Double Bass Baby Bass megathread

#1,526
dylanjohnson said:
1. I disagree that you need a full upright touch on a BB. If you watch Sal Cuevas, Ruben Rodriguez, and the other master Latin players play, they don't play with a heavy touch. I think it actually chokes the sound when you play too hard.


2. I believe that mine also has a lower output, but I wouldn't say it's drastically lower. Make sure your pots are clean, and if worse comes to worse, you may need to replace the pickup. You also need to make sure the pickup is adjusted properly. If the diaphram/coil is too close to the plate, it will choke the sound and loose volume. To adjust this, turn the big screws on each side of the pickup counter clockwise. I'd try a quarter turn and see if it helps. If it doesn't, then put them back where they were.
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dylanjohnson said:
1. I disagree that you need a full upright touch on a BB. If you watch Sal Cuevas, Ruben Rodriguez, and the other master Latin players play, they don't play with a heavy touch. I think it actually chokes the sound when you play too hard.


2. I believe that mine also has a lower output, but I wouldn't say it's drastically lower. Make sure your pots are clean, and if worse comes to worse, you may need to replace the pickup. You also need to make sure the pickup is adjusted properly. If the diaphram/coil is too close to the plate, it will choke the sound and loose volume. To adjust this, turn the big screws on each side of the pickup counter clockwise. I'd try a quarter turn and see if it helps. If it doesn't, then put them back where they were.
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Those are good examples of a lighter touch indeed, Efrain Hernandez, who has one of the best baby bass sounds seems to play a little heavy compared to Sal and Ruben.
 
#1,527
petermonaghan said:
Those are good examples of a lighter touch indeed, Efrain Hernandez, who has one of the best baby bass sounds seems to play a little heavy compared to Sal and Ruben.
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That's a vid of Sal in his final years, and he's using a lighter touch. I knew Sal, he was a Bronx brother as was Andy Gonzalez, (I miss them dearly, they were my heroes and my idols). In his earlier years, Sal played hard in every way on his Precision, and frequently on the baby. I've said it before, and I'll say it again, aggressive style Salsa on the baby bass needs a hard touch if you plan to play it. I've performed with some of the very best percussionist in New York City, and they all tell me, that's what they want from a baby bass player. And if you double with a baritone sax, as with many of Ray Santo's big band arrangements, you better be ready for that hard percussive style. The cats in PR mostly play hard. Efrain, Polito Huerta, Edwin Morales and the list goes on. Listen to what Johnny Torres says about the lock between the conga and the Baby bass. They go hand in hand, and the only way to achieve that is by playing it hard, while the conga is slapping skin. I play hard. My style came from Polito Huerta, La Terrifica, Bobby Rodriguez and the big band sound of Tito Rodriguez. Charanga, and Conjunto styles....that's where I sowed my chops.
 
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#1,528
It might depend a lot on the kind of strings how hard you can play to get a good sound.

I can imagine that downtuned Spiro Solos (specially 4/4) shouldn’t be played to hard, whereas 4/4 Spiro mediums or 3/4 Spiro light can sound better and drive the band better with a harder touch.

The adjustment of the pickup might also have an influence.

And last but not least: the better the band plays together (read: precise), the less you need to dig in. That also depends how well the players hear each other.
 
#1,536
Would like string recommendations for a BB-5, my first Baby Bass. High C. Aluminum bridge w/ new rubber bridge crown. I got it because I wanted the Jymie Merritt-type sound, not for Salsa. I quickly found out that Spiro solos are def. not gonna do it. Mike Merritt told me that his dad likely used Spiros, type unknown. I installed one obscure NOS C steel string, and some Helicore or something for a G, and those do it. So the point is, if anyone has any ideas for a dark high-tension steel string that may "fit" properly (them darn pegbox windings...) I'd appreciate it. Bass has the traditional DB-style tailpiece. The string height is on the higher side, I dig in hard (or as the late great Harry Whitaker used to say, "He plays that bass like a Gorilla"!)

On regular DB I play gut, but I didn't experiment with that yet (would have to open up the nut slots.)
 
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#1,538
Francois Blais said:
What's the problem exactly with those strings you have now?
Can we show a picture of the silks at the tailpiece end to ID them?
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Sorry for the late reply. Death in the family. Distracted and upset.

I want strings that are darker with more tension. I was thinking of maybe some orchestral-type strings? I have no experience with those. On regular DB, I've mostly used gut D, G, C with Spiro/etc. E and A.

E is a Superflexible, too soft and undefined. A is a Spiro Stark - better, but would prefer something stiffer.

And what about the Black La Bella tapewounds? Can't find any videos/audio of them on an Ampeg BB.
 
#1,539
Sorry for that, my condolences to you and yours!

In the dark/stiff genre I'm thinking of Helicore Orchestrals (available in heavy gauge) and D'Addario Kaplans, also available in heavy gauge.
Jargar Fortes are another alternative but may be too undefined on the lower strings.

LaBella 7710 would feel too floppy for you I think.
 
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