that the instruments use for these demos are mostly not set up well. Not helpful if you're trying to hear what the instant sounds like.
And indeed, the most ❤ bewdyful accent der is! I already have a TIVOLI 5 string EUB by Australian boutique maker Mark Haughton, who sadly is no longer producing. I am interested in the Ibanez 5 string set gauges; Mark had to have a specially-made B sting which doesn’t quite match the rest of a Pirastro 4 Med gauge set. .quite a bit heavier. Greetings from Oz [-tralia], Keep up the Good Work! Cheers, pierre😊
I cannot fathom how people think that farty, clacky piezo pizz tone is remotely pleasant in any way, shape, or form. Absolute novelty instrument. But other than that, great piece!
@@lummond since you are generalizing and think everything revolves around you I'll generalize and say you look like someone who would get into really clean boring unoriginal sound, but those golden ears!! I don't think it sounds that great either but depends on what someone is looking for.
@@flogginga_dead_horse4022 Well, if the harsh fart machine is what they're after, pretty much any fretless piezo setup with a passive tone will work. Grab something for $200 off AliExpress and fart away. Sadly, there are expensive like this that have this setup. Now, were you this defensive on all the other posts saying the same thing I did? Or I guess not, since you just said you agreed with me?
I think the companies should consider making a fake acustic body or just a part of it, towards the players. Seeing the neck only with such small body looks silly to me. Sounds great looks dumb ;d
I respect the effort from Ibanez, but like most of the comments I see on here, the tone makes me want to use it as a canoe oar rather than an musical instrument.
This demo ended too fast! I expected much more 👎🏻 it covers maybe only 10% of the specs. Completely useless for making up my mind about purchasing this particular model or Ibanez portamento 5 string fretless. Your older videos were much better
I have the 4-string version. It’s definitely a ‘double bass simulator’, not a real upright at all, but I don’t care. I LOVE IT. If you feel the need to make it sound like a double bass, then you can. But screw that! It has its own unique sound that has its own worth. If you want to use it as an electric fretless you can just flip it sideways onto it’s stand ah la ‘Fearless Flyers’ styles. For the price, this is excellent value.
This should be the official Ibanez demo for this instrument… it sounds way better here than on their own video!
Thought about getting one of these but went with an NS Wav instead. After hearing that tone I’m glad I did! Still, very cool of Ibanez to keep trying new things.
Same here. The ibanez looked great, but the NS seems to sound better, and you can use all the double bass strings you want. The Corelli 370Ms sound amazing on it.
Same here. I have a NS Design CR5 Omni Bass, which has both magnetic and piezo pickups, so it can switch between a normal fretless tone and an electric upright tone (which sounds more like an upright than the Ibanez), and it also has pizzicato and arco settings so you can bow it with better response. The CR5's upright tone isn't 100% realistic--more of its own unique hybrid of upright and electric, but it gets closer than the Ibanez for sure. The strap/harness system is also very good, allowing you to move around in standing position while playing.
Same here, I prefer the NS design upright sound, this sound like a fretless
I have one and love it.. you can dial in a really nice tone with a bit of patience and care with amp settings etc... great sustain too, its definitely not an upright but great fun to play and just really cool 😁
that looks like a lot of fun! i love the individual string saddles. they look nice and sturdy
Neat instrument, great playing by Lars, but that tone is... not easy on my ears.
Yeah piezos are rough for me (and built in mics on steel string acoustic guitars in general)
@@metallsnubben Yeah! The only thing I have found to improve that sound is using an instrument body impulse response in the manner of a cabinet sim. They need to start building something like that into piezo preamps.
@@eyeball226 I had no idea that existed but of course it does, that rules
@@metallsnubben I have a double bass body IR which I sometimes put regular fretted electric bass through instead of an amp-sim. Doesn't sound like a double bass but it does make it boom a bit like one.
I had a 4. The stock strings are chromes, and they are very brittle sounding. GHS or Thomastic flats will make it very much more upright in sound. I will be owning one of these soon.
I swear this sounds just like the bass used on the Earthbound (SNES game) soundtrack.
Interesting idea. Too bad it sounds like a 90’s midi keyboard.
because it's piezo.. big mistake.
i think it sounds quite cool
It does sound like a keyboard lol
For anybody thinking of getting one of these, that is the only tone you can get from it. There is a surprising amount of thump and low end if you play it properly
Badass bass tone!
Sounds very good!
Wow that thing is so cool. I would’ve loved to have one when I was in orchestra
Gives me eargasm 🤘🏼
as always a great review! I had one of these but like all EUB's it just didn't sound like my carved upright, even with labella tape wound strings, and my Ibanez srh500F was actually easier to use and sounded better to my ears.
One of the main questions about this model is how well does it work with a bow. It would be cool to make a demo with a bow!
Go Lars!
I'd buy that, would be very fun to play and sounds great
Super dźwięk fajnie zagrane
A fact about electric fretless bass instruments: you either love or hate the "mwah" tone
Oh wow! That sound! I play fretless bass, I have the Ibanez SRF 705 which also features the piezo pickups however this upright bass sound incredible! I want one now! How on earth I would switch as it's very different from bass guitar. I guess I would need to take classes. Gorgeous sound, especially on the low end❤
SO COOL
I know this is an older video but just found it. My son plays bass and wanted to learn upright. We tried all the electric ones and the closest you can get to an acoustic sound was the NV designs. We got him one of those as it was going to be used in his jazz band at school. However, since then, we found him a real upright which he has been playing for a bit now. It plays very differently from an electric and obviously sounds better. He also has a Ibanez SRH500F which is the fretless version of that model. He can actually get a better upright sound out of that than any electric upright. Between the pickup and amp settings, it gets close. Just has that odd fretless sound compared to an upright. lol.
I think these electric uprights are great o get someone interested in learning to play but, for me, the Ibanez falls a bit short on sound compared to others on the market. Maybe it plays more realistically than the NV designs but he tried them long before he got his real upright so does not rememeber.
My interest in getting one of these is non-existent. I will always tune in tho, to see/hear Lars play, Frank and Phil too for the record. All are fantastic!
As an upright bass player I see one major flaw with this bass, it doesn’t have the neck heal of a traditional upright bass. As any upright bass player will tell you, we use the heal as a guide for good intonation. I had another brand, similar to this bass, it had a very small body & a traditional heal, I loved it except it weight and balance was way wrong….sold it. You almost had me running out to purchase one🙃
Interesting to know that the weight distribution is thag important for an upright player, I didn't think that would be as big a factor considering they rest on the ground.
I have the four string version and play it through an Ampeg preamp pedal, roll the tone back and it sounds MUCH more like an upright than the demo here
1:28 Flying V shaped bass standing against the door freaks me out!
I wanna hear this plugged on any Darkglass pedal
EUBs are a niche. They don’t work if you are thinking convenient upright bass. It’s an instrument on its own and it’s really a clumsy fret less bass guitar. The Yamaha is pretty good and as near as your going to get to an upright but it’s nearly 4x the price.
You could take a look at MK Basses. They're made by an Italian luthier and they do feel quite like an upright and they don't cost a fortune.
Need a preamp for those piezo pick ups.
Can it be positioned in higher position on the stand? It seems too short for the player.
Guys, could you make a bit longer video for that bass? Most people who looking for a 5 string version review, want to hear low B in a context. There are many videos dedicated to 4 stringed instrument, but, unfortunately they cannot show how very low notes are sounding. So, I’m able to hear just a few seconds of performance on 5 stringed Ibanez Upright only on this channel and I find this review surprisingly short.
You are doing great work, guys, really, but this review looks for me very formal.
I had something similar (although not nearly as nice) as this, a Dean 4-string. If you have proper training on upright, these things feel STRANGE. Not only is the scale way off, but the heel is in the wrong place and the instrument's position is totally fixed in place on account of being on a tripod. I'm not sure who these instruments are for, really, aside from bass guitar players who want to double without ACTUALLY doubling (a cheap upright + pickup costs less than one of these, it just takes up way more space)
Yes Sounds like a keyboard drive bass
The only thing that's giving me pause is that it doesn't seem to have an endpin option, just the tripod stand.
is it hard to play?
Nice MWAH! 😀 Does it come in 4 strings as well?
UB804 :)
@@fibonacho Thanks!
Probably going to get one of these as soon as my retailer gets a 5 string in.
That's actuakly is a hybrid fretless bass. Can play upright, but can play like playing fretless bass guitar. But i'm soo curiuos of sound when wlectric upright bass is slapped, i don't know sounds like slap upright bass or slap fretless bass
Sounds better than the Dean from the '90's.
Is that a riff i just heard from the old 80's show "Rock School" ? 1:38.
What strings does it have?
Lefties available?
I read that the Tone control has little effect on the tone!
Can you play it like an electric bass instead of upright?
If you find a stand that holds it horizontal i dont see why not
@@adams115 the tone isn't really an upright and I cant really convince myself to get one if I can't play it as a fretless electric as well. Would make a great video if they pivoted it sideways on the stand or took the connector off the stand and attached it to a strap
I suppose you could but maybe you should check out another option… have a look on the srh500f :)
It depends on the setup. When my five string Was delivered the setup was rubbish. I've set the action, hi so I can use it with a bow. The tone is much more like an upright bass now. it appears to me that the instruments use for these demos are mostly not set up well. Not helpful if you're trying to hear what the instant sounds like.
Does this instrument require a lot more left hand finger strength or pressure along the neck, compared to, say, a P-bass or J-bass.
Not at all
wait a minute this isn't the crossbow channel
Can this be played in a seated position? I imagine a stool would work , but how about a seated position ala cello?
Yes the stand can be adjusted
"Most beautiful accent there is", indeed.
And indeed, the most ❤ bewdyful accent der is!
I already have a TIVOLI 5 string EUB by Australian boutique maker Mark Haughton, who sadly is no longer producing. I am interested in the Ibanez 5 string set gauges; Mark had to have a specially-made B sting which doesn’t quite match the rest of a Pirastro 4 Med gauge set. .quite a bit heavier. Greetings from Oz [-tralia], Keep up the Good Work! Cheers, pierre😊
This is kinda a hybrid.
I cannot fathom how people think that farty, clacky piezo pizz tone is remotely pleasant in any way, shape, or form. Absolute novelty instrument.
But other than that, great piece!
So you are saying you have an opinion.
@@flogginga_dead_horse4022 And ears
@@lummond since you are generalizing and think everything revolves around you I'll generalize and say you look like someone who would get into really clean boring unoriginal sound, but those golden ears!! I don't think it sounds that great either but depends on what someone is looking for.
@@flogginga_dead_horse4022 Well, if the harsh fart machine is what they're after, pretty much any fretless piezo setup with a passive tone will work. Grab something for $200 off AliExpress and fart away. Sadly, there are expensive like this that have this setup.
Now, were you this defensive on all the other posts saying the same thing I did? Or I guess not, since you just said you agreed with me?
An electric bass that can play in tune? Fretless are the way to go.
It’s very buzzy
Глубокий конкретный звук! А слайды звучат волшебно!👍🇷🇺🧸
It sounds so electric :(
I think the companies should consider making a fake acustic body or just a part of it, towards the players. Seeing the neck only with such small body looks silly to me. Sounds great looks dumb ;d
What's to-o-o-one!
I respect the effort from Ibanez, but like most of the comments I see on here, the tone makes me want to use it as a canoe oar rather than an musical instrument.
1°
I’m sorry, for 919$ I prefer to buy Fretless Bass sound much better
I gotta admit, that thing sounds like a loose fart. Like when a drunk man farts.
It sounds like a bunch of farts... ngl
Not even going to try to play
Come on Man
You can do it
Sounds like a regular fretless bass guitar, it makes no sense
Bowe play perhaps?
Tell the guy to do something about his "beard"
Tell your mom to teach you some manners
This demo ended too fast! I expected much more 👎🏻 it covers maybe only 10% of the specs. Completely useless for making up my mind about purchasing this particular model or Ibanez portamento 5 string fretless. Your older videos were much better
@PARAMONARIOS, Portamento, all day long for the tone options and playability.
(tone) sounds terrible why would anyone seek this out