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Double Bass First Bass...need advice...1830 German?

T

thumpbass

Apr 26, 2008
52
0
#1
Hey Guys! First post on this side of the forum!

First things first, I'm an electric bass player who's looking to buy his first upright bass. I was browsing through Kijiji and I came across this ad.

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Now I know there isn't that many pictures, but I'm just looking for advice/feedback. AKA is this a good deal?

Again, this is my first upright and I have a maximum of 7k to dish out on this

I am currently studying jazz in Montréal, and I know I should probably check out Mario Lamarre. Other than that i basicly don't have a clue how to go about this. :hmm:

thank you!

J
 
#3
At the risk of being rude, why are you looking at an expensive and probably high-maintenance antique for your first instrument?

I also think the bass looks small. The lower bouts in particular appear abbreviated in both of the body pictures. If it is a fractional-sized bass, the seller's asking price is probably wildly optimistic. A forum member is asking a few thousand more for his 3/4 bass of similar age and origin, which he recently had extensively overhauled, and considering what that kind of work cost I bet he saved his receipts.
 
#4
@Steve Swan - I will try and get those as soon as possible.

@KUNGfuSHERIFF - Firstly, the reason the old upright bass caught my attention is because I keep hearing that older is better when it comes to upright. Then again, I don't know much about this topic so please be gentle :) . Secondly, a upright player whom I hold in high estime told me that to get anything worth while, I shouldn't be looking at anything lower than the 5k range, unless it's a ridiculous bargain. The seller also said it has been restored.

I will be doing this professionally in about 4 years. I want an instrument that plays well and sounds good pizz. I want to make sure I get something that will last me 7-10 years before I out-grow it. If you guys can steer me towards anything I would greatly appreciate it, I have a max of 7k and I am looking to get the best instrument i can get with that money.

regards,

J
 
#5
Ask your teacher for advice and leads.


If you're going to see Mario, he sells these basses as starters...

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Last I checked, he sold two levels, one with plain looking wood, and one with nicer flames. Back in 2009 the prices were $6000CAN and $8000. I don't know what they are now, but a strong Canadian dollar should mean that imports are less expensive now than before.

Also, check out this store in nearby Sherbrooke.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

There seems to be quite a few basses for sale on kijiji and Craigslist. Make a list and go visit them one by one.

Here's another for the list.
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#6
Is the seller prepared to back up the restoration story with documentation, including allowing your teacher(s) to discuss the job with the party who restored it? Have you discussed this $7K move with your teachers? What are their thoughts? Maybe they have another student who is preparing to upgrade to a better bass and could make you a deal. Rely on the homeboy network before trusting the word of a stranger who is not offering a warranty.

The person who told you to look down your nose at anything priced less than $5K has too much money, too much ego, or both. What they should have done, if they were genuinely interested in helping you, is to offer to check out a bass you were seriously interested in to allow their experience to save you from making a costly mistake. You're a student jazz player, not a candidate for a chair in the Philharmonic. Yet. :D Why do you need a professional-grade instrument now?

It's like this: my first car was a real piece of junk, a 1979 Chrysler Cordoba which was then 15 years old. It cost a couple hundred bucks and was a hand-me-down when my mother got something nicer. Today, after 18 years of driving, I'm a die-hard truck guy. Not only did my needs change, but my perspective changed with experience.

If it were my money, I'd be looking for a good old German ply, an Upton, a nicer Kay, Shen...anything that would get me started playing and I could sell to upgrade without losing money.
 
#7
Take a deep breath and look around at other instruments. On the internet there are reputable stores that have prices much lower and more suitable to your level of experience. It sounds cool but you never buy the first car you Look at , do you? It would not surprise me that if you wait, you'll find an instrument that will start you off in the right direction and won't cost you as much.Have your teacher help you as well................:)
 
#8
That bass is what we call a "blockless wonder". You can tell from the humps beside the neck. Do a search for them for more info.

When considering buying a bass directly from an owner, you should have it looked at by Mario or another good luthier for an appraisal (just as you'd take a used car to a mechanic before buying). Too many possible problems may exist and you need an expert to evaluate before handing over your hard earned cash. If the owner is opposed to this, walk.
 
#9
@Longfinger - Thank you thank you thank you!!

@KUNGfuSHERIFF - I was looking at that upright because I was looking to buy something local. Now that I checked out the classifieds...I'm not so sure anymore :hmm: I also love the homeboy network :) thank you for that great advice :D

The player who told me to buy something at 5k and up IS my teacher! Great player! and he WILL be with me while trying out basses! Can't for much better can we? :) (he also happens to play a 40k Lamarre! you can check it out here Minor Blues.wmv - YouTube )

@waleros - I completely agree, and I will look deeper into this. Thank you.

I greatly appreciate all the replies. I am open to any suggestion.

J

PS: are you guys allowed to post links from the classified as potential buys or no? Just checking!
 
#10
Well, suppose you were a beginner bass guitar player and you had a nice budget and decided to get a Ken Smith/Sadowsky/Fodera kind of thing and it turned out to be not what you wanted? Besides that, there are so many issues with older carved basses - size, maintenance, sound, weather changes - that you really need to know what will work for you when you're ready for one. My advice is to get a solid ply bass first, do a lot of playing at home and out, listen to other players, take lessons, then go shopping with a teacher or experienced friend so you can hear the bass at a distance. It will sound differently there than where you play it. Hopefully by then, you've developed a sound concept you want and have a preference of a setup you like - strings, tension, action, etc. Just a lot to jump into all at once.

Ike
 
#11
Welcome here!

Main points for your consideration:

- I would read the newbie threads about buying a bass.
- $7k is plenty, but you should spend it very, very carefully.
- Resist the temptation to do something quickly; play lots of basses in lots of places.
- For now, I would rent an instrument and find a professional bassist as a teacher who can be an aid in your search and networking.

Again, glad that you are here...good luck.
 
#12
Ike Harris said:
My advice is to get a solid ply bass first, do a lot of playing at home and out, listen to other players, take lessons, then go shopping with a teacher or experienced friend so you can hear the bass at a distance. It will sound differently there than where you play it. Hopefully by then, you've developed a sound concept you want and have a preference of a setup you like - strings, tension, action, etc. Just a lot to jump into all at once.
Click to expand...

+1

I agree, you are putting the cart in front of the horse here. Play different basses and learn what you like. I play jazz on a hybrid (plywood back/carved top) and I'm very happy with the sound, both arco and pizz. Buy a plywood or hybrid and stick whatever is left of the $7,000 in a bond that won't mature for 5 years. By then, you'll know what the hell you want and will not have blown the rest of the $7k on foolish things like food, rent, and textbooks.

Man, I wish I had $7,000 to buy a bass. Instead, I bought a new roof. :crying:
 
#13
@Eric Hochberg - Thank you for that info, I find it very interesting :) Are you suggesting for me to take the bass home and have Mario check it out? Make sure everyting is legit?

@Ike Harris - you know I wish I had a fodera ;) . All kidding aside, I'm not sure if I'm ready to get a bass so old and probably so high maintenance, I was considering it because I had heard somewhere that in the upright bass world, older meant better. I have actually been playing upright for 2 years now, my first year was with a nice bass the university let me play (they told me 12k, so I'm guessing it was decent ;) ) this past year I have been playing with a really cheap ply bass that my dad let me borrow from his school. pretty much impossible to play. I feel that I'm ready for a quality instrument but I'm definitely not looking for a "fodera" in the contrebasse world. I actually have taken lessons with a player of great skill (see link in previous post, he studied with Rabbath!) and he will be with me when I try out/ make the purchase. Thank you so much for your advice. :D

@Eric Swanson - Thank you, I will take that advice. I will make sure my money is spent wisely.

@Paul Barsic - A new roof?! what are those for? ;)
 
#14
If you're playing mostly pizzicato, there's no need to spend $7k. My $3k plywood bass is great, and if I didn't have aspirations to improve my arco, I'd be pretty happy.

Listen to the guy who suggests that you rent at first. You'll need to learn the instrument before you'll be able to really know what you what out of a bass.
 
#16
thumpbass said:
@Longfinger - Thank you thank you thank you!!

@KUNGfuSHERIFF - I was looking at that upright because I was looking to buy something local. Now that I checked out the classifieds...I'm not so sure anymore :hmm: I also love the homeboy network :) thank you for that great advice :D

The player who told me to buy something at 5k and up IS my teacher! Great player! and he WILL be with me while trying out basses! Can't for much better can we? :) (he also happens to play a 40k Lamarre! you can check it out here Minor Blues.wmv - YouTube )

@waleros - I completely agree, and I will look deeper into this. Thank you.

I greatly appreciate all the replies. I am open to any suggestion.

J

PS: are you guys allowed to post links from the classified as potential buys or no? Just checking!
Click to expand...

You're studying with Frederic? If I was going to UdeM, he'd be my choice as well.

He told me that he's selling his 40K LaMarre and getting his third.

He's a great bassist, and quite a good player here in Montreal. However, you don't need to spend $7K on a good jazz bass. Get a nice Juzek or something, you'll be set for life until you decide that it's not the sound in your head anymore.
 
#18
Nah man, I'm a freelancer. I moved here to wait a year and go to McGill, but I got caught up in the scene. Now I'm on my second year off of school, and deciding to go to Bishop's instead to focus on my classical playing.
 

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