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10-24-2007, 05:31 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Texas | | | Well said, Chris F.
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Donnie
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10-25-2007, 11:22 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Stone Mountain, GA | | Quote:
Originally Posted by jblond789  I have been playing electric bass for 7 years and I think it's time to make the switch over to double bass. | Hey Kiel, nice tunes on the myspace page. Having recently taken up double bass myself, here are a few thoughts (after having done a boatload of research, both here and in conversation with other players) from a fellow noob.
Until you attain some proficiency and familiarity with the instrument (and it is a totally different beast than bass guitar), you can't really tell the difference between the different price points of basses. A well set up $14-1800 plywood bass (Shen, Christopher) is going to feel and sound just fine for your transition and may ultimately be all you need.
The easiest way to try one these out (and to get familiar with the instrument) is to rent. Most towns the size of Tallahassee will have one or two shops supplying student instruments, just check your yellow pages. A real key for me was to find one that will do a good, low pizzicato (finger style) set up (you will probably also be doing some bowing, so get a hybrid string). Find a good teacher and take some lessons to get you started in the right direction.
Develop your local resources. I know the internet is easy and full of info, but you will need a good local luthier, so get to know the upright players who are gigging or teaching around town (or at the colleges) and pick their brains for recommendations. Once you learn to play a bit, these same folks can help if you want to upgrade to a better instrument, either by letting you try their bass or knowing about a good, used instrument for sale. Rodney Jordan, who teaches bass in the FSU jazz studies program, had a very good rep both as a player and a teacher when he was in Atlanta. You might drop him an email and ask about locals shops and teacher recommendations.
good luck,
Joe |
10-25-2007, 04:56 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Atlanta, GA USA | | | ...
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Silversorcerer
There are no secrets, just ignorance or knowledge- Anonymous
Last edited by Chris Fitzgerald : 10-25-2007 at 05:39 PM.
Reason: Post removed and contents sent to intended audience via PM
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10-25-2007, 05:37 PM
|  | Student of Life Forum Administrator | | Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Louisville, KY | | Let me be more plain here: TAKE ANY FURTHER "UPTON P***ING CONTEST" STUFF TO PM, FELLAS.
Do you want me to say it slower?  |
10-25-2007, 06:35 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: May 2006 Location: Houston, Tx | | | If you have a 4k budget and have even the slightest interest in arco, don't bother with a plywood bass.
There are a few good reasons for a ply bass and a 4k budget isn't one of them.
Sound is only one factor, carved basses take less energy to play and also make much smoother transitions between sounds. A quality instruemnt makes even more difference early on.
It will also retain value much better.
Last edited by damonsmith : 10-25-2007 at 06:39 PM.
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10-25-2007, 06:36 PM
| | Registered User
Retailer: Shen, Sun, older European | | Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Burlingame, California | | | Just answer the darn question.
As I read it, Jblond's question was "What other options are there besides Upton in this price range." Can't the helpful uncles here on the forum just give their option opinions and leave it at that? Can't the usual Upton evangelists let these opinions about other brands be read without feeling embattled and offended? There really are ice cream flavors other than Cherry Garcia alone. Bassists are the nicest musicians that I know. Threads like this put a stink on 'em.
There are only two brands of doublebass that are pretty much universally seen as trash around here. As I often say, "Friends don't let friends..." Well, you know. |
10-25-2007, 06:39 PM
|  | Oracle, Ancient Order of Rass Hattur | | Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Connecticut | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve Swan As I read it, Jblond's question was "What other options are there besides Upton in this price range." Can't the helpful uncles here on the forum just give their option opinions and leave it at that? Can't the usual Upton evangelists let these opinions about other brands be read without feeling embattled and offended? | I don't think the controversy was stirred by any Upton evangelists. It was stirred by the reference to the opinions of others as "jokes." Stating an opinion is one thing-- dismissing those of others is quite another. It seems we agree. After all, here's what I said: The best advice for someone with a $4k budget is to play all the candidate basses and decide for him/herself. I think we can help the OP best by not disparaging any particular product among those that are "respectable." By that I mean we are excluding CCBs.
Last edited by drurb : 10-25-2007 at 07:02 PM.
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10-25-2007, 06:46 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: May 2006 Location: Houston, Tx | | | I don't have any opinons about Upton, but with a decent budget there is no real need to buy sight unseen. Check the shops near and far and find a decent carved bass, check around for a teacher while you are at it. |
10-25-2007, 06:51 PM
| | Oracle, Ancient Order of Rass Hattur | | Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Connecticut | | | I have opinions about the Uptons and I agree that the OP should shop around and try many different basses. That's what I said from the outset. Whether or not one likes an Upton bass is quite beside that point.
Last edited by drurb : 10-25-2007 at 07:03 PM.
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10-25-2007, 07:04 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Kansas City area | | $5000 is a very comfortable budget to work with. A bag, pickup and decent bow can be had for maybe $600-700. That leaves say $4300 for a bass. There are quite a few new fully carved Chinese basses in that range for example that look promising. Maybe a good ply or hybrid? We on TB speak from our own experience and inherent bias. Each new DB player should become educated on the pros and cons of different construction, strings, pickups etc and buy what fits their needs.
Hopefully the OP is now knee deep in the Newbie links right now.  |
10-25-2007, 09:06 PM
| | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve Swan Just answer the darn question. | Get a teacher. |
10-25-2007, 09:23 PM
| | Banned
Owner: Ken Smith Basses, Ltd. | | Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Perkasie, PA USA | |  options..
Ok, I hope I don't get into any trouble here with this post. Since options other than Upton have been asked for, let me mention some other Basses that are very similar but sold under a different brand. These are reportedly made in the same shop 'Gliga' but are sold in various forms to a few companies. The ones I refer to are sold by JR Music Supply. They have a dealer network published on line as well.
They offer these models in two versions. One is straight from Gliga with a lacquer finish. Very durable but possibly not the best tonally. The other is bought in the white (un-varnished) and then finished in the Calin Wultur shop in Romania (home of the Corsini Basses) with German Spirit Varnish. This may not be as 'bullet proof' as the Gliga Lacquer but a much more traditional finish and reportedly much better sounding tone-wise.
I believe that Upton has imported their Basses in the 'white' as well in the past and finished them on there own premises. Many people are happy with there purchases there as well as the set-ups. I myself have never heard of them before TalkBass but I don't get out that much anymore.
If you can stretch your budget just a bit more the 'New Standard' is an awesome Bass and available in various models and grades as far as Laminated, Hybrid and Carved. These are brought in from a very fine German Shop without the Necks attached. Arnold's shop fits the Neck expertly and does a master grade set-up. His partner Wil then hand varnishes the Bass when it's ready for finishing. This is a much higher grade Bass as far as internal construction goes. The Block and lining work is much better finished off internally. This means something to some people. This German work is superior to any Romanian work that I have seen. |
10-26-2007, 05:18 AM
|  | Registered User
Vice President: Upton Bass String Instrument Co. | | Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Warwick, RI & Stonington, CT | | Quote:
Originally Posted by KSB - Ken Smith I believe that Upton has imported their Basses in the 'white' as well in the past and finished them on there own premises. Many people are happy with there purchases there as well as the set-ups. | While I have been trying to stay clear of this thread as I don't feel it's appropriate to get into it, I do want to add emphasis to Ken's words, that being "in the past".
UB basses are now being made entirely in house. This has been a fun and rewarding processes, and pictures and descriptions will soon be updated on our site.
Some customers have been getting pictures of their bass in progress and I even sent out a few wood trimmings to a customer recently so he could see the wood his bass was being made out of.
This amount of control in the process has also allowed us to play with new bass ideas, and you can expect two new basses within the next few weeks.
PM me if you want more details... |
10-26-2007, 07:03 AM
| | Banned
Owner: Ken Smith Basses, Ltd. | | Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Perkasie, PA USA | |  Made in USA..
Quote:
Originally Posted by eroy While I have been trying to stay clear of this thread as I don't feel it's appropriate to get into it, I do want to add emphasis to Ken's words, that being "in the past".
UB basses are now being made entirely in house. This has been a fun and rewarding processes, and pictures and descriptions will soon be updated on our site.
Some customers have been getting pictures of their bass in progress and I even sent out a few wood trimmings to a customer recently so he could see the wood his bass was being made out of.
This amount of control in the process has also allowed us to play with new bass ideas, and you can expect two new basses within the next few weeks.
PM me if you want more details... | Made in USA is always a welcomed addition I think. I posted as I did knowing that it may not be the case anymore as far as the Romanian imports go. Good luck with your new venture. |
10-26-2007, 07:08 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Salt Lake City, Utah | | | Did we lose the OP? |
10-26-2007, 07:10 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Kansas City area | | Quote:
Originally Posted by eroy UB basses are now being made entirely in house. This has been a fun and rewarding processes, and pictures and descriptions will soon be updated on our site.
| Congrats! I imagine many of us look forward to seeing this. |
10-26-2007, 07:14 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Orlando, FL | | | I'll just say this to the flame war. I wish I could be like the 2nd poster and completely judge an entire brand of instruments by playing a single one. Dude must be extremely talented to know how all the others play by touching just one.
[/sarcasm] |
10-26-2007, 07:30 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Salt Lake City, Utah | | Quote:
Originally Posted by dakpluto I'll just say this to the flame war. I wish I could be like the 2nd poster and completely judge an entire brand of instruments by playing a single one. Dude must be extremely talented to know how all the others play by touching just one.
[/sarcasm] | Pour some lighter fluid on . . . Now that's a fire! |
10-26-2007, 07:40 AM
| | Oracle, Ancient Order of Rass Hattur | | Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Connecticut | | Okay, sing along with me:
Koombaya my lord, koombaya...  |
10-26-2007, 07:50 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Kansas City area | | I prefer the infinite wisdom of the great philosopher, Rodney King during the L.A. riots many years ago. "Can't we all just get along"? |  | Thread Tools | Search this Thread | | | | 
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