virgin, advice on purchase

[Abdullah]

hello, i'm a bass guitar player from Jordan; middle east. i know.
now i'm about to start my dream of playing double bass. there are only two options for buying in jordan; one is buying one of six basses a shop bought as stock back in 82. trying to sell it for over 2000 in U.S dollars; none have been sold. the other is a used one for roughly 850 dollars. i haven't seen it yet, i dont know its name or any details about it. just that it's an ok deal since the owner bought some years ago and selling it to me for the same price.

as u can imagine, if i order something online, i'd have to pay shipping as well as higher customs than you've ever heard. i don't know what to do... please help, quickly. like now. is there anything good in my price range( 700-900 $) that i can purchase online, or by any other means. is 850 $ a good price for a beginning double bass; hell just any input would be useful.

waiting for anyone.
a.

[Samie]

Originally Posted by Abdullah

hello, i'm a bass guitar player from Jordan; middle east. i know.
now i'm about to start my dream of playing double bass. there are only two options for buying in jordan; one is buying one of six basses a shop bought as stock back in 82. trying to sell it for over 2000 in U.S dollars; none have been sold. the other is a used one for roughly 850 dollars. i haven't seen it yet, i dont know its name or any details about it. just that it's an ok deal since the owner bought some years ago and selling it to me for the same price.

as u can imagine, if i order something online, i'd have to pay shipping as well as higher customs than you've ever heard. i don't know what to do... please help, quickly. like now. is there anything good in my price range( 700-900 $) that i can purchase online, or by any other means. is 850 $ a good price for a beginning double bass; hell just any input would be useful.

waiting for anyone.
a.

Its better to start with a decent instrument. It will make learning easier and funner. It is best to try the instrument first. Ask around, or ask your teacher.

Do not get an 850$ DB online if u dont have anyone near to help you set it up.

[Kevin Hsieh]

it's the first time i've been up so early in 4 months, my eyes are sore and not working right and I gotta take a stinkin' final at 9 a.m. had to check TB for my morning dose and i SWEAR i thought it sad VIRGIN AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE and i was... very confused... that would have to go in the classifieds wouldn't it

[Rickett Customs]

Another note on that,
I have played on a few Chinese made 3/4 UB's, in comparison to my cousin's restored 1940's Kay (After Tejano user pm'ed me with the correction on the date of it not being 1920's). Actually I was surprised how nice the Cremona SB-1 felt and sounded (IME)(Of course a more detailed comparison next to the Kay, would not be any competition).However for the price, it was a helluva deal (Around $500-600 US). If you get the opportunity to try a Chinese UB (Cremona is a fairly good name, for there are some other "bad apples" out there), give it a shot. It's a good starter.

[Greg Clinkingbeard]

Abdullah,
Are the basses in the local shop carved, hybrid or ply? Have you played them? Does the local shop have a luthier who can fine tune the setup for you?
Regardless, Cremona is not a wise choice if you want a reliable instrument to maintain value.
I think we need more information.

[BRIDGE]

Originally Posted by Alembicplyr

However for the price, it was a helluva deal (Around $500-600 US). If you get the opportunity to try a Chinese UB (Cremona is a fairly good name, for there are some other "bad apples" out there), give it a shot. It's a good starter.

I was under the impression that Cremona, as well as Palatino, are notoriously bad instruments.

[Rickett Customs]

Originally Posted by BRIDGE

I was under the impression that Cremona, as well as Palatino, are notoriously bad instruments.

That is why (IME) was added, truthfully Cremona was a surprise to me too (played more than one, pretty consistent), not exactly your "top of the shelf", but clearly better than some other Chinese brands. No bad run-ins with Palatino though (or at least yet).

[Samie]

Originally Posted by Alembicplyr

Another note on that,
I have played on a few Chinese made 3/4 UB's, in comparison to my cousin's restored 1920's Kay. Actually I was surprised how nice the Cremona SB-1 felt and sounded (IME)(Of course a more detailed comparison next to the Kay, would not be any competition).However for the price, it was a helluva deal (Around $500-600 US). If you get the opportunity to try a Chinese UB (Cremona is a fairly good name, for there are some other "bad apples" out there), give it a shot. It's a good starter.

From what I gather, I understand that he has little or no experience with a DB. Doesnt sound as if he has a Teacher around to advice him either. If they havent sold 6 DB since 82 (lol), I also must asume there are not many luthiers around.

Buying a Chinese bass or buying on the internet is not a bad thing. At all, at that. But if its your first contact, you might be better of buying something you can actually try.

[Greg Clinkingbeard]

Based ONLY on the information already given, I would advise choosing one of the six basses at the local shop. If they have really been there for 25 years, they are probably good solid instruments.
Buying on-line is a big risk.

[Silversorcerer]

Originally Posted by clink

Based ONLY on the information already given, I would advise choosing one of the six basses at the local shop. If they have really been there for 25 years, they are probably good solid instruments.
Buying on-line is a big risk.

I totally agree here. A bass that plausibly sold for U$D 2K in 1982 is also plausibly a good deal for that price in 2007. If the used one available for $850 is locally available and can be inspected before purchase, it is worth comparing, but be wary of damage that can't be seen, and make sure you have a period of time to check out the instrument and approve it. Otherwise deal with the shop. There is much good information on set-up and other issues in that section of this forum and on Gollihur's bass links page.

Welcome to TB, Abdullah.

[Abdullah]

wow, thanks for replying.
ok here's the thing, the shop DB, was brought in 82, in 94 or 95 they tried to sell it for 1K US. i do have a teacher, and he's one of the very few people down here that seem to know what they're talking abt; i mean he's 62 sudaneese eccentric dude, originally a cellist and teaches just about everything, so he supposedly can do the set up, he said so. anyway, he worked with that shop back then, and said that the 1K back then was a rip. according to him when the egyptian orchestra were here back in?!?!? the bassist broke his "the base thingy, whatcha call it?" and when they brought him the shop DB he refused and instead asked my teacher to fix his instead, they went to a local carpenter or blacksmith or somethin. so that's how bad it's supposed to be. besides, it is chineese stock.
i got more info on the used one; it's a hybrid, and (does carved mean hand made) coz yes, not machines. i'll find out later today what it's brand name is and where it was made. i did find out its bow is russian method, and that the loaded dude who owns it bought some ten years ago or more for 850 US. from what i gather, he's selling it to me for the same price coz he doesnt really need the cash, and likes to help young musicians or something; so said the teacher.

A little info on purchasing an instrument in Jordan, EVERYTHING IS A RIP OFF, we get the worst quality sold for the highest prices; for example a five string yamaha electric bass, worth 400 on musiciansfriend for instance, was sold for 800 in the same we were talking abt, he shop has an exclusive deal with Yamaha and gets them in dealers price. besides the rip off part, you have customs; sometimes reaching as high as the price of the instrument itself; depending on the official u have to deal with. add shipping if it's online... so if i was to get say an 800 dollars DB, it might cost me something like 2000 by the time it gets here. so yeah, there's only the shop or the used one.

my teacher did recommend the used one. however, 1- it is owned by his friend who i presume wanted to sell it, and there arent many DB buyers here as u may have understood so far. 2- although he might be somewhat more experienced than anyone in this god forsaken country, he probably doesnt have high standards, or at least wont probably apply them in this case since he knows that there are none here and that if i were to abide by them i would probably have to sell my car.

by the looks of it, im getting the used one, but it would still help alot if u guys stay posted till i get the rest of the info on it so that i know what im getting myself into.
i understand y everyone say i should play and try it first, but guys i never played one before, so how would i know if this is good or not.

thanks again.
abdullah

[Silversorcerer]

Hi Abdullah,

Sounds like the used hybrid is going to be your best bet. Hybrid means that the top is carved from solid wood and the sides and back are laminated wood (plywood). Some hybrids have solid sides and top with just laminated backs, so it really just means some combination of carved parts and laminated. There are fully laminated, hybrid, and fully carved basses. Usually carved tops sound better under the bow. The fittings:- the fingerboard, tailpiece, saddle might be ebony or other wood. It is possible to replace or exchange those components if you have the skills and tools. An ebony fingerboard is more important than an ebony tailpiece. Tuners and endpins can also be exchanged or replaced if one has the tools and skills. Check out the materials and the quality and functionality of the fittings on the used hybrid, and get back to us. Also note any cracks in the top or other signs of structural damage. Not that these should stop you from purchasing, but to properly evaluate what you are getting into.

[downneck]

good god, man...sounds like it'd be cheaper to move :P