Thompson plywood bass (RM-100)

toaster64 · #1 08-17-2010, 10:12 PM

From String Emporium and countless reviews online, I have become quite interested in the afore-mentioned bass. A few years ago I took bass lessons from a friend at school, and, now, I would like to start back up again. I’m not willing to spend TOO much money, but the RM-100 seems reasonable: a high quality bass for the price. Now I’m trying to figure out how to purchase and ship the bass to my Colorado home. Links would be appreciated…I’m not having much luck on String Emporium’s website. Also, I was wondering whether to go with a wooden bow or a carbon fiber bow. I’ve played the viola for about 8 years and have had better tone quality with wooden bows than carbon fiber bows, even though I would prefer the carbon. I’m new to the site, but I’d love to chat and get your opinions!

Thanks,
Toast

Bass Barrister · #2 08-17-2010, 11:28 PM

At the risk of being painfully obvious, why don't you just pick up the 'phone and call Steve. I'm sure he can tell you all about the basses, and, from all the reports here, he ships them all over the place. From all the reports here, he is one of the "good guys".

MY only experience with SE to date is the purchase of a Finale CF bow. I'm very pleased with this bow.
In my humble opinion, this is a great bow for the price and beats many wood bows in that price range.

If at all humanly possible, you should not buy any bass sight unseen.That said, and life being what it is, SE seems a safe bet. There are others as well.

Good luck.

Scotter · #3 08-18-2010, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toaster64

From String Emporium and countless reviews online, I have become quite interested in the afore-mentioned bass. A few years ago I took bass lessons from a friend at school, and, now, I would like to start back up again. I’m not willing to spend TOO much money, but the RM-100 seems reasonable: a high quality bass for the price. Now I’m trying to figure out how to purchase and ship the bass to my Colorado home. Links would be appreciated…I’m not having much luck on String Emporium’s website. Also, I was wondering whether to go with a wooden bow or a carbon fiber bow. I’ve played the viola for about 8 years and have had better tone quality with wooden bows than carbon fiber bows, even though I would prefer the carbon. I’m new to the site, but I’d love to chat and get your opinions!

Thanks,
Toast

Howdy,

I was recently in a similar situation. Read as many of the newbie links as you can. The recommendation to try before you buy is a good one but its also a fairly time and knowledge dependent process. I've been playing fretted stringed instruments for over 30 years but knew very little about proper double bass set up. Although I've had a little time to research that and understand it a little more there are some interesting differences that I found a little counter-interintuitive at first. So getting a double bass that is set up properly for a newbie is what I deemed to be most important.

And, yes, I did end up ordering a RM-100 from Steve. He's definitely a little slow to responding to E-mail or even to messages left on his answering machine. Be patient and keep trying. Eventually you may reach him when he's at the shop or leave a message with his wife. Either way, take time to talk to him and tell him what your interests are. He can help guide you in regards to corner style, string choice, and set-up issues. I decided on one of his package deals (hard to beat elsewhere) that involves oil varnish, upgraded tuners, bow, upgraded bag, Realist pickup, and choice of strings. I ended up with a nice dark brown gamba corner with spirocore mittels. He explains how things are shipped and sends you an E-mail with all the details right before it arrives. He also guarantees his work to the point that if you don't like it you can send it back within a month. Good upgrade policy and sounds like he's really trying to emphasize set up and repair service. He shipped mine directly from the Phoenix airport to the San Diego airport and it arrived in tune once unboxed and unbagged on the loading dock.

My wife and I have been having fun teaching ourselves using books by Ray Brown, Rufus Reid, and Todd Phillips until our first real lessons with a teacher starting next month. So far its been a lot easier to play than I thought it would be.

Square Bear · #4 08-19-2010, 07:29 AM

you should call or email steve. he is a great guy and will be able to answer all your questions. he will talk to you about what you are looking for first in terms of instrument size, style, set-up, etc. if you want, he'll ship a bass to you (or you could do like i did and buy a ticket to phoenix to check out all his basses). if you don't want it, send it back. if you do want it, send back the empty flight case. it's totally easy and steve does it all the time. a student of mine purchased a thompson hybrid recently. i am very impressed with the instrument - it's a nice bass for the price.

drurb · #5 08-19-2010, 07:30 AM

What is your total budget?

Square Bear · #6 08-19-2010, 07:35 AM

also, your impressions on bows are spot on. (good) carbon bows tend to be consistent and play very well, and are lacking in quality of tone compared to a nice pernambuco stick. for the price though, CF is hard to beat.

toaster64 · #7 08-19-2010, 09:56 PM

Thank you all for your responses! I am still interested in this bass, and I think I would go for the CF bow. I sent him an e-mail a few days ago, but I've heard nothing since. I'll give him a call, though! I want to spend $2,000 or less. What's caught my eye today, though, is a five-stringed bass from Guadalajara. It's 40-50 years old and $1,200: tempting considering it's in Denver, 3/4, and that it has a pretty good sound. At this price it may or may not include a bag. With the money I would save on this bass, I'm sure I could afford a nice bow. Even though I'm a new bass player, and would probably focus on classical music, I can't forget this bass. Would it be better than a new, plywood Thompson?

And, strangely, it had a high C-string. E, A, D, G, C. So, no B.

wdnewman · #8 08-19-2010, 10:33 PM

Well, with the money you would save, you would need to buy a VERY good bow to make up for the piece of firewood you would be playing. A $1,200 40-50 year old GUADALAJARA bass??
Has anyone here ever heard of them? A five string Guadalajara ?
Lets see, you join up two days ago, you have no information on your profile, you have played viola for eight years You want a Thompson RM-100 but have not idea how Steve ships, sets up, etc. etc.
Are you serious about this? If you are I suggest you pay attention to the guys who after all, have given you good and valuable information.

drurb · #9 08-20-2010, 07:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wdnewman

Well, with the money you would save, you would need to buy a VERY good bow to make up for the piece of firewood you would be playing. A $1,200 40-50 year old GUADALAJARA bass??
Has anyone here ever heard of them? A five string Guadalajara ?
Lets see, you join up two days ago, you have no information on your profile, you have played viola for eight years You want a Thompson RM-100 but have not idea how Steve ships, sets up, etc. etc.
Are you serious about this? If you are I suggest you pay attention to the guys who after all, have given you good and valuable information.

I agree these posts are strange but I don't see anything nefarious going on here. The OP said the bass is from Gudalajara. That's not a brand name.

What I also find strange is that a newbie would be considering a five stringer right out of the gate. Of course, no one here could answer whether this unknown $1200 bass is better than a Thompson. All we know is that it's purported to be 40-50 years old and from Guadalajara and that it has five strings.

Then there's this:

Quote:

Originally Posted by toaster64

...and have had better tone quality with wooden bows than carbon fiber bows, even though I would prefer the carbon.

So, to the OP:

If as many here have experienced, you have achieved better tone with wooden bows, why do you prefer carbon? There are, after all, some nicely priced wooden bows to be had.

I suggest that you fill out your profile and help us to get to know you a bit better. It seems that you haven't really done your homework. The Thompson may be a very fine choice for you but it seems that you've done little more than land on Steve's web page and then ask folks here how to buy one. Indeed, give Steve a call and/or send him an email. You might also want to consider other options. As Bass Barrister said:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bass Barrister

...life being what it is, SE seems a safe bet. There are others as well.

toaster64 · #10 08-20-2010, 08:28 AM

As soon as I posted that, I knew it wouldn't be a good idea. I thought the bass had character (like a three-legged dog), and that it was cheap enough and played well enough to (maybe) buy. Plus, it was more tangible than the basses I've seen online. And I only pointed my nose in the direction of the CF bow because of Square Bear's post. But, you're right. I don't have enough money to buy a high-quality CF. Sorry to have thrown a curveball! And thank you for your quick and passionate responses! Now informed, I am sticking with the Thompson.

Scotter · #11 08-20-2010, 10:34 AM

Hey toaster,

I feel your pain. I love vintage instruments and really wanted to find an old Kay, Epiphone, or American Standard. I still may get one of those someday but hopefully by then I'll have a little more understanding how to spot what needs repair and its associated cost. Don't try Craig's List or you'll find yourself plotting to buy a different bass every day.

Btw, there is an Englehardt EC-1 for sale in the classified section for $599.00 plus shipping. It may or may not need set-up but for that price you still might come out ahead. Golihur, Fretwell, and Upton all have competing deals too.