Electric Upright Bass

When Ottawa bassist Alrick Huebener approached me last year to build him a solid body string bass, I thought it would be a one-of-a-kind custom instrument. However, from the enthusiastic response I have been getting from bass players, I am encouraged to include it in my standard line of instruments.

The concept was to create a solid body bass that sounds, plays and feels like its acoustic counterpart. To this end I kept the traditional fingerboard, neck shape and size, the standard bridge height and string length of a 3/4 size bass. The core of the body is made of fir, laminated on the outside with curly maple. A hollow area under the bridge creates a vibrating area that enhances the acoustic sound.

Attached to the back, with curved stainless steel rods,is a removable body brace. The shape and location provides the player with a similar contact area to what he would have on an acoustic bass. The height adjustments are made with a telescoping tail pin.

The pick-up system was chosen to respond equally to pizzicato as well as arco playing, and consists of a transducer bridge pick up with on board per-amp and EQ. The volume and tone controls are placed within easy reach on the top of the body, next to the fingerboard.

Players comments...
...very natural feel, great acoustic sound, sustain...plays like the real thing

E-mail from Alrick:
I have played the bass in a couple of rehearsals and a performance. Everyone comments on how good it sounds and how beautiful it looks. I am very happy with the instrument. It feels beautiful to play and I am just beginning to explore it with the bow.

 

Specifications and Dimensions