QUEST: Best 3/4 Upright under $ 1,000

DapperSlapper · #1 12-13-2006, 10:52 AM

I want a 3/4 upright bass and have looked at a few new for around $ 750.00. They seem decent and even with ebony fingerboards. Any educated opinions as to the best (tolerable?) uprights out there under $ 1,000 and preferable around $ 750.00? I understand I will only get laminates for that amount of money. I just don’t want to say “Oh what a piece of %&$##!” every time I pick it up. Ok, I may sound snobby here but just a regular musician and actually have (and play) a mandolin and guitar with laminates and they ain’t too bad. What basses have I looked at?
-Merano (with ebony fingerboard, don't know the model but is not the cheapest and is around $ 750.00)
-Cremona SB-3
I looked at a few more but cannot remember their names and these two stood out as good values.

Also, if it helps your comments:
While I have been playing electric bass for just two years I am considered an intermediate to advanced player and my familiarity with strings and playing the six string guitar spans 40 years and mandolin for 4 years. I will be playing mostly Bluegrass and Jazz.

Thank you in advanced for your comments and direction.

theshadow2001 · #2 12-13-2006, 10:59 AM

If I had that kind of money I would go for something like a used Englehardt or similar laminate type bass. You might have to splash out hte full grand though. Ring some shops keep an eye on your local classifieds and the classifieds in here too. You never know what might come up. Don't rush it either

DapperSlapper · #3 12-13-2006, 11:15 AM

Thank you very much.

MonetBass · #4 12-13-2006, 11:20 AM

I'm sure you could get a used Eastman in that price range as well.

John Sprague · #5 12-13-2006, 01:56 PM

Hey Dap,
If you take a look thru the newby links threads, you'll soon see a trend where new basses in that price range are forbidden, so to speak. Best bet is poke around for a used plywood, let lots of people know you're looking because you never know whose crazy old aunty has late Uncle Louie's old bass in a closet. A search thru the newbies list again will tell you the good brands, there are a bunch that should work just fine.

glivanos · #6 12-13-2006, 02:29 PM

You might be able to get a Strunal Model 50/1, their entry level plywood base, for close to $750.

It's not a bad bass for the money, and for some reason Strunal basses have come down a little in price.

Try www.music123.com or www.samash.com

I can hook you up with a student bow and bag if need be.

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Sprague

Hey Dap,
If you take a look thru the newby links threads, you'll soon see a trend where new basses in that price range are forbidden, so to speak. Best bet is poke around for a used plywood, let lots of people know you're looking because you never know whose crazy old aunty has late Uncle Louie's old bass in a closet. A search thru the newbies list again will tell you the good brands, there are a bunch that should work just fine.

Greg Clinkingbeard · #7 12-13-2006, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glivanos

You might be able to get a Strunal Model 50/1, their entry level plywood base, for close to $750.

It's not a bad bass for the money, and for some reason Strunal basses have come down a little in price.

Try www.music123.com or www.samash.com

I can hook you up with a student bow and bag if need be.

Then figure on taking it to your luthier for some set up work.

DapperSlapper · #8 12-13-2006, 02:48 PM

Thank you all for your responses. After posting my initial "Quest" I did what a couple of you advised and looked around on the forum and even did a search for a couple of those models I mentioned and got lots and lots of threads and a wealth of information specifically regarding the brands I had been looking at! Sure glad I did that. Then I got on Craigslist.com and found a guy local with a plywood model by Jacob Horst. Never heard of it but then again I never heard of any of the others either. Probably just another of someone's "make me a bunch of these and put my name on them" basses, in house brand from music store but at least I can go play it at the guys house and check it out real good.

EJ_Dad · #9 12-13-2006, 03:33 PM

Jacob Horst was Brook Mays / H & H / C & S Music house brand imported from eastern europe.

theshadow2001 · #10 12-13-2006, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DapperSlapper

Thank you all for your responses. After posting my initial "Quest" I did what a couple of you advised and looked around on the forum and even did a search for a couple of those models I mentioned and got lots and lots of threads and a wealth of information specifically regarding the brands I had been looking at! Sure glad I did that. Then I got on Craigslist.com and found a guy local with a plywood model by Jacob Horst. Never heard of it but then again I never heard of any of the others either. Probably just another of someone's "make me a bunch of these and put my name on them" basses, in house brand from music store but at least I can go play it at the guys house and check it out real good.

If you have any friends that are knowledgeable about bass bring them up to this guys house. Or even a teacher might come with you. If he helps you get the right bass then chances are he's going to make his job easier as well as guarantee work for a while.

PoorPlayer · #11 12-13-2006, 05:54 PM

I've read through the newbie articles and learned a lot. The most important things I have learned are:

1) Find a teacher
2) Get a teacher's help locating/selecting a bass
3) Play as many basses as you can get your hands on
4) Stay away from the cheapest of the cheap Chinese basses
5) If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is
6) Any new bass out of the box will require set-up
6a) Some sellers do a great set-up
6b) Some sellers drop ship basses that need a lot of work
6c) Set-up can cost $300+

B. Graham · #12 12-13-2006, 06:03 PM

Check http://www.bassesonline.com for an Eberle plywood. Shipping will put it a little over a grand, but it's a good bass. I bought one a few months ago. Aside from a lousy endpin, and the high glose yam colored finish, it's very nice. The fingerboard could use a little work, but it's passable for the time being.

John Sprague · #13 12-14-2006, 07:34 AM

Be careful about recommending www.music123.com guys, they filed for Chapter 11. They may be back, but for now it's like throwing your money in a hole.

charmicarmicat · #14 12-14-2006, 12:17 PM

one thing that surprised me is that no one mentioned talkbass' classified corner. check the link below. a bit over 1k with shipping, but man, seems to me like it's calling your name

either way, keep checking the for sale corner on this site, you never know.
Eberle Bass Outfit

LeslieD · #15 12-28-2006, 03:14 PM

For the price, an Eberle is pretty good (though I bought mine many years ago). Bill Graham's assessment of the varnish color is pretty correct: "high gloss yam." The color NEVER mellows. My orangey-yam-colored bass has been the same for 28 years. Another weird thing about it: it's a standard 3/4 size bass, but it doesn't look like it. It looks like a cello on steroids. But it produces a sharp sound, and turned out to be excellent for recording (nothing dull about the sound on any of my recordings). Though now I only use it outdoors or at when I'm in big groups (and I don't dare take my good bass).

SLaPiNFuNK · #16 12-28-2006, 11:46 PM

With some luck, could find a nice Kay...

klocwerk · #17 12-29-2006, 06:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SLaPiNFuNK

With some luck, could find a nice Kay...

agreed.
I found my Kay at a luthier who'd restored it for $1500 with composite bow and a nice case. I bet you could find one on craigslist or similar for under 1k if you're willing to be patient.
Here's one that was listed in boston for $1200 recently, with a nice wheeled case and all.

Kay's may be the default answer for a low-priced bass, but they are for a reason. When i got mine, I played every bass the luthier had for under $3k, and the Kay was definitely the best sounding AND easiest to play. Beat out a few carved-top basses from eastern Europe that he had around. (He repaired and restored basses, had all kinds of stuff in his shop.)

soholounge · #18 12-29-2006, 11:51 AM

don't order the b-stock engelhardt EC1 from wwbw.com (i think that's the same as music123??)

because it will be RED.
(see my new thread on this)

i'm returning it for a refund.

but i wanted to say, besides the hideously glossy lipstick red color, it played really well and sounded pretty decent for a $800-900 bass.
(b-stock price was $650)

greene · #19 12-29-2006, 02:26 PM

Actually the finish on the Eberle is also available (when I can find it) in dark brown ... yes that's correct. A darker chocolate color. I just sold one a few days ago to someone in the midwest.

And there is no bass of equal value - all ebony fittings, set up, new D'addario strings etc that compares to the value of the Eberle for under a grand. I surveyed the market before setting the pirces of both the Romanian and the German Eberle and I'd sure be curious to see anything in that price range that compares. As far as I know, it just doesn't exist.

greene · #20 12-29-2006, 02:52 PM

Pic of darker Eberle

http://www.flickr.com/photos/49305013@N00/337754039/