Double Bass Mandarin Strings Bass

[greenjackson16]

Hi, been playing bass for a few years and then last year i turned in my cheap rental and bought a bass from a small company recommended by my orchestra director, Mandarin Strings. I've been happy with it. but I just want to know what other people think of it, and what people think of the company in general (if they've heard of it). Its a nice cherry color, not sure what wood but all hand carved except for the back. Lightest bass I've ever held but puts out alot of sound. It's definitely not a cheap chinese factory made bass, but not a top of the line one either. it was around $2000. I'll post a little more info tomorrow and maybe a pic or two, but here is the general stuff. Let me know if you know anything!

Jackson

 

[drurb]

Maybe you could explain a bit more, especially about the motivation for your post. You bought the bass and you're happy with it but you want to know what others think? Why? We get plenty of posts here from folks who already bought and then want reinforcement of their decision. Forgive me, but it's far wiser to tap the expertise here before you plunk down the $$$.

Sounds like it's a Chinese hybrid (carved top and ply back and ribs) from a company in Georgia that imports Chinese instruments. An internet search revealed:

Mandarin Strings Inc imports products from Changshu Changling Mustcal in Shanghai

The likelihood is that a hybrid of this type for $2000 does fall into the category of an inexpensive Chinese factory bass. What other basses did you play before making the purchase?

The bottom line is that, if you're happy with the instrument, little else about what might be said here matters.

 

[greenjackson16]

Well i suppose i would say that I do enjoy it but would like to know that I had made a good purchase, and that is the main purpose for this post.

At the store they showed me a video of them making the instruments by hand. Who knows how much of the bass was actually made by hand, but I ignored the fact that it was from China and wanted to believe that it was a handmade instrument and not a cheap factory bass.

I've played two basses before buying this one. I don't remember the names of either of them but my old rental was a Bulgarian or Romanian one that would often make a high pitched screeching noise in 3rd position upwards (but that could also be fault to the strings or my playing skills). It was all plywood. Then I played one at school that was all plywood and it was better than my rental. Now I play my home one and one at school that is a Romanian (?) Hybrid and it plays well.

I've Included a few pictures of the bass

here is the label
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
By xfish7 at 2012-02-01

here is the bass
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By xfish7 at 2012-02-01

here is the bridge/fingerboard. I'll explain why i have this picture. as you can see the strings are far to high off of the fingerboard. I measure and they sit about a 1/2 an inch above the board. The Company said that i can bring it back and they will cut it down for me for free. How much should I ask them to cut it?
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By xfish7 at 2012-02-01

My apologies for being all over the place. All in all i want to know if you think I got a good deal or not on this bass, and how I should approach the bridge problem. Thanks for the help, I can provide any more information you might need.

Jackson

 

[Rob Thompson]

Looks like a fine bass; your purchase is good if you like the instrument and don't have any problems with it. My impression is that "Mandarin strings" is some local person/shop who is importing instruments. You should ask them for more information on the instrument, they may be able to tell you if it is sold under other brand names.

Let me recommend that you get a professional setup rather than taking it back to wherever so they can cut down the bridge.

Where are you located? Someone can recommend a place to take it to fix the string height and tweak anything else that might need it.

 

[drurb]

The crow has given you excellent advice! I strongly suggest that you take it. Again, if you are happy with the bass, then that's really about all that matters right now.

It's hard to tell from the pictures but the projection of the fingerboard looks very flat. Again, it could just be the pictures. I'd be curious to know what the measure is of the overstand. That's the distance by which the neck "sticks out" over the body. See the red arrow in the pic below that I took from Invalid Link Removed. I'd like to know what that distance is in mm on your bass.

 

[Eric Hochberg]

No one here can tell from a few pictures whether you made a good purchase. If it sounds good, plays well and doesn't have any structural or component problems due to poor materials, green wood, white glue, etc., then you probably made a good purchase at that price if it is a solid top bass.

It looks like you have bridge adjusters. I would suggest removing enough wood to be able to get the strings down to 5-8mm (G-E) at the end of the fingerboard.

On the factory thing, relatively inexpensive basses such as yours are made in workshops by many workers doing specific work on each bass, maybe hand carving, maybe not, as in any assembly line. When we speak of handmade instruments, we are generally referring to one artisan carving the whole instrument.

 

[greenjackson16]

thank you all for the helpful information. I am located in Atlanta, if anyone has a recommendation on someone that could do a good setup for me let me know. How much do you think a setup is going to run me?

The overstand on my bass is 30mm

I might end up cutting down the bridge myself until I can afford a professional setup, depending on how much money it will cost. My dad used to do some woodworking so he probably has some tools that could do it.

 

[KUNGfuSHERIFF]

I reshaped a bridge that was too tall by using a chainsaw file to cut string grooves into the bridge crown until the bass played like I wanted it to. Using a belt sander I removed the extra wood (you want about half the string's diameter to sit in its' groove) and thinned out the top of the bridge (4mm or so, smoothly tapered into the center and the bridge feet). I am not a luthier or professional woodworker so please take that with a grain of salt.

 

[John Crosley]

From the Gollihur website luthier directory:


Georgia
AN IMPORTANT NOTE:, Those in this listing are not endorsed or recommended by us simply by their appearance here, so choose carefully.
Please understand that this directory is simply a listing of people and shops that have been gathered by or submitted to us. Anybody can claim to be a bass repairman regardless of his actual knowledge or experience. Getting references from other respected bass players may be the best way to check on the quality of work before making an appointment.

Alpharetta, North Fulton Strings - Mark Pullen, Luthier
770-664-4384 [email protected]
He is a violin maker, but does work at everything to do with the bass. Repair, setup, re-hair, and rebuilds.

Atlanta, Southeastern Strings LTD, Tom Thoreson
770-973-9845
Basses, repairs, accessories, bowmaker

Decatur, Emile Baran Instruments
404-377-3419
Repairs, rehairs, N. Amatus bows, carved and laminated basses

Roswell, Emile Baran Instruments
770-518-0046
Repairs, rehairs, N. Amatus bows, carved and laminated basses

Lilburn, Ronald Sachs Violins
770-931-2440, fax: 770-931-2427 Ronald Sachs Violins, Violas, Cellos, Basses - Atlanta Violin Shop [email protected]
Bass dealer, repairer, restorer

Roswell, Eduard Svetlovsky
770-837-9013 Atlanta String Repair, Edward Swetlowski, Eduard Svetlovsky
Bowed & fretted stringed instrument repair, bass specialist