Be gentle, it's my first time.

Stanley Design · #1 10-22-2009, 08:32 PM

I thinking of dabbling on the dark side. I read a lot of the FAQ's and did a few searches, but I've still got some questions and reading to do.

I've played EB for years, the past few years I've been getting more into honky tonkin' and rockabilly, but have found that a lot of people really expect you to have a DB to be playing with them. I've always wanted one, but it's a large investment I've never been willing to splurge on because I don't have a lot of money.

I know a lot of people here say that cheap/chinese is BAD. To the point that a lot of them are completely unplayable instruments. I understand the problems of unlively tone, really low output volume, higher string height etc, but considering all those, what else makes them hazardous goods?

Is there a comparable DB that would be along the lines of a Squier or Essex in the EB world? Something incredibly affordable and at a much higher quality for the price? I've yet to scan through the classifieds much, because I doubt you guys have much for sale below a 1000 dollar pricepoint.

I'm hoping to spend ~500 dollars new or used for something that is usable. Is that anywhere reasonable? Cosmetically it could look like trash, as long as it works. Plywood is fine, I expect it. Cracked tops, anything.

Can anybody give me some tips, pointers, help? Anything is appreciated.

jpfbass · #2 10-22-2009, 08:36 PM

Well if your only willing to spend 500 then you might want to get a new electric upright. But I guess for real basses the only high quality stuff for 500$ is probably going to be cracked, heavily chipped, warped, etc, etc.

barbarbass · #3 10-22-2009, 08:46 PM

You're probably going to have spend more like twice that to get into a decent upright. I made the leap myself (15 years on the EB, and now into my second year on the DB). Since I've gotten the DB, I barely even touch the electric anymore. It's like the difference between with a condom and without.

Stanley Design · #4 10-22-2009, 09:01 PM

Since I'm going to be looking at basically salvageable basses, what are some things to watch out for that would make a purchase a definite no-no? Do uprights have truss rods? Do they get warped necks/fingerboards?

dchan · #5 10-22-2009, 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stanley Design

I know a lot of people here say that cheap/chinese is BAD. To the point that a lot of them are completely unplayable instruments. I understand the problems of unlively tone, really low output volume, higher string height etc, but considering all those, what else makes them hazardous goods?

Many are made from green wood, so they haven't been properly dried. That means they're more likely to just fall apart completely from string pressure alone.
They're equipped with bad parts that will probably need to be replaced. Depending on how good you are at replacing them, you may have to spend hundreds in parts and labor to get them replaced.
They're usually poorly designed, which is part of why they tend to be hard to play.

Ultimately, they're just a bad investment because you're going to have to spend nearly as much as a better instrument just to get them in solid playable shape, and it's still probably going to be a worse instrument. Basically, it's "the spend more now, or spend more later" premise.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stanley Design

Is there a comparable DB that would be along the lines of a Squier or Essex in the EB world? Something incredibly affordable and at a much higher quality for the price? I've yet to scan through the classifieds much, because I doubt you guys have much for sale below a 1000 dollar pricepoint.

I'm hoping to spend ~500 dollars new or used for something that is usable. Is that anywhere reasonable? Cosmetically it could look like trash, as long as it works. Plywood is fine, I expect it. Cracked tops, anything.

Can anybody give me some tips, pointers, help? Anything is appreciated.

You're most likely going to have to spend between $1000-$2000 for a beginner instrument in solid, playable shape. Sorry...that's just the way it works for DBs. You may get lucky and find a solid ~$500 bass, but it's not very likely.

New instruments will tend to cost more, just because. If you go that route, you can choose from companies Shen, Christopher, Upton, that String Emporium plywood, a bunch of Eastern European instrument-makers (you can check out bassesonline.com).

Alternately, you can buy used. The for-sale forum has great deals that pop up every now and then - you can even buy hybrids or fully-carved basses for the same price as a new plywood. Of course, most of these basses are way too far to try out.

And that's the final point - you should probably try out the bass before you buy it. Since you're in Prince Edward Island, it shouldn't be too far to make it to the Northeast, where there's an abundance of bass shops and luthiers. At these shops, you can try out tons of basses and ask questions from people far more knowledgeable than me when it comes to basses.

Stanley Design · #6 10-23-2009, 01:27 AM

Hoping to score an EM1 I guess, sounds like it's the bottom rung of the ladder but firmly in place and can hold its own. Everyone talks about having to get their post reworked and new strings right off the bat, what's the problem with strings and is the soundpost a personal preference that you do to taste or something?

sevenyearsdown · #7 10-23-2009, 07:11 AM

One of the first things you should do if you are considering the jump is to find some reputable local luthiers and teachers. You will need both.

swingingoodtime · #8 10-23-2009, 07:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sevenyearsdown

One of the first things you should do if you are considering the jump is to find some reputable local luthiers and teachers. You will need both.

+1
Then take your teacher to look at any bass you're interested in for their opinion.
Re spending more; it's sad but true. I started out hoping to only spend about $1500 AUD but ended up paying just under $2K5. Having said that, I don't regret it one bit; I love my bass - how it looks, how it sounds, feels & plays. Everything that I looked at in my original price bracket now feels really, really cheap & nasty and a complete waste of money. There's nothing worse than having $1500 of firewood sitting in your lounge room while you're staring longingly (and regretfully) at a picture of a good quality bass for comparatively not much more. You should feel joy, not regret, every time you pick up your instrument (unless it's a trumpet; then the contempt is mutual)

Bass · #9 10-23-2009, 08:01 AM

Hi Stan. You seem reasonably well spoken, and I notice that you've received a warm welcome and polite responses. Normally newbies who spell poorly, use bad grammer and eliminate punctuation get torn apart.

Marc Piane · #10 10-23-2009, 08:54 AM

I'd keep you eye out in the classifieds for a used ply bass. Sometimes schools or rental programs are getting rid of basses. They are rarely very good and are often pretty beat up but are functional and cheap. Most ply basses depreciate in value as they age unless they have a sticker on them that says Kay or American Standard. Often you can find a perfectly good Lewis or Englehardt or whatever for less than $1000.

refuge4 · #11 10-23-2009, 08:58 AM

thread title = that's what she said

Marc Piane · #12 10-23-2009, 09:24 AM

Oh. I get it now. Thanks for clarifying the joke.

Phil Rowan · #13 10-23-2009, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dchan

And that's the final point - you should probably try out the bass before you buy it. Since you're in Prince Edward Island, it shouldn't be too far to make it to the Northeast, where there's an abundance of bass shops and luthiers. At these shops, you can try out tons of basses and ask questions from people far more knowledgeable than me when it comes to basses.

+1

Going to a reputable luthier and asking questions/learning first hand about the double bass is key.

JoeyNaeger · #14 10-23-2009, 10:30 AM

Renting is always an option as well. It's nice to own your own gear, but renting is probably more feasible, and many shops will attribute your rent fees to buying a bass from the shop when your ready.

mje · #15 10-23-2009, 12:57 PM

There are a lot of good used deals to be found. Check ads. Post ads on local boards and sites, like Craigslist, saying you're looking for a used double bass at an affordable price. That's how I found my first bass- a German hybrid- for $500. And I wish I'd kept it!

dmusic148 · #16 10-23-2009, 01:05 PM

There's no 'dabbling' in DB. I no longer own one, but I did play for several years, and I can tell you it's a real commitment. I'd like to take it up again someday.
And if you're talking rockabilly, you're talking slap bass, and that's a whole other world by itself. It's extremely physically demanding.

ClassicalBassNY · #17 10-23-2009, 01:26 PM

I'm a classical player, and I know a lot of different grades of instruments.

Do not buy from the want ads and do not settle for cracks that have no been fixed already.

Your best bet is to find a small time luither who has a decent bass or two that he has practiced his abilities on. There is quite a bit to consider with a bass, such as the inside.. bass bar, ect ect...A luither isent going to rip you off, they take pride in what they do its part of the profession....WHERE AS AN INSTRUMENT SHOP,(not a bass dealer, i mean like a guitar store) EVEN IF THEY DO REPAIRS, IS JUST LOOKING TO TAKE YOUR MONEY. So im talking a guy that works out of his home, just fixing instruments...these types of guys usually have some laminates to turn over.

Also if you tell me your area I could possibly recommend someone like this.

Your better bet though is to check out like woodwind brasswind.com or a website like that which is designed for selling school level instruments. You should be able to find a bass with a case for 500 easily...Ebay has these offers too, but a school music where house certainly does.
YOU JUST WANT SOMETHING THATS NOT GOING TO BREAK DOWN IN A YEAR. A new instrument will be good, for that purpose.

Seriously I didnt read one good piece of advice above this.

Paul Warburton · #18 10-23-2009, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ClassicalBassNY

I'm a classical player, and I know a lot of different grades of instruments.

Your best bet is to find a small time luither who has a decent bass or two that he has practiced his abilities on. ...A luither isent going to rip you off, they take pride in what they do its part of the profession....
Seriously I didnt read one good piece of advice above this.

I have two pieces of advice for you sonny.
Don't call members of the TBDB community jokers. (Especially with 2 posts under your belt).
Luither is spelled luthier.

Uncletoad · #19 10-23-2009, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ClassicalBassNY

Seriously I didnt read one good piece of advice above this.

Then I suggest you get the **** out.

powellmacaque · #20 10-23-2009, 02:12 PM

As a proud owner of an Engelhardt EM1, I can only recommend it. You might need to change strings and get it properly setup, but after that it's playable for years to come.

I've found that plywood is better for honkytonk and the like than fully carved: you think some of those guys in appalachia were using fully carved $20K instruments?