Thomann.de offers basses from European makers (Czech republic, Romania, etc) and their shipping costs to the US are laughable (just checked: 34 $ shipping to US).
As said above: be patient or/and buy used.
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Double Bass Manufacturers not in China?
- Thread starter robert_stuart
- Start date
Thomann.de offers basses from European makers (Czech republic, Romania, etc) and their shipping costs to the US are laughable (just checked: 34 $ shipping to US).
As said above: be patient or/and buy used.
- Jul 18, 2017
- 176
- 312
- 69
- Disclosures
- endorsing nothing except maybe free and open source stuff, like Linux
Some were mentioned already, and my list is not complete by any means - but here are some European (Romanian, Czech, and German) ones:
Double basses
Master Double Bass For Sale | HORA-FACTORY
Invalid Link Removed
Gasparo Kontrabass
home
Link Removed
Pöllmann Contrabass - English page
Home - Heiner Windelband - Sünnenblink Musikwerkstatt
There's a much longer list at GEBA-online | Bassbauer Suche | Kontrabass, Kontrabässe, Musik, Orchester, Noten, Saiten, Bass
Also ask Jonas at Link Removed
- he also made a map on his blog at Kontrabass-Werkstätten (in Deutschland und weltweit) – Jonas' Kontrabass-Blog
bigger map at Double Bass Luthier Directory - Google My Maps
Hope that helps,
Wolfgang
Double basses
Master Double Bass For Sale | HORA-FACTORY
Invalid Link Removed
Gasparo Kontrabass
home
Link Removed
Pöllmann Contrabass - English page
Home - Heiner Windelband - Sünnenblink Musikwerkstatt
There's a much longer list at GEBA-online | Bassbauer Suche | Kontrabass, Kontrabässe, Musik, Orchester, Noten, Saiten, Bass
Also ask Jonas at Link Removed
- he also made a map on his blog at Kontrabass-Werkstätten (in Deutschland und weltweit) – Jonas' Kontrabass-Blog
bigger map at Double Bass Luthier Directory - Google My Maps
Hope that helps,
Wolfgang
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I'm seeing that Europe has a lot more options than in the U.S. The Chinese manufacturers are much more established here.
There's also a lot more tradition for building string instruments here, of course. Much more difficult for the Chinese manufacturers to get into the market.
- Jul 18, 2017
- 176
- 312
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- Disclosures
- endorsing nothing except maybe free and open source stuff, like Linux
We seem to have a quite competent Japanese luthier in Cremona now. Haven't tried any of his basses, but these surely don't look (or sound) cheap:
On the other hand: we do have a lot of older second hand basses floating around, from the time before made in China became a thing.
Nick Lloyd in Cincinnatti has been making basses for many years. Not sure how much they cost but he is a respected bass builder.
His basses are beautiful and highly regarded, but not cheap. The OP's budget was around 5k, so I think Upton is the only American (or Canadian) maker who's basses could land in that price point.
brent: I could not find any of Nick's prices. I mentioned him because he gave me some online help when I was refurbishing a bass many years ago. I was happy to see he is still making basses.
Wil de Sola has the New Standard Basses made in Germany, then does finishing and set-up in Connecticut. The plywood versions are very good jazz basses within that price range.
Ross Kratter
Supporting Member
- Dec 31, 2010
- 451
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- Artist, RS Berkeley, La Bella Strings, Phil Jones Bass Amplification, Remic, Jerry Harvey Audio
There are lots of great bass makers in the states, but you might not know their names, as many are one-person operations. Some that come to mind are the Kolstein shop, Upton Bass, Hannah Mayne, Nick Lloyd, Edward Maday. There's also a guy named Benedict Puglisi in Australia, who made a bass that Christian McBride now uses as his #1.
- Oct 12, 2004
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- Retailer: Shen, Sun, older European
I have seen basses made in Japan, Korea, India, and Indonesia. Quality varies widely !!
I don't think it makes sense to make ethical decisions based on country, there is not a single country with clean hands. Research the luthiers. I don't think Samuel Shen is any better or worse of a person than any US luthier. In mind, for the price point you are talking about, the Chinese have done a huge favor to the instrument. They have made it so people can start on an instrument of better quality that in previous times.
If you apply the ethics in a wider scope that includes the sound and the art, I think you will get to a different place. Just buy a used Shen and play the best music you can.
If you apply the ethics in a wider scope that includes the sound and the art, I think you will get to a different place. Just buy a used Shen and play the best music you can.
Wil DeSola may still be doing the finishing, but I do know Keiran O'Hara is importing these basses in the white from Germany and mounting the necks, etc. This is from last year when I was having some work done by Keiran and he showed me more than half a dozen New Standards in the white.
So it may be that Keiran has taken over AS's former role in the NS line.
Keiran and Wil have a whole range of different models now: Sales — O'Hara Fine Instruments
I've played a few of the later NS models including the Pamplona since Arnold left the business, and they struck me as absolutely of the same quality as before. I wouldn't hesitate to buy another one for a second, and in fact I often consider inquiring about a travel neck model and selling my lovely laminate even though I love it to death. I'm biased, but I think they're amazing basses. I plan to keep my current LaScala until no longer draw breath...it's my musical spouse, and I can't see anything replacing it.
