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Double Bass Against my better judgment...

#41
vanderbrook said:
Why the upgrade? A lot of reading here on TB convinced me that I needed a carved top if I was going to do any arco at all
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Jeez, I really don't think that's the case at all. Laminate basses can have a really great, unique arco sound just as they do with pizz. It really depends on setup and strings and the individual bass, but that's the case with all things DB. Now if we were talking classical music, I might be a bit concerned about pleasing conductors and section leaders, but since you're not playing any classical....

It sounds like your more worried about other bassists judging you more so than other musicians. If it's not gonna hurt your ability to find gigs, and you really like the ply, then I really wouldn't worry about the hybrid. I would wait until you find a hybrid or carved bass that you really love. Just seems silly to bother with it now.

I say this as someone who really, really misses my old carved basses that I had access to during college. But I now own a plywood bass that plays and sounds better than I ever would have imagined--after putting quite a bit of $$$ into it, that is.
 
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#42
When my fully-carved bass needed some expensive work, I made the decision to switch to an 88 and let the luthier restore and resell the carved bass, presumably to a serious player who needed, or believed they needed, a carved instrument. After 40 years with the carved bass I know that for me that was the right decision. It’s just more fun to play. I loved the old bass but I love the 88 and I’m just…happier with it. I say do what feels good.
 
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#45
I have an old carved, European shop bass. I never perform with the bow aside from long tones at the end of a ballad or maybe a bit of accompaniment.

My bass and I chose each other because we hit it off and the price was right for me at the time. I've played some nice ply basses and some great orchestral instruments. I've never felt like a different bass would make me a different player, though and I've never been disqualified from a gig because of my equipment. I would venture to say, professional orchestras aside, the bar for what type of bass you are required to have is set at "serviceable instrument".

What matters is what kind of player you are. Anyone who's bass enables them to play as themself isn't being held back by their equipment.

The end.
 
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#46
vanderbrook said:
As I mentioned in my initial post, the ply bass rewards my efforts with a huge sound; the hybrid with a more complex but somewhat quieter voice. Same effort. Different results.


There could be a number of ways to explain it, but the ply bows slightly easier than the hybrid. And arco will always be a minor part of my playing... the last few notes on the occasional ballad. Pizz practice is more pleasurable on the ply.
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PSA: All of my advice in this thread is the "common wisdom" it is also put forward for others in the future with the same question not just the OP. It can seem like you are arguing with me, but it is really just the basic ideas people have come up with over centuries of playing this instrument.

One of the other things not mentioned yet is that the ply is pretty much what it is going to be, but a carved top needs to be broken in and will open up more and more as you play it and sound better and better as long as you own it. A couple months will get a a new top vibrating a lot freer.
As far as practice, arco is the most efficient way to practice. I generally consider pizz to "playing" not "practice". Pizz is OK for working on the act itself in the right hand, time and rep. but it is a long & hard road trying to get the rest with non-arco practice.
Also, the age/type of string and set up have a lot to do with how you feel about each bass. Clearly, you are used to the ply. Are both basses set up more or less the same with with the same age and same kind of string?
And finally, just because this particular hybrid might not be the answer doesn't mean you need to play a cheap plywood bass for the rest of your life just to save a $1000.
 
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#47
Greg Clinkingbeard said:
T Gonna take a fragile old Italian bass to a club gig?
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No, but nobody ever suggests that. Newer hybrids are very durable. Most of the pro jazz related players I know have something they got under 6k. If plys were a viable answer you would see them out there at even a mid-level and you just don't. We would all love to spend less money and have a stronger instrument.
 
#49
@vanderbrook - I think the Damon’s point about the potential of the carved-top bass to open up in months/years time is worth considering. If your SB150 is “young” it may not have all of its eventual qualities.

You’re in Denver, right? If you’d like to try a 9 year old well played 150 and compare it to your current two basses let me know and I’ll bring it by and we can play some tunes. It has old Evah weichs so not an direct comparison, but it might reveal something about these basses.
 
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#50
I've had 2 Shens, both hybrid, and they sounded good but lacked the front end on the note I needed for what I do. It really depends on the bass. If the 150 isn't blowing the doors off the 88, I'd say ditch it and keep the 1000 for when you do find a bass that blows the doors off it. If you are playing well, nobody will ever ask you whether you are playing a ply bass or not, nor will they look down on you for it. My 2 cents.
 
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#51
HateyMcAmp said:
@vanderbrook - I think the Damon’s point about the potential of the carved-top bass to open up in months/years time is worth considering. If your SB150 is “young” it may not have all of its eventual qualities.

You’re in Denver, right? If you’d like to try a 9 year old well played 150 and compare it to your current two basses let me know and I’ll bring it by and we can play some tunes. It has old Evah weichs so not an direct comparison, but it might reveal something about these basses.
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Will send you a PM.
 
#52
dylanjohnson said:
I've had 2 Shens, both hybrid, and they sounded good but lacked the front end on the note I needed for what I do. It really depends on the bass. If the 150 isn't blowing the doors off the 88, I'd say ditch it and keep the 1000 for when you do find a bass that blows the doors off it. If you are playing well, nobody will ever ask you whether you are playing a ply bass or not, nor will they look down on you for it. My 2 cents.
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Great advice in here. If you don’t like the 150 but enjoy the 88 keep that one, but don’t rule out carved tops in the future. You’re coming off something of a layoff, right? As you get back out and playing with other musicians more you may find your needs and tastes change.

I would be amazed if any other musician you play with in the jazz context had any negative feedback on the SB88. It’s a nice looking bass that sounds good.
 
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#53
HateyMcAmp said:
@vanderbrook - I think the Damon’s point about the potential of the carved-top bass to open up in months/years time is worth considering. If your SB150 is “young” it may not have all of its eventual qualities.

You’re in Denver, right? If you’d like to try a 9 year old well played 150 and compare it to your current two basses let me know and I’ll bring it by and we can play some tunes. It has old Evah weichs so not an direct comparison, but it might reveal something about these basses.
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I can corroborate this: my SB150 is relatively young (born in 2016) and a couple years after buying it new my teacher started looking for a 2nd bass that he could bring/leave wherever and he said he liked the sound of my bass and so was in the market for a used sb150. I found one on craigslist and sent it his way, he ended up buying it and when I got to try it out I was a little shocked at how good it sounded compared to mine.... (I was a little miffed that I hadnt just sold him mine and snagged that craigslist beauty myself!) turns out it was about 10 years older than mine!

@HateyMcAmp i'm low-key jealous that you snagged that shen from bob. as soon as it popped up i almost messaged him but i dont really need a 2nd bass lol. Glad it ended up in the hands of someone local though!
 
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#54
The reason Shens are recommended by so many people, myself included, is that they are solid and perform well for the price. They are a great way to get started and shouldn't hold you back on a gig.
If you want more than that, you have to move up in either their basses or the carved and hybrid basses in the wider world. These two models are at the bottom end of playable, respectable, good basses. We should understand that going in. I consider my travel bass, which is a Shen hybrid, to be "solidly adequate".
If you want your doors blown of this is not the area of basses that will do that!
 
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#56
damonsmith said:
The reason Shens are recommended by so many people, myself included, is that they are solid and perform well for the price. They are a great way to get started and shouldn't hold you back on a gig.
If you want more than that, you have to move up in either their basses or the carved and hybrid basses in the wider world. These two models are at the bottom end of playable, respectable, good basses. We should understand that going in. I consider my travel bass, which is a Shen hybrid, to be "solidly adequate".
If you want your doors blown of this is not the area of basses that will do that!
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If you are referring to your Chadwick, I repaired one recently and was very impressed by its tone and solid construction. It began a lowly Shen 80 but even with a big hole in the back and a lot of extra bracing and other stuff inside, still sounded pretty good. And it was just a ply.

I’m a big supporter of Shen and am most familiar with the 3/4 willow flatback SB200. They sound very good when new, improve after some playing and are well made.
 
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#58
I'd observe that there are imported Asian DBs that are not as well made as Shens, and no one is suggesting them... At least the more expensive and perhaps more challenging advice provided here in this thread are pointing at better instruments. If I were in the OP's position, I would find that encouraging, considering who that level of well-meaning advice is coming from -- in other words, the OP has potential as a growing DB player to enjoy a better instrument, and that's a compliment.
 
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#59
Let's all keep in mind that OP deciding not to buy THIS hybrid bass does not mean he commits to NEVER buying a hybrid or carved bass.

I don't have any dog in this fight, nor do I have enough experience with a large range of basses to speak with authority, but if I found myself in OP's situation (already has a plywood bass that's working well for him, has the room and funds to buy a "nicer" bass as well), I think I'd make that second bass something really special, like the 100+ year old carved bass that really blows you away. I mean, if you drive a Chevy every day and you like it and it's reliable, would you get more out of having a Ferrari in the garage or a Buick? Everyone's got to answer that question for themselves.
 
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