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Double Bass Help another newbie...

#21
"....when you begin your first three octave scale excercise with the bow..."

well I'm not quite up to three octaves but I am doing two. And one string octave exercises. My teacher is a good task master. Even working through Simandl to build up the sight reading when all I want to do is walk through the changes in the Real Book.

But your point is well taken. Thank you for your input. I admitted that I'm a slave to fashion and it clouds my judgement at times.

Mark
 
#24
It would be great if one could walk down a line of a dozen basses, blindfolded, and just play them and listen to them. Would one choose the most expensive? Perhaps, perhaps not, but it would certainly have nothing to do with how it looked. I'd love to try it sometime.

gomez
 
#25
I actually did this a few years ago at Gage's (but without the blindfold as, unlike Ken Smith, I cannot tell one used bass from another without playing it). As Sam sat patiently in an office, I tried every bass on the second floor where (so I understand) the under $10K basses are. I ended up bidding on a beat up old American Standard ply with gouges and pockmarks like rats had been eating it.
 
#26
Hey all;

Hate to bump my own thread but need to bounce another choice off the forum. The final choice seems to be between a Shen ply and a Hungarian Flatback carved. Obviously big difference in price. Both here at Pete's Bass Shop in Portland. Pete does such great set ups, he has the ply sounding and playing as good as the hybrid I played in Seattle (at least to my newbie ears and fingers). But he shows me this Hungarian Carved and with my "good guy discount" it still blows the budget but puts it in the realm of possibility (sorry about that inheritance, kids).

Its got me thinking this could be in the "cry once" zone. It could be the last bass I buy. But I worry that's its more than I need. I'm strictly a Jazz thumper that does an occational bluegrass jam so I don't know that I would reap the benifits of a carved bass.

I searched the threads for "Hungarian basses" and only got two hits. It doesn't have a brand. The says "Imported for Pete's Bass Shop."

Thoughts? Thanks,

Mark
 
#27
I buy instruments for what they do to me as a player. If I'm moved, emotionally or spiritually, if my muse is connected to it and can't put it down, I figure out how to find the money and bring it home.

When I "think" about buying something like that then I compromise or get it screwed up.

Last summer I bought a NS Cleveland from Nnick in Cincinnati. I wasn't planning on buying a bass but when I played it I felt a very strong attraction immediately. I had to find the money to take it home.

When the student is ready the teacher appears. When the musician is ready the instrument appears.
 
#30
jmain said:
My Upton Hawkes just appeared a couple hours ago on the FedEx truck here at work. I brought it home, but had to come back to work. I'll get to set her up tonight. :hyper:
Click to expand...

I know exactly how you feel. I couldn't wait to get her ready to play. I think I did it in less than 20min, but spent the next 2days re-tuning out those Obligatos.

What strings did you order? I have since put some LaBella black tapes on just to try a steel string and the Hawkes likes them...

Best of luck & have a blast!

gomez
 
#31
gomez hacienda said:
I know exactly how you feel. I couldn't wait to get her ready to play. I think I did it in less than 20min, but spent the next 2days re-tuning out those Obligatos.

What strings did you order? I have since put some LaBella black tapes on just to try a steel string and the Hawkes likes them...

Best of luck & have a blast!

gomez
Click to expand...
I ordered the Hawkes with Dominants. Jack shipped it out on Tuesday and it got here today (Thursday) via FedEx with no issues. I had to get back to work and I didn't want to rush to tune up the strings since I have read through the thread about the Dominants breaking; so I'm going to set it up when I get home in a few. (I was going to stay late, until the DB arrived...I'll be going home very shortly!)

I had new Obligatos on a loaner and it did take a couple days for the strings to stretch. Hopefully the Dominants won't take as long and will sound good on the Hawkes. My girl is coming into town later on tonight, so it's gonna be tough to keep my hands off of her...:eyebrow:
...the Hawkes that is. :p It must be love...talking about the girlfriend now...the one flying in on the plane...ah, nevermind:rolleyes: I gotta go.:hyper:
 
#33
Hey all;

Just thought I'd wrap up this thread with the results.

My quest for a bass that looks like a swingmaster and sounds and plays like a Shen has resulted in ..... a blonde Shen. Apparently they are new offerings and I'm getting one of the first ones over. Thanks to John Sprague for showing me this.

I placed an order with Pete's Bass Shop in Portland. I'll post pics when it comes in.

Thanks to all for your input.

Mark
 
#39
mpoppitt said:
I saw that blonde Shen at Norton's site, and have been lusting for it since.
Click to expand...

Well, I see by your profile, mpoppitt, that you already have an SB100. Pete was telling me the only difference between an SB90 and a SB100 (besides the color) was the perfing is painted on the 90 and inlaid on the 100. So I'm trading groovey color for the inlay. Don't know which is more important. ;o} I played both a SB80 and a 100 and couldn't tell a measurable difference so I'm pretty confident my 90 will be to my liking.

Either way, I think both of us are going to have a pretty great bass.
 

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