Bellafina Bass...Good for the money??

[blah148]

Hello all,

I've got some credit on MusiciansFriend.com and I thought I'd spend it towards a new double bass.

This one caught my eye because it just looks nice

http://bass-guitars.musiciansfriend....fit?sku=470251

Anyways, if anybody had some thoughts or tips on that particular bass mainly, or anything else it would be much appreciated

[Ghost_Note]

Sorry, I haven't played one, but I did give one a bit of thought when I first decided I wanted an upright. Then I started my research, moved up into price, gulped, continued my research, again gulped, went up again...there are some great sticky links here on buying a bass and a great deal of sage advice.

I wish you well in the search. Enjoy!

[drurb]

Originally Posted by blah148

Hello all,

I've got some credit on MusiciansFriend.com and I thought I'd spend it towards a new double bass.

This one caught my eye because it just looks nice

http://bass-guitars.musiciansfriend....fit?sku=470251

Anyways, if anybody had some thoughts or tips on that particular bass mainly, or anything else it would be much appreciated

Please do yourself a favor and stay away from that bass. Look, the lowest cost for which you can get a decent instrument set up properly is about $1500, give or take. There's no magic. You'll spend it one way or another. Buy a bass from a bass shop. Online mass merchants and guitar shops aren't the places to go.

[Gearhead43]

I would like to chime in here so the others don't scare you away from playing the double bass completely. It would have happened to me the first time I came to Talkbass seeking info on the double bass if I weren't so damn pig-headed. Guys here can be a little intense.

I agree with DRUB about the best way to buy a bass. Going and playing a few basses until you find one that you like is the best bet. BUT, if you don't have a music store that carries any basses in your area, you won't be the first guy in history to order a double bass sight unseen.

If you are really on a budget, and are looking for an entry level plywood bass, and have to get one from MF, I would suggest choosing one of the Engelhardt or Strunal basses instead. The cheap chinese imports are usually not very good quality, and can be a roll of the dice.

You will need to set aside some cash to have the bass "set up" by a bass luthier though. The basses sold by MF come direct from the manufacturers and need to have the string heights lowered, some better strings put on, and some other setup work done. Try and find a luthier in your area that knows double bass and get a setup quote.

A better way to get your first double bass might be to start looking for a used one, this is how I got mine and I am very happy.

[tomshepp]

Don't forget, the search can be fun and educational.....in many ways.

[drurb]

Originally Posted by Gearhead43

I would like to chime in here so the others don't scare you away from playing the double bass completely. It would have happened to me the first time I came to Talkbass seeking info on the double bass if I weren't so damn pig-headed. Guys here can be a little intense.

I agree with DRUB about the best way to buy a bass. Going and playing a few basses until you find one that you like is the best bet. BUT, if you don't have a music store that carries any basses in your area, you won't be the first guy in history to order a double bass sight unseen.

If you are really on a budget, and are looking for an entry level plywood bass, and have to get one from MF, I would suggest choosing one of the Engelhardt or Strunal basses instead. The cheap chinese imports are usually not very good quality, and can be a roll of the dice.

You will need to set aside some cash to have the bass "set up" by a bass luthier though. The basses sold by MF come direct from the manufacturers and need to have the string heights lowered, some better strings put on, and some other setup work done. Try and find a luthier in your area that knows double bass and get a setup quote.

A better way to get your first double bass might be to start looking for a used one, this is how I got mine and I am very happy.

Well, I hope you didn't find my post "intense." I agree with Gear, except for the choice of vendor or type of vendor. If you must buy a bass sight-unseen, sound-unheard, feel-unfelt, then there are real bass shops/dealers with fine reputations who can supply a decent, properly set up instrument. I'll say it again-- you would be wise to stay away from on-line mass-merchants and guitar shops when buying a double bass. My original warning was more about that than buying on-line per se, although yes, it is wise to play the bass you will buy.

[barbarbass]

Give this guy's inventory a look.

www.bassesonline.com

I got a great deal on a carved-top Roma instrument ($1200). After another $200 for set-up (fingerboard and bridge work), it plays like a dream.

I use it mainly for orchestral playing (in a community orchestra) and also some pop and rock stuff (I slapped a K&K bass max pick-up on her, as well).

[drurb]

Actually, give a number of vendors a look:

Gollihur, Upton, Lemur, Shen dealers, etc. Where do you live blah148?

[Gearhead43]

Originally Posted by barbarbass

Give this guy's inventory a look.

www.bassesonline.com

I got a great deal on a carved-top Roma instrument ($1200). After another $200 for set-up (fingerboard and bridge work), it plays like a dream.

I use it mainly for orchestral playing (in a community orchestra) and also some pop and rock stuff (I slapped a K&K bass max pick-up on her, as well).

Yes, definitely check out bassesonline. They have Eberles (Musima) going for $850 right now and those are good solid German plywoods.

That wasn't a shot at you, Drub. Should have made that clear.

Anyway, good luck and try and get a better quality bass for your first one, that way you will be more likely to have fun and stick with it.

[zeytoun]

There's always the dichotomy, when starting a new adventure that requires new (and not inexpensive) equipment, of whether to plunk down lots of money for something that is far above your novice skills, or to start with something cheap that you will not likely keep.

When I was a teenager (not long ago, I'm still green) I adored archtop guitars (& still do...). I had a 1956 Martin flat top that I took for granted, and wanted a second guitar for an electric sound. But I couldn't afford the price tag of real archtops, so got a cheap laminate archtop that was in my price range, and was shiny and pretty (to my novice eyes). There were a million better things I could have done with the money. The pseudo-archtop is long gone, and my Martin is still there (and will never be taken for granted again).

My philosophy with musical instruments (beyond harmonicas, tin whistles, etc) is largely based on that experience: Think long term. Don't buy "for now" instruments. Someone recently posted (paraphrasing) that when buying a bass, buy one that you would keep, even when you're ready to upgrade years down the road.

But that still leaves you stuck with the prospect of a $1500+ price tag for an entry-level, quality instrument you might not be sure you're worthy of (or will stick to). In the world of double basses, it's not a big price tag, but it still is a lot of money for some of us. If you have another instrument that you treasure, have put in the work to learn, and have guarded for years, then you're ready. When you've saved the money, invest it in something quality.

If you don't feel you have enough personal evidence to know whether you will stick to a quality instrument, or if you can't afford a good one, but also can't wait to start playing, you've got lots of different options, all of which are better than buying something shoddy. You can rent a quality one until you're ready to buy. You can buy a bass guitar (fretless?) for a lot less, and learn and practice your theory (with others? to experience the role of the bass in a musical group) until you're ready. You can train your ears by going out and consuming all the music your favorite double-bass players make. Remember, it's about the music....

(OK, I will STFU now)

[blah148]

Thank you guys for all the excellent input; lots of wise words that have definitely changed my thoughts on what to do.

[Gearhead43]

Originally Posted by zeytoun

There's always the dichotomy, when starting a new adventure that requires new (and not inexpensive) equipment, of whether to plunk down lots of money for something that is far above your novice skills, or to start with something cheap that you will not likely keep.

When I was a teenager (not long ago, I'm still green) I adored archtop guitars (& still do...). I had a 1956 Martin flat top that I took for granted, and wanted a second guitar for an electric sound. But I couldn't afford the price tag of real archtops, so got a cheap laminate archtop that was in my price range, and was shiny and pretty (to my novice eyes). There were a million better things I could have done with the money. The pseudo-archtop is long gone, and my Martin is still there (and will never be taken for granted again).

My philosophy with musical instruments (beyond harmonicas, tin whistles, etc) is largely based on that experience: Think long term. Don't buy "for now" instruments. Someone recently posted (paraphrasing) that when buying a bass, buy one that you would keep, even when you're ready to upgrade years down the road.

But that still leaves you stuck with the prospect of a $1500+ price tag for an entry-level, quality instrument you might not be sure you're worthy of (or will stick to). In the world of double basses, it's not a big price tag, but it still is a lot of money for some of us. If you have another instrument that you treasure, have put in the work to learn, and have guarded for years, then you're ready. When you've saved the money, invest it in something quality.

If you don't feel you have enough personal evidence to know whether you will stick to a quality instrument, or if you can't afford a good one, but also can't wait to start playing, you've got lots of different options, all of which are better than buying something shoddy. You can rent a quality one until you're ready to buy. You can buy a bass guitar (fretless?) for a lot less, and learn and practice your theory (with others? to experience the role of the bass in a musical group) until you're ready. You can train your ears by going out and consuming all the music your favorite double-bass players make. Remember, it's about the music....

(OK, I will STFU now)

Damn, that was a good post!!

Nice work.

[MIKMAN]

Dear friend anyone of us in our beginning tried to find a decent bass from the various online music shops. In my opinion most of us (including me) failed to get the proper instrument because only the specialized DB shops face the novices with the utmost respect and help them for their first choice. For sure, when the aspiring bassist continues his/her marvelous journey in the DB world, he/she come back to the specialized shop in order to upgrade the beloved instrument. The companies mentioned by our friends are well established in the DB world and all of them have achieved their market place after many years of customer service.
By the way, your profile would help us a lot to give you opinons and choices near your place.