Hiya,

I'm on the hunt for my first upright. I've been playing electric upright for a couple of years and now is the time to go organic. I'm constantly searching the web for a good versatile bass in my price range and have come to a wall. Lemur, Upton, Wan-Bernadels, and Clevelands all range around the same price, but from Afghanistan I can't really feel or hear the difference of these basses. If there is any insight that could be given or a bass I have overlooked that should be in my 5K price range please let me know.

Keep it on the low end

Hiya,

I'm on the hunt for my first upright. I've been playing electric upright for a couple of years and now is the time to go organic. I'm constantly searching the web for a good versatile bass in my price range and have come to a wall. Lemur, Upton, Wan-Bernadels, and Clevelands all range around the same price, but from Afghanistan I can't really feel or hear the difference of these basses. If there is any insight that could be given or a bass I have overlooked that should be in my 5K price range please let me know.

Keep it on the low end

Yeah, this is a problem everyone has. Reputable dealers exist and those that are unscrupulous... both. So, since you are close to Europ, I would deal only with a dealer near-by, so that if anything happens to the bass, you can send it for repairs or adjustment. The Wan-Bernadels are set-up at the sales place, as far as I know (like Bass Cafe-Steve Koscica in Phoenix Arizona sets these up, is a player so knows better than, say Lemur, California - Jerry Buffa, who is not a player and may not have the set-up as playable). There are plenty of Grunert (Germany) models that are really nice and both Rolf and his partner are players. And I think Christian Laborie has authorized some less expensive Quenoil-model basses sold through a shop in Germany. So, do some more looking, closer to home. The Wan-B models are interesting but, I personally, am not as trusting of Chinese basses yet, as I am of German or French, or even modern Czech and Italian basses. All of these new makers have models in the $5-10k range. But, you are right, it is tough to find good quality in manufacture AND set-up in a bass for $5k or less. In this case, an individual seller may be the way to go. Try the ISB listings to see what might be available near you.
Best of Luck

Patrick
--
President of Arizona Bass Players, Inc.
www.arizonabassplayers.org
Professor of DB, Univ of Arizona
www.u.arizona.edu/~neher