Has anyone used a Scherl&Roth 606E bass?

[RichardL]

HI, I'm a new member and am also new to the upright bass. I play a little guitar and mandolin. I had a 1957 Kay, but traded it in on a cello for my adult daughter, who played cello in HS and college, and I am now bass-less. (She sold the cello to buy ski boots. GRRRR!)

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I'm looking for a bass locally (Fargo, ND) and there is little to offer in the stores. I've been offered a S&R R606E3 upright bass. Made in 1998, so I think it originated in South Korea. I am guessing that the "E" in the model number means Education model.

Here is the spec sheet that was sent to the school for this instrument, which is in their "top" quality line:

Artist Basses

• Select spruce and maple

• Fully carved and graduated

• Inlaid purfling

• Brass Tyrolean-style machine heads

• High quality ebony fingerboard and tailpiece

• Steel strings

• Affixed label inside instrument indicating country of origin

• Glasser fiberglass bow with choice of synthetic or horsehair

• Well-padded, professional-style nylon bag with shoulder strap and multiple handles

• Set up to MENC specifications

Approved Models: Scherl & Roth R606E

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1. Does anyone have any experience with this bass?
2. Is $1800 a decent price? (New price > $6000, Average wear trade-in listed at $1600 to $2000 at an online site.) I did see a post here where a lucky guy got one for $900--is that more the true value?
3. And finally, are Korean-origin basses even worth a look?
4. And one more--should I even consider a fully carved bass for bluegrass or should I try for an all plywood or a hybrid? I think I will rarely play outside. I am in North Dakota you know.

Thanks in advance for any help I can get.

Richard

[Jake deVilliers]

I would definitely go and have a look. The Korean made DBs around here are labeled Speyer and they are pretty acceptable student quality basses. I have a client who is a pro player who has two!

At least the woods seem to be thoroughly seasoned and well chosen. I don't think they'll ever have the voice of a Wilfer or other German shop basses but with a good setup they are decent sounding instruments.

[LouisF]

My hunch is that it's one of these:

Nahrmann Bass Shop Inventory

S&R student level basses come from"all parts of the world" as they diplomatically put it.
Welcome to Glaesel / Scherl & Roth

Dscussion on Korean basses - including my experiences with Linear - who made the earlier version of these basses (they've since gone out of business) are below, too.

It COULD be a good - even very good bass - or it could have issues. If it's been in one piece there since 1998 you're probably okay.

louis

Double bass "Linear"

Anyone using a Laabs bass? and some general questions

[RichardL]

I'm going to go with a ply URB instead, so that I do not have to worry about weather and temp changes as much.

Thanks for the advice,
Richard

[LouisF]

Sounds like a safer bet. There are lots of good sounding plys out there these days from the low-end Shens and Christopher Busettos, to the Uptons and New Standards.
Good luck,

Louis

[RichardL]

Just to provide information for future searches, this is a quote from the Scherl & Roth catalog dated July 1999:

R606EH Symphony Bass Outfit
Fully carved by German craftsmen using select tonewoods. Solid spruce top with flamed maple back and ribs. Select ebony used for trim, while Tyrolean- style machine heads are solid brass. Steel strings.

R606EH Outfit includes S502H Glasser horsehair bow, SR6453 Artist bass bag.
R606E — Same as R606EH, but with S502 Glasser synthetic hair bow.
R66E — Same as R606EH, instrument only.

This was 12+ years ago, so the Korean model with the 606 model number seen here, Nahrmann Bass Shop Inventory,
may be a later "CKB" version.