Comparing Eberle and Gollihur's Bulgarian Fully Carved ?

[ez135]

Hello all,

Brand new registered member here, I've been a lurker for a while.

I'm mainly an electric bass player that is doubling on URB on a steady gig. On the URB, I do mainly pizz but I've got to play some short pieces with the bow so I need a bass that can do both.

At the moment, I'm playing a friend's bass and he needs it back eventually. So, I'm looking for a good yet affordable 3/4 URB. I need a bass that can be played night after night, two shows per day, without problems of course.

How would you compare Eberle Fully Carved and Gollihur's Bulgarian Fully Carved ? Apple and oranges ? Both dealers (and basses) have a great reputation around here.

Thanks in advance !

ez135

[Silversorcerer]

I don't know much about the Eberle, so I can't rate that one at all. Perhaps someone else with experience with these will join in.

I have been playing a Bulgarian from Gollihur for two years now, taking it everywhere, accidentally bounced it off the street once (no serious damage) and it sounds great to me. And several players here locally turn red with envy when I tell them what I paid for it. It's the big 4/4 one with 5 strings. It has a real nice arco tone. It's loud pizzacato also, with some good deep growl and plenty of sustain. Enough to just about cover up several acoustic guitars.

It was a little tight when I first got it, but has opened up real nice. A little patience and much playing seems to do the trick. I think there is a good video and sound file posted by Libersolis of his new one that is 3/4 size 4-string. Check the recent threads in this section. That sounds pretty much like mine and I've heard a 3/4 5-string that a fellow in Savannah has that also sounds real nice. Good carved bass for the $$ and it appears that Xavier Padilla is using one of these now.

Oh yes, welcome to the forum!

[Libersolis]

What is the guys name from Savannah? I am from there originally.

[Silversorcerer]

Originally Posted by Libersolis

What is the guys name from Savannah? I am from there originally.

PM sent.

[dchan]

It's pretty hard to give you the advice that I'm about to give because I don't know where you're from (fill out your profile). I'm saying this because the best way to figure out which bass is better is to try out both basses.

I have only tried out Eberle basses at Ideal Music(http://bassesonline.com/).
Going from that experience alone, I have to say that comparing even two Eberle's is like comparing apples and oranges not just because of no two basses are alike. All of these basses are old stock from one time or another, so some might look completely different than others and even sound completely different.

The fact is, there was one really good Eberle and a bunch of not so good Eberles, but I could only tell because I was there trying them out. There is no other way that you can pick out a bass, really.

I have not tried out the Golliuhur Kremona-Bulgaria basses, but I hear that they are nice. The only true way to find the bass you really want is to try as many basses as possible.

I imagine that the Gollihur basses are not setup. Neither are the Eberles, well, sort of. Ideal has a bass player who plays the part of bass luthier, but he is definitely not a true bass luthier. The basses are playable, but nowhere near top notch playable. So either way, you'll be spending a little more money getting your bass setup by a good luthier, but it will be well worth it.

[Phil Smith]

I had considered the bulgarian bass from Bob but the Eberle was local to me i.e. I had an opportunity to play it and a number of others before I bought it. You really need to play them first even if they are not set up professionally.

[greene]

There's also a more then $400 difference between the two basses.
Just thought I'd add that into the conversation.

[Rayzorx]

I've never played the Gollihur bass, so I can't speak to it. My current UB is an 15 year old Eberle hybrid.
I took some time but now thal it's opened up, it has a good sound to it.

I can only imagine how much better the fully carved one would sound.
And as Greene stated, there is a cost difference.

[drurb]

It's true that one just has to play them and judge for him/herself. I've played nice hybrids that, in my opinion, sounded better than some entry-level carved basses. In fact, when I bought my first hybrid, I chose it over two fully-carved basses that were available in the same price bracket.

[ez135]

Hi guys !

Thank you for your comments here and via PM, all were really helpful !

It was a tough decision to make, especially since I couldn't try the basses, lack of time (long story...). After checking everything, I finally went with the Bob Gollihur fully carved bass.

But it was a close call... The Eberle is cheaper and is setup before shipping while the Gollihur has really good reviews here but is not setup and is more expensive. The production I'm currently playing for is paying for the setup so I took that into account. My bandleader really pushed for the Gollihur since he did some business with him in the past.

I want to mention that both Bob and Steve (Ideal music, seller of the Eberle) were great and very helpful. Both had a very tempting product.

I hope I made the right choice. I'll keep you posted !