Kansas City Strings?

[Taylor Livingston]

I searched but didn't find much about this company. I'm looking for a first doublebass after playing electric and other instruments for about 6 years. So I recently visited my city's only doublebass shop, and tried out a few basses. I was looking for something around the $1500 area, but there was a bass for $1900 that I really liked, especially the arco sound, by Kansas City Strings. This was a little more than I was thinking about spending originally, but I really liked it and I could probably swing that in a paycheck or two. Plus, after I heard this bass I realized that I couldn't play something cheaper.

Now if somebody asked me this, I'd say that if they like it, they should get it. But my question is: could I do better for $1900? Is there a reason that I don't hear anybody talking about KC Strings?

[Jake]

From everything I've heard KC Strings is a very good company. Their pre-fab C-Extensions are pretty well known and have been discussed quite a bit on the forum. They're well made but to me they look way too heavy and I don't like extensions anyway. I have heard some good things about their basses and that the shop is ethical and fair.

[Greg Clinkingbeard]

I live in Kansas City and have had good experience with them. My first bass, a used Christopher laminate was purchased there.
I have always found the Krutz's and all the staff to be ethical and pleasant to deal with.

I second Jake's comments. Their extensions, tuning gears and endpins are first rate. They really take basses seriously.

Having played many of the basses in their shop, I can tell you that I believe their carved Chinese line is a pretty good value, but they sell here in the $3-4k range. The laminated basses are just under $2k here. They didn't impress me much. I think you can find better laminates for the price.

Is the bass you're looking at carved or laminated?

That said, like anything else in life, this is just another choice for you. Learn what you can about basses in your price range. Play as many as possible. In the end, only you will know if that bass is the right one for you.

[bad5x8]

I have a ply bass from KC and I love it. I use it mainly for big band jazz and I have a bass max pick up on it. I have played it arco in a college wind ensemble and it worked out just fine, but I'm not a huge arco player so take it with a grain of salt. I has a very "bassy" tone to it. It doesn't sing up top like high quality basses, but I spend most of my time walking in the bottom half of the neck, so it's golden for my use. The Donald Harrison quartet recently came through town and the bass player had to borrow my bass and he really liked it, if that means anything to you.
If you drop by the shop, they are very friendly and knowledgable.

Blake

[Chasarms]

Originally Posted by dunce cap willie

. . . could I do better for $1900? Is there a reason that I don't hear anybody talking about KC Strings?

I have been in the "real" KC Strings several times. Also, here is St. Louis is another shop, St. Louis Strings, which is part of the KC Strings family. StL Strings has several KC basses in that store.

KC String basses in the sub $2K range are going to be like any another other sub $2k bass. It is going to an imported ply that is set up in the U.S. shop. Different U.S. shops deal with different factories overseas. You never can be sure what you are getting. You have to depend on the knowledge and skills of your U.S shop. In short, you are putting your trust in the local luthier, not the imported bass.

I don't want to take a shot at KC Strings. I love their endpin. It is top notch. I have it on my Shen and wouldn't have anything else. Their machines are also very nice. I have always had great service there. I had my last rehair done at StL Strings. Michael Kocher's work is excellent. He builds beautiful violins.

But, I have never played a bass at either store that I thought played well at all. I don't know if it is because they set up most all of them with Helicores, which I don't care for. Also, they have the strings high. I guess they are focused on the Orch players. I know that Anton is a bass player himself.

But, if some other luthier has had their hands on the bass and went for a more pizz friendly, jazz-like setup, you may have a great bass. If it plays and sounds to your liking and you trust that the luthier is going to back up the bass as far as quality, I wouldn't hesitate to snag it. But, do play a few more first. $1,900 ought to get you in a pretty decent bass.

[Matt12]

I bought my first bass from kc strings, and I must say I am very happy with it. I have a carved RC Williams model, and I have to say for a rather low priced carved it has a very deep, loud sound. Again, not to reiterate what has already been said, you are gonna get what you pay for at KC strings. The help there is amazing though, Misha Krutz really knows what he is talking about. And yeah, someone already said they put heliocores on all their basses, so I would get some different strings. But Anton Krutz is an amazing luthier, and they really can help you out with payment plans and rent to own stuff.

[Bob Branstetter]

Originally Posted by Chasarms

I guess they are focused on the Orch players. I know that Anton is a bass player himself.

Just to clarify, Anton Krutz is the master luthier at KC Strings. He may play a little bass, but it is his father Misha who is the true bassist in the Krutz family. Misha is an excellent classical bassist. He has been with the Kansas City Symphony for many years.

[Monte]

Originally Posted by Chasarms

But, I have never played a bass at either store that I thought played well at all. I don't know if it is because they set up most all of them with Helicores, which I don't care for. Also, they have the strings high. I guess they are focused on the Orch players. I know that Anton is a bass player himself.

I had the same experience playing at the Coleman Hawkins Hawkfest in Topeka. I brought my own, but I played on the KC Strings provided bass at the jam session and I thought it was a shame; poorly set up and not at all up to standards for renting a festival.

[Greg Clinkingbeard]

This is an interesting video from the KC Strings site.

http://www.kcstrings.com/violin-shop-video.html

Also, The Anton Krutz Cornered Gamba and the Richard Williams basses are impressive. Anton is a very fine luthier and a great guy.

[Chasarms]

Originally Posted by Bob Branstetter

Just to clarify, Anton Krutz is the master luthier at KC Strings. He may play a little bass, but it is his father Misha who is the true bassist in the Krutz family. Misha is an excellent classical bassist. He has been with the Kansas City Symphony for many years.

Thanks for the clarification. It is is indeed Misha who is referenced at their web site.

I have spoken with Anton a couple of times. He repaired a bow for me. He seems like a knowledgable and creditable businessman.

All and all, I would hate to see KC Strings viewed as anything but a first rate establishment. Maybe they don't set up a bass to my personal preferences, but they do offer great service. I would do business with them any day for other needs.

[Taylor Livingston]

It was a laminate that I played. There was another by KC Strings with smaller shoulders that I didn't like as much. I've been thinking about one of the Hawkes basses from Upton, which get pretty high praise around here, but the problem is that I wouldn't be able to play one before I bought it.

Another thing I'm wondering is this: if I buy a bass from somewhere else besides my local guy, at some point I may need to bring it to him to have him work on it. I wonder if he would be offended by this at all. Not that big of a deal, but obviously it's important to have a good relationship with your repair guy...

[Chasarms]

Originally Posted by conical johnson

. . . Another thing I'm wondering is this: if I buy a bass from somewhere else besides my local guy, at some point I may need to bring it to him to have him work on it. I wonder if he would be offended by this at all. Not that big of a deal, but obviously it's important to have a good relationship with your repair guy . . .

Offended? I doubt it. I am sure they work on instruments everyday that they did not sell. Other people's broken basses put meat on their table. He still will be working to win your future business.

But, if you buy it from him, you'll probably get a few little tweaks and twiddles in the beginning to get the bass just as you like it.

I had my Shen shipped from another state, and have been absolutely happy. The bass is set up very, very well. That said, there are some risks.

For example, a couple years ago, the top seam on the bass opened. It wasn't a crack, but the glue seam actually failed and opened from the saddle about 10 inches up the instrument. Fortunately, I noticed it and dropped the tension on the bass right away.

After a bunch of emails and exchanges, they were willing to do about anything short of driving to St. Louis with a box of clamps and tools to get the bass fixed. But, with the nature of the repair, it made more sense to just have it done here by a local guy.

He did a fine job, it has held fast through a winter and a half and all is well. But, it would have been nice to have just taken it to the shop where I bought it and said, "what's up?"

In my case, the repair was very minor. He just worked some hide glue into seam and clamped it. All agreed that was fine for a first effort. It worked out.

If the repair had to get into a lot of time, effort and money, it would of course been a bigger headache for everyone.

[Greg Clinkingbeard]

Originally Posted by conical johnson

It was a laminate that I played. There was another by KC Strings with smaller shoulders that I didn't like as much. I've been thinking about one of the Hawkes basses from Upton, which get pretty high praise around here, but the problem is that I wouldn't be able to play one before I bought it.

My main bass is a hybrid Hawkes from Upton. As much as I wanted to buy locally, I couldn't find anything in my price range that satisfied. The Upton is much better than anything in its price range that I played. No, you can't play one before you buy. I rolled the die and they landed right . Had the local basses been strung with different strings or set up differently, I may have ended up with another bass. I haven't played an Upton laminate however. YMMV

[Bob Branstetter]

Originally Posted by conical johnson

Another thing I'm wondering is this: if I buy a bass from somewhere else besides my local guy, at some point I may need to bring it to him to have him work on it. I wonder if he would be offended by this at all. Not that big of a deal, but obviously it's important to have a good relationship with your repair guy...

I'm sure he will not be offended, but you may not get the same attention as you would if you had purchased the instrument from him. I always take care of my regular customers and those who buy instruments from me ahead of those who just bring in an instrument to be repaired. I always do emergency repairs for my regulars and instrument buyers ahead of anyone else. You might not ever need it, but it is definitely something to consider. Of course the main thing to consider is getting the best instrument for you (within your budget), regardless of who is selling it. Also, you are probably going to live with this instrument for a long time, so never buy any instrument with price as the primary consideration.

[Bob Branstetter]

Originally Posted by Chasarms

All and all, I would hate to see KC Strings viewed as anything but a first rate establishment. Maybe they don't set up a bass to my personal preferences, but they do offer great service. I would do business with them any day for other needs.

Most of the time, it does appear that KC Strings does setups aimed at the classical player. However, I have also seen some excellent jazz setups come from this shop too. You just have to specify what you want. I believe their standard floor room setup includes Helicore Orchestra strings. In my shop, I normally use Helicore Hybrids since I target the jazz players more than the orchestra players. However, I will put on anything the player wants as long as they are willing to pay for it - I'm sure KC Strings will do the same.

[Greg Clinkingbeard]

+1 to both of you guys. KC Strings is first class.