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E-bay Basses

Discussion in 'Basses [DB]' started by mattwells, Jun 26, 2003.

  1. Jun 26, 2003 #1
    mattwells

    mattwells

    Mar 19, 2003
    GA
    I am looking at getting a new upright (the cremona has, as expected) pretty much begun to self destruct (I never planned for it to last too long, just got it so I would have something to play). There are not any music shops that keep uprights in stock in my town, so I am watching e-bay (every shop says they can order me a bass, I just have to pay for it first, and for that hassle I can buy one off of e-bay). I am watching these right now, and was wondering what folks thought about any of them:

    DISCLAIMER: I know it is best to play a bass before purchasing it, but it is not feasible for me to do so.

    Czech Bass:
    cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI...16222&rd=1

    Juzek:
    cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI...16222&rd=1

    Englehardt:
    cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI...16222&rd=1

    Korean Carved:
    cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI...16222&rd=1

    Unkown German:
    cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI...16222&rd=1

    Any assistance would be appreciated, and please do not just grill me saying I have to play them first, I know it is best, but I just can not do it.
     
  2. Jun 26, 2003 #2
    mje

    mje Supporting Member

    Aug 1, 2002
    Southeast Michigan
    I would strongly advise you to skip the E-bay unknowns and instead deal with a mail order dealer with reputation for quality and support. For me, that includes Bob Gollihur for his Bulgarian basses and Engleharts, and Lemur Music, for a wide variety of instruments.
     
  3. Jun 26, 2003 #3
    Chris Fitzgerald

    Chris Fitzgerald Student of Life Staff Member Administrator Gold Supporting Member

    Oct 19, 2000
    Louisville, KY
    What e=mj2 said. Also, if you'd fill out your profile especially as to your location, it might turn out that someone could inform you that you're closer to a bass for sale than you think. If not, I'd also look at one of the Samuel Shen plywoods that can be purchased at a variety of places online.
     
  4. Jun 26, 2003 #4
    Bruce Lindfield

    Bruce Lindfield Unprofessional TalkBass Contributor Gold Supporting Member In Memoriam

    Dec 13, 1999
    Brighton, England, UK, Europe
    Isn't this the wrong way round - I mean a shop offers to do everything for you - that's less hassle isn't it? Whereas on eBay you have to bid, don't know what price you might end up paying, sort out shipping and payment etc. - you have all the hassle!:confused:
     
  5. Jun 26, 2003 #5
    Steve Killingsworth

    Steve Killingsworth

    Aug 25, 2002
    West Tennessee
    As others have said, talk to Bob Gollihur. He is an excellent guy to deal with. When I was "shopping" I worried him to death with almost daily e-mails over a period two or three months. The more I researched and read, the more questions I had and Bob patiently dealt with them all. I finally bought my Englehardt Swingmaster from him and I have never regreted it. Everything was just as he said and I got the bass in less than a week.

    I have always heard that a lot of the instruments peddled on ebay are factory seconds. Considering what some of the "firsts" are, I would be terrified of buying one of those.
     
  6. Jun 26, 2003 #6
    mattwells

    mattwells

    Mar 19, 2003
    GA
    Hopefully I can reply to everyone with this post. I live in Athens, GA. Moderately close to Atlanta (not a bad 1.5 hour drive) so I have called all of the string/music stores that I could find a number for and the trend was, if they even carried any double basses in stock, they had one in my price range (all of them had an Englehardt) but they could order some other bass if I wanted (usually something like a Mathias Thoma or something along those lines). The thing is, only one of the stores had someone that sounded like a competent luthier do a setup on the bass, so I would probably have to find a luthier and have a setup done after buying it.

    That being said, the prospect of buying from ebay also frightens me, so I will mull over this for awhile.
     
  7. Jun 26, 2003 #7
    davegr8house

    davegr8house Guest

    Aug 13, 2001
    Franklin, Tennessee
    http://www.huthmakerviolins.com/

    I would give them a call. When I was shopping my Teacher knew them and recommended I talk with them. The Basses on the site he no longer had but had others. I know the daughter is a Bass Player and is also studied and is Making Bass Bows. I understand them to be very nice.

    Dave
     
  8. Jun 26, 2003 #8
    Chris Fitzgerald

    Chris Fitzgerald Student of Life Staff Member Administrator Gold Supporting Member

    Oct 19, 2000
    Louisville, KY
    A student of mine bought a Christopher in Atlanta, and it's a great sounding bass. There was some confusion over the pricing at the guy's shop, but his name is Ronald Sachs...let me see if I can dig up some more info.

    Okay, this link should lead to three threads, at least two of which contain pertinent info for your situation:

    http://www.talkbass.com/forum/searc...d=597588&sortby=lastpost&sortorder=descending