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Double Bass First UB Purchase. Guidance?

I

idontplaybass

Jan 20, 2008
15
0
Gaithersburg, MD
#1
I'm looking into getting my first Double Bass. I have looked around on the internet at differences in body, size, shape, finish, etc., but I really know nothing. I have only had basses rented from public school store rooms.

What should I know about construction, wood, laminate, etc.?

Any guidance is excellent.

Thanks very much.
 
#2
idontplaybass said:
I'm looking into getting my first Double Bass. I have looked around on the internet at differences in body, size, shape, finish, etc., but I really know nothing. I have only had basses rented from public school store rooms.

What should I know about construction, wood, laminate, etc.?

Any guidance is excellent.

Thanks very much.
Click to expand...


i got a fullwood chinese 3/4 and i'm really happy with it... it costed around 1500 euro's... I fell in love with it first time i saw it and decided to just go for it....

you have to take into account some "tuning" costs, especially with these cheap chinese basses.... i got me some new strings, new bridge, new top bridge... and some other adjustments....

but now it's really "my own"...
 
#5
First of all, read the newbie links at the top of this forum. They contain a wealth of buying information. After you read over those, come back with any unanswered and/or specific questions.

I disagree with the advice you've been given thus far. Stay away from CCBs (Cheap Chinese Basses) that have to have parts replaced and tweaked. By "fullwood," the individual above most likely meant "fully-carved." If he did, then he most likely bought what would be a low-end fully-carved bass and that can be risky.

Figure on spending $1200-$1500 at an absolute minimum and buy a bass from a real bass shop, not from a guitar store and not from an on-line warehouse-type supplier. A real luthier will almost always supply a solid instrument with a proper setup.

Where do you live? What is your budget? Have you played before? Do you have a teacher?
 
#6
I live outside of the capital and I am willing to spend somewhere between 2000 and 2500 US Dollars. Theres a place called Chucks nearby. They're somewhat legit but I think I need something a little more specific. Just so I can get an informed answer.

Where are the "Newbie Stickies" that I have to read before I can ask questions?
Thanks.
 
#7
idontplaybass said:
I live outside of the capital and I am willing to spend somewhere between 2000 and 2500 US Dollars. Theres a place called Chucks nearby. They're somewhat legit but I think I need something a little more specific. Just so I can get an informed answer.

Where are the "Newbie Stickies" that I have to read before I can ask questions?
Thanks.
Click to expand...

The links are right here.
It's not that you have to read them before you can ask questions. It just helps everyone out, including yourself. Please understand that you are the 238,465th person asking the same question. The links were put there as a reasonably comprehensive guide so members here don't keep saying the same things over and over again even more than we already do! :)

I don't know about Chucks. I do know that you have a decent budget and that you will be much happier in the end if you buy from a real bass shop and not a "somewhat legit" outfit. There are many potential pitfalls in buying a double bass. Just trying to help you steer clear of them.
 

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