New standard?

[HunterBrodt]

I am looking to buy a new bass in the near future. I have five grand to spend maybe a bit more. The problem I face is that I am in Boise Idaho and there is such a surplus of instruments to play here ... I am wondering from owners of a new standard ply if buying one without trying it out is a safe bet. I have been reading rave reviews on talkbass about them.

[PhiDeck]

Oops... (wrong forum)

[ctxbass]

Not only a safe bet, but a wise one (IMHO). Considering the sound, materials, and craftsmanship, I don't think you can get a better ply bass than a New Standard.
The setup and finish are top notch, and Arnold and Will are great to deal with as well.
As you said, plenty of rave reviews, and I have not heard of a single dissatisfied New Standard owner.

[Tejano Bass]

+1 - Their rave reviews are well earned/deserved . . .

Arnold + Will + New Standard = Safe Bet !

Well, that is . . . as safe as it gets without the option of seeing & playing before buying, of course . . .

Even so, I'd recommend giving them a call to visit - Good Luck!

[damonsmith]

The New Standards I have played have sounded good, but why do you want a ply bass if you have five grand to spend?

IMO, you don't need to spend five grand for a playable ply bass, and you can get also track down a reasonable carved or hybrid for less. No offense to the many satisfied New Standard owners.

[Stev187]

Originally Posted by damonsmith

The New Standards I have played have sounded good, but why do you want a ply bass if you have five grand to spend?

A fair question. The OP will need to weigh in, but here is a theory. If Boise, ID is not a place one can really "shop around" for lots of different instruments, perhaps the intended strategy is to find a bass in this price point that is made a) by reputable people in the DB community, b) in large enough quantities to "crowd source" opinions about it, and c) with consistent materials from instrument to instrument.

The New Standard certainly fits this profile, as do many of the Upton ply basses, such as the Gary Karr, Professor, and Deluxe.

I could be totally off base. Just an idea.

--Steve

P.S. I would love to own a New Standard some day. My very first bass was an American Standard, and I have fond memories of it. Hopefully the OP realizes that this bass is a bit larger than most: 7/8 size with a 42" scale length. I've heard nothing but wonderful things about them. I would (and perhaps one day will) buy one sight unseen.

[Chris Fitzgerald]

I have bought a New Standard ply LaScala sight unseen and would have no reservations about buying a carved one sight unseen. The main thing that you should be aware of is what kind of bass you like (size, violin or gamba corners, varnish, round or flat back, etc.), and then consider whether you might be better served spending a little more and getting a hybrid of the same type. I bought the ply for around that price tag because I already had a hybrid and needed a bass to keep in a location where the temperature/humidity control is spotty; in addition, string length, bridge cut, and setup to be as near identical to my main bass as possible. If this isn't an issue, consider the hybrid; it really is a step up, and mine has been incredibly stable. If you want a ply but don't have absolutely OCD requirements about the details as I did, looking for a used one and saving a few $$$ is also a viable option.

[TPugh]

Originally Posted by damonsmith

The New Standards I have played have sounded good, but why do you want a ply bass if you have five grand to spend?

IMO, you don't need to spend five grand for a playable ply bass, and you can get also track down a reasonable carved or hybrid for less. No offense to the many satisfied New Standard owners.

None taken. First of all, in my opinion, there are good reasons a person may prefer plywood versus carved. At least there were for me. Perhaps it could be that he prefers a ply sound for his genre. Or maybe he prefers ply because he'd rather not worry about a carved bass in certain extraordinary playing conditions. Maybe a ply preference isn't the norm, but is it not possible?

I'll let him respond, but this is at least why I have a ply bass. And when I decided to get the best ply bass available to me, it was a New Standard Cleveland. The higher plywood price point was justified in my experience.

FWIW, I've played several plywood basses and my favorite two have been two different New Standards. And yes, one of them is mine.

Good luck,
Thomas

[hdiddy]

I dunno. Despite having had a carved Cleveland built, I would still consider driving to Seattle to see what is available or playing a few in person. Esp, my first inspiration was to play an old American Standard. If I was going for a lam, I would find a vintage American Standard and go for the mojo.

[complaint edited: having my **** get taken care]

[HunterBrodt]

Thanks for all of the feedback. Im looking at a few on the classifieds right now that are for sale which would save me some money. Right now I am only 18 and im studying another year with my instructor before I go to school. The reason I want a ply is so that I can bring it back and forth from home to school next year with out worrying about humidity influxes ruining a carved bass. Boise is very dry and i am most likely going to school in either NYC or California so I can see this being a problem. Once I am out of College and settled into one area I will buy a nice carved.

Oh and I play almost exclusively jazz other than technical exercises with a bow.

[Marcus Johnson]

No qualms for me. I love my La Scala hybrid, bought sight unseen from Arnold and Wil, and shipped to me here on Maui. Fantastic bass.

[Paul Warburton]

Originally Posted by HunterBrodt

Thanks for all of the feedback. Im looking at a few on the classifieds right now that are for sale which would save me some money. Right now I am only 18 and im studying another year with my instructor before I go to school. The reason I want a ply is so that I can bring it back and forth from home to school next year with out worrying about humidity influxes ruining a carved bass. Boise is very dry and i am most likely going to school in either NYC or California so I can see this being a problem. Once I am out of College and settled into one area I will buy a nice carved.Oh and I play almost exclusively jazz other than technical exercises with a bow.

Well gee, players have been hauling great old carved basses worth $ you can't even imagine all over this planet without any real issues for a few hundred years. Wonder how they pull that off? You live in a dry climate & so do I, here in Colorado. Not a big deal if you know a few tricks on how to avoid weather-related damage.

[Paul Warburton]

Originally Posted by Marcus Johnson

No qualms for me. I love my La Scala hybrid, bought sight unseen from Arnold and Wil, and shipped to me here on Maui. Fantastic bass.

If push came to shove, I wouldn't hesitate to order sight unseen/unplayed from these guys. (but, only from these guys.)

[hdiddy]

I dunno Unca, those Upton Hawkes/Panormos look pretty fine too. It's nice there's several options for people these days.

Yeah, if I was a college student I'd get a lam simply cuz their tougher and can take more abuse - not because of weather. Get a hybrid and split the diff.

[Marcus Johnson]

Originally Posted by Paul Warburton

If push came to shove, I wouldn't hesitate to order sight unseen/unplayed from these guys. (but, only from these guys.)

That was a major consideration in my choice.

[damonsmith]

Originally Posted by Paul Warburton

Well gee, players have been hauling great old carved basses worth $ you can't even imagine all over this planet without any real issues for a few hundred years. Wonder how they pull that off? You live in a dry climate & so do I, here in Colorado. Not a big deal if you know a few tricks on how to avoid weather-related damage.

Exactly. For jazz a carved top is just going to sound richer and once your technical exercises with the bow start sounding good you may want to play bit of arco in public without the nasally plywood sound.
I believe I have said this before: there may be reasons to buy a ply bass, having 5 grand to spend just isn't one of them.

[TPugh]

To clarify, my earlier point was not that if you have five grand to spend, you must buy a ply. Considering the economy, I agree that you have enough of a budget to have several good options to consider, including the New Standards.

Good luck,
Thomas

[jlilley]

I second the idea of taking a trip to Seattle and doing some shopping. There are some good basses in town and friendly players who could be helpful...

Cheers,

John

[damonsmith]

I am willing to accept that some people like the sound of ply basses, and I won't cry when get handed one on tour, I have played great concerts on them and even recorded on them.
Drawing the sound out of a ply bass and drawing the sound out of a carved instrument are two different things.
If you want to study the instrument seriously, get an instrument that functions like a serious instrument - if you just can't afford one that is a whole other situation.

You are better off learning to care for a cheap carved bass than an expensive one and you will more accurately study the instrument by learning on one.

It is also a situation of buying something you will have to replace rather than something may want to replace.

[drurb]

^^^^^ +1. I especially agree with the comments about a carved top being desirable for jazz (yes, even pizz.). The tonal complexity and physical response of a carved top really are are dimensions that are missing from a ply.