• 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 my first double bass

#22
Is it possible for you to RENT a double bass locally? That's how most students start out, with a rented bass, bow, and a qualified instructor. After a year or so, you'll know better what you like in a bass and you'll have some playing skills to be able to evaluate.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Lee Moses
#23
Hey
Thank you very much
I live in a small town in a remote desert
We have a music school
But it is not possible to rent or learn a double bass
I want / am trying to purchase a good enough tool that will accompany me for at least a few years until I might want to upgrade
Thank you
Eldad
 
#24
eldad said:
Hey
Thank you very much
I live in a small town in a remote desert
We have a music school
But it is not possible to rent or learn a double bass
I want / am trying to purchase a good enough tool that will accompany me for at least a few years until I might want to upgrade
Thank you
Eldad
Click to expand...

Before ordering a bass from Thomann, I suggest you try to contact Adam Ben Ezra. If he could point you to something in Tel Aviv or Jerusalem (maybe even Haifa?), could you get there? We Americans have been known to travel thousands of miles to bring back a bass.

Another thought: A desert climate is not friendly to double bass, due to low humidity. For that reason, it may be safer to get the best laminate (plywood) bass you can find.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Lee Moses, John Chambliss and BassFalcon
#26
OP, are you in Israel? Nowhere in Israel is more than 300 miles from anywhere else. Surely Tel-Aviv has music stores where a bass could be rented?

I second the recommendation for a laminate bass.
 
#27
If you can afford it, I personally would favor a carved top. It will be more of a pleasure to play and better to learn on, especially if you do any arco at all. You may have to be a little more careful with it, but a carved bass is not as fragile as TalkBass would make you believe. Otherwise, I agree wholeheartedly with the advice in the above posts.
 
  • Like
Reactions: damonsmith
#29
As said before, I'm a 5'3 male, I am fine with a 3/4 bass. It's honestly IMO not really any different from my perspective at least. Also I would say rent a bass first, and before even renting find a teacher first then rent. Some DB teachers can be hard to find, I was lucky the rental place had a great teacher!
 
#31
eldad said:
Hey
Thank you very much everyone:)
The support and help
very helpful!!
Thanks
What are the significant differences?
https://www.thomann.de/intl/gewa_europe_double_bass_3_4.htm
https://www.thomann.de/intl/gewa_premium_line_solid_top_bass.htm
between these two models
Is the higher price
Says everything
Thank you all
Eldad
Click to expand...

The first bass is fully carved.
The second is what we call "hybrid" - laminate (plywood) back and ribs (Thomann calls ribs "frame"), carved top.

All else being equal (seldom the case), fully-carved basses cost more and resonate better; but, they are more sensitive to changes in humidity and temperature due to swelling and shrinking of the wood.
 
Last edited:
#34
Hey friends
I tried to order from tooman
But unfortunately they can ship to Israel
Because of size, weight and risk
Unfortunately there are no serious stores in Israel
I found only one known to have a bad name
But I found it
at Gear4music
Invalid Link Removed
It is possible to send Israel
what do you think?
Thank you
Eldad
 
#35
Eastman is a well-known and fairly-respected brand. These are Chinese instruments. If they are inspected and set up well, they are decent instruments.

But before ordering, I would call Gear4Music. Ask if they inspect the bass and do any setup work. If the answer is no, I would look for an alternative (this store does list some basses which it claims to set up). The setup is so important, and especially because this bass doesn't have an adjustable bridge, you could find it too difficult to play.

Did you try to contact Michael Klinghoffer, as @LouisF suggested?
 
  • Like
Reactions: Ryan in PDX
#36
Just one person's opinion: Gary Upton just posted a vid expressing his opinions that while hybrid is a HUGE improvement over ply, a good hybrid can be pretty close to a carved. In his opin, a carved top is far more significant than a carved back - and opined that a well constructed ply back can be as good/better than some carved backs. Basically opined there is a substantial gap between ply and hybrid, and a significantly smaller gap between hybrid and carved. He analogized ribs to the sides of a drum - of far less significance than either the top or back.

Like I said - just one person's opinion. Somewhat interesting 18 min. vid on pretty basic stringed instrument construction. Not sure where you can find it online - I got it as part of a weekly email I get from them.
 
#37
Hi Andy
Thank you
I wrote to Gear4Music
I wonder what their answer will be
I have not contacted Michael Klinghoffer
Maybe in the near future
I live in Eilat which is on the border with Jordan on the Red Sea
The city is about 4 hours away from Tel Aviv
The possibility of being mobile is only on buses (which is a nightmare)
If I want to buy a double bass, the only option is to send it to Eilat
Otherwise I have no other ability to bring to Eilat

Thank you so much Andy
Eldad
 
#39
You might also look at the Stentor bass there - also Chinese, but with a good reputation in music education. This one is hybrid, which means it has a carved top (spruce) and laminated back and sides: Invalid Link Removed

I actually bought a carbon fiber bow from them in England and they have a very helpful staff. You could ask them to compare the Stentor to the Eastman for you.
 
  • Like
Reactions: AGCurry
#40
eldad said:
Hey friends
I tried to order from tooman
But unfortunately they can ship to Israel
Because of size, weight and risk
Unfortunately there are no serious stores in Israel
I found only one known to have a bad name
But I found it
at Gear4music
Invalid Link Removed
It is possible to send Israel
what do you think?
Thank you
Eldad
Click to expand...
I have an older, discontinued version of that bass (Eastman VB100 from 2003). My teacher and luthier both think it's a decent ply that isn't holding me back. It's not perfect, though, and I wouldn't buy one without trying it first, especially with a fixed bridge (mine is adjustable). Even if a luthier sets it up before shipping, it won't do you much good if your climate is different than the shop's.

You're in a tough spot. Hopefully some of the others' leads work out.
 
  • Like
Reactions: AGCurry

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back