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Double Bass Info about Capri upright bass?

#5
#7
I have had some difficulty getting the information and pictures necessary to post online. Secondly, I am NOT a mass retailer. I am a small business who takes great pride in what I offer, but I can't control what the dealers provide me.

I have another line of basses coming out which I will add tomorrow, 4/4/2012. They have much better specs and great pics. I am also working with some overseas suppliers to get some of the higher quality basses.

As for the price, I will double check the prices on the basses currently listed. Bear in mind, that I also absorb the shipping costs, offer a 100% guarantee, but like I said, I will do some comparison shopping.

Thanks all for your input!!

If you get a moment, please complete the survey on my website. Link Removed

Thanks all!!
Manessa
 
#8
Manessa57 said:
I have had some difficulty getting the information and pictures necessary to post online. Secondly . . . I can't control what the dealers provide me.

I have another line of basses coming out which I will add . . . . They have much better specs and great pics. I am also working with some overseas suppliers to get some of the higher quality basses.
Click to expand...
Let's try again:

Have you ever personally touched a Capri bass?

Do you land these instruments and adjust them or do you just drop-ship them?

Do you play the double-bass?

What folks say here over and over is that you're not buying a pic, you're not buying a price and you're not buying a spec. Double basses require detailed evaluation, adjustment and attention. Either a) the seller does that work (and includes it in the price), b) the buyer pays a luthier for it or c) the bass doesn't play right.

+ + +

Nevertheless, all the best with your new business.
 
#9
Manessa57 said:
... I am NOT a mass retailer. I am a small business who takes great pride in what I offer, but I can't control what the dealers provide me.
Click to expand...

Take a look at the advice I offered:
drurb said:
...One of the top recommendations you'll find offered here is that you buy a bass from a bona fide bass shop. Avoid guitar shops and musical mass retailers.
Click to expand...

Okay, you're not a "mass retailer." It seems, however, that you are also not a bona fide bass shop. You also don't seem to specialize in the double bass in any way. That's really the most important bit of advice and why I mentioned it first.

With regard to pictures and specs, your statement that you can't control what dealers provide to you is very telling. You could, of course, take detailed pictures of one of every model you sell set up in your shop the way a customer can expect to receive it. Here's where the answers to Sam Sherry's questions become crucial.

I read your story on your website. You seem like a well-meaning guy with a love of instruments. Please understand that, based on a vast amount of collective experience and wisdom on these pages, buyers inquiring here will always be steered clear of inexpensive imported instruments of unknown repute that are not provided with an expert setup.

The Capri double bass you are offering for $1300 is described as a hybrid in that it has a solid top. For the sake of newbies who might be reading this, a "solid top" is not necessarily a carved top. You're just not going to get a properly carved, decent spruce top for $1300. Often, what you do get, (as in the Robelli basses), is a cardboard-thin piece of spruce that has been molded into shape.

Buy the way, the Cecilio "Black Bass" package you're offering for $1000 can be had right [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]for 40% less (free shipping provided, as you do), although I would never, ever recommend that anyone buy one of those.
 
#10
I was wondering if anybody has found any new information on this make, I was playing one today and it sounded and played nicely but I'm looking for more information on it and can't seem to find any either. The upright is fairly new to me as well and I don't want to make a big mistake....

Thanks guys!
 
#11
bentgrass said:
I was wondering if anybody has found any new information on this make, I was playing one today and it sounded and played nicely but I'm looking for more information on it and can't seem to find any either. The upright is fairly new to me as well and I don't want to make a big mistake....

Thanks guys!
Click to expand...

Welcome to TB!

I suggest that you start here. :)

Where did you play a Capri? Where do you live? Please fill out your profile. It helps us to help you.
 
#12
Resurrecting this thread. In the 11 years since the last post, has anyone here had any experience with a Capri bass such as described above? I've got some great double bassists helping me while I look for one to learn on, but thought I'd check here as well in case anyone has played one of these before.
 
#16
KUNGfuSHERIFF said:
HeadWind, if you’re in WNY, schedule a trip to CSC in Rochester, who import for Sam Shen.
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I have talked with Monaco's (they are one of the shops listed here in the "where to buy" section) which is close to me. They have lots of new Shens, starting at $1,800. But I was looking for used. There is a used SB100 out my way for $1200 which is a good deal. But the Capri is a much better deal if the bass is in good shape.

I am not sure to what extent I will become a double bassist. Many of my bassist friends play both electric and double bass, and one has offered me free lessons. But I may end up spending my practice time just on the electric so I don't want to lay out too much money to start.

That said, I know where the advice here is coming from. Another passion of mine is cycling, and when I tried to get my kids into it, I knew enough to buy them nice bikes rather than cheap ones or else they wouldn't take to it. Well, they still didn't take to cycling, but it wasn't because they had crappy bikes! I don't want to put myself in the position of not taking to double bass because I have a crappy bass.
 
#18
HeadWind said:
... There is a used SB100 out my way for $1200 which is a good deal. But the Capri is a much better deal if the bass is in good shape.....
Click to expand...
The chance that a mystery bass-shaped object with a brand name stamped on it that no one's ever heard of, whose condition is unknown and can't be reliably assessed by someone who doesn't know how to play double bass, is a "BETTER DEAL" than a used mid grade Shen - an instrument from a well known maker of high reputation - offered for an ordinary price - is essentially zero.

"Good deal" is a fraction: value divided by price.

What you're leaving out of your characterization of the "bass shaped object" as a "good deal" is the numerator.
 
#19
I appreciate the advice. That's why I came here. Definitely will take it to heart. I will try to take a look at each one before deciding.

This link below is not the Capri bass I am looking at, but is identical (with better pictures and description). Just FYI. I understand the concerns about it being a no-name bass. And as my analogy with bikes above, I understand how it can be foolish to just try to save a few bucks.

Capri 3/4 Hybrid Upright Bass | Reverb
 
#20
Warning: I'm on the warpath today.
Why?
We just lost one of the best bassists in our community orchestra section for at least six months because she (smallish woman) did serious physical damage to herself using the cheap Chinese school bass weekly for two years (stored at the hall where we rehearse). I told the folks in charge to at least get it set up properly (which frankly would have been a waste of money) or buy something like a Shen 88/Eastman 90 properly set. (Upton had already donated one bass to us). Nope -- and they let KIDS play on this c--p.

These things should be collected and bonfired.
 
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