Buying my first EUB

[HeavenOnAStick]

Ok, so I shopped around, and I've decided on the Palatino (I'm sure I'll make friends with that decision). The only problem is, I've never actually played a Palatino before... or any electric upright bass. I've played upright basses plenty (at our school), but never an electric one. With most things it's better to view it/play it before buying (I've experienced that with bikes, amps, percussion), but the nearest dealer is at least an hour, hour and a half away from me. Is it too big of a risk to order it without playing it, or do you think it's close enough to an acoustic upright that I can make a good decision based on soundclips and pictures (and what you guys tell me)?

Oh, and are there any of you in southern MN that have a Palatino that I could look at, to get a feel for it?

[Planet Boulder]

Originally Posted by HeavenOnAStick

Ok, so I shopped around, and I've decided on the Palatino (I'm sure I'll make friends with that decision). The only problem is, I've never actually played a Palatino before... or any electric upright bass. I've played upright basses plenty (at our school), but never an electric one. With most things it's better to view it/play it before buying (I've experienced that with bikes, amps, percussion), but the nearest dealer is at least an hour, hour and a half away from me. Is it too big of a risk to order it without playing it, or do you think it's close enough to an acoustic upright that I can make a good decision based on soundclips and pictures (and what you guys tell me)?

Oh, and are there any of you in southern MN that have a Palatino that I could look at, to get a feel for it?

IMHO, it's worth the scant hour's drive to try it out. If it were in another time zone, I'd see your point, but an hour or hour & 1/2 drive really isn;t that much when you're looking to buy your "first" anything.

[Nohandles]

Hi I'm Nohandles,

I posted the orginal Palatino Club post Janurary 3 06 and now its the Palatino Mege thread.
Don't hesitate to buy this bass. Ita a real sleeper. We will all help you to make just into just waht you want it to be.
Mine sounds more acoustic than my acoustics.

You won't be sorry. Don't judge it by its sound from the factory!

Doug K

[HeavenOnAStick]

Do you have sound clips without alteration (so without a pre-amp, and let me knwo what EQing you've done) that I could listen to?

[ToneRanger]

When I tried a Palatino in a shop the bridge collapsed.
The basic woodwork is OK, but my view is that if you buy one you need to immediately replace strings and bridge. After that, pickup and preamp can do with an upgrade, and perhaps the tailpiece - then you should have a reasonably reliable bass.

[jrduer]

Originally Posted by ToneRanger

When I tried a Palatino in a shop the bridge collapsed.
The basic woodwork is OK, but my view is that if you buy one you need to immediately replace strings and bridge. After that, pickup and preamp can do with an upgrade, and perhaps the tailpiece - then you should have a reasonably reliable bass.

Then, what you'll have will no longer be a Palatino. (Maybe that's a good thing -- I've never played a Palatino. I play an Ergo.)

~John

[DaBassman]

make the drive, you'll love it when you try it!

[ToneRanger]

Originally Posted by HeavenOnAStick

...but the nearest dealer is at least an hour, hour and a half away from me.

As someone who used to live 10 hours from any reasonable music stores, I suggest you do the drive. Just call to make sure they've got it in stock first...

[Miles Berry]

I've only played my messenger, I love it, but i have no experience with any others. As far as driving goes, I drove three hours just to try some basses out I wasn't even gonna buy yet.

[damonsmith]

Originally Posted by Miles Berry

I've only played my messenger, I love it, but i have no experience with any others. As far as driving goes, I drove three hours just to try some basses out I wasn't even gonna buy yet.

-I played one the other day and loved it. I wish they made a 6 string.