Beginner Double Bass (revised-EUB??)

After years of playing electric (including fretless recently) I'm seriously considering acquiring a double bass and spending considerable time to build reasonable technique. No orchestral music - mostly stuff like acoustic blues, light jazz, maybe some occasional bowing for experimental things.

Zero chance to try out any where I live so I have been burning up the internet search engines. I came across these four, all at more or less the same price point, and wonder what any of you may think of them (or others):

- Gollihur Estle Louis carved or laminate
- Upton Bohemian hybrid
- Kolstein Liandro DiVacenza hybrid
- Samuel Eastman VB95 laminate

Thank you.

 

I agree completely. As far as I have been able to research and determine here on TB and elsewhere, Gollihur, Upton and Kolstein all have good reputations for follow up service for the instruments they sell and all of them include a full set up in the purchase price. The Eastmans are available from a variety of dealers.

 

I may well end up making a trip to Seattle or California to check out some instruments in person, although that won't likely be too instructive since I am an absolute newbie wannabe on the instrument. Of course, I could pluck some strings to listen to the tonal qualities and also take a good look at the build and finish quality. Still, when in unknown territory it's always a good idea to have a knowledgeable guide so that's why I'm asking questions here.

There are indeed some double bass luthiers in Canada and here in BC. In fact, there's one (James Ham) with a world class reputation just an hour's drive down the road in Victoria. Doesn't matter: one-off luthier creations are far, far out of my price range. Upton's are the only North American made ones I have found so far that have what you might call an entry level instrument. The others I mentioned are made abroad, either in Asia or some countries in Europe. I'm not averse to offshore instruments, in fact that ABG (Furch) in my avatar was made in Czechia.

 

Thanks for the info. That's what I was asking for in my original post. Who said I was going to buy an instrument sight unseen?

 

That's interesting because the L&M website doesn't show any Shen instruments at all. They show only Schoenbach (which I think is their own label), Stentor and Eastman, with only one of those in stock in Nanaimo.

I'm going to be in Victoria on the 24th of this month on other business so I will definitely check the L&M store there to see what they have in stock.

I'm not ready to pull the trigger on a purchase just yet but let me know when you list yours.

BTW for those of you not in Canada, Long & McQuade (L&M) is by far the largest musical instrument retailer here, by at least a couple of orders of magnitude. They have dozens of bricks and mortar stores across the country and a large online store.

 

I don't disagree with what has been advised by KungfuSheriff and oldNewbie. However, based on years of experience in buying and selling electric basses, and advising newbies regarding same, I would offer this comment with respect to a first instrument (and only regarding a first instrument). The instrument is likely to be resold to another beginner at some point, either because the original owner's ears and/or developing technique demand a better instrument or he/she loses interest. A recognized brand name is easier to resell in those circumstances.

For example, Cort is a large Korean company that has made electric basses for years to be sold under other company's brand names. They now offer their own brand of very good quality basses well under $1,000CAD that, with a good setup, are completely competitive and usable even in a pro live situation. At that beginner level it would be easier to resell an inferior quality Fender Squier bass, simply because unsophisticated newbies will be drawn to the Fender brand.

All that said, Samija's website shows quite a number of basses for sale on consignment (beginning at about $3,000CAD) so I will definitely contact him.

 

Excellent advice. Actually, I do know the tonal characteristics I like but you're right, I have no playing skills to be able to determine if I can get that sound out of a particular instrument.

 

Some people think I'm crazy but, as Diogenes of Sinope said, "It's not that I am mad; it's that my head is different from yours". I ask Columbo-like questions and glean information from between the lines of the excellent responses on this thread. All of which has lead me to this consideration:

I don't want to have to buy a different vehicle to transport my bass at this point. I don't want to face a posse of neighbours seeking to tar and feather me because they can't stand the sound of me learning to bow. Given the genres of music I will use the bass to play, perhaps I should be looking at acquiring a used full scale EUB and taking lessons to work on building technique. I already have the amplifiers and headphones. If all goes well and I'm still hearing the need for a fully acoustic 3/4 bass, I can sell the EUB and move on. Admittedly, they are not the same instrument but it might be a more practical starting point.

Further comments/suggestions?