Trying to Narrow the Options

[John Perrin]

I live in Lubbock, Texas and am therefore right smack in the middle of a 300 mile radius without a bass shop. What I am trying to do is find a way to decide what to go look at when it comes time to buy a bass for myself.

I've been without a bass since I graduated college back in 2004 so I'll probably need some time to get back up to speed but I used to be a pretty solid orchestral bassist back in the day. I took lessons from Paul Sharpe for several years when he was teaching out at Texas Tech and I've spoken to Dr. Mark Morton about taking lessons from him once I've got an instrument to play on.

So far I've narrowed the list of basses I'm interested in into two groups made up of three basses each.

The group I can afford now:
Shen SB100 (From Nick Lloyd)
Englehardt ES-1 (from Bob Gollihur)
Thompson plywood (from the String Emporium)

The group I would need to keep saving for:
Shen SB200 Willow 3/4 (from Nick Lloyd)
Fully Carved Bulgarian (from Bob Gollihur)
Emilé Gillet (from the String Emporium)


Here are my questions:
1) Considering that I plan to do a lot of arco work would it be worthwhile to go ahead and grab one of the laminate models I can afford now so that I'll have something to play while I keep saving with the intention of selling it off later to help fund a carved instrument or should I just hold off on all this until I can afford something from the second list.

2) Since I probably won't be able to audition all of the basses on my list, does anybod have any advice as to which I should plan to try and get out to? In other words, if you only had one shot to audition basses before you bought and you couldn't find all these brands in one place, which would you be more confident in being able to find a good example of?

The basses from Nick and Steve would both come set up, but I'd need to budget for a set up if I went with the instruments from (all hail) Bob Gollihur. Phoenix Arizona is fairly close, climate wise, to Lubbock so moving an instrument from one place to the other seems like it would be less risky than going from Ohio to Texas. Paul Sharpe recommended the Shen Willow to me when I asked him his oppinion which is why it's on the list even though it's almost $1000 more than the other basses I'm looking at.

Anyway, mostly I'm just trying to be an informed shopper by asking around for advice and hopefully I'm not wasting anybody's time.

[foilracer]

I understand being isolated...guitar players run to Guitar Center and can do ok....but driving or flying to a bass shop is tough. I have always gone ahead and bought something in order to practice every day.....then, if and when a next bass
comes along I go for the "better bass"...and have not always chosen correctly!

My advice ...get a bass....I guess you'll need to decide "where"....String Emporium sent me a bass via the airlines and everything worked out great...good luck...and remember to "practice everyday"!

[drurb]

Originally Posted by John Perrin

What I am trying to do is find a way to decide what to go look at when it comes time to buy a bass for myself.

PM sent.

[salcott]

You're doing the right thing by asking for advice; I would add one more bit: be patient. It sounds like a little (for Tx/NM/AZ, that is) road trip might be in order, especially if you include Robertson's in Albuquerque. I grew up in Lubbock, BTW.

[txstatebass]

Being on the other end of Texas I can tell you that Austin and San Antonio have some shops worth checking out as well. Violins et. in Austin, and Terra Nova Violins and Antonio Strad Violins in San Antonio. Worth checking out if you want to try some basses out and feel like driving all day.

[John Perrin]

One other option I'm considering is going for the middle ground and saving the extra money for a hybrid like the sb150 or sb180.

Going that route would mean another 4-6 months without a bass but would probably net a better arco instrument than a laminate and wouldn't take as long to save for as a carved instrument.

Really the price difference between the models isn't that much, but with my budget just $500 can add three or four months to my wait. Three or four months that could have been spent playing my new bass.

[foilracer]

it sounds like you would like to "talk" with a real person and
have a "conversation"....I say call Steve K at "String Emporium" and hear what he has to say...just an idea....

[John Perrin]

Really what I'm hoping to get here that I wouldn't get from speaking with Nick or Steve is the opinion of people who don't stand to benefit from my choice.

That said, I have spoken to both Nick and Steve (and a few others) and have the highest respect for them both.

I just don't have much firsthand experience to draw from since up till now I've had very little control over which bass I'd get to play, and the options were almost all well-used laminates.

I've played on Kays, which I didn't like, a Juzek or two, which I did, and a ca 160 year old bass that just completely blew my mind for the 10 minutes I got to play with it. So I don't really know what to expect from any of the instruments I'm talking about.

[BPeder]

Something that might fall in between your get-it-now list and the save-up-for list is the standard Upton Hybrid at $2,750.00 It comes nicely set up, with a string allowance of $140.00 and you'll find lotsa folks here who will vouch for the shipping and customer service. Have you had a look at them? I'd be surprised if you hadn't, considering they have a pretty huge web presence here and elsewhere. I love mine, a deluxe hybrid. Good luck to you, you sure seem to have done your homework.

[Eric Hochberg]

Originally Posted by John Perrin

So I don't really know what to expect from any of the instruments I'm talking about.

Man, you just have to go out and play them for yourself. There is no other way. Basses within brands and model numbers vary. It's an individual thing and you have to do the legwork. You can't make an educated decision based on this forum's opinions alone.

Take a road trip to the place that has the most basses to try out. It's a lot of fun!

PS What about that Eastman 125 for sale here? Sounds like a good deal.

[Uncletoad]

You might want to ask Dr. Morton his opinion too as he will be your instructor.

I suggest you get in the car and drive a long way and try as much stuff as you can. No substitute for playing stuff in person.

If orchestral work is your bag forget the plywood. Save as much bread as you can and buy a carved bass.

The Willow is great I've played 3 now and they were all nice under the bow.

[John Perrin]

Originally Posted by ehochberg

Man, you just have to go out and play them for yourself.

I do plan to get out and play some of these basses once I've decided what I'm aiming for. The thing is that it would be expensive and difficult to make it both to Ohio and Arizona. That's part of the reason I'm trying to get people's opinions.

[Hector Wolff]

John,

I have played both the Shen SB100 and the SB 180 extensively. I have also played the EM1 as well.

I own the SB180 and play in an orchestra and jazz trio with it, and I bought the SB100 for my daughter.

The hybrid (SB150 or 180) are definately worth the extra money, especially for an orchestra player. The complexity of sound (especially arco) added by the carved wood top is important.

The SB100 (assuming it is well set up) is also a very nice instrument, and in my opinion superior to the EM1.

My hybrid is already about four years old (northeast) and has never had any problems.

[John Perrin]

Just out of curiosity, what strings are you using on your 180? I had considered using Thomastik Belcanto's for a similar mix of arco and pizz.

[EJ_Dad]

Before purchasing a bass make sure that you can easily reach the 2nd & 3rd octave harmonics.

I began studying classical bass again after a long layoff and purchased a German shop bass 4 years ago. I'm now ready to play things like the Kyper Romance & Rondo and the Nanny/Dragonetti Concerto, but can't comfortably practice these.

The bass has too little overstand and too broad shoulders, for me comfortably reach the harmonics.

My teacher's bass, on the other hand, has twice the overstand and slopier (sp) shoulders that make it very easy to reach the harmonics.