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Double Bass Best upright bass for $5K?

#42
damonsmith said:
More like you don't know whether you can or not, but, you will make a post asking about without doing a search to see if it has been asked before.
Basses fit in most normal cars.
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True, but with what collateral distractions? I've fit a Kay M-1 into a 1978 Mustang II Ghia coupe, but I could not see anything to my right once it was in there. Volvo wagon? No problem.
 
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#46
Put the word out at what is available in your region. ... In every corner of every country there's lots of great unplayed uprights waiting to be, loved, fixed up and played. ... Old Kays are expensive, and never been my choice, so, I'd look for an older laminate, ebony board, Euro. ... Check the pawn shops/ old stores/trade papers. ...
 
#49
Joshua Pickenpaugh said:
Upton bass in CT. A new Bohemian Hybrid will start at $3750. I've heard great things about them:

Bohemian Double Bass | Hand Crafted Upton Bass | String Instrument
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I've got one being made right now - tho delayed slightly due to COVID. You can make a TON of upgrades to that basic hybrid and still keep it under $5k. And while building EXACTLY the bass you want, they will set it up EXACTLY as you wish given your playing preferences, the music your prefer playing, the settings in which you play...

There are MANY other options someone in the OP's situation should consider, but IMO they should at least look into Upton.
 
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#50
I want to downsize from a larger (too big for me!) carved German bass to something smaller and more playable. I'm really intrigued by what I read about New Standard, especially the La Scala (I play almost exclusively jazz/piz). But I'm in the midwest, a long way from the New Standard shop. I wish I could find someone who has one closer to home (especially now). Or do people order them sight (sound) unseen (unheard) solely on reputation and recommendations?
 
#51
buckthorn said:
I want to downsize from a larger (too big for me!) carved German bass to something smaller and more playable. I'm really intrigued by what I read about New Standard, especially the La Scala (I play almost exclusively jazz/piz). But I'm in the midwest, a long way from the New Standard shop. I wish I could find someone who has one closer to home (especially now). Or do people order them sight (sound) unseen (unheard) solely on reputation and recommendations?
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I'm certainly considering one. Wil sent me a picture of a Pamplona (3/4 size I assume) of the Cleveland shape that he's working on. I really want to play one in person. I know they have one (a La Scala) at Gage in stock. But yes...If someone close to me had one, I'd love to try one out.
 
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#52
I think it's OK to ask in the forums with a thread entitled "Anybody have a New Standard/Upton/Wan Bernadel etc. in this part of the country and would be willing to let a fellow bassist see one before ordering?" or some such. There's no harm in it, since if a person did have one and wasn't comfortable letting someone else play it, all they'd have to do is not reply to the thread and no one would be the wiser.
 
#58
Mgaisbacher said:
I talked with Mark Sonksen the other day and he is offering that carved La Scala for a great price, if I were closer or knew for sure that it would be a major upgrade from my hybrid NS I wouldn't hesitate to go check it out. (also the worsening pandemic doesn't help anything)
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Please PM me to let me know the price. It's likely above my budget, but if I could swing that, I'd definitely want to check it out. It's gorgeous. Same re the pandemic. We're relatively good here, but it's not the time to travel. I was a little confused because it said "carved back". Is he keeping the rib structure ply? Obviously it really is likely almost no difference to have that be ply vs solid. This would be looking to upgrade from my entry level 20 year old carved bass, and ironically, I was looking to the hybrid. I'll be doing a lot of arco (probably 30 percent-sh). Obviously no section work. Just a different sound (jazz bowing, etc).
 
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#59
Len S said:
Please PM me to let me know the price. It's likely above my budget, but if I could swing that, I'd definitely want to check it out. It's gorgeous. Same re the pandemic. We're relatively good here, but it's not the time to travel. I was a little confused because it said "carved back". Is he keeping the rib structure ply? Obviously it really is likely almost no difference to have that be ply vs solid. This would be looking to upgrade from my entry level 20 year old carved bass, and ironically, I was looking to the hybrid. I'll be doing a lot of arco (probably 30 percent-sh). Obviously no section work. Just a different sound (jazz bowing, etc).
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I'll send you a PM with the price, A lot of the NS hybrids have solid ribs, mine included. Not sure if its all of them but most I've seen. I assume he listed it as "carved back" because la scalas the hybrids are the most common, so he is probably just trying to be clear that the one he has is fully carved.
 

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