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Double Bass Carlo Robelli 600 series carved URB Please Help!!!

warrior5st

warrior5st

Guest
Oct 12, 2013
896
61
#1
Hi all, Does anyone know or have experience with Carlo Robelli 600 series upright basses? I just bought this bass on craigslist and the seller swore to me that it was a Hofner but the label say Corlo Robelli #CR600340b. He said that Robelli is just a distributor for Hofner the allowed them to put their label on it. The reason I bought it is because it was carved and sounded good compared intermediate URB and the price is cheap for a fully carved bass ($1100). I cant find any info. on it except it's a higher line of UR bass that was distributed by Sam Ash and has been discontinued. I've read some post here in TB and other sources and the consensus is that it's crap and stay away from it. If anyone knows anything about this bass, Please give me your thoughts. It would be very helpful.

Thank You very much,
Timmy
Old to basses but new to Upright beast.
carlo 600340b.jpg
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#2
Hi there...your bass was probably made in Korea, and describing it as "fully carved" is a misnomer. From what I've been told, those are made from solid wood pressed into shape, rather than carved out of a billet. It's pretty, but if it was made with wood that hadn't been fully dried that could be a problem.
 
#3
Thanks for the info. It's a 10 year old bass so if there's an issue with non-dried wood, is it safe to say that I will ok by now or is it going to fall apart on me? Another question is does pressed wood (fake carved) more desirable than laminate ply in terms of tone?
 
#5
Sorry for the crystal ball questions. I'm only trying to determine if I made a big misstate by buying this bass instead of buying an Engelhardt EM-1 laminate for $1500. I've read a lot of articles and researched plenty of entry level basses but it just gets more confusing the more know.
 
#7
KUNGfuSHERIFF said:
Beginner's Guide to buying a Double Bass - TalkBass Wiki
Click to expand...

I've read that also. For a beginner URB at around $1100, I think It just boils down to if you like the way the bass sounds and how good the playability of it is, then it's worth the money you put into it and it doesn't matter if it comes from Korea, China, press top, laminated, carved or what ever. Just hope the bass doesn't fall apart. Does everyone agree?

Thanks,
Timmy
 
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#9
KUNGfuSHERIFF said:
Hi there...your bass was probably made in Korea, and describing it as "fully carved" is a misnomer. From what I've been told, those are made from solid wood pressed into shape, rather than carved out of a billet. It's pretty, but if it was made with wood that hadn't been fully dried that could be a problem.
Click to expand...

Thank You very much. I know a lot more a bout my bass now.
 
#10
I agree with Stuart. I got lucky on my chinese bass in that it was set up at kolstiens BUT, they have to do a fairly generic setup because they have no idea who's gonna be playing it. I love my bass and it has never given me a problem, but I do like to tinker on it as much as I dare to try and get the best sound out of it. Will I get a better bass someday? Probably but I was reluctant to spend more money until I knew I was commited to it.

Have a luthier examine it and tell them what you plan on doing with it too.

Good luck, it's a very nice looking bass
 
#11
Thanks, I feel better now that I chose the bass based on my ear and hands not the maker. I was just bummed the guy tricked me into believing it was a German made all carved Hofner. I realized that German made all carved DB for $1,100 is very hard to find. All carved German basses start at around $3000+ if you're lucky. I will have a luthier examine it and maybe have him put on bridge adjusters so I can get the action a little bit lower and be satisfied with it. Move over regular bass. I think I'm falling for DB. By the way, does adjusters change the sound?
 
#12
Imperceptibly. Changes to the amount of tension the strings apply to the table at different heights have a greater effect IME.

You could, if you were so inclined, go back to the seller screaming about fraud and him selling you a false bill of goods. Maybe he's the nervous type.
 
#13
I'll keep that in mind.

I did tried to call him back but the phone was disconnected and Craigslist email is deleted. It's ok though because it's not a bad bass at all for $1100. I'd still return it if he'd let me because I don't like to be deceived.
 
#15
Your right. Buyer's remorse is gone and I'm enjoying it already. I always procrastinated on starting the DB because I thought it would be really hard to play but like anything, you got to put time into it to be at a proficiency level where you can start making music. At lease I can play ballads now. Medium swing, for get about it. Here's a clip from my band. I'm not on DB. Hendry Skipper Franklin is. I'm on sax. Check it out. Thanks for all the help guys.
 

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#16
I have a Carlo bass from Sam ash from like 2001 or something,..

It's all black and it's plywood


It was terrible but then i took it to a luthier and they carved a new bridge and put adjusters and planed the fingerboard and moved the sound post

But now I kinda like the bass.. I think mine was also $1200


It originally came with round wound strings.. Yes I have no idea how or what brand they were but seriously I remember it was round wound strings on the upright bass..


Yours actually looks pretty good in the pictures but that action is a joke !


Take that thing to a good luthier and have him look at:

-The nut
-The bridge - (check the shape and curve)
-The sound post
-And the fingerboard (check the shape and curve to the bridge..looking from the scroll top..)
-The tailpiece

-The tuning pegs and the insides that hold the strings..

Hopefully your luthier will do all of this anyway..

Once I spent $500 or more dollars to get new stuff and or carved bridge and fingerboard, the bass is now actually really good and sounds completely fine to play on major gigs..


Oh and what pickup is that??
 
#17
That makes me feel better because mine actually the 600 model which is a model above that with simulated carved wood which is pressed wood and not a laminate so if you're sounds good after I get mine set up it might play and sound great.
Thanks
 
#18
$1100 for a bass that works is not bad at all. if you like anything about the sound thats great.

gennerally it's good advice to stay away from C.R. instruments, but i've seen a handful that were fine. i've seen many that were awful.

pressed wood isint all bad, i've had some archtop guitars made that way that were nice instruments.

just focus on your playing for now. a good setup and strings can go a long way, too.
 
#19
Thank you all for all the responses. I'm so surprised I got this many replies and support. I'm going to be happy with this bass because I know I have support from the DB community. from all the advice, I know it is more important to practice and get better than to dwell too much on if the bass is good or better than another etc...It's good enough for now. this is a good community. thanks again
 

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