of the following three basses

[Ed Fuqua]

Originally Posted by Carl Johnson

There is no real reason to get a ply if you have the choice allowing for a solid wood or hybrid. The difference in sound is NOT subtle. Plywood dampens overtones that you would otherwise get from solid wood. Ply’s have a dry sound, while wood is noticeably richer. There’s a reason ply’s are priced the way they are and solid wood goes up from there.

If you can get a decent hybrid for the same money, get it.

In defense of ply’s I have heard that they amplify loud with less problems then solid wood. That’s why the rockabilly guys like them….

If only it were that easy. I had an old Kay that had a big warm sound, another cat in town had a newish German factory carved top that sounded thin and didn't project. I've heard plenty of carved basses here that I would much prefer to have a New Standard over.

Even with carved basses in the same price point there's a range of sound. I still contend that it's a better methodology to play'em and listen to what they sound like than to have someone describe what they are made of to you over the interweb.

[Ed Fuqua]

Originally Posted by CelinderMotoMan

What about those of us who don't live in NY? I can't afford to buy all three just to try them out.

I didn't always live in NY, the first bass I bought was when I was in Georgia. I also went bass shopping in Atlanta when a buddy of mine was looking for an upright, we couldn't find anything in Ronald Sachs shop (at the time) that he liked the sound of better than the Kay I was playing.

But NYC isn't the only city in the US that has a bass shop with a lot of choices. Even in East Bum**** you can be a 4 to 6 hour drive at most to a multiplicity of choice that you can actually touch and hear.

BUT, if you can make it to the city then you have not just a shop with a lot of basses, you have a lot of shops. It's not unheard of, coming to NYC to look for a bass.

[drurb]

Originally Posted by Ed Fuqua

If only it were that easy. I had an old Kay that had a big warm sound, another cat in town had a newish German factory carved top that sounded thin and didn't project. I've heard plenty of carved basses here that I would much prefer to have a New Standard over.

Even with carved basses in the same price point there's a range of sound. I still contend that it's a better methodology to play'em and listen to what they sound like than to have someone describe what they are made of to you over the interweb.

...from one of my previous posts:

Do not, however, be fooled. There are entry level carved basses that, from many standpoints, are far less desirable than a quality ply! Think of ply, hybrid, and carved as three overlapping distributions (bell-curves, if you will), with the mean value of "quality" being lowest for the plys, intermediate for the hybrids, and highest for the carved ones.

[CelinderMotoMan]

Jerry fretwell called me and was very helpful and answered all of my questions. I will be buying a bass from him (still haven't heard from the other guy, even after a phone call)