Double Bass Cremona ¾ Double Bass

[DJ Bebop]

Thanks, everyone, for your replies. I get the picture. I'll wait for a good priced Kay, or similar, to come up for sale.

I paid $650 for my Kay M-1 from the original owner, but that was like 35-45 years.

Good hunting

 

[bassically_eli]

Thanks, everyone, for your replies. I get the picture. I'll wait for a good priced Kay, or similar, to come up for sale.

Where i live (and i think most of the US) Kays are very poor bang for your buck. They can be great basses, but i usually see them for $3000+. That’s way too much for a plywood bass. (Nothing against ply basses. My only bass for years was an Engelhardt that saw hundreds of gigs, and it was a great (cheap) bass.)

 

[CharleyJackson]

Here is 2 cents I can spare. Fellow says he plays a plank. So he already knows music. But interested to play an upright at home now and then just for kicks. Has taken one or two lessons in the past. So if he tries it out and it makes half way decent sounds for $750, I say go for it. What would you guys say if it didn’t have a cheap Chinese bass label, no identifying label? Oops, my 2 cents have been spent.

“I’m just looking for something to have around the house for fun, and when the mood strikes.”

 

[Jeff Kissell]

Here is 2 cents I can spare. Fellow says he plays a plank. So he already knows music. But interested to play an upright at home now and then just for kicks. Has taken one or two lessons in the past. So if he tries it out and it makes half way decent sounds for $750, I say go for it. What would you guys say if it didn’t have a cheap Chinese bass label, no identifying label? Oops, my 2 cents have been spent.

“I’m just looking for something to have around the house for fun, and when the mood strikes.”

To be fair, the OP didn't mention his previous experience with upright in his first post so the boilerplate newbie advice was warranted.

Personally I've played enough basses, both glorious and horrible to know where the typical Cremona falls. In this case, in my opinion, if the bass is relatively healthy it should be a safe investment.

Many people have strong opinions of Chinese made basses... My opinion is that it's nuanced and complicated at best. As are most things in the global trade and production economy that have a tendency to be way overly simplified into good or bad.

 

[CharleyJackson]

“…if the bass is relatively healthy it should be a safe investment.

Many people have strong opinions of Chinese made basses... My opinion is that it's nuanced and complicated at best. As are most things in the global trade and production economy that have a tendency to be way overly simplified into good or bad.”

So True. If he bought it and has fun with it for three years at $750 he is only paying $20/month to have it to kick around. If it were half way playable never mind the setup!

 

[Clyde Stats]

On the other hand, suppose the bass gets played at home for fun, then maybe goes to a few jam sessions, which leads to the odd gig here and there, which turns into…?

Or, the bass sits around in a corner unplayed as the OP losses interest and life intrudes (family, jobs, electric bass gigs, a new band) and needs the $$ tied up in the Cremona for other things…

In both cases they would be much better off saving their money for one of the basses suggested in previous posts as a starter to upgrade from or to sell outright.

My $.04!

 

[CharleyJackson]