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Double Bass Azola EUBs Megathread
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I can't get to that website (I've had trouble with it the last few days, thought it had been taken down) ... could someone repost the message here, please ?
Andy
Best of luck to Steve and Jill...
Spring 2010
***************************************
A note from Steve Azola -
To all of our friends, family and fans -
After 15 years and 1200 basses, it is with great sadness that I must announce the doors of Azola Basses are closed.
With the slow economy, our recent move from "Rancho Bajo", and the wide variety of EUB choices readily available in the world today, we have had an increasingly hard time.
Most of all, my wife Jill's decision to move east, and start a new life on her own, has taken its toll on me. As most of you know, she has been as much a part of this business as I have. For me to continue without her would be next to impossible at this time.
I will be returning to the world of fine auto restoration, at a shop here in the San Diego area.
Eventually, I will have a small work space set up for doing some bass adjustments and repairs. So, at some point in the near future, I will do my best to take care of the Azola basses out there which may require attention. Please be patient, I will need a little time to get settled in my new job and adjust to my new life.
A few words about the EUB world in general -
When we brought the Baby Bass back to life in 1994, there was a handful of EUB builders in the US and a few in Europe. These builders, like myself, had small shops and did the work themselves. Now, most of the US builders are gone, with some of them contracting out the actual manufacturing to Asian or Eastern European factories. This has brought a wave of lower priced instruments to the market. While allowing more players to get their hands on EUBs, it has created a lot of confusion in the market place, complicating the decision-making process. With so many choices, most players opt for the lowest price, which usually goes hand-in-hand with low quality. However, even some higher priced instruments are still made in China, using mystery woods and poorly made components.
So, I strongly encourage all the prospective EUB buyers out there to please save some extra pennies so that you are able to buy a bass built by a person that you can at least talk to on the phone, and whose name you know.
I would like to thank all the talented people that helped us through the years. Most notable, Jess Oliver, who inspired me to continue with his Baby Bass, and shared his vast knowledge, wisdom and sense of humor. Carey Nordstrand, who as many of you know, has gone on to build in my opinion, the finest basses available,(period!). Also, Jimmy Crawford and Greg Parker, whose help got us through the busiest times. Mike Tobias, what can I say, the guru of bass building, thank you. To all the wonderful people we met at the NAMM shows, you welcomed us with open arms, and made us feel like family.
To all of you who have an Azola bass as part of your bass family, thank you for allowing me to create an instrument for you. It gives me great pleasure knowing that in your hands they help to give you great pleasure making music.
Thank you all so much,
Steve Azola
5/30/2010
Spring 2010
***************************************
A note from Steve Azola -
To all of our friends, family and fans -
After 15 years and 1200 basses, it is with great sadness that I must announce the doors of Azola Basses are closed.
With the slow economy, our recent move from "Rancho Bajo", and the wide variety of EUB choices readily available in the world today, we have had an increasingly hard time.
Most of all, my wife Jill's decision to move east, and start a new life on her own, has taken its toll on me. As most of you know, she has been as much a part of this business as I have. For me to continue without her would be next to impossible at this time.
I will be returning to the world of fine auto restoration, at a shop here in the San Diego area.
Eventually, I will have a small work space set up for doing some bass adjustments and repairs. So, at some point in the near future, I will do my best to take care of the Azola basses out there which may require attention. Please be patient, I will need a little time to get settled in my new job and adjust to my new life.
A few words about the EUB world in general -
When we brought the Baby Bass back to life in 1994, there was a handful of EUB builders in the US and a few in Europe. These builders, like myself, had small shops and did the work themselves. Now, most of the US builders are gone, with some of them contracting out the actual manufacturing to Asian or Eastern European factories. This has brought a wave of lower priced instruments to the market. While allowing more players to get their hands on EUBs, it has created a lot of confusion in the market place, complicating the decision-making process. With so many choices, most players opt for the lowest price, which usually goes hand-in-hand with low quality. However, even some higher priced instruments are still made in China, using mystery woods and poorly made components.
So, I strongly encourage all the prospective EUB buyers out there to please save some extra pennies so that you are able to buy a bass built by a person that you can at least talk to on the phone, and whose name you know.
I would like to thank all the talented people that helped us through the years. Most notable, Jess Oliver, who inspired me to continue with his Baby Bass, and shared his vast knowledge, wisdom and sense of humor. Carey Nordstrand, who as many of you know, has gone on to build in my opinion, the finest basses available,(period!). Also, Jimmy Crawford and Greg Parker, whose help got us through the busiest times. Mike Tobias, what can I say, the guru of bass building, thank you. To all the wonderful people we met at the NAMM shows, you welcomed us with open arms, and made us feel like family.
To all of you who have an Azola bass as part of your bass family, thank you for allowing me to create an instrument for you. It gives me great pleasure knowing that in your hands they help to give you great pleasure making music.
Thank you all so much,
Steve Azola
5/30/2010
Very sad. I don't know Steve or Jill (I never owned an Azola bass, just looked forward to owning one, one day) but I wish them both all the best.
Andy
Andy
This is just so very sad, the EUB world just got a whole lot emptier.
My very best wishes go to Steve and Jill for the future.
Its not right that there isnt the marketplace for High Quality instruments built by a real craftsman ..... enuff said.
A very gutted ...
IanM
My very best wishes go to Steve and Jill for the future.
Its not right that there isnt the marketplace for High Quality instruments built by a real craftsman ..... enuff said.
A very gutted ...
IanM
There is indeed a marketplace for those, but it's becoming smaller as the market gets flooded with cheapies.
Just browse the forum here and on the Classifieds Wanted board and see how many posts from people that don't even want to spend a grand...
No wonder why WalMart makes so much money!
There is indeed a marketplace for those, but it's becoming smaller as the market gets flooded with cheapies.
Just browse the forum here and on the Classifieds Wanted board and see how many posts from people that don't even want to spend a grand...
No wonder why WalMart makes so much money!
+1
When I saw the notice from the Azolas, I recalled that my first contact with the company was in early 2000 and over all this time, Jill has replied personally to my questions, even remembering that I live in Iowa and which instrument I play (Original Bugbass).
Completely amazing for any company these days!
Completely amazing for any company these days!
strangely enough up until about i month ago i was seriously considering selling mine but i had a change of heart after i remembered how i felt after selling the first generation bug bass i used to own about 7 or 8 years back. it was quite a few years before i acquired another one and the hollow body bug i have now is even better! even if i never play another note on it (definitely not my intention) it's still a wonderfully crafted work of art that i will never part with.
thank you steve and jill for all that you've done for us bass players and best of luck to you both.
jim
I have fond memories of my one visit to Rancho Bajo, and how gracious Steve and Jill were. My well-wishes for both of them get added to the Community heap.
Oddly, just days before the announcement, I purchased Steve's first Acoustic Baby Bass (serial #ABB001) locally. It's flaming presence can be seen in the early NAMM photos on the Azola site.
Here it is, with my Ampeg that I've played since 1980. Quite a pair.
...Lyle
Oddly, just days before the announcement, I purchased Steve's first Acoustic Baby Bass (serial #ABB001) locally. It's flaming presence can be seen in the early NAMM photos on the Azola site.
Here it is, with my Ampeg that I've played since 1980. Quite a pair.
...Lyle
Attachments
Jill and Steve are both some of the nicest people I've met in the world of bass. My best wishes for each of them.
Very, very glad I bought a Lightning Bug several months ago as it's looking now that there may not be anymore being made for the time being.
It's one of the most practical, useful basses I've ever owned. A keeper for sure, now more than ever.
Steve's swan-song message on the Azola website should give us all a lot to think about in terms of where and how we decide to invest our bass buying dollars.
Very, very glad I bought a Lightning Bug several months ago as it's looking now that there may not be anymore being made for the time being.
It's one of the most practical, useful basses I've ever owned. A keeper for sure, now more than ever.
Steve's swan-song message on the Azola website should give us all a lot to think about in terms of where and how we decide to invest our bass buying dollars.
How sad. I have a huge empty feeling deep inside.
Jill has been so helpful to me over the last few years, from helping me to work through problems with my previous BSX bass, to helping me to select the Azola Ultracoustic Carved Bugbass I now have. So sorry to hear that Jill and Steve have split. Such a loss to the music community to have Azola shut their doors. This is the equivalent of Mike Pedulla or Roger Sadowsky shutting down in the bass guitar world.
Steve's craftsmanship is just outstanding. My Azola bass is my prized possession. I first bought the bass to use for orchestra practice, taking advantage of it's portability, and to use at church, and in bar gigs. This spring, my Juzek needed repairs and restoration, so I played the Azola in our orchestra concerts. My conductor loves the bass. After every concert, I would have people come up to me and remark on how wonderful my bass sounded, and wanted to look at it up close. All were astounded at the beautiful wood and craftsmanship.
Steve's comments about the value of paying for a custom handmade product made in the USA are so true, and I hope that we all think about this when making purchases in the future.
Jill has been so helpful to me over the last few years, from helping me to work through problems with my previous BSX bass, to helping me to select the Azola Ultracoustic Carved Bugbass I now have. So sorry to hear that Jill and Steve have split. Such a loss to the music community to have Azola shut their doors. This is the equivalent of Mike Pedulla or Roger Sadowsky shutting down in the bass guitar world.
Steve's craftsmanship is just outstanding. My Azola bass is my prized possession. I first bought the bass to use for orchestra practice, taking advantage of it's portability, and to use at church, and in bar gigs. This spring, my Juzek needed repairs and restoration, so I played the Azola in our orchestra concerts. My conductor loves the bass. After every concert, I would have people come up to me and remark on how wonderful my bass sounded, and wanted to look at it up close. All were astounded at the beautiful wood and craftsmanship.
Steve's comments about the value of paying for a custom handmade product made in the USA are so true, and I hope that we all think about this when making purchases in the future.
It is indeed a great loss to the bass community. I don't own an Azola, but worked with Jill and Steve shipping a Kay upright out to them several years ago, and they were both amazingly nice, gracious people. I wish each of them the best of luck.
For years, we (EA) shared a booth at NAMM with the Azola's. They are truly wonderful people and build some of the nicest instruments on the planet. I am honored to call them friends. This is sad news indeed. My solo rendition of "Over The Rainbow" is one of Jill's favorites and I would always play it for her at NAMM.
The state of our economy is putting a real strain on the business and people whose life is based on quality, inspiration and innovation. It puts a strain on those who choose to build quality products in the US as opposed to mass produced crap we find coming from China. It is our responsibility to look at each and every product we buy and see whose life we affect both positively and negatively.
Mike Dimin
The state of our economy is putting a real strain on the business and people whose life is based on quality, inspiration and innovation. It puts a strain on those who choose to build quality products in the US as opposed to mass produced crap we find coming from China. It is our responsibility to look at each and every product we buy and see whose life we affect both positively and negatively.
Mike Dimin
My timing is usually pretty good (of course - I am a bassist!) but not with regard to the Azolas closing shop. I had finally put in an order for a custom Bambino in late March with an expected delivery date around now. Sadly, it was not to be. I certainly hope for the best for both Jill and Steve.
So, to console myself, I bought a used Acoustic Baby Bass even though have not played a 41" scale bass regularly for many years.
I have no idea what strings are on the bass, nor did the P.O., but they feel very stiff or high tension to me. I'm thinking of trying some different strings but have limited knowledge of DB strings. Suggestions? I will play pizz only, and want a "round" sound.
Also, the TKL gig bag that came with it has seen better days. Does anyone know of a supplier for a good replacement bag?
Edit: I re-read some of the earlier posts in this mega thread and got some string info - I had forgotten about those posts. Further advice is welcomed, though.
So, to console myself, I bought a used Acoustic Baby Bass even though have not played a 41" scale bass regularly for many years.
I have no idea what strings are on the bass, nor did the P.O., but they feel very stiff or high tension to me. I'm thinking of trying some different strings but have limited knowledge of DB strings. Suggestions? I will play pizz only, and want a "round" sound.
Also, the TKL gig bag that came with it has seen better days. Does anyone know of a supplier for a good replacement bag?
Edit: I re-read some of the earlier posts in this mega thread and got some string info - I had forgotten about those posts. Further advice is welcomed, though.
That is so sad. I've never owned an Azola but of all the EUBs that was the one I aspired to - one day. Now perhaps not.
To Jill and Steve, all the best wishes in the world. Hope things work out for you.
To Jill and Steve, all the best wishes in the world. Hope things work out for you.
Best would be to identify the strings you have first.
What are the silk colors at both the tailpiece and tuners, please?
