Quote:
Originally Posted by scotty77  Hey Pat,
Is the bass still for sale? I am a new player to the DB, and thinking it might be an inexpensive deal to get into right now. I've been looking at a few others in the Vancouver area. I will be contacting Prussin today as well. Is the Menzel something that you think I would get tired of playing fairly quickly? If so, I'd rather look for something else. Currently, I'm just renting a DB from Tom Lee Music. I emailed a luthier in Vancouver who has a couple of used basses in the $2000.00 range available.
Thanks for any thoughts,
Scotty |
Hey Scott,
Thanks for looking! Okay, First off... this IS the most inexpensive way to get into DB I've ever seen. I bought this bass from Rufus, just around the corner from Prussin, as an entry level DB for 1600! That's Before the upgrades that make this bass gig ready (pickup, bridge and tailpeice - total of $400)
I will tell you, this bass is what it is... an entry level, plywood bass that sounds great amplified but lacks character acoustically compared to a fully carved DB. But that's the nature of plywood DB's and that's one of the reasons they are so much cheaper. It's strong and sturdy and would be great for the giging, traveling musician.
I think one has to really evaluate their commitment playing to DB before make any purchases. If you intend on playing DB seriously throughout you career... this would be a great Secondary instrument down the road, and will suffice until you upgrade. In my experience, a DB used as a primary instrument (playing every day) should be in the $5k range which is still considered "beginner". Solid spruce top at the very least, and carved back and sides if possible. Real fully carved DB's are just flat out expensive, and you usually get what you pay for. I'd personally hesitate to spend any less than 4k on a carved or hybrid DB because a bass in the 4k range IS likely to be twice as nice as it's 2k counterpart, but not so when spending 4k-8k. Make sense?
I'm not sure what you do as a bassist so it's hard for me to give you an accurate opinion, but I do know you won't find this value anywhere else. IMO, If you want to get out of renting and into saving for a really great bass, this could be a great option. Will you get tired of playing it quickly? Maybe. But it's cheap, ready to play and you can always sell it for the same or more than what you paid if it comes time to get another. OR, you can keep it as a great secondary alternative when you don't feel like lugging your expensive DB around town, because you got such a great deal on it to begin with.
Hope I've been of some help Scott! Let me know if you have any more questions.
Pat.
