New gear4music carved "proffessional model" $1400!

[ianplaysguitar]

Hi Everyone,

I play a 1940s german flat back bass with numerous big cracks (including a soundpost crack which has had a patch fitted rather crudely in the past) but which is repaired and sounds pretty good..

I spotted this recently:

http://www.gear4music.com/String_Ins...asssefv_2.html

and having spoken at length with gear4music's product developer, I'm going to go and try it sometime, and possibly take advantage of the 14day money back guarantee...

..I'll let you know what I think (my bass luthier is going to have a good look at it during the 14day trial and see what "potential" it has. ie. with a good set up, better strings or something more serious (thinning of panels?).

Having tried the cheaper gear4music basses previously (they were really pretty awful!) I was pleased to see that the new model looks better made (the 360degree view mode shows quite a lot of detail) but still comes with the excellent looking styrofoam wheeled case and now.. an adjuster bridge -that means that at least when I try it, the action can be set immediately to something playable!


Has anyone had any experience of these basses?
Perhaps it's the same as another existing re-branded chinese model (I'm pretty sure this one comes from shanghai)?

It sure looks a hell of a lot better than a stentor or comparable bass which cost a lot more..

good to see also that it isn't caked in thick plasticky varnish..


This is my first post,.. nice advice on these pages!


Ian

[jayarroz]

I would never buy a bass without trying it. If you get a luthier to order in a bass thats a different story, for example Shen's, Christophers, or Engelharts. Then he sets them up and if they don't sound good they have a deal with a distributor and can ship it back etc.

[robobass]

What's wrong with your flatback? I can't imagine how any new bass that comes from a store that also sells electric guitars and band instruments could ever compare to what you already have. Your bass must certainly not be playing optimally if you are even considering what you have suggested. But, with 700 quid and the right luthier, you could possibly do a whole lot with your existing bass and end up with more value, in both music and Pounds Sterling. Take it around to the shops and get some opinions.
Robobass

[nicfargo]

Ian,
Does your bass luthier work with Double basses a lot, or does he mainly work on electric bass guitars? I ask because they are two totally different beasts, they're biggest similarity being that they are called bass and operate in the same range for music. Other then that, they couldn't be more different. So make sure your luthier knows his double basses and works on them regularly. If you're city is anything like mine, you'll have a tough time finding someone who is worth anything when it comes to double basses. The bass players in the symphony here have their basses worked on by someone out of town...so that kind of reassures that no one is worth my money. You may want to check with professional bass players in your area to see who they go to. Most of the guys who even touch instruments in my city work for a corporate chain and it's just a part-time/full-time job for them to get by...not something they want to make a career of. So basically what I'm saying is be careful with who you let handle your big ol' bass.

Also, I'd just have your German worked on. A new soundpost will cost you under $20, even if you buy the tool to set it yourself, you're looking at $40 maximum. The other big cracks could also be fixed pretty easily and make them stronger then before when the bass had no cracks at all if done correctly. Don't give up on that old bass!

[Martin Sheridan]

I'm not familiar with this company, but I can't imagine getting a carved bass for $1400. There's another company that sells "carved" basses that are actually pressed in shape and not carved. I opened one once for repair and the bass bar wasn't any larger than that of a standard cello.

Beware.

[nicfargo]

Martin,
I didn't even pay attention to the price of the bass, but you're right, carved for $1,400? I don't think so. I've looked a lot for a new upright and you will not find a new carved bass for that price. You may be able to get a used one pretty easily in that price range, but new? No way! It's probably either a hybrid, or like martin stated, a pressed wood.

[drurb]

Then there was the contentious thread we once had here about the "wonderful" fully-carved bass for $259! Check out the thread for a good laugh. There's one born every minute.

[Bass]

Ha ha!

Ever had a Chinese bass get eaten by bugs?

[nicfargo]

Drurb,
That was a hilarious thread. It's got to be annoying as hell at the time, but is actually quite hilarious to read after the fact. Akahank is one of the best Trolls I've seen in any forum...she even changed her name! Classic!

[drurb]

Originally Posted by nicfargo

Drurb,
That was a hilarious thread. It's got to be annoying as hell at the time, but is actually quite hilarious to read after the fact. Akahank is one of the best Trolls I've seen in any forum...she even changed her name! Classic!

Yes, it is a hoot to read with normal blood pressure. At the time, though...

[nathanmcnathan]

Originally Posted by nicfargo

Drurb,
That was a hilarious thread. It's got to be annoying as hell at the time, but is actually quite hilarious to read after the fact. Akahank is one of the best Trolls I've seen in any forum...she even changed her name! Classic!

Yeah, I just read over those posts... too bad I wasn't here in 2007... What a cock...

[hdiddy]

Wow, I never followed up what happened in that thread. Crazy! That was a serious troll. :P

[nicfargo]

Yup, he was definitely fed well.