Christopher Laminated Bass

[LowDown Hal]

I'm an electric bass guy looking for his first Double Bass.

A local shop does a rent to own type deal which sounds intriguing.

They feature Christopher basses. I'm not sure if it is the 100 or 200 series.

Can anyone provide any insight into these as value to the dollar?

I see the last post in the "sticky" is kind of old. So any new info is welcome.


thanks
.Hal

[Blass702]

Perfect for you. One of those got me through 2 yes. of college

[PaulCannon]

I worked for a shop that carried Christophers, and I set up about 40 of them. I was usually very surprised how nice they sounded, though there was the occasional dud. For a plywood bass, they are a good value.

I would throw out the tailpiece, bridge and strings it comes with. The tailpiece is a soft wood painted black with a very thick tailwire bolted to it. The bridge is equally cheap, and I suspect the bass would sound way better with a high quality bridge cut for it. Most shops will usually toss the strings for you (they are glorified steel wires), but make sure it has name brand strings installed.

[MIKMAN]

Christophers offer best value for money. The laminated 200 series feature a Busseto model with excellent pizz sound. I tried one of them two weeks ago in Frankfurt,Germany, perfectly set up by Jonas in Lando Musik. This instrument, strung with Presto Jazzicatto strings, delivered a thunderous pizz sound and resembled a sort of old scholl double basses with gut strings. I'm tempted to buy it and use it under the merciless Greek sun for outdoor gigs.
The real gem in the shop was a 600 series Amati model, a beautiful fully carved flatback. Strung with Spiros mittel delivered a floor shaking pizz sound with lots of fundamentals. Jonas had made the set up and the adjustable bridge was in a rather low position. Nevertheless the pizz sound delivered lots of volume. I tried my modest bowing skills with a Christopher carbon fiber bow and the bass responded with a warm, mellow arco sound, again with lots of volume. This particular instrument could hold very well in an orchestra's bass section.
Mike

[Wilbyman]

The Christopher 200 busetto model plywoods are great basses especially for jazz. I wouldn't hesitate to buy another one.

[bobsax]

i'm curios about what you experts think of the Christopher compared to the Shen.
My teacher is selling a Christopher that has been a rental for 2K or I can get a brand new Shen from Steve Swan for $1500.

[Thumpie]

I play in an orchestra with a guy who uses a Christopher hybrid busetto strung with Spiro Mittels and that thing shines. It's got a nice complex pizzicato sound and it really is a pleasure to bow. If you're going to be doing a lot of arco, the hybrid might be worth the extra money.

I'd almost get one myself, but I don't like the busetto shape. I wonder if the gamba is comparably nice.? Has anybody compared the two?

[Kaspar Vadsholt]

I bought a Chrissy 200 busetto plywood in the spring. During the summer I used it in a show, and the tone has really opened up. In fact, I'm beginning to doubt my otherwise great Lang. The Chrissy just have a really quick, accurate response, while the Lang is very dark and sluggish.
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