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Kemo Sabe - Posted - 02/20/2010: 14:13:07
What are the feelings on the use of a Carvin solid body electric bass w/amp in Bluegrass jams?
Thanks for any comments.
rickshunter1 - Posted - 02/20/2010: 14:24:07
In my opinion it would be fine but I know allot of others that would say no because Bluegrass is all acoustic but really who can afford an upright bass anyway.........
1four5 - Posted - 02/20/2010: 14:40:37
We've had an electric bass show up, with a small amp, and he played tastefully and added alot and everyone liked it. He even asked for a yay or nay vote after the jam and we all said yay.
Tom Robison - Posted - 02/20/2010: 15:05:00
Let's see....electric bass? Or no bass? In my mind the electric bass wins out everytime. Kitchen utensils, on the other hand, are another matter for another thread.
Tom
jefe - Posted - 02/20/2010: 15:16:26
I saw some one show up at a jam with a ukelele once, it worked; it wasn't traditional, but it was fun. So I say play what ya got.
BadTaco - Posted - 02/20/2010: 16:23:57
quote:
Originally posted by jefe
I saw some one show up at a jam with a ukelele once, it worked; it wasn't traditional, but it was fun. So I say play what ya got.
I'm going to a jam tonight and taking a ukulele. It always goes over really well, but it is hard to hear if you're not standing right next to me. I used to attend a regular jam that wasn't so rigidly traditional and take my harmonicas and play a little of that...tastefully...where I felt I could. Someone brought an accordion once and that was cool. The hippy chick with the bohdran crossed the line, and the steel drum guys really, really crossed it.  Since an electric bass would be okay (usually, it seems), would I get away with an acoustic bass guitar, ya think? I've thought about it, but I wonder if the purists would give me the stink eye...or worse.
steve davis - Posted - 02/20/2010: 17:30:00
As long as it's set to the right volume.
Leigh - Posted - 02/20/2010: 18:13:06
Tone and volume. Simple as that. Boomy is a buzz kill. It should be only loud enough to fill the void. Too soft, might as well left it at home. Too loud, afore mentioned buzz kill. Go for it.
Gold Star GF-85 - Posted - 02/21/2010: 03:36:37
At the "Michigan Bluegrass Music Association" (in Flint, Michigan) that I belong to, the only electric instrument that is allowed at our monthly Jams is the electric Bass, everything else has to be acoustic. Some of them don't sound to bad but nowhere close to the stand-up Basses.
Big John
steve davis - Posted - 02/21/2010: 04:33:35
Any bass is better than no bass at all.
jefe - Posted - 02/21/2010: 05:02:56
quote:
Originally posted by steve davis
Any bass is better than no bass at all.
Agreed. 
Inja93 - Posted - 02/21/2010: 05:03:09
If you don't think it's important to play the traditional bluegrass you must feel free to use any instrument you want. No one can say it's wrong. I play in a band and we use an elecric bass. to be honest we've got some comments about it, but on the other hand we call or music "blues grass". It's important to find your own style!
Gibby - Posted - 02/21/2010: 05:40:36
A good bass player that can control his volume is OK with me.
steve davis - Posted - 02/21/2010: 05:44:46
What was the name of that 60s "monster" band that didn't use a bass.
Texasbanjo - Posted - 02/21/2010: 05:47:09
My husband has an acoustic/electric bass and he used to play it in our band -- since it was acoustic, too, I guess no one had any problems with it. He knew how to control the sound so it didn't overpower everyone else.
We've had several bluegrass bands in our area that used electric bass and although some people frowned, the majority of people seemed to be okay with it.
SJL - Posted - 02/21/2010: 06:21:53
quote:
Originally posted by steve davis
What was the name of that 60s "monster" band that didn't use a bass.
The Doors, although Ray Manzarek played bass lines, I can't remember if it was on his keyboard or with bass pedals.
Joe Jakonczuk - Posted - 02/21/2010: 06:38:10
We have an electric at out jams from time to time. We all would prefer a double bass but sometimes you have to take what you can get. I keep pushing my wife to hurry up and learn enough to attend. Maybe when her '54 Kay gets out of the shop she'll get better and braver.
pickingfive - Posted - 02/21/2010: 08:40:01
An electric bass played at the "right" volume is fine with me. However, an electrified bass is the only electrified instrument I want in a bluegrass jam.
hsjim - Posted - 02/21/2010: 11:01:21
So I guess that Earl and the boys wouldn't be allowed to play at Galax
Thor - Posted - 02/21/2010: 11:18:33
quote:
Since an electric bass would be okay (usually, it seems), would I get away with an acoustic bass guitar, ya think? I've thought about it, but I wonder if the purists would give me the stink eye...or worse.
See the Krüger Brothers.
Seems to me, the acoustic bass guitar (or guitarron?) might be less offensive to some "purists" than an elec. bass.
PaulKirby - Posted - 02/21/2010: 11:43:19
quote:
Originally posted by SJL
quote:
Originally posted by steve davis
What was the name of that 60s "monster" band that didn't use a bass.
The Doors, although Ray Manzarek played bass lines, I can't remember if it was on his keyboard or with bass pedals.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1TCYZ0HiwQ
tom timberlake - Posted - 02/21/2010: 22:00:01
I may step on some toes, but I can't help myself. Jam sessions are for pickers to get together and enjoy the Music and Fellowship. If the criteria of a jam session is for everyone to pick just the way Earl or Sonny or J.D. did or sing just the way Bill or Carter or Bobby did, then not a whole lot of people would ever get to jam. An electric bass is no different than having a banjo that will "peel the paint off the walls" or a guitar that "knocks the walls down" or a singer that "scrapes the treetops". If the bass is too loud ask them to turn down. But DON'T turn them away. That's NOT what jam sessions are about! Hope the spirit of my little "rant" doesn't come across as too harsh. To RSVP a jam session is far beyond the realm of the Bluegrass family doctrine!
1four5 - Posted - 02/22/2010: 02:00:03
quote:
would I get away with an acoustic bass guitar, ya think? I've thought about it
Good luck! Our bass player went through 7 or 8 of them, even a resonator acoustic bass... and never found a guitar style acoustic bass that could hang in a jam without some sort of amplification.
Tedd - Posted - 02/22/2010: 05:30:32
I think I wouldn't turn John Cowan away from a jam....and the Lonesome River Band has mostly used an electric bass--they've done okay. Much easier to own an electric with a small amp and still drive an economical vehicle. Doghouse players have to bring their instrument to every vehicle shopping event.
Ira Gitlin - Posted - 02/22/2010: 05:46:42
FWIW, the first use of electric bass on a bluegrass recording was in '53 or '54(somewhere around there), by Reno and Smiley. Keep in mind that that was just two or three years after Fender's Precision bass first hit the market!
Ks_5-picker - Posted - 02/22/2010: 07:37:02
quote:
Originally posted by Herr_grepper
Let's see....electric bass? Or no bass? In my mind the electric bass wins out everytime. Kitchen utensils, on the other hand, are another matter for another thread.
Tom
I agree.....it's all about fitting in volumewise with the group. We had to endrure a drunk pair of spoons and juice harp players last weekend.  I'm all about tradition in the music,and I own 2 upright basses,but I saw my favorite band last weekend,LRB,and they have an electric bass.....go figure that one out.
Edited by - Ks_5-picker on 02/22/2010 07:38:03
mdgodaat - Posted - 02/22/2010: 17:33:08
On and off the same type topic but a 'got to tell'. One BG Jam I went to we [7-8 of us] were in the middle of playing a song and a fellow with a set of bongo's walked in and sat down and began to "play" along with us. After about 12-15 seconds of his looks at us and our looks at him he got the message. It was like trying to stick a triangular shaped peg into a round hole. Even if you shaved the corners down it wudn't gonna' fit rat:)
Roll Player - Posted - 02/22/2010: 19:50:45
An Ashbory bass with a small amp works pretty well with bluegrass, and the tone is much closer to a standup than any other electric bass I've heard. The strings are silicon rubber and they're fretless. They look like this:
You can hear them on my music page. All of my music files that have bass on them have the Ashbory.
Kemo Sabe - Posted - 02/22/2010: 20:23:53
quote:
Originally posted by Roll Player
An Ashbory bass with a small amp works pretty well with bluegrass, and the tone is much closer to a standup than any other electric bass I've heard. The strings are silicon rubber and they're fretless. They look like this:
You can hear them on my music page. All of my music files that have bass on them have the Ashbory.
Just listened to 'Take This Hammer' on your music page.....Sounds great.......beautiful bass sounds! Thank you for that post.. ...and thanks to all who have posted on this thread. I have learned a lot from this thread... the post is not for me but for a friend who has played electric bass for many yrs and well, let's put it this way.. he can't afford a DB or the vehicle to transport it. He had asked me several times about the Ashbory and I just let him hear Roll Player's music ... he was stunned at the quality of the sound. Thanks to all who have posted on this thread. Phil
Roll Player - Posted - 02/22/2010: 22:24:01
Kemo Sabe, there have been numerous times when we've had the Ashbory at jams (usually with my girl friend playing it and me on the banjo) and people have come up looking for the bass. They say stuff like, "I hear a bass but where is it?" The Ashbory is very small and people can't believe it's an actual bass, but it sure has a big sound. I think they're great for bluegrass, but there are two things to keep in mind: the scale is very short and with a fretless bass you have to be very mindful of intonation. It's almost as tough playing in tune on these as it is on a fiddle. The other thing is the silicone rubber strings, especially the thin G string, are very prone to breaking unexpectedly. I've found that if they survive the first few weeks they usually last a long time, but you never know. There are more durable polyurethane strings available from a guy in California (who also makes bass ukeleles (really!), but I've never tried them, and the sound may be a bit different.
Kemo Sabe - Posted - 02/23/2010: 05:17:59
They ought to call that thing the 'Awesome Ashbory'. They would probably double their sales for the year with that name. And Roll Player, maybe you and your girl friend could be thir pitch team. ..and BTW - that is some fine banjo playing on 'Take This Hammer' too...
Edited by - Kemo Sabe on 02/23/2010 05:45:20
Couchie - Posted - 02/23/2010: 06:09:45
Electric bass, if it's good enough for Jim and Jesse, it's good enough for me....
Ks_5-picker - Posted - 02/23/2010: 07:43:13
I've got a friend who has one of those little Ashbury basses. The picture doesn't really show,but the length is a little longer than a Uke. His hands have been ravaged by Arthritis and this is the only way he can still play.Just fine for a jamming bass.
Roll Player - Posted - 02/23/2010: 09:47:24
Thanks for the compliment, Kemo Sabe. I've also got the Ashbory on Defogger Breakdown and Back To The Barrooms on my music page.
The scale length of the Ashbory is only 18 inches - 34 is standard for electric basses, and the strings are so soft there's no effort at all required to push them down. All the effort is in finding the right place to push. It has marker lines, but no frets, so it's pretty easy to play out of tune if you get careless. More info at http://www.largesound.net/
SMBanjo - Posted - 02/27/2010: 09:45:48
The bass player in my band uses an electric acustic bass. It sounds pretty good. Everyone always tells us how much It sounds like an Upright Bass. we're not sure if it is just our sound system or just the bass. But i definatly say an electric sounds just as good .Its kinda like saying all banjo players should play like a stelling or something. Electric Sound good enough to me.
Edited by - SMBanjo on 02/27/2010 09:48:20
Gretschman66 - Posted - 02/27/2010: 10:48:31
quote:
Originally posted by SJL
quote:
Originally posted by steve davis
What was the name of that 60s "monster" band that didn't use a bass.
The Doors, although Ray Manzarek played bass lines, I can't remember if it was on his keyboard or with bass pedals.
It was a Fender Rhodes Bass keyboard: 
Gretschman66 - Posted - 02/27/2010: 11:03:51
quote:
Originally posted by rickshunter1
. . . but really who can afford an upright bass anyway.........
??? A decent upright will cost you about the same (or maybe cheaper) as an equivalent electric bass and bass rig. I've owned $300 Chinese basses from eBay that sounded and played fine, and you can sometimes find old Kays for around $1500. A good electric bass and amp will set you back at least that.
Kemo Sabe - Posted - 03/02/2010: 03:16:35
quote:
Originally posted by Roll Player
An Ashbory bass with a small amp works pretty well with bluegrass, and the tone is much closer to a standup than any other electric bass I've heard. The strings are silicon rubber and they're fretless. They look like this:
You can hear them on my music page. All of my music files that have bass on them have the Ashbory.
Back to the Ashbory for a few thoughts... my friend (who has many yrs experience playing elec bass) just got one of these a few days ago and they told him when he bought it to not plan to attend jams with it for a couple of weeks because it takes time to get the tuning to settle in for those silicon rubber strings. That was definitely 'sound advice'. The Ashbory is awesome when tuned correctly but at this time gets out of tune quickly. He has already made some improvements in maintaining the tunings of the strings but is a little frustrated on tuning. Does anybody have experiences or thoughts about tunings of the Ashbory, especially in the early weeks of playing it? Does this tuning experience get resolved after a few weeks? I know it's all about the silicon rubber strings...
Roll Player - Posted - 03/02/2010: 14:27:31
On the Ashbory, it helps a lot to pre-stretch the strings before installing them. They're very flexible, unlike banjo and guitar, so you can just hold them at either end and pull. Do that several times before putting them on. You can find more info at www.largesound.net -- they have both info files and a forum devoted solely to the Ashbory bass.
Art
Edited by - Roll Player on 03/02/2010 14:29:04
robinr_99 - Posted - 03/02/2010: 14:39:11
.......i much prefer a stand-up acoustic bass.......the sound and the feel......but have been involved with good electric bass players that worked out just fine.... ....if the music is good........nothing else really matters...
... .....but...you can't really spin an electric bass....hmmmmmm...:)
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