Auditioning a bass

fdeck · #1 03-02-2010, 07:41 PM

This is going to sound like a noobie question, and in some sense it is. I have never shopped for a bass, because I got my Kay for free. Now that I am serious about upgrading, I realize that I am clueless about auditioning a bass.

I've played a number of basses so far. I found it hard to think of a routine to really put a bass through its paces. Of course I can come up with lots of obvious things. One is to bring my own bow along. Another is to play the bass over its entire range to assess playability and identify weak spots. But to be honest, beyond that point I am rather lost. I will look as closely as I can, inside and out, at the mechanical condition of the instrument of course. I also have somewhat of an idea of what I want in terms of parameters that affect playability such as overstand and neck width.

I realize that as a scientist / engineer, I am probably being too damn analytical about this. But I wonder if there are any non-obvious things that I should be doing.

Luthiers / dealers, please don't hesitate to chime in here. What would you want a bassist to do, in order to showcase the quality of the best instruments in your shop?

4132

**Chris Fitzgerald** · #2 03-02-2010, 08:33 PM

Keep in mind that strings and string height make a huge difference in sound. If you can, bring your old bass and try to get the same strings and height on the new one so you can make as accurate a comparison as possible.

Jake deVilliers · #3 03-02-2010, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Fitzgerald

Keep in mind that strings and string height make a huge difference in sound. If you can, bring your old bass and try to get the same strings and height on the new one so you can make as accurate a comparison as possible.

That's such good advice. With a baseline along you'll also have a better idea of what the room is doing to the sound and won't be fooled by the acoustics.

The bass only has to make YOU sound better, so what YOU play on it matters the most. It should sound great played slowly and maybe you'll need it to be able to articulate at higher speeds too.

Do you play (or want to play) double stops? Check them out. Some instruments do them well, some don't.

Take it to your independent luthier for a second opinion; he/she may or may not be able to talk you out of a bad match but if they try, you should listen.

JtheJazzMan · #4 03-02-2010, 08:51 PM

I wish you could put the strings you want on there and also set the string height, but sellers understandably cant change the bass for each person that wants to try it.

**Chris Fitzgerald** · #5 03-03-2010, 05:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JtheJazzMan

I wish you could put the strings you want on there and also set the string height, but sellers understandably cant change the bass for each person that wants to try it.

True. But if you play a certain type of string, you can try out basses that have similar strings on them. Spiros, for instance, are very common for jazz basses, and compare well to Dominants and Superflexibles. Bel Cantos are common these days for arco, and compare well to Permanents. If a bass had strings I can't relate to (in my case, any D'Addario or Corelli-type strings) i wouldn't buy it until I'd had a chance to try it with the kind of strings I normally use, and at the height I normally use them.

Eric Hochberg · #6 03-03-2010, 07:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JtheJazzMan

I wish you could put the strings you want on there and also set the string height, but sellers understandably cant change the bass for each person that wants to try it.

I can't tell you the number of times I've changed out strings on basses I had some interest in. The best bet for a seller is to have a set of crossover strings on the bass, like Obligato, Evah Pirazzi, something that the classical players and jazz players can get along with. Volker Nahrmann told me a few years ago he was putting Oblis on his basses for this reason. I don't think a dealer can expect to make a sale to a discriminating buyer unless the bass is setup to be somewhat playable to their standards.

I checked out a bass at Nick Lloyd's shop recently and he was happy to take off the flexocores and put on some spiros... it took all of 5 minutes and gave me a much better idea of how the bass would work for me.

farmerdude · #7 03-03-2010, 07:40 AM

A good shop will let you take the bass home for a week or so...if buying from an individual- it gets tricky.

I like to record something on basses i'm interested in (little hand recorder)- take notes- you will forget what you liked and didnt like....good luck.

Paul Warburton · #8 03-03-2010, 07:58 AM

Here's a plan.
You gotta geetar player buddy? Or some other instrument playing friend who you could bring along to the shop? I did that once, because they wouldn't let me bring the bass home for a spin. I brought my strings, PU and a little amp. Geetarist and I played in the shop, with and without amps. It ended up being a free concert for observers and got a couple of other interested buyers into that particular bass. I didn't buy that bass, but the shop owner took us out for a splendid lunch and we had a swell old time. You don't play the same way alone, obviously, that you do with other players on a gig. This is a real test for how you and the instrument might get along with others.

EDIT: That bass wasn't a cheapo and the luthier had to shave a bit of wood off of the bridge wings to seat my PU, which he was more than happy to do since it didn't impact the sound or the look of the bass.

Mike Goodbar · #9 03-03-2010, 08:11 AM

If you have a bass player buddy, especially one who has technique similar to yours, I'd recommend bringing him or her along to play while you listen. Obviously, the instrument is going to sound differently across the room than close up.

Eric Rene Roy · #10 03-03-2010, 08:13 AM

The most prepared I have seen was last week. A guy from New Jersey came in...he usually plays with a small carpet under him and a stool. He brought them with him...and his old bass. He found a spot on our floor and setup his stuff and just played his bass for about 45 minutes to warm it and himself up and get an idea how his bass sounds on our floor. Then he began playing basses. I think he was here for 3 or 4 hours.

Come prepared to play...

The worst is when someone comes and plays with a bow but didn't bring their own. Bring your bow if you bow.

Also...if you have something in mind...call ahead. Just because something is listed on XYZ's website does not mean it's sitting there ready for you to play. Let the shop know when you are coming and what your goals are. If shops know that ahead of time...they can prepare.

JtheJazzMan · #11 03-03-2010, 03:14 PM

Im so buying a plane ticket to the states for my next bass.

Erik Turkman · #12 03-14-2010, 12:01 PM

As has been mentioned, bringing a bass-playing friend (or teacher) along so you can hear what the bass sounds like from a distance is a very good idea. Also, be willing to take some time. Don't think you need to by an instrument on first listen. Shop around, and try to get a sense of what is available in your price range. Every once in a while, you might be lucky and play a bass and immediately know "this is it," but it usually takes having played a bunch of other basses before you get to that point.

Paul Warburton · #13 03-14-2010, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Erik Turkman

As has been mentioned, bringing a bass-playing friend (or teacher) along so you can hear what the bass sounds like from a distance is a very good idea. Also, be willing to take some time. Don't think you need to by an instrument on first listen. Shop around, and try to get a sense of what is available in your price range. Every once in a while, you might be lucky and play a bass and immediately know "this is it," but it usually takes having played a bunch of other basses before you get to that point.

OT......Hey, Stranger......PM me. We hook up.

Erik Turkman · #14 03-14-2010, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul Warburton

OT......Hey, Stranger......PM me. We hook up.

PM sent