Experienced Bassist, Beginner Double Bassist

[CLVart]

Hello viewers of text based communication!

I'm going to be playing Double Bass for the Next five years, and I still have yet to aquire a Double bass. I'm looking for a 3/4 size bass under 900 dollars with taxes and all. The problem with this is because I have a limited budget, I only have a small range of student and beginner basses, and I'm unsure about the brand names, strings, bows etc. I need some information and tips on what I should be looking for when I decide to go and look around for a bass, and how I should carry about maintaining the bass.

Thanks to all!

[drurb]

Originally Posted by CLVart

Hello viewers of text based communication!

I'm going to be playing Double Bass for the Next five years, and I still have yet to aquire a Double bass. I'm looking for a 3/4 size bass under 900 dollars with taxes and all. The problem with this is because I have a limited budget, I only have a small range of student and beginner basses, and I'm unsure about the brand names, strings, bows etc. I need some information and tips on what I should be looking for when I decide to go and look around for a bass, and how I should carry about maintaining the bass.

Thanks to all!

You would be well served by reading the newbie links in detail. There's a wealth of information there. If you're looking for a new instrument, $900 will not get you a quality instrument properly set up. It will get you junk that will likely frustrate your efforts. $1200 before taxes would be rock bottom. If $900 is the absolute maximum, you should be looking for a good used ply bass.

Now, what do you mean you'll be playing for the next five years? As an experienced BG player, I hope you don't plan on simply picking up a DB and being able to play competently from the start. BG and DB are related, but different, instruments. You'd also do well to find a teacher who could set you on the right path in terms of technique, proper habits, and the avoidance of injury. What happens after five years? If you really get into it, you won't be stopping. Most of us here have had the bug a long time. So far as I can tell, it never leaves.

[CLVart]

Originally Posted by drurb

You would be well served by reading the newbie links in detail. There's a wealth of information there. If you're looking for a new instrument, $900 will not get you a quality instrument properly set up. It will get you junk that will likely frustrate your efforts. $1200 before taxes would be rock bottom. If $900 is the absolute maximum, you should be looking for a good used ply bass.

Now, what do you mean you'll be playing for the next five years? As an experienced BG player, I hope you don't plan on simply picking up a DB and being able to play competently from the start. BG and DB are related, but different, instruments. You'd also do well to find a teacher who could set you on the right path in terms of technique, proper habits, and the avoidance of injury. What happens after five years? If you really get into it, you won't be stopping. Most of us here have had the bug a long time. So far as I can tell, it never leaves.

I do realize the difference between the two basses, my father used to play both electric and acoustic double basses. He told me he picked up a used one for about 1000 dollars, which is really what I'm aiming for. I'm going to be involved with my highschool strings classes and possibly the orchestra because I'm the only competant bassist who actually understands the instrument I play at this school.... Anyways, so what sites could I be looking at, and I may also consider getting a used electric double bass, just for practice and the portabilty. I was thinking something like the Yamaha Silent Bass, but finding a used one of those is going to be mighty difficult... Possibly something similar?

[Ed Fuqua]

Yer dad also used to pay about a dollar for a gallon of gas.....

[SteveC]

Originally Posted by CLVart

I do realize the difference between the two basses, my father used to play both electric and acoustic double basses. He told me he picked up a used one for about 1000 dollars, which is really what I'm aiming for. I'm going to be involved with my highschool strings classes and possibly the orchestra because I'm the only competant bassist who actually understands the instrument I play at this school.... Anyways, so what sites could I be looking at, and I may also consider getting a used electric double bass, just for practice and the portabilty. I was thinking something like the Yamaha Silent Bass, but finding a used one of those is going to be mighty difficult... Possibly something similar?

An EUB won't work in orchestra.

Originally Posted by Ed Fuqua

Yer dad also used to pay about a dollar for a gallon of gas.....

[Eric Hochberg]

Originally Posted by Ed Fuqua

Yer dad also used to pay about a dollar for a gallon of gas.....

I remember 27¢. OK, I'll say this again, you may be able to find a used Shen, Christopher, Eastman, Strunal, Eberle, etc. for $1000, and with luck, they'll be set up. They are all decent plywood basses. The Yamaha Silent Bass is out of your price range, AFAIK.

[Ed Fuqua]

I started dating the woman I have been living with for 30 years in 1977, she used to come up with money to put gas in her 72 Beetle by rummaging around in the back for soda bottles to redeem....

[Sam Sherry]

Now she has to rummage around in other peoples' cars to fill up her '72 Beetle . . . .

[Phil Rowan]

Originally Posted by Eric Hochberg

I remember 27¢. OK, I'll say this again, you may be able to find a used Shen, Christopher, Eastman, Strunal, Eberle, etc. for $1000, and with luck, they'll be set up. They are all decent plywood basses. The Yamaha Silent Bass is out of your price range, AFAIK.

and i remember $1.10

[Jack Clark]

Originally Posted by Eric Hochberg

I remember 27¢.

And "gas wars" among stations on the same corner, with the price going down to 19.9¢.

Gees, we all went OT again. Sorry.

[drurb]

As for gas, I sure do remember $0.19. Now as for the double bass, CLVart, you're receiving a consistent message. So far, the regulars here agree with my response in post #2. No, an electric upright will not do. If you have only $900:

1) Buy a good used ply bass.
OR
2) Save up more $$$ and buy a new ply bass (~$1200 minimum).

Don't by a cheapo bass. It'll cost you more in the end, may turn you off to playing altogether, will fight you all the way, and may even implode.

That's the advice from players who have been around the block a few times. Take it or leave it.

As for sites to look at, seek out REAL BASS SHOPS that sell the basses Eric listed.

I guess "experienced" is a relative term. I now understand you're in high school. Think more about that teacher. Competent EB players usually have never held a bow!

[crowsmengegus]

Originally Posted by drurb

Now, what do you mean you'll be playing for the next five years?

He means The Next Five Years, the musical, I think. I played in it once (on DB), it's pretty fun. I don't know what orchestration it usually calls for, but we did it with a small ensemble, violin, DB, cello, percussion, clarinet, .... maybe that's it...forgot piano of course.

CLVart, FYI you could do the show with BG or EUB, although it's nice to throw in some arco in various places. I guess it depends what your musical director wants. In fact, EUB might not be a bad option for this kind of application, unless you are interested in going deeper in the DB world (such as orchestra!).

EDIT: sorry the musical is called The Last Five Years . Geez, I don't know if I know what we're talking about. OP, is this what you are referring to?

[Jack Clark]

Originally Posted by crowsmengegus

He means The Next Five Years, the musical, I think.

You mean, he intends to "learn" DB so as to play in one musical?

[crowsmengegus]

Originally Posted by Jack Clark

You mean, he intends to "learn" DB so as to play in one musical?

I don't know, ask him. CLVart? Did I read your post correctly?

I don't think it's unreasonable for a high school student to pick up DB just for a musical...how else does one get started on these things?

[drurb]

Originally Posted by crowsmengegus

He means The Next Five Years, the musical, I think.

Originally Posted by crowsmengegus

I don't think it's unreasonable for a high school student to pick up DB just for a musical...how else does one get started on these things?

I didn't realize he was referring to a musical. Isn't it called "The Last Five Years?" I think it's quite unreasonable if that's all one planned to play on the DB-- that is, one musical. Seems that's not his plan anyway, because he said:

Originally Posted by CLVart

I'm going to be involved with my highschool strings classes and possibly the orchestra because I'm the only competant bassist who actually understands the instrument I play at this school

So, he either is doing a musical and will be involved in a strings class or he'll be involved in a string class and playing for only "the next five years." In any case, the advice remains the same.

[crowsmengegus]

Okay, I realized that I messed up the name of the musical... it's called The Last Five Years. Still might be what CLVart is referring to.

The context (high school player, capitalized Next, UB in the musical) made the wrong title sound right. Sorry....

[rusag2]

Don't overlook the idea of renting. There are sometimes rental shops that have fair quality at a fair price. I know you can see a lot of ads on ebay and craigslist for "brand new basses" for $600 including case and bow. These are more properly considered "bass-shaped furniture" rather than basses. Don't be lured in.
If you're really really in the $1,000 range, your best bet is to search HARD for a used plywood base. The advantage here is that in 5 years, if you take care of it, it will likely sell for what you paid for it, so your cost of ownership will turn out to be near zero. This is not true of many of the "bargain" basses you see online. These may cost you $700 (or less) but in 5 years, they will be pretty much, worth their weight in firewood. So, don't think of it as "spending" $1,000. Think of it as "converting $1,000 in cash to $1,000 in instrument, which can be converted back again to cash at a later date." See above for brand names. Also, maybe don't overlook Englehardt. They're not high-end, but they're typically robust and tend to have a lot of brand-reconition and easily availble parts and supplies and whatnot. And when it's time to resell....well, they have a lot of brand recognition.

[drurb]

Originally Posted by crowsmengegus

Okay, I realized that I messed up the name of the musical... it's called The Last Five Years. Still might be what CLVart is referring to.

The context (high school player, capitalized Next, UB in the musical) made the wrong title sound right. Sorry....

You may still be right! We'll have to see what he says.

[SteveC]

Oh, a musical. Well then you could use an EUB. I still don't think it would work for Beethoven or Brahms.

[Paul Warburton]

You guys have done it again.
Scared away another possibly wonderful player with yer silly antics. Why, I never.......