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[hywyn]

Hi,
I want to accompany myself on some recordings (song-writer stuff, - acoustic guitar + voice) and wonder if anyone else is using the Ashbory for this.
I read a user comment (pasted below) which gives me food for thought (I already own a fretless).
Any advice would be much appreciated,
Cheers,
Steve Jones


 The bass DOES get pretty close to an upright sound-- however, the lack of sustain ultimately made me decide to part with it to fund other gear. I know upright basses don't have much sustain either, but the Ashbory is much more attack-oriented, even though you can dial out the treble to minimize that. There isn't the richness/variety of tone that an upright gives, and you can't really manipulate the sound of the bass once the note is plucked, as is possible on a steel-string fretless. If you really are looking for a fretless steel-string bass "growl and mawrh" sound, the Ashbory doesn't really do that. The sound really doesn't have much character in itself, but in an ensemble it seems to do a pretty good job of imitating an upright bass. Plenty of low-end thump, but you won't get the subtleties that steel-strings provide. Playing the rubber strings made me realize how much of my "style" is based on the ability to touch the strings in different ways, and the rubber strings seemed very limited in that regard for me, but at this price, maybe YOU can afford to have more novelties in your life-- I only keep gear that is essential for the sounds I want, and the Ashbory didn't meet that criteria for me.

 I really should have tried one out first, but it wasn't possible. On occasion, I buy a piece of gear strictly out of reading others' opinions, and that was the case here. I have a fretted and fretless bass, and to be honest, I could get pretty much the same "upright" sound on my fretless. It's all in how you phrase the basslines and how the strings are attacked and manipulated that really gives an upright sound, in my opinion. I used the Ashbory on some recordings, alternating with my fretless, and based strictly on that, I couldn't justify the redundancy of having the Ashbory when my fretless covers that territory anyway. I strongly recommend trying one out from a place that accepts returns, since it is a pretty unusual instrument.

[Alun]

Hi Steve. Is that a hint of a Welsh person I see in your username?

Anyway, welcome to Largesound. The best thing to do is try and find somewhere that has one in stock (easier said than done) or somewhere that'll order one for you to try. That review is pretty accurate but the tone is very different to a fretless bass guitar. I've got a couple of fretlesses (fretlessi ?) and neither gets as close as the Ashbory for an upright sound. The lack of metal string "clanginess" and finger noise makes it a really good companion for acoustic stuff.

The tone is closer to an electric upright (eg Tony Levin's Steinberger upright) than an acoustic but still very realistic.

Cheers,
ALun

[hywyn]

Hi Steve. Is that a hint of a Welsh person I see in your username?

Sut Mae Alun? Byd bach!!!
Thanks for the info,...is there anywhere in Cardiff you know that might stock these? I work over there a fair amount (as a sound recordist on various productions for S4C) or Swansea, - I was near there last week, just the other side of Camarthen.
Sounds like it may be the tool for me, as I write and record using a lap-top (and a good quality firewire interface) while on the road. The Ashbory sounds like it could be of benefit both tonally and dynamically, while being the perfect size to lug around. BTW, is there a hard case for these?

My middle (user) name derives from the patron saint of Aberdaron (...gyda llaw!).
Hwyl,
Steve

[Alun]

Hi Steve. There's a discussion on hard cases here:

http://www.largesound.com/community/viewtopic.php?t=134

As for Cardiff, I think I saw an Ashbory in Cranes years ago but when I went there about 18 months ago they knew nothing about them and thought they'd been discontinued (although in fairness, I usually find their bass guys pretty good).

Anywhere that does Fender can get you one (mine came from Rowlands Music in Swansea) but obviously that doesn't help if you want to try one.

I can offer a couple of samples:
Audio
http://www.frozencloudmusic.com/~chrishiscocks/Bass%20guitar%20samples/DeArmond%20Ashbory%20-%20walking%20bass%20-%20flat%20EQ.mp3

Video
http://www.alunvaughan.com/Miniash.wmv

If you're around the Swansea area, mine is usually with me on gigs (http://www.alunvaughan.com/gigs.htm ) if you want to have a fiddle in the break.

Cheers,
Alun

[hywyn]

Thanks Alun,
I can't really tell from your sound-clip if it'll suit my music. I write stuff that's close (in jazz speak) to Wayne Shorters, "In a Silent Way", - melodic and quite spaced.
Intersting all the same, and as you say similar to how I've heard an electric upright play a walking bass line.
Thanks for the offer to try out the Ashbory during an interval. I'll see what my schedules like over the next month, and will be in touch if it seems our paths can cross.
All the best,
Steve

[Alun]

No problem, let me know.

Cheers,
Alun

[scottydoesntknow]

I am thinking about an ashbory bass but im not very sure about the  size and the silicone strings. I have been playing a fender  J bass for a few years and im not sure about getting the ashbory because the frets are so small.

[Brock]

I am thinking about an ashbory bass but im not very sure about the  size and the silicone strings. I have been playing a fender  J bass for a few years and im not sure about getting the ashbory because the frets are so small.

The lines are only markers, and the instrument itself is actually fretless.

It'll be quite a different experience than playing a Bass Guitar. The scale, the strings, and the fretlessness all make for a unique experience. It took me some definite adjustment time, mostly due to being fretless. All I had played prior to getting my first Ashbory was fretted Bass Guitars.


-Brock

[Xrix]

I can double that. I've had my Ashbory for a few months now, but I haven't played it nearly enough to feel completely at home on the instrument. Lack of time being the reason... although I plan to take it with me on my holiday: that's the great thing about the Ashbory, and one of the reasons I bought it.
Now let's hope my girlfriend won't start complaining about 'lack of attention' from me :roll:

Xrix.

[scottydoesntknow]

Thanks Brock and Xrix.
I bought one today(':D'). Well i hope it gets here before i leave for a few days. Im sure i will adjust to the smallness of it lol.

[Xrix]

Congrats on your new asset Scotty! May your G-string never break! (small chance though :roll: )

Xrix.

[scottydoesntknow]

well at least i will have an extra set of strings when it arrives incaser the G string breaks .

[Xrix]

I can recommend buying a metre or 2 of G-string from Mike Tavener (he's a user on this forum too): that way you won't have incomplete sets lying around the house... It's cheaper too!

Xrix.