Is this bass good?/need a bass quick!

Barlillian · #1 09-22-2006, 08:17 PM

Hello! I have some quick but important questions for the members of talkbass. I'm trying to buy an upright bass for under $2000 Canadian (we'll say it can top at around $1800 American) and I need to buy it rather quickly. The problem here is really in shipping. I can certainly pay to have it shipped Fedex/next day to me, but I can't find a place in which I'm able to do that (I live in Newfoundland, Canada). Ebay was my best bet, and the only bass I can find is this one ( http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?...MEWA%3AIT&rd=1 ). Do you guys think that one is any good? Also, do you know any places I'd be able to buy a decent upright bass and have the option of getting fedex to do a next day delivery for me?

uptonbass · #2 09-22-2006, 08:21 PM

Could be ok but count on a FULL setup.

Silversorcerer · #3 09-22-2006, 11:26 PM

In the close-up photo of the button area (that's where the heel of the neck meets the plywood back of the body), there is evidence of a crack across a portion, possibly all the way across the button very evident to the right of the heel. Also it looks like the repair was sloppy. It probably has a poorly joined neck as a result and while some $3K plywoods may be better than some carved basses, this wasn't and never should be a $3K plywood bass. It needs a neck rejoin and no matter how quick it can be shipped, that needs to be repaired most likely before you can really play it.

Don't you love the way they paraphrase what "Dealers on the Double Bass Forum" have said to push the relative value of plywood vs. carved. I'm not a dealer, but that certainly gives all of us here some hard earned validation.

bassist1962 · #4 09-23-2006, 07:24 AM

Options other than Ebay, as mentioned before would be Upton. I am not sure whether Bob Golihur has basses in your price range including shipping or not, but check out his double bass links page. You may find something there.

Barlillian · #5 09-23-2006, 08:23 AM

So.. if I can get the neck repaired around here, do you guys think it's worth the purchase? I'm not looking for it to be a $3K bass in quality, I'm just looking for a bass that would be good for student level/intermediate.

uptonbass · #6 09-23-2006, 10:13 AM

If you can stick to your original budget topping out at $1800with setup included sure give it a shot, but as Silver said not 3, no way.

Second thought...where the bidding is now you would have quite a hard time staying on budget.

drurb · #7 09-23-2006, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barlillian

So.. if I can get the neck repaired around here, do you guys think it's worth the purchase? I'm not looking for it to be a $3K bass in quality, I'm just looking for a bass that would be good for student level/intermediate.

NO!

What am I missing here? You have an $1800 budget and you want to know whether you should spend it buying a plywood bass from a source of unknown repute on ebay. Whatsmore, a bass that has apparently been repaired-- and poorly. I cannot imagine a choice that could be much more ill-advised.

Check the dealers mentioned in this thread. From them you can get a quality instrument, properly set up, and with someone to stand behind it. The choice could not be clearer.