Double Bass On a scale..

[Pstewart]

On a scale of 10 to "i'd rather cut my own arm off", how bad do the more experienced and knowledgable of you lot think this bass would be?

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[drurb]

Well, I've never played one but the bidding is starting at $950 for an unknown (to me, anyway) lami bass. That gives me pause right there. Now consider that it will need a full setup and you'll be right up there in the price range of well-known quality lamis set up by reputable luthiers. That gives me further pause. The claim:

"...the Jinyin Musical Instrument Manufacturing Group whose instruments are known and coveted worldwide by students and professionals alike."

together with all of the above takes me from "pause" to screeching halt!

 

[Peck_Time]

Hi Pstewart! Cheap basses can turn into expensive to fix (or make playable) basses very easily.

There aren't many places in Wellington to buy or look at an upright, but Alistairs music on Cuba st has a few.

Also check out www.bassbass.co.nz. Pete Mcgregor has a range of basses and he is a player. There is a nice 2nd hand old Hofner Hybrid on his site for $3500 that looks sweet.

 

[Andrew McGregor]

I'd second the advice to talk to Pete McGregor (who is no relation BTW). Also, since you're in Wellington, get in touch with one of the NZSO players and see what they recommend to do. While that bass might be OK, it's not going to be more than OK. And getting ANY new bass properly playable is an expensive exercise, so you may as well spend the money on a bass that's worth the effort. If you can find him, I believe Ian Lyons is now living in Wellington, and he's very capable of assessing and setting up a bass too (he did mine last time it needed any work).

 

[Pstewart]

I have looked in alistairs though the two acoustic uprights he has are quite expensive.

I know it's a bit of a big ask to look for a "cheap" upright (oxymoron), but i am a humble beginner with much higher goals then i should have.

I have heards lot of stuff about bassbass.co.nz, The guy who teaches me upright got his bass from Pete.

Thanks so much for the replies! Good to see other kiwis lurking around TB haha

 

[Andrew McGregor]

In NZ, you're looking at about $3000 minimum, maybe more, for a decent bass that will hold its value. The trouble with the cheap Chinese basses is that they have no resale value… whereas a German Höfner like mine cost me $800 back in 89 (about equivalent to $3k now, I think), and is now worth around $8000. Now, I'm not saying that any particular bass will do that, but you see the point.