Double Bass I’m ready for a baby bass

Alexis Duntov

Alexis Duntov

Supporting Member
Feb 16, 2013
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Brooklyn, NY
#1
Hey folks,

I’m ready to take the plunge into the world of baby bass. I’m interested in the classic Salsa sound. I play upright so I’ll be familiar with the string length and technique. I’m curious about the current wisdom on looking for a vintage Ampeg baby bass or getting a new instrument. I’ve read things about Ray Ramirez, KK. Etc. Anyone have any tips? I live in NYC which in theory should place me in proximity to some local instruments. Grateful for any guidance. Thanks.
 
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#2
If you can find one, the Azola BB does a nice job of straddling the line between that classic Ampeg tone, but has a modern build quality. I played a BB in school and thought it was super cool, but sometimes old is old. I still want one though.
 
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#4
This is probably related to the diaphragm pickup that takes some of the string energy out so the string is damped, similar to the top of an acoustic instrument, but probably more than that. So the note decays quickly and you get a short percussive note.
The key is absorption of string energy, since solid body instruments where the bridge sits on the solid body directly (or on a piezo in between) reflect a very large part if the vibration back into the string. There are other possible ways to simulate a DB top to some extent than a diaphragm pickup.

I play a Clevinger solid body EUB with piezo pickups, so that instrument (probably made for jazz) has a long sustain, but I use it for salsa. The trick is to damp the notes by hand/fingers to short them and to use a percussive (rather hard) pluck on the strings.
Might be easier with an instrument with a diaphragm pickup (this is the only relevant thing for a baby bass sound, shape is eye candy only), but I can experiment and lead my (amateur) colleagues in the rehearsals by changing the note length and percussiveness (if they react to it…).
 
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#5
DoubleMIDI said:
This is probably related to the diaphragm pickup that takes some of the string energy out so the string is damped, similar to the top of an acoustic instrument, but probably more than that. So the note decays quickly and you get a short percussive note.
The key is absorption of string energy, since solid body instruments where the bridge sits on the solid body directly (or on a piezo in between) reflect a very large part if the vibration back into the string. There are other possible ways to simulate a DB top to some extent than a diaphragm pickup.

I play a Clevinger solid body EUB with piezo pickups, so that instrument (probably made for jazz) has a long sustain, but I use it for salsa. The trick is to damp the notes by hand/fingers to short them and to use a percussive (rather hard) pluck on the strings.
Might be easier with an instrument with a diaphragm pickup (this is the only relevant thing for a baby bass sound, shape is eye candy only), but I can experiment and lead my (amateur) colleagues in the rehearsals by changing the note length and percussiveness (if they react to it…).
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Thanks.
Not too dissimilar from playing bluegrass, which also requires a short sustain most of the time. I'm playing a Yamaha SLB300, and have to use similar damping techniques.
 
#6
BobKay said:
I apologize for this slight de-rail, but please explain the "Salsa/baby bass" requirement? I've seen it often, but don't understand the connection.
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The baby bass is extremely popular in Latin music, and salsa in particular. In that style the bass occupies a much more percussive role than in other styles of western popular music. The notes become less important, typically just a I-V, and the clave rhythm it plays becomes even more important, because salsa is first and foremost dance music. It is essentially used as a pitched percussion instrument, used to drive that clave which the actual percussion players, counter, build on, and embellish. Because of that roll, the tonal characteristics of the baby bass fit the bill uniquely well. There is a huge clear fundamental boom with very little sustain, it is a big, muscular, thick, boom, which that music really needs. Also, tradition. Baby bass has always been popular with salsa bassists from the birth of salsa.
 
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#8
There was a really nice looking Azola baby bass that popped up in the classifieds yesterday. (No affiliation). Beyond that I’ve always wished I had a reason to buy a Ray Ramirez bass. His stuff is just beautiful, I especially like his stuff made with the local tropical hardwoods. If that’s what you want, being in NYC it would be pretty easy for you to get to go see him. I believe he’s in Humacao which is the east side of the island, it’s a couple hours from the airport in San Juan but a beautiful drive, some great beaches and food along the way. In my opinion he would be the absolute tip-top in the modern salsa sound. As much as I admire his work though, nothing I do needs that sound, so I just watch from the sidelines and cheer him on, lol.
 
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#9
I am considering a Ramirez Baby bass. Not for Salsa per say as I play a lot of different music. But think Jazz mostly. Trying to work my through understand which electronics to include as I am not too well schooled in the electrics. Any suggestions would be very welcome.
 
#11
Peregrinator said:
I am considering a Ramirez Baby bass. Not for Salsa per say as I play a lot of different music. But think Jazz mostly. Trying to work my through understand which electronics to include as I am not too well schooled in the electrics. Any suggestions would be very welcome.
Click to expand...
For Jazz, i’d take the Carribean series, which is made out of wood, not fiberglass.
You’ll get a warmer tone with more sustain.
The piezo pickup is likely to provide a more appropriate tone for jazz than the under-the-bridge magnetic one.
But the active preamp allows you to blend or to select only one of the two pickups.
These are truly beautiful instruments!
 
#13
Seems to be in good condition indeed.
The maple bridge that was fitted is clever.
It's kind of just an arch, and they installed the double big twin transducers on it.
Wonder about the tone though. Without the resonance of a normal bass body, I'd expect that setup to sound thin and brittle.
But that's just a guess.
 
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