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Double Bass The dreaded Cremona

loend68

loend68

Supporting Member
Jan 14, 2008
1,384
126
NH
www.vegastemper.com
Disclosures
Endorsing Artist: Spector Basses, T.C. Electronics
#1
I've found a Cremona SB-3 with pickup, bag and stand in excellent condition that I can get for $500. He's asking more but that's all I can do right now. I know there aren't too many positive threads about these basses, but let me know what you think. I always thought I would like to learn to play some upright, but with my schedule my time is limited. So I'd probably take a couple lessons to make sure I start with the right technique and fiddle around with it when I have time. I don't ever see myself playing it regularly or in a band situation, just as another bit of bass inspiration and a nice display in my living room. With that thought, I think $500 would be justified?

Am I way off base here? (all pun intended)

I really don't want to start up the Cremona/Palatino/crap thread, just wondering if this makes sense for what I will use it for?
 
#2
The gist of the threads is that these Bass-Shaped Objects sound bad, feel worse, don't hold a setup, fall apart and discourage people from playing.

If you want to use it to keep the corner of your house from floating away, it will perform that function perfectly but there are many other highly-functional but less-expensive floor-weight options available.

If you want to use it to inspire you to spend the more money on another instrument, it's apparently about 50/50 -- these BSO's are famous for discouraging people from playing double-bass altogether.

If you want to use it for musical purposes, read the threads again.

Further affiant sayeth naught.
 
#5
loend68 said:
I thought I saw a few responses of people who were happy with them, for what they were?
Click to expand...

They kind of look like basses.;)

Why not scrape together another $500 and buy something that will hold up and not terribly hold you back. If you like playing the thing, you can then sell it for about what you paid for it or keep it as a backup as you upgrade.
 
#6
Duane Rosengard wrote a book several years ago about the 'Cremona Basses'. The book was over $300. then but is now out of print. I would lover to find a copy.

The last Cremona Bass that was sold I believe went for about $470k, I forget who the maker was. I know of one Ceruti that is in restoration and when completed will be well over 200k or what ever the market will bare.

I have never heard of a bad Cremona Bass even though many Basses attributed to Amati have been proven false, they still were good Basses. At least good enough to earn that attribution until it was dis-proven.
 
#8
Ken - Surely you jest? Unless I've totally missed the subject of the opening thread, the Cremona being discussed is a CCB, a bass that goes by many other names, including Palatino.

IMHO, "clink" has the best answer so far. What I don't understand is if this guy read all the other threads, what new information does he expect will justify the purchase? Imagine the buyer's remorse after buying one of these things! Furniture is probably as good a use as anything but it will leave him still wanting to buy a bass that really played and not just looked at.
 
#10
Roger Mouton said:
Ken - Surely you jest? Unless I've totally missed the subject of the opening thread, the Cremona being discussed is a CCB, a bass that goes by many other names, including Palatino.
Click to expand...

Ken is not discussing the "Cremona brand" basses at all. Seems he's being obfuscatory and/or chiding us. Cremona is, after all, in Italy. The OP made it clear that he is discussing the "Cremona" SB3 which is, of course, a CCB that never came anywhere near Italy.
 
#11
Bruce Lindfield said:
Pay $470k and you get a good bass - pay $500 ....? ;)
Click to expand...

Pay $500 and you might get a book! You can't get a Bridge and Fingerboard cut and installed for $500. How in the world can you get a Bass for that price. $500. is a medium priced student Bow, not a Bass!

Did you ever go into an Italian Restaurant and order moogooguypan?

Would you go to a Chinese take-out and order Veal Marsala?

I can see if a Chinese maker or shop makes a copy of a Rogeri or a Panormo or even a supposed Amati (like we have) but naming a company or product Cremona is like saying 'Strad-like'.

Yes, I was surely in 'jest' above and laughing all the way BUT I am trying to make a point. Why is Shen one of the few makers selling Basses with their own name with the exception of the models they make? Is the Christopher company trying to make you think it has some relation to Columbus? Just another hint of being Italian.

Go buy a car and see what you get for $500. Unless there is some mistake or you make the deal of a lifetime, for $500, you will get only a $500 problem or loss. Go in for a set-up with your Bass, buy some stings and a cover and Bow. By then you will realize you bought junk unless it's a used Basses being re-sold at a loss by the seller and you are the one making out.
 
#13
KSB - Ken Smith said:
Pay $500 and you might get a book! You can't get a Bridge and Fingerboard cut and installed for $500. How in the world can you get a Bass for that price. $500. is a medium priced student Bow, not a Bass!

Did you ever go into an Italian Restaurant and order moogooguypan?

Would you go to a Chinese take-out and order Veal Marsala?

I can see if a Chinese maker or shop makes a copy of a Rogeri or a Panormo or even a supposed Amati (like we have) but naming a company or product Cremona is like saying 'Strad-like'.

Yes, I was surely in 'jest' above and laughing all the way BUT I am trying to make a point. Why is Shen one of the few makers selling Basses with their own name with the exception of the models they make? Is the Christopher company trying to make you think it has some relation to Columbus? Just another hint of being Italian.

Go buy a car and see what you get for $500. Unless there is some mistake or you make the deal of a lifetime, for $500, you will get only a $500 problem or loss. Go in for a set-up with your Bass, buy some stings and a cover and Bow. By then you will realize you bought junk unless it's a used Basses being re-sold at a loss by the seller and you are the one making out.
Click to expand...

I sure agree with everything you've said about those $500 BSOs. With regard to the name, I really don't think anyone is fooled by it. IMO, there's only a bit of difference between a Chinese maker calling a bass a Rogeri, Panormo, or Amati and naming a company Cremona. The naming of companies and lines of products in an attempt to allude to a region, practice, or level of quality is a rather ubiquitous practice. Are you suggesting that a chef of Chinese descent could not ever make a satisfactory Veal Marsala? LOL! :)
 
#14
loend68 said:
Yes it is a used bass that retails at the online stores for about $1100-$1200.
It includes a K&K pickup, bag and stand. So he is definately taking a hit....
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He may be "taking a hit" in terms of what he paid but his less-than-informed decision should not be your problem. If you pay the $500 that would be too much. That's what folks here are telling you.
 
#15
loend68 said:
I really don't want to start up the Cremona/Palatino/crap thread, just wondering if this makes sense for what I will use it for?
Click to expand...

Ok, without bashing the brand, I think that especially for what you are going to use it for, it is a mistake. Here is why:

If you are just going to pick it up once in a while and fiddle around with it (now that's a funny pun) you will find that after 5 minutes you have had enough because a cheap bass is especially unplayable for someone who doesn't really play often. You will not want to play it, so what is the point of owning it? In addition, when you decide that you might want to take it in for some set-up work to make it more playable, you will be putting $100's into a $500 bass. It costs $400 to replace a warped bridge and do a set-up on a $500 instrument or a a $10,000 instrument. The difference is that it is worth it on the latter, and it may not help much on the former.
 
#16
I must buy it, as it is that legendary item..."a bargain"!

It's like all those ads for furniture you see on TV - our sofas now all half price - yeah but I didn't want one of your sofas to start with - the fact it is now half the price, has no bearing on that fact!! :p
 
#18
loend68 said:
Yes it is a used bass that retails at the online stores for about $1100-$1200.
It includes a K&K pickup, bag and stand. So he is definately taking a hit....
Click to expand...

My wife once came home with bags and bags of things she had bought on impulse at the mall. 'But I got it on sale'. 'This was all half price'. 24 hours later she realized it was worth about what she paid for it and took it all back.

You can buy a Cremona bass or similar for under $500 on Ebay and it will be worth $500 less than you paid for it. You get what you pay for unless you buy one of these things, then you get much, much less.

If you can be patient and watch the classifieds, I guarantee you will be able to find a nice plywood bass for about $1000 which will be still be worth $1000 for the foreseeable future.
 
#19
I have one of those crappy cremonas. Played it until the neck snapped in half at the body. Like you, I only paid 400 bucks for it, so i didn't care. I just drilled a hole in it and bolted the neck back on the body. They're good for exactly what you want to do. See if you like playing URB. IMHO if you get a bag, K&K pick up, and a stand, you're going to be okay. A good used bag goes for around 100 bucks here in Vegas and the cheapest K&K pick up is a 100 bucks from Bob G. A stand is around 50 bucks and if there are quality strings on it you can take them off when you up grade.
 

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