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Double Bass hard decision..

C

cara222

Apr 3, 2012
2
0
#1
Ok, I'm getting my first own bass. I'm basically a beginner with the intentions of playing bass until, well, Death prys it from my bare hands. These are my two favorites. The lighter is a shen, carved top and cheaper. The darker is an Upton, laminated, plywood and more expensive. I really love the color and personality of the Upton, but is a carved top a better choice? Like I said, I don't have much expirience with purchasing basses, please help. Ps: the price really isn't much a concern to me, I just threw it in there.
 

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#2
If this is your first bass then the only question is, "Which one do you want to play more?".

Objectively, it doesn't matter. Which is the bass you can't put down?
 
#3
The right choice is the bass that flips your switch. As long as it falls below your absolute upper price limit, get the one that you like. Life's too short to mess around. "Messing around" is getting a "get-by" instrument for a while and taking a hit on it in only a year or two. "Messing around" is also not playing in person the bass that you are going to buy. How does it feel, sound, etc. Happy hunting!
 
#5
Both are reputable companies with a great product. I think you would do well with either bass. Agreed with Steve. Pick the one that makes you want to play. Both of them will be terrific basses to start on! I wouldn't worry about hybrid over laminated(ply). Pick the bass that suits you best.
 
#6
Violen said:
If you can afford the upton, go for it. You'll love the sound of the carved top.
Click to expand...

The Shen has the carved top. Sounds like you are basing your decision on looks. You need a pro to try out both and give you his/her opinion and you need to listen and decide which sounds best to you. If you're not able to do that, why spend the extra money on the ply when you can have a quality hybrid? But, you're comparing apples to oranges here. Why these two basses? You need to know why you would want a ply vs. a hybrid. Make sure you read the newbie links.
 
#7
Steve Swan said:
..."Messing around" is also not playing in person the bass that you are going to buy.
Click to expand...

There's no doubt that it is always best to play the bass you are going to buy. This becomes more crucial as the price-point increases. IMO, there are precious few quality instruments at the lower price points. Especially at the entry-level, one can do very well buying based on reputation. For example, we often recommend that newbies here buy Shens sight unseen and sound unheard. So, IMO, it is not true that it is "messing around" if you don't play the bass you're going to buy. It's sub-optimal to be sure, but it's sometimes a reasonable approach.

Eric Hochberg said:
The Shen has the carved top. Sounds like you are basing your decision on looks. You need a pro to try out both and give you his/her opinion and you need to listen and decide which sounds best to you. If you're not able to do that, why spend the extra money on the ply when you can have a quality hybrid?
Click to expand...

I generally agree with this advice. I also believe in the benefits and desirability of a carved top. All other things being equal, go for the carved top. Ah, but there's the rub! In this case, all other things are not nearly equal. I've played both of those basses. In terms of ergonomics and design (neck profile, overstand, fingerboard projection, ease of play, build-quality), I'd take the Upton. Yes, but the Shen has a carved top. No, it's not an easy choice and not one that can be made via the internet. The OP has to weight the factors and decide for him/herself, preferably via hands-on experience. The choice I might make or that anyone else here might make may not be the right one for the OP. cara222, where do you live?
 
#9
Personally, having played for a while now and having owned a fully carved, vintage instrument for a decade...assuming set up and condition of these two instruments are similar...

Choosing between these two particular instruments....

I'd buy the one I liked the best. I would not get caught up in materials used or the brand.

If you're playing each, be aware that the strings can change the character of each significantly.
 
#10
The bass plays so many styles of music and in so many venues. I play outside a lot and I'm in Texas. Even if the day comes when I find a handsome carved, I will still keep my homely ply. The ply has a very good sound and is a good reliable workhorse that doesn't need pampering. Next, which feels better to your hands? All bass necks are not alike and how it fits your hand becomes important when you realize you have choices.
 
#11
TroyK said:
Personally, having played for a while now and having owned a fully carved, vintage instrument for a decade...assuming set up and condition of these two instruments are similar...

Choosing between these two particular instruments....

I'd buy the one I liked the best. I would not get caught up in materials used or the brand.

If you're playing each, be aware that the strings can change the character of each significantly.
Click to expand...

+1. Good advice!
 
#12
Eric Hochberg said:
Can you give us a comparison of sound arco and pizz? Does the ply have the thump bluegrass players like? Is the hybrid better under the bow, etc?
Click to expand...

I have found that there are many laminate (ply) basses that definitely have the "thump" that bluegrassers are looking for. I know a lot of bluegrass bass players and most of them have fully laminated basses. I also know a few (far less) who own hybrids, and even fewer who use a fully carved bass. I like the hybrids better for bluegrass as they (quality of materials, size, craftsmanship etc. being equal) are more responsive and tend to have more power.

That being said... a ply bass will tolerate more abuse than something with a solid top. At bluegrass festivals (at least in New England) severe temperature and humidity fluctuations can occur over the course of a day. Wood moves as its humidity levels and temp change and a solid top (hybrid) is more likely to crack as well as pull the instrument out of tune. People do use hybrids at these things and I think they are usually OK, but plywood is ideal as far as ruggedness. This is of course does not mean that one should abuse any bass, even a laminate!

This all being said... I was at Upton in Stonington, CT last weekend and played a laminate bass that was excellent and would serve all my bluegrass needs very well! I have limited experience with Upton but I would highly recommend them.
 
#15
Recently I myself bought my first bass. I tested a lot of basses up to 30k dollars nicely careved basses. I did A/B them against a lent Christopher laminated bass. From the carved basses I missed the massive "thump" sound I got from the the Chrissy.
Finally I thought: "Hey, why spend a lot of money for hand made fully carved German basses".
So closed in to the Christopher basses:
I A/B/C tested fully carved, hybrid, laminated basses - all in reach in terms of budget.
The winner was the laminated bass. Very good "thump" and volumen and the mids that cut perfectly through the jazz combo sound.
So sometimes a laminated bass is just fine and the best choice.
I solemn play Jazz pizz. Using the bow heavily would have had impact as the response of a fully carved bass to bowing is really ahead of a laminated.

Lot's of words, but I'd liked yust to say:

Hybrid or fully carved is not always the best choice.
Depends on use case and .... most important ... on your ears and feel with the bass.
 

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