Budget *cringe* bass?

moopants · #1 03-11-2007, 03:36 PM

I've been playing the Double Bass for a year now after my electric bass teacher got me started on it, and I've made remarkable progress. I want a DB of my own so I can start practicing it a lot more. I'm afraid of "budget basses" because I'm a good player, and I don't want to settle for a crappy bass, but I need one, and I don't have a lot to spend, so it seems like I might have to buy a bad one. I saw two basses on lemurmusic.com that I liked.

http://shop1.mailordercentral.com/le...p?number=BA124

http://shop1.mailordercentral.com/le...p?number=BA109

The cheaper one is laminated. I'm afraid of laminated basses, too. I got started on a laminated, and I never realized how bad it was until my teacher trusted me enough to let me use his about $10,000 fully carved bass. He lets me use it all the time now, and I want a carved one to at least get a tone close to as I get on his bass without spending $10,000. Which bass should I choose, or if I can get a better deal than those two basses, without going over (at least too much) of $2500 bass, can anyone direct me to that? Your help will be appreciated.

peterpalmieri · #2 03-11-2007, 04:34 PM

It's been my experience for about $2500 you can get a carved top / Hybrid bass. Obviously you need to play these basses in person but you'll get a better idea of the real price also vs. the online advertised prices.

Pete

jtlownds · #3 03-11-2007, 05:14 PM

Lemur doesn't sell crap. Their Sunrise basses are a lot of bass for the money, and their setup work is second to none. I own the Sunrise Del Mar model, and have been very happy with it for the last 4 years, with absolutely no problems. Also, Jerry & toni Buffa are great people to do business with, and stand by their product.

moopants · #4 03-11-2007, 06:18 PM

Either of the basses would suit me? I like the carved one better, but I don't know what my budget might be.

Dbassmon · #5 03-11-2007, 07:33 PM

Upton Hawkes is a good Hybrid. Gary Upton

Ken Smith is a reputable and very knowledgable guy. Builds terrific electric basses and is an expert luthier, double bass player and historian. He sells Calin Wultur Basses, a romanian bass and Shens among many others

Either of these luthiers will give you a wonderful bass, with a top shelf set up ... and they happen to be very reputable gentleman. You will spend probably around $3000 for a carved top with plywood back and sides (hybrid)

If you are not planning on playing much arco, start with a plywood and you'll spend less.

These guys will make sure you get a very playable bass that sounds very good given the budget.

Enjoy!!

moopants · #6 03-11-2007, 09:19 PM

Arco is the staple of my playing. I'm mainly a classical player. I play jazz, but seldom on the DB. I play the school owned ply laminated bass, and it sounds decent pizzicato, but it's next to terrible and not loud enough while I play arco. I need a good bass for arco and pizzicato. I don't want to spend over $2500. If I go too much, but parents might not buy it. They laughed last time I asked for one, so I'm trying to get a good deal, and then explain it so maybe they'll budge. I'm too young for job, and chores aren't worth enough.

dchan · #7 03-11-2007, 11:55 PM

If arco is your game, then definitely go for a carved bass or hybrid. Believe me, a carved spruce top will do wonders for your bowed sound compared to a plywood top.

You can get a decent hybrid for about $2500, and I doubt that your parent's absolute ceiling is that much if you can convince them to spend just a bit more. I know that Upton sells one, and Shen dealers sell two of them as well.

As for a carved bass, it is hard but not impossible to find a decent one. It can be used: look at classified ads on Bob Gollihur's site or over here. There are other sites available, but not ones that I remember right now.

I know that Ideal Music in NYC sells really cheap carved and hybrid basses, both for under $2000 dollars. Their website is bassesonline.com , and their owner post around here under the name greene. From what I hear, they are decent instruments, but will need a more extensive setup than what they offer you.

Silversorcerer · #8 03-12-2007, 10:47 AM

Gollihur Music has good quality entry level carved basses. Nothing fancy but great arco tone. I have one and I love it's arco tone. It's fine for pizz. too, but I have kept the helicore orch strings on it and it really sings. If you get one of those plan on having a luthier set it up.

Dbassmon · #9 03-12-2007, 10:52 AM

I would caution you about "Cheap basses, you get what you pay for etc." You need to come up with a few more bucks. A part time job, extra chores, whatever.
A good bass from a reputable dealer is good advice. Please trust this advice.
Plenty of horror stories on this forum about cheap basses. This is something that will last you till you are ready to spend big bucks on a professional bass. Don't buy junk.

drurb · #10 03-12-2007, 11:22 AM

IMO, the Upton hybrid, at $2900, is a HUGE bang for the buck.

moopants · #11 03-12-2007, 02:36 PM

Are those basses from Lemur music any good? If I can't buy anything more expensive than the two I originally posted or others, I want to get one of those. My teacher recommended a bass from that site, and he said the one I showed him was a decent bass for me.

moopants · #12 03-12-2007, 02:43 PM

Gollihur... how about those Bulgarian fully carved basses? The 4 string basses aren't quite $2500, which is good, and they look of better quality. Any experience with these?

Marcus Johnson · #13 03-12-2007, 03:33 PM

I played one briefly, it was pretty good. It had a nice complex sound, though not a cannon, it made a fair amount of sound. I do remember it being relatively heavy.

thedbassist · #14 03-12-2007, 03:37 PM

with shipping and a setup they are.

moopants · #15 03-12-2007, 05:18 PM

Well, I don't mind the bass being $2500 with other expenses, because the other bass at which I was looking was the same price. Would a 4 or 5 string be better? I've never played 5 strings on the DB, but I do play 6 string electric.

Marcus Johnson · #16 03-12-2007, 05:26 PM

That 4/5 question comes up a lot from people coming from EB. I think there's more than enough music in four strings to last ten lifetimes, especially given the fact that very few basses do justice to five (Paul Warburton has one that actually does, but they are rare). Four will keep you occupied for as long as you want, and if you stick with the double bass, you'll be upgrading at some point anyway. Keep it simple.

moopants · #17 03-12-2007, 05:44 PM

Yeah, that was kind of an off topic question. Are these Gollihur basses worth it? I'm really interested in these basses, especially seeing that they're fully carved for such a good price. Is it too good to be true? Even if it's not the greatest of fully carved basses, I can upgrade later. I just want a good bass for home to practice while I'm not at school, especially during the upcoming summer months.

Marcus Johnson · #18 03-12-2007, 06:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moopants

Are these Gollihur basses worth it?

As a casual observer, I'd say yeah. I could gig on one. But you might want to talk to some long-term owners before you pull the trigger.

Nick Ioannucci · #19 03-12-2007, 06:53 PM

you cant go wrong with an upton hybrid, theyre pretty much the best. i dont think there is that much, if any better basses for that price besides upton. the setup is excellent and the customer service is superb. call or email gary, im sure he'll take care of you. i know theres a few threads that are upton specific floating around here, i started one that is a few pages long with low quality pics and multiple post gig updates. I would highly reccomend getting an upton.

junglebike · #20 03-12-2007, 07:10 PM

If you really want bang for your buck ($2500 should get you something decent), you might also consider biding your time and jumping on the right vintage or used instrument. There was a Christopher hybrid for sale here a little while back for $1200.

I bought my German carved bass in San Diego for $1000 and put $600 into a full Lemur setup. It wasn't a *great* bass, but it was certainly a $3-4k instrument. The URB market is weird; high shipping cost and low liquidity (long time to sell) drive market inefficiencies. This means that if you're patient you can snag a great deal -- much better than if you're looking at, say, a US Fender P-bass.

Check the local craigslist and be prepared to jump on a deal. The risk is that you get a dud -- perhaps you can drag your teacher along, or better yet agree to have it checked out by a local luthier?

edit... does the Upton include free shipping? That would put it to your door for pretty close to the same price as the Lemur bass...