| Forget the Palatino. If you pull down the Search menu on this page, select the Google search, and enter Palatino along with "Billy Bass" or "upright bass" (use the quotes), you'll see that they are not well-regarded instruments. For that matter, if you've got $2000 to spend don't rush into that Englehardt either; for that money, you can find a lot of good basses that you'd want to try first.
As for the Knilling, interestingly they make a plywood bass and also a fully carved one, _both_ called the Budapest! 2 grand is not a bad price for the carved, other things being equal, but you may or may not like the tone/thump for bluegrass purposes. 2 is no steal for the ply model. Take your time, go around with an experienced player who'll play while you listen, and find something you like. It's a real buyer's market these days. | 
