Santini??

DaBassman · #1 11-17-2007, 08:23 AM

Check this out:

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-2008-SANTINI...QQcmdZViewItem

Looks like a cross between an upright and an old Gibson EB!

tony moore · #2 11-17-2007, 01:31 PM

i was just coming here to post the same q!

looks kind of like eberhard weber's bass...

Nohandles · #3 11-17-2007, 07:15 PM

It is a very interesting looking bass. Something attractive about it.
Wonder how it plays and sounds?

tony moore · #4 11-17-2007, 08:31 PM

i emailed the seller and asked if it was hollow, as it looks hollow in the pics. the seller replied (quickly) that it was solid. i asked him/her for the weight...

it looks like the bridge has adjusters, which would be nice...

DaBassman · #5 11-18-2007, 07:36 AM

Good eye, that one closeup photo sure looked like it was hollow!!

tony moore · #6 11-18-2007, 09:13 AM

i think it's prolly semi-hollow. if you look closely at this pic, you can see the pots from the controls thru the f-holes:

it seems the weak point on these cheaper eub's is in the pickups and electronics. with the bridge adjusters, i wonder of you could install a fishman full circle and wire it to the output and do away with the stock pu/preamp system (if it's bad)?

really interesting bass...

tony

BigBeatNut · #7 11-18-2007, 03:35 PM

I've never seen one of these in the flesh, but that bass has cropped up with many different names before. Try searching in this forum for Harmon, Arrow, Artisan. A selection of links ...

LINK 1 - eBay auction clearly showing hollow chamber behind the f-holes.

LINK 2 - extensive thread in this forum, listing more names than I remembered.

If anyone takes the plunge, be sure to let us know what it's like

mikjans · #8 11-20-2007, 03:56 AM

...more dealer names include B Bass, Yamada (with a "d") and Carrisch...

Made in Korea or China.

Auriaprottu · #9 11-22-2007, 08:57 AM

[EDIT: removed no-longer working eBay URL]

Here's a Santini that ended a couple of days ago. I hope whoever bought it is a TBer, and will provide some input here about its quality or lack thereof. There are two more (last I looked) being auctioned by the same seller. This looks to be a slightly better bass than the Palatino (and a lot better looking, IMO), and the additional "shoulders" section definitely has me interested- if anyone here has any hands-on experience with this bass, please tell us about it. Thanks!

diegom · #10 06-27-2008, 06:52 PM

Any updates on this bass? Is it any good?

SBassman · #11 07-19-2008, 01:58 PM

I always thought the bass looked interesting, but I never heard it.

Anybody here ever take the plunge?

Dirty D · #12 07-19-2008, 09:09 PM

I've been trying to find out info on this because i miss playing upright, and this is a beautiful instrument, I just dont want that to be its only good quality. I've messaged a few people on ebay, but nobody has got back to me yet. If I find anything out I'll post.

AndreasH · #13 07-20-2008, 05:20 PM

Wow! Looks great!

popzor · #14 07-26-2008, 11:18 AM

First about me. I play an '82 Alembic so I'm used to the best and have been playing bass for 40+ years. I guess I'm the test person. I am new to uprights so this may not answer all of your questions, but here goes.
Your right , the Santini is a pretty bass and everyone seems to be in the same boat. I took a chance because I needed to learn upright and it was the cheapest EUB I could find with some character. This bass IS a solid body with only room for the electronics and false "F" holes. The top wood is probably 1/2" thick. I don't know what wood the bass is made of, and I suspect it was made in Korea or China. The joinery on mine isn't perfect lending to speculation of either maker who is not in the master craftsman class or a fast assembly line work with casual quality control. This does not effect it's playing however. The neck on the Santini seems thick from fingerboard to back of neck and is taking some getting used to (especially nearer the body) to get my hand around. I had my local technician work on lowering the action and put good strings on it. The strings it came with were alright I guess, but the new ones are much better. The fingerboard surface is painted ebony and could have been finish sanded a little smoother, but for a beginner like me on uprights it's alright. I'm taking lessons to get technique and learn positioning. My instructor says it's a good bass to learn on and is a forgiving bass for a beginner. It seems you don't have to be quite as precise as with some of the better quality ones. The electronics seem weak for the headphone but the sound through an amp is good. I bought a Behringer 450 as a practice amp on the advice of an old upright player and am waiting for delivery of it this week. I expect the graphic on the amp will enable me to get the Santini sounding really good. About string buzz, I can't give you an honest answer as to how much is generated by my inexperience and how much is the bass. I really haven't noticed it on the top end near the tuning keys, but once I'm moving my hand completely around the neck near the body in the height registers, I'm buzzing a lot. It may only be mostly my lack of proper technique. I am considering using it as a pattern and building a duplicate but as a hollow body sometime in the future. Should be interesting.

SBassman · #15 07-26-2008, 11:30 AM

Great post/review. Thanks.

I wish they had those in stores to touch and feel.
I was always intrigued.

Looks like it will get harder to get these. The people
selling them appear to be going out of business.

Might sound stupid, but I with there was a short scale
version of that bass.

Vin Dirnt · #16 06-15-2009, 02:59 AM

do they still make these? i cant find any anywhere

dubliner · #17 06-15-2009, 04:55 PM

Hey all just joined as I'm moving from electric Fender to a used Santini, Electric upright. anyway the tail piece broke and can't hold the G string. I need to get a replacement if possible, but the ones I see online seem way longer that the one it came with, with the cable attached its probably about 10 inches long. Would anybody be able to direct me to a replacement that will fit, this is supposed to be a 3/4 scale bass, I take it that the tailpiece should also be??? tx Dubliner

TheSuzie · #18 07-21-2009, 10:19 PM

My advice is to get a real tailpiece in either ebony or rosewood that has the proper string spacing for your instrument and then modify (shorten and drill) to fit. While you are at it, please upgrade that wire and clamp. It looks to be as poor as the original tailpiece was. if that wire lets go, you may get hit in the face by the tailpiece and wire propelled by the tension of all four strings. Not a laughing matter.

Edited - on second look thaat wire does not look so bad. I'm just not a fan of crimp clamps.

Peace,
S

Still bassless but for now got a roof over my head...

dubliner · #19 07-25-2009, 11:10 PM

FYI - TheSuzie - Tht cable will probably outlive everything else on the bass - I think its Aircraft grade, something with a little more finesse would be nice. I managed to glue the piece & its been holding for about a month now. It plays well ( for me, a beginner ) but the sound is not very impressive, possibly new strings, bridge & a pickup would improve things. I'm reluctant to spend too much on it ala Making a silk purse out of a sows ear. I'll try an EQ to see if it will make it better. I'm playing through a GK 400 combo. Any thoughts? Dubliner

gimmeagig · #20 11-21-2009, 03:31 PM

I just talked to the importer in LA and he is working on getting a MP3 soundsample for the bass.
When I get it I will post it.