Double Bass Switching between Acoustic and Electric fast in a musical theater pit orchestra

M

Mark Phelps

Oct 4, 2015
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Oceanside California
#1
I have been playing in musical theater pits playing both acoustic and electric bass. I am playing for The Little Mermaid this summer. It calls for switching from acoustic to electric in about 10 seconds. Finale Ultimo to Bows. When I played for Big Fish using both basses, I played the acoustic on a stand as most of the music called for electric. The Little Mermaid is mostly on acoustic with a few songs on electric. In the rest of the switches give me at least 30 seconds which I can do by putting the acoustic back on the stand. Please give me ideas on how to make this happen.

Thanks
Mark
 
#2
Mark Phelps said:
I have been playing in musical theater pits playing both acoustic and electric bass. I am playing for The Little Mermaid this summer. It calls for switching from acoustic to electric in about 10 seconds. Finale Ultimo to Bows. When I played for Big Fish using both basses, I played the acoustic on a stand as most of the music called for electric. The Little Mermaid is mostly on acoustic with a few songs on electric. In the rest of the switches give me at least 30 seconds which I can do by putting the acoustic back on the stand. Please give me ideas on how to make this happen.

Thanks
Mark
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I played Fender jazz , piccolo-tuned acoustic bass guitar, and acoustic cello in a duo that required frequent and quick changes between songs. The solution for me was a Morley A/B/C foot switch with each instrument eq'd and preamped as needed before entering the switch. I set the cello on its side to my left and the basses to my right in stands. Different stage setup from you, I was not in the pit. Hope this helps in some way.
 
#3
I saw a video (probably from the late 50's or early 60's) of a big band where the bass player was playing upright bass, and then in the middle of a song he picked up a P-Bass, slung the strap over his shoulder and played the electric off his right hip, with his left arm wrapped around the neck of the upright that was still leaning on his left hip.
 
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#4
10 seconds doesn't sound too bad as long as you have an a/b switch and enough room. Everything needs to be plugged in and ready so the switch is just setting down the big bass, strapping on electric, pushing a floor switch or two. Grace Felix excels for this as it has both an a/b and a mute switch.
 
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#6
s van order said:
I played Fender jazz , piccolo-tuned acoustic bass guitar, and acoustic cello in a duo that required frequent and quick changes between songs. The solution for me was a Morley A/B/C foot switch with each instrument eq'd and preamped as needed before entering the switch. I set the cello on its side to my left and the basses to my right in stands. Different stage setup from you, I was not in the pit. Hope this helps in some way.
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Sounds like you have great set-up. I have the electronics under control using a 2 channel acoustic image amp. I am trying to see if there are other solutions other than playing the acoustic on a stand while "wearing" the electric. What do others do in this situation. I don't think I have time or room to set down the acoustic.
 
#7
Jim Dombrowski said:
I saw a video (probably from the late 50's or early 60's) of a big band where the bass player was playing upright bass, and then in the middle of a song he picked up a P-Bass, slung the strap over his shoulder and played the electric off his right hip, with his left arm wrapped around the neck of the upright that was still leaning on his left hip.
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That sounds very interesting. I am going to try it!
 
#8
tsheldon said:
10 seconds doesn't sound too bad as long as you have an a/b switch and enough room. Everything needs to be plugged in and ready so the switch is just setting down the big bass, strapping on electric, pushing a floor switch or two. Grace Felix excels for this as it has both an a/b and a mute switch.
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Unfortunately, I don't think I have enough room. I wonder how others make this happen. I know wind players and guitar players have very fast changes of instruments, but I have this big doghouse instrument!
 
#10
Mark Phelps said:
Sounds like you have great set-up. I have the electronics under control using a 2 channel acoustic image amp. I am trying to see if there are other solutions other than playing the acoustic on a stand while "wearing" the electric. What do others do in this situation. I don't think I have time or room to set down the acoustic.
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Wow. I had no idea. I admire you pit bassists and your search for solutions with the timing and ergonomic challenge you face. And to boot you have, it seems, near zero time for switching up. A lesson to us fortunate to have some room to move and more time to switch. After reading this, I should not carp about a tight stage or tired left shoulder again!
 
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#11
Mark Phelps said:
I may have to do that. I will have to do the last 4 or 5 tunes on the stand as each of those tunes segues to the next. The other option is to play the bows and exit music on upright. I appreciate the input.
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The opening of Shrek has the same issue. It's upright for the first 20 or so bars, and then electric for the rest. You have about three bars to change. Mary Poppins has some similar issues. In both, I kept the electric slung over my back and played the upright, then swung the electric into place. The bassist on Fun home on Broadway played the upright on the stand the whole time.
 
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