What are some good double basses to consider?

Rob The Impaler · #1 03-26-2007, 04:45 PM

Hey everyone! My name is Rob. I just got accepted to the Bowling Green state university music program for double bass. Ive been playing for about six years on a peice of junk upright and now since im going to school to play professionally, I need to get a new bass. Does anyone have any suggestions? I heard that Shen Basses are good. Ive been checking them out and they look great, I'll probly get one of those. But please, tell me if im making a bad desicion

thanks
rob

reedo35 · #2 03-26-2007, 05:17 PM

Rob, the only bad decision you could make is not trying as many basses as you can get your hands on. Even basses from the same maker sound different. Depends on your price range and what feels best to you. Shen,Upton, Wilfer,and NAS basses are all good
basses, and you may even find a good used one from a private seller. If possible have a teacher or fellow Bassist go shopping with you. At the end of the day, it's the bass that sounds and feels best to you-
That's the one you pull the trigger on.

reedo35 · #3 03-26-2007, 05:19 PM

Oh, BTW- check this out.
BASS FORUM LINKS (Newbie Links): PLEASE READ BEFORE POSTING NEW TOPICS

Martin Sheridan · #4 03-26-2007, 05:52 PM

Redo has it right. And if you can go to the ISB Convention in OK City this June. Practically every bass dealer in the world will be there.

JazzCat_88 · #5 03-26-2007, 07:38 PM

Eastman Strings

mesmithnm · #6 03-26-2007, 08:31 PM

If you're in the Bowling Green area, you're not that far from Cincinatti - so, go see Nick LLoyd

http://www.nicklloydbasses.com/

and go to the Bass Cellar

http://www.stringbass.com/

These guys have been around for a while and can help - Nick probably has some Shens in the shop.

Eli_Upright12 · #7 03-27-2007, 05:07 PM

If your anywhere with a state or two of Madison Wisconsin, I would highly suggest going to see Henry Bahmes, he has incredible basses with a great set-up job on the cheapest to the most expensive basses. The ease of play ability on his basses is outstanding he does all the work on my bass. www.thedoublebassworkshop.com its a little out dated but its his website and has contact information. I dont know whether that link is gonna a work or not if it doesnt just copy and paste.

Uncletoad · #8 03-27-2007, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mesmithnm

If you're in the Bowling Green area, you're not that far from Cincinatti - so, go see Nick LLoyd

http://www.nicklloydbasses.com/

and go to the Bass Cellar

http://www.stringbass.com/

These guys have been around for a while and can help - Nick probably has some Shens in the shop.

Shen Basses are great and quite a bang for the buck. There are many other options depending on your budget.

Please surf the basses threads here. Take a couple days to do so and you'll start to see what the heavy hitters are. Look carefully at your budget but know that it's not wise to underspend and out grow a moderate instrument quickly. Better to buy something over your head and grow into it.

If you can take an experienced player with you that is best. Having two opinions is better and being able to listen to somebody else play your bass from a distance is also very helpful.

Bowling Green is near Toledo which is as far away from Cinci as you can get without leaving Ohio, nevertheless I think those references are fantastic and if you can contact them and go to Cinci and play their stuff I would. Detroit is much closer if anyone knows anyone there. Cleveland, Fort Wayne, Columbus, Windsor, Indianapolis, Pittsburgh, Chicago, Milwaukee, Madison, and points between are a half days drive or less from there. Look for luthiers in those cities and look at whatever you can in each.

bpclark · #9 03-27-2007, 10:18 PM

If Grand Rapids, MI is any closer than Cincy you could try Guarneri House. www.guarnerihouse.com

FWIW I'm about to take a Shen Willow back down to the Bass Cellar in the next few days. It was used as a rental for a little while so you should be able to get a great deal on it. I was considering it for my first carved bass, unfortunately, the cost of repairs to my son's car just put the kabash on that idea.

I also tried out a Shen Willow from Nick Lloyd, which in some ways was nicer than the one at the Cellar.

Steve Killingsworth · #10 03-28-2007, 04:42 AM

If you are around Bowling Greem KY consider visiting Dustin Williams in Nashville. He usually has a variety of new (Shen, Kohr, and Wilfer) and vintage basses in his shop.

mesmithnm · #11 03-28-2007, 08:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uncletoad

Shen Basses are great and quite a bang for the buck. There are many other options depending on your budget.

Please surf the basses threads here. Take a couple days to do so and you'll start to see what the heavy hitters are. Look carefully at your budget but know that it's not wise to underspend and out grow a moderate instrument quickly. Better to buy something over your head and grow into it.

If you can take an experienced player with you that is best. Having two opinions is better and being able to listen to somebody else play your bass from a distance is also very helpful.

Bowling Green is near Toledo which is as far away from Cinci as you can get without leaving Ohio, nevertheless I think those references are fantastic and if you can contact them and go to Cinci and play their stuff I would. Detroit is much closer if anyone knows anyone there. Cleveland, Fort Wayne, Columbus, Windsor, Indianapolis, Pittsburgh, Chicago, Milwaukee, Madison, and points between are a half days drive or less from there. Look for luthiers in those cities and look at whatever you can in each.

My bad - I was thinking Bowling Green, KY (which is only 200 miles or so from Cincy - but then again BG, OH is about the same) - I'm mostly guilty of having the western US mileage calibration, where anything less than 250 miles one-way is close enough for a day trip

flint · #12 03-28-2007, 08:18 AM

you've gotten some really good advice here on places to go, and brands to look at.

the only thing I would interject is one more brand to consider-Christopher. you'll, no doubt, run across them in your research, but they are not as heavily promoted around here as the Shen's. That being said, they are a quality "made in china" bass that deserve a look.

Thus far I have had two Christophers -one an all ply that I rented for a year, and the hybrid that I upgraded to, and currently play on.

just my 2 cents, and good luck. Trying out basses is exciting, but can be overwhelming if you let it.

kurtsnyder · #13 03-28-2007, 10:28 PM

Another bass that should be considered is the Wan Bernadel. I just bought one last month and really love it. I played it against 4 other Chinese basses in it's price range and as one "veteran" of 30 years playing bass said, "there's no comparison". It's a nice bass!

CamMcIntyre · #14 03-31-2007, 12:08 PM

Depending on how much you're looking to spend, i start to drool when i think of a fully carved NS Cleveland carved. String it up with some arco strings [i'm assuming you're going for classical bass] and enjoy.

conte2music · #15 03-31-2007, 03:16 PM

I just recently got a Shen 7/8 Willow flatback, and it's wonderful! Great low end, good sustain, lots of punch. Good for any style of music.