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Double Bass Help for a noob rockabilly

barroso

barroso

Aug 16, 2000
3,846
106
51
Italia
www.danguitars.com
#1
Hi guys,

i play the electric bass in a touring rock'n roll rockabilly power trio.

I would love to start to play the double bass, the upright.... the doghouse.

Sincerely i have a GAS for King double bass, but i am not able to play at this stage so i would consider a cheaper bass.

which models and maker to look for?
i live in italy so eurpoean or euro available makers are welcome.

remember that i will use the beast for a rockabilly band. no jazz. no classical. just old school rock. so i think i would need a reliable one.

thanks a lot
 
#2
The King would be a great choice; they look boss too! Stay away from the cheap chinese basses, it's not worth the headache. I don't know of any decent, inexpensive European basses, and have no idea how much it would be to ship one from US to Italy.

The SlapKing is pretty affordable, if the shipping doesn't kill you.

Check out Norton, and Upton as well, they know what rockabilly guys want.

No substitute for a proper upright when playing rockabilly!
 
#4
Definitely check out Upton bass.
They will hook you up with great advice.

However, shipping from CT to Italy....?

Also, look at Bob Gollihur's site.

I really like my Engelhardt ES-9 Swingmaster and it seems there are a great number to rockabilly slappers who use the Swingmaster.

www.rockabillybass.com also has advice.

I don't play rockabilly really...I just started on DB too.
 
#9
My personal advice is several fold:
1) If you can't afford a King Slapking, you can't afford an upright. Stay away from cheap unplayable junk
2) Stay away from King. Search this board for posts by me in the repair section, I won't go thru all that again.
3) Read a lot here, then talk to Brent Norton, The Upton guys, or any of the other *reputable guys here* who can lay a killer setup on a reasonably priced instrument. Don't buy a cheap piece of junk and expect a setup to make it a long lasting playable instrument that you can beat up and down the road in a rockabilly outfit. Also, don't expect to be able to "surf" anything that would be called a real instrument.
4) DO IT! Playing upright is challenging, fun, and rewarding in ways that electric isn't. Don't expect to buy one and take it right on stage, there will be an "acclimation and adjustment period required."
 
#13
You mean like...in her band...???...;)

For some "rockabilly instruction," you might look for these two videos:
The Ungentle art vidoe:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Lee Rocker's video:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
 
#20
barroso said:
thanks a lot for posting guys. for surre I'll do it. maybe it will take some times since i have to collect money. the shipping thru the ocean from usa to italy is really high.

my quest is just started...
Click to expand...

Barroso, if you really want a King bass you should contact Brinks Musik in Sweden. They are Kings' European distributor. Ask King about their contact info.
 

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