Double Bass Manufacturers not in China?

[robert_stuart]

For ethical reasons, I don't want to buy from China anymore. And so I'm searching for affordable (< $5,000) double basses made anywhere else. So far, I know about:

• Upton, USA
  
• Engelhardt, USA (Although I'm not sure if they're still in business.)
• Juzek (Made in Prague? Germany?)

 

[Mark_T]

Maybe Calin Wultur in Romania? I bought one of his (their?) basses about 15 years ago (and sold it some years later), and I spent about that much on it. The prices have probably gone up some but that was fully carved and I think hybrids may have been available.

 

[turf3]

There are a lot of basses from Romania, probably mostly made in the Gliga factory, sold under a variety of brand names. I have one of these. They are generally pretty well regarded. The Gligas come in all laminate, hybrid, and fully carved, and you shouldn't have trouble finding your price point.

I am not sure whether student basses are still being made in Germany.

There have been some good instruments out of South Korea.

 

[CaseyVancouver]

It’s good to try out 10 basses at a shop and pick the best one. I found a Czechoslovakian bass this way, and rented it for a few months while my carved bass was being repaired. $2400 Canadian new & had a great low end growl, even though laminate wood.

The sound was further improved when I put some old Spiro’s on. Inexpensive new basses always have poor quality strings. Very tempting to put the rental towards purchase and keep the thing.

 

[Steve Swan]

I have had good success with some of the higher grade Romanian factory basses when I had the tops regraduated to my satisfaction. Kolstein has had great success with this for decades. Juzek is just a trade branding name, so it doesn't mean much on its own. Good luck in your search !!

 

[damonsmith]

You are best off with a nice used, older instrument in that rage with those ideals.

 

[Fredrik E. Nilsen]

Strunal (Czech Republic) make some fine basses at reasonable prices. I belive they are available in the US.

 

[Don Hergert]

Wait, aren't there also boutique DB shops here in the US??? I know we have a few small-shop US builders who discuss theirs and other people's basses here with us pretty often. These are the people I'd be talking to first.

 

[Sam Dingle]

New standard is a USA shop. I would say with that budget you can find a nice older bass like a Roth. Not many juzeks under 5k that I’ve heard of. Check the classafields here for something in your area to try.

 

[Jeff Kissell]

New standard is a USA shop. I would say with that budget you can find a nice older bass like a Roth. Not many juzeks under 5k that I’ve heard of. Check the classafields here for something in your area to try.

Sam, my NS Cleveland was built in Germany and finished in Upstate NY... that was 15 years ago.

 

[Sam Dingle]

Sam, my NS Cleveland was built in Germany and finished in Upstate NY... that was 15 years ago.

My bad I assumed they were all built in America

 

[Chris Fitzgerald]

New Standards are made in Germany and sent in the white to the US for finish and setup. But don't let that stop you!

 

[rknea]

Find yourself an old Kay! There are plenty of really good ones up here on TB right now, and quite a few if you look around. If you're looking for new, I wouldn't hesitate to go with an Upton although the waiting period is around 8-9 months or so.

 

[misterbadger]

Find yourself an old Epiphone! Worth the search...

 

[damonsmith]

I don't think over-paying for lesser instrument is inherently ethical. I would look into the luthiers and make individual decision rather than condemning an in entire country. Overpaying for a plywood bass is really not a great plan.
You should just check out older European carved and hybrid instruments in shops and on Craigslist. I've seen people find exceptional carved basses in the 3k range in recent years just by being patient. Cash in hand can lower most asking prices.
The makers of these basses may well have been terrible human beings, however!

 

[james condino]

"... by being patient..." +1

That is the secret to 95% of life's challenges!

 

[RSBBass]

Responses have been all over the place on this thread. To the OP, what are you looking for? What kind of music do you play? Short of a bass for solo or hardcore symphony playing you should be able to find a nice bass in your range that isn't MIC.

 

[MIKMAN]

Dear friend if you were located in Europe you could find many decent basses in affordable prices, either new or used. However the shipping costs from Europe to the States make such an attempt less than attractive. In any case if you want any detailed infos about European luthiers, factories or shops specialized in double basse please gimme a shout and i'll send you everything available after a thorough research of this market for two decades.
Mike

 

[robert_stuart]

I don't think over-paying for lesser instrument is inherently ethical. ... condemning an entire country.

I hear you. And my feelings conflict with my conservative-economic logic, which it looks like you share.

But ... I 100% believe in free trade, emphasis on free. And IMO China is a criminal organization, a quasi mafia-as-state-actor. And so I believe I'm not over-paying by spending more on a like instrument produced without the ethical encumbrances.
Like buyers of conflict-free diamonds.

Back to my purchases, I see myself as playing a very small part in increasing the transaction cost of maintaining a corrupt government. And every time I look at my bass and bow (made in Minnesota), I'll know it, and feel good about it.

 

[damonsmith]

Coda bows are nice! I hope you are at least an Ai Weiwei fan! If not, you need to be. I think there are other things that can be at work buying American as well. A well known US maker lives in one of the most expensive areas of the country and operates out of an over the top historic property - a portion of that is passed on to the buyer. So, like I said, used is still probably the cleanest transaction for you.

I hear you. And my feelings conflict with my conservative-economic logic, which it looks like you share.

But ... I 100% believe in free trade, emphasis on free. And IMO China is a criminal organization, a quasi mafia-as-state-actor. And so I believe I'm not over-paying by spending more on a like instrument produced without the ethical encumbrances.
Like buyers of conflict-free diamonds.

Back to my purchases, I see myself as playing a very small part in increasing the transaction cost of maintaining a corrupt government. And every time I look at my bass and bow (made in Minnesota), I'll know it, and feel good about it.