Good Place to Buy a Used Upright Bass?

[Bluelephant4]

I'm looking to get a used upright bass. I'm not running on a huge budget, but I have a fair amount of money (1000). Any suggestions are helpful, thanks!

[KUNGfuSHERIFF]

Right here on this forum. Where do you live, and what kind of music do you want to play?

[Bluelephant4]

I play jazz music in Eugene, Oregon. I've searched this forum but I can't find anything that fits my needs..

[dhsierra1]

where are you located? SF Bay Area I recommend Steve Swan in Burlingame.

Edit: just saw you're in Eugene OR, my recommendation is a bit of a drive for you, but I'd suggest a good dealer up in Portland or Seattle areas, best to try before you buy, double bass is a more complex purchase than a bass guitar......

[Bluelephant4]

Originally Posted by dhsierra1

where are you located? SF Bay Area I recommend Steve Swan in Burlingame.

Edit: just saw you're in Eugene OR, my recommendation is a bit of a drive for you, but I'd suggest a good dealer up in Portland or Seattle areas, best to try before you buy, double bass is a more complex purchase than a bass guitar......

Thanks! I might be going down to San Francisco soon, so I'll take a look. I only know enough about double basses to play one! So it's going to be a good deal of time before I finally do buy one.

[KUNGfuSHERIFF]

Have you considered renting until you know what you want and have a bigger budget?

[Jsn]

Originally Posted by Bluelephant4

Thanks! I might be going down to San Francisco soon, so I'll take a look. I only know enough about double basses to play one! So it's going to be a good deal of time before I finally do buy one.

I suggest taking that extra time to accrue a little more discretionary funding, because barring strokes of luck 1K is below the general "real" instrument threshold. And once you experience a true instrument, you'll settle for nothing less.

[dhsierra1]

Originally Posted by Bluelephant4

Thanks! I might be going down to San Francisco soon, so I'll take a look. I only know enough about double basses to play one! So it's going to be a good deal of time before I finally do buy one.

Good idea, check the wiki here on how to purchase a double bass.

Then give Steve (he's a regular here on TB) a call/email, very reputable dealer and he'll likely have used Shen's and such around your price point in his inventory.

That said, if you pay a bit more, say 1500 you'd get a new entry level plywood (again, probably Shen) that'll likely work well for you.

Good luck

[dhsierra1]

Originally Posted by Jsn

I suggest taking that extra time to accrue a little more discretionary funding, because barring strokes of luck 1K is below the general "real" instrument threshold. And once you experience a true instrument, you'll settle for nothing less.

+1, it's worth paying a little more. Ask me how I know.....

[Thumpie]

Originally Posted by Jsn

I suggest taking that extra time to accrue a little more discretionary funding, because barring strokes of luck 1K is below the general "real" instrument threshold. And once you experience a true instrument, you'll settle for nothing less.

Yep. $1500 is generally considered the minimum for decent starter.

You gotta pay to play.

Forget about trying to find a steal unless you've got an experienced player to vet any instruments you find.

This is *not* a bass guitar, and non-players cannot judge an instrument's playability.

[Steve Swan]

Just the other day somebody was telling me about a bass luthier in Eugene. He couldn't remember the fellow's name, but it wasn't builder Seth Kimmel. You might give Seth a call to try to track this luthier down. He may be a good local resource. Ace vintage guitar mechanic Dennis Berck also plays bass and may possibly be a resource for you. Otherwise, it's easy enough to drive up to Portland and make a bass hunting day out of it with the 2-3 shops up there. Jeremy Allen in Bend often has a line on some instruments.

It is just about exactly 8 hours drive down to Burlingame with a short pee and gas stop in the middle. That would be much more of a time investment, but I'd be happy to give you the tour of the "bass forest" here. You may do surprisingly well bass hunting in Oregon.

Best O' Luck!

[Ike Harris]

If you're patient enough, check around the school systems for inventory that's not being used. Many of them have auctions certain times of the year. You could save a ton and get a fixer upper for next to nothing if you know what you're looking for and have a little luck.

Ike