Help getting a bass

[Fred-d]

So I need help picking out a double bass i'm not new to bass just new to double bass. I want something worth the money (3-5 g's) I really don't want a student bass I plan on keeping it for as long as I may live. Just starting college and I need a bass for class. Only 2 local stores carry DBs so my options are limited I'm curious about King Double Bass Tiger King I like the modern features i really want to know about the tone i really really really love traditional jazz tone aswell as rockabilly slap. Also I need help in choosing a size I'm a tall guy 6'1"ish i was told 3/4 i like 1/2 mostly cause of the weight i also like the massive 3/4 is there a difference in tone due to size? any answers are of great assistance. thank you fellas -fred

[Kevin Hsieh]

Hey man where do you live? It'd help us to fill out your profile. I'm in my first year of college and got my first bass in May. PM me and i'll help you out.

Peace

[Peck_Time]

Hi Fred , check put the newbie links at the top of the page- they should answer most of your questions, but here's a quick rundown...

1) Don't buy a 1/2 size bass.

2) The King basses are built for standing on - not for tone. If you are going to play arco (with a bow) or anything other than loud amplified music - buy something else.

3) You should try and play and hear the actual bass you are going to buy.

4) Get your teacher or a good DB player to come along and check out the basses with you.

5) Budget for a decent bow as well...

[Andrew McGregor]

3/4 size is the standard bass that almost everyone plays. There IS a difference in tone, although a really really good 1/2 size may be better than an average 3/4. There is no need to go larger.

3/4 size basses vary dramatically in weight; if you don't like heavy, you don't have to go there, because there is no relation between weight and tone quality, although heavy basses tend to be darker sounding and light ones bright. A light 3/4 might well be lighter than a particularly heavy 1/2 size. My 3/4 bass only weighs 8kg. They range up to nearly 20kg.

At least a big guy like you is going to have no trouble with scale length.

[Steve Killingsworth]

A 3-5K budget? Look at this.

[drurb]

...or this, or this, or this...

[christ andronis]

or this

[JPW542]

Where you live is the key here. You should find a double bass luthier somewhere within a reasonable drive. A good one is going to help get you what you need. If you are in the northeast of the US, I'd highly recommend Michael Shank in Elizabethtown, PA: http://shankstrings.com/
You might try Arnold Schnitzer at AES fine instruments in the NY area.
http://aesbass.com/
and of course David Gage:
http://www.davidgage.com/

If you're not in this area, just ask your teacher. If you do not study with someone right now. Locate a local DB player or DB prof. at your nearest institute of higher education and ask them where to go.

You definitely don't want to buy anything from a generic music store.

I also agree that you must go 3/4!

You should be able to get a reasonable quality wood bass (spruce top/maple back and sides, possibly a czech flatback) or a high quality plywood bass in your price range. I'd highly recommend an adjustable bridge. Be sure to ask about problems the bass has had in the past and how/where the repairs were done.

Good Luck!

[Ike Harris]

I echo several comments of those above. Get a 3/4, they're pretty much standard and easy enough to play. Don't worry about get a "life" bass at this point, although if you luck into finding a great inexpensive bass, you may want to keep it as a back up/war zone axe to your ultimate vintage Italian/English/custom order tone machine, whatever that may be. I think Arnold makes the best new ply in the form of the larger 3/4 Cleveland in the 3-4k range, with the great hybrid around 6. There are plenty of older Kays and the like for 2-3k if that's something that floats your boat. I lucked up and found a 3/4 '70's Roth hybrid for a student for 1800 on craigslist here that sounded about as good as any similar carved I've heard and played. So, the bit about getting an experienced teacher or player friend will be an invaluable help to your search. Good luck!

Ike

[MingusAmongUs]

Ditto all the above. As a Cleveland owner I'm partial to that one but there's also a couple of nice looking Kays in the classifieds on this board.

[drurb]

Well, if you're in the northeast, I'd consider not only Cleveland's but also the made-in-USA basses from Upton. I wouldn't consider the Kays at all next to either of those.

[Fred-d]

I'm from south texas very very south texas Weslaco, attending school in Edinburg other than the local stores i guess Austin would be my best bet. 4 hour drive. Thanks for the help guys really really appreciate it oh so very much!

[luthierbass]

If you have up to 5 thousand to spend i wouldn't want to buy a Laminated bass even if it did have a solid top. Your in the range where you can get an older german bass.

[drurb]

Originally Posted by luthierbass

If you have up to 5 thousand to spend i wouldn't want to buy a Laminated bass even if it did have a solid top. Your in the range where you can get an older german bass.

...or even a brand new fully-carved bass.

[MT Spaces]

Originally Posted by drurb

..... I wouldn't consider the Kays at all ....

Hey Good Doctor ..... OK now I feel better .
Don't waste your time telling me why you say this ... I know, I know ... over-priced, thin weak neck, causes bad technique, etc. etc. .... yadda yadda.
I have read it many times before and I'm sure I'll read it many more times. Stay on that mission to protect the fresh meat from the evil Kays !

[el_mariachi]

Originally Posted by Fred-d

I'm from south texas very very south texas Weslaco, attending school in Edinburg

Hey, the better half has family down in that area around Weslaco, Elsa, McAllen, Harlingen. I was down a few years back. Beautiful drive between San Antonio and Corpus. So I'm assuming you are attending PanAm?

Anywho....as others have stated, at your budget, something beyond a laminate is definitely an option. Unless you are planning on playing nothing but outdoor shows, in the hottest and most humid of Valley weather, you should (at the very least) look into a hybrid. If you go to Bob Gollihur's Luthier Directory, you will see a contact for someone in McAllen. If that doesn't work, there are also two places in Austin to check out. Good luck.

[drurb]

Originally Posted by Bob Knebel

Hey Good Doctor ..... OK now I feel better .
Don't waste your time telling me why you say this ... I know, I know ... over-priced, thin weak neck, causes bad technique, etc. etc. .... yadda yadda.
I have read it many times before and I'm sure I'll read it many more times. Stay on that mission to protect the fresh meat from the evil Kays !

Whoa! Remember, I had a Kay from 1967 to 2002. The OP stated a budget up to $5k, said he didn't want a student bass, plans on keeping it for a long time, and needs it for college. C'mon Bob-- even you gotta admit that that doesn't point to a Kay! Love is, apparently, blind!

[MT Spaces]

Originally Posted by drurb

.... C'mon Bob-- even you gotta admit that that doesn't point to a Kay! Love is, apparently, blind!

Just jerkin' your chain Doc .... I know you owned a Kay for years. I will always respect your opinions even if I don't always agree with them. Don't get your Fruit Of The Looms all bunched up.

Other than the possible perception of me disagreeing (created by my use of three consecutive razzberries ) with past points made by you and others about plywood Kay prices, thin necks, and the promotion of poor left hand technique ........ you will notice that nowhere in my previous post did I actually take umbrage with some people's opinions of Kays.

I've been playing my Kays for about a year-and-a-half now. Later this year I will sell one of my Kays to parlay a grub stake for a NS Cleveland that I hope to be playing by this time next year. I really look forward to playing a nice fat neck .... that is assuming I don't require an amputation on account of my current overuse of the "death grip" . Unless a new player (fresh meat) is mostly into bluegrass and the use of a preponderance of open strings in the keys of D, A, and G, I would probably warn them about the thin Kay necks. If they want to play a bunch of bluegrass in the keys of Bb and F .... then I wish them Good Luck. Love ain't blind in my case .

[drurb]

Originally Posted by Bob Knebel

Just jerkin' your chain Doc

Bob--

Thanks. Please rest assured that I knew you were being light-hearted. I was too! It didn't seem at all like you took offense and I certainly didn't mean to sound too serious. I really don't have an all-encompassing disdain for Kays! How could I after all the years of loyal service I got from mine? They fit quite well in their niche.

[NUTT]

If you make the trip to Houston there are a couple of places that might be worth looking at. I'd call ahead:

http://www.lisleviolinshop.com/catalog/carts.asp?end=1
http://www.amativiolinshop.com/

Or.... Call Rice U & ask around....

http://music.rice.edu/