Kristall ROOM 4 Cherry: The best upright bass-sound from an electric bass !

You can really sound like playing an upright-bass with this electric-acoustic bass. Here is a short demo of the very acoustic sounding KRISTALL ROOM 4
recorded at my workshop , with a Zoom H4nPro in front of my bassamp: Glockenklang Bass Art Top and a FMC 112 Cab. no EQ/effects - everything set flat.
Please feel free to contact me for any question, or leave a message in the comments
Here are some specs:
- cherry-body (chambered) and -neck.
- pau ferro fingerboard and bridge
- Hipshot tuners, Schaller straplocks
- single piezo pickups for each string
- Nordstrand nj4sv magnetic pickup
- controls: mastervolume (pp-act/pass), pickup-blend, treble-blend
- nc-finish seethrough glossy
for more information:
www.kristallbass.com
email: kristall @ kristallbass . com

[@pbasswil]

It's the fretlessness that sounds, to electric bass players, like an upright bass. Not so much to standup players. However, it _does_ sound something like a plugged-in double bass that has one of several brands of piezo pickup. Whatever; it's a terrific, semi-electric/acoustic fretless sound - I want one.

[@michaelcarvale1810]

I agree , sounds great but they only bass that sounds like an upright, is an upright.

[@isetta4083]

Also an upright bass player, the electric basses that imitate it best are usually fretted weirdly enough

[@michaelcarvale1810]

@@isetta4083 that is true and kinda strange :). I see a ton of videos that are “How to make your electric sound like an upright”. Never any on how to make your upright sound like an electric 😃.

[@zeusapollo8688]

Ebo fretless with mudbucker got pretty close. But this thing is fantastic

[@TrapNerdMusic]

I'm not easily impressed, but that is hands down one of the nicest instruments I've ever laid eyes on. The sound is heavenly as well. I can only imagine how it feels to play!!!!

[@mdspman000]

The bass sounds great, but like ALL electric bass guitars (fretless, fretted, all types of pickups, all shapes and styles, etc...) it still sounds like an electric bass. Maybe with a bit of tweaking on technique/EQ then when it's put into a mix with other instruments it will mask some of the electric bass artifacts a bit more. There is nothing wrong with not sounding exactly like an upright since it can still produce a nice warm sound that will fulfill the role of the bass. I have played enough fretless basses to know that they don't sound the same as my upright. I tried for years to avoid learning upright but at some point I just gave in and learned that the sound I wanted came from a real acoustic upright bass (Not EUB). Your mileage may vary but this idea has been endlessly debated in the bass community.

[@kristallbasses8382]

Hello Mark, first, thank you for the compliment, and your comment. I understand what you mean, of course. And yes I wrote a bit provocative, and I really appreciate all upright-players very much, so please dont misunderstand me here. Of course this fretless does not sound like your upright. generally, I am a bit jealous, because I cant play upright and I dont have one either. (That was the reasonwhy I started developing the ROOM Model about 18 years ago.) For me as an electric player this concept has solve a lot of problems: (acoustic)-sound, ergonomics, feedback, transport etc... And there was nothing satisfying to buy on the market at that time. And yes, you can get even more "upright" out of it if you use a few more tricks (mute, EQs...) but the spectacular thing is, that this is a completely unprocessed signal. ( I think I will push this in the next video ;-) And I also hope I have soon my website in an english version, to provide more details/info that one can read at any time. So maybe we'll talk again later ? cheers, Andi Kristall.

[@mdspman000]

@@kristallbasses8382 I wish you success selling your bass and look forward to seeing you website I still own 3 fretless electric basses, one with a piezo only pickup that was pricey, a relatively inexpensive fretless kala ubass and anther brand's take on a fretless J-like bass. They all have a nice sound and are really fun to play. The J bass like one is the only one with a magnetic pickup and it has a slightly more focused that is a clearly has the mark of J bass sound with the mellowing coming from being fretless. I'm not mentioning competitors brands but the one that was more $$ is certainly extremely well constructed, plays great and was definitely made to be a fretless bass as opposed to just a bass with an option for a fretless neck. It's really a great instrument but if I was asked to quantify whether the extra cost gave me differentially better sound or was all that much more close to an upright I would say no. This is of course very subjective. There are other piezo only basses out there now that probably are close enough in sound that there would have been other options that are good enough. However if you really dedicate yourself to the instrument I suspect you can develop your own sound with it since a substantial part of your sound is entirely in your fingers. I do miss the portability of the electric basses. I don't play in really loud groups (mainly jazz) so feedback has never really a problem with upright. At the risk of offending some fretless bass players I would suggest getting one with lines on the fretboard. No I don't use lines on my upright but if you get an electric bass with lines your transition time from fretted to fretless is very small and you will be playing mostly in tune right away. Intonation is key to making the instrument really sing. Mark Egan, a pretty well known jazz bass player, said "why not get all the help you need to play in tune".

[@gssong7111]

Dario Deidda gets the best upright like tone on the Marcustico Bass it is the most authentic I have ever heard...sounds better than any post 65 Ron Carter recording, that's for sure!

[@mackenlyparmelee5440]

The sound is tremendous. The sustain is unbelievable too. Awesome instrument!

[@dsutkin]

Magnificent, thank you for sharing. Gorgeous tone and aesthetics

[@EAdano77]

One of the best-sounding fretless basses I've ever heard... bravo!

[@jamcam9]

Holy crap. The sound of this bass actually made me sit down/fall back into my chair. It is absolutely stunning. Bravo, sir. This instrument is astounding.

[@kristallbasses8382]

thank you very much - spread the word ! ! !

[@MegaKakumei]

Very warm sound. Gorgeous.

[@adamulias2315]

That’s a BEAUTIFUL instrument you’ve built. GREAT WORK!! 😀👍

[@Jaimefumer13]

Amazing bass ! It looks very good and the sound is incredible !

[@nj1255]

Sounds amazing! It doesn't hurt that it looks stunning as well. Love the head shape and lollipop tuners.

[@tonyaxtell9216]

Beautiful tone and looks like a joy to play.

[@rw9495]

Sounds beautiful, nice work!

[@brendanmelvin9938]

Lovely, lovely sound, especially the acoustic sound 👍

[@youzap007]

Wow, the bass sounds really awesome, looks great. I'm excited.

[@kristallbasses8382]

Hi Franz, Danke Dir :-)

[@bassist789]

This is definitely the closest I’ve heard an electric bass come to sounding like a double bass! Very close to a double bass with a pickup attached.

[@JohnAldenDavis]

Amazing quality and great demonstration!

[@kristallbasses8382]

thank you very much John

[@bernhardmonzeljazz]

Great work! Amazing sound

[@jonvandergrift5457]

Amazing! I love this bass!

[@Fuzz567]

This is amazing! Well done!

[@gimmeagig]

Wow, that is incredible

[@exhainca]

Love the sound!

[@apieceofgarbage7301]

It looks so clean I love it

[@stefanpomplun3348]

Wow! Amazing sound!

[@2ShadesOfGray]

Wonderful warm sound

[@verykomisch]

This is the sound for what I am looking for

[@kristallbasses8382]

so ...here it is :-)

[@ianjohnson4987]

What a beautiful instrument.

[@bassiste4]

Gorgeous sound !

[@jorgeviolla]

THE SOUND IS AMAZING

[@kristallbasses8382]

😁

[@Dog-jk7nc]

Watching people play the fretless bass is very soothing

[@shinyrain7784]

Lovely instrument and playing!

[@richtraube2241]

What a gorgeous sound. Not a bass player but if I were I would want this for traveling gigs.

[@deanevangelista6359]

What a beautiful instrument. To my ears, the only difference between the sound from that and an upright acoustic bass is that it has better sustain. Playing technique can attenuate much of that sustain. If I played bass full time, I would want one of those.

[@yugdails]

Sounds amazing

[@glenngreenstein6825]

I like thebsound of this. Much more full sounding than solid body fretless basses

[@HallgeirHelland]

Sounds fantastic!

[@truthisyourfriend]

The neck grain is stunning!

[@necarz]

WOW this innovative bass design sounds with a timbre very very similary to a double bass timbre. Congratulations

[@citrusfruit4332]

Awesome tone!!

[@paulsimmons5726]

A beautiful instrument that sounded great with the fretless growls!

[@cmingus26]

Toller Sound! Und gut sieht der Bass auch aus👍

[@caseytinsley]

I dig it, sounds earthy and great 😁

[@michmitchi4369]

Super sound!👏👏👏

[@IAMMASONDAVIDSONGOBIN]

Omg beautiful

[@hydorah]

It really has its own thing going on! Sounds like a cross between an electric fretless and an upright. Really nice. Mick Karn would have loved it

[@alexeyzavolokin]

Killer sound! Love it!

[@siftedsoul]

I play an ibanez Ergodyne 5 string that allows one to get the blended tone from the piezos and humbuckers. As much as i love it and its diversity it doesn't hold a candle to the rich tones of this magnificent creation you have created. Bravo Sir.

[@domenickriggio684]

Wow that's amazing

[@telecasterbear]

Very nice, Mr Kristall.

[@kensmechanicalaffair]

I love it.

[@TomasHradckyComposer]

Incredible.

[@brucew.5177]

It's Beautiful . . .

[@larsetom1]

Sounds great!

[@paulpaul00]

Beautiful!

[@kristallbasses8382]

Hi Paul, dankeschön :-)

[@floydandrews3054]

Love it!

[@LucasFernandes-zd2ei]

awesome! love it

[@carpocraftguitarscarpentry8469]

I love it. Working on my first Bass right now, so close to finishing... still interested in making a fretless one day.

[@horowizard]

That's remarkable.

[@stevekonbass]

Nice review. The bass sounds great.

[@jplater9191]

Very nice!

[@howardpbence7833]

man that first upright style tone just deepense to my soul

[@olubibabalola]

Quite nice!! I think a great compromise overall.

[@devilsoffspring5519]

Actually DOES, in fact, sound like a big upright acoustic bass--right down to the 'plucky' finger sound :)

[@patrickr.5821]

Klingt sehr musikalisch, überzeugend, besonders mit dem Piezo.

[@brentinjapan]

Awesome! Love your basses!

[@kristallbasses8382]

Hi Brent, thank you very much - are you still in Tokio? wish you a happy new year :-)

[@brentinjapan]

@@kristallbasses8382 In Kobe, but close enough! Happy New Year to you too!!

[@raphaellasne3609]

The sound is exceptional.

[@leandrosouza-ov1rd]

Very good!

[@smartwoman7202]

Artistic handwork, obviously years of experience with playing this instrument & a relaxed presentation ... thanks Andi ... looking forward to more videos from you 🎸

[@kristallbasses8382]

thank you very much for this compliment, smartwoman :-) yes, I will definitely post more stuff here, once I have new basses completed

[@WyattLite-n-inn]

@@kristallbasses8382 is this lovely instrument 30’ scale?

[@kristallbasses8382]

@@WyattLite-n-inn no this is a 34" scale

[@xJAWAx]

The wood is very beautiful and I like the body shape. I think it sounds great too. Very good job.

[@numberMan2000]

On occasion, the KZbin algorithms for content get it right. I am incredibly happy I saw this and I have determined that I need this particular bass guitar in my life. Now I need to find how to do that.

[@kristallbasses8382]

Hi Man, just send me an email: kristall @ kristallbass . com I will provide more info then .... any time :-)

[@MegaMixking]

excellent

[@enoodle]

beautiful style and tones, and your right hand looks like mine with your pinky out !

[@ShoesMagoo]

Unprecedented.

[@fmcaudiohansstruck3520]

Servus Andi! Das klingt richtig gut, Top Upright Sound und ebenso der Magnet Fretless Ton vom feinsten!

[@kristallbasses8382]

Hey Hans, Danke Dir :-) spread the word man ! Deine Box ist auch immer wieder feinest.

[@nicolavaleri2680]

The best fretless bass tone i have hear in my life..

[@leo5780]

Sounds fuckn great!

[@frankpfau9054]

tolles teil!

[@sonicwaveexperiment]

Yeahhh. Good Sound of Bass.👍

[@ChezzOnBass]

Sehr güt! Wow!

[@christianboddum8783]

Wow!

[@tomsmyth4836]

WOW!

[@coyote-wang]

Yeah it has a great "gut bucket" sounds to my ear with piezo but then can also dial in the Jaco sound

[@GregorFris]

klingt großartig!

[@kristallbasses8382]

hey Gregor - danke Dir :-)

[@patriciadavenport9194]

Bin begeistert❣

[@kristallbasses8382]

wie schön :-)

[@fruitcakedrifter1286]

"Pure Genius" It's got it all and a bag of chips!!!

[@blessedheavyelements8544]

Wow!!!!! Fantastic sound and tone! Best Regards and Best Wishes! IANABP but can appreciate this!

[@alamofox1]

Impressive sound with the piezos. I want to chime in on the question, what strings are those? That should be added to your spec list. Must be flat wounds. What gauges did you use and what’s the string length?

[@One979]

Sounds great! Very very close to upright. Would love to get one, but with a Jazz style body and headstock. Custom orders?

[@awaken8888]

What piezo pickup and blending circuitry do you use?

[@Bassman1999]

I think the Piezzo is quite toppy.....in light of that I would have placed the Nordstrand more towards the neck...as it too sounds quite toppy in that loacation. Nice bass though.

[@elijahdycus4648]

Wow, it really sounds like one. A tweak i would do is make us have less sustain, pizzicato on any bass won’t ever ring as long at that.

[@christianpaulroldan4010]

Oh my, i love how your bass looks and sounds. . Very nice. Must be expensive.

[@kristallbasses8382]

Thank you Christian - if you want to check the prices, please visit my website: kristallbass.com :-)

[@VivianVarghese]

Sounds great! Which piezo pickups are you using?

[@johncaldwell881]

She sings!!

[@AlexDD]

Tolles Design und der Fretless Upright klang! Was mag diese Schöheit denn kosten? Alex

[@mvernon8343]

Hi. Sounds wonderful! ... Curious - what is the neck scale of this bass ( looks like 30.5 in [774.7 mm].) ?

[@kristallbasses8382]

hi, thank you :-) its a 34" scale

[@rhinewater]

Very nice. What make of strings are on that?

[@etpslick100]

Wow! It’ sounds great! But my favorite is the Takamine TB-10 Fretless. Nothing sounds like an “upright” tho. That wood; that tone! OMG! Love ‘em!😌🎶👍🏾

[@kristallbasses8382]

thank you. yes the Takamine is good, but the ergonomics and feddback-problems did not work for me, so I had to move on. and yea I love uprights too :-)

[@coreysiegel9504]

Tha takamine doesn’t even come close to the upright tone of a marcustico bass.

[@TenFalconsMusic]

I see so many great things about this bass: Large top horn for added resonance Segregated bridge Beautifully finished (like a work of art) And so much more...

[@kristallbasses8382]

thank you very much Regents Park Music :-)

[@That52TeleGuy]

Lovely build and sound. I may have added a neck position pickup. Build on my friend.

[@MrIliasboufidis]

yes, i'm missing that too...

[@kristallbasses8382]

thank you very much - of course this would be also fine. The magnetic PU on a ROOM does not play the main role , it is meant to support the piezo as an addition. (the possibility to play it solo makes the bass more versatile) I like it to keep things simple...but yes, there are many options to customize... :-)