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Double Bass Engelhardt dealer in New England ?

S

Schindler

Nov 11, 2009
9
0
MA
#1
hi all,
I am new to double bass. In my 3rd month of lessons and renting a no name brand bass. I am getting very eager to buy a bass. I've just started trying out basses and am having trouble finding a dealer that carries Engelhardt in MA or a nearby state. I would love to give a Swingmaster a try. Anyone know of a retail store that carries Engelhardts in the New England area? Thanks for your help.
 
#2
You could probably find a used one on craigslist. Is that the only bass you're looking at? Upton is in Boston and Conn. and it's a safe bet that their standard laminate bass is a better instrument. Where are you renting from now? Do they have access to Engls?
 
#3
I did check out Upton in boston . I liked a shen sb80 that I played there. They didnt have an all ply upton for me to try (which seems odd to me) - but I played a nice upton hybrid that was out of my price range ( along with about 5 other nice basses out of my range as well) . I do plan on trying the all ply upton - I think they are running $2,400 which is more than I have to spend, but if i try it and must own it - I'll figure out a way. Engelhardt is on my list to try so I'm just trying to get my hands on one to form an opinion. As you can tell I am leaning toward an all ply bass for a couple reasons: cost and durability. I've been in and out of bands (on BG) for the last 15 years and played enough bar gigs to know I don't want to bring a $5K bass to these gigs. I am enjoying learning the bow ( simandl book) much more than I expected but I don't see any concert halls in my future or for that matter any "sunday jazz brunches". And call me crazy but to my untrained ear I kinda liked the thump of the ply's better than the wood basses when i played pizz. I need much more data before making a purchase of course.. thanks.
 
#8
powerbass said:
You might want to check out Craigslist, Berklee students are always buying/selling basses in Boston area.Check out The Nahrmann Bass Shop
http://www.nahrmannbass.com/
Click to expand...

My teacher bought his bass from Nahrmann Bass Shop. So I called the shop and had an intersting conversation w the owner. I told him I was looking to spend ~2K and he said i could only get an all plywood bass for that and he doesnt deal with those. Then he said he did have a 1940's Kay for
3K. but that was the least expensive bass he had. Seemed like a nice guy but definetely not interested in the inexpensive first bass for a newbie market..
 
#9
Schindler said:
. I liked a shen sb80 that I played there. As you can tell I am leaning toward an all ply bass for a couple reasons: cost and durability. . thanks.
Click to expand...

I think you are making a very sensible choice by going for a good ply.
providing it is well set up. The shen SB80 is very good value and should fall within your price range. $1500. I don't know anything about the Englehard so I can't comment. Either way try out as many basses as possible within your price range and buy from a reputable Luthier if possible.That way when you decide to trade up, and you will, the Luthier will usually give you a good deal.
 
#10
marvin spangles said:
I think you are making a very sensible choice by going for a good ply.
providing it is well set up. The shen SB80 is very good value and should fall within your price range. $1500. I don't know anything about the Englehard so I can't comment. Either way try out as many basses as possible within your price range and buy from a reputable Luthier if possible.That way when you decide to trade up, and you will, the Luthier will usually give you a good deal.
Click to expand...

Agreed. Very sensible approach. The Shen should fit your budget well. I'd recommend steering clear of the Engelhardt. For example, see this recent thread.
 
#11
So I had the chance to play 5 or 6 < $2000 basses and I bought the Shen SB80. I played a Christopher, Engelhardt, the Shen , and a couple others. On several of the basses there was a noticable drop off in volume of the E string (pizz) but the Shen was really even sounding all over the neck and across the strings - not sure if it was the setup or the strings or whatever but it was an easy choice for me - and I got a great deal at Upton's boston location.

Up next .. a decent budget bow...
 

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