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Double Bass The Chadwick Folding Bass
- Thread starter Bobby King
- Start date
- Apr 6, 2007
- 777
- 538
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Fishman Transducers, Aguilar Amplifiers, Ear Trumpet Labs
Earl
Supporting Member
The Chadwick box is about the same size as a bicycle box, at least the ones I've had visit my shop have been that size. Ask the airline if they charge $200 for a bicycle. Then if they don't, ask them (preferably a senior manager) to explain why something which weighs the same or less than a bicycle and is the same size as a bicycle is being charged so much.
Thanks I'll try that next time. I was expecting a charge but was shocked by the amount.
Bumping an old thread. I've sent Charlie payment. Does anyone have any good pics of the bass so I could compare a matte finish with the usual finish. I'm leaning towards matte. Going with the carved top too.
I was coming to this thread to see any new updates on owners of the CFB....but nothing much so far, just people talking about luthiers. I see ALOT of them for sale on here which makes me think after some time the novelty wears off and maybe it starts buzzing or something. I dont know? Anyone on here have a Chadwick Folding Bass and put it thru the travel circuit that can say otherwise??
- Apr 6, 2007
- 777
- 538
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Fishman Transducers, Aguilar Amplifiers, Ear Trumpet Labs
I've used my folding bass as my primary bass on the road for several years with no issues related to the bass. The airlines have been a different story, but the few times they have done real damage, Charlie has taken perfect care of me and the bass. I can't speak to the number that you've seen for sale, but I do know that Charlie updates the design regularly, so there is usually good reason to consider upgrading from time to time.
Far from being a "novelty", the Folding Bass is a tool designed for bass players who must contend with the challenges of regular travel, air travel in particular, and are expected to arrive for work with a good instrument that is ready to go. There are many satisfied pros who are grateful to Charlie for the hard work he has put in to make our lives a little easier.
+1 to what Jeremy Darrow said. Also, the new hybrid versions really sound good. Charlie is an awesome guy, a damn good bass player, and he's constantly tweaking and approving the design of his basses. Took one to Tokyo last year and it was a vast improvement over my usualy Eminence Bass fly-date experience. DK
Ah Okay thank you Jeremy. I got it from a luthier at the David Gage shop, which told me after a year or so of folding it back in forth it'll begin to rattle and buzz etc in the neck joint and back opening... but its good to hear you haven't had that happen.
Does ANYONE ELSE have an account with the same story...i.e. You have the Chadwick Folding bass for a year or more with traveling and not issues with buzzing, rattling and the like?
I have several clients with Chadwick folding basses, the longest term being perhaps 5 years, the shortest now about a year. I have encountered zero problems with these basses in normal use. The only issues which have arisen resulted from various injuries caused by handlers in airports dropping or bashing these instruments around. Several internal parts have become broken due to severe impacts:
- The plastic clip into which the small end of the fingerboard goes - Charlie promptly mailed me a free replacement part though the bass was over 2 years old and had been on dozens of flights through several tours with two different players.
- The wooden box holding the large end smashed into pieces - understandable considering the force of the impact, and I glued the pieces together easily then wrapped the box with raw linen and glue to render it much stronger while keeping the weight minimal.
- One of the little teeth holding the back panel into the top block split out the wood around it - this was easily repaired and reinforced, and seems to have failed owing to a weakness of design, though an impact was involved. Charlie has long since modified this element to be stronger.
- Punctured upper rib when the fingerboard clip broke; understandable considering the sharp edge of the fingerboard and the mass behind it, bouncing around inside. It was a mercifully small wound and easily repaired.
There have been a couple of others but I'm forgetting details. Nothing very memorable really. I have found the Chadwick basses to be quite solid compromises between light weight to meet airline rules and good sound and playability.
- The plastic clip into which the small end of the fingerboard goes - Charlie promptly mailed me a free replacement part though the bass was over 2 years old and had been on dozens of flights through several tours with two different players.
- The wooden box holding the large end smashed into pieces - understandable considering the force of the impact, and I glued the pieces together easily then wrapped the box with raw linen and glue to render it much stronger while keeping the weight minimal.
- One of the little teeth holding the back panel into the top block split out the wood around it - this was easily repaired and reinforced, and seems to have failed owing to a weakness of design, though an impact was involved. Charlie has long since modified this element to be stronger.
- Punctured upper rib when the fingerboard clip broke; understandable considering the sharp edge of the fingerboard and the mass behind it, bouncing around inside. It was a mercifully small wound and easily repaired.
There have been a couple of others but I'm forgetting details. Nothing very memorable really. I have found the Chadwick basses to be quite solid compromises between light weight to meet airline rules and good sound and playability.
- Apr 6, 2007
- 777
- 538
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Fishman Transducers, Aguilar Amplifiers, Ear Trumpet Labs
Recently Charlie helped me sell my first Folding Bass so that I could upgrade to one of the new hybrids and I'm really pleased. The bass sounds great and its response is much more like the carved bass that I can't usually take on the road. Charlie has also updated the case to be more sturdy and kept the whole package at 48.5 lbs.
Quick question from a bassist who has been going around and around regarding "travel solutions:" Chadwick FB vs. puchasing a hybrid bass, having it converted to a removable neck and getting a flight case, etc.
Do you all really enjoy playing on the CFB or is it something that "gets the job done" better than the alternatives of bringing an EUB or obtaining a bass locally? I'm thinking about the purchase of the hybrid model, and it seems like a great value, but I would want it to be something that I really enjoy playing instead of just sort of being functional when I can't bring my actual carved bass to a gig.
Thoughts? Opinions?
Do you all really enjoy playing on the CFB or is it something that "gets the job done" better than the alternatives of bringing an EUB or obtaining a bass locally? I'm thinking about the purchase of the hybrid model, and it seems like a great value, but I would want it to be something that I really enjoy playing instead of just sort of being functional when I can't bring my actual carved bass to a gig.
Thoughts? Opinions?
That's a good question. Ive thought it might be worth it to pay the extra and get Upton Prescott with removable neck, so i know Im getting an amazing bass that can grow with me and not just something that does the job. I wish the CFB came in more variety like say a poplar wood carved bass as well. I await someone to answer your question.
I've been scouting around for travel uprights too…. I have played the Lemur Fly-Away bass, and a couple of Chadwicks. The Lemur is a more substantial bass… the Liberty Bell model is a hybrid flatback, and a very nice bass. The Chadwicks I played were set up well, sounded great, and frankly… I think plywood might be a little better choice for travel considering carved tops are more likely to crack or be effected by climate. But Chadwick now has a hybrid too…
While it's a more complex mechanism… I think I like the more compact nature of the Chadwick. I think it would be much easier to manage for serious travel. Also, a bit cheaper than others…. There's one place selling a removable neck bass for around 3K, but the case costs another 3K!
While it's a more complex mechanism… I think I like the more compact nature of the Chadwick. I think it would be much easier to manage for serious travel. Also, a bit cheaper than others…. There's one place selling a removable neck bass for around 3K, but the case costs another 3K!
I'm a big fan of the Chadwick bass. Nothing but good experiences. It's a real bass. You can set it up the way you like with the pickup you like. A number of times I've even had it checked as regular baggage with no extra fees. The acoustic arco sound is a little too quiet for practical use and that's the only drawback. Fits in the back seat of a sedan, so you can carpool or get in a taxi now.
I've had mine for a bit over a year (bought new), and she's seen a fairly rigorous touring schedule. It's been great: No issues; only been charged oversize once (dozen or so flights, US and Canada); and it's 49.5 lbs with my bow and spare strings along for the ride.
Charlie was amazing to deal with. Nothing but good things to say.
Charlie was amazing to deal with. Nothing but good things to say.
