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Double Bass Help (advice)

L

lilleece

May 22, 2006
12
0
Indpls,IN
#1
Ok so I am currently a Senior in High School about to go to Music School. There is just one problem my bass that I currently own sucks! BAD!. I got a scholarship to Music School, but right now my parents really can't afford a 5,000 dollar bass. I've spoken with my private lesson teacher and he still reccomends getting a new bass. What can I do in the mean time until I can get a new bass? :hmm:. I've known other students who other professional bassists have allowed them to "borrow" their bass, but I dont know of anyone who would be that generous. HELP!
 
#3
lilleece said:
Ok so I am currently a Senior in High School about to go to Music School. There is just one problem my bass that I currently own sucks! BAD!. I got a scholarship to Music School, but right now my parents really can't afford a 5,000 dollar bass. I've spoken with my private lesson teacher and he still reccomends getting a new bass. What can I do in the mean time until I can get a new bass? :hmm:. I've known other students who other professional bassists have allowed them to "borrow" their bass, but I dont know of anyone who would be that generous. HELP!
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Well, congrats on the scholarship! Where are you located? For what type of music will you primarily need the bass? Classical?

What bass do you currently own? Does it "suck" as a result of poor construction, poor setup, poor quality, all of the above? I'll assume your teacher knows about what he/she is talking and that you do need a new bass. It would help to know a bit more about from what he/she thinks you need to step up. I'll assume further that the bass you have is not something like a fine quality hybrid.

Unless you are really lucky, it doesn't seem likely that you'll be able to borrow a bass for all the hours you will need one. One option is to rent a bass with the option to buy. Depending on where you live, you might just be able to pull this off.

Another option is to buy something like a very high-quality laminate (think New Standards, Uptons, Shens, etc.) or a high-quality hybrid (same list as above plus more). These will not run as high as $5000. They are anywhere from about $1800 to $3000+.

If you were to buy any of those instruments, they would hold their value such that you could use them to trade up later. Again, please give more details. Feel free to PM me.
 
#4
Currently I live in Indiana and I plan to go to college in Kentucky. The bass that I currently have was bought on a rent-to own basis from a Local Music Store. It cost about 2 grand. It was basically a rip-off but suited my needs when I was in High School. Now that I am going to college my teacher feels that I need a new instrument which I agree with. He says that I basically need a new bridge because the feet aren't aligned correctly, a new fingerboard because its not carved correctly? and he said my instrument doesn't allow me to produce a nice even tone..something about the wood. It would help to find a good rent-to-own place with high quality bases but I can't find one!
 
#7
Well considering the cost of a new bass and the fact that you can't find a decent seller in your area you would have to make the trip anyway. Why not get the phone # of one of these luithers ask them about prices and set a day aside to make the trip. If you're going to music school (four years of study for a career with little opportunity) then a 5 hour drive to get your bass in shape should seem reasonable.
 
#8
mike da mook said:
Well considering the cost of a new bass and the fact that you can't find a decent seller in your area you would have to make the trip anyway. Why not get the phone # of one of these luithers ask them about prices and set a day aside to make the trip. If you're going to music school (four years of study for a career with little opportunity) then a 5 hour drive to get your bass in shape should seem reasonable.
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My thoughts as well. In my first post, I was hinting at a potential setup on the current bass but I figured a knowledgable teacher would not have recommended a new bass unless that is what is truly needed.

Given the teacher's comment about tone, it sounds like he/she thinks the bass is just not good enough for music school. I have to agree that it makes sense to kill two birds with one stone by taking the bass to a qualified luthier where it and potential new ones can be evaluated.

It cannot be stressed enough that more-than-decent hybrids can be had for well less than $5000. Is $3000 do-able for your parents, lilleece?

Note in edit: Have you asked the folks at the school in Kentucky?
 
#10
lilleece said:
Ok so I am currently a Senior in High School about to go to Music School. I got a scholarship to Music School, but right now my parents really can't afford a 5,000 dollar bass.

Currently I live in Indiana and I plan to go to college in Kentucky.
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What school in KY will you be attending? Classical, Jazz, or both? Who will your teacher be? All of these things will affect your decision. Between Sid King and myself here at UofL, we know a lot of the bassists in the college scene here in KY in both the classical and jazz scenes. If you could supply a little more info, I'm sure we could help you out with your decision.
 
#11
Depending pn the nature and terms of your scholarship, you may be able to borrow funds necessary to buy a decent bass. You need to check with the bass professor and/or music department at the school you'll be attending and ask them for details. You should also consult with your prospective bass prof to see what he/she would deem an acceptable minium bass for you to buy. Finally, the school may have a bass or two that you will be allowed to use until you can save up enough to buy a decent one.

Meanwhile, get a job and save some $$. Good luck.
 
#12
Bass Barrister said:
Depending pn the nature and terms of your scholarship, you may be able to borrow funds necessary to buy a decent bass. You need to check with the bass professor and/or music department at the school you'll be attending and ask them for details. You should also consult with your prospective bass prof to see what he/she would deem an acceptable minium bass for you to buy. Finally, the school may have a bass or two that you will be allowed to use until you can save up enough to buy a decent one.

Meanwhile, get a job and save some $$. Good luck.
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Gee, seems like all of us great minds think alike! :)
 
#13
Two words my friend, STUDENT LOANS. You will not be the first student to use loan money for an instrument. You will easily be able to get enough of a loan for a decent bass, and you will not find lower interest rates. The no payments untill you graduate thing is nice too! Not to trash talk hybrid basses, but I would recomend you step up to something better. I bought a bass my Senior year of college, and six months later my Grad school prof. said "you really need to upgrade." This was a low end fully carved bass. A quality instrument is SO important for your growth as a player. I wish I would have learned this lesson earlier. Buying a lower quality bass only to have to upgrade a year or too later is a waste of time and money.

Good luck in school.

p.s. I don't know how far you are from Madison Wisconsin, but if you can get up there, check out Henry Boehm's shop. (608-204-9590) He can get you a great set-up for a great price, not to mention he does GREAT repair work if you want him to check out your current rig.
 
#14
Chris Rose said:
Two words my friend, STUDENT LOANS. You will not be the first student to use loan money for an instrument. You will easily be able to get enough of a loan for a decent bass, and you will not find lower interest rates. The no payments untill you graduate thing is nice too! Not to trash talk hybrid basses, but I would recomend you step up to something better. I bought a bass my Senior year of college, and six months later my Grad school prof. said "you really need to upgrade." This was a low end fully carved bass. A quality instrument is SO important for your growth as a player. I wish I would have learned this lesson earlier. Buying a lower quality bass only to have to upgrade a year or too later is a waste of time and money.

Good luck in school.

p.s. I don't know how far you are from Madison Wisconsin, but if you can get up there, check out Henry Boehm's shop. (608-204-9590) He can get you a great set-up for a great price, not to mention he does GREAT repair work if you want him to check out your current rig.
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No real disagreement with the sentiment but we still do not know what style of music for which the bass will be used. It is best to consult the profs at the school. My suggestion for a hybrid was, of course, based on budgetary concerns and I did include the potential to trade up. I definitely ascribe to the philosophy that one should have the best instrument one can-- especially when formal studies are being considered.

By the way, depending on the luthier and the the circumstances, buying a bass and trading up a year two later is not necessarily a waste of time and money. I bought a nice hybrid in 2002 and used it to trade up to a carved two years later. I got every last penny of my purchase price (and perhaps a few more) in value.
 
#17
that i need to consult my college professor, who in turn would be able to help me greatest, and will be the best assessor as to what I will need for college. Oh an sorry everyone I will be using this bass for classical purposes. I forgot to mention that!
 

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