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Double Bass Need a new Bass - Help.

ElwoodGruff

ElwoodGruff

Jun 8, 2008
39
0
www.myspace.com
#1
I'm a new member to the forum and I need some input. I've been playing upright for about 8-9 years now on the same bass I bought used at the time. It has served me well, but it's time for a new one. I don't have any idea what kind I have now, there are no markings. So I am looking for suggestions on what brands to look at. I'm looking for the best bang for my buck in the $1,000-$1,500 range. I've look at some Engelhardts, but that's the only brand I know anything about that have models in my price range. Any suggestions of brands, or things to look for in my bass would be appreciated.
 
#5
Here's the pictures of my current bass. Like I said I don't have any idea what kind it is, I bought it used of a guy down the street where I used t live. :hmm:

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#9
Didn't plan on the stickers for the new one.:) This one had a couple when I got it, and I got it DIRT CHEAP ($400), so I wasn't too worried about it. Especially since I knew that one day I would upgarde to a nicer one.
I'm having a setup done on this one in a few weeks, when I put new strings on and replace the bridge. But I'm thinking by the end of the year I would like to get a new one, but you never know.
 
#11
I was set to buy a new bass, mostly because my vintage Epiphone was so hard to play. I took it to Nick Lloyd in Cincinnati, and he recommended a completely different setup, because the Epiphone is a quality bass and has never had any real injuries. I expect to get it back around the end of the month, and Nick has ventured a prediction that it will play much better, for much less than I would have spent on the new instrument.
When I talked to Nick, I realized that what I do not know about setup issues would fill many volumes.
I also realized that with very little effort, Nick could have sold me a new bass, instead of suggesting the right setup work for mine. From this, I draw two lessons: (1) Nick is a stand-up guy, in addition to being a great luthier; and (2) old basses, in the right hands, can be worth the cost of the luthier's attention. Yours looks like it has some real potential, as well.
 
#12
You might think about upgrading your Peavey TNT while you're at it.
Click to expand...
I would, but I don't play electric hardly. I only play it at home, when I gig I play stand up only. And heck I got that one for a steall as well. A guy I worked with quit playing and didn't want his step son to get it so he sold it to me for $50.00 and he ahd only used it 3 or 4 times. That was 1997.

(2) old basses, in the right hands, can be worth the cost of the luthier's attention. Yours looks like it has some real potential, as well.
Click to expand...
I work at a university and I just talked to our music department chair today, who majored in double bass, and also plays banjo. He is going to do a setup on it for free when my new strings and new bridge get here. So we'll see how it goes from there.
 
#13
Ok... so long as he's good at it. A good setup luthier is worth paying to get the job done. I just spent the equivalent of about US$750 on setup on my bass, not counting strings, and the transformation is incredible. That's on a bass that's worth something over US$15000, it's going to make more difference on a cheap instrument.

And I agree, that bass looks like it has plenty of potential. It looks to me like you'll certainly do better by spending the money on setup, hardware and strings.
 
#14
A buddy of mine bought a bass about a year and a half ago and I hated it when he got it, but this guy did a setup for him and ever since I love it. So I'm hoping I get the same results with mine. I know the guy really well, he also makes a variety of instruments, so I feel comfortable in his ability. And if it doesn't work, then I'll find a luthier somewhere and pay the money. But I'm hoping this will fix it.
 

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