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Double Bass Question concernig Price

M

Musiker

Jun 20, 2007
8
0
www.wirsindjazz.de
#1
Hi!

First... sorry for my bad English... hope you will understand!
I'm going to buy a Yamaha Silent Bass 200. It is about two years old and was just a few hours in use.
So.. for a new one I had to pay about 2000 Euro (2.690 USD).
What would be a acceptable price for the used on? Any idea?

m
 
#3
you can find a better EUB for much cheaper
i played on the yamaha slb200 for my whole senior year in my highschool jazz band and combo, competitively and in rehearsal. it really doesn't have a great sound.

if you do some research on TB, many people agree to. it's its own instrument so the other bassist in my class says.
with that money, i hope you can check out some of the other basses on the market.
yamaha really isn't cutting it at the moment in comparison to all the other EUBs

as for price
that's pretty expensive
 
#5
i was "THIS" close to purchasing a SLB200 as my main instrument
and the fact that it does have shoulders and all the aspects of a URB really appealed to me. however, the sound really isn't a URB sound. it often sounded muddy to me and there wasn't really much projection and every day was just a constant fiddling with controls to get a favorable sound out of it. the finish (if you could call it finish) chips upon a slight impact, i remember having a whole bunch of scars on teh one we used at school. i settled with an actual URB just cause there really isn't any substitute.

anyways... just my second set of 2 cents.
i'm not bashing the instrument, i got through the school year winning a couple of big competitions with it so it couldn't be that bad. but for that money, i think you can find either find a better EUB or buy a nice ply URB

it would also help us if you filled out some of your personal information.
there are a ton of people who are willing to help and if they happen to be in your area, some of them bend over backwards to help another TBer
 
#6
Hey Kevin!

I just need a bass for jazz gigs, like birthdays, weddings ...
I own a excellent URB (about 230 years old, really good sound), but the problem is my instrument is really "sensitive". So im often playing outside whats not good for the bass. I studied "classical doublebass" in Lübeck, Germany, so I need the feel of playin a real bass. An other thing is, thats the slb 200 is looking like a urb in comparison to other eubs.
Could I "pimp" it with new strings ..?
m
 
#7
I agree with each of you that the Yamaha SLB could really have been a good instrument, but the sound and the feel were really not up to par (I comment on the Yamaha on my blog, here: [Invalid or Expired Link Removed].

A better option (once again, full disclosure, I endorse these instruments) is the babyEGO from AlterEGO instruments. Similar price point, better feel, more realistic sound. Check http://www.alter-ego.it for more.

Thanks,

Rick McLaughlin
Bassist
 
#8
Musiker said:
Hey Kevin!

I just need a bass for jazz gigs, like birthdays, weddings ...
I own a excellent URB (about 230 years old, really good sound), but the problem is my instrument is really "sensitive". So im often playing outside whats not good for the bass. I studied "classical doublebass" in Lübeck, Germany, so I need the feel of playin a real bass. An other thing is, thats the slb 200 is looking like a urb in comparison to other eubs.
Could I "pimp" it with new strings ..?
m
Click to expand...

ah now that i know more about you. :hyper: wow you must own a nice bass. maybe you could post some pictures up sometime.
yes the SLB200 is much more like the double bass in looks and in playing style, since you are able to go into thumb position correctly due to the shoulders rather than just play up and down it like an electric bass
if you settle for SLB i would consider maybe hooking it up with a new pickup which i have read some people do. new strings may definitely help you get the more "doublebassey" sound. i remember scrounging around for ways to improve the sound and some people just changed out the pickup altogether.
anyways best of luck
 
#11
Greetings Musiker,

I respect, but do not share the same opinion as Kevin Hsieh regarding the quality on the SLB 200. While I don't pretend that the Yamaha sounds like my carved bass, for most amplified gigs it has been a great axe. I've used it at Lincoln Center, The Kennedy Center, The Smithsonian Institution, Blues Alley, Scullers, etc.....

It sounds 'ok' witht the stock pickup/preamp - but - I started using a Fishman Full Circle p/u and it really came to life. See this thread for info regarding that modification.

If you want to hear some samples of the bass using the stock p/u, click here or here

Eventually I will be able to post some clips w/the Fishman - and really owe it to the TB community to do this, as it has truly been a giant step closer to the "real thing"
 
#12
maxito said:
Greetings Musiker,

I respect, but do not share the same opinion as Kevin Hsieh regarding the quality on the SLB 200. While I don't pretend that the Yamaha sounds like my carved bass, for most amplified gigs it has been a great axe. I've used it at Lincoln Center, The Kennedy Center, The Smithsonian Institution, Blues Alley, Scullers, etc.....

It sounds 'ok' witht the stock pickup/preamp - but - I started using a Fishman Full Circle p/u and it really came to life. See this thread for info regarding that modification.

If you want to hear some samples of the bass using the stock p/u, click here or here

Eventually I will be able to post some clips w/the Fishman - and really owe it to the TB community to do this, as it has truly been a giant step closer to the "real thing"
Click to expand...

hey maxito,

maybe i'll recommend that modification to my band director. I don't despise the instrument, it's great to transport and it's really plug and play friendly, but it just doesn't really feel or sound like a bass. I'll have to do some more reading on the full circle installation, if the school i just graduated from has enough money, that'd be a good investment.
how'd you feel about the finish of the bass, particulary around body area, it felt like the school's slb flaked very easily.
also what amp are you playing through for this instrument?

cheers
kev
 

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