Advice on First Bass Purchase

[erikbuzz]

Hello all. I am an electric bass player that is finally coming to the light (or maybe dark) side. I am looking at buying a standup.

The link to the one I am checking out is below. Basically all I know other than what is in the add is that the manufacturer's name is Hans Fretzyl (that may not be 100% accurate. It was hard to hear the fellow on the phone). I tried searching here and on google, and didn't find anything. Any one know anything about this bass? For a solid top instrument, it is really cheap.

My working plan is to check it out. If it sounds good and wasn't made in China/Indonesia/etc, I will likely get it. Any advice?

http://sacramento.craigslist.org/msg/1621847926.html

Thanks guys!

[waleross]

I just bought a 5 string American Fender V for more money that this. I don't play the string bass anymore but when I did getting one was and is a whole lot more involved that I care to remember. Do you have a string bass teacher? If not then be careful. My teachers always knew who was selling what , etc. I am thinking of getting one in about a year and I go to this site from time to time to get information and see what is being sold......http://www.stringemporium.com/videos.htm
and also http://www.uptonbass.com/
$950 is a good price but I would check out these two sites first to get a feel for the prices. Also this Forum has a lot of Upright players that know know what's currently going on in the world of Bass Sales.......good luck.....

[jallenbass]

Do you know an accomplished double bassist or luthier who can go with you to take a look at it?

[sirero]

Its not as simple as not made in china... I have an eastman that i bought used for $3200, and Its more lively and fun to play then some of the $8000 basses I tried out. The point isn't don't buy Chinese, its don't buy garbage. While most of the "basses" that fall into that category are chinese, plenty aren't. The point is don't worry about where it was made, just have a bass luthier look at it, and if he gives his approval buy it.

[SLivinghouse]

Hey,
That bass has been on craigslist for a long time and I have seen other post about it here. Search around. In Sac, Jeff Sahs (Jeff Sahs Violins) is the bass luthier in the area and Tom Derthick (Sac State Prof & Sac Symphony Principle) the teacher to see. Also Greg Buckner is a good teacher in Davis. Check out Steve Swan Guitars webste as well. He's in Burlingame but travels to Sac. Good luck.
Steve

[SLivinghouse]

Also, read the newbie links - they are excellent - Don't buy until you do.

[M Ramsey]

If you have a knowledgeable, upright playing friend, ask them to go with you. If you can, have them to take THEIR bass for them to play when you check out this craiglist bass.

Have your upright friend to A/B his/her bass against this potential purchase bass. Hopefully they can then give you a bit of objective feedback about this potential purchase.

That's the way I've operated in buying many varied forms of instruments (banjos, guitars, mandolins and upright basses) over the past 30 years.

If I take an instrument that I either currently own (or possibly a friend's desireable instrument) that I am pleased and familiar with, then the possible wonderfully, reverby (new word?), acoustically live room or surrounding area, won't influence you in buying what "sounds like" a really good bass, that in truth, might really be dead but sounding reasonably good in a live room.

I think I'm the king of the long sentance.

Hope this helps.

[Jeremy Darrow]

Originally Posted by M Ramsey

If you have a knowledgeable, upright playing friend, ask them to go with you. If you can, have them to take THEIR bass for them to play when you check out this craiglist bass.

Have your upright friend to A/B his/her bass against this potential purchase bass. Hopefully they can then give you a bit of objective feedback about this potential purchase.

That's the way I've operated in buying many varied forms of instruments (banjos, guitars, mandolins and upright basses) over the past 30 years.

If I take an instrument that I either currently own (or possibly a friend's desireable instrument) that I am pleased and familiar with, then the possible wonderfully, reverby (new word?), acoustically live room or surrounding area, won't influence you in buying what "sounds like" a really good bass, that in truth, might really be dead but sounding reasonably good in a live room.

I think I'm the king of the long sentance.

Hope this helps.

You're also the king of good advice, Big Mike.

[Steve Swan]

As Steve Livinghouse mentioned, Jeff Sahs is the professional doublebass luthier in Sacramento. His phone number is (916) 739-1962. If you can take this bass on approval for a day, take it to Jeff and have him check it out for you. Good luck and let us know how it turns out.

[drurb]

Originally Posted by M Ramsey

If you have a knowledgeable, upright playing friend, ask them to go with you. If you can, have them to take THEIR bass for them to play when you check out this craiglist bass.

Have your upright friend to A/B his/her bass against this potential purchase bass. Hopefully they can then give you a bit of objective feedback about this potential purchase.

That's the way I've operated in buying many varied forms of instruments (banjos, guitars, mandolins and upright basses) over the past 30 years.

If I take an instrument that I either currently own (or possibly a friend's desireable instrument) that I am pleased and familiar with, then the possible wonderfully, reverby (new word?), acoustically live room or surrounding area, won't influence you in buying what "sounds like" a really good bass, that in truth, might really be dead but sounding reasonably good in a live room.

I think I'm the king of the long sentance.

Hope this helps.

+1. This is some of the best advice offered here. I could not agree more. I've always insisted on auditioning basses at a shop by playing them or having them played at the same spot in the room. Taking along a familiar bass allows a player to "calibrate" against the room. Kudos, Mike on an excellent point.

[SLivinghouse]

I think this was it
Too Good To Be True?