Joined the Dark side

bassplayer48 · #1 11-21-2007, 12:08 AM

Ok well after much research i have made a purchase, its a chinese made Solid Spruce top with ply back and sides, i have bought it from a well known luthier in Melbourne Ben Puglisi. So he sets them up for your intended style bluegrass and country in my case.

I looked at quite a few including an ebay seller who had some chinese made fully carved for a very cheap price, however when compared to the one at Puglisi it was no contest, the setup finish and sound was great. And the guy selling the fully carved didn't fill me with confidence regarding the setup.

The info here on talkbass was a big help too. So now to find a teacher and get going, i'm 50 been playing BG for eons, but there is life in me yet!

FurDjango · #2 11-21-2007, 01:27 AM

Welcome to the club Bassplayer48.

I bought my first double bass from Puglisi in May 2007. A Hofner, sounds similar to yours with a Realist pickup. How much did you end up paying for it?

Have been studying under Geoff Kluke (Melbourne jazz legend) and he's really helped me fine tune the sort of set up I liked which Ben has sorted out for me over a few more visits to this workshop. Excellent service.

Highly recommend Geoff as a teacher if you are looking for help with the technical aspects of the instrument, let me know if you need a contact.

Am playing confidently now and have, happily, been able to justify upgrading to a new one. Unfortunately probably not going back to Puglisi for this new one, found an unnamed fully carved Chinese bass (similar to the ones you have seen on ebay) at a more expensive price through another respected luthier (coughFerwerdacough). Great loud sound with a nice tone!!!

So if anyone in Melbourne is in the market for a second hand Hofner bass set up by Ben Puglisi and scrutinised by Geoff Kluke (who measures his string heights daily they say!), drop me a line. Great deep sound, smooth.

bassplayer48 · #3 11-21-2007, 01:41 AM

Hi the cost was $2500.00 with a realist pick up which i havent paid yet! its very similar to the hofner, the hofners are hard to get at the moment aparently, what did you pay for the new one? also what do you want for the hofner?

What suburb is Geoff Kluke in?

Samie · #4 11-21-2007, 02:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassplayer48

Hi the cost was $2500.00 with a realist pick up which i havent paid yet! its very similar to the hofner, the hofners are hard to get at the moment aparently, what did you pay for the new one? also what do you want for the hofner?

What suburb is Geoff Kluke in?

Do you have a brand on the chinese? keep us to date, post pictures.

Thanks