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Double Bass CCB question

Stinsok

Stinsok

Dec 16, 2002
7,464
3,487
62
Central Alabama
#1
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#2
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#3
Don't even think about it. Here's my advice:

1. Budget a minimum $1500 for your first bass. Expect to spend more on set-up and strings.

2. Get an experienced player to evaluate what you're thinking about buying.

3. Get a good teacher and take lessons immediately.

I did none of these things and wish I could go back and reclaim the wasted time/money.
 
#9
If you want to buy a CCB in Houston, check Craigslist. Someone is always advertising an upright bass for $200. i paid $275 for mine and it's held up. It's on it's fourth owner and she decided to make some improvements like a new end pin and just keep it awhile longer much to the dissapointment of the lady who was expecting to become the fifth owner when no. 4 upgraded. Of course, not all stories end this way. I just hate some one to pay more than $200 - $300 in this neck of the woods. I named the bass Pumpkin because of the color. There are a few who refer to her as "hooker" because she's been around so much.
 
#10
I bought my bass, a Cecilio CDB-100 on ebay for, at the time $499.99 with free shipping. Had to set the soundpost, the bridge is about 2 inches too tall, so I lucked up and found another, filed the nut slots, put Corelli 380M strings on it, and I Love it, play it every day. I have no idea how consistant they are from one bass to the next, but this one just sings. The neck was even shaped well. Just my own experience, and the last time I checked the price is $100 higher now, but I'm as happy as can be with mine. They shipped it with the neck attatched for free too lol.
 
#11
LouisF said:
My favorite, really, is this one:

3/4 double bass great sound technology neck+body | eBay

You get to glue the neck in yourself! Wow!!

Louis
Click to expand...

Well, believe it or not i laid hands on two of these basses. They represent good, decent laminated instruments and the price is exteremely cheap. The neck glueing was not a problem, since the neck joint was very well finished. This laminated wood is very resonant and both basses produced a pizz sound loud and clear. One of the owners tried the EP Weich on his bass and the arco sound became acceptable (though a bit on the bright side and nasal). The other one, a former student of mine, keeps it strung with Spiros mittel and uses it for everyday's gigs.
I've been in contact with the owner of this e-Bay shop ,mr Mark Ma. He runs a company with the name LIHUALITO, selling not only instruments of the violin family but also woodwinds and brasswinds. I tried also a couple of white unvarnished violins, which after i varnished them were very well constructed instruments with excellent sound (!). Mr Ma is very helpfull and a man to do business with. His violins, violas and cellos are glued with hide glue. For his double basses he uses a "commercial glue", as he called it, and this fact is a major drawback in case someone needs to make some repairs, as anyone knows.
It is not a "gorilla glue" though and a decant luthier coud afford to unglue joints etc.
If i were on your shoes i'd try to save some bucks in order to buy a good instrument in the range of $1500. However if you can't afford it this bass could be a solution. Please keep in mind that my experience is based only on just two instruments, so you have to calculate the odds.
Mike
 
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#12
The bass MIKMAN refers to is different from the one in the original post. With respect to the OP, I have been to the "storage unit" where these basses are kept when they come off the ship from Indonesia, where they are made. I've owned one for four years now, bought it directly from the guy at the low price to avoid outrageous shipping charges (where he makes a bunch of money). The "rack and pinion" tuners is a dead giveaway. I paid $240 for mine....he would advertise them for that plus $300 shipping, so he's apparently now changed his strategy by asking $699 with free shipping to avoid people like me. I'm certain it is the same bass as mine; in fact I don't think he has changed the ebay picture in 5 years. I would pay no attention to the "heavy duty top" description or to pretty much anything else he says in the ad copy, but I will say that mine hasn't "dimpled" in 4 years. Here is my description of my purchasing adventure:

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f1/anyone-heard-j-balaton-effingham-il-450252/#post5983253

Here is my update after 3 years of ownership:

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f1/ccbs-owners-reviews-724128/index2.html#post10226116

I still have the same feeling about it, no regrets at all that I bought it although like anyone I certainly wish I had a better upright. If you are serious about playing DB the majority of the time rather than BG, then I'd buy something appreciably better, but I've been happy with mine for the very occasional brief DB gig/particular DB tune.
 
#13
"If you want to buy a CCB in Houston, check Craigslist. Someone is always advertising an upright bass for $200. i paid $275 for mine and it's held up. It's on it's fourth owner and she decided to make some improvements like a new end pin and just keep it awhile longer "

Now someone said it, I remember - it was Indonesia that was the reported home country for what I referred to as a CCB. For a set up, Lisle violin adjusted the bridge and lowered the action. Everything else was good.
 
#15
Stinsok said:
I wish I could afford an upright that was carved from the same tree as Dracula's coffin, but 6-700 is my budget.
Click to expand...

Are you serious about playing the double bass? Because if you're not sure, then you should rent a good bass with a decent set-up. Learning the instrument takes a tremendous amount of effort, and in the scheme of things, another $1000 bucks is almost inconsequential.

Taking up the bass will change your life. If you're serious about playing, you'll find the money somewhere. Take a 2nd (or 3rd) job; start eating cat food. Do anything to make the money. If you've got a burning desire, and it's important enough, you'll find a way.

Otherwise, if you're not sure, just rent. If the bug doesn't bite, you'll save a lot of money and headache.
 

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