how do I judge a bass dealer?

[woodamand]

I live in Portland, Oregon and there are only a couple of places here to actually play an upright (other than music stores that I already know don't know what they are doing........), one of them is a violin shop where I recently bought a cello for my wife, the other a bass only shop.
Now, I do think the violin shop is reputable, from checking around town, but he only sells one type of bass, Chinese made that he puts his own lables on so I don't know more than that.
But still - how am I to judge if a bass is set up correctly? I see so much info on links from here, like Upton, that I am a bit concerned that I won't know if I am getting a lemon or not. I have read thru the newbie stuff but if anyone has any more info for me, or tips, or can recommend a good shop in my area, I sure would appreciate it.
Note that I am trying to stay around the $2000 price mark, and want to play with a bow and jazz.
TIA

[drurb]

Originally Posted by woodamand

I live in Portland, Oregon and there are only a couple of places here to actually play an upright (other than music stores that I already know don't know what they are doing........), one of them is a violin shop where I recently bought a cello for my wife, the other a bass only shop.
Now, I do think the violin shop is reputable, from checking around town, but he only sells one type of bass, Chinese made that he puts his own lables on so I don't know more than that.
But still - how am I to judge if a bass is set up correctly? I see so much info on links from here, like Upton, that I am a bit concerned that I won't know if I am getting a lemon or not. I have read thru the newbie stuff but if anyone has any more info for me, or tips, or can recommend a good shop in my area, I sure would appreciate it.
Note that I am trying to stay around the $2000 price mark, and want to play with a bow and jazz.
TIA

Wow. Where to start? As far as dealers in your area, I must leave that to others. As far as knowing if a bass is set up correctly or knowing if you are looking at a worthwhile instrument, I suggest you bring an expert with you. Do you have a teacher? Beyond that, there are many reputable, highly-skilled luthiers from whom you could buy and you wouldn't have to worry at all about whether the instrument was decent and whether it was set up correctly. They are mentioned here all the time. Of course, buying sound unheard (and sight unseen) will mean that you will not be able to make a choice based on sonic, physical, and perhaps aesthetic preferences (pictures do help). What is the bass-only shop in your area and what is available there?

[Bob Gollihur]

Originally Posted by woodamand

I live in Portland, Oregon and there are only a couple of places here to actually play an upright (other than music stores that I already know don't know what they are doing........), one of them is a violin shop where I recently bought a cello for my wife, the other a bass only shop.
Now, I do think the violin shop is reputable, from checking around town, but he only sells one type of bass, Chinese made that he puts his own lables on so I don't know more than that.
But still - how am I to judge if a bass is set up correctly? I see so much info on links from here, like Upton, that I am a bit concerned that I won't know if I am getting a lemon or not. I have read thru the newbie stuff but if anyone has any more info for me, or tips, or can recommend a good shop in my area, I sure would appreciate it.
Note that I am trying to stay around the $2000 price mark, and want to play with a bow and jazz.
TIA

Get a teacher if you haven't already, somebody with a good rep and who is schooled on the instrument. Even if a lot of lessons aren't going to be possible, it will be an excellent investment for a quality starting point as well as guidance and knowledge to be sure you are getting a decent, properly set up, playable instrument.

[Ben Joella]

You would do well to make the drive up to Seattle and see the folks at Hammond Ashley Violins. They are pretty upstanding folks and usually have a nice selection of well set up stuff in that range.

[John Sprague]

Well I have no pity for a person trying to find basses in Portland, you are completely surrounded!

Pete's Bass Shop in Portland (503) 777-7027
Cat Man Music in Estacada (503) 630-3827
Then on up to Seattle:
Hammond Ashley 206.878.3456
The Bass Church (206) 784-6626
I think Tom Barrett is only making new, high end stuff, but I could be wrong. (360) 732-4100

I'm gonna guess that the bass-only shop you visited was Pete Lampe's place? Pete's a terrific guy, with a good rep, I highly recommend him. If you're talking about Kurr's Violin Shop, then again you're at one of the best violin shops in the country.

You're in a great place to be a bassist. Good luck!

[woodamand]

Originally Posted by John Sprague

Well I have no pity for a person trying to find basses in Portland, you are completely surrounded!

Pete's Bass Shop in Portland (503) 777-7027
Cat Man Music in Estacada (503) 630-3827
Then on up to Seattle:
Hammond Ashley 206.878.3456
The Bass Church (206) 784-6626
I think Tom Barrett is only making new, high end stuff, but I could be wrong. (360) 732-4100

I'm gonna guess that the bass-only shop you visited was Pete Lampe's place? Pete's a terrific guy, with a good rep, I highly recommend him. If you're talking about Kurr's Violin Shop, then again you're at one of the best violin shops in the country.

You're in a great place to be a bassist. Good luck!

Yes, I was talking about Petes - but not Kerrs - they don't advertise basses on their website -but Geesmans where we bought the cello. Nice to hear about Pete! I may drive up to Seattle at some point, but I am going over to Pete's on Saturday.
I am still in the exploratory phase, my wife thinks I'm crazy but what can she say - I just bought her a cello for heavens sake.
Thanks to all for the feedback!

[LOBass]

Woodamand,
Yes, I would agree with the assessment of Pete Lampe. Many of the top bass players in Portland use Pete for repair work and to purchase basses and accessories. He has a reputation for doing high quality, careful work and is very honest and straight forward. He carries some good, starter basses at reasonable prices. I am currently having him do some repair work on an old 5-string German bass I just bought. If he does the setup on a bass bought from him, it will be done right.

Maureen Pandos (503-235-8954) is another quality bass luthier in Portland. She does great work, and occasionally has a bass on consignment, but doesn't normally carry an inventory of basses as part of her business.

I also agree with the comment about Hammond Ashley. They are a bit of a drive from Portland, but well worth the trip to really get a good assessment of available options for bass shopping. They have several good entry level bass options, and they also do a quality set up on what they sell.

Feel free to PM me if you need any help or advise.
Tom

[woodamand]

Hi Tom
Well, its been confirmed twice now about Petes, good enough for me.
I am heading over there Saturday to take my first good look at basses. Its going to be awhile before I get one, but as I said I would much prefer to buy local, much more comfortable with that than over the internet or even up to Seattle.
Thx again everyone!

[COUNT ZACULA]

Originally Posted by John Sprague

Well I have no pity for a person trying to find basses in Portland, you are completely surrounded!

Pete's Bass Shop in Portland (503) 777-7027
Cat Man Music in Estacada (503) 630-3827
Then on up to Seattle:
Hammond Ashley 206.878.3456
The Bass Church (206) 784-6626
I think Tom Barrett is only making new, high end stuff, but I could be wrong. (360) 732-4100

I'm gonna guess that the bass-only shop you visited was Pete Lampe's place? Pete's a terrific guy, with a good rep, I highly recommend him. If you're talking about Kurr's Violin Shop, then again you're at one of the best violin shops in the country.

You're in a great place to be a bassist. Good luck!

+1 for Pete and Hammaond Ashley.

[jfv]

I also can vouch for Pete. I bought my Hungarian bass
from him, it was made by a small luthier in Budapest,
brought in by a relative here in the area. It was an upgrade
from a fully carved Christopher which Pete sold for me in
just two weeks.

There are many fine teachers in the area, Pete himself
gives lessons, Dan Presley is a superb jazz bassist, look
at talljazz.com for info about Dan. If you have classical
leanings my teacher, Audrey Wang is a student of Rabbath.
Thats just to scratch the surface...

Find a teacher first, thats my advise, you dont need to have
a bass to start, the teacher will then help you find a bass that
will help you learn and grow.

[woodamand]

I went and spent a really pleasant hour with Pete today - a great guy, great shop. I am probably going to go for an Eberle from bassesonline - Pete was cool, I am certainly going to give my business to him, even if I don't buy a bass from him. A great recommedation.
I will check out Dan Preleys' site, since I am more leaning to the jazz side of things, even tho I want to learn to play with a bow. I did speak with Pete about lessons also, and he may just be the ticket there.
Did you buy one of those $6500 basses, that look like they are 100 years old? Those things look SWEET! I wish I had that kind of budget.
And you are probably right, find a teacher first, but I am too antsy for that, I have been playing music for dogs years now, and my hands are dying to get around one of those big necks. Hard to believe how easy it was, and comfortable, to play a well set up instrument there in Petes shop. Just hard to pry my hands off the bass.
thanks much for repsonding!
Dana

[jfv]

Originally Posted by woodamand

I went and spent a really pleasant hour with Pete today - a great guy, great shop. I am probably going to go for an Eberle from bassesonline - Pete was cool, I am certainly going to give my business to him, even if I don't buy a bass from him. A great recommedation.
I will check out Dan Preleys' site, since I am more leaning to the jazz side of things, even tho I want to learn to play with a bow. I did speak with Pete about lessons also, and he may just be the ticket there.
Did you buy one of those $6500 basses, that look like they are 100 years old? Those things look SWEET! I wish I had that kind of budget.
And you are probably right, find a teacher first, but I am too antsy for that, I have been playing music for dogs years now, and my hands are dying to get around one of those big necks. Hard to believe how easy it was, and comfortable, to play a well set up instrument there in Petes shop. Just hard to pry my hands off the bass.
thanks much for repsonding!
Dana

People like Pete exist because musicians and students
give them business. I am baffled why you would say what
you have about Pete and then buy something online???

If you meet Dan Presley you will see a superb Shen that
Pete sold him, its the student bass you can play when you
have lessons. Nothing compared to Dan's 19th c. bass, but
its really a wonderful bass in its own right.

And yes, it sounds like you saw another of the Hungarian
basses Pete sells. After I bought mine, I had Pete order and
install these choice ebony-knob tuners, and then put in a
Laborie endpin. He can do it all. I love my bass

I have played music since being 5 years old, that has
nothing whatsoever to do with needing a teacher when
you take on a new instrument... so the teacher wont
have to explain the bass clef to you or what Dorian
mode means, you want them to learn how to handle
the big hulk in front of you in the most efficient way
possible.

[woodamand]

Jack -
First, please understand that I am not trying to offend yours or anyone else's sensibilites on this really friendly forum.
But you are baffled that I would want to spend half as much money for a comprable instrument? Perhaps I didn't say it clear enough in my email, but I was totally up front with Pete about the option to buy an Eberle - in fact Pete said if he could get them at that price with no shipping he would buy them himself to sell.
Pete didn't seem to have a problem with this - he knows I will be doing all my other purchases thru him, even if I don't buy a bass from him - so while I concede your point about buying local, you might try and understand mine:
If money were no object, I would have bought the shen I played (or better yet,its hybrid model), but I am faced with the choice of waiting many many months to get a bass or getting one in a couple of weeks. Not everyone can afford a bass in the price range that you have - I wish I could!
As far as a teacher, well, you beat me by a couple of years, I started out playing when I was seven. Of course I will be getting instruction, like I did for years with guitar, and I teach guitar and think I know a little bit about how much of a difference a good instructor can make. On the other hand, I am self taught on the saxophone and no one ever had any problems with my abilites in any of the many bands I played in as a sax player.
Still, getting off to the right start is important, so lessons are in my future - once I have a bass.