buying an upright

[tjh20]

I've played electric for awhile and I've always wanted to get an upright but money has been a limiting factor. Where are the best places to look for quality uprights that aren't ridiculously expensive. Online? local? If so I'm in the Philadelphia and Pittsburgh areas. So if you know anywhere around those two areas let me know.

[Vin]

I just bought an Eberle from Bassesonline.com and I really like it. $950 is a great price and everything i've read about them has been positive. They're also supposedly built like tanks, which is good.

Also the people at bassesonline.com (Ideal Music in NYC) are incredibly nice, friendly, and helpful.

I live outside of Philly and they shipped it to me for 150 bucks, only took 2 days from when I ordered it. Of course you can drive into Manhattan if you want and pick it up, but i think tolls, gas and parking would cost you more than having someone drop it off at your doorstep.

Do some research on them and ask around. They're definitely worth a look.

[jayarroz]

check out some newbie link on this, it has been discussed a lot. Cheaper basses are exactly that and you won't be able to re-sell them so i recommend ply's or hybrid's to start with. Under 2k used Kay,Engelhart,Shen,Christopher. They are your best bet! I HIGHLY recommend playing on whatever it is your going to buy HIGHLY!!

[StyleOverShow]

Have been thinking about the DB too. Settled for a vintage fretless and feel that it is a 'twiner: not a fretted electric bass sounding with the Rotowounds Jazz 77 strings (dead in a week); and not a mwah of a upright.

Costs aside, it is a different instrument, capable of making more 'sounds' than anything electric (effect freaks aside).

Its just so freaking huge! I don't have anything to transport it.

[drurb]

Originally Posted by StyleOverShow

Its just so freaking huge! I don't have anything to transport it.

You'd be amazed at how a DB can neatly fit into even compact cars. Just do a search for threads here that discuss that. For some of us, there just is no option. It's gotta be a DB!

[John Sprague]

Hey tjh, here are the shops that I know of in your area:

Pittsburgh:
Volkwein's
The String Workshop
Mike Magee (724.372.3931) is a few miles north of Pittsburgh.
There are others sprinkled across the state, like Ken Smith, Shanks, J.R. Judd's, Violin Makers Ltd., Menche's, etc ad infinitum.
Buy locally whenever practicable.