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Alembic Club » Alembic Basses & Guitars » Archive: 2008 » Archive through November 01, 2008 » Upright basses with a bow « Previous Next »

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hendixclarke
Advanced Member
Username: hendixclarke

Post Number: 325
Registered: 6-2007
Posted on Wednesday, September 10, 2008 - 5:31 pm:   Edit Post

Who else out there besides Stanley Clarke, play big bass with a bow?

I just love what Stan does with them. I was listening to an old RTF "No Mystery" Track 7 on CD. DAMN that was good. Stan must had been a teenager back then...
jacko
Senior Member
Username: jacko

Post Number: 1903
Registered: 10-2002
Posted on Thursday, September 11, 2008 - 4:22 am:   Edit Post

I guess every Bass player in every orchestra around the world can switch happily between Pizzicato and arco.

Graeme
jseitang
Advanced Member
Username: jseitang

Post Number: 237
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Thursday, September 11, 2008 - 7:41 am:   Edit Post

i majored in classical bass in college. i played german bow, and im tellin you, its no walk in the park.
olieoliver
Senior Member
Username: olieoliver

Post Number: 1926
Registered: 2-2006
Posted on Thursday, September 11, 2008 - 7:49 am:   Edit Post

OOps dbl post
OO

(Message edited by olieoliver on September 11, 2008)
olieoliver
Senior Member
Username: olieoliver

Post Number: 1927
Registered: 2-2006
Posted on Thursday, September 11, 2008 - 7:50 am:   Edit Post

OOPS, again

OO

(Message edited by olieoliver on September 11, 2008)
olieoliver
Senior Member
Username: olieoliver

Post Number: 1928
Registered: 2-2006
Posted on Thursday, September 11, 2008 - 7:51 am:   Edit Post

I play upright some and use a bow some but have never mastered it. Need to work on it more but after 3 or 4 "squeaks" I get frustrated and give it the finger(s). :-)

OO
dannobasso
Senior Member
Username: dannobasso

Post Number: 839
Registered: 3-2004
Posted on Thursday, September 11, 2008 - 11:54 am:   Edit Post

EDGAR MEYER y'all!
worldfamousandy
Intermediate Member
Username: worldfamousandy

Post Number: 123
Registered: 3-2004
Posted on Thursday, September 11, 2008 - 12:20 pm:   Edit Post

Ray Brown, occasionally. I like "Black Orpheus" on the album of the same name (Ray Brown Trio, with Jeff Hamilton and Gene Harris). Check out Gary Karr's stuff, too.
hendixclarke
Advanced Member
Username: hendixclarke

Post Number: 326
Registered: 6-2007
Posted on Thursday, September 11, 2008 - 4:02 pm:   Edit Post

Thanks Andy -- Gary Karr's music is wonderful. How did I go through life all this time, and never heard his music...?

This is why I love/hate this site so much. Thank you from the bottom of my heart Andy.
pauldo
Member
Username: pauldo

Post Number: 67
Registered: 6-2006
Posted on Thursday, September 11, 2008 - 4:52 pm:   Edit Post

I play upright with a bow (french style) ! :-)
I am getting better with alot more practicing,,, I used to be afflicted like Olie. The squeeks are not as frequent now but for some reason my left (fingering hand) is not as dexterious when I am bowing,,, it must be all my thoughts sinking into my right hand and departing the left.


Edgar Meyer fer sure!!!
Renaud Garcia Fons is certainly worth a listen also.
811952
Senior Member
Username: 811952

Post Number: 1480
Registered: 10-2003
Posted on Thursday, September 11, 2008 - 6:21 pm:   Edit Post

The trick (or one of about a hundred) is to not move the bow too fast. More pressure at first, to get the string speaking, then feel for a speed where the bow seems connected to the string and not sliding (or careening, as my technique has been characterized) across the strings.

The fullest tone comes when you have the most resistance against the string, if that makes sense. Louder near the bridge and the bow moves more slowly than when nearer the end of the fingerboard.

I play both German and French, and definitely prefer French.

John
jseitang
Advanced Member
Username: jseitang

Post Number: 238
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Thursday, September 11, 2008 - 6:47 pm:   Edit Post

check out giovanni botessini guys
darkstar01
Intermediate Member
Username: darkstar01

Post Number: 124
Registered: 6-2005
Posted on Friday, September 12, 2008 - 9:25 pm:   Edit Post

francois rabbath.
davehouck
Moderator
Username: davehouck

Post Number: 7032
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Friday, September 12, 2008 - 9:46 pm:   Edit Post

Glen Moore
richbass939
Senior Member
Username: richbass939

Post Number: 975
Registered: 11-2004
Posted on Saturday, September 13, 2008 - 6:40 am:   Edit Post

A couple of questions for you arco folks.
Do you wipe the resin buildup off the strings between songs or leave it there? I've seen it done both ways by professionals.
For you German bow people, do you hold the bow the French bow way or put your ring and middle fingers through the frog?
Rich
811952
Senior Member
Username: 811952

Post Number: 1483
Registered: 10-2003
Posted on Saturday, September 13, 2008 - 7:10 am:   Edit Post

I would clean the rosin off fairly regularly. It's been awhile, but I used a fairly soft/sticky rosin that built up quickly. I don't know if cleaning it is really necessary or does any good, but I figure it can't hurt. I would also clean it off the top of the instrument with Fiddle Bright (if I recall correctly) every so often..

As for the German bow thing, the ring and middle fingers shouldn't actually pass through the frog. It hinders mobility and isn't necessary, though most people hold it that way.

Playing French with a German bow is no big deal with a little practice, but not optimal because the bow wants to rotate.

John
hankster
Intermediate Member
Username: hankster

Post Number: 179
Registered: 6-2004
Posted on Saturday, September 13, 2008 - 12:37 pm:   Edit Post

Neil Swainson. John Carter. Michel Donato. (the departed) Slam Stewart.

and many others, no doubt.

Rick
hendixclarke
Advanced Member
Username: hendixclarke

Post Number: 327
Registered: 6-2007
Posted on Saturday, September 13, 2008 - 7:18 pm:   Edit Post

I wish Alembic create a big bass.
811952
Senior Member
Username: 811952

Post Number: 1494
Registered: 10-2003
Posted on Saturday, September 13, 2008 - 8:04 pm:   Edit Post

My Series 1.5 is awfully large. ;)
darkstar01
Intermediate Member
Username: darkstar01

Post Number: 125
Registered: 6-2005
Posted on Saturday, September 13, 2008 - 8:18 pm:   Edit Post

how about some avant garde? henry grimes, alan silva, barry guy, mark dresser.
mark dresser makes some insane sounds with his bow.
he also uses a pickup that amplifies overtones and other sounds that are usually missed that's mounted over the nut of his bass... i was kind of wondering if anyone knew anything about it. i have no idea what it is, i found a page one time that explained it, but i'm not a tech guy so it didn't make much sense to me. any clues?
oh, and alembic makes the classico. does that count?
adriaan
Senior Member
Username: adriaan

Post Number: 1947
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Monday, September 15, 2008 - 3:25 am:   Edit Post

hendixclarke - never heard of the Classico?

[edit] oops - darkstar01 beat me to it.

(Message edited by adriaan on September 15, 2008)
jacko
Senior Member
Username: jacko

Post Number: 1908
Registered: 10-2002
Posted on Monday, September 15, 2008 - 3:29 am:   Edit Post

Austin, any news on yours?

Back on topic - Miroslav Vitous.

Graeme
funkyjazzjunky
Intermediate Member
Username: funkyjazzjunky

Post Number: 199
Registered: 5-2007
Posted on Friday, September 19, 2008 - 12:50 pm:   Edit Post

François Rabbath's Reitba

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