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Need help with Sound.

Discussion in 'Basses [DB]' started by bassmasta94, Jul 22, 2009.

  1. Jul 22, 2009 #1
    bassmasta94

    bassmasta94

    Jul 21, 2009
    Connecticut
    Hello everybody, i am an intermediate bass player who has been playing bass for about a year. The bass that i am currently using, and have been using for the passed year is a Strobel Bass that was made by Eastman Strings, it is a 1/2 size. This bass does not seem to be producing enough sound for me. Is there anything that would make the sound louder/project more, aside from raising the action? Also if there is a type of bass that you would recommend for an intermediate player that would be going throughout highschool and maybe college with it? Thanks
     
  2. Jul 23, 2009 #2
    Andrew Grandahl

    Andrew Grandahl

    Sep 11, 2007
    Boston
    If you're in high school a half size bass should be much too small for you by now or will be soon. The only way you're going to get a significantly bigger (and better) sound is from getting a bigger instrument. You're in Connecticut... I'd go talk to the guys at Upton Bass and see what they can do for you.
     
  3. Jul 23, 2009 #3
    Andrew McGregor

    Andrew McGregor

    Dec 14, 2007
    Sydney, Australia
    Unless you're playing it so hard it's rattling, raising the action won't get you more sound.

    There are possibly things a luthier can do with that bass that could make more sound... but when it comes down to it, if you're more than about 5ft tall, it's probably time to get a 3/4 set up right rather than spend the money on the half size.
     
  4. Jul 23, 2009 #4
    bassmasta94

    bassmasta94

    Jul 21, 2009
    Connecticut
    so pretty much what i need to do is get a larger bass?
     
  5. Jul 23, 2009 #5
    Andrew Grandahl

    Andrew Grandahl

    Sep 11, 2007
    Boston
    Yes, definitely.
     
  6. Jul 23, 2009 #6
    bassmasta94

    bassmasta94

    Jul 21, 2009
    Connecticut
  7. Jul 23, 2009 #7
    Andrew Grandahl

    Andrew Grandahl

    Sep 11, 2007
    Boston
    How much are you willing to spend? I bought a 2006 Upton Bass Hybrid and it did me very well through my junior and senior years of high school and my first year at Eastman for a great price. You should go pay those guys a visit.
     
  8. Jul 23, 2009 #8
    bassmasta94

    bassmasta94

    Jul 21, 2009
    Connecticut
    im willing to spend about 1500$, I rented a bass for about 6 months and have payed in total 2211$. the rental company allows me to use that amount of money to BUY another bass. So that is why i was asking about the eastman strings model. But for a bass that i am spending all the money towards, i would be willing to spend around $1500
     
  9. Jul 24, 2009 #9
    LeslieD

    LeslieD

    Jul 25, 2006
    Pennsylvania
    If you absolutely fall in love with a particular Eastman bass, then get it. That said, I'm not the biggest fan of Eastman basses. I owned an Eastman 305 French bass for 4+ years, and I happily traded it for a Shen willow bass this last spring. When I was at the ISB in June, I heard something interesting about the Eastman basses from one of the shops that wasn't selling Shens or Eastmans. I guess Eastman may have started making basses just so they could get contracts with school systems to sell a whole set of string instruments (violins, violas, cellos, and basses). So Eastman is mostly a violin maker that also makes basses. My bass was lovely, but it lacked something that I couldn't quite describe. Well every bass is different anyway, and mine might have just been a lemon (though other people I know really liked it).

    I've only plunked around on an Upton for a bit, but since you LIVE in Connecticut I'd definitely check into an Upton bass while you're shopping around.

    Good luck with your decision!
     
  10. Jul 24, 2009 #10
    KJPbop

    KJPbop

    Aug 8, 2008
    Fort Wayne, IN
    +1 for Gary and the gents at Upton!!!