Can an Electric Bass Sound Like an Upright Bass? PART II
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- Опубліковано 5 вер 2024
- Our first installment of this was very well received, however a lot of people wanted to know if using tapewound or flatwound strings would make any difference, as well as using the tried and true P Bass (that was originally created to replicate an upright). So for those curious individuals, here you go!
www.ghsstrings.com
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Thanks for the demo guys! Just wish you had tried it with a fretless, I imagine it would sound even closer to an upright.
As for the negative comments, I don't get it. It's like if someone put out a video, "how to make your trumpet sound like a human voice." Do you think there would be a bunch of singers commenting, "How dare you! The trumpet will never sound like a real voice! You should learn to sing!" It's all about being versatile on your instrument and incorporating different sounds. Some bass guitar players may want to use some qualities of an upright sound in certain situations, like playing jazz, but it might not be worth it to invest the large amount of time and money it would take to learn double bass at the level they already play electric. It's all cool.
Michael Kish There can always be a Part 3 for this series, with a fretless. Initial reason I didn't use it is that most players don't have a fretless and want to achieve this type of sound with a fretted bass.
+GHS Strings For me I've found success using a jazz bass, i've never played a precision so I couldn't compare my sound to how i'd sound on a Pbass
+GHS Strings Im still waiting for part 3
Michael Kish I have an upright a Pbass and a fretless.To match the tone of the upright,flats,muted fretted Pbass is extremely close to the upright tone as opposed to a twangy fretless and the sliding
0:49 sounded perfect...due to playing style and that vibrations of strings over the neck really gave that upright kind of woodsy overtones...i dig that
I like the Flatwounds played upright-style around the 18th fret because I like the extra noises a real upright gets, especially w/ gut strings.
Thanks for posting this!!
Yeaaah totally that...fretboard is your friend lol
2:49 amazing sound! A pure vintage and dark tone without that "dead characteristic" and no loss of sustain. I love that!
Nice demonstration, really thorough. It is really cool to see a multi-instrument company that cares enough about their bassists to put out demos, and other videos about their many options. I think the best sound was flatwounds with the bridge mute, played with the thumb. That is usually how I get my upright-esque tones on my P, and it sounds really good with your strings.
Tapewounds with foam and played upright style sound most like it to me! Of course it being a P bass makes a big difference too.
I love the fretboard style of playing. I need to up my game and use this style of plucking.
UA-cam creator, bassist, and composer Adam Neely did a video on this, and he recommended you that you can use an octave pedal to really help in getting that tone.
That's interesting; I'll have to look into that as to what an octave pedal can do in that aspect.
@@TheGHSStrings It gives the bass more pure tone, and reduces the high frequencies from what is typically associated with electric bass guitar. The pedal gives a sine-wave quality that is more indicative of upright bass, allowing the tone to be 'felt' more than heard. :)
Here is his video and demonstration:
/watch?v=LgG5MhSARSw
That was very good. Thanks, GHS.
Nice thanks for the comparison. I think im gonna try tape wounds on my fretless mtd for my blues project
D'oh! You gotta admit, the Lakland is a smokin' replication of the '64 Fender P, without having to pony up the cash for a legit one. Plus, you won't cry if it gets a ding on it...!
It sounds good. Not quite like a double, but it's on the spectrum.
sounds great, nice playing!
Pretty damn good imitation! However, me being an upright bass player which has a 41" length scale, this electric bass with it's shorter strings has a shorter, "plunkier" sound. Shorter strings do that. Not that it is a bad thing necessarily. Plus this bass lacks a wooden, stringy overtone to the notes.
Thanks for the kind words! "Imitation" is what we were going for, as we know it'll never sound exactly like an upright bass. However, it's a useful emulation for those folk that are looking for a different tool to add to their tonal pallet.
seems bassists have forgotten leo's original designs were done to create the world's loudest up right bass w/ more note "precision" and ease of transport...simply install flat wounds of choice and put the original bridge mute cover on and pluck sideways over or near the neck.; voila.
While true, his original design was also 70+ years ago. There are more options now that deserve some consideration instead of just pointing back to a vintage concept that even Leo moved away from.
I play both......electric and upright. Anyone who thinks the double bass is just another way to play electric bass notes will be in for a rude awakening.They are both completely different instruments. And it is not just the physical part. The notes may be relatively in the same place on both types of basses but that does not mean you play them in the same place. Also there is no single double bass sound. Jazz players may like a zingy sound, bluegrass players for the most part want a big, fat and round sound. And then there is setup...the position of the sound post, type of end pin material , thickness of bridge, height of the tailpiece as the tailwire crosses the saddle...height of the strings over the fingerboard...construction. All these things determine the sound the instrument will make. And then there is the player. If you want an authoritative sound you have to develop the strength in both hands. You cannot just crank up the volume knob. You still have to move the air in the double bass even if you use a mic or pickup. Both types of bass need their own approach. If you are new to the double bass, it owns you for a long time.....until you develop the playing technique needed to get the most sound out of it. I enjoy the electric and upright for different reasons, depending on the type of music I want to play.
And if you, like the above video, get close to the sound of some double basses you will also have to play the electric in the style of the music that a double bass player would use. If you want to play acoustic music with a close- to- double bass-sounding electric, forget about being busy on it. Or no-one will want you to play with you.If you want to play jazz or big band music then you will likely need to learn to read.
Closer. Lessen the mute to about half, and try to get the rest with EQ.
So the question is asked in the title of the vid.
And the answer is NO. A solid body electric cannot sound like an upright. Acoustic bass guitars also cannot do it.
But don’t sweat it! All that matters is that you get a sound you want for your scenario. If it sounds “upright-sorta” enough for your purpose, that’s all you need.
That's the point. It'll get you close enough that I doubt anyone will get up, mid-set, and leave because of it.
What tissue is that one you put on the bridge? I tried with a sock and it still work. I had to close down the tones though. Are you tone pot open? Thx
Forget the upright. A P bass just always sounds lovely.
Nah, a P bass isn't a holy grail. There are times an upright is preferred/needed, and I'm gonna give the person that hired me (and paying me) what they want.
If you want to make more upright sound you can use a lot of reeverb (stompbox) and a slide pipe for simulate fretless
Whats a slide pipe?
The thing that the blues gtr players use for that cow talking notes
Mike77154 Are you just talking about a slide as in used for lap steel, pedal steel and other slide guitar? I've neever heard it referred to as a slide "pipe" before
Yeah , because Im mexican and that is the way that we call it to that artefact
If you play the notes on the fretboard using your ring &middle fingers simultaneously your sound is bigger (I'm a curious individual lol )
Haha, I was only joking with you guys. I really dig it.
But a '64 P without battle scars, is no real '64. ;)
Just search Does it Sound like and Upright and Watch the one that says Andres okay
Lakland, still no TRUE P, haha. Jk.
Fingers on the side + FLATwounds + bridge mute = Double Bass IMHO.
Great job. :)
Lovely sound off this Fender"P" Bass..But no it doesnt sound remotely like an upright. Fretted basses dont & cant sound like an upright coz o their Precise note intonations The upright"s Note sliding & extra large Length Fretless Fingerboard are unique Most bass guitars Highest Notes are a D sharp..Having said that the fretless precision is not far off the contrabasses sound
Nice demo. Are GHS tapes flatwound under the tape or rounds? Thanks. -cc-
Our tapewounds are actually groundwounds underneath the tape, with the exception of the G string which is still wound.
All other tapewound strings are regular roundwound underneath the tape; Jason at Bass Strings Online has a nice article - with pictures - where he takes apart all of the tapewound sets (at that time) and shows what's under.
Still sounds mildly electric. And the strings sound like they don't weigh very much, compared to how the strings of the double bass sound.
It's still an electric bass; it will never be 100% authentic, no matter what you try. But, it'll get "close enough" that many won't care. Or, it'll give someone a new tonal palette to experiment.
@@TheGHSStrings That is true.
It would have sounded closer if you have added a mudbucker.
I haven't found that to be the case at all. The Mudbucker is just low end, with no definition. An upright bass has a distinct attack that the MB just doesn't.
@@monjoody The "low" definition comes from the speakers, for having a better definition you'll have to use mid-scooped speakers like JBL or Jensen, and turn down the bass kob a little bit and turn down completely the mid knob and up the treble one.
@@monjoody Check out with a Fender mudbucker: ua-cam.com/video/KDRCPeSyQT8/v-deo.html
@@monjoody And with a Gibson: ua-cam.com/video/mAX4Ak8sEHE/v-deo.html
upright bass sounds a bit naff and muffled plucked. electric bass always sounds better. Double bass is designed to be bowed so it doesn't sound muffled and sad.
Go listen to Christian McBride's solo on "Steps", and then come back and tell me he sounds "a bit naff and muffled plucked". You've clearly never heard what a plucked upright bass sounds like, let alone had the formal training to be able to do so.
Obviously, Francesca is clueless as to what's going on here...
It is a dream that will always be impossible. Not even the Rob Allen's come close to the sound of a Double Bass. Any electric will never come close to the sound and feel of a giant piece of wood vibrating against your body. If you want that sound, you really should put the time in to learn the Double Bass
That's it.
What's it?
Pounding Eagle
I agrree with your comment. That's it.
If you can play the electric bass you should be able to play the upright it's the same tubing and all
Ralphy Perez
I really don't think you ever had a double bass in your hands. If you had you wouldn't say it's the same. 1. Upright is like a fretless without any fretmarks. Most e-bassist fail at this point. 2. String is longer, so you need to set your fingers different(for example middlefinger and ringfinger together for third position) 3. Tension of strings is much harder, You need training to play an upright.
The opposite is true: if you play double bass an electric bass seems to be a toy...
it'd sound better if both sets of strings were at least a year old.
I think you have down the way they both ring and vibrate, but the style, acoustics and texture simply aren't there. No, they won't sound similiar unless our sound technology gets a drastic upgrade.
Sorry, but no. No way because the LENGTH of the upright string is so important ,-)
It plays a role absolutely, but isn't the only factor. We know it's never going to replicate it exactly; that's not the point. You CAN get close enough to mimic much of the nuance and vibe of the URB.
@@monjoody Well, I do not think so.
I did own some uprights, now do own a NS Upright, a 65 Preci with flats on, two 80's WAL fretless, an Overwater C-Bass fretless with upright strings on it and some more nice stuff. I have been a first call studio player for more than a decade, so I guess I can judge. My 5ct: You might mimic some, but not much of the tone and vibe of an upright. At least not for the trained ears that know how a real upright sounds :-)
BUT: The sound you might achieve with a good bass, good strings and (mainly!) a well done playing technique CAN be nice. Just not close to a real upright ,-)
Make the sound great again!
I've been playing the doghouse bass for over a decade and at no time in this video did the artist playing on an "electric" bass sound as it was an acoustic bass. Please stop putting bad info out there for young musicians to get hold of. Market your product for it's intended purpose, not your financial gain. Digital company's have paid millions of dollars to Research and Development to recreate sounds such as acoustic bass, acoustic guitar and the human voice. After decades they are no where near doing so and neither are you.
To all the players out there looking for the sound of an upright bass, PLEASE do not fall victim to the ignorance this video has demonstrated. The only way to reproduce the sound of an upright bass, is with an upright bass.
Jeffrey Bodey You are correct in that the only TRUE way to sound like an upright bass is to play one (and please note that at 3:55, I say "IT CAN GET CLOSE," which is not saying it can mimic it exactly), but there are countless musicians who, for some reason or another, still want to emulate that sound on an electric, instead of investing in an upright bass. To draw upon my experience* playing the upright to give them some practical ideas on how to imitate the nuances of the upright is education, and not spreading ignorance.
This video was made with no financial reward. It was meant to address one of the most common forum threads I find on a daily basis. I would rather give them real world options (just as a note, the palm muting technique I picked up from a Will Lee interview, who uses it to emulate an upright bass), and let them experiment to find some new tonal options than just say "get an upright" and leave it at that.
Because 9 times out of 10, they really just want that warm, thumpy attack and quick decay that is inherent in an upright bass. That's an easy thing to emulate, if you have open ears and a willingness to try something new.
* I have over thirty years of upright experience, toured Europe with an international symphony, headlined the Telluride Jazz festival, and have played countless gigs in other genres/musical styles on upright. I've also played in numerous musical theatre pits, where the book calls for upright and electric bass, but the real estate in the pit only allows for one, so I use the thumb muting above to mimic that upright sound.
GHS Strings Well, we share one common trait. We both have tour the world. However that is where it ends. At no time has anyone informed me I could not use my upright. Not in a "pit", not a club, where I might add I have played in such a small space I should have stood on my amp for more room. So please, save your sermon about "space, time and money" for someone else.
You are out for financial gain. Spinning a tale of intrigue to artist that do not know any better to buy a string that will give them a "new" upright bass sound on there electric or as you like to imply, close enough. However, no worries, we all have to make a living. Yet, you should do so with proper information, not half truths and made up stories.
The bottom line is you are taking what makes the upright a wonderful instrument, as have other, and tried to spin it in a way to appeal to others that "think" yes "THINK" they are getting a different tone or sound to match that of the upright. Try the truth, simply tell them what they are getting. A MUTED, MUFFLED, ELECTRIC bass sound. Its not close to the sound of an acoustic bass. What is so hard about that? Oh it doesn't sound appealing. I suppose the truth never is. You're selling and idea that anyone who plays an upright can now scale down with a "sketchy" at best, set of strings and some foam, then raise the height of there strings and get tone, NO SIR, you are blowing smoke.
Perhaps today I shall introduce a video where I have fashioned a small, flat, yet slightly curved thin piece of wood from the local gas stations bathroom door frame. Properly placed between my pickup and my fingerboard and I can "almost" get "close" to making the upright sound like a saxophone. There you have it, close is good enough.
I beg you, PLEASE, from one artist to another, state your claims as they are, not what you want them to be.
I consider this matter closed as I believe you are more concerned with your pockets filling with money, than you are filling artist minds with correct information. Your ideas, though misleading as they may be, are your own and you will proudly push those on others as long as they continue to pay for it.
I bid you good day.
Jeffrey Bodey I agree in all statements - except: they are just out for financial gain. Of course they want to make money, that's the reason to sell things and that's ok. But the problem is the wrong idea of the double bass sound. As I wrote in another comment : a muted, muffled bass guitar and a double bass with old bad strings may be pretty near. But that's the wrong comparision cause reducing the typical harmonics and attack/sustain makes every sound similar. There's no need to tell you an upright with good new strings has a lot of harmonics and is far from muted e-bass. But there's need to tell it GHS and other. And we did it :)
Jeffrey Bodey Chill out m8
This doesn't sound like an upright but like an electric bass with piece of crap under the strings. Never heard an upright ? What a stupid idea...
Don't be such a negative Neddie.
Mjhkjhk Saafafytryrtrttr
Don't be such an humourfree dipshit, babe.This video simply couldn't convince me at all that a muted e-bass sounds like a double-bass. It's as stupid as painting your face with shoe-creme and thinking you're african. This is simply true and not negative. If a double-bass sounds like that muted e-bass it needs new strings...
Don't you at least agree that a muted electric bass with flatwound strings can sound MORE LIKE an upright bass than an unmuted electric bass with brand new roundwound strings and the treble turned all the way up? It doesn't have to be all or nothing asswipe.
Mjhkjhk Saafafytryrtrttr
Let me say it this way: a muted e-bass as shown sounds indeed familiar to a doublebass with 10yo strings, of course more than a unmuted e-bass with new strings. But a doublebass which sounds like a muted e-bass as shown has got a problem, probably old strings, maybe high action (right term in english ?) of strings so the fingers of the left hand mute the tone.
What makes me - I confess - angry is the idea a double bass sounds just dump with short sustain. Yes, a bad one does.
When my upright sounds this way, I know it's time to change the strings. Other way I'll lose my joy to play completely.
A good upright simply sings. For example listen to Renaud Garcia Fons, which is my favourite bass sound.
@@FrancescoGuardi piss off jerk
It never sounds like an upright, still it sounds fine. By the way, nice walking bassline.
Sound nothing like a upright you need to get another of your bass youre playing right now but make it fretless
Sounds like an upright to me
Nah. I've been at this sort of thing for ages and can only conclude that these approaches are delusional. Flats, foam, plucking up on the 14th fret, thumbing it while muting...it just doesn't have any of the qualities that makes the upright sound so desirable in certain styles.
csgrinds It sounds good if it's eq'd and mixed well. Traditional tastes are fine, but tradition is the antithesis of creativity.