Certainly, this would be a far better choice than a Cremona-- almost anything would-- but it sure wouldn't be the choice I'd recommend. IMO, some better alternatives have been offered here.
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Double Bass pretty sure I will get flamed for this but...
- Thread starter whitespike
- Start date
Certainly, this would be a far better choice than a Cremona-- almost anything would-- but it sure wouldn't be the choice I'd recommend. IMO, some better alternatives have been offered here.
Check out Link Removed.
You can buy a NOS (new, old stock) German-made W. Eberle ply for $950 + shipping with a poor setup. For $850 + shipping you can get one without setup. Save the $100 and put it towards setup by a pro luthier.
I bought mine last year and had Nick Lloyd in Cincinnati work his magic.
Spent a few hundred and had fingerboard planed, bridge tweaked, and bridge adjusters, new endpin, and tailpiece cable installed. Made all the difference in sound and playability.
Total cost is just a bit more than you're looking to spend (not including shipping), but IMO, well worth it.
Pics below are pre-setup - note high string height and lack of bridge adjusters.
Know you anticipated flames, but the comments by the pros and experienced DB players (which, BTW does not describe me) are intended to keep you from buying a POS instrument that will likely bring more headache than playing satisfaction.
FWIW, Nick was very complementary about the sound and playability of the Eberle - he owns one and declared it a good choice (and I really like it)...
You can buy a NOS (new, old stock) German-made W. Eberle ply for $950 + shipping with a poor setup. For $850 + shipping you can get one without setup. Save the $100 and put it towards setup by a pro luthier.
I bought mine last year and had Nick Lloyd in Cincinnati work his magic.
Spent a few hundred and had fingerboard planed, bridge tweaked, and bridge adjusters, new endpin, and tailpiece cable installed. Made all the difference in sound and playability.
Total cost is just a bit more than you're looking to spend (not including shipping), but IMO, well worth it.
Pics below are pre-setup - note high string height and lack of bridge adjusters.
Know you anticipated flames, but the comments by the pros and experienced DB players (which, BTW does not describe me) are intended to keep you from buying a POS instrument that will likely bring more headache than playing satisfaction.
FWIW, Nick was very complementary about the sound and playability of the Eberle - he owns one and declared it a good choice (and I really like it)...
Or a solid wood bass for another $500 that will be the envy of every Cremona owner you ever meet.
An enthusiastic +1 for the Eberles! For these bargain clearance prices, you really can't beat them. One major characteristic of the Eberles is that they sound WAY better than they look. From the photos they don't look remarkably different than the Cremonas...but the difference is night and day.
I've had a plywood Eberle for 30+ years and it's durable and dependable. Over the years, I used it in orchestras, bluegrass bands, big bands and other groups (though it's not great for classical music, it wasn't awful). I just picked up an Eberle hybrid last fall and it's a sturdy, well-made "entry level" hybrid. These AREN'T fancy basses, but they knew what they were doing when they made them. If you go this route, like RDW recommends, DON'T pay extra for a set up & get that taken care of by your local shop/luthier.
...but that Strunal in the Houston Craiglist ad might be something to consider as well...
Good luck w/ your decision (but listen to these guys and save up that extra $300 for a bass that you'll actually be able to play for years and years!).
Where did the original poster go? I would bet that he already wasted his money on the POS Cremona.
I think this is one of the best threads I've seen addressing this constantly presented noobie issue. There is a lot of solid advise and good alternative solutions here. I think it should be a sticky and maybe the question won't be asked again. 
I think he mean an Crapmona + $500. Even at $1500 a carved bass worth playing ain't gonna happen. Maybe a used hybrid Shen or Chrissy. The suggestions above are solid.
Exactly. That's what PW and I were saying.
I think this is one of the best threads...I think it should be a sticky and maybe the question won't be asked again.
Not a bad idea, Eric. While we're creating an archival thread, might as well address the "solid wood" issue. I'll state here what most of us know. When someone experienced uses that term in discussion with others who are (Nagrom's post), we take it to refer to a carved bass. In advertisements for an instrument, the term "solid wood" can mean whatever the advertiser decides. Plywood bass? Yup, solid wood. Pressed but not carved? Yup, solid wood. Carved? Yup, solid wood. Carbon fiber? Oops...
Sorry fellas, I was on baby duty last night! I really appreciate all the info, as it is absolutely what I am looking for. And I am glad my noobiness might have created a decent thread to keep around. I guess I will be waiting a bit longer, and perhaps I will be posting other deals as they pass along so I can get a little extra flaming!!! I do like a char-grilled taste.
The only difference is that now I am equipped with a little more info as I search, which is why I really like this site!!
The only difference is that now I am equipped with a little more info as I search, which is why I really like this site!!
Exactly. That's what PW and I were saying.
Duh. Forgive me. Late gig. Up at 6am to get the kids off to school. Coffee is not working. Going back to bed.
I had an SB2 when I started out. It was junk, but it at least gave me something to play on. One thing to consider is how those things are made. The bass bar is barely hanging on, the tops are way to thin and they WILL have problems, the neck is extremely chunky and not like what you will need to get used to when you buy a step-up instrument.
The SB2 I had cost around 600.00. After 2 years I had to put 800.00 into it to reattach the bass bar and sure up the sagging top. Even with this investment I later sold it for 800.00 with a transducer and an Ary bow.
If this is all that you can afford then I am behind just having something to learn on, but if you can find some way to come up with more or finance then I would say invest in a higher quality instrument that you do not have to constantly fight with.
I got my Wilfer (I know some aren't fond of these, but I sure love mine) when I received a solicitation for a one year-0% interest credit card. I got the card, purchased the bass, paid off the bass from gig money and cancelled and cut up the card before they started charging interest. Its one way to do it if you can be financially disciplined. Good luck.
The SB2 I had cost around 600.00. After 2 years I had to put 800.00 into it to reattach the bass bar and sure up the sagging top. Even with this investment I later sold it for 800.00 with a transducer and an Ary bow.
If this is all that you can afford then I am behind just having something to learn on, but if you can find some way to come up with more or finance then I would say invest in a higher quality instrument that you do not have to constantly fight with.
I got my Wilfer (I know some aren't fond of these, but I sure love mine) when I received a solicitation for a one year-0% interest credit card. I got the card, purchased the bass, paid off the bass from gig money and cancelled and cut up the card before they started charging interest. Its one way to do it if you can be financially disciplined. Good luck.
Maybe I'm wrong, but I think Nagrom (who indicates in his profile that he has a carved Musima bass--aka an Eberle) is specifically referring to the clearance price of the hybrid or carved Eberles on the bassesonline.com website. Not including the cost of shipping/set up, an additional $550 (for a hybrid) or $845 (for a carved bass) can get you a lot more than the base price of $950 that they are asking for the laminates. (These are good basses and are probably a good deal, but definitely aren't in the league of anything that most of us envy...unless you happen to have a Cremona I guess).
(The follow-up clarifications of the term "solid wood" are very helpful for new folks--thanks for adding those!).
And my apologies to Nagrom if I misinterpreted the meaning of his post.
Both of my basses were very likely made by the Wilfer shop and they are fine instruments. I've played others that were very nice too, in fact I've never played one that I considered to be bad. From what I can tell,they are well built, quality basses!
Unfortunately, the Eastman is much too far away... couldn't imagine the pain in the arse/cost to ship... I live in Austin, TX.
I see what you mean. So, the carved Eberle would be $845 more than the Eberle ply. With setup, the carved Eberle, would be at least a grand more than the OP's $1k limit. So, it would take several hundred more than an additional $550 for the OP to get into even the Eberle carved bass. The main point I was alluding to in my response was that, among carved basses, that kind of outlay will not a fetch what I would consider to be a decent one. To be sure, any of the Eberles beat a Crapmona. Still, if I had a budget of $2k, I would not choose the carved Eberle. Just my opinion.
