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Double Bass Thinking about getting a cheap one for my first Upright Bass

#41
Marial said:
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.
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No one here who recommended against a CCB/BSO suggested that spending thousands was the only or even the preferred alternative for the OP. It's a false dichotomy. Folks here routinely recommend DBs that are far more affordable. There's also a long way between trying to be Ray Brown or Edgar Meyer and just having something to thump on with friends. Another false dichotomy.

Still, if all one wants is something to thump on, is not concerned with developing much technique, does not care if the thumper can be comfortably played for extended periods, is okay with it needing constant tweaking or just plain falling apart, and is willing to consider it essentially disposable, then I highly recommend a CCB/BSO. No sense having a decent instrument in the hands of someone like that.

Most (virtually all) people who post here are not simply looking for that experience.
 
#42
The Cheap Chinese Bass Yes or No link doesn't work, btw. Or doesn't work for me, at least.

False dichotomies?

Still, if all one wants is something to thump on, is not concerned with developing much technique, does not care if the thumper can be comfortably played for extended periods, is okay with it needing constant tweaking or just plain falling apart, and is willing to consider it essentially disposable, then I highly recommend a CCB/BSO. No sense having a decent instrument in the hands of someone like that.

That last bit is exactly why I stopped visiting this side of TB.
 
#43
Marial said:
The Cheap Chinese Bass Yes or No link doesn't work, btw. Or doesn't work for me, at least.

False dichotomies?

Still, if all one wants is something to thump on, is not concerned with developing much technique, does not care if the thumper can be comfortably played for extended periods, is okay with it needing constant tweaking or just plain falling apart, and is willing to consider it essentially disposable, then I highly recommend a CCB/BSO. No sense having a decent instrument in the hands of someone like that.

That last bit is exactly why I stopped visiting this side of TB.
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Oh c'mon. I defined someone who just doesn't care about learning or progressing, doesn't care about playability of the instrument, and doesn't care to have anything more than a disposable implosion-prone bass. It's hardly inappropriate to say that a decent instrument in the hands of someone with those ideals would be a waste.

You conveniently omitted the last bit. I said:
Most (virtually all) people who post here are not simply looking for that experience. That includes the OP of this thread! Had you been read the other discussions on this topic, you'd have noticed my statements like this:

drurb said:
...I'm of the opinion that spending more $$$ up front so that you avoid the downsides of a CCB or BSO is actually better economy when you consider 1) the cost of repairs (even DIY ones if parts are required); 2) time and aggravation (a personal consideration) and 3) the actual enjoyment of playing something that responds better; 4) resale.

I'm talking about the difference between $500 and $1500. Sure, the latter is 3x the former and, if you only have $500, then the latter is impossible. Those are really the conditions where, IMO, a CCB, CKB, or BSO makes any sense. That is, when the choice is those or nothing else and you just want to play.
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I'm really tired of the trolls pushing the campaign that because most here recommend decent instruments and steer folks away from CCBs/BSOs that we're a bunch of elitist snobs. It just doesn't play.

Oh, and yes, false dichotomies.
 
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#44
This thread has played out pretty much the same way many times. There just doesn't seem to be any way to effectively convey to people like the OP that the $1500 which seems overly expensive now really is about the bottom line for a bass that might serve them well; for a bass that might not end up costing more than it's worth in setup and repairs and/or eventually being written off and abandoned at a 100% loss for the complete POS it is. It may not be what people want to hear but it's the truth. Why would we lie about it?

With folks coming from the bass guitar world there's too often an expectation/hope/fantasy that they'll find a cheap but playable entry level option equating to a used Squier for $150. There really isn't such a thing. Well there kinda is but unless you take an educated look at what goes into building a double bass you're not going to appreciate the honest to god reality of a double bass that works as well as a Squier costing about $1500.

There comes a point where all you can really give someone who won't listen to this basic truth is an advance, "I told ya so" and hope the inevitable crash landing is of some educational value.
 
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#45
I'm not even sure why I feel compelled to post this as it is just preaching to the choir. However, I know lots of guys just don't bother coming here much and Marial's response is one of the reasons. What drub posted was well said, well written, well intentioned, cogent and not the least bit offensive unless you're really spoiling for something to fight about. Interesting that Marial left out the last bit of durb's post. If taking a certain amount of pride in the instruments that give us so much joy and pleasure as well as enjoying the life long pursuit of becoming better musicians makes us elitists, then so be it.
 
#48
hhirbe said:
...and how long did it take for the op to lose this thread?
And why blame him?
Wow.
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I'm not sure how you think people might have responded any better. Tell him something other than the truth?

Y'know this isn't a hack on the bass guitar at all....it's an instrument I play and love. But the reality is that you can get started on it with $200 bucks and an hour a day of practice that doesn't bother anyone. The double bass takes more effort to find, costs more to buy and maintain, is impossible to practice quietly, has greater initial technical issues to overcome, is more difficult to store and transport and all in all is much less forgiving to a casual approach. It's not something to take on lightly. You may think some of us are being ***holes but letting people wander around benighted throwing good money after bad at their illusions is by far the greater disservice than a little bluntness will ever be. I know I'm not wrong saying that many who responded here love the double bass passionately and genuinely want to see people who take it on succeed.
 
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#49
Jeff Bonny said:
...You may think some of us are being ***holes but letting people wander around benighted throwing good money after bad at their illusions is by far the greater disservice than a little bluntness will ever be. I know I'm not wrong saying that many who responded here love the double bass passionately and genuinely want to see people who take it on succeed.
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Perfect!
 
#50
jeffbonny writes: "for a bass that might not end up costing more than it's worth in setup and repairs and/or eventually being written off and abandoned at a 100% loss", this point seems to have been lost on the OP.

He really has NO experience with upright bass and simply didn't read the Newbie thread. I don't know who made up the Fender Squire analogy but it's an apples and oranges comparison anyway.
 
#51
Roger Mouton said:
jeffbonny writes: "for a bass that might not end up costing more than it's worth in setup and repairs and/or eventually being written off and abandoned at a 100% loss", this point seems to have been lost on the OP.

He really has NO experience with upright bass and simply didn't read the Newbie thread. I don't know who made up the Fender Squire analogy but it's an apples and oranges comparison anyway.
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Yes it is very much an apples and oranges comparison but nonetheless one you regularly see both implicitly and sometimes quite overtly from people shopping for a "cheap upright".....and it being apples and oranges was precisely my point.
 
#60
It may be a mistake to add a serious post here, but I'll go ahead. There's simply no doubt that the player in the video CurlyJ posted is enjoying himself and having a very positive musical experience. After all, that's what it's all about! I don't think that any of the folks here who recommend against CCBs/BSOs would ever say that one can't have a blast with one. So, the evidence of a player having a blast with one should come as no surprise. I've gone on record saying that if one absolutely cannot afford something better, and the choice is to buy a CCB/BSO or not play, then, by all means, buy one and do what you can-- as long as you do so with eyes wide open. T-Bird is a player who enjoys such basses with eyes wide open and he has acknowledged the substantial downside of CCBs/BSOs for new players.

The reasons given for not recommending CCBs/BSOs can be found within this thread and many others. I won't repeat them. They involve physical aspects of the instrument and the potential of the player to develop good technique and to progress. The simple fact is that the point of view of experienced players is that $1500 spent on a decent instrument yields a far better value than does $500 on a CCB/BSO. A CCB/BSO represents poor economy. I'm reminded of the players who have returned to these pages after buying a CCB/BSO and dumping it for something better. Their message has been, "You guys were right all along." Real people, real experiences.

So, let's go back to the player in that video. I submit that he would experience even more enjoyment from a better-sounding, better-designed instrument. It would likely be like night and day to him. You don't miss what you don't know. A better instrument would yield a better setup, longevity, and on and on and on.

Again, it's a matter of bang for the buck and, IMO, and in the opinion of many others, CCBs/BSOs represent, for the majority of players, a very poor value. Anyone is free to buy whatever he/she wishes. We just offer our advice. Mine happens to coincide with that of players who have far more experience and expertise than do I. There's just no point in ever shooting arrows at us for the advice we give. Don't like it? Fine. We're not the DB-purchase police. Buy what you want to buy.
 

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