Some basses worth considering if you're looking to buy

**Adrian Cho** · #1 10-02-2006, 03:23 AM

Here are a few basses that may be worth considering if you're currently in the market for a new bass. These all looked like great deals to me on paper but for various reasons I did not get a chance to try them in person.

Steve Swan has a Kolstein Baker right now going for a song. He got it at a great price at a NAMM show and is passing on the discount. I've not played it but I did try the very similar Kolstein Fendts and found them to be very nice.

The twin of Gary Upton's personal bass (advertised as "Gary's bass" on the Upton site) may be worth a look. It's a Maple flatback with a Hawkes shape.

If you're in Ontario or Quebec (or even if you're in NE USA), Don Gorman in Chelsea, Quebec has a 7/8 gamba shaped bass with a lady's head scroll, Carolina Poplar back and ribs and Western Red Cedar top. Apparently it is going to the Gage shop in a few weeks if nobody buys it.

Jazzman · #2 10-02-2006, 05:56 AM

I have played Gary's bass - it is certainly 'worth a look.' It is everything that is good about the Hawkes plus so much more.

kontrabass · #3 10-02-2006, 10:01 AM

Is "Gary's bass" fully carved?

**Adrian Cho** · #4 10-02-2006, 11:04 AM

Yeah I'm a little bummed I didn't get to visit Gary's shop. I made two trips to the US and didn't manage to fit it into my schedule each time. Yes "Gary's bass" is fully carved. From what I can see, it's a bargain as are any of the basses I mentioned above.

DirtPoorRobins · #5 10-03-2006, 11:57 PM

Yes Gary's bass is amazing! That is why I bought it! I still have 3-4 weeks left until he's done with mine though, its kind of driving me crazy. I love that bass! What a sound, what a sound! I have the wonderful luxury of living 30 minutes from his shop and being able to play whatever bass comes into his hands. It was actually between this bass and a 1930's juzek, and the hawkes blew it out of the water in every aspect. The thing about the juzek was that it was really hard to bow and the g string was a little thin sounding, plus the hawkes all setup was a grand cheaper. Oh yeah, and I'm having him put Dominants on it, they sounded great on the hybrids so I assume they will be lovely on my carved. Anyways, the fully carved Hawkes is the way to go for a new bass, all around very big sounding and even across the registers. I'd recomend this bass to anyone.

bejoyous · #6 10-04-2006, 06:47 AM

If you are near London, Ontario, you can try Peter Chandler's basses. He has about 20 of them in his basement to try.

I play his Tarr model and I'm quite happy with it. He is now making most of his with a detachable neck and travel crate.

www.peterchandler.net
model plans - www.violins.on.ca/bassbook.html

**Adrian Cho** · #7 10-04-2006, 08:48 AM

Perhaps Peter Chandler has gotten better and perhaps if he has 20 then you could find one that sounds decent but I had heard that his basses were mostly pretty bad. Apparently he doesn't play and doesn't really know how they should sound and play. I did actually meet someone who had one and it was nothing to write home about.

lowEndRick · #8 10-04-2006, 08:55 AM

I was at Upton last weekend and really enjoyed playing Gary's bass. I played it mostly to sample the strings (which I bought, Upton Blacks) but I loved the setup and feel of that bass, not to mention the tone and volume. I think my next bass will be an Upton Hawkes laminate.

basstef · #9 10-04-2006, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adrian Cho

If you're in Ontario or Quebec (or even if you're in NE USA), Don Gorman in Chelsea, Quebec has a 7/8 gamba shaped bass with a lady's head scroll, Carolina Poplar back and ribs and Western Red Cedar top. Apparently it is going to the Gage shop in a few weeks if nobody buys it.

Adrian,
what kind of bass is that ? New or old ?

**Adrian Cho** · #10 10-04-2006, 10:56 AM

I think it's not new but not really old.

Aaron Cohn · #11 10-04-2006, 06:17 PM

I nearly bought a Baker bass that Steve Swan had in stock early this year (not sure if it's the same one he has now). It was a nice, full sounding bass with a very impressive fundamental in the lower register for the price. I wound up going for a Paesold 4/4 bass he had at the same time that had more pop in the middle register even if it lacked the lower register power of the Baker. It was a tough choice though.
I also love the look of the Baker bass. The willow back and sides are something else.

Aaron

Edit: Ken Smith's later post made me realize I should specify I'm talking about the Kolstein Baker model bass the original post refers to and not an actual Baker bass.

uptonbass · #12 10-04-2006, 06:54 PM

Guys thanks for the talk about my bass....hey I agree it kicks ass thus the reason it truly is mine(sorry TB admin)

Adrian, really stinks you didn't get to upton bass...

DirtPoor..yours will be done very soon!

DirtPoorRobins · #13 10-04-2006, 09:41 PM

Oh no Gary! You've found out my alias, now I can't bash you on TB, not that I do

. You are like the Willy Wonka of bass making, you let us come into your shop and play with whatever we can get our hands on, you make our dreams come true, and nobody knows exactly how you do it. The only difference is that we don't need a golden ticket to visit your shop, and I'm pretty sure Jack and Dennis aren't your umpaloompas.

Eric Rene Roy · #14 10-04-2006, 09:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DirtPoorRobins

...and I'm pretty sure Jack and Dennis aren't your umpaloompas.

Nah, that's me...and he keeps me locked away in our other workshop with Rodney & Tom!

**Adrian Cho** · #15 10-04-2006, 09:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KSB - Ken Smith

A Baker Bass, the exact one from the Elgar book sold this year a bit short of 150k. How much is the one Steve has?

This is not a real Baker bass. It's a Kolstein Baker model which I guess Barrie would say is based on a Baker bass. Similar to the Kolstein Fendt models but Barrie only sells the Baker model through select deals and does not sell them directly. Here it is here:

http://www.steveswanguitars.com/Gall...er2/index.html

Aaron's comments seem to confirm my suspicion that the Kolstein Baker model may not be the best for jazz although it's no doubt a great orchestral instrument for the money.

**Chris Fitzgerald** · #16 10-04-2006, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eroy

Nah, that's me...and he keeps me locked away in our other workshop with Rodney & Tom!

You sound taller on the phone...

drurb · #17 10-04-2006, 10:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DirtPoorRobins

Oh no Gary! You've found out my alias, now I can't bash you on TB, not that I do

. You are like the Willy Wonka of bass making...

Has Gary let you sample the chocolate bass in the back of the shop? It has a very dark sound that tends to be at once sweet and properly fat.

Aaron Cohn · #18 10-04-2006, 10:26 PM

Ken,
To confirm Adrian's comments, it is the Kolstein Baker model. I was referencing the original post where this was clear, but I should have been more explicit in my own post where I did not make this clear.

Aaron

Steve Swan · #19 10-05-2006, 04:22 PM

Thanks to Aaron and Adrian for the kind words about the Kolstein Baker bass here in the shop. Since Aaron played it in early spring, I had Jeff Sahs rework the fingerboard from the original Kolstein setup and it plays like butter now.

Steve Swan