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Double Bass How Many Basses...

rknea

rknea

Jan 16, 2007
258
232
Nampa, Idaho
#1
I've been working on my UB skills for almost 10 years now. I started on a Shen SB-80 and got tired of lugging it up and down the stairs in my house, so I sold it and bought a NS CR5M. I had that 2 years, moved into a one level house so I sold the CR5M and purchased a Krutz 200 Hybrid. I played that for 2 years until I had the opportunity to play a '39 Kay and I bought the Kay, sold the Krutz. The thin neck was attractive at the start but ultimately started bothering my left hand, so now, 2 years later, I picked up a King Mortone. I finally have it dialed in and like it a lot, although the longer scale is taking a bit to get used to.

So...how many basses did it take you to find the "right one"?
 
#3
rknea said:
So...how many basses did it take you to find the "right one"?
Click to expand...

I'm not sure ... will I know when I find it?

From 1975 to the present, I've had ten basses. Two of them (very cheap ones) I dumped immediately; each of the others had *something* to recommend it.

Stepping into arco playing really changed the qualities I desire in a bass - and it took me a while to figure that out - so there was some churning.

Out of the three basses (all fully carved) I own now, the cheapest one, a Krutz 300, is the keeper ... go figure. But I'll always be interested in checking other instruments out.
 
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#4
rknea said:
I've been working on my UB skills for almost 10 years now. I started on a Shen SB-80 and got tired of lugging it up and down the stairs in my house, so I sold it and bought a NS CR5M. I had that 2 years, moved into a one level house so I sold the CR5M and purchased a Krutz 200 Hybrid. I played that for 2 years until I had the opportunity to play a '39 Kay and I bought the Kay, sold the Krutz. The thin neck was attractive at the start but ultimately started bothering my left hand, so now, 2 years later, I picked up a King Mortone. I finally have it dialed in and like it a lot, although the longer scale is taking a bit to get used to.

So...how many basses did it take you to find the "right one"?
Click to expand...

Adding a thicker fingerboard or wedge will help the Kay. My 1940 Kay is the keeper.

I've had at least eight basses over the last fifteen years and haven't as much found the 'right' one as realized that my tastes have changed, and know that there are a lot of good basses to choose from.
 
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#5
Greg Clinkingbeard said:
Adding a thicker fingerboard or wedge will help the Kay. My 1940 Kay is the keeper.

I've had at least eight basses over the last fifteen years and haven't as much found the 'right' one as realized that my tastes have changed, and know that there are a lot of good basses to choose from.
Click to expand...

I love my Kay and am really torn in selling it, but I need to replenish the savings I used for the King. I think my ultimate bass would be a La Scala or an Upton Bohemian Hybrid.
 
#6
1st bass - Blonde Kay (came with iron tripod bridge which horrified my teacher who refused giving me lessons until I got a traditional wooden bridge cut for it). Bought for $150 sold for $150 three years later).

2nd bass- Plywood Lewis, not a great bass but got me through college (sold 6-7 years after acquiring).

3rd bass - Horst Grunert Lott model, commissioned in 1985. Will never let go of that one.

4th bass - 2010 Shen Gemunder 7/8s flat back willow. Used as a general backup for when the Grunert's in the shop or when I need to leave a bass for multiple nights in a pit or hall. Also use it at school when I get pissed at the school plywood basses.
 
#7
I kept my college bass for over 30 years. I kind of skipped a few steps this past fall and bought a 170 yr old Tyrol that has incredible tone. Love the sound and it could be my last but.... I am thinking of trading my old college bass for a hybrid or something for outdoor gigs. Prob some sort of travel bass. Can't see ever wanting anything else.

So I guess 2 or 3 for me. Who knows what life will bring my way though.
 
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#9
The real ones after testing the waters shortly with 2 messed up DB`s and 1 cheapo EUB are 1) Anton Schroetter hybrid rent to own 2) Gewa fully carved - - - - Shortly after got lucky and got my Jay Haide, which had been my dream bass. I`ve had a bit of problems with it`s size, it`s big and I am not, but I`ve also learned to work around that. I`ll see no other reason than the size to ever move on, it`s a lot of bass for me for the rest of my life.
 
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#10
One borrowed, one EUB, one rented, then a Chinese plywood bass that was returned and replaced for a fault (so two of the same model in succession).
Then an old German bass that turned out to need a little more work than I could put in (sold on as-is with full disclosure), then the old German bass that I have now.
So that would be three double basses actually owned before my current one.
 
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#11
I started with one that a friend of a friend let me have for a couple of month. When he ordered it back (to soon, to soon) I had to get my own, a not very fancy carved 4/4 (the bigger the better, I thought) that 15 years ago I stringed with Mittels (that are now sadly breaking apart one by one) and in all that time had a jumpy learning curve teaching me that all the unhappiness-producing-obstacles encountered were to be found with me, not the instrument.
I still do believe that it is me who has to adapt to the instrument, not the other way around.
 
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#13
I think, 4? I started on an old Kay C-1, because it was all my folks could afford. I quit after college for a year or two before getting caught up again. I sold the Kay and bought a Calin Wultur, and a few years later sold that and bought my Arvi. I still have the Arvi (it's for sale) but a year ago I had Seth Kimmel make me a bass.

I also have a plywood Shen, which is a fun bass to play even if it sounds a little dead.
 
#18
Took a while, but Grace is a keeper:

IMG_4052.JPG
 
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#19
I'm on my 2d. Thumped an Englehardt for about 10 years, just recently bought an Upton hybrid. Given my level of playing and expectations, it is hard to imagine I'll ever get to a point where I think I can/want to do something this bass can't do for me.
 
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#20
2, sort of? My first bass was a 50s Kay M-1, I ended up selling that after I bought a Mittenwald factory bass from the mid 20s. I still like it and I still own it, but I commissioned an instrument from Jed Kriegel and have been playing it pretty much exclusively since March of 2019 when I took possession. It has a removable neck, so when I've disassembled it for travel, I'll drag the German bass out of the case, I still enjoy playing it and it sounds good. Just not as good as the Kriegel.
I regretted selling the Kay, so it's unlikely I'll sell this bass. I've had some vicarious fun (and guest tickets!) loaning it to a few cats who've come through (Eric Revis, Malik McLaurine, and was gonna loan it to Luke Sellick, but his show got Covid Cancelled) when they're doing the bass du jour thing in the area.

oh, right, pictures or it didn't happen...
60336095_10215888022852484_3004040726871801856_n.jpg
IMG_20191009_113930379.jpg
IMG_20191009_114015844.jpg
 
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