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Double Bass Start with bass or double bass?

S

Schrale_Anus

Oct 4, 2007
18
0
39
Katwijk, The Netherlands
www.thats-me.nl
#1
I want to play the double bass but I actually don't know if it's better to start playing the double bass right away. Personally i thought it would be better to begin with a normal bass and after the basics just start playing the double bass, but experts tell me to just start playing the double bass since it's an whole other instrument...

Just for the record... i don't wanna use a bow, but pluck, and that's why i gigured a normal base would be good training...

can you give me some tips??
thnx a lot! :smug:
 
#3
Start on the double bass. It's easy to transition to electric bass from it, but (IMO) not the other way 'round. Plus you will develop your ear quicker on the DB.
 
#4
Schrale_Anus said:
I want to play the double bass but I actually don't know if it's better to start playing the double bass right away. Personally i thought it would be better to begin with a normal bass and after the basics just start playing the double bass, but experts tell me to just start playing the double bass since it's an whole other instrument...
Just for the record... i don't wanna use a bow, but pluck, and that's why i gigured a normal base would be good training...
can you give me some tips??
thnx a lot! :smug:
Click to expand...

Normal bass. The double bass is the normal bass! It has 400+ years on the slab. Get your definitions right.:D
 
#5
Paul Warburton said:
Normal bass. The double bass is the normal bass! It has 400+ years on the slab. Get your definitions right.:D
Click to expand...

Wow!!! You know what he meant. I am a double bass player myself but yet understood he meant more so of the most common bass as normal which happens to be the electric in todays society.

My advice is to pick up the double bass first (just like other posts have said). You will become a much better bassist and develop the right techniques and ear on the real one.

Have fun, for it is the coolest instrument in the world!!!
 
#6
Sure we know what he meant but to call the BG the "normal" bass sure doesn't sit right. It also reveals how the OP views the two instruments. The key really is that they are two different, but related, instruments. If you want to play classical, bluegrass, traditonal jazz, and other genres, it is the DB that is "normal." So, I agree that the OP must decide what he wants to play.

...and the best advice of all:

Get a teacher! :)
 
#9
Schrale_Anus said:
Here's a picture of my precious baby: Newbie Links :smug:
Click to expand...
Hi!

This is a very cheap chinese bass. It's a very bad idea to purchase one of those from a music store, because it won't be setup at all, and therefore it will be unplayable. There's also a significant risk that the bass will self-destruct, and you will lose your investment. If you search the forum, you will find plenty of horror stories about CCBs.

You should go to the Newbie Links at once, and read everything before making a decision. Oh, and it might be a good idea to fill out your profile. I'm guessing you're in the Netherlands; if we knew where you're located, somebody could suggest a luthier you could check out.
 
#11
But does that mean that everything from the east is plain crap?
I see a lot of negative posts regarding productions from the east.
I found this double bass: http://s9.photobucket.com/albums/a53/stepmeister/?action=view&current=CB.jpg
It's a bit more expensive (twice as expensive actually), but i called the shop and they said it's made in a factory in the east....

Also, I came to the conclusion that it's better to buy a second hand bass to squeeze in my budget (my biggest enemy), since this gives a reasonable good bass instead of a new one where you pay for the *new* instead of the quality, I just wanted you to back this up.
 
#12
you are right in that you are better off finding a higher quality used bass than purchasing a low quality new bass. BUT the best thing you can do is find a local luthier and get to know them well. Perhaps you can find one that is also a dealer who might have some used basses for sale. In any case, you want to have a good relationship with a luthier when the time comes (and it will, count on it) when you need a setup or repair.
 
#13
el_mariachi said:
BUT the best thing you can do is find a local luthier and get to know them well.
Click to expand...
Great advice!

My personal recommendation: Link Removed in Almere has some very affordable basses. They will be Chinese, too, but they're professionally setup and Lucas has a great trade-in policy if I remember correctly. Just call him to make an appointment, it will be much better, and much more fun than buying a bass online. You get to hang in a shop full of basses, you'll see, hear, and feel for yourself the differences between them. Then you will be able to make an informed decision.
 

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