Mid-range basses at ISB?

[Jsn]

Forgive me if this is a painfully obvious question, but you can understand my wanting to ask.

I know that this summer's convention of the ISB in San Francisco will have some of the most incredible (and justifiably expensive) basses on display. But will there also be mid-range, say 4-8k models, there too?

I'm contemplating my next step up from my trusty '38 Kay, which is wonderful, but...well, you can finish that sentence. Since I live in the San Francisco Bay Area, I'd certainly welcome a rare opportunity to sample a full panoply of possibilities.

What's the scoop? I know the ISB's focus is on pros and I'm an amateur, but I figure even pros want to get up to speed on mid-price models--after all, many of them are teachers, who need to know what to recommend to their students. (That's my hope at least.) Please, clue me in.

[PaulCannon]

Originally Posted by Jsn

...will there also be mid-range, say 4-8k models, there too?

Absolutely. When I went in 2007, there were heaps of basses in that price range. Of course there are a nice selection of very rare, antique basses, but those are very hard to sell. I would guess most people seriously looking to buy a bass at the convention are in your price range.

If you want to make certain you're not wasting your time, contact some of the vendors before the convention starts. Tell them what you're hoping to see and some of them might bring basses specifically with you in mind. Most shops can't bring their entire inventory, so calling ahead of time might help them decide what to bring.

[Matt Ides]

Steve Swan is in your area and would meet your needs if you don't want to wait.

[Jason Sypher]

Extra points for using the word "panoply" on TB.

[Jason Sypher]

I spent the last few months looking for a bass all over the US. I can save you a lot of time...the best bass in that price range is a Arnold Schnitzer La Scala. Make sure you talk to Arnold before the convention.

[drurb]

Indeed, there should be a number of basses to try out at the ISB. Contacting vendors in advance is good advice. What you hear over and over here at TB is that it's best to try a number of basses before plunking down your $$$. I sure agree with that and that seems to be your intention. A wise move. There are a number of fine basses in the $4-8k range. What might be someone else's idea of "best" may not be yours.

[Steve Swan]

I am hoping that the vendor turnout is good. I was shocked to find that fully 2/3 of my doublebass suppliers didn't show at NAMM in Anaheim two weeks ago. Those that did exhibit had much abbreviated bass inventories. It was pretty slim pickings.

[Jsn]

Originally Posted by Matt Ides

Steve Swan is in your area and would meet your needs if you don't want to wait.

Bless your heart, Matt. I have no doubt Steve Swan will be an integral part of my selection process; we're lucky to have him out here. But it may be upwards of a year before I pull the trigger, so I'm in no hurry.

If anything, the parameters of a next-step bass are still taking shape in my mind. Which is why ISB 2011 intrigues me, as perhaps a rare opportunity to better expand my sense of the possibilities. A lot of the brands that are prominent on this board--New Standards, Uptons, even the Lemur and String Emporium models--are pretty scarce on the ground out here.

[arnoldschnitzer]

I hate to be a party-pooper, but I don't think you are going to see a tremendous selection at the SF ISB. That's because most of the dealers/makers of instruments in your price range are located in the Northeast and Midwest. Schlepping a bunch of basses across the country doesn't make a lot of sense unless you are a huge business and expect to make a lot of sales. My experience at ISB's has been that lots of folks run around trying out basses, but very few instruments actually get sold. But you should still attend, as these things are a veritable bass orgasm!

[Matt Ides]

Originally Posted by Jsn

Bless your heart, Matt. I have no doubt Steve Swan will be an integral part of my selection process; we're lucky to have him out here. But it may be upwards of a year before I pull the trigger, so I'm in no hurry.

If anything, the parameters of a next-step bass are still taking shape in my mind. Which is why ISB 2011 intrigues me, as perhaps a rare opportunity to better expand my sense of the possibilities. A lot of the brands that are prominent on this board--New Standards, Uptons, even the Lemur and String Emporium models--are pretty scarce on the ground out here.

I hear ya. You should move to the upper Midwest (I love it here), but the closest bass (dedicated) shop is a 5 hour drive. It could be worse, but could be much better.

[Mike Arnopol]

I have to chime in. For about $12k you can probably get a custom Luciano Golia bass. They are fabulous basses and totally custom. I've had one for about 2 years and it's probably my favorite bass that I've owned. (I've owned a lot of basses in the pats 40 years---many MUCH more valuable)

[RCWilliams]

tell me what you want and I'll throw one in the sprinter for ya.

[Jsn]

Originally Posted by arnoldschnitzer

I hate to be a party-pooper...My experience at ISB's has been that lots of folks run around trying out basses, but very few instruments actually get sold. But you should still attend, as these things are a veritable bass orgasm!

Maestro Arnold, you could never poop my party! And I'll be there, no matter what; just look for the least talented guy in the room.

I defer to your experience, and you probably sell as many New Standards as you can shove out the door already. But let me suggest that San Francisco might offer a different experience from previous ISB conventions. There is a hunger for variety out here, especially quality variety.

And if a midprice bass doesn't sell off the floor--well hey, I'd bet Steve Swan or another Bay Area shop would find a good home for it pretty soon thereafter (not to speak for them, or anyone of course). It would dovetail nicely with building a basis for teacher recommendations, which I think is a huge reason to get something other than top-shelf instruments out there on the convention floor.

[Jsn]

Originally Posted by Mike Arnopol

I have to chime in. For about $12k you can probably get a custom Luciano Golia bass. They are fabulous basses and totally custom. I've had one for about 2 years and it's probably my favorite bass that I've owned. (I've owned a lot of basses in the pats 40 years---many MUCH more valuable)

Aw, Mike. That is so sweet of you, volunteering to make up the difference between my 8k upper limit and your 12k suggestion.

Seriously, though: I do appreciate your wanting to help me out. But let's not devolve this into a You Should Buy thread. There are good values and worse values, but there are no absolutes. What's right for me depends upon the music I play and the sound in my head, not abstract notions of superiority.

That said, I've played maybe a half-dozen double basses in my life. I want to play more.

[Jsn]

Originally Posted by RCWilliams

tell me what you want and I'll throw one in the sprinter for ya.

One thing for sure: I'll buy a Bass Buggy off of you!

[Steve Swan]

What I think happened at NAMM this year was that vendors took a hard look at what results were produced from exhibiting in January 2010, right after the close of an extremely challenging year of 2009. All of us shop owners are much more cautious about what level of inventory we carry compared to the pre-recession years of 2006-7. From the many conversations that I've had with other shops and repairmen, 2010 was significantly stronger than 2009, especially in the second half of the year. The european suppliers and many of those from New York decided not to take a chance on having two bad exhibit years in a row.

I expect the ISB exhibitors to be in better position becasue many of them are going to be the large successful retail businesses as well as specialty makers of instruments and accessories. San Francisco is a long drive from the east coast or the midwest, but my hope is that the instrument makers and specialty retailers will be there in strong numbers. At least they won't have to drive on snow and ice as the exhibitors at NAMM just did. I'm sure that there will be a good number of west coast shops with wares on display. I'll have a modest booth there myself, because the university campus is just over 2 miles from my house. Like Jsn, I'll be very interested in seeing people and products from far away that I don't get a chance to see otherwise. This should be a lot of fun.

[Ed Fuqua]

Originally Posted by Jason Sypher

Extra points for using the word "panoply" on TB.

That means a "lot of laminates", right?

[Jake deVilliers]

Originally Posted by Ed Fuqua

That means a "lot of laminates", right?

[Steve Swan]

... or cooking 2 or 3 of them up in the world's largest frying pan.

[Tejano Bass]

Aw-right, Youze Guyz - Go Straight to Jail & Do not Pass Go, Already!!!