Any review ab't 'Kolstein Fendt' ??

Morgenstern · #1 03-17-2011, 11:32 PM

pic is here

Kolstein Music, Inc.: Kolstein Fendt Model Bass Violin

on this site its sound can also be heard Tom Barney vid....but guess he's using Amp.

*which wood is better Willow or Maple ?

thanx !

PRUNEFACE · #2 03-18-2011, 08:38 AM

Ive played a four string fendt as well as a five string. For just a little bit more you can get an excellent bass -I did not care for them and I even played them at KOLSTEIN's shop!

Eric Hochberg · #3 03-18-2011, 09:14 AM

Here's one in the classifieds in Brooklyn

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f144/kolstein-fendt-sale-$7800-733704/

A friend of mine is bringing his over on Sunday for me to check out, I'll post something about it.

Steve Swan · #4 03-18-2011, 09:53 AM

The Fendt model, sometimes called a Baker model, is large in every way. They have a large, dark voice if you put the energy into it. I've had 4 or 5 new willow examples in when I was a Kolstein dealer and a few that came back as trade-ins. They are more powerful than sophisticated, but can serve the needs of a section player or jazz player looking for a large, dark voice. Used I've seen them go in the $7-9000 range. I'd like to play a maple version sometime.

Morgenstern · #5 03-19-2011, 08:51 AM

I'll count upto...
I really liked the Steve Swan's DBs

thanks for passing site !

jfkbass · #6 03-19-2011, 10:28 AM

I owned a Kolstein Fendt for about 10 years. Used it mostly for jazz. In a very generally characterization, it's loud, but not very refined. I liked the sound much better when i switched from steel to gut--obviously this cuts down on some of the brightness (which was a good thing, IMO)

As many have mentioned, it's BIG bass. I finally sold it this past year because of this.

Very sturdy. No real "health" issues. It stood up very well to the weather in NYC, as well as being beat up on subways.

I would take it to the shop about once a year for set-ups, etc. I found the shop to be extremely helpful. So, for me living in NY, it added to the bass' value to have an invested repair team only an hour away.

If you've got any other questions, I'd be glad to chime in with my experience.

Good luck

Eric Hochberg · #7 03-20-2011, 02:19 PM

I played one today, and it is a large bass, 42" string length. This one had a big, dark sound even with spiros, and a lot of fundamental. Sounds great, although may not have enough cut/edge with a band for jazz or pop, IMO. I imagine that this is a fine orchestra instrument.

jfkbass · #8 03-20-2011, 03:56 PM

Goes to show you that every instrument is different! I was constantly trying to darken mine (one of the reasons that i switched to guts). When I first got the bass i think it would've been fair to call the sound kind of nasally (however, it did darken with age)

I think that the Kolstein Fendts are good instruments, but at the price point there are a lot of good instruments available. Good luck.

Eric Hochberg · #9 03-20-2011, 07:58 PM

I think the one I played will soon be for sale if there is any interest.

groooooove · #10 03-24-2011, 11:19 PM

i live 15 minutes away from kolsteins shop.

i wouldn't recommend any bass stamped "kolstein" to anyone. i played a lot of them when shopping for a bass. he had plenty of old nice basses, and just nice instruments in general- but all the "kolstein" shop basses, were the least impressive. my advice is to look elsewhere.. besides the rosin, which i will admit i love.

Mike Arnopol · #11 03-25-2011, 08:38 AM

The Kolstein "shop" basses are made in Romania, right?

PRUNEFACE · #12 04-27-2011, 07:52 AM

The US-made Kolstein I purchased was better than any bass available (in my price range) at: Kolstein's, David Gage, Williams Fine Violins. I believe I play some at another shop or two, but these were the big stores that I played at. It is an all-round excellent bass. May be a bit large for some solo playing, but it produces an amazing sound over the entire register. It is well made and beautiful in appearance; the only complaint I had about the bass (after several months of playing it) was the (mechanical) extension. It broke just from normal use -I am assuming it was a faulty one. However, in light of this, Mr Kolstein replaced my extension. I am waiting for the bass now -should be back this week or the next.

Sorry for the (slight) resurrection.

Quote:

Originally Posted by groooooove

i live 15 minutes away from kolsteins shop.

i wouldn't recommend any bass stamped "kolstein" to anyone. i played a lot of them when shopping for a bass. he had plenty of old nice basses, and just nice instruments in general- but all the "kolstein" shop basses, were the least impressive. my advice is to look elsewhere.. besides the rosin, which i will admit i love.

Mike Arnopol · #13 04-27-2011, 10:32 AM

This is one thing that I've been mentioning here that really gets me pissed off. PLEASE correct me if I'm wrong. There are 2 types of basses that bear the Kolstein "shop" moniker. I'm not sure of the prices, but the basses that sell for $13k or less are not made in the Kolstein shop AS ADVERTISED. They are made in Romania and possibly finished at the shop. These are pretty decent Romanian instruments. The best Romanian instruments that surely come from the same factories in Reghin, Romania typically top out at about $6 or $7k if I'm not mistaken. Kolstein gets the extra bread for these basses claiming that they are made in their shop. Now I know that they specify the model, wood etc., but they are the same craftsmen.
The other Kolstein basses made in the shop are indeed made from scratch in the shop. These are the basses that go for over $20k. I'm not very fond of the fit and finish of these basses but I have played some that are very good sounding new basses.
There is a UK luthier whom shall remain nameless that I've had on good authority gets his basses in the white from Grunert. I don't have an ax to grind with anyone, but I'm tired of seeing people getting ripped off. There is a New England shop selling Gagnon basses for $18k. I know that the top price Gagnon ever got wasn't more than $12k. While he was still solvent he would sell me the same basses for $8k. After Jacques hit the skids ( I personally like Jacques--a real character--but I would never loan him my car) I found 2 of the luthiers that actually made his basses and had all of the plans. They would sell me the basses for $5 or $6k plus $800 shipping. I opted to not get one due to the instability of the wood they used in my climate. How the prices of those basses got to $18k is criminal.

LouisF · #14 04-27-2011, 01:08 PM

Mike,
Not to high-jack the thread, but this (the dealer mark up) issue has come up in several threads. Maybe with the economic reality of current times, people will begin to see that some of these insane mark-ups are not sustainable.

I think the argument was that, if really high end Italian/English basses were being priced out of almost everyone's range, then the prices on nearly-that-level instruments could be pushed up as far as possible.

But I think those prices are meeting resistance now - at least I hope they are. No one should pay $18K for one of Jacques basses (mine was @$7K- and he was quitea character!).

I've worked with enough makers now to know that 100%+ mark-ups over the makers cost, shipping and profit are not uncommon.

Louis

David Kaczorowski · #15 04-27-2011, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Arnopol

The Kolstein "shop" basses are made in Romania, right?

I don't know what the situation is currently. However, when I bought my bass from Kolstein he had several different levels of basses. Some were made with his wood, roughed by a shop in Europe, then finished in NY. The Fendt was one that fit that description. I don't think he considered those "shop" basses. Shop basses were made in NY by his employees. They were a little more. The 20K basses were made solely by Barrie.

Back then (2000), if I recall, Fendt's were going for around 8K or 8.5K, and in my opinion, sounded at least as good as old Tyrolean or Mirecourt basses in the same price range.

On the question of willow or maple, it's not that one or the other is better. They have different sound characteristics. Willow is darker, maple brighter.

PRUNEFACE · #16 04-27-2011, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Arnopol

This is one thing that I've been mentioning here that really gets me pissed off. PLEASE correct me if I'm wrong. There are 2 types of basses that bear the Kolstein "shop" moniker. I'm not sure of the prices, but the basses that sell for $13k or less are not made in the Kolstein shop AS ADVERTISED. They are made in Romania and possibly finished at the shop. These are pretty decent Romanian instruments. The best Romanian instruments that surely come from the same factories in Reghin, Romania typically top out at about $6 or $7k if I'm not mistaken. Kolstein gets the extra bread for these basses claiming that they are made in their shop. Now I know that they specify the model, wood etc., but they are the same craftsmen.
The other Kolstein basses made in the shop are indeed made from scratch in the shop. These are the basses that go for over $20k. I'm not very fond of the fit and finish of these basses but I have played some that are very good sounding new basses.
There is a UK luthier whom shall remain nameless that I've had on good authority gets his basses in the white from Grunert. I don't have an ax to grind with anyone, but I'm tired of seeing people getting ripped off. There is a New England shop selling Gagnon basses for $18k. I know that the top price Gagnon ever got wasn't more than $12k. While he was still solvent he would sell me the same basses for $8k. After Jacques hit the skids ( I personally like Jacques--a real character--but I would never loan him my car) I found 2 of the luthiers that actually made his basses and had all of the plans. They would sell me the basses for $5 or $6k plus $800 shipping. I opted to not get one due to the instability of the wood they used in my climate. How the prices of those basses got to $18k is criminal.

Well, I find that the Kolstein I plwyer that was made in the US (the Maggini I own) is excellent in terms of fit and finish -then again it has been beautifully antiqued. My Maggini ie one of their Kolstein Shop basses -entirely made in the US. The Fendt is made in Eastern Europe and is finished in the US. To me the Maggini and the Fendt did NOT compare. They were both good but the Maggini was jaw dropping.

Mike Arnopol · #17 04-27-2011, 09:55 PM

which is why I take offense at the description "made in our shop in Baldwin, N.Y.' on their site describing the Fendt

David Kaczorowski · #18 04-28-2011, 07:12 AM

One of the points I was trying to make, and failed, was that the Fendt bass pictured was probably made in the shop and costs a little more than the basses roughed in Europe. The less expensive Fendts are (or at least used to be) made to order. The bass in the picture was probably made by the shop to have in the show room for demo purposes but is for sale as well.

A quick phone call to shop would settle this. Barrie and Barbara are both extremely nice and accommodating.

PRUNEFACE · #19 04-28-2011, 08:48 AM

That would actually make quite a bit of sense; I dont think I played THAT bass when I was there, and its been on their site for a while. I dont think they have their Romanian ones on their site.

Quote:

Originally Posted by David Kaczorowski

One of the points I was trying to make, and failed, was that the Fendt bass pictured was probably made in the shop and costs a little more than the basses roughed in Europe. The less expensive Fendts are (or at least used to be) made to order. The bass in the picture was probably made by the shop to have in the show room for demo purposes but is for sale as well.

A quick phone call to shop would settle this. Barrie and Barbara are both extremely nice and accommodating.

amusicbass123 · #20 04-28-2011, 11:28 AM

I have a fendt and I love it! You can hear it on my website if you're curious, www.alexspradling.com