Playing Jazz and folk - £600 to spend..

slhinkley · #1 10-20-2009, 07:58 AM

Hi there people,

I play jazz and pop in a few bands and am looking to buy an EUB to make life easier for myself!

I've no knowledge on what is good or not so any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

As mentioned, I have a budget of £600 approx

Thanks

S

scojack · #2 10-20-2009, 11:03 AM

The NS Wav4 would probably be your best bet.....
Whereabouts are you?

slhinkley · #3 10-22-2009, 10:34 AM

London town - was going to go check out some shops down Denmark St aft work

I've heard that NS Wav4 has some pretty shoddy workmanship, i.e. it has a weird wood plastic combo material for the fretboard. And that electronics/pick ups are not so good either. Or is that being far too picky for my budget!

What about the Palention VE-500?

S

scojack · #4 10-22-2009, 10:58 AM

Well if your in London I believe The Gallery has a few in.
(One less Aria ...... since our own walbassist paid a visit !)

I'd have a look in there first,try out a few see what you think.

IanM

draftsmann · #5 10-22-2009, 07:16 PM

Denmark Street is great for window shopping but prices in most (not all) of the guitar shops there are inflated. There's only one specialist bass shop there where you might find an EUB.

£600 will buy you a new EUB from Gear4Music in York - but save your money as it is a crock o'cack. I bought a battered, shopsoiled one with bits missing on eBay for around £70, and was glad I didn't pay a penny more for it.

Anything new at that price is going to be a mass produced far eastern product. You might find something functional - but it ain't going to be pretty or refined unless you do some work on it.

Your best bet with a six hundred quid budget is to buy privately and secondhand. Ebay is your friend - and be patient.

Actually, the most bass you'll get for that budget is the one you build yourself, but that's another story.

I don't mean to be a doom & gloom merchant, but I think you need to be realistic. Most Talkbass contributors live on the colonial side of the pond, where there is seemingly a bigger market and more choice. Conceivably, $900-1000 might buy you something OK over there, but it is going to be trickier in Blighty.

Good luck.

Adrian

Rvl · #6 10-25-2009, 09:28 AM

I have a Aria and a BSX, I like them both but the BSX is better
I would recommend looking for a used Azola or BSX

Thanks

Robert VanLane

duckyincarnate · #7 10-26-2009, 06:38 AM

I imported an Ergo EUB for around that price from the US, and I am very pleased with it. Simple and minimalist but well-designed, with a nice sound once you have technique, set-up and strings that work for you.

Bruce Lindfield · #8 10-26-2009, 06:49 AM

I paid £1900 for my NSCR5 which I bought from the old Bass Centre and was very happy with it - although as people have mentioned there isn't that much choice in Britain, especially if you want to try before you buy!

In fact I think you stand more chance of getting a real Double Bass for that price...?

EUBs are much more of a specialist market and are rarer than BGs and DBs IMO.

You may want to try looking at Thomann as at least VAT will have been paid and it's not so far to come..?

mateybass · #9 10-27-2009, 10:00 PM

I wouldn't dismiss a Stagg until you've tried one. They possibly need less modification than the Palatino judging from the megathreads.

I have two of them, I've compiled a pictorial modification procedure here.

I've also converted one to a 5 string photos here.