I brought my $80 electric bass to the weekly jam. I have a little microcube I put under my chair. A bass is so welcome it's one of the few amplified instruments allowed at our jams. Our circle is about twelve feet at the longest. So a bass tightens up the rhythm, as we're all a bit hearing impaired. I played one fiddle tune, the bass was so well received.
So I'm back in learn mode. I know my 1, 4, 5 in all the common keys, but need to add the minor 3 and 6. It'll come in time. It's almost like work, but still fun.
I spose everyone here knows how to play bass but chooses not? Yes? No?
Like the definition of a gentleman, one who plays the accordion but chooses not to? :-D
Bass was my first instrument, but I played standup, never really learned the fretted one. I like a good bass line and I think my guitar chording comes from a sort of mental bass line in my head.
I have an upright and know how to play it, but I'd rather be playing something else most of the time. Playing bass in a "stay in one key for an hour" OT jam is not something I'm into. Bluegrass jams are a little better.
I play both upright and electric which are really very different instruments IMHO. Here's a photo of my "nest" in one of the last theater shows I did. On one number I started on bass, then switched to violin. I had a little trouble playing the fiddle in tune after the switch. One day I held the two instruments side by side and realized the whole scale length of the violin fit in the first five frets of the bass - no wonder! I have an old short scale Fender Musicmaster bass, which is a little easier, but in this case it was easier to use the theater's P-bass. You really have to keep your hands in shape to play upright, but I enjoy it.
These two basses are seriously good options for an acoustic solution to a jam session. They have plenty of volume with the convenience of being able to sit down within the circle. The bass banjo is long scale 34” tuned bass guitar EADG fourths. The bass cello is 29” scale tuned FCGA fifths.
Edited by - martyjoe on 05/12/2026 20:35:00
Very interesting, but something doesn't quite compute in the tunings. For the bass cello, do you mean fcgD?
Thanks for pointing that out It’s just gone 4am here in Ireland. I’m probably going to change that one to GDAE (two octaves below fiddle) when I purchase the next set of strings. I also have a bass banjo 31” scale tuned GDAE (fifths) that kicks butt.
Has anybody tried a Kala U-Bass?
Heard good things. If you've heard Fred Stoneking's daughter, there's a U-bass behind her. Senior moment. I'll try to find a link. (Alita Stoneking-Wiesburger) [doghouse in this vid]
youtu.be/uycuNhsPcX4?si=hCW7Kd5u6M8kOc8t
Edited by - farmerjones on 05/13/2026 06:06:49
quote:
Originally posted by farmerjonesHas anybody tried a Kala U-Bass?
Heard good things. If you've heard Fred Stoneking's daughter, there's a U-bass behind her. Senior moment. I'll try to find a link. (Alita Stoneking-Wiesburger) [doghouse in this vid]
youtu.be/uycuNhsPcX4?si=hCW7Kd5u6M8kOc8t
I think the U-bass is the best of the electric basses for folk music. Much more upright-like than even an electric upright.
Years ago I played an Ernie Ball Earthwood bass, which was great for a hotel room jam, but not many were made, so now they're quite expensive if you can find one. I see that there are a lot of acoustic/electric options out there, but I've never seen or played one. The Kala has the advantage of small size, but I think it definitely needs an amp.
quote:
Originally posted by screecherI have an upright and know how to play it, but I'd rather be playing something else most of the time. Playing bass in a "stay in one key for an hour" OT jam is not something I'm into. Bluegrass jams are a little better.
I hear that. I was in total awe of the OT jam I jammed at...so staying in 3 keys wasn't that bad looking back but dang, the key of D was very boring! lol. I eventually learned to play some lines up and down that night to entertain myself.
quote:
Originally posted by farmerjonesHas anybody tried a Kala U-Bass?
Heard good things. If you've heard Fred Stoneking's daughter, there's a U-bass behind her. Senior moment. I'll try to find a link. (Alita Stoneking-Wiesburger) [doghouse in this vid]
youtu.be/uycuNhsPcX4?si=hCW7Kd5u6M8kOc8t
A band mate has one that we used at a practice session. It had a pleasant sound. Not a huge amount of volume, but that wouldn't be an issue if it was plugged in.
I have 3 basses. One's an old Hofner bass, like Paul's. One's an upright bass made of fiberglass, and has seen some action, with lots of bondo repairs and a partly caved in upper bout. It sounds good. The other bass I have is the best acoustic bass guitar I've heard. I inherited it from the player in my band who died 4 years ago. It was made by good friend and also band member David Dart (website luthier.com).
What gets played most here is the fiberglass one on tune nights. It leans in the corner awaiting whoever wants to play it. Really fills things out sometimes.
quote:
Originally posted by farmerjonesHas anybody tried a Kala U-Bass?
Heard good things. If you've heard Fred Stoneking's daughter, there's a U-bass behind her. Senior moment. I'll try to find a link. (Alita Stoneking-Wiesburger) [doghouse in this vid]
youtu.be/uycuNhsPcX4?si=hCW7Kd5u6M8kOc8t
The most amazing bass sounds for such a small instrument. 100% needs to be plugged in for its full sonic spectrum to be heard. There are non rubber strings you can get that I much prefer playing on. The rubber makes it near impossible to slide up the neck.
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