Recommend a Set-Up Luthier & More, South

[nachodaddy]

I need luthier recommendations within 3 hours of Chattanooga. This would be for initial set-up. Also, I'm new to string bass, most have recommended Thomastik Spirocore lights for what I want to do(jazz standards, honkytonk country, Beatles type stuff). So, yeah, I want long, strong sustain for the jazz stuff. Any alternative recommendations? The bass is an Engelhardt ES-9. One A**HOLE from an alleged bass specialty store kept talking about solid wood basses, as though he could "shame" me into buying one. Yeah, dude, I just want strings, & not attached to another $10,000+ seeing as I don't play in a major symphony orchestra, nor am I on the "go to" call list for jazz bass studio sessions. However, if I am ever in the need for a solid woods bass, I sure as hell won't call your ass. I'm here in the damn humid SOUTH with a laminate bass, like any sane person in my shoes would be. Aah, I love to vent. Oh, ps, what company have you had good service ordering strings from?

[PRUNEFACE]

uhhh I have a fully carved and I live on the even more humid emerald coast of florida :P but I understand what you mean about shaming you into something "better". I've experienced it too. And my family has a vacation home on lookout mountain, so hopefully I'll learn of some new-to-me luthiers

[nachodaddy]

I mean, I just call this joint to recommend strings & telling him what bass I have, & he goes into la la land on these solid wood basses. He must've smelled money, boy was he off BASS. I wish I'd recorded the conversation now, was hysterical. Bass isn't my primary instrument, especially not double bass. I just got it slightly over a month ago. So, I'm not gona be a gigger with it anyway, at least not anytime soon. I just have old pals from previous bands around Atlanta from the 70's that I go pick & sing a coupla times a month with, like an old farts club, & thought it'd be nice to add bass to the stuff we do, ie, Beatles, Gram Parsons, Everly Bros, Buffalo Springfield, jazz standards. We have good vocals, esecially me(ahem), but, a room full of guitarists can get tedious. I lived in Hinkle on Lookout for a few years in the mid-90's, wish I'd kept that house, was my fave place I've lived around here. At any rate, I guess I'll order the Spirocores this morning since I didn't exactly get a bunch of responses,lol. Oh, ps, when you come up this way, it'd be nice if you'd bring me some smoked mullet & Bon Secour bay oysters, although I certainly wouldn't kick Appalachicola bay ones out of bed. Grouper would be just fine, as well.

[keiranohara]

I feel your pain on the luthier front, I grew up in Oak Ridge, TN. Too few around that I got into the business myself. Then promptly left the south to find work.

Two shops I have visited that I can whole heartedly recommend would be Bob Beerman in Greensboro, NC and Dustin Art Williams in Nashville.

[PaulCannon]

I'm sure the guy didn't mean to rub you the wrong way. It sounds like typical shop talk. Not to mention, fully carved instruments are better. Maybe they're not for you, but if you ever decide to get more invested in the instrument it would be something to think about.

I went to college in Houston, where humidity is usually hovering around 90-100%. The only time I ever had a problem with my carved bass was when the humidity suddenly plummeted to 0%. Wood likes consistency more than anything else.

[nachodaddy]

Originally Posted by keiranohara

I feel your pain on the luthier front, I grew up in Oak Ridge, TN. Too few around that I got into the business myself. Then promptly left the south to find work.

Two shops I have visited that I can whole heartedly recommend would be Bob Beerman in Greensboro, NC and Dustin Art Williams in Nashville.

I've read lots of nice things about Beerman, but, Greensboro's a DRIVE from here. Just talked with Williams' shop on Saturday,lol. I've got some time to decide on a set-up guy(or girl) as I've gotta wait for new strings to get here, so, I hope I get some more recommendations. I had a pack of wacky bridge(the card game) playin' buddies from Oak Ridge in the 80's that were around my age. I became a hired pro myself in late 82.

[M Ramsey]

contact James Condino (he's a regular here on Talkbass) I've seen him work on a friend's bass and he will work on mine for my next setup. Not to throw off on Bob Beerman (who did a great neckset for me several years ago) but James is closer for me. He resides in Asheville, NC, not too far from Chattanooga.

Asheville, NC to Chattanooga, TN about 3.5 hours.

[nachodaddy]

Originally Posted by PaulCannon

I'm sure the guy didn't mean to rub you the wrong way. It sounds like typical shop talk. Not to mention, fully carved instruments are better. Maybe they're not for you, but if you ever decide to get more invested in the instrument it would be something to think about.

I went to college in Houston, where humidity is usually hovering around 90-100%. The only time I ever had a problem with my carved bass was when the humidity suddenly plummeted to 0%. Wood likes consistency more than anything else.

I'm well aware of the difference in solid woods & laminates, I've played guitar for 46 years. If I'd been playin' double bass for that long, maybe I'd want or have a solid wood one. I am a BEGINNER on DB. I might give it up & look for an old Guild B-50, instead. Who knows? To go out & buy something insanely expensive as a beginner is RIDICULOUS, unless you're just loaded with dough, which, I'm not. As a parallel, what if a young kid got a Blue Ridge flat top, purty nice under a grand guitar. He goes down to the music store to get a set of strings. The store guy assumes a snotty tone & says that unless he's playing the $30,00 1938 Martin 000-28, he might as well just pack it in. LUDICROUS!!!
At any rate, this thread is about finding a set-up luthier and string recommendation for the bass that I HAVE.

[nachodaddy]

Originally Posted by M Ramsey

contact James Condino (he's a regular here on Talkbass) I've seen him work on a friend's bass and he will work on mine for my next setup. Not to throw off on Bob Beerman (who did a great neckset for me several years ago) but James is closer for me. He resides in Asheville, NC, not too far from Chattanooga.

Asheville, NC to Chattanooga, TN about 3.5 hours.

Thanx, Mike. I'll see if I can't talk to him in the next day or two, but, Asheville is pushin' it,lol. I used to have pals in Canton & Candler, but, haven't talked to either in years, ( Now, Murphy,NC is only about an hour away, that would be good, )

[PaulCannon]

Originally Posted by nachodaddy

I'm well aware of the difference in solid woods & laminates, I've played guitar for 46 years. If I'd been playin' double bass for that long, maybe I'd want or have a solid wood one. I am a BEGINNER on DB. I might give it up & look for an old Guild B-50, instead. Who knows? To go out & buy something insanely expensive as a beginner is RIDICULOUS, unless you're just loaded with dough, which, I'm not. As a parallel, what if a young kid got a Blue Ridge flat top, purty nice under a grand guitar. He goes down to the music store to get a set of strings. The store guy assumes a snotty tone & says that unless he's playing the $30,00 1938 Martin 000-28, he might as well just pack it in. LUDICROUS!!!
At any rate, this thread is about finding a set-up luthier and string recommendation for the bass that I HAVE.

I'm with you. Were you really told anything short of a master-crafted instrument was a waste of time? In any case, an excellent set-up is far more useful to a beginner, so I'd say you're on the right track.

By the way, I love your screen name.

[johninmemphis]

Go see Dustin in Nashville and put on some used Spiro's. He has worked on my Kay before as well. Best place for strings is right here in the classifieds.

[bassist1962]

I took my bass to Ken Stanton in Marietta, GA. Eddie Cowley did a marvelous job on my instrument. The least expensive alternative to the Spiros would be Helicore Pizzicato strings. Opinions may vary.

[nachodaddy]

Howdy & thanks John & John. A coupla folks have mentioned Dustin in Trashville. I have a distinct aversion to crossing the Davidson County line, but, maybe. As for Eddie, no one's mentioned him, but, I grew up in Atlanta, so, I know Ken Stanton's. I guess they're the oldest store left in Atlanta since Ideal closed. Wharbouts in Georgia are ye, John?

[bassist1962]

I live in Cartersville, about 50 north of Atlanta.

[nachodaddy]

Originally Posted by bassist1962

I live in Cartersville, about 50 north of Atlanta.

About the same distance from me. I go to Dallas or Powder Springs as often as we can set a date to play & sing with old pals that I've known since the early 70's. My reason for gettin' a double bass is because we're all guitarists,lol. At any rate, if you like real country, Everly Bros, Gram Parsons, Beatles, jazz standards, etc, you'd be welcome to join us in Dallas. I'd assume I'm at least a year away from bein' comfy on an upright, ) We have the ability to do electric, but, we just do straight acoustic in the kitchen. It's not an insane jam session, we all sing & harmonize to good songs, period. Got my new bass strings yesterday, so, the tall, curvy blonde is goin' for her set-up in the next coupla days, so I'll be without for a while, anyway. Anyone else you know, excluding banjo pickers, would also be welcome, or, even a chick if she can sing harmony to GP tunes. The one thing I miss about my ex-fiance was that she could sing the hell out of those tunes with me, but, she didn't even know who Parsons was til she met me.

[nachodaddy]

The bass is finally goin' in for her new strings(TI Spirocore lights) and set-up Tuesday afternoon. Why yes, that Is my fave Moody Blues tune...

[nachodaddy]

Well, the new strings(the Spirochete lights) are on & the initial prognosis is good. I'm to bring her back after a week or so after some string stretching.

[Eric Swanson]

Originally Posted by nachodaddy

... it'd be nice if you'd bring me some smoked mullet...

What happens when you smoke mullet? Do you suddenly love Bon Jovi? Does it create some kind of weird munchy cravings?

Seriously, though, enjoy the new setup on the bass. Love to hear more about the Spiros.

[Will Yager]

I'm from Maryville and I've tried many of the places in/near the east TN area, including Dustin's, and I have to say that Mark Pullen of Fulton Strings in Alpharetta, GA, is the best I've used. He set my bass up about a month or two ago and its the happiest I've ever been with it. And he makes a kickass cup of coffee.

[ia02]

Joe Glaser in Nashville. He is also able to do PLEK setups. Worth the drive from chatty