$300 double bass

DoomandHeavy · #1 02-22-2009, 01:34 PM

I was wondering if there are decent double basses that cost somewhere in between $300-$500. Also, I'm not looking for those cheap $100 cardboard uprights. Thanks for advice or suggestions.

zeytoun · #2 02-22-2009, 02:49 PM

I'm sure there are. Just find someone with a decent double bass laying around, who doesn't know what fair prices are, and convince them to sell it to you for $3-500.

Other than that, no.

Phil Rowan · #3 02-22-2009, 02:53 PM

McGryff · #4 02-22-2009, 07:12 PM

Argh.

shadygrove · #5 02-22-2009, 08:22 PM

Check out the newbie links at the top of this forum for a lot of DB info and shopping advice.

$400bass got a heck of a buy on an Englehardt for (guess how much

), but that's a once in a blue moon kind of deal. Most of us don't have the patience, time and luck required to find a decent bass (ie not a chinese "bass shaped object") for under $500.

I'd expect to pay at least $1200 for a decent quality plywood bass. $1500 is a more realistic budget with a good setup.

osmarokuma · #6 02-26-2009, 01:03 AM

I wouldnt go for a $300 bass. I mean even if you do find a 300 bass you will probably have to invest some more on it to be playable. I would probably pay 2000, right now im playing a 2,800 shen bass cuz my bass is back home.

Greg Clinkingbeard · #7 02-26-2009, 07:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phil Rowan

3016

I had the count at 3014. Are you sure?

And OP,

Multiply by 3-4 and read the newbie links.

Febs · #8 02-26-2009, 07:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DoomandHeavy

I was wondering if there are decent double basses that cost somewhere in between $300-$500. Also, I'm not looking for those cheap $100 cardboard uprights. Thanks for advice or suggestions.

The set-up on my inexpensive bass cost more than $300.

Steve Swan · #9 02-26-2009, 08:08 AM

If you are just testing the waters to see if you will potentially like playing bass, you can get one that cheap on craigslist or Ebay. Just don't put one dime into it. It's not going to be a good instrument. If you need to lower the strings yourself (you proably will), get some round files and sand down the top of the bridge with somebody's disc sander. Realize that your second bass will be a much better sounding and much better playing instrument. If getting into playing doublebass means starting with a low-risk investment like this, go for it. You can probably sell this starter bass for the same money in six months.

Welcome to the club! Let us know how it goes for you.

gbaker · #10 02-26-2009, 09:12 AM

Welcome to the whale side. A $300 db target will take a long time and/or a lot of luck to hit. I have seen $75 rejects from school systems that people aquire and make right.

I followed e-bay and Craigslist for many months and didn't find anything viable below $650 shipped. Finally found an American-made Englehart EC-1 local for $750 with decent strings and "action". This is a "new Kay" student model that students sell as they either quit or advance beyond its perceived value (and color!) and upgrade. Not for the Philharmonic, fine for me at this point. I can learn to work on it myself without much worry and I will be able to sell it for what I have in it.

As you know from bg's the real worth of an instrument is in the purpose and mind of the player. There is a world of good opinion on this very subject herein if you hit search. Good luck.

drurb · #11 02-26-2009, 09:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DoomandHeavy

I was wondering if there are decent double basses that cost somewhere in between $300-$500. Also, I'm not looking for those cheap $100 cardboard uprights. Thanks for advice or suggestions.

No.

WalterBush · #12 02-26-2009, 09:53 AM

I bought a $300 DB at a NAMM show. It took $500 in luthier bills to become playable, and it still only sounds "decent" at best. Please note, the bass I bought retails at $900 without a setup.

I don't regret it, but I'll see about my local rent-to-own programs or just save up and buy a Shen next time.

Steve Swan · #13 02-26-2009, 10:26 AM

The San Francisco Bay Area is the distribution point for two of the worst Chinese bass brands going, Palatino and Cremona. Both of these companies will sell to almost anybody with a checkbook. There are dozens of garage business all over the country that buy this junk and compromised 2nds for nearly nothing. As a result, our craigslist is full of this garbage. There is one Palatino for under $500.00 asking price today on the SF Bay Area Criagslist. I'll be the last to argue that these are good starter instruments for anybody and that you should never invest any serious money into setups or repair on these. BUT if this little financial hurdle is all that it takes from getting someone from strictily armchair wannabee status to the first step of getting their hands moving on the musical hippos that we all love, then some good will come of it. Besides, if you cut the top off, they make a nice little fishing boat for summertime! Wear your lifejackets, please, and watch out for those manatees.

TroyK · #14 02-26-2009, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DoomandHeavy

I was wondering if there are decent double basses that cost somewhere in between $300-$500. Also, I'm not looking for those cheap $100 cardboard uprights. Thanks for advice or suggestions.

There absolutely are, they're called "short term rentals and lessons".