• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Double Bass Klaus Mueller bass question

JoeyJazzMan

JoeyJazzMan

Jan 15, 2002
14
12
Marietta, GA
www.youtube.com
#1
First off let me start by saying yes I have only just begun my journey into the double bass world. I honestly tried to read the "New to double bass thread" but most of the links are broken and not working any longer. I was looking at a used Klaus Mueller Model 720F bass a local shop had for sale for a little under $1,000 us dollars. I did play it the best I could, my band wants to incorporate a little psychobilly into our set. Not for a while as I know I have a lot to learn. I was just curious if any of you seasoned folks knew of this company/model etc. I can't seemed to get a lot of info on it online. As far as tips and tricks go or learning I will keep researching on my own etc. I am more curious if this particular model is a good choice for a first upright bass and it would fair well for psychobilly/rockabilly? It did feel a bit uncomfortable but I really don't know what I am doing yet so I need to take that into account. I was also looking at the Silver Creek series but they seemed to be backordered everywhere. I really appreciate the help and apologies if this has been asked before I really tried to research first before asking here.
Thank you!
 
#4
Kudos to you for admitting that you don't know much! That's a good quality to start with.

The advertising claims I was able to find indicate that it's a hybrid construction, meaning a carved top with laminate back and sides. $1000 is a low price for such an instrument, but of course the devil is in the details, and the low price is itself a caution. The wood could be good or it could be green. Construction could be competent, or not. There's a high probability that the bass needs a setup and suitable strings, so the cost to make it playable will exceed what you pay to possess it.

My advice is to find someone who knows about double basses and ask him/her to accompany you to the store. That shouldn't be impossible given your location in Marietta, GA. Consider paying a pro player or bass teacher for his/her time for this.

And budget for a few lessons!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Sam Reese, Contrabenjista and Ed S
#5
Like Andy says, $1k from a reputable shop is really quite low. I suspect most folk would say it is quite challenging to get anything that is playable for that price (tho IMO, you can get some decent plys for around a grand.)

If it is at all playable, for that price it might be a good entry for you for psycho/rockabilly. To keep costs down, you could toss a set of Dirty Guts on it for slapping. If it is super heavy, or at all unstable, you might be better off buying a cheap ply instead - for your needs.

Oh yeah - take and post pics. We LOVE pics! ;)
 
#6
Oh yeah I don't know anything about the double bass, to be honest I never thought I'd ever find myself in these forums. Double Basses have always scared me a little and in my mind they're for bassists who actually know what they're doing. Not like me who's been faking it in rock bands since the mid 80s lol However after playing this one and watching some YouTube tutorials (just to start I am sure it is better to have a real instructor, I'll get there), I do know a little tiny bit more today than I did a couple of weeks ago. I still have an incredibly big hill to climb. Thank you for the reply.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Keith Rawlings and AGCurry
#7
This is me with it at the store. I know I am not holding it correctly at least I don't think I am lol I was actually proud of myself for just making sounds on the thing lol I just wanted to get a quick height/bass photo
 

Attachments

  • 20251124_115724.jpg
    20251124_115724.jpg
    595.1 KB · Views: 37
#8
From the photo, it looks like a pretty standard plywood bass. Check the neck joint—both where it meets the body and where it transitions into the scroll—for any signs of cracks or damage. Use a small mirror and a flashlight to look inside the body and see if anything appears to be separating from the interior surfaces. If everything seems intact, it might just need a proper setup. Or not.
 
#9
Well, it definitely looks like a legitimate BSO! :D Looks ply, instead of carved. Obviously a low end beginner model, as evidenced by the FB tape.

I'll likely get slapped down quickly, but if you are mainly interested in psycho/rockabilly w/ a bar band, I'm not sure how much you need lessons per se. You could have a lot of fun, and inject a lot of energy into your set, simply using a claw/baseball LH grip. You'll mostly need to work on your right hand plucking and slapping. Given what I suspect your needs are, I think you could get along quite well with on-line resources. I don't think you need to buy yourself a bow and dive into Simandl...

You are gonna need a pickup/mic. And realize that, if you buy it and decide you don't love it, you'll have this big old piece of furniture lying around which won't exactly be a quick resale...

What felt "uncomfortable" about it? Perhaps the greatest difference you'll perceive is the neck profile. Does it feel narrow and V-shaped, or wide and U-shaed?

What kind of store? Is it on consignment? Like Andy said, bring someone who plays along with you to check it out. And if you like it, offer them $800 cash.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Contrabenjista and AGCurry
#12
What I found on-line also says "hybrid". In person with the bass, look for wood grain on the edge of the top or in the F-Holes, though the later may have been dyed black. A solid top is preferable, but for what you're planning, there's nothing wrong with a good laminate.

It's a better deal as a hybrid, though. Not a terrible deal (assume everything else is okay) if it's laminated, but a much better deal if it's in-fact hybrid.
 
#13
Klaus Mueller? Never heard of him!

JJM, your pic does contain one bit of useful info: The tuners on that bass are what I like to call "Soviet-era" gears that were used on Czech basses in the 70s, 80s and 90s. These basses were marketed under many names: Lidl, Strunal, Dvorak, Schoenbach, and probably a couple more...

If the tuners are original, and it is a former Czech republic bass, $1k isn't a bad deal. As Troy mentions, if it's actually a carved top it's a much better deal. That factory had a way of rounding off the tops on some hybrid basses, so that there isn't an overhang. To see if it's a solid top, look at an edge (where the top and sides meet), and you should be able to see the top grain "fold over" towards the side.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Fretless55
#14
TroyK said:
... A solid top is preferable, but for what you're planning, there's nothing wrong with a good laminate. ...
Click to expand...
I was thinking about this. Not sure I have a strong opinion one way or another, but I wondered if a cheap hybrid is necessarily better - especially for pizz rockabilly, than a cheap ply? Was just wondering if a poorly carved top might be unnecessarily heavy and might not vibrate as one might expect in a moderately or upper priced carved top.
 
#15
I don't have the experience that I would need with dozens of each to say, but if you assume equal quality and no unaddressed problems at the same price, I would think solid is always better, especially learning to play. You want to hear what can be heard when you're practicing, even if you're going through distortion and wah on a gig.
 
  • Like
Reactions: AGCurry
#16
Ed S said:
I was thinking about this. Not sure I have a strong opinion one way or another, but I wondered if a cheap hybrid is necessarily better - especially for pizz rockabilly, than a cheap ply? Was just wondering if a poorly carved top might be unnecessarily heavy and might not vibrate as one might expect in a moderately or upper priced carved top.
Click to expand...

I was thinking the same thing. You might have more trouble with feedback, and it'll be a it less durable. But not so much that, if everything else is in order, you would want to flip it right away for something else.
 
#17
A legitimate plywood bass in good condition would be a bargain at 1000 bucks.

I remember Klaus Mueller, because my kids went through the typical progression of student instruments (violins and cellos) and Klaus Mueller was one of the brands sold by places like Shar and Southwest Strings -- long time reputable online dealers who were a step above the fly-by-night Amazon retailers and general music stores. That's not much of an endorsement, except that it's not a complete unknown. Now, the "brands" of basses don't indicate what factory they came from, but merely who buys and imports them into the US. That can change over time.

No bass is an OK bass if it's in bad condition because any major repair could cost more than the initial investment.

The fingerboard tapes suggest a student instrument. That's OK. Again, based on observation, student instruments tend to lead relatively gentle lives, transported by adults to lessons and recitals, and practiced at home -- or not. ;) It's not uncommon for a student to have a school bass at school and a rented bass at home. At the entry level, age plus intactness would be a good sign. Anything you could do to verify the condition of the neck joint and neck heel would be beneficial. A super high "action" -- more than say 10 mm at the end of the fingerboard, might be a sign of a weak and gradually deforming top -- at least demanding more detailed inspection.

Getting a luthier, teacher, or at least a good bassist to look at it would be worth the added hassle.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Lee Moses
#18
wow these replies are great, thanks! I definitely have some homework to do. I am now looking into finances in case I decide to pull the trigger, however my thought process is if it sells before I am able to buy it wasn't meant for me. I am taking my time researching, starting with you guys. I may have found a luthier nearby so I am going to ask if they'll come see it with me which is my next step. It will be weird playing bass upright without frets but I am up for the challenge! lol Thank you again for all the information!!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Lee Moses and AGCurry
#19
Some of the older (90s, early 2000s) Klaus Mueller basses were made in Korea (I know, I dealt with the factory; long story in other threads); the newer models are a mix of Chinese and Romanian instruments (depending on the price and model number). My guess is that this is one of the older Korean one (by the finish); if it's lasted this long it's a tank and will be fine for what you want.Go for it, get it set up right with some decent strings and good bridge height etc (so you don't destroy your hands and wrists in the first few months) and have fun. Welcome to the party!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Fretless55, Lee Moses, Contrabenjista and 2 others
#20
I agree.
I had a Strunal 5/35 hybrid before upgrading to another hybrid.
The tuners are a dead giveaway. I really enjoyed and learned a lot in the time I had it.
With the current situation and with actual availability with entry level DBs , I’d grab the bird in hand to start your flight.
Set up is a must, but you could do a lot worse in that price point.

(Don’t let the Romberg bevel bother you, I never really noticed when I had mine)
 
Last edited:

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back