You're comparing apples to dump trucks here bud. No one has suggested you get the 23 jewel model of upright basses.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Double Bass Thinking about getting a cheap one for my first Upright Bass
- Thread starter Diaphragm
- Start date
You're comparing apples to dump trucks here bud. No one has suggested you get the 23 jewel model of upright basses.
Every few months, someone comes here and tries to get us to tell him that it's okay to do what he has already decided to do and we have already advised him and everyone before him not to. I never have understood that. Why seek our approval? You know you what our advice is, it's a free country (or at least I assume that you live in a free country, but your profile doesn't indicate). I promise you that no amount of reasoning will get different advice out of us, though if you stay at it long enough, a few other people who have been thinking the same thing will find this thread and start offering you encouragement.
Go forth and do what you must.
Go forth and do what you must.
Wow, you know so much about me! I have NOT decided anything, hence my seeking advice. I'm just playing the devil's advocate, which apparently you have issues with. I'm trying to understand all the details, and then I get a response like this from a MODERATOR of all people. Completely judgmental, and unhelpful. You should be ashamed of yourself.
I do not seek your approval, Troy K. I sought advice, and your approval would be the least of my worries. I'm not in the market for a DB to gain acceptance from judgmental internet strangers. I seek this instrument for my own personal enjoyment which has nothing to do with your approval or anyone's. I sought information, not judgement (or approval - as you put it). Get real.
You've already dismissed our advice. I'm just saying, we're good with that. Let's move on.
If you're curious, do a search. This conversation happens frequently, usually started by someone who registered yesterday.
If you're curious, do a search. This conversation happens frequently, usually started by someone who registered yesterday.
Actually, I thought it a bit strange that you would ask that, given that you are free to do whatever you wish.
I'd like to share something with you that I posted in this thread:
Seems to me that you're approaching being that newcomer who strolls into the bar and yells, "Hey, you fools..." It doesn't go over well. Please re-think your approach.
Really, of all people to fire at, TroyK would be among the least deserving. The regulars in "the bar" know him to be an accomplished player, a gracious man, and an all-around fine human being.
As for cheap basses, I agree with Kungfu and all the fine advice you've been given. There are a few folks here who have gone with CCBs but have done so with eyes wide open. They will tell you that they require a great deal of work to get them into playing shape at the outset (if that even can be done) and then they require ongoing maintenance. A talented DIYer can sometimes get through it but it's usually one who has some chops and some idea of what the goal is. Take a look at this recent thread and what T-Bird has to say. All-in-all, what you are considering is an approach that's likely to lead to aggravation, frustration, wasted time, wasted dollars, and impeded learning. The stories in these threads attest to that. I suggest that you take some time to read through a bunch. Then, you'll be able to read the kind of history that many here have integrated and/or lived.
If, however, you think that the approach you're considering is the right one for you, then go spend your money that way and be happy. You might enjoy the link in my signature below.
Last edited:
I agree with drurb on the bar analogy. I still very much consider myself a "newbie" when it comes to the TB community, but by using the search function, asking the occasional question, and now contributing to the conversation when I can (usually with something I learned from someone on here), I have found my entire TB experience to be most enjoyable.
The forum is what you make it, and believe it or not, the advice you receive on here, especially from the regulars, is sound and with your best interest in mind.
The forum is what you make it, and believe it or not, the advice you receive on here, especially from the regulars, is sound and with your best interest in mind.
Last edited:
After 30 years of playing electric bass, almost exclusively fretless for the last 10 years, I finally bought my first string bass last week on Craigslist from
a local bassist/producer for $500. It seems like a decent instrument, although I'm sure it might not sound great A/B'd with something good. But the difference it's made in my playing and musical worldview in a short period of time has been really amazing. So I would say if you are really drawn to the instrument, try and search for a good used deal, but ultimately it may be better to have a flawed tool than no tool at all.
a local bassist/producer for $500. It seems like a decent instrument, although I'm sure it might not sound great A/B'd with something good. But the difference it's made in my playing and musical worldview in a short period of time has been really amazing. So I would say if you are really drawn to the instrument, try and search for a good used deal, but ultimately it may be better to have a flawed tool than no tool at all.
I think you're right. As I've said before, if there's no other choice and you want to play, then a CCB might be better than nothing. That's rarely the case, however, and many of them are not simply flawed tools but downright awful and barely useful tools. Many actually end up causing more harm than good. Flawed really is a matter of degree.
There are some major cranks on the DB side, but though they're cranks, they ARE very knowledgeable. That said, if you can afford a more expensive upright it will probably make you happier in the long run. I bought a Palatino blond upright new for $800 and while it hasn't fallen apart on me and it actually doesn't sound half bad, I do wish I had saved up and bought something nicer. THAT said, it was the difference between not having an upright and having one, and in that respect I don't regret buying it all. I'm a hack on upright, took enough lessons to keep from hurting myself, and I enjoy it. I know I'll never be that great at it and that's okay.
I'm one of those in the "get what I could afford or do without" club. I had some good luck finding a couple used bridges that fit at a great price, the one I had carved on looked like I had carved on it lol. After over 3 years, I am still really happy with my Cecilio upright. If you can afford a nice bass, the setup and find the right strings for it, I agree, that would be the way to go, but I couldn't and it worked out for me.
These kind of ongoing conversations, and I use the word with some charity, always amaze me. Some one starts a thread, asks a question and doesn't get a blessing or approval for doing, or thinking of doing something that many of us know to be, again being charitable, not smart. Then with great gusto, the OP fires of a few nasty missives stating how cranky and judgmental most of the regular posters are. It's quite funny viewed in a certain light.
Hey dude, do what you want.
It's obviously been working for you so far right?
Why take the advice of people who actually play the instrument.
Ignorance is bliss right?
It does kind of crack me up that so much venom was released in Troy's direction. He's about as cool and even handed as they come although he does have a keen rapier wit. So far, it seems to have remained sheathed.
Hey dude, do what you want.
It's obviously been working for you so far right? Why take the advice of people who actually play the instrument. Ignorance is bliss right? It does kind of crack me up that so much venom was released in Troy's direction. He's about as cool and even handed as they come although he does have a keen rapier wit. So far, it seems to have remained sheathed.
I was thinking about this thread when I ran across a bunch of vids by various folks playing the same brown CCB that sounds like a cigar box. But all they seem to care about is learning some tunes, licks, having a good time. So maybe that's a different crowd and they're getting what they want. For some types of music a muted CCB is easier to fit in the mix.
Yeah, I guess I would counter with "In all types of music a Squire P Bass is easier to fit into the mix" and cheaper, and easier to play and not as likely to suffer expensive or irreparable damage when the season changes. But, that wasn't the question.
I suspect, actually I trust, that there are some CCB/BSO success stories, I just don't the odds are very good, so it's not good advise to give people who express that they want to get into this. There are also some good buys and bargains now and again, but they usually take a bit of time, patience and luck AND require some knowledge or expertise.
What the people who register, don't search, post this question/assertion and then get offended by our crazy over the top responses fail to see is that this is a 10 minute old conversation to them, but to us it's Bill Murray waking up to "I Got You Babe" in Groundhog Day every morning over and over again.
People who have done a search and/or seen the wiki and know what we think, but want either argue about it or tell us why we're wrong are something else entirely.
I suspect, actually I trust, that there are some CCB/BSO success stories, I just don't the odds are very good, so it's not good advise to give people who express that they want to get into this. There are also some good buys and bargains now and again, but they usually take a bit of time, patience and luck AND require some knowledge or expertise.
What the people who register, don't search, post this question/assertion and then get offended by our crazy over the top responses fail to see is that this is a 10 minute old conversation to them, but to us it's Bill Murray waking up to "I Got You Babe" in Groundhog Day every morning over and over again.
People who have done a search and/or seen the wiki and know what we think, but want either argue about it or tell us why we're wrong are something else entirely.
Well, there are occasions when spending thousands on an upright simply isn't an option. Maybe the Bill Murrays of the upright side could create a sticky regarding uprights that are affordable, if not preferable? Not everyone is trying to be Ray Brown or Edgar Meyer. Some folks are just looking for something to thump on with friends.
Ah, see here's the problem...we did that. It's here.
http://www.talkbass.com/threads/bas...-please-read-before-posting-new-topics.43093/
If someone reads it and doesn't like the answer and feels like they can do better on their own, as I said to our OP with no malice intended, "I'm good with that, go forth and do." But, why ask and why argue when you don't get the answer that you want?
Google LOVES talkbass. But the "new" Google pays very little attention to old threads. I'm willing to bet most of the people reading these pages aren't members but people who have found it through Google (et.al) search. So it MAY pay to have the same conversations again to keep those topics Google fresh.
This is true. If someone is just looking to play around with some friends on a CCB and wants to spend just a few hundred, why bring the question here when most people already know what answer they are going to get will be?
Just go ahead and make the purchase and don't worry about looking back if you already have it in your head that buying a CCB is what you are going to do.
