new to double bass

chriscalas · #1 11-05-2011, 04:12 PM

Hey guys I've been playing electric bass for the past 8 years, I my starting a folk band doing old punk covers that I'm playing upright for. I have no background with double bass. ive got about 700 for a bass. I've got a mini acoustic 260 stack and an ampeg cl with different cabs. What suggestions do you guys have for a bass and amp choice for smaller bars. Thanks!

HunterBrodt · #2 11-05-2011, 04:40 PM

Getting anything half decent will cost about $1500, then a pick up $100-$200+, then a bag for your bass $100-$500, then you could worry about the amp. Look at used shens and don't get a bass off eBay.

bssist · #3 11-05-2011, 04:56 PM

Keep an eye out for a decent used bass. You can catch a deal if you are patient.

chriscalas · #4 11-05-2011, 05:03 PM

so those $600 beginner florea bass aren't worth it? The other thing is I'm 5' 2'' should I go for a 3/4 or a 1/2 size?

HunterBrodt · #5 11-05-2011, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chriscalas

so those $600 beginner florea bass aren't worth it? The other thing is I'm 5' 2'' should I go for a 3/4 or a 1/2 size?

Short answer is no... Your will spend a could hundred dollars just getting it playable and it will sound like s&&t. And I am friends with a girl who's 5'2 and plays a 3/4.

Violen · #6 11-05-2011, 05:49 PM

see if you can find someone you can get an old Kay off of for arround a Grand. i know a guy who found one in a barn for 250 but thats not a deal you see every day.

chriscalas · #7 11-05-2011, 06:30 PM

cool so an old kay and do you think I could get away with using that acoustic mini stack. or my svt classic with a 1x15? Thanks guys!

HunterBrodt · #8 11-05-2011, 06:47 PM

What type of music are you playing? You might not need an amp

chriscalas · #9 11-05-2011, 07:38 PM

folk style covers. I'll be playing with a full drum kit and a egnater 40watt guitar stack.

John Crosley · #10 11-05-2011, 08:11 PM

Either of those amps should work. I would try the mini stack first. try the Acoustic head with the Ampeg cab. Experiment to see how things sound together. I use a 100 watt Ampeg BA115 with no problem against a 60 watt Peavey guitar amp and full kit.

Nagrom · #11 11-05-2011, 10:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chriscalas

cool so an old kay and do you think I could get away with using that acoustic mini stack. or my svt classic with a 1x15? Thanks guys!

A little preamp will be your new best friend.

chriscalas · #12 11-06-2011, 07:42 AM

awesome I do have a sansamp do you think that could do well as a pre amp? Also do any of you guys have good experiences with engelherdts?

jayscheuerle · #13 11-07-2011, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chriscalas

cool so an old kay and do you think I could get away with using that acoustic mini stack. or my svt classic with a 1x15? Thanks guys!

Be careful with used basses. If you don't know what you're looking at, the instrument could need more in repairs than you pay for it. There are great deals to be found, but there's also a lot of junk being shuffled. Take a knowledgeable person with you if you find something of interest.

shadygrove · #14 11-07-2011, 11:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chriscalas

awesome I do have a sansamp do you think that could do well as a pre amp? Also do any of you guys have good experiences with engelherdts?

I don't have experience with the sansamp (that's mainly a DI, right?) but you'll need something that provides high impedance if you're using a piezo pickup. The HPF-Pre is an inexpensive preamp built by TB member fdeck . It has an adjustable high pass filter and phase switch and I've found it very useful for dialing out ultrasonic frequencies and helping avoid feedback.

There are lots of threads about Engelhardt basses here if you do a search. They are the company that took over Kay's bass manufacturing when Kay went out of business.

drurb · #15 11-08-2011, 08:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shadygrove

...It has an adjustable high pass filter and phase switch and I've found it very useful for dialing out ultrasonic frequencies and helping avoid feedback.

Those would be infrasonic frequencies.

Thumpie · #16 11-08-2011, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bssist

Keep an eye out for a decent used bass. You can catch a deal if you are patient.

Sure you can. But if you're not an experienced player, you won't know what look for, and your chances of getting a "deal" are slim.

It's important for any used/un-vetted instrument to be checked out by an experienced player.

Thumpie · #17 11-08-2011, 09:25 AM

Here's my perennial advice: if you don't have $1500. Don't buy a bass. RENT a good one with a good set-up. And use the leftover money to take lessons.

shadygrove · #18 11-08-2011, 12:52 PM

^ That's some good advice.

Quote:

Originally Posted by drurb

Those would be infrasonic frequencies.

Thank you Drurb . Yes, infrasonic frequencies .

bssist · #19 11-08-2011, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thumpie

Sure you can. But if you're not an experienced player, you won't know what look for, and your chances of getting a "deal" are slim.

It's important for any used/un-vetted instrument to be checked out by an experienced player.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thumpie

Here's my perennial advice: if you don't have $1500. Don't buy a bass. RENT a good one with a good set-up. And use the leftover money to take lessons.

That's a good point. But if he has access to good rental instruments and good lutherie for maintenance and set-up won't he have access to experienced guidance, assistance, education, and leads on what may be a good deal when it comes up?

chriscalas · #20 11-12-2011, 11:34 AM

this is why I love tb, I didn't know anything, now I have a general idea of what'll work. thanks guys I'm gonna save up and get something decent, I wish king was still out there that's probabaly what would've been my goal. Got a local dealer here so I'm gonna go play a couple.