Newbie doubler gets a Zeller

7string · #1 02-05-2007, 02:00 PM

Yup, I finally took the plunge and am now the proud owner of this Zeller, bought for the princely sum of £850.

I bought it from the Glasgow Violin Shop, although I did ring around about a dozen different shops in the UK. Some were very helpful, some were somewhat snobbish !!

The Glasgow Violin Shop www.theviolinshop-glasgow.co.uk has a nice range of about a dozen double basses to choose from going from £500 to over £10,000. All in the shop are extremely helpful and knowledgable. My grateful thanks go to Ray and Brenda who looked after me.

If you are after a bass in the UK, give them a call. Glasgow City centre is pretty easy to negotiate and you'll be assured of a warm welcome.

The bass had been fitted with an adjustable bridge and a pickup by it's previous owner, had a good setup and is strung with a set of Dominants.

Following the reviews on here, I have ordered my bow from Upton Bass as well as a cake each of Nymans and Carlsson rosin and their bass stand.

My thanks to all who post their advice on here. Being a newbie to the world of double bass is difficult enough, but the information on here is invaluable.

TimoMetzemakers · #2 02-05-2007, 02:18 PM

Well, let me be the first to greet you with a cheerful GET A TEACHER!

Just joking. Congrats, man!

But with those red silks, are you sure those are Dominants? They look like Weichs to me...

Welcome to the dark side, enjoy the bass and do get a teacher

Timo

PoorPlayer · #3 02-05-2007, 04:01 PM

Nice looking bass! I hope it plays and sounds as nice as it looks.

Question: Is the bridge slightly closer to the fingerboard on the treble side, or is that an artifact of the photographs?

7string · #4 02-05-2007, 05:37 PM

Thanks for your replies. I'm certainly having a lot of fun with the bass.

I've got the number for a local teacher which I'll call in the next couple of days.

I was told by the guys in the shops that the strings are dominants. They silks up at the scroll are purple if that helps identification.

I'm pretty sure the bridge is level and straight. We had a battle with the lighting for the photos. I'll measure and check it later..

jtlownds · #5 02-05-2007, 06:04 PM

[quote=7string;3797435]I was told by the guys in the shops that the strings are dominants. They silks up at the scroll are purple if that helps identification.

With that color combination, I would definitely say that those strings are Weichs.

7string · #6 02-05-2007, 06:21 PM

Thanks for that. Great to know what strings I actually have on my db !!

eadg52 · #7 02-06-2007, 06:54 AM

Well done, nice bass. Mind you, I would say that seeing as I have a Zeller too

I've only had mine for a few months but am really pleased with the acoustic tone using D'Addario Hybrids.
I noticed you have what looks like a K&K BassMax pick up fitted? If so when you come to trying the bass through an amp or PA if the tone is too thick I suggest moving the pick up to the treble side of the bridge, made a wonderful difference to mine...

Steve

sei24bass · #8 02-06-2007, 07:34 AM

Nice DB 7string...great distraction from waiting for the SEI!

7string · #9 02-06-2007, 09:01 AM

eadg52 - Thanks for identifying the pickup for me. There's no name on it, so I didn't know what it was !! I'll bear your thoughts in mine when I need to amplify it. Cheers, Mark

sei24bass - Hi Ben... Yup, it's a good thing to take my mind off of the Sei. I was a little sad about selling the drums, but after seeing how much it cost to get a half-decent double bass it had to be done !! I basically swapped one for the other, so it's a good bass which didn't cost me anything but some time !!

Anyone who wonders what a Sei is, just click on the build thread link in my sig. I'm lucky enough to be having an electric bass built by one of the best guys around !!
Sei24bass is waiting for his Sei to be built as well. The only drawback is that we have to suffer the waiting until they are completed !!

sei24bass · #10 02-07-2007, 06:24 AM

Unused equipment in my books represents lost opportunities...both for you and for someone else who would make good use of it.

You did the right thing...dump the drums (no need to be sentimental) and get something a whole lot better!!

7string · #11 02-07-2007, 05:13 PM

Yeah, I agree !!

Over the last couple of years, I've been doing some wheeling and dealing on eBay. I'm so pleased to say that this is the last deal that I'll have to make to complete the musical armoury !!

It's like that for all musicians. As we improve, we want to get the best gear that we can afford...