Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with upright

Help me amplify my upright bass, live, with these limitations:

dirtdirt — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 11:34:20 -0800

I have an upright bass, a Fishman B-2 preamp, a Sennheiser e835 microphone, a Peavy PV10 Mixing board, an Ampeg Micro VR stack, a Six Rounds piezo pickup (which suck suck sucks, but I mention for full disclosure), and various cables and connecters. How can I combine these items to best amplify the upright bass? This is for a fairly last-minute gig I have this weekend, sitting in with a guitar player/singer, playing the upright bass. It is in an enclosed outdoor area that I would label as small to mid-sized. There is no house PA. I don't normally gig with the upright so I don't really have a 'rig' tailored for it, and I don't really have the money/time to buy anything to help me out. Unless it is locally available and less (significantly?) than $100.

I am thinking stuff the mic in under the tailpiece with foam or a teatowel, and run it straight into the Ampeg. Or should I go through the preamp? Or the mixer? Or?

How long does my aircon unit need to be upright before use?

Salamander — Sun, 30 Dec 2012 00:22:53 -0800

Do I really need to let my portable aircon stand upright for 24 hours?? :( So, it's over 105 degrees here, and my new rental apartment has no aircon. After a horrible sleep last night, I just went out and bought a De'Longhi 2.85kW Pinguino. (Please don't tell me if it's crap, it was the only thing left in my price range ;). As the dude loaded it into my car (hatchback, so it had to lie sideways), he said 'Make sure you stand it upright for 24 hours before turning it on'. !! GRRR.

Googling has yielded conflicting answers. Can someone please tell me that this is overkill, and I can turn the thing on at bedtime tonight? (in 6-8 hours)? Or do I risk breaking it?

Getting to first bass.

hanoixan — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 11:33:43 -0800

I've decided to buy my first upright bass to learn on (a used student bass). What to look for? I found a seller who has a repaired bass (broken neck fixed by a luthier) he is selling for $200. I realize this is a price which is too good to be true, but I'm willing to look at it. I'd normally run away from something like this, but he's desperately trying to liquidate items from his late father's music business.

Information I've gotten so far: it doesn't have a popular name, was made in Indonesia on contract for the now defunct music shop (based on Kay M-1 templates), is a plywood/carved hybrid, and has an ebony fingerboard and stock steel strings.

What kinds of things can I test and look at when buying to make sure I'm not wasting $200 (beyond how it sounds). I've played bass guitar for 15 years, and I know how to buy lots of those, if that helps.

Web/etc resources for autodidactic upright bass rookies?

cortex — Fri, 04 May 2007 15:59:42 -0800

I'm looking for good resources for upright bass DIY education—especially regarding bowing basics and other physical/form questions. Wife and I are the proud parents of a new upright 3/4, but neither of us has any real experience with bowing string instruments, or with dealing physically with the upright bass. And though it may well be my poor domain-specific vocabulary, I'm not finding good stuff online.

Useful:
- absolute beginner bowing technique (French style bow);
- good guidance on dealing physically with the bass for playing;
- miscellaneous stupid-obvious things we don't know even though we should.

Web-based resources, a really killer book or two, or straight up advice: bring it on.

Help My Sister's Dream Come True

interrobang — Tue, 01 Aug 2006 10:08:43 -0800

My sister told me recently—with some sadness—that she's wanted for a long time to play the upright bass in a bluegrass band. She lives in Toronto, though, and outside of her lab, she doesn't really know anyone. She learned how to play the violin in elementary school, and played it through high school, but she's probably rusty. Still, she has a solid foundation for knowing approximately where the notes are on a four-string instrument.

I suggested that maybe she should find some bluegrass in Toronto, and talk to someone about:

1. getting some lessons,

and

2. finding people to play with.

She said she'd checked craigslist, and didn't find anything. She also didn't know of anywhere in Toronto where she could even find bluegrass.

So my question is this: do any Toronto mefites know anyone with a bluegrass band that I could put in touch with my sister? Or, do any Toronto mefites know of any bluegrass "hotspots" where she could get started?

Learning Upright Bass

aladfar — Fri, 15 Apr 2005 07:18:48 -0800

Suppose a fellow has an interest in learning to play an upright bass. He doesn't have any illusions about being the next Mingus or William Parker, but enjoys the sound and feel of the instrument and would get personal enjoyment out of being able to play a few things. Further suppose that this fellow has very little money to invest in this endeavor. How would he go about learning?

Upright Bass question

drezdn — Sun, 06 Mar 2005 07:58:01 -0800

Will a 3/4 scale Upright Bass fit in the back of my car? I have a 94 Mercury Sable. I'm beginning to rent my first upright bass and have been told by some that it'll fit and by others won't. Also, is there any special advice I should know about for having an upright bass?