I'm a Bass student and i have 5- $10 K to spend, help

Alex Spradling · #1 11-22-2006, 05:03 PM

Hey guys,

I'm a performance major and i need a new instrument. As the subject line suggests i have 5 to 10 k to spend. Besides the occasional rarity that i might find, are they any specific makers in this price range i should be on the look out for. (I've gone nuts looking for New Standards in my area, and surprisingly, there aren't any). Help!

Thanks,

Alex

hdiddy · #2 11-22-2006, 06:22 PM

It would probably help if you put your location in your profile, that way others can recommend shops nearby.

Others to look out for other than New Standards, probably Shen Willows, Upton Hybrids, high end Christophers, Calin Wultur's, old Juzeks, Wan Bernadels (StringEmporium.com), just to name a few.

$10k? I would definitely go out of my way to check out a hybrid New Standard tho. With that much money, I'd be willing to fly to places to try basses. I'd def try my hardest to pay Arnold a visit in person.

Alex Spradling · #3 11-22-2006, 09:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hdiddy

It would probably help if you put your location in your profile, that way others can recommend shops nearby.

Others to look out for other than New Standards, probably Shen Willows, Upton Hybrids, high end Christophers, Calin Wultur's, old Juzeks, Wan Bernadels (StringEmporium.com), just to name a few.

$10k? I would definitely go out of my way to check out a hybrid New Standard tho. With that much money, I'd be willing to fly to places to try basses. I'd def try my hardest to pay Arnold a visit in person.

I live in Baltimore, I checked for shops in DC, Baltimore, Delaware, VA and PA that carry New Standards, no luck. However, i commute to NYC twice a month (on a bus), and I will be going to school there next year. I can head up to the New Standard shop, but i'm hoping something will come up and I won't have to.

Alex

Tritonis · #4 11-23-2006, 09:30 AM

Doesn't NS have a fully carved La Scala now for 7600?

CamMcIntyre · #5 11-23-2006, 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tritonis

Doesn't NS have a fully carved La Scala now for 7600?

I was thinkin that there was a fully carved Cleveland for about $8800.

I think it'd be worth the trip to go to the shop. I'm more than happy w/my laminated Cleveland-however, i'm jazz performance vs. classical.

drurb · #6 11-23-2006, 10:41 AM

With $10k to spend, I would be looking only at fully carved basses and not hybrids.

ERIC A · #7 11-23-2006, 01:38 PM

Give Bob's House of Basses a try (301 805-9407). He is located in the Greenbelt area.

Silversorcerer · #8 11-24-2006, 07:53 PM

The best two sounding basses I've heard lately in that range were both Hungarian. Perhaps a coincidence, but one was fifty plus years old and one was nearly brand new. There are some great sounding instruments in that price range. Have fun shopping. Check out the Lemur catalog. It's sort of like the DB version of Victoria's secret. You can definitely find some nice instruments there.

fish slapper · #9 11-24-2006, 08:43 PM

I'd get my ass to NYC and visit Gage. And then mebbe hop a train to Connecticut and hit up Upton. If you can't find what you need between the two, ur one sorry cuss.

Try finding a bass in BFE on a hobbist budget.

Jake · #10 11-24-2006, 09:36 PM

Some fellow bass students when I was in college got some pretty nice basses from the Bass Church in the Seattle area. For 10k they may have something old and nice. I know that's far from you, but you may be able to work something out.

Erik Turkman · #11 11-25-2006, 07:22 PM

Is the Chesapeake Bass Viol Shop still in business? That might be a place to look. Also, isn't Rumano Solano around there somewhere?

If you are heading to the NYC area, don't forget to check with Kolstein.

For 10K, I, too, would recommend fully carved. It's not in your area, but you might check with the String Emporium (supplier of the previously mentioned Wan Bernadels) in Arizona. Steve usually has several basses in that price range.

kontrabass · #12 11-25-2006, 09:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Erik Turkman

]
For 10K, I, too, would recommend fully carved. It's not in your area, but you might check with the String Emporium (supplier of the previously mentioned Wan Bernadels) in Arizona. Steve usually has several basses in that price range.

I just got my Wan-Bernadel a few days ago. While I am strictly an orchestral player, I decided to go for the Bernadels because they are among the best basses in their price-range and sound more distinguished than the rest.

Jake · #13 11-26-2006, 03:43 AM

How does the Wan-Bernadel sound so far? I've heard they can be a little bright. What kind of strings came on it?

ALiP BoB · #14 11-26-2006, 05:06 AM

Congrats on being a major, man.
Man, I wish i had your problem.

Martin Sheridan · #15 11-26-2006, 05:10 PM

I agree with one of the above posts: where are you?
A lot of us know the makers and sellers of basses. No use in giving you a name of a shop in New York if you live in Australia.

kontrabass · #16 11-26-2006, 07:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jake

How does the Wan-Bernadel sound so far? I've heard they can be a little bright. What kind of strings came on it?

I'm loving every minute with it. I knew that I purchased it for a reason!

It came out with a Helicore Orchestra on the "E," and Original Flexocore for the A, D, and G, which is the norm for an orchestral set-up). Since I tune in fifths, I slapped on some Helicore Orchestras (combination of solo and orchestral gauge). They are far from ideal, but will last until I can figure out which string combination will fit best.

The bass isn't as bright as I remember it to be (definitely a good thing). I don't find it any brighter than any other new, fully carved bass in its price range. I'm looking for some darker fifths strings to help, though.

Jake · #17 11-26-2006, 08:40 PM

Sounds like a nice bass. A string suggestion: I love the Pirastro Original FlatChrome solo strings. I was thinking that a mix of those strings in solo, orch, and low C/B would probably be a good fit for a darker sounding fifths set. They are a little expensive, but great strings. Original Flex's are also great, but they don't make a solo set.

PB+J · #18 11-27-2006, 05:22 AM

I bought a shen 7/8 wllow flatback from Bob's House of Basses--it was at the low end of your price range but it's an excellent bass. Bob is a pleasure to deal with.

78bass · #19 01-31-2007, 10:10 PM

Try not to wear out your hands and fingers and wrists on this shat.

kurtsnyder · #20 02-01-2007, 08:25 AM

Another note on the Wan... Steve told me that Pat Metheny's bass player (I can't remember his name) bought one a while back and loves the thing. Steve also said that another very famous (again, shoot I can't remember his name) heard one and like it so much he said he was going to buy it.

If you go to here: http://www.stringemporium.com/wantestimonials.htm you can see some testimonials, even one from Steve LaSpina. Here is a recording of Steve (it's jazz) playing the Wan: http://www.stringemporium.com/Stevelaspina.wma