thoughts on this bass...? recognition????

Dark Overlord · #1 09-12-2009, 07:46 PM

Anyone think they can tell me more about this bass. I've contacted the seller but still waiting to hear.

http://newyork.craigslist.org/jsy/msg/1371647844.html

Obvioulsy needs a little work and has also had some done but?????

Thanks for your time!

Brent Nussey · #2 09-12-2009, 08:38 PM

This is a chinese or maybe eastern european plywood bass. It's possible that the top is solid, looking at the patterns in the wood. Some other guys on here will know better than me. I'd ask for pictures of the edges of the instrument. If it is a solid top, that may be quite a long repaired crack on the G string side of the instrument, and even if repaired correctly, I'd be concerned about how green the wood used in the bass was.

The neck appears not to be on straight, skewed to the bass side. But the bridge is out of place, so it's hard to be totally sure. The fingerboard and nut are not ebony, but some sort of light colored hardwood that's been stained. The saddle (where the tailpiece wire goes over the end of the instrument) is missing, and would need to be replaced before stringing up to pitch.

The tuners have been replaced, not too elegant, but I bet the replacements work better than what was on there originally. Don't be concerned about the glue running across the back, it means one of the seams came open and was repaired, again, not too elegant, but not wrong.

I'd go see the bass myself if you can and see whether the top is twisted or deformed. If that's a crack in the top, or the neck isn't on straight, I'd forget about it. Those are things that will never be put right, at least not without costing a lot more than the bass is worth.

Brent

Square Bear · #3 09-13-2009, 07:23 AM

Brent is right though, the neck is all jacked up. I really wouldn't consider buying this bass for any price.

Paul Warburton · #4 09-13-2009, 08:00 AM

Prolly a Chinese hybrid POS.
The missing saddle is appling direct pressure to the top plate.

(as Brent said).
That black spot on the back of the neck may be hiding something very ugly. The machines (At least the G one. See the outline on the wood and the prior holes?) have been moved around for some disturbing reason. Like maybe not lined up right in the first place. (or as Brent said).
I guess it's supposed to be a French Quenoil patten, it is so extremely sloped that I couldn't play it past the first few positions.
Other than that, it seems fabulous.....

Dark Overlord · #5 09-13-2009, 08:17 AM

thanks for your time an opinions guys. Being a noob to uprights I need it!

Phil Rowan · #6 09-13-2009, 09:20 AM

Yeah, steer clear of that thing. Also, have you read the "newbie links" thread at the top?

Dark Overlord · #7 09-13-2009, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phil Rowan

Yeah, steer clear of that thing. Also, have you read the "newbie links" thread at the top?

Thank you yes I have. This bass had no brand though so I could really tell what I was looking at.

Dark Overlord · #8 09-18-2009, 11:05 PM

Here's another on the bay, no tag hard for someone like me to tell. What I'm looking at. Looking at the tuners for some reason I'm thinkin CCB but I don't know enough to open my mouth and give an opinion....

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...:X:RTQ:US:1123

Gearhead43 · #9 09-19-2009, 01:00 AM

CCB.......POS.

Dark Overlord · #10 09-19-2009, 09:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gearhead43

CCB.......POS.

k... thanks, anyone else...?

Greg Clinkingbeard · #11 09-19-2009, 10:04 PM

I agree.

Square Bear · #12 09-19-2009, 10:46 PM

if you're looking for a bass and don't have much experience with them, you may want to find a luthier in your area and see if they carry anything. a new student of mine brought his CCB into his first lesson a few days ago (palentino is the company that made this bass). the soundpost was busting through the back... the thing sounded awful and was nearly unplayable. it was made only a couple years ago too. you really don't want to mess with this stuff. the initial cost of the bass plus the repairs that they will eventually need (and this kind of bass will need repairs way too soon and frequently) add up to much more than a decent bass with a proper set-up would run. the real tragic thing though is you'd never have even a decent bass, despite the money you put into it. furthermore, they have no value, no one will buy it after it breaks and they aren't worth fixing. with my student, i don't know how to tell this kid's parents they got duped into buying a POS for their son. i mean, i see why the prices are enticing, but it's really not that much more for a decent instrument that will hold its value and be a pleasure to play rather than a nightmare to fix. the real problem is that these companies know their instruments are worthless and are willing to prey on people's inexperience for profit.

i'm not exaggerating. these things really are that bad. i suggest that you find a bass that you really love, even if you have to save up for it a little more than you were planning on, and make sure it's checked out by a reputable luthier before you spend a dime. good luck!

Dark Overlord · #13 09-20-2009, 07:05 AM

^ Thank you, yes. My hope is to wait and find a nice used piece rather then spend on a new cheap piece.