Commercial Uprights

MurvintheWalrus · #1 08-18-2008, 11:51 PM

IN your opinion(s), of the commercial uprights that are not EUDB's and by commercial i refer to uprights on Sam Ash guitar Center or Musicians Friends' website. So the ones that have stood out to me are the King Doublebass Slap King Upright Bass (http://www.musiciansfriend.com/produ...ass?sku=513131)
or the Englehardt ES9 Swingmaster Model Upright Bass (http://www.musiciansfriend.com/produ...ass?sku=512141)
so...has anyone played/ owned these basses, for the record i am looking for a bass that can stick up to some jazz swing latin and be-bop playing NOT classical. My combos season is starting up and i wanna own an upright. I would be adding a pickup changing strings blah blah but which o these two or what others (links please) would you recommend. Please and thank you

Massenburg · #2 08-18-2008, 11:52 PM

King Uprights are excellent if I do say. Very fun to play.
Upton basses are my favorite tho. Lots of pros use them. They are around the same price as a King standard bass. www.uptonbass.com

futurebass77 · #3 08-19-2008, 12:28 AM

i voted king b/c i dont know about jazz

Rebop · #4 08-19-2008, 02:04 AM

Too narrow of a poll. Those basses are rockabilly rigs anyways.

Uncletoad · #5 08-19-2008, 06:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MurvintheWalrus

My combos season is starting up and i wanna own an upright.

You may need to reevaluate your timeline. I don't know many people who can buy a double bass and take it out to their regular gigs right away. It's not the same as playing electric bass.

JavierBass · #6 08-19-2008, 12:18 PM

I agree with the Toad. You might want to avoid these basses for jazz purposes. You should try to find a bass that you can test drive and that feels really good when you play it. And after that changing strings and having the best setup isn't necessarily a fast thing. It can take awhile depending on the condition of the bass considering that luthiers often have to look for cracks and open seams, etc. Avoid commercial basses at all cost. And that bass should be good for classical too. You can't avoid playing classical music, it's FUNDAMENTAL for building technique and intonation. And by the way, why do you have yourself listed four double bass instruction if you don't seem to have any qualifications.

Bass · #7 08-19-2008, 12:30 PM

I voted for the SlapKing. Buddy just got one a couple months ago, it's a beautiful bass, you just can't go wrong. I really don't care for the Swingmasters, although some people seem to drool all over them

Check out Jerry Fretwell as well:

http://www.fretwellbass.com/

And Uncle Toad's right, you may not be able to take your new upright out to your gigs right away. Give yourself at least a couple weeks.

dvh · #8 08-19-2008, 12:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uncletoad

You may need to reevaluate your timeline. I don't know many people who can buy a double bass and take it out to their regular gigs right away. It's not the same as playing electric bass.

Amen to that. I'm taking my time. I don't want to be known as "the guy who thinks he can play double bass".

(Started on DB six weeks ago after 25+ years of electric bass)

Bruce Lindfield · #9 08-19-2008, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MurvintheWalrus

. So the ones that have stood out to me are the King Doublebass Slap King Upright Bass .....

for the record i am looking for a bass that can stick up to some jazz swing latin and be-bop playing

Is it just me or do these two things not sound as if they go together? So if I was looking for a bass for Jazz etc. I wouldn't be considering a rockabilly bass...

Different animals...?

MurvintheWalrus · #10 08-22-2008, 12:26 AM

a few people discussed the timeline the thing is i use an upright that is worn that i like 7/8 carved with a pup and im sick of going back returning renting for a gig blah. so i wanna own one but until it gets warmed up id stay on the one i currently use. I havent played my electric for jazz for a while since i turned to an uprght man

Uncletoad · #11 08-22-2008, 01:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MurvintheWalrus

a few people discussed the timeline the thing is i use an upright that is worn that i like 7/8 carved with a pup and im sick of going back returning renting for a gig blah. so i wanna own one but until it gets warmed up id stay on the one i currently use. I havent played my electric for jazz for a while since i turned to an uprght man

I'm sorry, I don't understand what you are saying.

Bruce Lindfield · #12 08-22-2008, 02:36 AM

I understand it I think - i.e. has been renting and playing a DB for a long time, now wants to buy - but I still don't understand why you are looking at Rockabilly Basses if you want to play Jazz...

Uncletoad · #13 08-22-2008, 02:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bruce Lindfield

I understand it I think - i.e. has been renting and playing a DB for a long time, now wants to buy - but I still don't understand why you are looking at Rockabilly Basses if you want to play Jazz...

Oh I get it.

Yea I'm with you. I'd buy a bass from a luthier or reputable bass shop. If you can't afford one I'd continue to rent until you can.

John B · #14 10-14-2008, 01:09 PM

So, from a newbie, what are some low-cost basses that would be appropriate for jazz?

shadygrove · #15 10-14-2008, 01:49 PM

John,

If you haven't already, check out the bass links sticky at the top of this forum for a lot of info on basses and tips for how to shop and buy. If you have a particular brand in mind, try the search function.

My advice is don't get fixated on a particular brand of bass or price point until you've played many different basses to find out what sounds best and feels good to you. A prime example of why not is Englehardt/Kay basses. Some people love them, others don't. I fully expected my first bass to be an Engle because I thought it was the only decent bass I could afford, but after I did the reality check and actually played a few I found there were others I liked better for not much more.

If you fill out your profile so we know where you live, someone in your area may know of a bass for sale or shops within driving distance they can recommend.

Good luck in your search !

John B · #16 10-14-2008, 03:50 PM

Kansas City, so KC Strings is on my list of places to visit. I visited Mass Street Music in Lawrence this past weekend and had the opportunity to test drive an Eastman, but that's as far as I've gotten.

I'll check out the sticky - I don't know why I didn't do that before posting!

conte2music · #17 10-14-2008, 06:42 PM

Hey John B....Someone mentioned an old beat up American Standard that is for sale at KC...I believe it was going for $1,300 Get there ASAP and check that thing out. It's probably ugly as hell, but if it's still in one piece it could be a great ax!

conte2music · #18 10-14-2008, 06:49 PM

Here is what was said about the AS at KC strings... Clink wrote about it...

"I recently played an American Standard over at KC Strings that knocked me out. The serial number was in the 500's but it looked like it had been drug behind a car down a dirt road and left out in the rain. It had been well used for sure.
Big sound, fun to play and $1300? I know why those basses have been popular all these years. If I weren't broke I buy it myself. Somebody, go buy that bass."

sbassface · #19 10-16-2008, 08:07 PM

I have an ES-9 Swingmaster and it's set up beautifully, plays great. IMHO, IME, without a good set up on an englehardt you may run into problems.

Gearhead43 · #20 10-16-2008, 10:16 PM

I love my Engelhardt also, but I play popular music, rockabilly, and country, etc. A good setup is crucial on these, I agree.

If I were serious about Jazz, I'd look into a hybrid bass (carved top). Something with a bit more complex midrange sound than most laminated basses, but still more durable for gigging, and affordable than a fully carved bass.

The advice to try as many basses as you can is good advice.