Double Bass Bass versus Bass

[Kevin Hsieh]

Nice idea for a thread, Bass.

Make. Joseph Bohmann. Five string. Low B.
Model. Hell if I know.
Year. 1888.
Type. Carved. One thin veneer on ribs.
Shape. Violin. With double shoulders.
Fittings. Ebony.
Size. 7/8.
Hardware. Unbelievably gorgeous machines.
Tone. Very substantial. Thick. Dark. Due to the amount of wood used, and the extra weight of the machines....not real loud.
Neck. For a fiver, thin. The fact that Joe laid the FB over the side of the neck to accommodate the B, allowed him to keep the thickness down.
Set up. Medium bridge height w/ Spiro Orchestras.
Price. Many, many thousands of American dollars and cents.
Comments. One of the most ornate double basses in the world. Five piece neck...two pieces of ebony sandwiched in between three pieces of curly maple. Ebony and bone inlaid eyes on the scroll tips. Cast iron, full plates cast over thick brass machines. Double shoulders laid on top of regular shoulders. Triple purfling. Carved lips around f's. Double ebony inlays down the back.
If all that 'twernt enough.....I am the original owner and player of this beauty due to an estate squabble in Joe's family.

Me lucky? You betcher ass.
Is my pride showing? You betcher ass.

i'm so jealous. i'll call you soon! i promise!

 

[Andrew McGregor]

Does this thread make sense? Aren't we encouraging the thing that we always tell new forum members not to do? And isn't this all pretty subjective? Is anyone really going to put a description of tone that isn't positive?

Well, perhaps... but the thing is, look at the number of basses on this (short) list already where the attribution is uncertain. That's got to clue even a newbie in that brands don't make sense with DB.

 

[Andrew McGregor]

On with the fun!

 

[fregoman]

1. Make. Shen
2. Model. SB 1000 Gemunder model
3. Year. 1998
4. Laminate, Hybrid or Carved. Carved
5. Shape. Gamba
6. Fittings. Ebony
7. Size. 3/4
8. Hardware. Good; german hat peg tuners .
9. Tone. Good
10. Neck. just right - thicker.
11. Set-up. Good.
12. Price. $4,000
13. Comments. Just like this one once owned by Ken Smith, Invalid Link Removed - only bass I've ever owned, plays and sounds great to me!

 

[Uncletoad]

1. Make French or German
2. Model "The Alsatian Queen"
3. Year 1860's
4. Carved plates out of wood you can't find on this planet anymore.
5. Shape is Violin with a huge ass
6. Fittings. Ebony
7. Size. 3/4 to 7/8 depending on your POV.
8. Hardware. Fair. Ancient French replacement Keys from 1920's are pretty cranky.
9. Tone. Fat, punchy. With Spiros it's loud and mean.
10. Neck. Thinner than I prefer
11. Set-up. Nnick Lloyd is fantastic.
12. Price $20,000
13. Comments. She has lots of Ghosts, most of them friendly. I learn something new from her all the time.

 

[Uncletoad]

1. Make New Standard
2. Model Cleveland
3. Year 2005
4. Laminate.
5. Shape. Gamba
6. Fittings stock stuff.
7. Size. 7/8.
8. Hardware. Good.
9. Tone. Big, poofy round sound.
10. Neck. Thick and satisfying.
11. Set-up. Arnold Schitzer, say no more.
12. Price $5K
13. Comments, best sounding plywood bass I've found. Sold several kays and other things but kept this one.

 

[MadMan118]

1. Make - Upton Bass
2. Model - Professor Standard Flatback
3. Year - 2007
4. Carved
5. Shape - Violin
6. Fittings - Ebony
7. Size - 3/4
8. Hardware - Good
9. Tone - Good
10. Neck - Thick
11. Set-up - Good
12. Price - $6,700
13. Comments - Low C Extentsion, Dot Inlays. Great jazz tone, setup was excelent.

 

[LEUllman]

1. Make - Samuel Eastman
2. Model - VB105GR
3. Year - 2007
4. Hybrid. Flamed maple veneer on the back and ribs
5. Shape - Gamba
6. Fittings - Ebony
7. Size - 3/4
8. Hardware - Good
9. Tone - Good
10. Neck - Thick
11. Set-up - Good
12. Price - $1,500
13. Comments - Same as the Model 125. Gorgeous satin "antique" finish. Found on Craig's List and ran to get it. List price is $2700 for bass alone - it came with all kinds of goodies, including Obligatos, pickup, bag, nice bow, etc.

 

[fdeck]

1. Make: Kay
2. Model: M-1
3. Year: 1962
4. Laminate, Hybrid or Carved: "Fully laminated for durability"
5. Shape. Gamba, Violin, Busetto: Violin
6. Fittings. Ebony, Rosewood, Ebonized, Other: Rosewood
7. Size. 3/4
8. Hardware. Good, Fair, Poor. Fair
9. Tone. Good, for a plywood bass.
10. Neck. Thick, Thin. Thin
11. Set-up. Poor
12. Price. Priceless (free).
13. Comments This is the bass that got me started, and I can't kill it. I made some major repairs when I got it in 1982, and it has held up since then.

 

[Jazzcat]

Colorized reply...nice. I think I will do that too.

1. Make: Kay
2. Model: M-4
3. Year: 1937
4. Laminate, Hybrid or Carved: Laminate (blonde) (inlaid purfling)
5. Shape: Violin
6. Fittings: Ebony
7. Size: 3/4
8. Hardware: Good (very functional engraved brass tuners) (stock endpin = functional now that I fitted it with a ball)
9. Tone: I like the depth and sustain
10. Neck: 3-piece neck with ebony sandwiched between maple for full length
11. Set-up: Fair; obtained with practically unplayable arco setup; trimmed nut and bridge for a 5-7.5mm pizz; also since I don’t have luthier shaving skills I put little closed-cell pads under the bridge footers to give 100% contact with the soundboard - that simple fix stepped up the volume noticeably; set-up down rated to fair because it still has old strings and the fb can use a shave and reset)
12. Price: $1k cold hard craigslist cash
13. Comments: Bulletproof bass; all original; this model came w/ high-end trim package for a Kay; neck condition and set is great; quite a bit of playtime mojo over its life; lots of worn edges and laminate loss outside of the purfline but they are smoothing out over time and it is looking like a well loved player artifact.

 

[thejumpcat]

1. Make: Kay
2. Model: Swingmaster
3. Year: 1949
4. Laminate
5. Violin
6. Fittings: Ebony
7. Size: 3/4
8. Hardware: Good
9. Tone: Good
10. Neck: (too) Thin
11. Set-up: Great (for me)
12. Price: bought for $1,500 in 1996; just sold for $3,600
13. Comments: Great tone for the jump blues I played; stands up nicely to club abuse; people always comment on the flamed blonde; wish the neck were bigger.

 

[Marc Piane]

1. Make. - Shen
2. Model. - SB200 Willow
3. Year. - 2005
4. Laminate, Hybrid or Carved. - Carved with flatback
5. Shape. Gamba, Violin, Busetto - Gamba
6. Fittings. Ebony, Rosewood, Ebonized, Other - Ebony
7. Size. 3/4, 7/8, 4/4. - 3/4
8. Hardware. Good, Fair, Poor. - Fair. The endpin sucked but I had that replaced. The tuners are functional.
9. Tone. Good, Fair, Poor. - I dig it. Punchy and direct. The bass it only 3 years old so the tone is still changing. It is getting warming as it plays in.
10. Neck. Thick, Thin. - Medium. I played a newer Shen Willow that was rented for me and it seemed like the neck was thinner. Didn't like the playability as much. I have big hands so I like substance to the neck.
11. Set-up. Good, Fair, Poor. - I use Mark Sonksen in Chicago. He does a killer job. I've been using him for 10 years so he knows what I like.
12. Price. - about $4200 I think then I had Mark do about $500 worth of work and got a pickup and bow quiver.
13. Comments. When I was shopping I was planning on spending twice as much. I had a fine bass that I had been using professionally for 10 years and always got nice comments on the sound. It's a ply though so I thought it was time that I upgrade to a nice carved bass. I tried a ton of basses and stuff at twice the price but I kept coming back to the Shen. Something about the tone and feel was very compelling. The price definitely helped too. I brought the bass to my luthier to check out and he was amazed that such a high quality instrument was so reasonably priced.

 

[Marc Piane]

1. Make. - The tag inside says "Made in Germany expressly for Wm Lewis and Sons"
2. Model. - The Herrmann
3. Year. - 1994
4. Laminate, Hybrid or Carved. - Laminate
5. Shape. Gamba, Violin, Busetto - Gamba
6. Fittings. Ebony, Rosewood, Ebonized, Other - Ebony
7. Size. 3/4, 7/8, 4/4. - 3/4
8. Hardware. Good, Fair, Poor. - Fair. Nothing to write home about but functional. I had the endpin replaced about 2 years ago.
9. Tone. Good, Fair, Poor. - Exactly what you'd expect from a ply. Lots of upfront attack and thump. Dark. Lacking in complexity and singing tone.
10. Neck. Thick, Thin. - Medium. About the same as my Shen.
11. Set-up. Good, Fair, Poor. - I use Mark Sonksen in Chicago. He does a killer job. I've been using him for 10 years so he knows what I like.
12. Price. - Not sure. My folks bought it for me in college. I know it was the top of the line ply that they offered. My uncle worked for the company that sold it to us so I'm sure we got a good deal.
13. Comments. That bass is like freakin' Humpty Dumpty. The neck was re-set after stupid me leaned against the side of my house while I was loading and the wind knocked it down. One of my students dropped it and the neck snapped in half at the heel. A drummer dropped a cymbal stand on it and put a big dent in the side. Etc, etc, etc. Everytime Mark stuck it back together (keeping in mind it is not a pedigree bass and charging me accordingly) and it still plays great. It lives in my teaching studio and gets used for teaching, loaning to out of towners (TB'rs are welcome to use it for a small fee like lunch, some old strings, or beer), and gigs where I don't want to bring my Shen. Everyone should have a good ply that can take a lickin' and keep on tickin'.

 

[Eric Hochberg]

1. Make. Juzek labeled, probably made by Wilfer.
2. Model. MasterArt labeled (although typically these are violin cornered)
3. Year. 1955
4. Carved, nice flamed maple.
5. Shape. Gamba
6. Fittings. Ebony, hardwood tailpiece
7. Size. 3/4, 41.5" string length
8. Hardware. Typical German plate tuners, work ok.
9. Tone. Great sounding bass that has improved a lot with age and lots of playing time.
10. Neck. Medium
11. Set-up. Good, fairly low string height, by Scott Henrie, 25 years ago
12. Price. These go upwards of $13,000, Basscellar has one for $16000 on their website.
13. Comments. This has been a terrific bass for me over the last 30 years. Very stable and reliable, never needed any major work, just a few open seams and small rib cracks. Records very nicely and it's easy to get around on.



1. Make. Unknown, can make out "Bohemia" on the faded label
2. Model. Unknown
3. Year. ca 1910
4. Carved.
5. Shape. Gamba
6. Fittings. Ebony FB, currently with Marvin tailpiece
7. Size. 3/4
8. Hardware. Typical German style plate tuners, work ok
9. Tone. Punchy pizz and sweet arco
10. Neck. medium, 41.75" string length.
11. Set-up. Good set up by Scott Henrie in 2006.
12. Price Currently for sale at $16,000
13. Comments. This is a nice bass with a mature older sound. Nice growl for jazz and a singing arco.

 

[McGryff]

1. Make: Shen
2. Model: One of the early ones. Same outline as the SB200 but has a sequential serial number instead of a model number.
3. Year: 1994-ish
4. Carved
5. Gamba
6. Fittings: Ebony
7. Size: 3/4
8. Hardware: Good, Rubners I think.
9. Tone: Great
10. Neck: Haven't played on enough different basses to be able to tell the difference, frankly. Doesn't present any problems for me though, but I can't comment in a comparative way.
11. Set-up: Excellent, very professionally done.
12. Price: Bought it on consignment for $2400 in 2002 or 03. It's probably valued around $3500 I'd guess. A new one would likely run $4-5k, but I don't think they have a model comparable to mine that's maple and now willow.
13. Comments: For me it's a great bass. Sounds great, plays well, made well. I think it's got a tone that can work well in a number of genres. It's a comfortable size for me too, both in terms of the body & scale length.

 

[bribass]

1. Make-Abraham Prescott
2. Model - Gamba
3. Year- Estimated btwn 1810-1829
4. Carved
5. Gamba
6. Fittings- Ebony
7. Size- Larger 3/4 to small 7/8 because of deep (over 9 inches at widest) ribs.
8. Hardware - Original working tuners w/ lotsa mojo, could use a pro metal smith to tweak them, but work amazingly well w/ string tension.
9. Tone- dark and lush, but not w/o penetrating mids, tons of character piz and arco. After after playing it and then listening to me play walking lines on it Jeff Bollbach said "it's the best Jazz bass ever..this is it", records incredibly.
10. Neck-medium, nice board w/ extended upper range
11. Set-up- Schnitzer and Bollbach tweaked, the best, Realist pick -up.
12. Price-paid in the hi teens, probably worth at least hi 20's now I would think.
13. Comments- This bass has had lots of repairs in it's long life and a total restoration in the Kolstein shop at some time in the early 2000's. Very solid and healthy, stable repairs of the original top, ribs and back. Excellent top arch. Finish has been very overvarnished, but original underneath. One can make out the classic New England sugar maple pine of the back plate.
Not a typical Prescott scroll, but seems original and does have typical Prescott 'bee sting' topped brass plates.

1. German Shop Bass
2. Model - Gamba
3. 1920's
4. carved
5. Gamba shaped
6. Fittings - ebony, w/ ebony bumpers
7. Size - 3/4
8. Hardware - new individual brass baker style tuners that replaced individual hatpegs
9. Tone - nice, even clear throughout range w/ cutting mids and power in the lows
10. Neck - medium, beach neck w/ carbon fiber rod installed under new fingerboard
11. Jeff Bollbach did set-up, tuners & board, excellent, easy to play, FC pick-up
12. estimated value now about $10-12K
13. Chestnut brown, orig. spirit gum finish, great workhorse bass in fine, healthy shape. I've played it continously for 23 years.


1. Juzek - Germany
2. Model -
3. probably 1950's
4. laminated
5. Gamba shaped
6. Fittings - Ebony
7. Size - smaller 3/4
8. Hardware - Orig. plate tuners
9. Tone - Nice, punchy, mature ply tone
10. Neck - Thin, could use thicker fingerboard
11. Set up - Beautiful Arnold Schnitzer bridge w/ neck reset that increased overstand, made it loud and easy to play.
12. Price - est. now $2-3K
13. lighter brown /orange finnish, in good shape, has Juzek made in Germany label

 

[sean p]

1. Make - Shen
2. Model - don't know - LOTS of flame, maple back and sides, spruce 4pc. top.
3. Year - 1998ish
4. Carved
5. Shape - Gamba
6. Fittings - Ebony FB and tailpiece
7. Size - 7/8, tall with 9" ribs
8. Hardware - brass medium-quality tuners
9. Tone - pizz is clear and direct and fairly loud; bloom on some notes more than others, good 3rd string, a little choked above 1st position on fourth string. tuned in fifths. good arco, but hard to get around on up high.
10. Neck - medium, 42" string length
11. Set-up - decent.
12. Price - paid $6,000
13. Comments - very durable: lots of road bumps and cold nights in cars and never a crack. really pretty back.

1. Make - Kay
2. Model - c-1
3. Year - 1940
4. ply
5. Shape - gamba
6. Fittings - thick ebony FB, original kay tailpiece
7. Size - 3/4
8. Hardware - poor little kay machines
9. Tone - pizz is boomy and rich (in a plywood way) and earthy. if the shen sounds like water, this sounds like honey (girlfriend's analogy). arco is flat and uncompelling, but it got me through my college recital! tuned in fifths.
10. Neck - medium, 41 1/8" string length
11. Set-up - really good since david doucet's bridge and fingerboard work last may.
12. Price - paid $1,200 in '96
13. comments - great travelling, camping, party jam bass. tough and warm. scratched but loved. my first bass.

sean

 

[kurtsnyder]

1. Make- Wan Bernadel
2. Model - N/A
3. Year - 2006
4. Carved
5. Shape - Violin
6. Fittings - Ebony
7. Size - 3/4
8. Hardware - Good
9. Tone - Sounds good for a bass in it's price range.
10. Neck - Medium
11. Set-up - Good, fairly low string height,
12. Price - $5,000
13. Comments - This bass has pretty much broken in and has a nice tone and sound. A luthier at a string shop in Nashville (the main one that works on basses) said that this bass sounds like one in the 10k price range.

 

[bejoyous]

1. Make: Peter Chandler
2. Model: based on a William Tarr instrument
3. Year: 2000
4. Laminate, Hybrid or Carved: fully carved
5. Shape: Gamba with a flat back that has an angled top
6. Fittings: Ebony
7. Size: 7/8 with a small 101mm string length
8. Hardware: Good
9. Tone: Very Good
10. Neck: Medium
11. Set-up: now it's good but there are still a couple of buzzy notes if the action is set too low
12. Price: $9000
13. Comments: Evah strings; tuned DADG with a low-B extension; the wings are cut from the bridge; wire tailpiece; bumpers made from an old ceiling fan blade. It'll be completely paid off next month!

 

[Nuno A.]

1. Make - Unknown, no label inside, 1880's German flatback, a couple of luthiers say its not factory while others say it is....
2. Model - N/A
3. Year - 1880 /1890
4. Carved.
5. Shape - Gamba
6. Fittings. Ebony
7. Size. Large 3/4,
8. Hardware - Hat peg machines, still working good.
9. Tone. This bass has a very articulated and clear tone, not a big low end but a very nice round tone.
10. Neck - Thin.
11. Set-up. -Great, was recently restored
12. Price - paid $2600 3 years ago, bass has been appraised $8.000
13. Comments. this bass was heavily damaged after a show last year and i spent $4000 on repairs, new bass bar, tailpiece, all cracks glued, even old ones, the bass sounds better than ever and is really start to open on these last monthes.