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Double Bass Experienced Bassist, Beginner Double Bassist

#22
If your school has a theater booster group I'd get the word out that you need the use of a db for the upcoming production and perhaps something will come out of the woodwork. I think learning an instrument for a production is a very worthy endeavor and quite possibly somebody else might agree(preferably somebody with a dusty bass).
 
#24
drurb said:
As for gas, I sure do remember $0.19. Now as for the double bass, CLVart, you're receiving a consistent message. So far, the regulars here agree with my response in post #2. No, an electric upright will not do. If you have only $900:

1) Buy a good used ply bass.
OR
2) Save up more $$$ and buy a new ply bass (~$1200 minimum).

Don't by a cheapo bass. It'll cost you more in the end, may turn you off to playing altogether, will fight you all the way, and may even implode.

That's the advice from players who have been around the block a few times. Take it or leave it. :)

As for sites to look at, seek out REAL BASS SHOPS that sell the basses Eric listed.

I guess "experienced" is a relative term. I now understand you're in high school. Think more about that teacher. Competent EB players usually have never held a bow!
Click to expand...

I was thinking of using an EUB for practice at home, the place I will be practicing at with the orchestra has provided for me a double bass, however it stays there, leaving me at home with no way to practice. The EUB would seem more practical for home.
 
#25
crowsmengegus said:
He means The Next Five Years, the musical, I think. I played in it once (on DB), it's pretty fun. I don't know what orchestration it usually calls for, but we did it with a small ensemble, violin, DB, cello, percussion, clarinet, .... maybe that's it...forgot piano of course.

CLVart, FYI you could do the show with BG or EUB, although it's nice to throw in some arco in various places. I guess it depends what your musical director wants. In fact, EUB might not be a bad option for this kind of application, unless you are interested in going deeper in the DB world (such as orchestra!).

EDIT: sorry the musical is called The Last Five Years . Geez, I don't know if I know what we're talking about. OP, is this what you are referring to?
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Uh, no. By the next five years I mean the length of time I will be in this music class and orchestra, not some musical. LOL
 
#27
CLVart said:
Uh, no. By the next five years I mean the length of time I will be in this music class and orchestra, not some musical. LOL
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Sorry about the misreading.

In that case, EUB isn't a good idea. Practicing for orchestra requires mostly bowing, and I think it would be pretty much impossible to improve your orchestra chops on an EUB.

Listen to the advice of rusag2 and drurb. My first bass was a used Engelhardt and it worked very well for me for the next five years. (Actually more like four I think.) I paid $800 for it and sold it for the same.

Also, get a teacher! Unlike bass guitar, it is not advisable to teach yourself to play upright. If you get in touch with a teacher before you buy a bass they should be able to help with your purchase.

Alright, I've screwed up this thread enough already....:hmm:
 
#28
crowsmengegus said:
Sorry about the misreading.

In that case, EUB isn't a good idea. Practicing for orchestra requires mostly bowing, and I think it would be pretty much impossible to improve your orchestra chops on an EUB.

Listen to the advice of rusag2 and drurb. My first bass was a used Engelhardt and it worked very well for me for the next five years. (Actually more like four I think.) I paid $800 for it and sold it for the same.

Also, get a teacher! Unlike bass guitar, it is not advisable to teach yourself to play upright. If you get in touch with a teacher before you buy a bass they should be able to help with your purchase.

Alright, I've screwed up this thread enough already....:hmm:
Click to expand...

Screwed up the thread? Au contraire! Your advice is spot on! In order to practice playing a double bass, you have to practice playing on a double bass.
 
#29
Thanks everyone for the interesting feedback. I've learned not only about what I should be looking forward too, but that there is a musical somewhere called The Last Five Years, and that gas prices have of course, dramatically increased in the past 50 or 60 years.

I think I'll look some form of used plywood bass, like the Englehart that was mentioned. I happen to know a good mentor for double bass, so I'll use him as a strong reference point as well. Now, what about strings and bows?
 
#30
I'm just gonna leave this here.

Bow and strings? My hands down favorite arco string is Bel Canto. BUT, they're quite spendy and not very good for pizz IMO, so they might not be a good choice for you. Head over to the strings forum and get an education. If you can rent or buy a bass with strings on it, you might want to just use those ones for a while.;)

An "entry level" bow which I own and like a lot is the finale bow from string emporium. Again, one opinion among many....head over to the bows forum and have at it. You may want to consult with your teacher on these matters too! Your teacher or the school might have a bow around that you could borrow for a while....that's what I did when I started.
 

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