Serious Upright question

[liljawn]

I am a long time electric bass guitar player who is moving to double bass. I have my teacher found and purchased a bass that was within my price range.

I wound up with a Engelhardt EM1 from my local music store they cut me a deal even though it is brand new a lot of people in the store had touched it so it has some character marks.

I payed $1100 dollars for it.

This deal also included a set up because my bass teacher said the action needed to be lowered quite a bit for playing with a bow. So I haggled with the music store guy he said he would give me the bass for $1100 and %50 off on a bow and a case. What ever bow and case I wanted.

I have already ordered my case which I dont remember the brand but it was some where around $350 so I got that for half off.

I am waiting to select a bow till I work with my new teacher she is going to let me try out the french and german and we will figure out what is best for me. Then I will order my bow ..... %50 off on that.


Thing is I have yet to have a lesson yet because I am awaiting my case to come in. While waiting I have been messing around a little bit but upon thoroughly inspecting the bass I found a flaw in the music stores set up and I need to know how serious it is as far as tone and sound go.

On the right side of the bridge where the bridge meets the bass there is a small gap like the bridge is not 100% flush I can post pic if anyone is interested in helping me. Because I do not know if I should be like hey you did this wrong fix it. I haven't been able to show my bass teacher either yet for her opinion because of the no case deal.

For anyone who reads my wall of text I thank you I am very new to DB but not to music and I don't want to get Jipped or miss out on the tone I should be getting. I really wanted to get an upton but just can not fit it into my budget.

[derridiandrift]

Originally Posted by liljawn

On the right side of the bridge where the bridge meets the bass there is a small gap like the bridge is not 100% flush

I think you did well in your purchase depending on where you live, but there are others on here who will respond and who are far more knowledgable than me. If you live in a place where you don't have access to a retailer who really knows upright basses, you're at the mercy of whomever happens to have a bass in stock.

I wouldn't be in a rush to buy a bow. You might find a good used one once you figure out what you want/need. Spend some time learning pizz.

The bridge on your bass needs to sit flush with the body. The store you bought it from might not have the skill to do the setup any better than what you already have. I had a similar experience when I bought from a big chain store's rental stock. The price was right, but I paid a luthier to set it up properly because the people who worked in the store basically didn't have a clue.

[funkybassinator]

Originally Posted by derridiandrift

I wouldn't be in a rush to buy a bow. You might find a good used one once you figure out what you want/need. Spend some time learning pizz.

Even if you don't play outside your house with a bow, it is still very important for practicing intonation.

[Andrew McGregor]

Yes, do get a bow. There's lots of threads about them, consensus is pretty much that a cheap carbon fiber bow (Yita or Finale) is one of the best bets for a beginner these days.

As for the bridge, try and get a photo; could either be just that the bridge isn't sitting right, in which case convincing it back into position will do the trick, or that the fit is wrong, which takes tools and skills to fix.

[liljawn]

wonderful posts thanks so much any more info is much appreciated

[bigolbassguy]

Get us a closeup of the bridge foot if you can.

+1 on getting a bow.