Artisan 100

[burns_isaac]

So after all the great advice I just recieved....Is a 3/4 Artisan 100 series a good bass to start on? (My heigth is 6'3) the local music shop rents them for 80 bucks a month. It has an Ebony fingerboard (Not Ebonized!) and German Machined Tuning Heads and a fully adjustable bridge. It also sounds rediculous but my only concern is that its laminated and Im sure its plywood.Also the bow it comes with is fiberglass. Should I look into a different bow? Should I care since it is my first bass and a rental at that?

[wdnewman]

The best, the VERY best way to start on upright bass is to rent one. That being said, here we go:

3/4 size is standard. Your height of 6'-3" has nothing to do with it. That is why basses have adjustable end pins.
Plywood basses are kind of a beginner standard. Another term is laminated. All Kay basses are plywood. Very hard to break, which is a good thing in a rental. Some of them sound pretty good. Many professional jazz players and most all bluegrass players use them.
More important than the ebony fingerboard, the german tuners and the adjustable bridge is the setup. If this bass has not been setup professionally, then it isn't worth $8 per month. Many music stores rent these things right out of the box and because of this they are almost unplayable. Make sure it has been set up correctly.
Nothing wrong with a fiberglass bow to start with. They, also, are almost unbreakable. Great to learn on.
After the rental get a teacher. After a year with the rental and the teacher you will have a much better understanding of the upright bass and can make an intelligent and informed decision as to what to buy.
Finally, no... you should not care that your first bass is a rental. You probably should demand that your first bass be a rental.
Good luck.

[sirero]

Just for future reference... Laminated is Plywood.

[AMJBASS]

Also, there is nothing wrong with a Laminated/Plywood bass. There are some great instruments being made now. I gig out with my Ply all the time.