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Double Bass DB buying advice needed

smeet

smeet

Gold Supporting Member
Nov 27, 2006
9,195
13,432
65
Sammamish, WA
www.reverbnation.com
#1
Hey all, I know this is probably well over-trodden ground, but I need some advice. Please don’t kill me.

I know there are resources, and I’ve been looking at some of them. I’m looking for my best course forward. I’ve played EB for several decades, and I just got my first good fretless (a Pedulla Pentabuzz) and am really enjoying it. I have owned a DB once before, it was an $800 Craigslist special. It played kind of and sounded meh, and I played a few gigs with it and eventually sold it, as job and kids made practice difficult. So I have an idea of a crappy bass is like. I’m recently retired and want to really study bass, and start playing DB. That said, I doubt that DB will ever be my primary instrument. I plan to play jazz and other pizz-based styles, maybe some stage musicals down the line. I plan to practice with a bow for intonation, but the most I would ever want to do in that direction would be to maybe join a community orchestra. Maybe.

Questions:
  • I currently live in Los Angeles, and plan to move to the Portland/Seattle area in February. Should I look for an instrument in the (larger/better?) LA market and transport the bass to the PNW, or wait until we are living there? I know the humidity change might be a problem.
  • I think I’m looking for a nice plywood or a decent hybrid 3/4 DB.
  • My price point depends on the inflection points in the diminishing returns curve. I would say $6000 is probably the most I would spend. But, what should I expect to hear/feel/get for 6k, 5k, 4K, 3k, 2k? Should I get the most I can now, or a cheaper instrument and then step up later?
  • My EB purchases have mostly been in the TB classifieds. But that’s an easier equation to solve, and I have some knowledge there. I like and have trust in the TB community, but I don’t want to be stupid. Are the classifieds a bad idea for a noob like myself? Craigslist? Local DB dealer?
Thank you!
 
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#2
While you're still in LA, it would be wise to check out both Los Angeles Bassworks and Lemur Music. Both are great resources for sales, repair and setup, and both have stellar reputations in the DB instrument world.
You might be able to find something that is in good shape and in your price range. It's worth a shot.
I'll let the P/S folks advise you on the shops in the Pacific NW. (@TroyK)
Just my $0.03
Good Luck, Smeet.
(Also - for god's sake don't tell any of the locals in P/S area that you're from LA! They HATE us up there...I've seen their bumper stickers.)
 
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#4
smeet said:
  • My price point depends on the inflection points in the diminishing returns curve. I would say $6000 is probably the most I would spend. But, what should I expect to hear/feel/get for 6k, 5k, 4K, 3k, 2k? Should I get the most I can now, or a cheaper instrument and then step up later?
  • My EB purchases have mostly been in the TB classifieds. But that’s an easier equation to solve, and I have some knowledge there. I like and have trust in the TB community, but I don’t want to be stupid. Are the classifieds a bad idea for a noob like myself? Craigslist? Local DB dealer?
Thank you!
Click to expand...
Buy the best instrument you can afford. Even if you want to "step up later," you won't lose any money from this approach.
If you're not sure how to evaluate what is "best," try to find someone with more experience to go with you when shopping.
TB folks are, in my experience, very trustworthy. But even if you totally trust a seller, don't buy a double bass without playing it first, because "good" is not the same for all people.
 
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#5
Good advice so far. Like Andy said, buy the best bass you can find within your $6k budget. That doesn't mean you be spending $6k. You might well find a $4-5k bass that speaks to you better than anything at the top of your range.

I'm not really expert in pricing and valuing basses, but I'd suggest $2-3k would get you a very nice ply, or a low-level hybrid. $4-6k will get you a very nice hybrid, and you MIGHT find a nice fully carved for that price.

From what you say, I'd suggest a nice hybrid might serve you quite well. Some folk will say go for carved. Make up your own mind.

I see LA Bassworks carries Eastman. It would be a fun exercise to play your way through their various models, to see how much you can appreciate the different constructions/price points. Would be great if you could find a shop that similarly offers a good selection of Shens. (Looks like Basses — The Bass Church might fit that bill. But) Not pushing Shen, just observing that they make quality basses at all price points, and it would be informative to compare different basses from one quality maker, to get a feel of what a ply/hybrid/carved will get you.

While at these shops, play some basses way out of your range, just to let you know what a bass can be. No guarantee you will appreciate/prefer the pricier bass, tho.

I don't think you need to sweat the effect of humidity when moving. But I imagine you'll be somewhat busy over the next 4 months. By all means, start your learning now, to take your mind off the move. And if you fall in love with something, buy it. But one benefit to buying in your final destination is (heaven forbid) if you need warranty work done. Or, if you eventually want to move up, a shop you bought from might offer credit for your purchased bass.

Good luck. And keep us apprised!
 
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#7
If you’re in Portland, Pete’s Upright Bass Shop is the go-to place. Pete Lempe is a fine luthier and carries a good range of new and used instruments. When I was looking for a new bass a few years back I spent a bunch of time there over several visits talking with Pete and trying out a variety of basses before making a decision.

As everyone here will tell you, the best key to success on upright is to work over time with a good teacher. There are lots of good players and teachers in the Northwest so you should be able to find one you like. Good luck with both your instrument search and your move!
 
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#9
Don Kasper said:
While you're still in LA, it would be wise to check out both Los Angeles Bassworks and Lemur Music. Both are great resources for sales, repair and setup, and both have stellar reputations in the DB instrument world.
You might be able to find something that is in good shape and in your price range. It's worth a shot.
I'll let the P/S folks advise you on the shops in the Pacific NW. (@TroyK)
Just my $0.03
Good Luck, Smeet.
(Also - for god's sake don't tell any of the locals in P/S area that you're from LA! They HATE us up there...I've seen their bumper stickers.)
Click to expand...

Yes, I would get my hands on as many DB’s as I could. I really lucked out buying from a band mate.

You should see the stickers under our cars… From Cali? You might get a chance…
 
#10
smeet said:
Do any these look promising?
Click to expand...
Any or all of them could be quite good and well priced. But until you've played several, you won't really be able to tell. I (and others) feel it would be a far better use of your time to start off by visiting a commercial seller or 2, where you could speak to pros and compare several different basses side by side. But if you prefer to spend your time and money driving all over the LA area chasing Craigslist possibilities...

Good idea on tossing the 5/8 into the mix.
 
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#11
smeet said:
Do any these look promising?
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Click to expand...

I just did some shopping in a similar price range and you really just can't tell by pictures. I think all those would be worth looking at and playing if they're close by. This is, IMO, the toughest price range to shop in because there's just so much to choose from. Lower end carved basses are all over the place quality wise, you see a lot of old basses in the $5k-7k range simply because they're old and not necessarily because they're good.

Keep in mind strings make a pretty big difference in how an upright sounds... if it's setup and strung for orchestral work it may not sound very good for pizz as-is but could sound great if you put Spiros on. An advantage of visiting a shop is they'll usually swap strings for you if necessary.
 
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#12
I've owned two different Upton basses. One Bohemian ply, the other (currently owned) hybrid. Bought the first directly from the shop, without playing it. Bought the hybrid one used from TB classifieds and met up with the buyer to play it, check it out, before buying. Both were good basses for me. YMMV.
 
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#13
With all respect, you don't even know how to evaluate a double bass or what you want in one.

I recommend you rent a reasonable quality bass for a year (Shen, Christopher, etc., the usual suspects), engage a qualified instructor, take a lesson every two weeks, practice from a standard pedagogical method (Simandl, Nanny, etc.), and after a year, go bass shopping.
 
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#19
smeet said:
A question about lessons - is it worth taking zoom lessons on DB, or should I do in-person?
Click to expand...
I've taught lessons both ways. There is really no substitute for in-person instruction. Zoom lessons can work, but I've found they are better suited to advanced students with specific questions and discussion than fundamentals, and even then still are very much second in desirability and effectiveness to in-person lessons. Nothing beats being able to truly hear and see, from every angle, what your teacher is demonstrating, being able to play duets, etc.
 
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#20
I remember when I was taking my first bass lessons, my teacher would stand across from me and show me something, and I would walk over and peer directly over his shoulder to see just what this angle or that angle was and what it looked like from the player's perspective. A mattter of seconds in person, and it would take many minutes of wasted time with Zoom or equivalent.

You don't say where you live, but in any decent size city there will be someone who can teach beginning double bass.
 
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