Looking to get into Double Bass

[thekorean]

Hello. After hearing the likes of Ron Carter and Scott Lafaro I really want to get a double bass. The problem I noticed is that they are extremely expensive with an entry level one tolling in around $2000 that I saw. Another problem I can for-see is finding a teacher in the New Bedford, MA area. A piece of good news is that a showroom is in Boston called Uptonbass (anyone have feedback?) Currently I noticed a USED UB Standard laminated plywood for $1800. Also I noticed on musicians friend a engelhardt EM1 Maestro for a little over a grand I think. Oh and since I am only 5' 4" should I look into a smaller one or will full size be alright. I am well open to suggestions but can't spend over $2,000 and even thats pushing it at the moment. In reality I only probably will have a grand but if I wait a few years I might be able to get something for 2500.

Thanks

Links:
http://www.uptonbass.com/UB-Standard...n-Double-Bass/
http://bass-guitars.musiciansfriend....ass?sku=468183

[PsychoScout]

3/4 will be allright... i'm on the small side as well, and i have one that's strangely somwehere in between a 3/4 and a 7/8

and a piece of advice.... get yourself a good one from the start, i bought a new chinese one a year and a half ago (massive wood though) and i already switched to another one since last week....

[mjt0229]

Originally Posted by thekorean

Hello. After hearing the likes of Ron Carter and Scott Lafaro I really want to get a double bass. The problem I noticed is that they are extremely expensive with an entry level one tolling in around $2000 that I saw. Another problem I can for-see is finding a teacher in the New Bedford, MA area. A piece of good news is that a showroom is in Boston called Uptonbass (anyone have feedback?) Currently I noticed a USED UB Standard laminated plywood for $1800. Also I noticed on musicians friend a engelhardt EM1 Maestro for a little over a grand I think. Oh and since I am only 5' 4" should I look into a smaller one or will full size be alright. I am well open to suggestions but can't spend over $2,000 and even thats pushing it at the moment. In reality I only probably will have a grand but if I wait a few years I might be able to get something for 2500.

Thanks

Links:
http://www.uptonbass.com/UB-Standard...n-Double-Bass/
http://bass-guitars.musiciansfriend....ass?sku=468183

You're lucky to be in the Boston area, because Upton is very reputable and makes very nice instruments. I think they may have a rental program as well. I haven't played a modern Engelhardt, but the Upton will beat the pants off just about every other plywood bass I've ever played.

Size will not be a problem. I'm about your size and I play on a largish instrument that's either 3/4 or 7/8 depending on who you ask. Get a 3/4 and you'll have no trouble. Also, find a teacher to help you through this process.

[anonymous02282011]

Dear thekorean:

I've pm'd you some great luthiers/sellers in our area.

There are some great teachers around here too.

[hdiddy]

save your pennies and rent one for now.

[thekorean]

oh you can rent basses? never heard of that but that's wicked good. Can I rent to own and thanks for all the help so far and I will continue scavenging their website. Also i've seen pickups for these, are they worth it over just putting a mic close to it?

edit: This might be a better deal but idk if I'll ever have the cash for that and a car plus expenses

http://www.uptonbass.com/USED-UB-Sta...aminated-Bass/

Also noticed this
http://bass-guitars.musiciansfriend....fit?sku=464178

[EBMatt]

Originally Posted by thekorean

oh you can rent basses? never heard of that but that's wicked good. Can I rent to own and thanks for all the help so far and I will continue scavenging their website. Also i've seen pickups for these, are they worth it over just putting a mic close to it?

edit: This might be a better deal but idk if I'll ever have the cash for that and a car plus expenses

http://www.uptonbass.com/USED-UB-Sta...aminated-Bass/

Also noticed this
http://bass-guitars.musiciansfriend....fit?sku=464178

That's a nice bass, but it comes with a lot of stuff that you might not need in a first bass. Do you need a stand and the $100 violin corner upgrade? I recently got my first upright and opted not to get a pickup, but instead a nice bow. IMO, a bow will help me work on my intonation and technique while a pickup would just amplify my newbness.

Uptons are sick nasty and the one that I played was great, but I personally fell in love with a Thompson. You might want to check them out too. I have a RM-200 and it's great. The RM-100 looks like it would fall into your price range nicely. If you ever want to come check my bass out drop me a line.

http://stringemporium.com/thompson-u...ood-basses.htm

[thekorean]

like the thompson prices much more starting at $1350 Really liking that actually. Did it come with strings?

[EBMatt]

Originally Posted by thekorean

like the thompson prices much more starting at $1350 Really liking that actually. Did it come with strings?

Yep! I chose Evah Pirazzi Weichs.

[thekorean]

okay now the only thing I am worried about that is getting it serviced and that's not a big deal as Upton would probably fix it if need be. Does anyone know if it worth the extra 200 for the upgraded tuners and oil varnish? Also what is the quality of the case?

[EBMatt]

Originally Posted by thekorean

okay now the only thing I am worried about that is getting it serviced and that's not a big deal as Upton would probably fix it if need be. Does anyone know if it worth the extra 200 for the upgraded tuners and oil varnish? Also what is the quality of the case?

I went with the standard finish on mine and it looks pretty. As for the tuners I don't know. My RM-200 came standard with the upgraded tuners so I don't know what the standard tuners are like. I would drop Steve a line and see what he says. The upgraded tuners are very nice but I have nothing to compare them to so I'm not sure if the upgrade would be worth it. I got a package deal that included
the tuff bag. That cover is sick.

[thekorean]

yeah found a dilemma. I would need to keep it in my basement and it isn't controlled too much. I really wouldn't want to ruin it due to humidity so I'm going to hold off until I get proper equipment to preserve it as well as possible.

[PsychoScout]

Originally Posted by thekorean

yeah found a dilemma. I would need to keep it in my basement and it isn't controlled too much. I really wouldn't want to ruin it due to humidity so I'm going to hold off until I get proper equipment to preserve it as well as possible.

humidity is always better than dryness

[Fletcher Lanning]

Originally Posted by thekorean

yeah found a dilemma. I would need to keep it in my basement and it isn't controlled too much. I really wouldn't want to ruin it due to humidity so I'm going to hold off until I get proper equipment to preserve it as well as possible.

From what I know, the biggest concern isn't necessarily how high or low your local humidity is, but that the instrument is kept in consistent conditions.

[RustyAxe]

While you're at Upton, have them show you a Shen ... little less money, and still a good ply bass. Also, be sure to have them demonstrate a few high end basses ... so you can hear the differences, and maybe get a sense of what sounds good and right to you.

Watch the Boston area Craigslist ... I often see interesting basses at good prices. Buying used is riskier, you'll have to educate yourself (this forum is a great start), and the bass you buy will probably need some work, and should be inspected by a luthier, but the savings are significant.

My first upright is a blond Strunal 50/4 (Czech) that ran me about $1800 OTD, nicely fitted with Obligato strings and ebony appointments. I bought it from a local small shop whose owner is a player/luthier. I installed an Upton Revolution II pickup, and use one of Upton's gig bags. I'm very happy with it.

As far as humidity, choose a laminated bass and the worry becomes much, much less.

[RustyAxe]

Originally Posted by Flanning

From what I know, the biggest concern isn't necessarily how high or low your local humidity is, but that the instrument is kept in consistent conditions.

Uh, no. I guarantee that keeping a bass (solid, carved) at a constant 20% RH will destroy it ... consistently!

[Paul Warburton]

Originally Posted by Flanning

From what I know, the biggest concern isn't necessarily how high or low your local humidity is, but that the instrument is kept in consistent conditions.

+1.
Any knowledgeable luthier will tell you this.
Although, IME, basses sound better a bit on the dry side. Think about it. The wetter the wood, the harder it is for the vibrations to move through it. The drier it is, well.......
I live in a pretty dry area and my basses always sound best here.
As Flanning says, consistency is the ticket...dry or humid.
Radical changes in humidity can blow a bass apart. That's why you have be careful with Damp-It's and humidifiers.
Stick your bass in a room with a humidifier for a few day and take it out for an outside concert in 90 degree dry heat and watch the result.

EDIT: A suggestion for the younger, newer and less experienced posters here at TBDB.
Use the TB SEARCH function to get more immediate responses from Pro bass luthiers and players, so that you don't have to wait around for information that may be ill-advised, putting your bass in danger. Just use words like humidity or whatever you can think of to zero in on what you need to know.
Good luck.

[Eric Hochberg]

I've done pretty well keeping the bass room humidity at 40% in the winter when the heat is on and dryness sets in. I also take my solid carved instruments out to various venues almost daily. I have never checked levels in these rooms, but I would guess they are probably on the low side. Maybe I'll start bringing a hydrogmeter with me to gigs to see. 40% at home has always worked for me, never had a top or back crack in 30 years, knock on wood. You might be able to relax about this a bit more with a laminated instrument.

[RustyAxe]

Originally Posted by Paul Warburton

+1.
Any knowledgeable luthier will tell you this.

With all due respect to your experience ... I'm no luthier, but I am a woodworker, and have owned fine acoustic guitars for years and years. Are you saying that keeping a carved bass at a constant low (or high) humidity is OK? That would be news to me (and a lot of other folks!). Dry wood shrinks, and wood that's fixed at its edges and shrinks will crack. "Wet" wood (from humidity, that is) swells, and will bulge and eventually blow apart at the seams. Not to mention the effects on the fingerboard, neck and bridge. Never known it to be any other way.

As far as tone, well, the bass will probably sound best at a reasonable humidity ... in the range of 45-55%.

But then, what do I know?

[PsychoScout]

Originally Posted by RustyAxe

Uh, no. I guarantee that keeping a bass (solid, carved) at a constant 20% RH will destroy it ... consistently!

haha.... so true...

you need a minimum of about 50% i guess...