red bass!

soholounge · #1 12-29-2006, 11:47 AM

hi, first post over on the double-bass side.
i had to leave my db over in tokyo when i moved back stateside,
and so as a temporary replacement, i ordered a b-stock engelhardt EC1 from woodwinds&brasswinds, cause it was cheap. ($650)

i received it yesterday, and man, was i surprised,
the bass was bright red!
not a reddish tint, or hue, but glossy lipstick red!
(i'll post a pic later tonight when i get home)

i've never even see a red bass before, black once or twice, but red???

has anybody ever seen colored engelhardts? i'm sure there's gotta be a story behind this...?

of course, it's going back. (they advertised it as being a "beautiful mahogany color")
it's too bad, because it was a really nice bass for the price.

bejoyous · #2 12-29-2006, 05:50 PM

I guess the finishing guys took a break before the brown coat was to go on. When they came back, the bass was packed up and sent out!

Eric Rene Roy · #3 12-29-2006, 06:00 PM

they make red & black as an option.

soholounge · #4 12-29-2006, 07:15 PM

well, you learn something new everyday!
(never seen it before, though)

Quote:

Originally Posted by eroy

they make red & black as an option.

armybass · #5 12-29-2006, 09:17 PM

Please post a picture........

Here is my new S1 in "Beautiful Cremona brown finish"

I purchased a C1 for the Army a few years ago that was one of the Clown Burst Basses. It was interesting.

soholounge · #6 12-30-2006, 12:05 AM

that's a beautiful brown on your s1,

i'd even settle for the clownburst.

got home late, and i couldn't get a good picture with accurate color,
i will try again tomorrow with some natural light.

should i just go over it with some dark minwax stain?
what would the effect be like, just doing like 2 coats over the existing red finish?

bongomania · #7 12-30-2006, 12:11 AM

No man, go rockabilly and paint black flames coming up from the bottom!

armybass · #8 12-30-2006, 06:02 AM

I actually like it. I personally would keep it like it is and have it set up well. But I understand your POV.

dvmweb · #9 12-30-2006, 09:31 AM

My EM1 is really yellow. I kinda like your red one better, to look at anyway.

Walt MI/USA

junglebike · #10 12-30-2006, 11:22 AM

Hah!!!

Or... you could put a wheel on it and join the University of Nebraska marching band on Monday.

(anyone seen Zelig? Woody Allen, back when he was funny, plays cello in a marching band...)

Jake deVilliers · #11 12-30-2006, 11:24 AM

"what would the effect be like, just doing like 2 coats over the existing red finish?"

That would add a lot of finish and would dampen the tone considerably.

If it isn't what you want, get the seller to take it back.

soholounge · #12 12-30-2006, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by junglebike

Hah!!!

Or... you could put a wheel on it and join the University of Nebraska marching band on Monday.

haha, that's funny.

Mike Goodbar · #13 12-30-2006, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by junglebike

(anyone seen Zelig? Woody Allen, back when he was funny, plays cello in a marching band...)

That would've been "Take The Money and Run." (Though I really liked Zelig).

Silversorcerer · #14 12-30-2006, 07:16 PM

For $650, I'd just play the thing. That's a great price and I would just accept that the color was something that won't show up in the sound. Or if you really hate it, put it up for sale for $800 as a rare "custom red" Englehardt. You might get some bites from those that like a colorful bass. BTW, how's it sound?

soholounge · #15 12-30-2006, 10:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silversorcerer

For $650, I'd just play the thing. That's a great price and I would just accept that the color was something that won't show up in the sound. Or if you really hate it, put it up for sale for $800 as a rare "custom red" Englehardt. You might get some bites from those that like a colorful bass. BTW, how's it sound?

(well it was a lot more than $650 after shipping, etc.)
but it sounds really good! i mean it's a budget laminate bass and it's not gonna fool anybody, but it's loud without being too boomy, and the response seems mostly even.
my wife keeps commenting about how much better it sounds than the palatino and low-end christopher bass i tried out in local stores. (and the christopher was much more expensive)
so for the newbies out there that are wondering about under-$1k starter basses, i'd highly recommend the engelhardts.

you're probably right, the red color might be attractive to some, but it's probably not for me.
if i decide not to stain over it, i will send it back, since wwbw.com will give me a refund and pay for return shipping.