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Double Bass Buying a Bass in NYC

#41
dont buy a bass from kolstein.

i too would recommend the classifieds here. $9k is certainly enough to buy you a nice bass. i live 10 minutes from kolsteins and i pop in there every now and again just to look, and i've never really drooled over anything- especially when i see the prices. on TB you'll see great basses at realistic prices.

or just keep waiting for those NYC shops to find you a bass that you really connect with.
 
#42
I had a much better experience with Kolstein than I did Gage. Gage repaired my King Mortone, and did a setup. The repairs were great, but the setup sucked. It was impossible to play when I got it back. Kolstein's basses played like butter, so I bought one from him. He gave me a good price and a good selection and did some custom work. If I ever go back to NYC for bass work, I'd probably go to Barrie Kolstein. But for now my repair guy is in Greensboro, NC (The Bass Shop). My main repair guy there just moved to San Francisco. His name was Gael, and he worked at Gage's shop where he apprenticed. He was excellent. So I don't know if it's the shop as much as WHO does the work. Personally, I just think Barrie Kolstein is a great guy, and I have nothing bad to say about him or his shop. Gage was okay too, not as personable, but I like his place too. It's all opinion, but just find YOUR repair guy at either shop and go to him directly for what you need.

PS--My carved bass is a poplar back and sides Kolstein Guarneri. I got it because it was nice and affordable, but my dream bass is a Laborie. If you ever play one, you're done. There was a gorgeous Laborie in the classifieds recently, but I can't afford that! Laborie basses are AMAZING!
 
#43
I bought my first bass from Sam Kolstein and have bought accessories from them over the years. The shop is a great place to visit. NYC prices are high in general and you usually can find better prices from individual sellers, but the convenience of trying out many basses in one location is wonderful and makes it much easier to do comparisons. If you find a bass at Kolstein you love and the price is right, sounds good to me.
 
#47
NicholasF said:
His luthiers working there are amazing, he did do the work on my fingerboard and neck, and it is flawless, the bridge was done by one of his guys and it too is great
Click to expand...

Well, as I said, throw my observations in with the rest. What I saw was far from amazing. Seems true for Lo-E as well. Different luthiers, different times, different days.
 
#48
I thought this thread had died a natural death and came back to find all these posts as well as some very thoughtful PMs. Thanks to everyone.

I've decided to chill for now. After the last couple of months of looking and a few missteps, I'm finally getting a clearer idea of what I'm looking for (that's an embarrassing admission at my age, but whatever.) I already have some respectable basses and I might try to get rid of one or even two and go for a real upgrade. For now, I should probably just shut the hell up and practice.

As for the luthier question, my experience is this: I've had work done that I didn't like, but figured it was my responsibility to take it back and clearly communicate what I wanted. Gage's shop has always been responsive and helpful. The other thing they've consistently done is to offer less expensive alternatives for repairs where possible, and i don't know how many luthiers would do that. I'm loyal to them for that alone.
 
#49
pacetownsley said:
As for the luthier question, my experience is this: I've had work done that I didn't like, but figured it was my responsibility to take it back and clearly communicate what I wanted. Gage's shop has always been responsive and helpful. The other thing they've consistently done is to offer less expensive alternatives for repairs where possible, and i don't know how many luthiers would do that. I'm loyal to them for that alone.
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This.... Les, I understand you've heard some not so great things about Gage, ill be honest, first time I walked in I was hesetant to get the work done, but it was time and money well spent (and 400 less then going to Kolsteins) I will honestly never go anywhere else, what can I say I'm the unoffical Gage spokesperson, there are others that do good work, but when someones been in buisness as long as him and the amount of professional bassists that come in and out all the time is mind boggleing. I would say that you should call up, and get an apointment to just watch some work being done.
 
#51
NicholasF said:
This.... Les, I understand you've heard some not so great things about Gage, ill be honest, first time I walked in I was hesetant to get the work done, but it was time and money well spent (and 400 less then going to Kolsteins) I will honestly never go anywhere else, what can I say I'm the unoffical Gage spokesperson, there are others that do good work, but when someones been in buisness as long as him and the amount of professional bassists that come in and out all the time is mind boggleing. I would say that you should call up, and get an apointment to just watch some work being done.
Click to expand...

No, not "heard." I saw. Please look back at my posts. I'll say it again. Anyone can throw my informed, first-hand observations and evaluations in with the rest and decide. I don't claim that my observations are, necessarily, generally representative of what goes out the door. Yours may also not be, although you seem hell-bent on asserting that they are. I simply reported the instances of work that I observed in response to the characterization of those in the shop as the "best luthiers anywhere." No more, no less. You're not going to change that. Neither are you going to change Lo-E's report of his experience.

We all get it. You have had nothing but good experiences. Others have not. I think it's time for you to let others weigh in if they wish to do that. If they do, we might get a better idea of what is representative.

What's also crucial is the experience of the observer. Work that some may judge to be fine may not be judged similarly by me or by others. All we can do is have people tell us about their experiences and their backgrounds.
 

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