Double Bass Getting my first Double Bass

[drurb]

Even if you gave the name of your street, with a moniker like Pruneface the chances of anyone identifying you are microscopic. so not revealing anything about your approximate location is just plain silly. Ask your parents if they mind, if you're worried.

Did you hear? Just last week, a guy was arrested for using TalkBass to arrange to meet a minor at a local luthier's shop. He claimed afterward that he had never done anything like that before and had no actual intention to discuss DB-buying strategies. He did, however, send the minor pictures of his bridge. His trial is pending.

 

[PRUNEFACE]

Tears are pouring out of my eyes rofl

 

[Joshua]

Okay, don't panic. Can you see anything out the window? Describe the landscape, what types of trees? Is there a billboard or streetsign or something else that might help us identify your location? Bang on a pipe to make some noise and for God's sakes stay on the line until help arrives!

 

[Eric Swanson]

Did you hear? Just last week, a guy was arrested for using TalkBass to arrange to meet a minor at a local luthier's shop. He claimed afterward that he had never done anything like that before and had no actual intention to discuss DB-buying strategies. He did, however, send the minor pictures of his bridge. His trial is pending.

Yeah, I did read about that. The Feds seized his hard drive, his rosin, and took an old set of Spirocores for DNA testing. Now the dude sports an ankle bracelet and lost all of his babysitting gigs.

Geographically speaking, looks like New Orleans is roughly 3 - 4 hours west, by car. So, find luthiers there, maybe, set up appointments, and make a day/weekend of it with a trusted, bass-playing adult.

Go and see/play basses, with someone who can play already. IMHO, for you to buy mail order is sort of like getting a mail-order bride/husband from another country; it might work out, or it might not...

 

[Steve Killingsworth]

Check out the Shen website. They have a dealer locator that lists several sites in the FL, GA, AL, LA area. Having to drive several hours to try out a bass or have one repaired is a simple fact of life for many of us.

You might also check out Bob Gollihur's luthier list.

Just remember to wear your disguise before you go out in public.

 

[PRUNEFACE]

Check out the Shen website. They have a dealer locator that lists several sites in the FL, GA, AL, LA area. Having to drive several hours to try out a bass or have one repaired is a simple fact of life for many of us.

You might also check out Bob Gollihur's luthier list.

Just remember to wear your disguise before you go out in public.

Shen's made in China, Czechoslovakia or Romania?

 

[Steve Killingsworth]

Shen's made in China, Czechoslovakia or Romania?

China and they are excellent basses for the money--definitely not bass shaped objects.

 

[Eric Swanson]

Just remember to wear your disguise before you go out in public.

I love the Ninja bass-buyer concept. A new market!

 

[PRUNEFACE]

China and they are excellent basses for the money--definitely not bass shaped objects.

any experience comparing shen's with uptons? specifically their hybrids? (Once again, I understand some can be great, some can be awful. i just want your generalized opinions.)

 

[Steve Killingsworth]

any experience comparing shen's with uptons? specifically their hybrids? (Once again, I understand some can be great, some can be awful. i just want your generalized opinions.)

I have played several Shens in Dustin Williams' shop in Nashville--ranging from the lowend plywood to a hybrid to a fully carved willow. I also some time playing an Upton Hawkes plywood that an acquaintance bought.

Comparing the Shen ply to the Upton, I personally felt the Shen had a fuller and warmer sound. However, both were well-constructed, comfortable to play, and excellent basses for the price. If choosing between the two, I would probably go with the Shen but either is a good choice.

All the more reason for you to make a trip and try out a few basses rather than taking the word of faceless strangers on the 'net.

 

[Bass]

....Just remember to wear your disguise before you go out in public....

Ha ha haaaa!! I still don't see how being a minor prevents a person from revealing their location.

 

[MDEbass]

Im still about an hour away from each of those cities, so unless they have more than one bass (or an amazingly beast bass).

An hour drive really isn't that bad. One hour of your time shouldn't be keeping you from looking at a bass. If that's the nearest location then I would say go for it.

 

[drurb]

I have played several Shens in Dustin Williams' shop in Nashville--ranging from the lowend plywood to a hybrid to a fully carved willow. I also some time playing an Upton Hawkes plywood that an acquaintance bought.

Steve-- was that one of the re-designed made-in-the-USA Uptons or was it one of the older imports?

 

[Steve Killingsworth]

I can't say for sure Doc. It was about a year and a half ago--right around the time that they made the switch if I remember correctly. He had it on order for several months before it arrived.

He kept the Upton for a while, then sold it and a Kay and bought a NS Cleveland.

 

[PRUNEFACE]

What (for the millionth time, generally) would be a better buy (and I am still not there, so no worries that the second someone says something I'd be "adding to cart".)? The Deluxe Laminated Upton, or the Standard Hybrid? I believe their is a $200 price difference (Deluxe is the more expensive of the two) and I understand that many of you consider hybrids/fully carved basses more versatile or at the very least more functional for arco than a laminated bass.

 

[maveriten]

What's better? Too many variables, IMHO. I'd recommend you spend conservatively on your first bass and save more for your second (when you are able to identify sound and playability features that are important to you). There's a Shen and a Upton in the classifieds right here on TalkBass along with a few other acceptable beginner instruments. The Shen is in the Southeast.

 

[wilsonn]

What (for the millionth time, generally) would be a better buy (and I am still not there, so no worries that the second someone says something I'd be "adding to cart".)? The Deluxe Laminated Upton, or the Standard Hybrid? I believe their is a $200 price difference (Deluxe is the more expensive of the two) and I understand that many of you consider hybrids/fully carved basses more versatile or at the very least more functional for arco than a laminated bass.

I played both in the store and found I really liked the Standard Hybrid better. Could have been just that pair of basses, but that was my impression, particularly arco.

 

[PRUNEFACE]

Would it be good to get a bass with a low C extension? Or are notes that low (in classical) barely encountered? (I suppose it could be played an octave higher...)

 

[dchan]

What (for the millionth time, generally) would be a better buy (and I am still not there, so no worries that the second someone says something I'd be "adding to cart".)? The Deluxe Laminated Upton, or the Standard Hybrid? I believe their is a $200 price difference (Deluxe is the more expensive of the two) and I understand that many of you consider hybrids/fully carved basses more versatile or at the very least more functional for arco than a laminated bass.

Better buy? We're not talking about Consumer Reports doing reviews of dishwashing liquid here. :scowl:

Buy the bass that speaks to you and that you feel is reasonable within your budget. A more expensive bass might have more expensive wood and other stuff on it, but that doesn't necessarily make it the better bass than a cheaper bass. You're going to have to try out a lot of basses to figure out what you actually like.

 

[PRUNEFACE]

Better buy? We're not talking about Consumer Reports doing reviews of dishwashing liquid here. :scowl:

Buy the bass that speaks to you and that you feel is reasonable within your budget. A more expensive bass might have more expensive wood and other stuff on it, but that doesn't necessarily make it the better bass than a cheaper bass. You're going to have to try out a lot of basses to figure out what you actually like.

trust me, I understand how subjective sound and instruments are. Tons of people dislike Spector Basses becasue of their necks, particularly if they're coming from a Jazz, yet I love my Euro LX, best bass I have played so far.

As far as "the better buy", I was just asking if, in anyones experience, felt that the features on the Deluxe outweighed the carved top of the Hybrid standard.