Double Bass What do you all think of this Eastman VB95 7/8 scale, Busetto corners, carved top?

johnny_bolt

johnny_bolt

Mar 28, 2017
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#1
I'm maybe an advanced beginner with double bass. After playing rentals and full-plywood basses, I want to go to the next step.

So in FMI (Fantastic Musical Instruments in Pasadena), I tried out their carved-top basses, and this one really stood out. My GF said its sound makes her weep inside ... where the others in the shop just bored her:



(The audio from my Google Pixel 2 phone is pretty accurate, except: in person, the bass isn't boomy, as it comes across in the video. Bassy, for sure - a nice balanced tone with highs, mids, and a real bass unlike what I'm used to from an upright.)

I feel shaky buying something "expensive" like this, but to both me and my GF, the bass had amazing tone. Lots of complexity and resonance; sounds vaguely like a piano, we think. Also: it has deep bass frequencies unlike any of the others in the shop.

It seems to be a pretty unique model; I can't find any for sale or listed anywhere with the particular combination of 7/8 scale and Busetto corners. It does look like the Busetto shape makes for a larger body size - the curves don't slope in as tightly as gamba and violin.

The next thing that was striking was how easy it was to play. I'm think it's 50% chance, the right size neck and radius for my hands. But 50% the design and set up. It felt like a low-action electric, but no buzzing. And without much effort I got great sounds – possibly some synergy with the high output from the other physical characteristics.

About the size: the string scale length is 42.5 inches, putting it in 7/8 territory. I had never considered anything but 3/4 (and even thought of going smaller!) But it was there in the shop, so I thought why not?

For context, I stand 5'7" and had no problem with the instrument. A couple things about it were visibly different from the 3/4 basses: the bridge looks like is a good half-inch taller, and the strings stand out farther. And the scroll itself is bigger. But it didn't feel like a bigger instrument at all. And like I wrote above, my perception is that it's easier to play than the 3/4 basses I'm used to.

It might require a 7/8 size bag... that should be the only accommodation for it.
 
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#7
damonsmith said:
Just make sure you can comfortably hold half position (Ab, A, Bb on the G String). If not I would pass. We don't need any help playing out of tune!
Click to expand...

Interesting! I'm going to show it to my instructor and see if he thinks it's a good fit.

After one evening of practice, my left forearm is pretty sore from fingering in half position. Like, I've got pain in it now. But it could definitely be my technique.
 
#8
A lot of current classical thought on fingering is to have a relaxed hand - we have to keep in mind they KNOW exactly what they are playing and rehearse it. The argument they make is that it takes energy to hold position.
My opinion is that if you are doing any improvising, holding
position is energy well spent. If your forearm hurts you are probably squeezing too much, you need to get your power from your chest, upper back and arm weight.
The bad news is that a longer string length will exacerbate that issue.
 
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#9
> ...you need to get your power from your chest, upper back and arm weight.

Thanks! I've heard this — but not sure exactly what it means. Should i be, in essence, pulling back against the neck sort of like a bow and arrow?
 
#13
damonsmith said:
The subtext here is that this an instrument for an advanced player with solid but flexible technique. I would say it is not the bass for you. I would get a well set up Shen or something and some serious lessons.
Click to expand...

Ok, I'm taking this very seriously. I've also rented a much less expensive (but not as amazing sounding) 3/4 bass, and am going to schlep both of them to a next lesson, to get some feedback.
 
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#15
johnny_bolt said:
I'm maybe an advanced beginner with double bass. After playing rentals and full-plywood basses, I want to go to the next step.

So in FMI (Fantastic Musical Instruments in Pasadena), I tried out their carved-top basses, and this one really stood out. My GF said its sound makes her weep inside ... where the others in the shop just bored her:



(The audio from my Google Pixel 2 phone is pretty accurate, except: in person, the bass isn't boomy, as it comes across in the video. Bassy, for sure - a nice balanced tone with highs, mids, and a real bass unlike what I'm used to from an upright.)

I feel shaky buying something "expensive" like this, but to both me and my GF, the bass had amazing tone. Lots of complexity and resonance; sounds vaguely like a piano, we think. Also: it has deep bass frequencies unlike any of the others in the shop.

It seems to be a pretty unique model; I can't find any for sale or listed anywhere with the particular combination of 7/8 scale and Busetto corners. It does look like the Busetto shape makes for a larger body size - the curves don't slope in as tightly as gamba and violin.

The next thing that was striking was how easy it was to play. I'm think it's 50% chance, the right size neck and radius for my hands. But 50% the design and set up. It felt like a low-action electric, but no buzzing. And without much effort I got great sounds – possibly some synergy with the high output from the other physical characteristics.

About the size: the string scale length is 42.5 inches, putting it in 7/8 territory. I had never considered anything but 3/4 (and even thought of going smaller!) But it was there in the shop, so I thought why not?

For context, I stand 5'7" and had no problem with the instrument. A couple things about it were visibly different from the 3/4 basses: the bridge looks like is a good half-inch taller, and the strings stand out farther. And the scroll itself is bigger. But it didn't feel like a bigger instrument at all. And like I wrote above, my perception is that it's easier to play than the 3/4 basses I'm used to.

It might require a 7/8 size bag... that should be the only accommodation for it.
Click to expand...


OP, if it isn't too late already, FMI is also a Christopher dealer. The 7/8 marketed Chrissies are 106cm in string mensure (for whatever reason, Christopher uses body & bridge size, not scale length, to separate 3/4 from 7/8). Available ply, hybrid and carved.
 
#16
I've played both these basses. I can't speak generally about Eastman V Christopher, but this is the best bass Tom has in his shop right now. He had two big Christopher Gofrillers that were just dead. He had a Chris 5-string that was loud but a tank. The Shen plywoods he has are good. But this particular Eastman is a cut above.
 
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#17
LouisF said:
I've played both these basses. I can't speak generally about Eastman V Christopher, but this is the best bass Tom has in his shop right now. He had two big Christopher Gofrillers that were just dead. He had a Chris 5-string that was loud but a tank. The Shen plywoods he has are good. But this particular Eastman is a cut above.
Click to expand...

Yep - that was exactly our impression. We checked out every bass in the shop, and this one really stood out, regardless of price.
 
#18
Update: my teacher really likes this bass. He's been playing and teaching for decades, is in the philharmonic, etc. (Geoff Neumann, based on the recommendation above from @Eric Hochberg ). He also gave it the thumb's up as a bass that's right-sized for me. It turns out, he and I are the same hight and have the same hand size, so he was able to judge that it's a good fit.

FWIW, he likes Eastman better than Shen for student basses. The only thing he'd change is the bridge -- he found it to not be very arched, making bowing a little more difficult. I also discovered that it has a curved back and Rubner tuners, and I'm digging it.
 
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#19
I’d say that if the sound of the bass really inspires you, it’s easy to play, and your teacher gives it an OK, go for it! The sound and playability of it will inspire you to want to play it more, and thus you will make faster progress on it and you’ll play better. Although a 42.5 in. scale is longer than today’s standard, it can certainly be dealt with. I’ve been playing an old Tyrolean with a 42.25 in. scale for about 40 years, and even though I also have a new 41.5 in. great sounding laminate bass, I invariably pick the Tyrolean for gigs because its sound and feel inspire me!
 
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