Double Bass Wan/Bernadel basses

[powerbass]

I have a Thompson RM200 hybrid. I'm a furniture maker and I think it is a very well made bass - nice ebony parts, solid tuners. Bought used, I've owned it for 2+ years in New England and it has stayed very stable w/no cracks etc. I think the top could be graduated a little thinner maybe

 

[Jones64]

Reviving an old thread. I played a WB at a local pawn shop. Felt great, looked great, but not very loud as some report here, and pretty lifeless sounding. Quick punch and then no sustain or full frequency sound. Kind of low mid-range and that was it. It was a 2012, and had string with red on both ends that I assumed were smittles, but pretty loose on that bass. I think the strings are dead. My question is do you think with new string and a new set up it could be as good as some people report here. I was hoping to find something better than my Shen 100, and in its current shape it didn't seem to be better, but it is hard to tell if it is the bass or the strings. I asked if I could take it home for a day and leave a credit card with them to change the string and see what I think, but they declined. They had lots of guns on the wall, so I didn't push it. Any thoughts are apprecaited.

 

[shwashwa]

Leave the gun, take the bass

 

[bassmanbrent]

Would they let you install some different strings at the store? It'll probably take a couple hours for things to settle in, and it'll still be a little boingy but you should be able to get a good sense of the change. Or take a friend who's more experienced than yourself with you to get their opinion. I think it'd even be worth paying a reputable teacher (or luthier) for their time as an option.

From what I know, a WB should be a step up from a Shen 100, but I guess there are no guarantees...

 

[Wasnex]

Reviving an old thread. I played a WB at a local pawn shop. Felt great, looked great, but not very loud as some report here, and pretty lifeless sounding. Quick punch and then no sustain or full frequency sound. Kind of low mid-range and that was it. It was a 2012, and had string with red on both ends that I assumed were smittles, but pretty loose on that bass. I think the strings are dead. My question is do you think with new string and a new set up it could be as good as some people report here. I was hoping to find something better than my Shen 100, and in its current shape it didn't seem to be better, but it is hard to tell if it is the bass or the strings. I asked if I could take it home for a day and leave a credit card with them to change the string and see what I think, but they declined. They had lots of guns on the wall, so I didn't push it. Any thoughts are apprecaited.

Sound post could be in the wrong place or the bass could just be a dog .

 

[Ed S]

Asking price?

 

[Jones64]

Asking price?

It is a pawn shop, so you never know, but they are asking 3K, but thinking I could get it down some more. That is much cheaper than I usually see them, and half of what you can get new. I actually thought it played great, and felt solid. What I could see inside looked good. Not quite the fit and finish of my Shen as you could see some file marks, and glue outside. The scroll is not perfectly shaped. What I generally see in the comments are terms like"value," and likely these are nice basses for people like me who are playing restaurants and patios, and not the Blue Note or Red Rocks. My deal is that a have a Shen plywood and a nice carved cedar/mahogany loud Robles and my skill and gigs fall somewhere between the two. My style is more Gary Peacock than Ray Brown, but very amateurish versions of either. I wondered if other people feel about their WB over the years as opposed to initially. Do you love them more and more, or feel like after a few years people are longing for an upgrade. I love the Roger Davis idea that are job is to learn to love and bring out the best of whatever bass we have.

 

[Wasnex]

That is much cheaper than I usually see them, and half of what you can get new.

String Emporium lists them for $4950 brand new with a deluxe bag. https://www.stringemporium.com/bernadel.htm

$3k for a carved bass that does not sound as good as your laminate Shen does not sound like a bargain to me.

Are you sure the strings are mittels. If they are floppy and the bass seems like it's not producing any volume, maybe they are weichs. The bass may need more tension to resonate properly. Some basses work with weichs and some don't.

 

[JAKBOUND]

String Emporium lists them for $4950 brand new with a deluxe bag. https://www.stringemporium.com/bernadel.htm

$3k for a carved bass that does not sound as good as your laminate Shen does not sound like a bargain to me.

Are you sure the strings are mittels. If they are floppy and the bass seems like it's not producing any volume, maybe they are weichs. The bass may need more tension to resonate properly. Some basses work with weichs and some don't.

I bought a Deluxe model back in 2004, and it has been fitted with Weichs for the last ten years. Dull and low volume is not what I would expect. I tried out 12 of them at St eve's place and picked the least bright.
I added a raised saddle back in 2009, which Steve sent me FOC from a bass that was totalled in shipment. This made the bass less stiff.
It goes out on the gig with a full circle. I have felt no need to upgrade the bass, for the gigs i use it for. I wish I felt the same way about my playing.
A couple of checks to make.
Is it a maple back? Horizontal flame. The willow ones I played were both less bright.
Check with newer strings. Those on the bass may be from a vintage collection.

 

[Jones64]

Thanks all for you posts, luckily it is snowing very heavy in Colorado, and I can's drive out and impulsively put the WB on my credit card while I am supposed to be helping my son with his algebra homework tonight. I think I have to be realistic, it could like be a very solid bass that can very good with new strings and set up, but may never have character or coolness factor of a famous maker or one that is just amazing instrument. I'll keep you informed, my problem is that I am a sucker for a what seems like a deal, hence my collection of good deal basses that had past their heyday of popularity that nobody wants, and are all decent and none great. Likely I could get along fine with my Shen and my Sandberg forever, but then instead of researching gear I would have to practice or learn how to teach my son algebra. I'm guessing some of you can relate.

 

[Wasnex]

I bought a Deluxe model back in 2004, and it has been fitted with Weichs for the last ten years. Dull and low volume is not what I would expect. I tried out 12 of them at St eve's place and picked the least bright.
I added a raised saddle back in 2009, which Steve sent me FOC from a bass that was totalled in shipment. This made the bass less stiff.
It goes out on the gig with a full circle. I have felt no need to upgrade the bass, for the gigs i use it for. I wish I felt the same way about my playing.
A couple of checks to make.
Is it a maple back? Horizontal flame. The willow ones I played were both less bright.
Check with newer strings. Those on the bass may be from a vintage collection.

I was responding largely to the comment about the floppiness of the strings, which suggest the tension is too low to produce good sound.

Your comments about whether the bass has a maple or willow back are definitely relevant.

It could be several factors and we are all just guessing. Maybe it's a great bass, maybe it's not. But if you ask me, $3k is a lot of cash to put on the line when things are so uncertain.

 

[JAKBOUND]

I was responding largely to the comment about the floppiness of the strings, which suggest the tension is too low to produce good sound.

Your comments about whether the bass has a maple or willow back are definitely relevant.

It could be several factors and we are all just guessing. Maybe it's a great bass, maybe it's not. But if you ask me, $3k is a lot of cash to put on the line when things are so uncertain.

Sorry I messed up . I meant to reply to the OP.

 

[JAKBOUND]

Thanks all for you posts, luckily it is snowing very heavy in Colorado, and I can's drive out and impulsively put the WB on my credit card while I am supposed to be helping my son with his algebra homework tonight. I think I have to be realistic, it could like be a very solid bass that can very good with new strings and set up, but may never have character or coolness factor of a famous maker or one that is just amazing instrument. I'll keep you informed, my problem is that I am a sucker for a what seems like a deal, hence my collection of good deal basses that had past their heyday of popularity that nobody wants, and are all decent and none great. Likely I could get along fine with my Shen and my Sandberg forever, but then instead of researching gear I would have to practice or learn how to teach my son algebra. I'm guessing some of you can relate.

I second the take someone with you who plays. My experience is a much different sound behind the bass playing vs 15 feet in front, preferably 30 feet. I almost got rid of mine until my teacher played it and got a great sound, when I stood next to him it sounded just as I regularly heard it. A zoom recorder is a good shopping aid, with decent headphones.

 

[shwashwa]

I don't know about this base specifically but my experience with these basses in the past has been positive

 

[Eric Hochberg]

Pay a luthier to go with you and take a look and adjust. Bring some good strings, too.

 

[Nathan Eskridge]

String Emporium lists them for $4950 brand new with a deluxe bag. https://www.stringemporium.com/bernadel.htm

$3k for a carved bass that does not sound as good as your laminate Shen does not sound like a bargain to me.

Are you sure the strings are mittels. If they are floppy and the bass seems like it's not producing any volume, maybe they are weichs. The bass may need more tension to resonate properly. Some basses work with weichs and some don't.

That price is for the old Chinese made ones, I believe Steve only has new Romanian made models they run about 7-8k I believe. Website hasn't been updated

 

[Wasnex]

That price is for the old Chinese made ones, I believe Steve only has new Romanian made models they run about 7-8k I believe. Website hasn't been updated

I realize the webpage is out of date, but not that it was that misleading.

I was actually very interested in the Wan Bernadel based on the inferred value. IMHO, the Wan Bernadel videos available here https://www.stringemporium.com/videos.htm sound fabulous for a Chinese bass priced at $4,950, but they were loaded in 2009.

I had no idea that the maker is now Romanian and prices are $7K-$8K. This is out of my price range, so I guess I'll scratch String Emporium off my list of possible place to visit. Probably for the best, as it's really too far anyway.

 

[LouisF]

I think you may be mistaken, but better check with Steve at String Emporium. As I read the website:

1) the Chinese made WAN Bernadel and Rogeri models are currently available at $4950;
https://www.stringemporium.com/bernadel.htm

"With the incredible wood materials available and the old time tested European tradition of upright bass making, these Chinese upright basses are hard to beat. We also include an extensive 3 year warranty."

2) the is a series of UPGRADED Romanian basses, including a GAND Bernadel model for $8500
https://www.stringemporium.com/matteo-gofriller-bass.htm (there is Busan model here as well):

"We now offer four new models of audition level, professional quality basses. We are very excited about these basses. They are made for us in Romania, by an exclusive bass maker and shop. These are not factory made, but all hand carved. These are our chosen models: a wonderful Busan model, a Gofriller, Rogeri and Gand-Bernadel. Each model is aimed at a specific type of player and sound)"

These are TWO VERY DIFFERENT sets of basses. I don't think there is anything misleading on the site. https://www.stringemporium.com/audition-bass.htm

Talk to Steve

 

[Wasnex]

I think you may be mistaken, but better check with Steve at String Emporium. As I read the website:

1) the Chinese made WAN Bernadel and Rogeri models are currently available at $4950;
https://www.stringemporium.com/bernadel.htm

"With the incredible wood materials available and the old time tested European tradition of upright bass making, these Chinese upright basses are hard to beat. We also include an extensive 3 year warranty."

2) the is a series of UPGRADED Romanian basses, including a GAND Bernadel model for $8500
https://www.stringemporium.com/matteo-gofriller-bass.htm (there is Busan model here as well):

"We now offer four new models of audition level, professional quality basses. We are very excited about these basses. They are made for us in Romania, by an exclusive bass maker and shop. These are not factory made, but all hand carved. These are our chosen models: a wonderful Busan model, a Gofriller, Rogeri and Gand-Bernadel. Each model is aimed at a specific type of player and sound)"

These are TWO VERY DIFFERENT sets of basses. I don't think there is anything misleading on the site.

Talk to Steve

Thanks for the clarification: The Distinction is between a Chinese Wan Bernandel and a Romanian Gand Bernadel.

I dug through the website pretty thoroughly about 12-18 months ago. If the link to the professional series basses were there I probably did not look at them, as I want to try and keep the price to <$6K if possible.

They list four professional level basses but it looks like they only have custom pages for the Gofriller and Busan. The link for the Busan page is here: https://www.stringemporium.com/audition-bass.htm

 

[Nathan Eskridge]

I think you may be mistaken, but better check with Steve at String Emporium. As I read the website:

1) the Chinese made WAN Bernadel and Rogeri models are currently available at $4950;
https://www.stringemporium.com/bernadel.htm

"With the incredible wood materials available and the old time tested European tradition of upright bass making, these Chinese upright basses are hard to beat. We also include an extensive 3 year warranty."

2) the is a series of UPGRADED Romanian basses, including a GAND Bernadel model for $8500
https://www.stringemporium.com/matteo-gofriller-bass.htm (there is Busan model here as well):

"We now offer four new models of audition level, professional quality basses. We are very excited about these basses. They are made for us in Romania, by an exclusive bass maker and shop. These are not factory made, but all hand carved. These are our chosen models: a wonderful Busan model, a Gofriller, Rogeri and Gand-Bernadel. Each model is aimed at a specific type of player and sound)"

These are TWO VERY DIFFERENT sets of basses. I don't think there is anything misleading on the site. https://www.stringemporium.com/audition-bass.htm

Talk to Steve

It is my understanding that the Chinese models are no longer made, I may be incorrect however