I need a bass for Jazz for $2000.

[Josh Emmons]

From playing the electric for a long time, and a need to play swing, and that classic jazz, I need to get a good upright. but what one should I choose for $2000? (all the money i got). also, I need some guts. what brands do you prefer?

[punkozuna]

In your price range, assuming you want to buy new, you won't have a ton of choice. You can get an Engelhardt EC-1 or a Strunal 50/1 for around $1100-$1200 PLUS shipping (another $150-250 usually - remember that when pricing local basses). Full Lenzner Guts are about $290 at Gollihurs. You're already knocking on $2000 without a pick-up (if you need one) or a set-up on your bass.

Gollihur and Fretwell sell EC-1s about as cheap as you'll find them. Both are reputable. Fretwell offers a choice of strings and basic setup on the basses they sell. Gollihur is a bit cheaper.
Gollihur Music - Upright Bass Specialists: Instruments, Pickups, Preamps, Amplifiers, and Accessories and Fretwell Bass sells Upright Bass and Double Bass including Kay Bass for bluegrass and jazz music

Strunals are harder to find in the US. They seem to come in spurts. When they are in, they are usually good deals. Last summer they had 1/2 size 50/1 student outfits for $750. The year before that they had 50/4s for about $1200. Right now - nada.

If you can afford the time and know someone that can help you look at prospective basses, you can save some money. In the last 3 years I got a 50/4, one year old for $500 and an Engelhardt Swingmaster (5 years old) for $850 but I had to travel to get them.

How far are you willing to travel? The further you're willing to go, the better your chances of finding something.

A quick look on searchtempest.com for "upright bass" within 250 miles of 80104 zip code showed only this one that looked to be suitable and in your price range (barely - no gut strings on it). It's in Greeley.
Upright Bass for Sale

[Marcus Johnson]

Why do you feel you need gut strings?

[BeowulfKingsley]

Just for a start:
Fretwell Bass sells Upright Bass and Double Bass including Kay Bass for bluegrass and jazz music

...some nice basses there for pretty reasonable prices.

[punkozuna]

If you can forgo the gut strings and maybe pick one of the recommended jazz strings from Gollihur's website, you might be able to stretch your choices to include one of the Shen SB80s from Upton. I did notice that EM-1s and EM-1Bs and Gollihur's CLassic are in the same price range as the EC-1. A pretty good selection!

[MaxJohnson]

You should buy an old Kay that someone put a ebony board on. It'll last you forever

[Rockmusician]

A lot of new and used options. Look at Sadowsky first.

[rake]

Originally Posted by Rockmusician

A lot of new and used options. Look at Sadowsky first.

Yes, but where ever will he find gut strings that bring out the potential in a Sadowsky?

P.S. - You've posted in the DB side

As for the OP, take it from a guy who spent $2000 on a bass with the intent of playing jazz: save your money, wait, play lots of basses, save your money, play lots of basses, keep saving, buy something that inspires you.
Being specific about guts, it seems like you have a sound in your head. A cheap ply+guts will most likely not let you achieve that tone.
Looking back on my 8 years with my Engelhart, I realize now that the most important thing when dealing with DB is patience. It takes a lot of (some think slow-moving) time to learn how to play it properly, time to find the best way to get the best tone from your instrument, so it should be worth your time also to patiently save and search for the right bass.

[ole Jason]

Shen SB150

[bassist1962]

I am suprised that I haven't seen a link for Double Bass makers, Upright Basses for Sale - Upton Bass String Instrument Company

[MK1]

Those are great basses for sure, but they start at $2,200 and once you start to customize it the price can go up pretty quick. Not to mention the OP wanted to put guts on his bass which will add bout another $400.

I hear gut basses are generally bigger (therefore more expensive) but the strings respond to the bow better. Where you're going to get that for $2000 is beyond me. Not professional grade anyway. A friend of mine recently got an $8000 bass for ridiculously cheap since the owner died and his son just wanted to get rid of it. Still cost him $3600 and the guy was nice enough to drop the price from his original $4000. Good basses cost. That's all there is to it.

[fdeck]

I'd like to dig a bit deeper and ask what your reference point is for the tone that you're trying to achieve. Recordings? Live performances? My reasons for asking are: 1) A lot of factors play into the tone of the bass on swing-era recordings; and, 2) there are many other things that have to happen before you're swinging on stage with a band.

For these reasons, I'd suggest "first things first" is to get a decent quality student level bass (e.g., Shen, Upton, Thompson, Christopher, etc.) set up by a luthier, and mainstream strings that will last for a while. Then, focus on getting yourself up the learning curve with regard to technique, before sweating details like your particular choice of strings.

[Marcus Johnson]

Originally Posted by Donger

I hear gut basses are generally bigger (therefore more expensive) but the strings respond to the bow better.

[JimK]

I'll play...
Why gut-strings?

The Kay I bought in '76 (for $100) had steel E & A strings...gut for the D & G strings.

Way back when in TalkBass history, I mentioned how the action on that bass was 1" off the neck. A few said "No way... that I was nutz".
KungFuqua chimed in & asked if I had guts on the bass.
So, I'm assuming gut strings need higher action?

Lesson for the OP-
If you're a longtime EB player...trust me, you want something you can play sooner vs. later. The steels out there now will make you feel at home.
Extreme action will only discourage you.

[Marcus Johnson]

Originally Posted by JimK

So, I'm assuming gut strings need higher action?

Not necessarily, depending on the bass and the strings. Mine (full Gamut gut set) are at about 8-12mm, from high to low.. Some people like to raise them high to get maximum volume and more thump. They don't really become that much harder to play, because of the lower tension of guts.

I agree with you though. It seems to me that the OP's budget should be spent on getting the best instrument possible. String experiments can happen later.

[Don Higdon]

Originally Posted by Donger

I hear gut basses are generally bigger (therefore more expensive) but the strings respond to the bow better.

A Sadowski is not that big, but you can only bow E and G.

Originally Posted by Don Higdon

A Sadowski is not that big, but you can only bow E and G.

Why is that? I'm new to the double bass so I'm pretty ignorant in these matters.

[KUNGfuSHERIFF]

A Sadowsky is an electric bass. He was joking.

[Marcus Johnson]

Oh! Thanks!