Electric Upright Bass Database

Zeta Music Systems, Inc. - Crossover

• Number of Strings: 4
  • Electric bass strings compatible
  • Tuned in: 4th
• Bowable: Yes
• Playable Seated: Yes
• Transportability: (8/10)
• Overall Rating: (9/10)

The first thing to say ist probably, that this is not this "sounds and feels like a real Double Bass " - thing, lots of people may look for. The Zeta crossover plays with long scale strings -- bowing you can use both a Cello bow (recommended by Zeta) or a double bass bow which works much better for me if you need a deep fat bowed sound. You can even use the instrument as a regular bass guitar with a strap etc. but I never tried...

I bought the bass from a friend and bass player of my long time Electric-Jazz-Band, where I played Saxophone and Bassclarinet. So I had lot of time to hear the potential and to try the instrument several times, usually on sophisticated SWR / Glockenklang Kombination -- played extremely loud. Probably this Zeta Crossover is a special version for a exhibition in Germany - no serial on it - unfortunately the original bag and sting are missing and the instrument was packed in keyboard-like custom made case.

My instrument came with drummer-stand- very heavy and solid, and even a another possible to add some unusual sounds.

I think that the sound depends much more on the way you play and you personal imagination. If you really want to sound like a double bass player you get close to this sound and feel, but it has a lot to do with the right hand and feel, dead notes etc. ..  Also personal setup maybe is interesting: e.g. it is very important not to play with a easy going typical electric bass action but to invest a bit more energy. Nylon Tape wound strings can produce a very accoustic "wooden" sound, I have try to use guitar-like nail techniques etc. I do not play a bass amp at the moment but a PA like accoustic amp with bi-amping -- ST Systems is the name of the company.

When playing in a regular jazz-quartet setup you have to face the typical problem "looks cool - what is that --) but once you start playing you see the smile on the face of your band members...

In more experimental, improvised free music the instrument can show its full strength and huge range of sounds, kicks etc. -- you can easily tune re-tune strings, quite often I go down to notes below H producing sounds below the regular range, and with some training bowing is very impressive and allows beautiful cellolike stuff but also really nasty noise sounds.

I guess the instrument should also do very well with electronics, distortion etc. but I am still exploring all the option you have with just playing with you fingers, the bow, knocking on the wood etc.

Newer instruments come with MiDi options, could be interesting working with that for avantgarde things.

Generally I think you should never try or look for this simulating-a-reel-bass-very-well thing - also Jazz-playing is more conservative and even a real bass that has super-low action may do better for certain "jobs".