How it all went "Sorry, kinda long"

[RavenRP]

Last January I asked in the Amps Mics & Pickups DB forum about a purchase I wanted to make.
Even though I doubt anyone would remember it I wanted to do an update on the whole purchase even if some aspects of it were quite embarrassing, but I am one to admit at least some of own faults.
The embarrassing parts are from the fact that I was warned not to do what I did from this forum but I wanted this bass and therefore did it anyway.
I bought the Bellafina bass ¾ from Musician’s Friend after being told here not to but from them.
I have to say though fortunately I have few regrets even if I am about to warn every one to tread lightly on such an endeavor.
After a couple weeks of receiving the bass I posted what I felt was a fair review on the MF site regarding my experience.
They did not post it.
All the more reason I feel I should share my experience with others.
I have been enjoying the bass for about a month now and it has reawakened my love for bass in a whole new way. I have nothing but gladness in my heart for having endured the process of waiting: but I am not a patient man so that part for me was hard to endure, and I may never use the MF rout for many things in the future if ever.
The following is my unposted MF review for the Bellafina Bass


I think I may be the first to post a review of this bass as I am probably the first to get the dang thing delivered. I ordered it in early January and received it in early march.
FIVE FRIGGIN MONTHS! I got it at a great price and I am very happy with the purchase now that I finally received it: whew.
But I am docking a point across the board on that.

Now for the bass. A redder color than the picture shows but she really does have the flame thing going on nicely. I know she’s just a laminate but it still is nice to have a pretty bass. The ebony is a super nice feature at this price. The neck still feels thick for being a thinner one than normal but it is in fact slightly thinner than normal. She sounds good; sounds like an upright to me, no rattle or anything. The stock strings feel good to me, and the keys seem to be doing the job just fine. It took a few tries for the tuning to stabilize, but now she holds tuning real good. The packaging was scary as the outer box was fairly torn up when I received it; fortunately the bass was ok. The bag is par, but I got to say I actually liked the bow better than a much pricier range one I have.
I have seen uprights three times the price that I do not like as well, so for me it was worth the wait as I do not know it’s equal at this range at all.

If you can handle a wait she’s a good buy.



I didn’t think that was so bad.
The bass: http://www.musiciansfriend.com/produ...fit?sku=470251

[Eric Swanson]

I'm a little confused. Here in New England, from January to March is only 2-3 months, depending on how you count them (although those particular months can feel much longer ). Did you mean "May"?

[RavenRP]

O0ps.
Pie faced.

[MingusAmongUs]

Thanks for posting. Glad you got lucky.... you took a chance. I have played a few of these basses at a handful of guitar warehouse type stores and often they play and sound ok... it's the construction that you just never know about. I'd take it in to a good luthier just to make sure everything is glued together properly and all that. You don't want to bass bar to pop off in the middle of a gig.

But I'm dying to know -- where was the typo -- was it jan to march/2-3 months? or was it jan to may/4-5 months? maybe that's why MF didn't publish the review? i have seen negative reviews up there (although they are rare)

[RavenRP]

It was the early Jan through May, 5 months. But yah I messed that up so now that I read it from a foolish posting, which may be why it wasn’t posted to be fair to them. But it was five months when it was originally supposed to be two weeks, then a month and then they quit bothering to tell me.
They even lowered the price and placed them on clearance while all this was going on which makes no sense to me at all when they to this day they have never had any in stock ready to ship. I called them on it and they lowered the price for me another 50 bucks. So between an upfront discount and then the additional 50 bucks I got it for $550 total so I am happy about that. I can’t even find used beat student laminates around here for that price. so perhaps I have no place to complain, but I did want to make sure that folks know what might happen if they choose this MF rout to trying this bass.
Meanwhile I did a lot of store visiting and forum lurking and looking for anything I could find about upright bass anywhere I could. This forum has been fun, I know I’m a noob and obviously act like it but I like to think I’m learning even if sometimes the hard way.

[Eric Swanson]

Thanks for sharing your valuable experience. We're all in the same boat here...all hoping to learn more...