What comes First? the bass or the lessons?

[snowbird89]

I have been singing with a bluegrass group nonprofessionally for about three years. I am the only one who does not play an instrument and the others have been encouraging me to learn the upright bass. The current bass player has been very suportive and has lent me his bass a few times to practice with as well as showing me a few basics. I never thought I could do it, but I am catching on. They are urging me to play in public (jams with an audience). I would like to buy a bass of my own, so I can practice more often, but I don't know what to buy. There are no stores in my area of Florida that have basses in stock. You have to order. How can I choose without trying, and how do I get a decent bass without overpaying? I like the 3/4 bass I have been playing, but transportation is an issue. It has been suggested that I get a 1/2 . Can anyone give me some advice?:

[rusag2]

Mostly, it's pretty ill advised to buy a bass without laying hands on it. That said, there are a few ways you might get into the game that are reasonable. The good folks at Upton bass can build you one from the ground up for around $2,500 or so. Fretwell and http://www.gollihurmusic.com also offer Engelhardt basses for under $1500. The Englehardt are well known and reputable beginner basses and from any of these mentioned sources, you'll get excellent service and some degree of assurance that you're not getting crap. Do not be suckered into a $600 bass on eBay. You'll outgrow it very very quickly and the resale value will be next to nill. One nice thing at Upton, if you buy a new bass from them, if you ever care to upgrade to a better bass, they'll take back your original bass at full price towards the upgrade.

Just my $0.02

[michaeln]

If you buy an Engelhardt, factor in $400 or more for a good setup and a set of strings.

[Tejano Bass]

If you buy an Engelhardt, factor in $400 or more for a good setup and a set of strings.

Sorry, michaeln . . . but that's just not necessarily true . . . For Example, Fretwell offers a custom gig-ready set-up to include a choice of strings in their price for an Englehardt.

For Details - See: http://www.fretwellbass.com/index.ph...ps35ffafbcjb72

As always - compare before you buy

[madmatt]

The lessons first.
Just get the lessons and go home and practice air-guitar for a year, then go buy a bass when you are really ready.

[michaeln]

Originally Posted by Tejano Bass

Sorry, michaeln . . . but that's just not necessarily true . . . For Example, Fretwell offers a custom gig-ready set-up to include a choice of strings in their price for an Englehardt.

For Details - See: http://www.fretwellbass.com/index.ph...ps35ffafbcjb72

Yes, that's a good deal, but it doesn't include an adjustable bridge, or nut work, and you have your choice of Innovation brand strings. If you want some other strings or an adjustable bridge, they are available at extra cost.

Nonetheless, that's the best deal by far I have seen on Engelhardt basses, and if I wanted one (I don't), I'd be tempted to buy from Fretwell.

[RNV]

Where in Florida are you? There are stores in Palm Beach County that have DBs. Don't look at your Guitar stores for Uprights, look at shops that cater to schools and sell woodwind and brass instruments as well. And check Craigslist, I see DBs on the for South Florida every few weeks. As a bass guitar player I have tossed around the idea of picking one up on the cheap. I figure a job would be the first thing to get before investing in a DB. I may not return to this thread being its on the other realm of my bass playing so if you want the locations I know, shoot me a PM.

[Roy Vogt]

I vote for the Bass. You can learn a lot "on the Job" by continuing to play with your friends. It might be nice to take a couple of lessons so that you don't start with bad habits but I don't think you need to go all the way through both Simandl books to play what you enjoy.
There should be a good luthier or bass shop down there somewhere. Check with one of the Music Schools at FAU or U of M. They may have a clue of where to go.

[JeffKissell]

My suggestion is to rent a bass for a couple of months while taking lessons. In the mean time play as many basses as you can. When you're ready to buy you'll have a much better idea of what you want.
-J

[iiipopes]

Are chicken-and-egg discussions really necessary? This is no different than any other "classical" instrument, including school concert bands.

If you're sure you want to do it, get one from a reputable dealer after consultation about where you are musically, your physical size, and your budget. Gollihur now has a model that he sets up before shipping out with a trial period after consultation for about $1400 that has great reviews.

If you're not sure: 1) if in school, see if the school, college or institution has one to check out, just like the school usually owns tubas, contra clarinets and such for concert band. 2) if otherwise, see if you can work out a store rental, with the rental $$ applying to a later purchase, like a lot of stores do for their school customers.

And yes, finally, try-before-you-buy, taking along someone who knows both how to play and how you play to help choose one on your budget is the best course of action. But there are a lot of folks, due to the nature of the instrument, that live in bass wasteland, with either no availability of any kind or the local store is, like, "Sure...we can order one in for you," not much better than an eBay purchase. So sometimes all a person can do is contact one of the reputable dealers mentioned on this board, tell them the situation, and have them make a best educated recommendation and ship one out.

The only way I'd purchase a used bass over the internet, including eBay and Craigslist, or even from a dealer, is after having enough experience to know exactly what I wanted, which along with that comes the knowledge of what a setup and any repairs would cost, so that the price of the instrument and all the necessary follow up can be factored into the budget.

[anonymous122511]

Reading the title of the thread my first thought was I've heard a lotta bassists who never had a lesson but never one who didn't have a bass......
The relationship between you and your bass needs to be very intimate....establishing that with a rental bass is like trying to fall in love with a whore.

[michaeln]

Originally Posted by jeff arddun

fall in love with a whore.

Been there, done that, married her. Not smart.

[JeffKissell]

Originally Posted by jeff arddun

Reading the title of the thread my first thought was I've heard a lotta bassists who never had a lesson but never one who didn't have a bass......
The relationship between you and your bass needs to be very intimate....establishing that with a rental bass is like trying to fall in love with a whore.

Do you still own the car you learned to drive in?

[anonymous122511]

Unless we're talking about cars as vehicles for highly personal artistic self expression (and as much as I love a great sports car I think really we aren't) that's a worthless analogy.

[mcm]

the bass

[fingerbun]

Originally Posted by madmatt

The lessons first.
Just get the lessons and go home and practice air-guitar for a year, then go buy a bass when you are really ready.

Huh? How do you practice without having a bass?

[noelnv]

Originally Posted by jeff arddun

Reading the title of the thread my first thought was I've heard a lotta bassists who never had a lesson but never one who didn't have a bass......
The relationship between you and your bass needs to be very intimate....establishing that with a rental bass is like trying to fall in love with a whore.

I see what you are saying, but I couldn't disagree more. I took lessons with a rental bass for some time before purchasing one of my own. It was great, because I didn't feel like crying when I realized that I just spent almost three thousand dollars on a thing that I had no idea how to use. The lessons helped me get a grasp of the instrument before taking the plunge.

To go along with your post, I'd submit that a better analogy would be that buying a bass without some lessons is akin to going out and marrying the first woman you see.

[anonymous122511]

Originally Posted by noelnv

I see what you are saying, but I couldn't disagree more. I took lessons with a rental bass for some time before purchasing one of my own. It was great, because I didn't feel like crying when I realized that I just spent almost three thousand dollars on a thing that I had no idea how to use. The lessons helped me get a grasp of the instrument before taking the plunge.

To go along with your post, I'd submit that a better analogy would be that buying a bass without some lessons is akin to going out and marrying the first woman you see.

LOL!
The second part I'm with you all the way but I don't see it being in conflict with my original point. You should get the best help you can buying any bass any time....especially your first.

As to the other I think that the double bass is such a huge commitment on so many levels that it's best from the start to learn to establish a deep bond with your bass hence my analogy.

This may be non sequitur but the discussion makes me think of two things: Eddie Gomez talking about rental basses on the road and how he found very few he couldn't make friends with...how'd he get to that point?
and
Candadian bassist Kieran Overs who's only had one bass in over thirty years.

[JeffKissell]

I agree with the premise that one should have a "bass to establish a deep personal bond with" but the risk is great that the OP will not buy that bass without help at this point. It's better to be armed with knowledge and understanding than just luck alone.
Having a few lessons and some hands on guidance will go along way towards a successful purchase and a "long term" relationship.

[RonChase]

I would say get a cheap bass you want to get a decent one so if you change your mind your not out a lot.You will need one to practice and just get into a groove on your own,jam along with your favorite songs and take lessons you will be fine,good luck