Decent double Bass for jazz???

[appledyl]

Hi. I'm a jazz musician looking for a decent european double bass. How much does a decent jazz-specific bass cost? where would i get one? what companies have the best quality and best prices?? Any feedback is appreciated. thanks.

[masterforrest]

I heard that Calin Wultur is a decent line.

[drurb]

Originally Posted by appledyl

Hi. I'm a jazz musician looking for a decent european double bass. How much does a decent jazz-specific bass cost? where would i get one? what companies have the best quality and best prices?? Any feedback is appreciated. thanks.

Where do you live? Why European? Would you not consider high-quality US-made or Chinese? What is your budget? How long have you been playing? Have you looked at the newbie links?

Any way you cut it, the recommendation will be to play as many basses as you can and buy only from a reputable bass shop. As far as "jazz-specific" goes, that's in the setup.

Please tell us more about you so that we can help.

[Treyzer]

Originally Posted by appledyl

Hi. I'm a jazz musician looking for a decent european double bass. How much does a decent jazz-specific bass cost? where would i get one? what companies have the best quality and best prices?? Any feedback is appreciated. thanks.

I think you should try the "jazz-o-matic" basses or the "just for jazz" basses or the double basses that have that special ebony fingerboard thingy that only plays "jazz" notes......... THIS IS A JOKE, as is your post right?

[Greg Clinkingbeard]

Originally Posted by Treyzer

I think you should try the "jazz-o-matic" basses or the "just for jazz" basses or the double basses that have that special ebony fingerboard thingy that only plays "jazz" notes......... THIS IS A JOKE, as is your post right?

You may want the jazz-o-matic 200 series hybrid. The fully carved 300 series is specifically designed for arco use.

[wdnewman]

Originally Posted by appledyl

Hi. I'm a jazz musician looking for a decent european double bass. How much does a decent jazz-specific bass cost? where would i get one? what companies have the best quality and best prices?? Any feedback is appreciated. thanks.

Smoky Joe? Is that you??

[fdeck]

A reasonable interpretation is that the OP is looking for a bass, with a specific interest in playing jazz. I have played a large number of basses in the last couple months, in search of a new bass for myself. My opinion is that if cost is a major issue, a high quality plywood bass would certainly work for jazz, but if bowing is important, than the OP should at least try some plywood and hybrid basses side by side.

Also, welcome to TalkBass!

[Dave Irwin]

He probably is equating Chinese with ebayesque junk.
Appledyl, it's more about starting with the decent bass with a good setup for jazz with strings, probably bridge adjusters, and the right pickup.

A good Chinese ply runs 13-1500ish new. Since we don't know where you are, there's no way to recommend a shop.

[fdeck]

Actually, I simply assumed that the OP was posting from Europe.

[Marcus Johnson]

What?! They have the internet in Europe?

[KevShaw]

I'd give the chap below a try. He works on his own and is a Jazz specialist (he was a pro double bassist):

Peter Barnaby

Stringed Instrument Maker/Repairer Specialising the Double Bass
CF4 The Terrace Lincoln LN2 1BD
Business Number 01522 840036 Mobile 07717 028 925 Home 01507 601374
peterbarnaby@basses.fsnet.co.uk

Incidentally, I'm not on any kind of commission!!!

[Chris Fitzgerald]

Originally Posted by fdeck

A reasonable interpretation is that the OP is looking for a bass, with a specific interest in playing jazz. I have played a large number of basses in the last couple months, in search of a new bass for myself. My opinion is that if cost is a major issue, a high quality plywood bass would certainly work for jazz, but if bowing is important, than the OP should at least try some plywood and hybrid basses side by side.

Also, welcome to TalkBass!

Agreed, with all of it. I took the intent of the OP to be that he was looking for a DB to be used for primarily jazz, and that he was probably either European or had been turned off of Chinese basses by many of the negative reviews that had been posted.

Slightly off topic, there was a recent thread here entitled "A Delicate Balance". In it, the narrator of the video it linked to was talking about how too much control creates lack of freedom and spontaneity, and how too little structure creates anarchy. Here at TB, this balance is always in flux. We want the community to be loose and fun loving, and therefore we joke, which is as it should be. We also want the site to be informative and friendly. We should remember that inside jokes might be misinterpreted by those who are not yet "insiders". It's hard to read the intention in words on the net. Knowing everyone here, for instance, I know that the humor was real and well intentioned, and that the guys making the jokes are great guys. We should stop to consider whether everyone present understands that, especially if the OP is a new guy. So, Appledyl, as Francis points out, Welcome to TB! The guys are just horsing around.

[Bass]

Originally Posted by fdeck

A reasonable interpretation is that the OP is looking for a bass, with a specific interest in playing jazz...

Jazz, rock & folk!

AppleDyl, does the nearest music store have double basses? If you don't have any stores near you, just order a bass from the internet! Any of the reputable dealers would be able to help you find a decent bass at a fair price, no doubt.

PS - this thread is pretty funny so far, keep up the good work!

[Norre]

What?! They have the internet in Europe?

lol ... yes, and we put mayonaise on our french fries

[Marcus Johnson]

Me too!

[SplitNick]

Originally Posted by Norre

lol ... yes, and we put mayonaise on our french fries

To quote Samuel Jackson, "yuck".

[Greg Clinkingbeard]

Appledyl,
Welcome to the assylum. Put a bunch of bass players in one room and you will have a bunch of strange behavior. I wish you well here.
In my opinion, excepting the cheapest Ebay Chinese basses (which you thankfully aren't considering) brand names in the DB world are of limited value. A good bass for you is the one that feels good and sounds good when you play it.
That said, there are lots of Germanic shop basses in circulation that can make nice basses, suitable for jazz. I own an old plywood and carved flatback of such origin, yet neither has any label.
Cost? You should be able to find a nice workhorse bass for a few thousand USD.

[Treyzer]

Originally Posted by clink

Appledyl,
Welcome to the assylum. Put a bunch of bass players in one room and you will have a bunch of strange behavior. I wish you well here.

Plus 1 to the sentiment above.
Aloha Appledyl,

My post was purely jest. It just seemed a bit funny to me.

Double Basses, the strings, the set up and the search for a particular sound are so very subjective. Much of the sound will ultimately come from your hands. My particular feeling is that basses that sound great in a large orchestra do not always sound that great in a jazz setting. You might be looking for a bass with a very focused tone that cuts through the mix, sings in the upper register and amplifies well. That is the kind of double bass that works for me. That kind of bass can be old or new, typically not cheap but it doesn't have to be the down payment on a house either. It just has to be made reasonably well and sound great (to my ears)!

Best, and again, welcome

T

[Paul Warburton]

Originally Posted by Chris Fitzgerald

Slightly off topic, there was a recent thread here entitled "A Delicate Balance". In it, the narrator of the video it linked to was talking about how too much control creates lack of freedom and spontaneity, and how too little structure creates anarchy. Here at TB, this balance is always in flux. We want the community to be loose and fun loving, and therefore we joke, which is as it should be. We also want the site to be informative and friendly. We should remember that inside jokes might be misinterpreted by those who are not yet "insiders". It's hard to read the intention in words on the net. Knowing everyone here, for instance, I know that the humor was real and well intentioned, and that the guys making the jokes are great guys. We should stop to consider whether everyone present understands that, especially if the OP is a new guy. So, Appledyl, as Francis points out, Welcome to TB! The guys are just horsing around.

Above, I've emboldened something in Mr. Fitzgerald's post that I should have gotten credit for...yes, I should have, dammit. Not only should I have gotten the credit for posting that, I shouldn't be the one to have to to post this here Link.....
A Delicate Balance.
So's that ya'll can learn how to conduct yerselves on a serious International Talk Site such as this here one.

(It is good stuff, really. Check it out and welcome to TBDB).

[Treyzer]

Originally Posted by Paul Warburton

Above, I've emboldened something in Mr. Fitzgerald's post that I should have gotten credit for...yes, I should have, dammit. Not only should I have gotten the credit for posting that, I shouldn't be the one to have to to post this here Link.....
A Delicate Balance.
So's that ya'll can learn how to conduct yerselves on a serious International Talk Site such as this here one.

(It is good stuff, really. Check it out and welcome to TBDB).

Just remember....There is no I in team Paulie. Of course there is no We in team either.