I need info

what kind are top of the line? I'd say the best you can buy are going to be Italian, English, German... And old. But really there are lots of good basses out there. There's no way to tell. Generally older is better, but there are some instruments that aren't so old that are killer too. The best thing to do is to go play as many good instruments as you can and decide for yourself what you like. Check out what other people are playing too, in your local symphony and such. See if they'll let you check out their basses. If you're coming from bass guitar you might be surprised at what a truly good double bass costs. take a look around on the web abd get a general idea of whats out there before you go looking, if you are thinking of buying one.

 

FutureFame, i don't know what the top of the line double bass is. If you're just starting out as great as it would be to own a DB that costs $30kish?? [i remember seeing one listed @ $145k i forget where, my jaw dropped] you nor i will own one. I think some of the real double bassists will chime in as i am a doubler [BG & DB] that hasn't played for very long-i got 6 goin on 7 years on bass guitar, going on 3 years on double bass. That's all

 

I think that you are probably looking more for top of the line laminate or partially laminate. As Cam pointed out, it would be silly to spend more on a beginner bass than you would on a modest home.

Just starting out, I would advocate renting one if possible. Rent to buy is a good option.

I understand that Christopher makes some nice basses. You might also check out Englhardt, Kay and American Standard.

There are many wiser members on this forum then I, including some very informative luthiers, who can probably help you even more.

Oh, if you don't already have a teacher I will extend an important piece of advice that everyone just starting out hears here, get a teacher.

Happy bassing

 

"Top of the line" relegates you to the bottom third of what's out there. The phrase suggests that DB's are a commodity like razor blades or jeans, and they aren't. There are, for lack of a better word, "lines" of manufactured, or factory, basses which sounds like what you mean, going from total crap at under a thou to a very respectable Christopher plywood at $2K. You can keep on going to the New Standards which have alot of hand work in spite of being plywood, and you're over 4K.
If you want the top basses available, you need to forget the words "upright" and "top of the line" and have $50,000 in your checking account.

 

Congrats FutureFame, i plan on getting an Engelhardt ES1 in a few weeks. Enjoy it. That's all