Looking for the Cleveland db shops and teachers

[mingusporter]

Hello dbers. I have been doing some investigating and have reveiwed the newbie links and stickies. I am posting to try and get some possible leads for good shops in my area, cleveland ohio, and maybe some teachers. I have played eb for 20 years and have always wanted to crossover and never come back I dig early avante garde free jazz salsa trip hopp blues soul r&b and have played my way through groups playing stuff like this in a haphazard self taught and disorganized fashion. I have had lessons in the past, but all of my experiences were short lived I learned most everything I know shedding to records, figuring out tunes that I hear in my head , and jamming with other players. A few years ago I sold off all of my gear left only a c po uple only a couple of old harmony archtop guitars. Well I have decided to actually make a real attempt at playing the db. Im 32 im a husband and father I know that great instruments that are complex and gorgeous and always inspiring are expensive, budget is tight probably 2k for full setup bass bag and bow. I was considerimg an sb80 shen via upton or an engle or estle louis from, gollihur, but after reading the newbies have come to the conclusion that if im gonna do this I need to do it right by finding a reputable local shop and an instructor who can help me find my way through reading, theory, technique, and intonation with patience. I know that this is really alot of questions in one big mess of a post, but any help advice or links would be greatly appreciated.

[Hqubed]

Originally Posted by mingusporter

a reputable local shop and an instructor who can help me find my way

I would suggest talking to Tracy Rowell http://www.citymusiccleveland.org/Ab...ils.php?mid=29


Worth the trip:
Cincinnati Bass Cellar
http://www.basscellar.com/

Nick Lloyd
http://www.nicklloydbasses.com/

Best to you in your journey

[mingusporter]

Thanks I saw cbc and lowell listed in the gollihur links and those places will be checked out when I can etch an entie day out to get down to cinci. Was trying to see if there is anywhere reputible up here given a 3 hour drive isn't out of the question to get to see and play some instruments,talk to knowlegeable cats and get setup work done , ijustdont know how often id wanna make that trip especially considering the maintainence involved with the these woderful yet fragile instruments aside from the initial cost of instruments repair and maintainence concerns have always been the main factors keeping me from making a fearless bellyflop into the darkside of the pool, that and the injuries that improper technique can cause. As far as the teacher tip it is also appreciated do you have contact info for this person link not working googled her and see that shes got her foot in alot of programs in the ne ohio area but no contact info for her. thanks

[Hqubed]

Check your PM

[mingusporter]

Thank you sir

[mingusporter]

So yesterday I went to a couple of violin shops in town that rent dbs. Cleveland violins and peter zaret and sons. Both shops were very friendlyand have seemingly reasonable rental rates both shops offer s rental to purchase credit both offer insuranse which includes free strings during rental period. I plan on actually buying my first instrument in the spring (income tax) and am still planning to visit cincinatti as I have read so many good things about both nick loyd and the bass cellar. I have to say though that both shops let me play everything in stock, my favorite of which was some ancient 3/4 german bass it was beat to hell had alot of flat spot and cracks in the top I guess they had gotten it earlier this week in a trade and had yet to work on it. He offered to sell it as is but I asked if he was to adressthe issues with the stability if the top if I could rent it. He said he would but idk. Trying to take my time and not be hasty it helps to be broke lol. Cleveland vuolins claims to have their builds done in their own family workshop I asked if it was around here somewhere and they said no actually its in shanghai china a small family workshop of 6or so luthiers. Lol idk what to make of that, even though the instrument looked nice and felt nice and the tones seemed good enough the german I tried was much deeper fundamentally and had this thunderous growl idk if it was carved or ply it just looked like it was beyond the point of fragile. I got a couple numbers for instructors from each shop and am excited to get started. I don't even really know how to project notes yet but finding a balance point and workng on using my chest and shoulders rather than my wrists thumbs and fingers to control the attackwith each of the instruments that I attempted to play was exciting this is totally a different experiece than bg god what have I been doing for 20 years im movin to the doghouse asap.

[swervy jervy]

Just a friendly reminder that paragraph breaks help A LOT in a long post.

[ThumpPlunkJunk]

Originally Posted by mingusporter

. As far as the teacher tip it is also appreciated do you have contact info for this person link not working googled her and see that shes got her foot in alot of programs in the ne ohio area but no contact info for her. thanks

Tracy's great. I had a masterclass with her at Peabody Bass Works over the summer--she was patient and knew exactly what she was doing from a technical, musical and teaching standpoint. She made a masterclass on the Eccles sonata relevant to everyone attending--from two 17 year olds preparing for college auditions down to the kids who were just learning it or hadn't even learned it yet. Really made the music come alive.

She's also going to be on the staff at Oberlin this year, so you'd be in good hands with her.

[mingusporter]

Originally Posted by swervy jervy

Just a friendly reminder that paragraph breaks help A LOT in a long post.

oh sorry about that.

[Mgaisbacher]

Just throwing on my 2 cents about Cleveland violins.

Last year I took my bass there for a simple fingerboard planing because there was buzzing, and since my bass has never been to a shop I told them just to completely set it up (sound post and bridge position) It took them about a week and when I finally got my bass back the buzz was worse. Then I took it back and they actually planed the fingerboard (and charged me again for what they already charged me for and didn't do) and I thought it was finally done.

The about a week later I noticed there was a strange buzz comming from my bass, it wasn't a string buzz but more of wood on wood. Then noticed the fingerboard seemed to move a lot, turned my bass to the side and I could see light between my finger board and neck. It was detached from the neck about 1/2 up the neck.

I took it back and then they charged me again after mostly admitting it was their fault. I also got string from somewhere else and thought well if they are going to have to re-glue the fingerboard to the neck they minds well put on my new strings.

When I got it back that time everything seemed ok but then I noticed the strings were crossed by the tuners and my bass didn't feel a bit better then when I took it to them originally. I commented on how high they had my strings set and they said "Well thats low for a cello", well a bass isn't a cello and I told them I play mostly jazz.

At the time I did not know any better and I never dealt with a luthier before, I also just moved to Cleveland so I didn't know anyone around. But I can not recommend them to anyone for basses. It seems like they are a violin shop that sells basses, if you are getting a bass I would strongly recommend going to a bass shop and you will save the hassle that I went though.

I also know a luthier in Rocky River that fixed all of their mistakes and charged me under $100 to do it. Also depending on what you are looking to learn my teacher is great for jazz and I could give you his info if you would like

[jallenbass]

Originally Posted by Mgaisbacher

I also know a luthier in Rocky River that fixed all of their mistakes and charged me under $100 to do it.

Reese Williams? If not he is also an excellent luthier.

[Adam Attard]

Originally Posted by jallenbass

Reese Williams? If not he is also an excellent luthier.

Reese Williams is excellent for repair work- a few of the students here at CIM use him and he's great. Nick Lloyd is also fantastic, but he's a bit of a drive being in Cincinatti- same for the guys at the bass cellar.

[Mgaisbacher]

Yes it was Reese, I wish I would of just went to him in the first place. He made my ply bass play amazing.

[jallenbass]

Now you know!