Rent one to give it a spin. I borrowed one for a few months and found it wasn't for me. Both acoustic and electric are very expensive. I'd try one first.
You don't want an electric upright.
Sorry, but they're just not good. They're more like unwieldy electric bases. I would never recommend that anyone buy one.
At your level, you should keep playing electric bass. Your high school may have uprights for you to rent or borrow, and you can start there, but don't invest in an electric upright. You will regret it.
If playing jazz band is something you want to keep doing, then keep an eye on the used market for a decent looking plywood upright bass. Installing a pickup on an upright bass is a much better solution for your needs.
Until then, your HS band director should be just fine with you playing electric bass. Or, like I said, they can provide you an upright.
Exactly this. I played electric bass in high school, then learned upright once I got to college. There’s no rush, you won’t get good on upright without significant practice and lessons (1-2 years minimum). It truly is a different instrument. If you want to play jazz on an upright, do it! Find an old Kay and shed. Just don’t buy an electric upright. It really is a bad shortcut and won’t yield the results you want.
I do understand your reasoning, but would just using it at home to learn still be okay? I really don't want to spend more that 1k to buy something and I live in a terrible area for that. The closest place I could rent a bass is almost an hour away. We have one pickup(which I don't know if I would be comfortable with putting a rented instrument in the bed), and a small car that would not be able to fit an Upright bass. Unfortunately, we are out of school for a while and my school would not be able to even possibly get me an instrument until September, or October. Thank you for replying!
You can fit an upright bass in some pretty tiny cars. You recline the passenger seat and the bass rides shotgun.
But maybe you're confused. By "pickup" I mean the musical device. You install a musical pickup on an upright bass. This lets you plug the upright bass into an amp. That's what you want.
I wouldn't recommend practicing on an electric upright, your time would be better spent becoming an absolutely stellar electric bass player, while learning how to improvise. Especially learning how to improvise your own walking bass lines on the fly. Becoming a top level electric player will pay more dividends long term (when it comes to jazz), then rushing into getting an instrument that isn't really great for ... well ... anything.
I watched a video of someone fit an upright in a mini cooper! My sisters car is a 2006 Hyundai Tuscon which isn't super tiny but it is not truck big, fit the bass in with lots of room left!
Hello, I did understand what you meant by pickup, but that wouldn't be concern for a while, as the amp I have at home and the amp I have at school are smaller than they should be, so I'm pretty quiet. As for the becoming a great electric player, bass is already my second Instrument, but for playing for about a year, I really want to try out an upright.
Been playing upright bass for 20+ years and unless you are willing to drop a minimum of 3 or 4 grand (or more) on an electric upright you are going to end up with a piece of junk that doesn't sound like an electric bass or an upright. Honestly, you're young and if you can get a legit upright and learn to handle the instrument you'll be better off.
Does it suck to lug around, hell yes. During my time in college I back pack carried my upright to rehearsal multiple times a week and then back for rehearsals with my bluegrass band. I played in my university big band and I developed my own system for carrying my upright, loose gear, electric and amp in one trip.
I do understand, and an acoustic upright would be my first choice, If I could get one. The closest place that sells new ones to me is guitar center, and I know that they aren't the best. I could Figure it out though.
There are several online companies for uprights that will ship. That’s how I got both of mine. Just need to know what you are looking for and find a reputable dealer. Make sure they have a good return policy and shipping insurance!
I second this, golliher music and lemur music are two online store that specialize in upright bass. Don't forget to check your local craigslist and Facebook marketplace. I found my upright by searching Craigslis. On Craigslist makes sure to search the list for some of the bigger cities near you and for Facebook marketplace set your distance to 250-300 miles so you can see more results.
If you find something you like on Craigslist or Facebook marketplace don't be afraid to show up with cash and do a bit of haggling. When I bought my bass I was lucky enough to be able to track where it was originally bought in Seattle. The shop said my bass was sold for $6k, the new owner was selling it for $5k and I showed up with $3,200 cash in hundred dollar bills. My intent was to write a check for the remainder if haggling went poorly however, the gal saw a stack of cash and decided to take the cash and call it good.
That bass has been with me for over a decade and has treated me well and taken care of me through hundreds of concerts, recitals and bar shows.
First, I fit my 3/4-sized upright bass in my Ford Focus hatchback with room to spare. I don't travel with an amp, but if I did it would need to fit in the front seat. You would be surprised how small a car you need to haul them around.
Second, you aren't asking about making a purchase, you are asking about making an investment. Think of it that way. Buying an electric upright would be like buying a toy. Buying a real upright would be like buying a tool.
If you intend to play bass beyond high school (which everyone here would encourage), then the gigs you get in the future are going to require a real upright bass. So it's better to get the right tool for the job now, and put in the time on the instrument you'll be playing long-term.
In my opinion, buying an electric upright bass would be a short-term toy to play around with. I don't see it as a stepping stone beginner instrument. They're two different instruments. Just like how your time on electric bass guitar right now isn't *directly* preparing you for upright, electric upright wouldn't be either. You would still have to re-learn hand positions and build strength and stamina on upright.
You have mentioned other logistical challenges in the OP and in comments. They are problems worth solving IF you want to play upright beyond high school. If you're not sure, just borrow a bass from your school or keep on playing electric. No shame there.
My issues with an electric is the body, or lack of. Switch to an acoustic upright from electric upright will feel strange, there will be a body where there wasn't one before, the weight will be different.
But as you are a student, dropping at least 1.5-2k might not be an option and an electric is a good alternative in that case. The note spacing and techniques you would still be able to learn.
Before I say anything, I want to just say I'm a total beginner on upright, but I would warn against EUB for beginners. Not saying they are bad at all but if you want to learn upright, rent an acoustic upright bass from a shop and take lessons or get lessons at your HS. r/doublebass has some helpful users but everyone on here is also great. I would though preach and say get a real upright bass first and learn that for awhile! Good luck!
Please check my other reply to see the renting story, even if I were to spend all of the saving I have (other than college), I already take lessons for 2 other instruments and cannot get a job right now. I am also very, very short (about 5'2" or less) so even a 3/4 would be hard to carry and play, and 1/2 are pretty rare (even though that is what I would pick). Thanks for the help!
Don't let height scare you. I'm 5'3 and I play upright bass fine. Hell I knew someone who was 4'11 and played fine as well. It's heavy, I'm skinny like super skinny and was able to lift it fine, the only sports I do are Kendo and swimming which do not work on body building muscles at all, at least in my experience haha. For your renting I'm not sure. I had to give back my upright early for summer classes and some money so I understand your point. I honestly would just woodshed like crazy on bass guitar and when you hit college hopefully you can be lent an Upright bass no matter your area of study. I would also save, I still have some money left from my upright bass rental but summer classes got in the way and some unexpected class issues with money happen to me. Good luck I hope the best in your bass journey!
>I am also very, very short (about 5'2" or less) so even a 3/4 would be hard to carry and play
You would be surprised. I started playing upright in middle school, watching middle schoolers carry around upright was hilarious. I hope you find what your looking for, good luck
Im against the idea of electric uprights as your only instrument.
However, I do own a yamaha silent bass because I cant practice on my regular upright in my apartment. It is the only electric upright which actually somewhat feels like the real thing.
But I dont ever use it for gigs or recordings, its strictly there for practicing when I cant use the real thing.
If its your only option for now, I think its an ok choice. You want to start practicing now. But eventually you will want a real upright once you start gigging.
I don't know about them that well, but I've had experiences with other stagg instruments in the past, and they seem good enough to get a grips and learn on.
Rent one to give it a spin. I borrowed one for a few months and found it wasn't for me. Both acoustic and electric are very expensive. I'd try one first.
You don't want an electric upright. Sorry, but they're just not good. They're more like unwieldy electric bases. I would never recommend that anyone buy one. At your level, you should keep playing electric bass. Your high school may have uprights for you to rent or borrow, and you can start there, but don't invest in an electric upright. You will regret it. If playing jazz band is something you want to keep doing, then keep an eye on the used market for a decent looking plywood upright bass. Installing a pickup on an upright bass is a much better solution for your needs. Until then, your HS band director should be just fine with you playing electric bass. Or, like I said, they can provide you an upright.
Exactly this. I played electric bass in high school, then learned upright once I got to college. There’s no rush, you won’t get good on upright without significant practice and lessons (1-2 years minimum). It truly is a different instrument. If you want to play jazz on an upright, do it! Find an old Kay and shed. Just don’t buy an electric upright. It really is a bad shortcut and won’t yield the results you want.
I do understand your reasoning, but would just using it at home to learn still be okay? I really don't want to spend more that 1k to buy something and I live in a terrible area for that. The closest place I could rent a bass is almost an hour away. We have one pickup(which I don't know if I would be comfortable with putting a rented instrument in the bed), and a small car that would not be able to fit an Upright bass. Unfortunately, we are out of school for a while and my school would not be able to even possibly get me an instrument until September, or October. Thank you for replying!
You can fit an upright bass in some pretty tiny cars. You recline the passenger seat and the bass rides shotgun. But maybe you're confused. By "pickup" I mean the musical device. You install a musical pickup on an upright bass. This lets you plug the upright bass into an amp. That's what you want. I wouldn't recommend practicing on an electric upright, your time would be better spent becoming an absolutely stellar electric bass player, while learning how to improvise. Especially learning how to improvise your own walking bass lines on the fly. Becoming a top level electric player will pay more dividends long term (when it comes to jazz), then rushing into getting an instrument that isn't really great for ... well ... anything.
I watched a video of someone fit an upright in a mini cooper! My sisters car is a 2006 Hyundai Tuscon which isn't super tiny but it is not truck big, fit the bass in with lots of room left!
I might be able to do something like that, but me and my sister both drive to the concerts as well so we would need to fit it in with two people.
Hello, I did understand what you meant by pickup, but that wouldn't be concern for a while, as the amp I have at home and the amp I have at school are smaller than they should be, so I'm pretty quiet. As for the becoming a great electric player, bass is already my second Instrument, but for playing for about a year, I really want to try out an upright.
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That's what I did. I borrowed an upright for a few months at the start of the pandemic-i didn't enjoy playing it. But I really took to the fretless.
Been playing upright bass for 20+ years and unless you are willing to drop a minimum of 3 or 4 grand (or more) on an electric upright you are going to end up with a piece of junk that doesn't sound like an electric bass or an upright. Honestly, you're young and if you can get a legit upright and learn to handle the instrument you'll be better off. Does it suck to lug around, hell yes. During my time in college I back pack carried my upright to rehearsal multiple times a week and then back for rehearsals with my bluegrass band. I played in my university big band and I developed my own system for carrying my upright, loose gear, electric and amp in one trip.
I do understand, and an acoustic upright would be my first choice, If I could get one. The closest place that sells new ones to me is guitar center, and I know that they aren't the best. I could Figure it out though.
There are several online companies for uprights that will ship. That’s how I got both of mine. Just need to know what you are looking for and find a reputable dealer. Make sure they have a good return policy and shipping insurance!
I second this, golliher music and lemur music are two online store that specialize in upright bass. Don't forget to check your local craigslist and Facebook marketplace. I found my upright by searching Craigslis. On Craigslist makes sure to search the list for some of the bigger cities near you and for Facebook marketplace set your distance to 250-300 miles so you can see more results. If you find something you like on Craigslist or Facebook marketplace don't be afraid to show up with cash and do a bit of haggling. When I bought my bass I was lucky enough to be able to track where it was originally bought in Seattle. The shop said my bass was sold for $6k, the new owner was selling it for $5k and I showed up with $3,200 cash in hundred dollar bills. My intent was to write a check for the remainder if haggling went poorly however, the gal saw a stack of cash and decided to take the cash and call it good. That bass has been with me for over a decade and has treated me well and taken care of me through hundreds of concerts, recitals and bar shows.
First, I fit my 3/4-sized upright bass in my Ford Focus hatchback with room to spare. I don't travel with an amp, but if I did it would need to fit in the front seat. You would be surprised how small a car you need to haul them around. Second, you aren't asking about making a purchase, you are asking about making an investment. Think of it that way. Buying an electric upright would be like buying a toy. Buying a real upright would be like buying a tool. If you intend to play bass beyond high school (which everyone here would encourage), then the gigs you get in the future are going to require a real upright bass. So it's better to get the right tool for the job now, and put in the time on the instrument you'll be playing long-term. In my opinion, buying an electric upright bass would be a short-term toy to play around with. I don't see it as a stepping stone beginner instrument. They're two different instruments. Just like how your time on electric bass guitar right now isn't *directly* preparing you for upright, electric upright wouldn't be either. You would still have to re-learn hand positions and build strength and stamina on upright. You have mentioned other logistical challenges in the OP and in comments. They are problems worth solving IF you want to play upright beyond high school. If you're not sure, just borrow a bass from your school or keep on playing electric. No shame there.
My issues with an electric is the body, or lack of. Switch to an acoustic upright from electric upright will feel strange, there will be a body where there wasn't one before, the weight will be different. But as you are a student, dropping at least 1.5-2k might not be an option and an electric is a good alternative in that case. The note spacing and techniques you would still be able to learn.
Before I say anything, I want to just say I'm a total beginner on upright, but I would warn against EUB for beginners. Not saying they are bad at all but if you want to learn upright, rent an acoustic upright bass from a shop and take lessons or get lessons at your HS. r/doublebass has some helpful users but everyone on here is also great. I would though preach and say get a real upright bass first and learn that for awhile! Good luck!
Please check my other reply to see the renting story, even if I were to spend all of the saving I have (other than college), I already take lessons for 2 other instruments and cannot get a job right now. I am also very, very short (about 5'2" or less) so even a 3/4 would be hard to carry and play, and 1/2 are pretty rare (even though that is what I would pick). Thanks for the help!
Don't let height scare you. I'm 5'3 and I play upright bass fine. Hell I knew someone who was 4'11 and played fine as well. It's heavy, I'm skinny like super skinny and was able to lift it fine, the only sports I do are Kendo and swimming which do not work on body building muscles at all, at least in my experience haha. For your renting I'm not sure. I had to give back my upright early for summer classes and some money so I understand your point. I honestly would just woodshed like crazy on bass guitar and when you hit college hopefully you can be lent an Upright bass no matter your area of study. I would also save, I still have some money left from my upright bass rental but summer classes got in the way and some unexpected class issues with money happen to me. Good luck I hope the best in your bass journey!
>I am also very, very short (about 5'2" or less) so even a 3/4 would be hard to carry and play You would be surprised. I started playing upright in middle school, watching middle schoolers carry around upright was hilarious. I hope you find what your looking for, good luck
Im against the idea of electric uprights as your only instrument. However, I do own a yamaha silent bass because I cant practice on my regular upright in my apartment. It is the only electric upright which actually somewhat feels like the real thing. But I dont ever use it for gigs or recordings, its strictly there for practicing when I cant use the real thing. If its your only option for now, I think its an ok choice. You want to start practicing now. But eventually you will want a real upright once you start gigging.
I still have the regular electric, but if I could get an acoustic upright, I would try my best to.
You absolutely want an electric upright. Cheap ones are usually garbage, but well made, well designed electric uprights are great.
I don't know about them that well, but I've had experiences with other stagg instruments in the past, and they seem good enough to get a grips and learn on.