Question for everybody

[Hawkes]

Hi

One question for all players. Just imagine that you have 20.000 $.You play just a classical music , 99% orchestra. You want to have big sound but clear, nice pizz as well. What would you buy??? New instrument , old???

Wilfer ,Grunert ,Pollmann, Auray...if old from wich shop?

I know that is hard to say without trying it but just what bass you have in mind??
Many thanks

[Eric Swanson]

There is a thoughtful, thorough, and often humorous thread on this exact topic, just a few months old:

New basses by independent builders vs. old basses

And, the satisfying, passionate, and equally humorous follow up:

Die Kröte kauft einen neuen alten deutschen Bass cela pourrait être en fait français

Best of luck! Enjoy the journey.

[Barron]

Originally Posted by Eric Swanson

There is a thoughtful, thorough, and often humorous thread on this exact topic, just a few months old:

New basses by independent builders vs. old basses

And, the satisfying, passionate, and equally humorous follow up:

Die Kröte kauft einen neuen alten deutschen Bass cela pourrait être en fait français

Best of luck! Enjoy the journey.

No offence, but that's one man's journey.

If every new thread is referenced back to the search function and old conversations, there will be no new conversations. That's a disservice to those of us who are new members.

I like Uncle Toad's threads. A lot. But the tailor will get bored and out of practice if we don't let him take commisions on some new threads, even if he uses the same old pattern, the cut and fabric will be just different enough to warrant interest.

[Eric Hochberg]

Originally Posted by Barron

No offence, but that's one man's journey.

If every new thread is referenced back to the search function and old conversations, there will be no new conversations. That's a disservice to those of us who are new members.

I like Uncle Toad's threads. A lot. But the tailor will get bored and out of practice if we don't let him take commisions on some new threads, even if he uses the same old pattern, the cut and fabric will be just different enough to warrant interest.

I think ES was just pointing the old thread out as a matter of interest, not to say that no other discussion is welcome or necessary. There is a lot of relevant info and opinion in that thread that the OP will find informative. Why get so huffy?

[Ed Fuqua]

It's pretty easy to catch a snit in this neighborhood, so why not?

Siriusly though, the great thing about showing threads where discussion has previously occurred is a great way to institute NEW discussion, because you don't have to type a lot of things you've said already. If anyone has an alternate direction to head, all they have to do is post and those threads become live again.

[Uncletoad]

I have discovered that no matter what anyone says you have to play as many instruments as possible to know what's right for you. Use the internet to find out where they are. Inquire with teachers and other musicians to find out where they found theirs or where the builders are that you can go to. Go play as many as humanly possible, new and old, and discuss what you find here and with your colleagues.

I considered others experiences in my choices but in the end the choices I made were the result of my own discoveries as I played a bunch of different stuff.

What's available to someone in one part of the world may not be to someone elsewhere. Good luck in finding basses to play, go play as many as you can and let us know what you find.

[enemybass]

Id buy a spector usa a big muff and 3 svt rigs

[Ed Fuqua]

Originally Posted by Hawkes

Hi
One question for all players. Just imagine that you have 20.000 $.You play just a classical music , 99% orchestra. You want to have big sound but clear, nice pizz as well. What would you buy??? New instrument , old???
Wilfer ,Grunert ,Pollmann, Auray...if old from wich shop?
I know that is hard to say without trying it but just what bass you have in mind??
Many thanks

The worst thing you can do, in my opinion, is walk into the shop with your mind already set on a specific kind of instrument. Give them your price range, have them pull the instruments and walk in with absolutely NO knowledge of what you'll be playing, just have the sound you are looking for in your mind's ear. Play the basses and have somebody play the basses. The instrument that gets the sound you want (or close to it), that plays without impediment (or one that can be easily fixed by repair and setup), the one that you have the hardest time putting down, THAT'S the bass you buy.

[Ed Fuqua]

Originally Posted by enemybass

Id buy a spector usa a big muff and 3 svt rigs

And I'd use them to beat you to a pulp if you get lost again. Quiet sweetie, mommy and daddy are talking.

[Eric Hochberg]

Originally Posted by Uncletoad

I have discovered that no matter what anyone says you have to play as many instruments as possible to know what's right for you.

That's it in a nutshell. And it's not about makers names or the shop you buy the bass in. It is about how you and an individual bass relate. When you pick up an instrument for the first time and you get that light bulb going off, wow, this is it feeling, you'll know. It's happened to me a couple of times.

[Barron]

Originally Posted by ehochberg

I think ES was just pointing the old thread out as a matter of interest, not to say that no other discussion is welcome or necessary. There is a lot of relevant info and opinion in that thread that the OP will find informative. Why get so huffy?

I'm not a huffy guy, but I do love my italian bicycles. More of a Cinelli man myself.


I think we are saying the same thing, that Toad's threads hold a lot of interest. Sorry if I came off the wrong way. I can be misunderstood at times.


As to the question...I'm still thinking. There have been a few really nice ones offered in the downmarket at that price and lower, so hmmmm...


And hey guys, you have a tight knit little world here. This is the first time I've gotten a response and it was to be called out as a huffy snit, so at least I know that I exist now.

Was that a "jump in"?

[standupright]

Originally Posted by ehochberg

I think ES was just pointing the old thread out as a matter of interest, not to say that no other discussion is welcome or necessary. There is a lot of relevant info and opinion in that thread that the OP will find informative. Why get so huffy?

i found his post to be metaphorically pleasing.

[Uncletoad]

Originally Posted by Ed Fuqua

the one that you have the hardest time putting down, THAT'S the bass you buy.

That's a good bass shopping one liner.

Here's another from Nnick Lloyd. "if the bass sounds great arco with spirocores, buy that bass".

[standupright]

Originally Posted by enemybass

Id buy a spector usa a big muff and 3 svt rigs

[Bass]

Originally Posted by Barron

...the tailor will get bored and out of practice if we don't let him take commisions on some new threads, even if he uses the same old pattern, the cut and fabric will be just different enough to warrant interest.

I like Don Cherry's tailor.




Oh yeah, if I had $20,000 to waste on a bass it would definitely be this one.

[Ed Fuqua]

Originally Posted by Barron

This is the first time I've gotten a response and it was to be called out as a huffy snit, so at least I know that I exist now.

Was that a "jump in"?

No worries, I travel a lot by snit myself....

[Ed Fuqua]

Originally Posted by Bass

I like Don Cherry's tailor.

I enjoyed his playing with Ornette...

[Uncletoad]

Originally Posted by Bass

Oh yeah, if I had $20,000 to waste on a bass it would definitely be this one.

Well played.

[Eric Swanson]

So, what I got from reading the OP's posts/profile was, he has an advanced music diploma, has been on TB since 2006, has posted eight (8) times in that period, has considered and tried at least one other instrument already, wants an arco sound like RGF, plays an 1800's Viennese carved bass, seems polite online, and is a working orchestral bassist, in Barcelona.

[billyfalconer]

Originally Posted by Bass

Oh yeah, if I had $20,000 to waste on a bass it would definitely be this one.

$20,000 on that bass wouldn't be wasted, unless the purchaser was awfully clueless about basses.