Double Bass luxury problems

[drurb]

One thing is sure. I'm ready for something else.

A key statement.

 

[Jason Sypher]

Keeping both basses is absolutely impossible. Reality check!

 

[shadygrove]

... By the way, I hope to hear you play some time, the way you describe yourself sounds extremely interesting.

Here you go Ken...

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That's great stuff Jason! I would do well to play the tunes you do arco on my fiddle with that rhythm and drive and can only imagine what it takes to do it on DB. Hopefully by the time I approach your abilities, assuming I even have that potential, I'll have my own style. For now I'm getting a lot of inspiration from yours.

 

[Jason Sypher]

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Hope this works....unadorned, unedited (obviously), cheap usb mic direct....

 

[Jake deVilliers]

Man, that's a great sounding bass Jason - kinda sounds like your 'voice' to me...

 

[Ken McKay]

Very interesting playing Jason, I enjoyed it. That is what I was expecting from your description.

Your bass sounds nice and dark and the response is fast as your playing. Keep up the good work.

 

[Ken McKay]

I put Green on my ipod, thanks.

 

[Jason Sypher]

Took the bass to a rehearsal for a one-off gig of early jazz and blues, Blind Lemon Jefferson, Big Bill Broonzy etc. I was really curious to see how it would work in that setting, it's such a sophisticated little thing. That music really works best with a kind of plunky-staccato-deadish kind of note mixed with percussive slaps and jugstyle bowing, not exactly what the maker had in mind when carving the top I'm sure. But you know, it worked great. I had never met any of the players before and, after one tune said, "That it the best sounding bass I have ever heard, it's so clear!" It was nice to see it perform well in such a setting. I still have to go visit Ken and see his basses but his stable has some tough competition in this little Milanese beauty.

 

[Jason Sypher]

I put Green on my ipod, thanks.

It's actually called "The Green Groves of Erin". My version is loosely based on the Bothy Band recording "1975". Edgar, Yo Yo and Mark O'Conner also did a pristine version on Appalachian Journey with a more classical bent.

 

[BenderR]

As a rule I don't get too hung up over resale potential . . . I buy to play, not to resell. This only works, of course, when you buy an instrument that suits you well. The verbiage you use to describe this bass would lead me to conclude that you are seriously in "like" with the instrument and moving ahead with the relationship is probably not a bad idea. You've had it on a gig or two which is a good thing, you know it in the heat of battle and not the idealized environment of home playing. If this suits your tastes & needs and if you like it as much as your words would suggest, why not.

This brings to mind Paul Warburton and his Bohmann. If I ever saw Paul with another bass I'd go outside and watch the skies for flying pigs. Resale is not his concern. Will this bass be the same for you? If so, buy it post haste, if not keep your Yankee until the perfect bass comes along. IMO YMMV

 

[Jason Sypher]

I agree. If you love the instrument. And you buy it at a fair price. You're gonna be alright.

 

[Jason Sypher]

So I returned the Milanese which was strange. It already feels like my bass. Now it's a matter of selling my bass which will sell itself. A waiting game that hopefully won't last too long. I will head out to see what Ken has.

 

[Uncletoad]

I will head out to see what Ken has.

Good luck. Make sure you get a few words in edgewise.

 

[oscar pettiford]

Jason , have you checked out this bass , it was advertised on this site once before , . Looks like it may be a good bass , and the price is very attractive .
its the bass at the very top , described as being Italian/English, Italian style

oscar

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[tingj]

I tried this bass. It is at Gage's in NYC. I was not impressed. Furthermore, I do not think it is either Italian or English (and neither did the staff at Gage).

 

[Jason Sypher]

I did try the bass. Not a bad instrument for the money, just not for me.

 

[oscar pettiford]

I tried this bass. It is at Gage's in NYC. I was not impressed. Furthermore, I do not think it is either Italian or English (and neither did the staff at Gage).

( sorry Jason , don't want to derail your thread)

tingj , what do you think the bass is ? what do you base your opinion on ?

likewise , what is the staff at Gage's opinion of the origin of the bass ?

looks like a very nice bass to me

oscar

 

[tingj]

I would not even hazard a guess as to its origin. But think about it -- an Italian (or even English) instrument of that age for that price? If it sounds too good to be true...

 

[AndreaVeneziani]

Oh, c'mon. Now ya gotta tell us what it is.

" A very small Italian hunny. It is a beautiful little odd shaped dark bass with a huge sound for it's size."

The Puolotti? or the Nepolitan w/ the 17 & 3/4 " upper bouts,...not the small, dark, Testore School?

I've played a lot in his inventory. We could compared notes.



..what he said. Those little Italians are sweet, but orchestra guys usually go for basses atleast a bit larger.

I understand about chunky Yankee basses and their dimensions.

My Prescott has very similar measurements (except the upper bouts are 20+" instead of 21+") to your Yankee w/ a somewhat similar shape.
My Prescott is one of the smaller examples out there, but sometimes I think it's deeep ribs (actually a bit over 9") make it feel a little chunkier to play than my German shop bass. Eventhough they have the same string length I probably can pull off pyrotechnics a bit easier on the German, but I'm just addicted to 'sound' of my Yankee and I'm not sure a smaller bass could do that in the same way.

OTOH some of those little Italians are pretty darn amazing.

....paging Dr. Phil, how 'bout a gruff, spot on, one line pearl of wisdom about now?...2,3,4..

Is this the Testore School you tried at Kolstein? I tried it today and I liked it. Curious to know what's your thoughts about that bass if is the same.

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[Steve Swan]

Buy the one that gives you the musical voice that you need. Unless you have to rob a bank to pay for it, don't give this one a second thought. Just get and grow into it. Happy playing!