christopher hybrids.. thoughts?

[AMJBASS]

Hard to find Shen in Canada. IMO the Christophers are a big step up from the Engelhardt instruments. They are lighter than the Engelhardt's, and have a bigger tone(especially the hybrids).

[Silversorcerer]

I can't compare the plywood Chris to the Engelhardts, but the hybrid model 300 Chris is in a totally different category. I played a 7/8 5-string a few years ago in a shop here and it was sweet. You really want a carved top if you can go for it. The difference is considerable.

You can see my posts in a similar thread:
Hybrid Christopher's

If there is a locally available nice hybrid Christopher for the price you mentioned, that is a safe purchase of an instrument you can touch and feel now. The all-carved basses from Bob Gollihur are very good instruments as well. I chose one of those over a Chris, but I was willing to buy site unseen after seeing and hearing a bass from the same shop. I mention this because you asked about what else might be there and after two months, I am extremely pleased with my instrument from Bob. The price with shipping is competitive with your Chris, but you will need the services of a luthier to tweak the setup to your taste. They come with good (Helicore Orch) strings and decent hardware and a way above average shop set-up.

[spacecanoe]

do violin , buesetto or gamba corners make a big difference in sound? id imagina a small amout of tonality to be different. but is it much? or just esthetics? cuz damn those christophers with the buesetto corners look slick!

[Silversorcerer]

The one I played was a series 300 violin-cornered 7/8 5-string. You know it's a shame, but it's not like I've ever seen even a couple of them side by side with only one difference (the corners). The shop probably had about a half dozen Chris basses and they were all very different levels with several differences, but none had the Busetto shape. I played a few of the others but the 5 string had the voice out of that batch.

As far as visual appearances, I have always favored the gambas. That might be why I like my bass a little more. I'm an old photographer and I would admit to visual bias, in lieu of an auditory comparison. Chris makes some pretty gambas too, but if you like the way the Busetto looks and sounds, get the Busetto. I'm assuming that this is a bass that you have access to and can evaluate personally, right?

[spacecanoe]

well ive played the violin cornred one and i was gonna ge them to order a busetto in for me cuz i love the way they look. they only have one in stock and its the violin

[AMJBASS]

Go for it! I assume you are getting it from Luscombe Violins? The one I ordered a week or so ago should be here in September. I am definitely looking forward to it!

[spacecanoe]

nope adrian a place called north west music wich is all of a half block away from my apt! talk about luck huh haha yea i gotta go in there and see if they can order me the one with the corners i want. they got a good financing situation there too. no percentage and no penelty for paying it off early
not too bad! now i just gotta balls up and put down the cash. man thats always the hardest part lol

[Silversorcerer]

Originally Posted by spacecanoe

well ive played the violin cornred one and i was gonna ge them to order a busetto in for me cuz i love the way they look. they only have one in stock and its the violin

That sounds sweet living a few doors away from the music store. You should keep in mind that the bass you get on order may sound different just as much because it is a different instrument as because of the corners, or even more so. These are usually pretty individual sounding instruments, regardless of the maker. Not that it wouldn't sound as "good". It just may have a noticeably different voice. That would even apply to two with the same kind of corners.

[spacecanoe]

thats tru i might just end up getting the one they have there cuz they wanna charge me 500$ mnore for the busetto corners