An Age Old Question

[Slaps McGoo]

I've posted the same thing in the Rockabilly section, would also like to put it up here to try and get opinions all around. Starting up on the DB and planning to play primarly Rockabilly, but also Jazz/Psychobilly and whatever else might catch my ear.

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This is going to be long winded, a forewarning!

The question that everyone dreads asking for fear of being looked down on most times, but I've been reading this forums for some time and get a good vibe. I'm a beginner, in the market for a double-bass, I've been doing a lot of research and have got a couple opinions from local players I respect. I've looked at a Carlo Robelli (300&200) which a very talented slapper plays here, he just reccomended a quick trip to the luthier for it. I've also been contemplating an Engelhardt EM1 but I'm not 100% on that because of the lack an ebony fingerboard. The Swingmaster and Supreme are pushing the very limits of my budget and are probably actually outside. I have looked around locally for a used bass, only luck I have had thus far is a 1500$ unknown american or czec bass, great action on it, but I'm iffy about it for some unkown reason, and when buying one I want to feel 100% sure I've made the right choice. Come Tuesday (it being Easter weekend) I'll be calling both McGill and Concordia Universities here in Montreal to see what they might be able to offer me in terms of used student DB's.

www.myspace.com/hellboundhepcats (The bassist from this band reccomended the Carlo Robelli to me)

A quick note to end
Carlo Robelli 300 --> D’Addario Helicore bass strings (a $150 Value), Rubner German Tuning Machines, Ebony fingerboard, adjustable bridge, excellent horsehair bow and matching bag case (from the site) = 1000$ I believe this is the bass that the guy i know plays, and he can slap the [I can't control my vocabulary] out of it.

Carlo Robelli 200 --> The Carlo Robelli 200 series 3/4 size string bass is everything a player needs in a quality upright, but at a great price. And it's full, robust sound must be heard to believe! It features a spruce top, laminate back and sides, ebony fingerboard, adjustable bridge, and Rubner tuning machines. For added value, it comes strung with D'Addario Helicore bass strings (a $150 value). It includes a quality horsehair bow and a matching bag. = 800$

I won't bother posting Engelhardt stuff, it's easy enough to find.

Any reccomendations?

Cheers

[JZias]

I have a Robelli 600 (hybrid), and it sounds terrific for the $1600 I paid. Had some minor setup done by Bruce Wallace who's been mentioned here. My bassist (I'm primarily a guitarist)
who has an 8k German bass is equally impressed.

Even though the verdict is in on this forum as far as these basses are concerned, there are some good ones being made for very reasonable prices.

[Slaps McGoo]

Could you think of any way to have a 300 series shipped to Montreal, Canada? I called the dealer, they don't ship to Canada.

[greitzer]

Originally Posted by Slaps McGoo

... I have looked around locally for a used bass, only luck I have had thus far is a 1500$ unknown american or czec bass, great action on it, but I'm iffy about it for some unkown reason, and when buying one I want to feel 100% sure I've made the right choice...

Why are you iffy about it? It's local, you've played it, and it sounds like you liked it. Can you identify what the problem was? Also, could you take one of those local bassists who you like, to see this bass and see what they think of it?

[Slaps McGoo]

Some of it is that he e-mails me telling me it is THE bass for slapping, and when I arrive, he can hardly slap the thing. Seemed to me like he was trying to pawn it off on me to some extent. Though there's an adjustable bridge and he'll do a set-up for me. The fingerboard is some unknown wood, probably maple, bass itself is ply, wood also unknown. The end pin looked like he lopped off the end of a walking cane and stuck it on there, but I didn't get a good look. I'll try and call to bring the bassist i know by.