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Double Bass 2009: A (Chinese) Bass Odyssey...

#42
Dudes,

Interesting discussion, well interesting from the point of view of an Australian Bass Player. We do hear about all these brands from 'over there' and then you go looking and all the names are different. Not only that but internet searches turn up nothing.
Frustrating eh?

I bought my first resonable bass about three years ago from the Sydney string centre. It's brand is Kriesler. The week I bought it I played every bass that I could, including EVERY bass in the Bass Shop, a couple secondhand ones, two owned by friends, This one stood out above all but a few $10k+ units. Price $4k. I still love it, I've recorded an album with it, I've gigged it, I play it three hours every day. I don't need a better bass. (the string centre today has a Kriesler listed but it is a different model, hybrid. I daresay it's worth a call/ look though)

The reason I'm in this discussion is that I'm looking for a second bass. I do a lot of pub gigs and have an unusual beast that I use for that sort of venue (the boatbass!) Hence the search for an alternative proper bass in the sub $2k price range that I don't have to concern myself with quite so much.

I also have looked at the cheaper ply and hybrid offerings here and am not impressed. They will do the job just fine but they are not very inspiring. Sprayed nitrocellulose laquer makes me feel like I'm playing something plastic, the sound is barely passable. How is it that we can buy a really quite nice guitar for $500 but a bass at 5 times that price is KMart material?

I have noticed the Sandner SB 2 as well.... Avaliable from Jouelline Strings (via ebay- I wouldn't worry about it being the last one, there are 2 more on there already) and also avaliable through 'Supply Musical Instruments' who seem very nice and helpful on the phone and have promised to send me a handful of detail photo's, this just today~ not yet recieved.
Spirit varnish, all solid, nice looking planform, violin corners....

Anyone got one? anyone ever seen one? anyone PLAYED one?

For me, I'm after a stage bass. It's amazing how a very ordinary bass can sound quite spectacular with the right gear (and vice versa) but it looks like it's a different breed than our common sub $2500 offerings.

cheers, Mikey.
 
#44
I was talking to Vincent Hayes today in Williamstown Melbourne - very genuine bloke and knows his stuff. He used to do the setups for Jouelline Strings but now has his own importing/setup business. Great prices and service. He can sell a Viotti all solid wood body for $1900 inc setup or Salieri SB2 for $2500 (with factory strings and bridge). Very interesting.

Word on the street is .... careful with the Jouelline basses.
 
#46
vin*tone said:
I was talking to Vincent Hayes today in Williamstown Melbourne - very genuine bloke and knows his stuff. He used to do the setups for Jouelline Strings but now has his own importing/setup business. Great prices and service. He can sell a Viotti all solid wood body for $1900 inc setup or Salieri SB2 for $2500 (with factory strings and bridge). Very interesting.

Word on the street is .... careful with the Jouelline basses.
Click to expand...

I've spoken with Vincent too; nice guy, seems to know his stuff, but being in VIC, he's hard for me to get to to validate that for myself. Check out the threads below, TB member mr.mow was looking into a bass from Hayes that I pointed him towards (he was looking for a blonde in Victoria (and a bass too!) :p):

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=636970
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=624683

At an initial visit, he had some impressions of the bass, but Vincent wasn't there at the time (he's often off on the Sea Shepherd, interfering with 'legitimate Japanese whaling research' :eyebrow:). He was booked in to re-visit, but I'm not sure how that ended up.

Out of interest, what exactly is the word on the street saying about the Jouelline basses, and does this include the Sandners? I've heard snippets about the other brands that match that, but all other research I've done on the Sanders suggests that they're ok.
 
#48
^^ Andy I think that's what Barry's bass is. But that's the dilemma with Vincent's basses - you have to order them in without playing first. ATM I'm torn between ordering his Salieri SB-2 and just sucking it up and buying from Puglisi. Puglisi's SB2 costs $900 more - which sounds like a lot - BUT that includes new D'Addarios, carves an A-grade maple bridge, replaces tail wires and seems to spend more time/effort in his setup. You also get to feel/play the bass - so you know what you're walking away with.
 
#49
swingingoodtime said:
...Out of interest, what exactly is the word on the street saying about the Jouelline basses, and does this include the Sandners? I've heard snippets about the other brands that match that, but all other research I've done on the Sanders suggests that they're ok.
Click to expand...

Well I've not had direct experience - and me relaying what's been said to me is probably not fair on them. But here's what people said when I asked on ozbass forum...

Invalid Link Removed

I also get a bit put off by their ebay ads - banging on about it being a German company and the bass is "Labeled Sandner Germany" - not a single mention of it being a Chinese bass :scowl:. That's skating so close to false advertising it's not funny.

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI...594759&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT#ht_4256wt_808

You also gotta raise an eyebrow when they say "This cello is carved from selected tonewoods....". Let's hope they spend more time on their bass setups than their cookie cutter advertising.
 
#50
Hmm, ok; that forum thread seems to discuss the business more than the basses. That may reflect somewhat on the quality of the product they bring in, but then again, maybe not.

Certainly, buying a bass from the same person you'll have set it up has huge advantages, though; they'll likely have a better idea of the ins & outs of the instrument to begin with, so Hayes or Puglisi have that over the other mob.

And knowing now what I know about basses; $900 for a full set up including f/b shoot, strings, bridge and a whole heap of experience isn't unreasonable at all. The only thing is, it would make me want to spend more on a decent instrument itself to begin with, to justify the setup cost more (bit like buying Pirelli's for a Kia or a Porsche. Ok, so I'm more likely to afford a Kia than a Porsche, but you get the idea...).

So maybe if budget is your absolute prime consideration and you simply can't wait, go to Hayes & get a sound yet affordable bass & get him to set it up to a decent basic standard (as per my previous posts) and enhance it over time (thus spreading the set up costs out over time too). Or, save up (or if you've the cash & are just trying to be frugal), go to Puglisi & get a sound (& with all due respect to Hayes, most likely a better) instrument & get the correct & full set up done up front. I reckon you'd probably end up paying a bit more via Puglisi in the long run but would also come out further in front in terms of instrument quality, however Hayes may be able to get you up & running sooner with respect to budget. (solely IMO; 0.015c!)
 
#51
Yeah spot on .... on all counts there.

With Hayes I can get the SB-4 for the same price as Puglisi's SB-2.... which would be the better buy? That's what I'm busting my nut over. My gut instinct telling me to go with the reputation.

What did you end up going with?
 
#52
vin*tone said:
Yeah spot on .... on all counts there.

With Hayes I can get the SB-4 for the same price as Puglisi's SB-2.... which would be the better buy? That's what I'm busting my nut over. My gut instinct telling me to go with the reputation.

What did you end up going with?
Click to expand...

I'd go with Ben, personally....satisfaction guaranteed from my experience (Although he told me initially that I bought a Romanian bass, even though Bogey are Korean. Perhaps I misheard him.)....setups, re-shoots, new pickups, bridge mods, strings, flight cases, anything I've needed he's always sorted me out
;)
 
#53
vin*tone said:
Yeah spot on .... on all counts there.

With Hayes I can get the SB-4 for the same price as Puglisi's SB-2.... which would be the better buy? That's what I'm busting my nut over. My gut instinct telling me to go with the reputation.

What did you end up going with?
Click to expand...

Absolutely no disrespect to Vincent at all, but by reputation you certainly won't go wrong with Puglisi and I reckon once he's set up the SB2 properly, you'll be perfectly happy regardless of the differences between the 2 & 4. I'd check out the 2 at Puglisi's shop first to make sure you like the tone/size/fit first, though!

My path was different; I found mine (Korean Bogey, same brand as Spaldo) 2nd hand on eBay. Checked it out, bought it & had Neville set it up. Worked out cheaper than buying the same model new & set up all in one go, but could have cost me more if the bass was not in as good condition, so lucky I guess...
 
#56
I got really lucky and bought a recently made, unnamed, Fully-Carved Chinese bass at a local Houston violin shop. After a year, the tone will mature and it'll sound more lovely as you begin to get used to it. I haven't played too many basses, but this bass is putting out a sound that is beyond what we paid for. I am happy with it so I thought i'd share my experience, however i'd love a nicer bass (more $ will need to be spent, though).
 
#57
prokofiev said:
I got really lucky and bought a recently made, unnamed, Fully-Carved Chinese bass at a local Houston violin shop. After a year, the tone will mature and it'll sound more lovely as you begin to get used to it. I haven't played too many basses, but this bass is putting out a sound that is beyond what we paid for. I am happy with it so I thought i'd share my experience, however i'd love a nicer bass (more $ will need to be spent, though).
Click to expand...

Nice to hear you're happy. That's what's important. Don't count on any drastic changes in the sound in a year. From your profile, it seems that the bass was made in 2006. Even with a brand new bass, things mostly settle down in the first few months but the character of the bass will pretty much be what it is for it's lifetime (assuming a good setup at the start). Was this bass just strung in 2010? Given that you haven't played many basses, it's hard to evaluate your statement that it puts out a sound beyond what you paid for. There are decent Chinese-made entry-level basses out there. There are more that are nightmares. Low-end "fully-carved" basses can be especially tricky. Could you be more specific about the bass itself? How much did you pay? Also, no pix, no bass! ;)
 
#59
Hi Guys

I'am a little late to the party but considering what I have been reading I thought I had better chime in and have my say

I'm not sure what has been said about the shop over the last year but I can assure you we are open and doing the same buisness we have always done the only thing that has changed is that Susan who is a dear freind of mine has
re married and sold the buisness to me, I have been the repairer/luthier at the shop since 2006 along side Dave Ellis who is now at his home repairing and playing as much as he can.

@swingingoodtime
there will always be gossip, gossip is like chinese wisphers never the full story.
My skill and products are not for everybody but instead of listening to it why don't you see for yourself.

Our web page will be up soon, I have had to take it on as the designer could not meet the dead line so keep checking in

hopefully this will clear up the mystery.

Regards
Richard Greenup
 

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