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RotoSound 77 flats are among my favorite strings so those that I don't like might be good for you. Thomastic Jazz Flats are low tension and I hate them but many other players think that they are the best string available. Teflon or black plastic wrapped strings might also suit you, low tension. Sear...

OK, it's been a while and no responses so here is my take on the question... This is just my opinion, not the last word by any means. Upright bass players, please don't roast me for comparing electric bass players and upright bassists in the same paragraph. I respect both instruments. What I'm tryin...

So... What is the difference between a Bass Guitarist and a Bassist?

I'm asking, so let's hear your opinion.

Thanks

Yes, it was 1968 and I remember it as if it were last week. I had been in L.A. and stopped by the Ampeg Corporate display store in Hollywood. Anyone else remember that store? They didn't sell much, it was really to showcase their products. On that day I saw the bass I would later buy, an Ampeg AMUB-...

Which is a better type instrument to use with the URB Simulator, Acoustic box or solid body? Given that both have piezo pickups installed. It comes down to feedback resistance as the most significant factor. A solid body, or slab, will be almost 100% immune to feedback, whereas an acoustic or semi-a...

One subject we did not discuss is vibrato speed or frequency. The expert Cello player seen in one of the videos (links above) recommends four oscillations per beat. Keep in mind that this person is a classically trained musician most likely playing in a symphony orchestra. He has to blend well with ...

I believe that so called "flat" vibrato arose because of the ergonomics and mechanical positioning of the hand wrist and arm on the Cello and some other string instruments. In other words, "flat" vibrato is less difficult mechanically on instruments where one sits behind. For the electric fretless b...

You are welcome, thanks for the kind words. It is my understanding that violin vibrato technique oscillating the note an equal amount both below and above the center pitch is more beautiful than vibrato below the note. The human ear tends to average out the varying pitches it hears in vibrato into o...

An Interesting Observation: While practicing today I made myself more conscious then usual about just what I was doing for vibrato. Lo and behold! I'm using sliding vibrato, but not very dramatically. I'm actually surprised to learn that I have been doing this for many years without thinking about i...

OK, let's break it down into elements. You want to play a note and then use sliding vibrato around it. In your mind you have planned to execute vibrato originating on a particular note. As you play the note and are using violin vibrato you decide that more vibrato would sound better but your finger ...

You said: "Can you actually do really aggressive, distraught wild wide vibrato on a fretless bass in violin style?" No, not really, although you can express nervousness and tension. To do what you describe you have to combine violin technique with sliding of the finger. Basically, you start the vibr...

Welcome to FretlessBass Barge! Your question "how to do sliding vibrato" is one that has, until now, not come up. So thank-you for that. Sliding vibrato is not Glissando. Glissando a.k.a. Gliss is usually a smoothly executed change in pitch either ascending or descending. The pitch movement should n...

Hi and welcome to Fretless Bass board! For a cellist the first thing to do is talk to one of your classical buddies who plays upright bass and get some advice about the differences in left hand technique. Considering that the two instruments are tuned 4th vs. 5ths scales occupy completely different ...

First, buy a used amp in good condition to save money. Your needs appear to point towards a 2x10 combo. An Eden Metro would serve, if lucky you may find one in your price range. An Eden Nemesis 2x10 combo would also do the job and usually cost less. There are many similar units from various makers t...

OK, now you are back to distortion, which has a distinct sound different from hum or buzz. FYI, both hum and buzz are usually steady state sounds whereas distortion usually only manifests when signal is present or the floor level of noise is very high. There are at least three types of distortion, T...