palatino?

anomalybass · #1 05-24-2006, 01:06 PM

Palatino basses any good? My spelling might be wrong. There's a website selling these contrabasses for $830.00.-joe

Marcus Johnson · #2 05-24-2006, 02:29 PM

Yup, you've spelled it right. Search on the name, there's lots of threads here. Interestingly, a search on the term "Crapatino" also yields many hits. That tells you pretty much all you need to know.

**Chris Fitzgerald** · #3 05-24-2006, 02:30 PM

Please read the related issues from these topics, then reply if you have further questions. Thanks!

mpm · #4 05-24-2006, 02:58 PM

Acronyms such as POS, BSO might elicit interesting searches too...

anomalybass · #5 05-24-2006, 05:30 PM

That explains alot. -joe

John Sprague · #6 05-24-2006, 06:53 PM

LOL Joe, I have to chuckle whenever I see a person go thru what you're going thru, getting acquainted with the DB market. There are a handful of acceptable entry level plywoods, starting around $1300 most places. Any good shop near you will have something decent. To get below that price, you need to find a decent name instrument used, or bump into some luck. Tell everyone you know that you're lookng for one, and something just might fall out of a closet or attic for you at a great price.

G/L!
John

anomalybass · #7 05-25-2006, 01:08 PM

Thanks for the help. I'm spoiled with high end bass guitars, I figured standups were the same about quality. I'd hade to buy a pos and not even know it.-joe

Bass Barrister · #8 05-25-2006, 01:30 PM

Mr. Sprague, in line with TB "et-tee-kette", did not mention this, so I will. The Samuel Shen line has some excellent entry level basses (and others as well) and is sold by many reputable luthiers. Check them out. Another good line is Christopher, which is also sold by many luthiers.

Looking for a bass is great fun and is like the quest for the holy grail (not the Python version). Here in the Chicago area, we are fortunate to have four good DB shops. I know it's a trip for you but it may be worthwhile. Moreover, there are a few good shops along the way.

Good luck to you.

Snarf · #9 05-25-2006, 01:35 PM

Try to find a Kay if you can. Mine may not be the most beauteous of basses, but she's got tons of tone, especially with the Corellis I just put on (had Eurosonics, sounded good but too hard to play).

mje · #10 05-25-2006, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snarf

Try to find a Kay if you can. Mine may not be the most beauteous of basses, but she's got tons of tone, especially with the Corellis I just put on (had Eurosonics, sounded good but too hard to play).

But be advised that there is a lot of variability between Kays. At a shop near me are three: One that I have to keep myself from trying to buy, one that's not bad, and one that sounds like a footlocker strung with screen door springs.

Eilif · #11 05-25-2006, 02:18 PM

If you are absolutely scraping for cash, get an englehardt ec1. It costs a bit less than a grand plus shipping, and it aint the best, but you can bet it will be much better constructed and will last decades longer than the palatino you are thinking about. If you can drop 1300-1600, there are numerous better instruments available.

b1644 · #12 05-26-2006, 10:21 AM

IIRC, the (very general) rule-of-thumb for an EBG player

looking to get into an 2xbass is... take your, or any, EBG bass... multiply it's value by 10 (yes, "TEN") and that's very roughly what it will cost to get a 2xbass of equivalent quality. That should provide some idea of the "value" of an $830 Palatino.

If you're on a tight budget, it might seem hopeless, but don't give up. There are OK low-price 2xbasses out there, but anything under $1k is most likely badly set up, of dubious quality, and will be a source of frustration instead of music.

YMMV!

- Martin

anomalybass · #13 05-26-2006, 01:30 PM

Thank you. I am currently playing a kay c-1. This one needs so much work that it's hard to tell if it is a good bass. -joe

Eilif · #14 05-26-2006, 01:59 PM

Someone else may want to contradict me on this and I welcome that, but it seems that if you already have a Kay, you should take it in and see what it will cost to get it up to snuff. If it is less than the price of a palatino, you should have it repaired. If it is more than the price of a palatino, you should sell the Kay, and save for an englehard, shen or christopher...

Either way, buying the palatino is not in your best interest.

I bought an englehardt ec-1 for $250, then dropped another 600 or so to have it setup, planed, new bridge, etc. It was entirely worth it. If you Kay is not completely destroyed, dropping some $ into it to get it in condition is not a bad idea.