Added: 5 years ago
From: vrooomuk
Views: 110,490
Sort by time | Sort by thread (beta)

Link to this comment:

Share to:

All Comments (136)

Sign In or Sign Up now to post a comment!
  • Do they make ashbory basses with that same body style but 34 or 35 inch scale?

  • @dabajabaza111 No, this is the only style they do - short scale.

  • @vrooomuk Damn, I would pay a pretty penny for a fretless bass with that style of body but with a normal scale.

  • @ichabodcraneband

    I've been searching everywhere too man, I want to see if it sounds ok distorted as well

  • @x0ROZ0x It's a very dense sound. Distorted it is interesting but it is not something you'd use all the time. Very hard to mix.

  • Can u tune ur ashbory bass to C G C F i play in a metal band and i want one of those but i need to know if it can tune the way i need it please email me at mattspaeth39@ymail.con

  • I would buy one if these if there weren't so many problems with the strings. They have a really cool sound.

  • Hey, im thinking about buying the Ashbory bass, but im just wondering how loud is the strings when played without an amp? would other people notice your playing it?

  • @MikeySmithDesign They would notice if they were sitting next to you, but not notice if they were in the other room. It's acoustic qualities are minimal.

  • HEY make a video playng slap :D

  • man i used to hate these things. but now that ive started to hear them more im accually considering buying one. sometimes it makes me realize you can never be too open minded.

  • fretless?

    

  • @jpablosnm Absolutely!

  • 36 People don't have sideburns......

  • epic sideburns

  • @JustYourAverageBoy They do decrease and increase in size and shape throughout the year. Winter they are big, bushy and fine and in the summer I prune them back so I am more streamlined when I break into a sprint to chase the ladies...

  • I like the Marillion poster. :-)

  • the g-string is usually the first to go.... heheh

  • @ouchy112

    Sir, you have a filthy mind! :-)

  • Thanks for that demo,very informative. I liked the backing track to the demo too. Cheers.

  • @MankyScotsG1t yeah, what is the backing track?

  • @cameroooon89 It's my own composition, which you can purchase from iTunes and other reputable outlets. The album is called "God Pays Debts Without Money" and the track itself is called "Like Adam and Eve".

  • @vrooomuk

    Sorry. I just wandered in. Did you release this solo, or do you do this song with a band? Either way, what is the artist name on this track? I really dig it.

  • @ninjaziggy This is a track recorded by myself called "Like Adam and Eve" and you can purchase it via iTunes itunes.apple.com/gb/album/like­-adam-eve/id203957350?i=203957­685 or you can search me out on CDBABY to buy the CD boxset that this was taken from.

  • Also just noticed mate, a hint for you... I had an initial problem of the E string hopping out of the bridge. I then discovered on an Ashbory related site that this can be avoided by reverse stringing the E i.e. turn the machine heads the opposite way from the A, D & G. This also helps dramatically with the tuning!

  • What a great video! The most impressive part is your playing to your own track. OK, so next question, what's your set up for that sound? Sounds like you've got the bass boosted more than the treble. Are you using any effects, reverbs etc on the bass sound?

  • What a great video! The most impressive part is your playing to your own track. OK, so next question, what's your set up for that sound? Sounds like you've got the bass boosted more than the treble. Are you using any effects, reverbs etc on the bass sound?

  • so can someone explain 2 a complete beginner the point in the strings???

  • @gluv1 The strings give the instrument its unique sound. Do a google search for Ashbory and go to the largesound website

  • @zxcv1234vcxz

    Yeah man you're missing something: The Ashbory, mostly thanks to it's strings, has the lowest register available. It's as low as a standup bass, which provides an -awesome- tone without having to lug around an upright bass ._.

    the fact it's so small is just a small bonus to it's sound :P

  • Thanks. I've had one for a few years now and can't get it to sound any good. Just invested in a strap so it should be easier to play.

    I do have a tip, wrap the strings in teflon plumbers tape and you don't have to use talc on your fingers. The tape also helps the strings last longer.

  • Thank's to your video i want to sell my fretless SX and go stright for an Ashbory... that was really sweet!

    By the way, what was the backing track?

  • @impulsoprog The backing track is a song I recorded called "Like Adam and Eve" from my album "God Pays Debts Without Money".

  • I need a six string

  • Alun Ashworth-Jones created the pickups he teamed with Nigel Thornbory to put it all together. The original "Guild" model had less than 2000 produced. Had capstan tuners that were (are) a pita to turn and keep in place while the new model through De-armond and Fender have geared tuners. The newer models also have a slightly hotter pickup.

    I spoke with Alun many years ago before the new products were made and he is a very facinating person excited that people had an interest in his cocreation.

  • I just wanted to add that I had to contact him because my first Ashbory was in need of a new pickup and he was the only one that had them available at the time.

    I am in no way a bass player but these little bass guitars are a blast to fiddle around with. I traded in my original (red) with some other items for a beautiful Less Paul (along with some cash to boot) many years later but missed having one of these handy so I found another a couple years ago (blue). They truely are that much fun.

  • i might be wrong but the original AB was made by Guild and had a slightly different scale and EQ than the current Fender made model.

  • @starkey97 Both guitars were 18" scale, so I am not sure how different they actually were.

  • I saw such an instrument one day in a guitar shop, and started to wonder what it was. I like the tone. Thanks for the video.

  • Very nice, cool stuff mate, thanks for makin the video

  • hi! that sound is great! i m waiting to buy an ashbory, you have a really good sound and i want to ask you if you have a preamp or sustain pedal...? sorry for my english im mexican jeje!! un abrazo!

  • In that instance, the Ashbory Bass was plugged direct into the mixer.

  • great!!! thank you!

  • that track that you played to; the percussion.....did you come up with that yourself? it's the same percussion sounds used in king crimson's power to believe II.

    ive been trying to find out how they got those sounds and what instruments they are....midi voices or whatever.

    can you help me out?

  • Yes - the guys from King Crimson are soooo original and soooo wonderful that they just used the gamelan presets from the Handsonic HPD-15. Seriously, I challenge ANYONE not to use this pad with this preset and NOT sound like TPTBII. It is impossible not to. So if you want to sound like the Crim get yourself a Handsonic now! ;-)

  • Hahahaha, Incredible.

    Great video.

    Peace and happy tones!

  • Hey thanks for this - I've never really come across one of these before! A cool review of a very weird and interesting instrument!! Sounds really nice too!

  • just found this, very cool. Thanks.

  • Nothing I should imagine. The design of the Ashbory bass hasn't changed since its inception.

  • i (L) Marillion :D

  • Yes - silicon rubber...

  • Thank you for posting this video, I wanted to know what this bass sounded like, and thanks to youtube those who have bought it can demostrate it for the masses. Damn that thing is so small, makes my Mandolin feel like it's a guitar.

  • Nope. Just plugged into my mixer with a little bit of reverb.

  • That's plugged to an amplifier right?

  • I need to learn how to play that.

  • how often would you say a string breaks?

  • Not that often...they last a long, long time. Some say that the strings can last decades due to their elastic nature.

  • does it have to sound acoustic or can it rock

  • Add some distortion to it and it can rock - though you'd probably want to play with a pick rather than fingers for added attack.

  • It's a strange looking bass.. But probably very fun =D

  • I hear ya!

  • why does it have rubber strings?

  • Well I didn't design the Ashbory, but I guess the original creators of the instrument used silicon rubber strings as these produced a sound closer to an acoustic bass than regular steel wound strings.

  • no offense lol

    why did you get it?

    an acoustic bass has a better feel than the ashbory (neckwise and fretwise) IMO

  • Like many decisions in life, it seemed to be a good idea at the time! :-) But the Ashbory is unique as an instrument.

  • shoot i'm gettin me one

  • its certainly a unique bass and the sound is surprisingly musical!

  • I usually get self-conscious when people point and laugh at my funny little instrument :P

    I played it a few times, and it was fun, but I found it impossible to play smoothly without talcum powder (which the guitar store didn't have in stock), and I couldn't comfortably hold it on my lap when seated.

    Also, when I went back, the Ashbory was missing it's G string :P

  • oh man...i forgot to mentioned that the volume is low but the red ligh bright red.....maybe it's the battery or somethin....it's a cool bass but i'm very disappointed now....

  • The screaming sound is feedback from your amp. Stand a good distance away from your amp and the screaming should stop. If it continues, then it might not be feedback and it might be something else, perhaps something wrong with the piezo pickup (doubtful - deffo feedback IMHO). As for the volume being low, the red LED indicates battery strength, so if the battery was run-out it wouldn't light up. Of course, you could try a fresh battery to see if it makes any difference.

    Hope this helps!

  • well, ok thanks man, the first problem is that...when i'm turning the volume up to my speakers....i can hear a screaming sound and i don't know what's wrong...the second problem is that i can't tune it....but man....i can't tune it at all...hihi :D ...thanks again and hope you reply soon (sorry for my english if they suck :P)

  • hey man help me please i got recently an ashbory bass but i have some problems i think

    ....:S

  • If you tell me the problem, I'll do my best to give you some advice.

    Regards, Darren

  • lol wind for dear life and hope it works

  • To avoid getting that sticky feeling in your finger tips. Next time you play it, use it...it makes a difference!

  • Marillion poster AND Power to Believe sounds: yes we can be friends! Great vid.

    It seems like electric attack with upright mwah

  • the inventor of this bass died 3 weeks ago and was and it wasn't until this happened that i even knew he'd invented it. Modest man and a very very lovely man.

  • There were two designers, do you mean Alun Ashworth-Jones or Nigel Thornbory?

  • Alun Ashworth-Jones. I was his postman.

  • I've been looking for info about this bass for quite long time.

    Thanks for sharing!

  • I loved the composition! and I really liked the explanation...it looks like a vrey interesting instrument.

  • We used an Ashbory on "That'll be the Day," as a first instrument for a new bassist that we recruited, and it worked out fine. Though our own Gretsch Electromagnetic bass is also very nice, and cost about the same. (Though seems to be very hard to find now.)

  • No thumb rest - but you can use the bridge if you want! :-)

  • Thanks, I've done that before, and playing with a floating thumb isn't too much of a problem for me. Though, is there any set amount of experience you would recommend before making the purchase?

  • Obviously, it is not for the beginner. Though it is a good introduction to fretless instruments if you have no experience of them. The Ashbory does have a few intonation and tuning issues, so don't expect it to be a reliable gigging instrument though it is great in the studio if you are looking for an upright bass sound but don't have the cash or the space for such an instrument. Once you get one, you won't want to part with it. It's an Ashbory thing...

  • Thanks, I've been debating on whether or not to make the purchase because of the tuning and stringing issues. I've never played a fretless bass before, and this is hundreds cheaper than the rest, I think I'll wait a while though, but this seems like a magnificent instrument.

    Thanks.

  • I've actually gigged with it in jazz settings as, as long as you're laying down a groove in the 'money' notes (never past the 5th fret) you're fine. It takes a LOT of work in terms of tuning and talc powder but it gets a great sound... and of course the 'is it a toy?' shock value that brings attention to it... Soloing on it? Forget it, and I have thin fingers! Good job there mate

  • talc powder? for what?

  • Thank you, for this nice show.

    Now I know much more about this fine little strange instrument.

  • vrooomuk, I just picked up an ashbory this week -- I love it! Your composition in this vid was quite interesting. I heard a glock, and from the sound of it, some brass bells. Would you comment on the instruments you used here?

  • Strings are available from Fender dealers, but not many stock them. Large Sound specializes in Ashbories and has them. Google for "Large Sound".

  • great job boy!

    tankS

  • Thanks a lot for the review

  • I like the ashborys. You should play this for studio bass recordings. This sound is way better than you expect for $300.

  • Those are some really nice sounds, almost sounds acoustic. If you made a sample pack out of that you could probably make some money.

  • thx for the info, im considering getting one

  • could you tune this instrument with a simple chromatic tuner? is it hard to steing the instrument?

  • A normal guitar/bass tuner would be fine. Stringing the instrument involves you tying a knot in one end of the new silicon rubber string, placing the knot in the bridge, stretching the string up to the winding peg, tying another knot and placing that in the groove of the winding peg. Not too difficult, I think you'll agree.

  • can I use pick on this bass, cuz I play punk rock!!

    please answer

    is it difficult to play it and can i get the strins in mexico???

  • Playing with a pick would probably reduce string life. I have used soft rubber picks with the Ashbory and they work well, but not hard plastic ones - they would cause too much damage to the strings. Strings in Mexico? Sorry, I don't know. If you have a credit card and Internet access, you could always order them online, I guess.

  • i woulda thought u strum it like a normal bass with two fingers but as u demonstrated in the clip u didnt, is it easy playing the ashbory??

  • that's a neat lookin instrument. how much? where to purchase? and is there any pickups or a place where i can rest my thumb so i can pluck instead of strum

    thanks. you did a great job talking about it

  • Hello I Am Looking To Get An Ashboy Bass They Have 2 Kinds Of Basses The Ashbory And the DeArmond Ashbory. Which One Is Better? if i Get One What Amp Should i Get For It A Little Pig Noes Amp Or What? Plz Write Back Good Playing :)

  • The only commercially available version of this instrument is the DeArmond Ashbory Bass. DeArmond is a subsidiary of Fender guitars now. Any bass amp should be OK - a Pig Nose would be too small and crappy. Hope this helps!

  • did you say over time it permanetly breaks? cause i would buy this guitar and i dont mind tuning it before and after i play i just want it to last.

  • No - the instrument doesn't break, but the strings lose their tension over time (as they are made from silicon rubber). The G string is very often the first one to snap and it can be costly buying replacements.

  • oh ok. i thought it wasnt replacable for a second : ) thank you

  • Does It Come With An Amp?? Write Back

  • No amp - I said so in my previous answer.

  • Is Thre Any Bass Uke That Are Acostic And Cheap Or The Bass Uke U Have Does It Come With An Amp Plz Write Back.

  • I Love It But Can U Play That With Out The Amp And Hear It Over A Ukelele Or Do U Have to Plug It In To Hear It?????

  • It's an electric instrument so you'd have to use an amp with it.

  • That's a really unfair observation. The Ashbory Bass is more than a toy I can assure you.

  • Tempo!

  • awesome

  • how much does this bass cost?

  • it is quite cheap about 250 dollars

  • I saw a website that originally had it set at 400 dollars but marked it down

  • Um, hello. I'm thinking about learning how to play the bass, and I've been looking into the Ashbory quite a bit. The only thing that concerns me is that it being fretless may make it harder to learn to play. Do you think it would be harder? I wouldn't know, I'm just guessing.

  • If you plan to learn the bass, buy a bass guitar and not the Ashbory because you will have a better grounding on a full scale instrument. The full size bass will help you develop your neck hand and you'll be able to progress to the Ashbory later on. Also, the Ashbory goes out of tune a lot and that isn't necessarily good to deal with as a learner.

  • Thank you VERY much! I've been thinking about that issue for a while. I think I am going to go with a bass guitar first. Once again, thank you very much.

  • thankyou sir,

     very intersting!

  • I've seen an acoustic six-string guitar with a shape similar to that. I'm not sue if it can be plugged into an amp too. have you heard of it? if so, what is it called?

  • or maybe it was electric.

  • I think you might be thinking of the Fernandes Nomad range of electric guitars.

  • Yeah, that's it! Thanks a bunch, sir!

  • Thanks so much for this video! This convinced my dad into getting me one! I'm so excited!!!!

  • It'll certainly make a good Xmas present. ;-)

  • Thank you SO much! No one has really showed off this bass yet! I learned about it today and was interested. I can't belive how cheap it is! Hope more people can see this.

  • my subwoofer was shaking!

  • Thanks for taking the time to make this video!

  • "uhh... i think they are to do with the tone controls..."

    They are Bass and Treble controls for the active EQ which is what the LED is for. Read the manual on www.largesound.com, its the ultimate ashbory site.

  • The LED also acts to tell you that the battery hasn't gone flat. And guess what? The battery supplies a charge to the active electronics! Also, what are bass and treble if they aren't tone controls? :-) It's the same difference, my friend, and I think you are looking for faults where there are none. ;-)

    Regards, Darren

  • you mention the things with string tension, what a lot of people do is wind the E string the other way around the post to stop it 'hopping out' of the nut, where did you buy your ash from?

  • Never had any problem with the "E" string - it's always the "G" string that pops first because it is the thinnest of the silicon rubber strings. I bought my Ashbory Bass from Highland Park Music & Pawn in Los Angeles (http://www.musicpawn.com/). I visited the city on my 30th birthday and bought the instrument as a birthday present to me.

    Regards,

    Darren

  • yeah I bought mine from musicpawn and got it shipped over, worked out cheap too with all the accessories I got. I still wish the ashbory and accessories were easer to get over here though.

  • i've played one unamped, they sound really uprighty pretty dang sweet, i want one now

  • i hate that thing 

  • "sling ovah ya shouldah"

Loading...
Alert icon
0 / 00Unsaved Playlist Return to active list
    1. Your queue is empty. Add videos to your queue using this button:
      or sign in to load a different list.
    Loading...Loading...Saving...
    • Clear all videos from this list
    • Learn more