Complete Newbie Looking to Get a DB

[crawjo]

Sorry if there is a better thread for this.

So, here's the deal. I'm looking to make some changes in my life and one of them is that I want to get a DB and take some lessons and start learning how to play. But, I'm a complete newbie, and I have no teacher, and no real guidance on what to look for in a bass, what to expect. Everything I know about the bass comes from what I've read through years of listening to jazz music, so, not much. But I've thought about this for a long time and I'm ready to do this.

For right now I have about $800 to $1,200 to spend on an instrument to get me going. Any advice on finding a teacher and searching for an instrument would be hugely appreciated.

[drurb]

Welcome! Please fill out your profile. Doing so will help us to help you. Where do you live?

To the dismay of many here, I've had to give up my "newbie numbering system" because I just couldn't keep up. Suffice it to say, you're not the first to ask this question. So, here comes some standard advice:

1) Read the newbie links thoroughly. They contain a wealth of information that's right on point for you. Then come back with questions.

2) Get a teacher.

3) Get a teacher.

4) See 2 and 3.

5) The absolute minimum you should allot is $1200-$1500, assuming you're buying a new instrument. One way or another, you will pay that. Either you'll buy a CCB (Cheap Chinese Bass) or some other BSO (Bass-shaped object) and pour good money into it trying to get it to play decently (and hope it doesn't implode) or you'll do it right the first time.

6) Never buy from a guitar store or on-line mass merchant. Buy from a bona fide bass shop that will supply you with a decent instrument with a good setup. The setup is of paramount importance.

Okay, now please go read the newbie links.

[Eric Hochberg]

DRURB, you are the most patient man I know. You must be ready for copy and paste as many times as you've answered this question!!

[crawjo]

Originally Posted by drurb

Welcome! Please fill out your profile. Doing so will help us to help you. Where do you live?

To the dismay of many here, I've had to give up my "newbie numbering system" because I just couldn't keep up. Suffice it to say, you're not the first to ask this question. So, here comes some standard advice:

1) Read the newbie links thoroughly. They contain a wealth of information that's right on point for you. Then come back with questions.

2) Get a teacher.

3) Get a teacher.

4) See 2 and 3.

5) The absolute minimum you should allot is $1200-$1500, assuming you're buying a new instrument. One way or another, you will pay that. Either you'll buy a CCB (Cheap Chinese Bass) or some other BSO (Bass-shaped object) and pour good money into it trying to get it to play decently (and hope it doesn't implode) or you'll do it right the first time.

6) Never buy from a guitar store or on-line mass merchant. Buy from a bona fide bass shop that will supply you with a decent instrument with a good setup. The setup is of paramount importance.

Okay, now please go read the newbie links.

Thanks for taking the time to respond. With my budget where it is right now I was planning on getting a used instrument (and of course avoiding a CCB, which I've been warned about.)

My main concern at this point is finding a teacher. I live in the Albany, NY area. I searched the links but I'm not sure if I missed any sort of online directory or something along those lines...

[Jeff Michael]

Albany has a symphony orchestra--the bass section's names are listed on wikipedia. And there are several colleges there. Finding a bass teacher should be pretty easy.

One word of advice: you might want to track down a teacher before you buy an instrument. Teachers often have contacts in the community and general feelers out that can help you find the best starter bass for your money. I have a pretty nice bass that I got for a song on the recommendation of the guy I was studying with at the time.

JAM

[rusag2]

Originally Posted by crawjo

Thanks for taking the time to respond. With my budget where it is right now I was planning on getting a used instrument (and of course avoiding a CCB, which I've been warned about.)

My main concern at this point is finding a teacher. I live in the Albany, NY area. I searched the links but I'm not sure if I missed any sort of online directory or something along those lines...

Also, if you have a particular style of music that excites you, an instructor will be able to help you find the most appropriate instrument in your price range. The requirements for Bluegrass are very different that what you would find in a Symphony, in terms of the instrument and setup, as well as technique (probably not much singing going on with symphonic bass players).

You can probalby find some place to rent a decent instrument for a few (or several) months until you're more comfortable with your ability to make good purchase decisions.

$0.02 from me.

[Enzo]

[quote=drurb;8459629]Either you'll buy a CCB (Cheap Chinese Bass) or some other BSO (Bass-shaped object) and pour good money into it trying to get it to play decently (and hope it doesn't implode) or you'll do it right the first time./QUOTE]

Are there NO reputable Chinese DB makers, then? Is the popularity of their student/beginner instruments due to primarily the price? I just think that sometimes ALL Chinese luthiers seem to be tainted with the same brush...yet, they may well be masters at their trade.

[shadygrove]

Originally Posted by Enzo

Are there NO reputable Chinese DB makers, then?

Unless I missed something, nobody said that. If you read the newbie links at the top of the bass forum you'll get the story on the CCB's Drurb is warning the OP to stay away from. These are the basses you see on ebay that typically come with bag and bow for $5-600. There are many reputable Chinese companies building quality entry level basses. Shen and Christopher are two of them.

[drurb]

Originally Posted by shadygrove

Unless I missed something, nobody said that. If you read the newbie links at the top of the bass forum you'll get the story on the CCB's Drurb is warning the OP to stay away from. These are the basses you see on ebay that typically come with bag and bow for $5-600. There are many reputable Chinese companies building quality entry level basses. Shen and Christopher are two of them.

Precisely! Thank you, shady. Enzo, not all Chinese basses are cheap Chinese basses. There's also a difference between "cheap" and "inexpensive" in this case.

[Enzo]

Ok, no problem...

[Enzo]

Jeff,

thank you - that's the point I was trying to make, that is by all means warn about cheap Chinese DB but at the same time suggest that companies like the one you have indicated are not necessarily to be avoided and are good value for money for enty level instruments.
But thank again you for clarifying.

[Steve Killingsworth]

Originally Posted by rusag2

The requirements for Bluegrass are very different that what you would find in a Symphony, in terms of the instrument and setup, as well as technique

I agree regarding instrument and setup but good technique will serve you well regardless of the genre of music played.

[Square Bear]

there are nice chinese instruments out there, as well as a lot lousy ones. there's good european basses as well as some lousy ones... china isn't the only place putting out crap these days. i own a (not cheap) chinese bass by a maker of excellent reputation. there is good stuff out there, but you probably need someone to help you sort through it all. you may want to save up just a bit more and talk to some bassists/teachers in your area for help finding something. maybe find a luthier in your area as well, they should be able to assist you too. good luck!

[Square Bear]

Originally Posted by Steve Killingsworth

I agree regarding instrument and setup but good technique will serve you well regardless of the genre of music played.

i think what rusag2 meant is that studying slap-style techniques will probably not help you get into julliard.

[rusag2]

Originally Posted by Steve Killingsworth

I agree regarding instrument and setup but good technique will serve you well regardless of the genre of music played.

Well, it depends on how you define "techinque." If you use a classical definition, (left elbow up, fingertips on the strings, etc etc) then I agree. But we don't really know what style of music the OP is most excited about. And if s/he is thrilled by psychobilly or the like, then...well, the techniques of that style of play are very different than playing "Failing" or the like. And bluegrass has it's own set of techniques: very little thumb position required, very little arco and LOTS of volume required. Jazz presents a new set of techniques: slides, hammers and the like, lots of thumb position. You get the idea. And if you're going to play, for example, rock-a-billy, amplified, with a lot of slapping, well, then Eugene Levinson might not be the best choice for instruction, and for that style, might not be the best techician either (of course, then again, he might).


Just my $0.01 (inflation)

[Steve Killingsworth]

Originally Posted by rusag2

Well, it depends on how you define "techinque." If you use a classical definition, (left elbow up, fingertips on the strings, etc etc) then I agree.

That's my point. I should have been clearer in the first post.

[Enzo]

Originally Posted by Square Bear

there are nice chinese instruments out there, as well as a lot lousy ones. there's good european basses as well as some lousy ones... china isn't the only place putting out crap these days. i own a (not cheap) chinese bass by a maker of excellent reputation. there is good stuff out there, but you probably need someone to help you sort through it all. you may want to save up just a bit more and talk to some bassists/teachers in your area for help finding something. maybe find a luthier in your area as well, they should be able to assist you too. good luck!

Thanks for this post...Whilst in the past China has had (and still has) a reputation for cheap instruments, I must admit I have never come across the expression "cheap Romanian or Cheap Hungarian" - but that's not to say the expression is appicable in the first place...Incidentally. apart from Sheans, who are the other reputable (lesser known) Chinese DB manufacturers like the one you write of?
Oh, and happy new year to you!

[AMJBASS]

Originally Posted by Jeff Michael

Albany has a symphony orchestra--the bass section's names are listed on wikipedia. And there are several colleges there. Finding a bass teacher should be pretty easy.

One word of advice: you might want to track down a teacher before you buy an instrument. Teachers often have contacts in the community and general feelers out that can help you find the best starter bass for your money. I have a pretty nice bass that I got for a song on the recommendation of the guy I was studying with at the time.

JAM

That is very solid advice! A teacher can really help you find an instrument that suits you. Set up is very important, and you may need to factor that into your price as well.

[Square Bear]

Originally Posted by Enzo

Thanks for this post...Whilst in the past China has had (and still has) a reputation for cheap instruments, I must admit I have never come across the expression "cheap Romanian or Cheap Hungarian" - but that's not to say the expression is appicable in the first place...Incidentally. apart from Sheans, who are the other reputable (lesser known) Chinese DB manufacturers like the one you write of?
Oh, and happy new year to you!

well the thing about poor quality chinese basses is that they are everywhere. they are much easier to find than a quality instrument, especially to someone who doesn't know where to shop for a bass in the first place. they flood the market and really entice the uninformed buyer on account of the price, which tends to be about half of the cost of a reasonable entry-level bass. i think this is the reason they have gotten such a stigma. a friend of mine plays on a romanian bass, i think, that has many of the classic problems of a CCB - the neck has warped and it has had some cracks occur, presumably because the wood used to make the instrument was not aged properly. she spent much more than a CCB would have cost for pretty much the same quality instrument, and i wonder if she would've been more on guard when she bought it had the instrument been chinese instead of eastern european. shen, as you've mentioned, has a good reputation, my wan-bernadel is an example of a well made chinese instrument. a luthier friend of mine from sacramento has some nice chinese basses in his shop. one of my former students bought one in fact, and i can vouch for their quality and value. i believe the entry level instruments at lemur are good quality as well, but i have only played on one or two of them. there's good basses and there are bad ones. the best way to know for sure is to have an instrument checked out by a good bass luthier. my experience is that many luthiers will have entry level chinese basses that are worth looking at, though i can't give you much in the way of names or makers. hope this helps. happy new year to you as well!