I use a NS Design CR5 Omni Bass Fretted which use to be called the BassCello.  Its a very versatile and can be played with the bow or with the fingers (Pizz).

As the bass has 5 strings you can set it up B-G or E-C.  I have mine set up E-C and find it very useful to have access to a higher range of notes.  The Omni Bass is a 34″ scale instrument featuring a solid body with Polar / EMG pickups along with an 18v. preamp.  The bass has a curved fingerboard to facilitate bowing along with 28 frets ensuring intonation accuracy throughout the neck.  If you are an electric bass player the curved fingerboard does take some getting use to. If you play double bass then the fingerboard will feel natural. The preamp offers you many sonic options ranging from the traditional upright tone to more modern electric sounds. It comes with the unique Boomerang Strap System so you can wear the bass while playing.  It also comes with a padded gig bag.  Enjoy this bass – I know I do!!

Purchase the amazing Omni Bass now – NS Design CR5 BassCello Fretted

Also available:
NS Design CR4 BassCello Fretted

NS Design CR5 Electric Fretless 5-String Omni Bass

NS Design CR4 Electric Fretless 4-String Omni Bass

Photos of my 5 string fretted Omni Bass:

NS Design CR5 Omni Bass BassCello FrettedNS Design CR5 BassCello Fretted - curved fingerboard

Video of the fretted NS Omni Bass from YouTube:

26. July 2011 · Write a comment · Categories: Books

Progressive Repertoire for the Double Bass, Vol. 1 (Book/CD) by George Vance

This double bass method features lots of familiar melodies – and starts in thumb position, which is quite a difference from the popular Simandl method.  This book based on the teaching of Rabbath does not put any emphasis on a particular part of the fingerboard – and emphasizes pivots and extensions.  The emphasis is on leaching the student to be a soloist rather than an orchestral player.  An excellent double bass method.

Buy this book now – Progressive Repertoire for the Double Bass, Vol. 1 (Book & CD)

Palatino Electric Upright Bass, Sunburst Finish

The Sunburst Palatino VE-550 Electric Upright Bass is a budget electric upright bass.  It looks great, has a nice tone – and is priced to buy!!  The body is spruce and the bass has an ebony fingerboard on a maple neck.  The bridge is also maple with piezo pickups.  The bass includes a metal tailpiece for additional strength.  The endpin is fully adjustable.

The Sunburst Palatino bass has active electronics and includes tone and volume controls.  It comes with a strong carrying case.

The great thing about an electric upright bass is that it can mirror the sound of an acoustic double bass, yet it is easy to transport and you do not face feedback problems when playing at volume.  If you are an electric bass player this makes a good introduction to the upright world!!

About the bass:

Scale length: 40-3/4″ Thats the nut to bridge measurement.

It doesn’t break down for travel – though as with other basses the endpin does retract.

As far as the wood is concerned it is a spruce top, maple on the sides and back.

You will need a more substantial case to travel with the bass.

Buy the bass at a great price – Palatino Electric Upright Bass, Sunburst Finish

Palatino Sunburst EUB from Upright Bass Store

09. July 2011 · Write a comment · Categories: Books

Simandl’s New Method for the Double Bass – Book 1

The popular instruction method for technique on the string bass for students and more experienced players. This book has been used by the majority of double bassists out there. It is simply a must have for double bass players. It covers all the basics and moves through different fingering starting in open position and goes up to VIIth position. There are bowing exercises and it includes many etudes, that you can return to throughout your career. This method has 88 pages and is published by Carl Fischer (CF.O3567).

Buy this book at an excellent price – New Method for the Double Bass/Book 1 (English and Japanese Text) (English and Japanese Edition)

Fishman BP-100 Upright Bass Pickup

The classic double bass pickup!! The Fishman BP-100 is a bridge-mounted, dual-element piezo-ceramic pickup.

It is easy to install and puts forth a deep sustained pizz tone and fast articulation with emphasized direct string sound.

A Pro-EQ Platinum Bass, Pro-EQ II or B-II preamp is recommended, but not required for this fine pickup.

Buy the Fishman BP-100 at a great price here – Fishman BP-100 Upright Bass Pickup

06. July 2011 · Write a comment · Categories: Amps

Roland Micro Cube Bass RX Bass Combo Amp 4 X 4 in

The Roland Micro Cube RX bass combo amp is compact, with great tone and gives off a powerful stereo sound.  It weighs in at 20.2 pounds and includes 2 power amps and 4 speakers!!  The amp can run on batteries or AC (with included adapter).

I comes with  8 built-in COSM amps, as well as six digital effects, a nice three-band EQ, and a chromatic tuner.  A great amp for practicing with, for small combos or for jamming with a couple of acoustic guitars.

Its stereo effects include Chorus and Reverb. The amps has a built in metronome – the Rhythm Guide – which has many patterns for practicing with. All in all this is a fantastic portable amp at a great price – buy it here – Roland Micro Cube Bass RX Bass Combo Amp 4 X 4 In


Roland Micro Cube Bass RX Bass Combo Amp 4 X 4 In

04. July 2011 · Write a comment · Categories: Bows

A. Schmidt Brazilwood Double Bass Bow – 3/4 (full) size – German Grip

The A. Schmidt brazilwood bow offers a nice bow at a very nice price. It has a 3 part button with wire winding and comfortable thumb leather. As well as brazilwood the bass is built with an ebony frog which makes for one playable bow. This is a German style bow and is 3/4 size.

Buy this German bow at a nice price now – A. Schmidt Brazilwood Double Bass Bow – 3/4 (full) size – German Grip



A. Schmidt German Bow from Upright Bass Store

03. July 2011 · Write a comment · Categories: Bows

French Style Brazilwood Bass Bow With Ebony Frog & Natural Horsehair

A quality and affordable french style brazilwood bass bow great for students or schools. The bass bow features abalone inlays, an ebony frog, nickel silver wrapping. A nicely balanced bow with great tone.

Buy it now at a great price here – French Style Brazilwood Bass Bow With Ebony Frog & Natural Horsehair


Cremona SB-2 Premier Student Upright String Bass, 3/4 size

This is an affordable and sturdy bass great for students, schools, or musicians looking for an instrument that is strong, but can produce sweet music each day. The Cremona SB-2 3/4 size is the right bass for this task.

It features maple construction, 42 inch scale length with an ebony fingerboard. It has an amber matt finish with an arched back and Tyrolean-style machine heads. This bass comes with a padded bag.

Check out a great bass at an exceptional price here – Cremona SB-2 Premier Student Upright String Bass, 3/4 size

Cremona SB-2 Premier Bass - Upright Bass Store

NS Design NXT 4 String Electric Double Bass – Amberburst

NS Design one of the leaders in the field of electric upright bass introduced the NXT Series Double Bass to offer their great basses at a budget price. The NXT electric upright basses are crafted in the Czech Republic by the same makers as NS Design’s flagship CR Series basses. The NXT bass offers top notch workmanship at a great price!!

This bass has the Polar™ Pickup System enabling ease of transfer between arco and pizz plating. By using an easy to reach switch you can change from the traditional arco bowing style for dynamic bowed response and attack, or pizzicato for a smooth, equal tone. The NXT bass has single volume and tone controls and includes passive electronics for a great sound.

The NXT bass is constructed with a solid maple body and neck, and a graduated ebony fingerboard. This combination results in a full, rich tone. Asymmetrical fingerboard relief facilitates an even ‘growl’ from the higher strings and a clear, powerful lower register. The bridge is adjustable and along with the truss rod means that you can quickly set it up for low, fast action, or if you desire a higher string settings you can dig in just like a traditional double bassist.

Get one at a wonderful price here – NS Design NXT 4 String Electric Double Bass – Amberburst

NS DESIGN NXT BASS SPECS

LENGTH: 132 cm (32″)

WIDTH: 15 cm (6″)

THICKNESS: 10 cm (4″)

WEIGHT: 4.8 kg (10.5 lbs.)

SCALE LENGTH: 106 cm (41.73″”)

STRINGS: 4 or 5 (Low B or high C)

BODY/NECK: Solid, straight grain maple, with maple face (Black model) or flame maple face (Sunburst model) on body.

FINGERBOARD: Hand-graduated ebony. Intonation referenced with cascading dot markers

TRUSS ROD: Single Action, accessible at nut.

TUNING HARDWARE: 12:1 ratio, fully encased worm gear tuners, black finish.

POLAR PICKUP: The Polar™ directional piezo pickup system responds selectively to lateral string vibration, for bowing and for the percussive plucked response of a traditional acoustic instrument, or to vertical string vibration, for remarkable even and sustained plucked sound more like a guitar. A switch allows the player to choose the desired response.

ELECTRONICS & CONTROLS: Passive circuit with high impedance output, no batteries required. Volume control and Tone control (treble roll off).

CASES Gig Bag standard: Nylon 137 cm (54″) long; 8.2 kg (15 lb) loaded weight with handle and shoulder strap. Flight Case optional.

NS Design NXT 4 String Electric Double Bass - Amberburst

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