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Double Bass Sunrise Laguna vs. Encinitas

jweiss

jweiss

Jul 5, 2007
562
40
Park City, Utah
www.sci.utah.edu
#1
I'm shopping for my first double bass. My teacher has recommended Lemur Music, as several of his current and former students have purchased from them.

Looking at a fully carved bass. Will be used exclusively for jazz, and probably some amplification on at least half of the gigs that I will eventually play with it. The two models I'm considering are the Sunrise and the Encinitas:

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There are some really good photos of the front and back of the basses on these links, showing the wood etc.

These are both fully carved. The Laguna is violin shape ($2,750). The Sunrise is Gamba shape and costs $1,000 more ($3,750). Folks at Lemur music have been very helpful on the phone. The fellow said that the main difference was in the quality of the wood between the basses, which may or may not contribute to a noticeably better tone. He was actually pushing the Sunrise for my use.

Seems like the Sunrise has gotten pretty much uniformly positive comments here and elsewhere. Can't find any info on Encinitas.

Any of you play one or both of these basses? Could you offer me your opinions?

Is it worth an extra $1k for better quality wood?

What are the advantages/disadvantages of violin vs. gamba shape?

Thanks so much,

Jeff
 
#2
jweiss said:
...What are the advantages/disadvantages of violin vs. gamba shape?
Click to expand...

Right here, Jeff!

Seriously though, I think the Laguna comes in either violin or gamba.

Violin advantage: Corners make it easier to pick up, looks better than gamba (classy).

Violin disadvantage: Corners can get broken, corners leave red marks between your knees when you play the bass sideways.

Gamba advantage: Corners are already broken off.

Gamba disadvantage: Harder to pick up by c-bout, looks worse than violin (plain jane).
 
#5
ADissen said:
if you go over to Lemurs shop and play both basses and it sounds like better quality, then yeah. If not, save the 1000 and buy.... a nice rig. and be sure to ask your teacher about it.
Click to expand...

Thanks, I guess I should clarify:

I'm in Utah, Lemur is in Southern Cal.

I don't own a double bass and have never played one for more than just a few minute. Thus even if I did take the plane ride to get to Lemur's shop, I don't think I could effectively evaluate the basses or identify the pros and cons.

I have several nice rigs. (see my profile)

I have consulted my teacher about this. I'm looking for input from others who may have played one or both instruments, orother opinions. But since you mentioned this, my teacher has played several examples of both models. He feels that "there is not a tremendously large difference between the sound of the basses, but the Encinitas is definitely a nicer looking instrument and constructed from superior woods". I asked him which one he thought I should get, and he indicated that either of them would be a great instrument for me and would take me through several years of development as a player, and it was up to me if I wanted to spend the extra money for the Encinitas.

Cheers,

Jeff
 
#6
Hi jeff
I have a Laguna sunrise. It was my main axe for about 5 years. I still use it for practice at home. I upgraded to a La Scala last year. I can still say that the Laguna is still a very comfortable bass to play. You will not be disappointed .If Jazz pizz is your mainstay then you will be relying in good amplification. . The only thing I would recommend is that you get it fitted with a full circle pick up before it leaves Lemur It sounds a little boomy with the Underwood. Incidentally the Lemur set up is great. Good luck
 
#7
I understand the anxiety, I'm in exactly the same position, but without a teacher yet. However, in reading your last post, it seems like you've answered your own question already.

"there is not a tremendously large difference between the sound of the basses, but the Encinitas is definitely a nicer looking instrument and constructed from superior woods"
Click to expand...
The sound is the most important thing, my interpretation of this statement suggests the Laguna.
either of them would be a great instrument for me and would take me through several years of development as a player
Click to expand...
Another reason to pocket the extra cash.

By the way, although I don't have a teacher yet, I'm leaning on the advice of a working double bass player. I keep coming up with basses that I might want, he keeps pointing to the Laguna. I'm about to push his patience past a reasonable limit, so when the funds are ready, a Laguna it will be.
 
#8
marvin spangles said:
Hi jeff
I have a Laguna sunrise. It was my main axe for about 5 years. I still use it for practice at home. I upgraded to a La Scala last year. I can still say that the Laguna is still a very comfortable bass to play. You will not be disappointed .If Jazz pizz is your mainstay then you will be relying in good amplification. . The only thing I would recommend is that you get it fitted with a full circle pick up before it leaves Lemur It sounds a little boomy with the Underwood. Incidentally the Lemur set up is great. Good luck
Click to expand...

Thank you sir!

Yes, I will be mostly playing pizz, except for practice with the German bow at home and in lessons. I imagine the bow won't get much use on gigs, at least for a while.

Just curious - how did the La Scala and the Sunrise Laguna compare in your ears and hands.

My teacher had suggested getting the Realist pickup. I'll ask him about the full circle as well.

Cheers,

Jeff
 
#9
monochrome said:
The sound is the most important thing, my interpretation of this statement suggests the Laguna.

Another reason to pocket the extra cash.

By the way, although I don't have a teacher yet, I'm leaning on the advice of a working double bass player. I keep coming up with basses that I might want, he keeps pointing to the Laguna. I'm about to push his patience past a reasonable limit, so when the funds are ready, a Laguna it will be.
Click to expand...

Thanks for your thoughts! Sounds like we are in similar positions. I won't have time to start my studies until May, so I could both wait for an Encinitas to be ordered and made available (they are not in stock, but the Laguna is in stock) and probably save up the extra cash for it too.

The folks at Lemur have been very helpful too, but neither they nor my teacher have been willing to say "get this one" :)
 
#10
Since I'm hoping to start off in the bluegrass realm I've strongly considered their Jupiter. It's a big@$$ laminated thing. They say it's made for maximum volume and punch in a bluegrass style setting, but would be perfectly adequate to learn the bow. However, with a realist pickup and nice little amp (which I own), the Laguna just kept coming up as the bass with the broadest future.
 
#11
jweiss said:
I have consulted my teacher about this. I'm looking for input from others who may have played one or both instruments, orother opinions. But since you mentioned this, my teacher has played several examples of both models. He feels that "there is not a tremendously large difference between the sound of the basses, but the Encinitas is definitely a nicer looking instrument and constructed from superior woods". I asked him which one he thought I should get, and he indicated that either of them would be a great instrument for me and would take me through several years of development as a player, and it was up to me if I wanted to spend the extra money for the Encinitas.
Click to expand...

i was really in the same position as you when i was looking for my first bass and Lemur was the only resource i knew of at the time and both the basses to which this thread is dedicated we're top on my list. But i am located in Baltimore Maryland so the trip down to lemur would cost almost as much as the bass :smug:
i ended up getting a nicely setup Englehardt from a local luthier and it did me just fine. i still you use it for all my jazz stuff and find it perfectly suitable. So, my point is, i think both of the instruments would be wonderful as a bass to start out on. But on thing that ended up helping me with getting a "cheap"er first bass was that it allowed me to save up more for my second instrument with the pocketed cash. which is always good. (instead of a nice rig :smug: sorry if that came off a little brash)
for a bass to start out on i think both basses would be great, and according to the reviews, so do many others :)

The best of luck to ya
andrew
 
#13
Just curious - how did the La Scala and the Sunrise Laguna compare in your ears and hands.


There is a significant price difference between the two and for the money the Laguna represents very good value. It feels really good. It comes excellently set up. A good Set up cannot be underestimated. I have seen and heard many basses that were more expensive than the Laguna that played and sounded inferior. It bows really responsively too. And while this may not seem important now you might find yourself seduced by the bow sound. (Learning with the bow is less forgiving of intonation problems.) At present I have Evahs.They pizz well but the E is a tad weak. I would suggest Spiros for Jazz and possibly a Stark E to get punch on the bottom end. There is no point in me comparing the two basses. My advice would be to go to a shop and play some basses but don't play basses you know that you can't afford.You will get a bass that more than fulfills your needs at the price point of the Laguna. I haven't outgrown the Laguna. I just happened to be in the financial position to but a La Scala.

My teacher had suggested getting the Realist pickup. I'll ask him about the full circle as well.


I haven't use the Realist so I can't comment. I have a Shadow(underwood type) pickup on the Laguna. There are limits to the volume before feedback. The full circle has a much better sound and has a much higher volume threshhold before Feedback. Incidentally as you will mostly be playing pizz then 90% of your gigs will be the same so SET UP will be more important than acoustic loudness.
good luck
Peter
 
#16
I don't know if I'm breaking any forum rules here but... if this might help you?

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=501528

The prior owner of this bought it more as a momento as 10 years earlier, he was involved in a nasty accident that severed 90% of one of his arms and he could no longer play professionally.

It's dated inside 2007 ( I do not know what month) and he died in September of 2008 so it's not that old. He bought it an placed it in the corner of his room, more as a memory of what he did and maybe to plunk around with when he was reminiscing about his playing times.

I don't know.

If you'd have an interest in it, I think the niece would be happy getting $1,500 for it however, I'd have NO idea how to ship it.

If no interest, I certainly understand.

I hope this post isn't taken offensively, I just noticed the conversation and thought you might want to save a few dollars.

Regards
 
#17
Hi Coytee - hey thanks very much, I'm definitely interested and it seems like a good price assuming there is nothing wrong with the instrument.

I would want a luthier shop local to you to check it out to give me an assessment of the instrument. Regarding the shipping - I know that Lemur makes a wood box that fits their basses before shipping and charges $300 for shipping. I would think that any shop that sold double basses could assist with packaging and shipping.

If you are willing to transport the bass to a local shop of my choosing to have it inspected and to deal with the shipping on your end (I would pay for the costs, and the shop might be able to assist with shipping), then please drop me a line (pm or email).

Also you may want to fill out your profile with location, etc.

Thanks for the info!

Jeff
 
#19
Eric Swanson said:
And?

Utah is only a long day's drive to SoCal, right? I have family in both spots and have made different versions of that trip.

It seems that it may be worth the drive/effort if you are talking about a bass that you will play for years, no?
Click to expand...

Hi Eric - I understand what you're saying, and I actually grew up in the area where Lemur Music is located (although I no longer have family there).

But again I would not know what I'm looking at or listening for. I would be relying on the opinion of the folks in the shop there, so to me it doesn't seem like a good use of my time or money.

This is further complicated by the fact that the Encinitas model is not in stock at their shop, and would have to be ordered for me.

Cheers,

Jeff
 

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