Double Bass what are your thoughts on a Cremona SB-2

[jazzbox6]

Clink: I absolutely agree. And I do see your point about posters and their arsenals. if you can afford a slew of G&L electrics, then if playing double bass is REALLY what you want, you can afford a decent upright. Otherwise yes, your priorities really aren't with playing upright.

Zeytoun: No worries -- yes I think we are definitely talking past each other here. In fact I was thinking that on the flip side of kids being discouraged by cheap instruments, I have seen plenty of unmotivated kids whose really nice instruments (which their parents bought them, most often) just gather dust in the corner until they pawn them off for beerfest money a year or two down the road.

Regarding pawning prized instruments, I was myself forced to resort to this not long ago and had to let go of some dearly loved vintage pieces that I still played regularly and had planned to hand down to my sons--so I understand exactly what you mean.

In terms of the Cremona SB-2, I think as with all of us who have actually played one, you either had a good experience or a bad one, with little in-between. I happen to have bought a decent one, which I was later able to sell quickly and for a good price. I guess my point is that a bad experience with any make does not preclude good experiences, and anyone asking questions about that make deserves to hear experiences and opinions from all sides.

But again, that said, I don't specifically endorse Cremona basses. I just happened to have paid a fairly low price for an instrument that worked well for me. Perhaps I just lucked out, but that was my experience. It really comes down to the trying out the individual instrument, which purchasing online kind of precludes.

 

[drurb]

Certainly a better instrument makes for a better beginner experience, and it was not my intention to argue otherwise. But high prices DO in fact inhibit would-be musicians from pursuing music. That is indisputable.

Therefore (in my own experience) the motivated would-be musician should be enouraged to purchase the best instrument he or she can afford -- not discouraged from attempting music at all because the recommended instruments are all beyond their means. Are cheap instruments discouraging? Sure. But it does no good to start someone out of the gate on a negative foot by telling them the only instruments they can afford are "unplayable." Speaking as a teacher, that in itself sets the student up to be discouraged. They should instead be enouraged to make the most of what they can afford. Positive encouragement is crucial to succesful musical development, and that includes not trashing a beginners' potentially poor instrument quality.

That said, you may be quite right about the Cremona SB-2 being a hit-or-miss crap-shoot; however, in my experience cheap Chinese instruments are not the only ones subject to quality control issues. I'm by no means an advocate for cheap Chinese imports; I'm simply an advocate for making music available to all.

Seems we're in violent agreement!

 

[drurb]

I guess my point is that a bad experience with any make does not preclude good experiences, and anyone asking questions about that make deserves to hear experiences and opinions from all sides.

Agreed, but I'd like to add that forums like this are useful in that they provide a large collective experience. From what I've experienced, seen, and heard, buying a Cremona is a bad bet, a priori. I understand and appreciate that you are hardly endorsing them. Your views seem quite reasonable.

 

[jazzbox6]

LOL -- violent agreement!

Judging from the weight of arguments being against Cremonas here, I can hardly argue that they are likely a GOOD bet by any means.

 

[Troy Robey]

Sounds like there are a lot of reasons to be wary of picking up a Cremona, but....... I bought one used for $500 4 or so years ago and it's been great. It's my only bass, I take it everywhere, and make a (humble) living with it. It plays pretty well and sounds pretty good. I've played it for thousands of hours and has just needed a couple minor seam repairs and a new bridge. It's by no means my dream bass, but it's getting me there. If it implodes tomorrow, I'll still be grateful for it's years of service.

I'm looking forward to moving on to a better bass before long, but I'll likely keep this one for travel, etc. - as long as it holds up.

PS - I did spend some time with the bass before I bought it and was pretty convinced it was a decent enough instrument to justify the purchase. I don't think I would have bought it sight-unseen.

 

[drurb]

Yes, some Edsels ran just fine.

 

[jazzbox6]

True story -- back in '96 a friend of mine drove her Edsel clear across the country from NH to California and was still driving it around when I went out to visit.

 

[drurb]

True story -- back in '96 a friend of mine drove her Edsel clear across the country from NH to California and was still driving it around when I went out to visit.

Sure-- the ones that didn't self-destruct stayed around!

 

[gbaker]

Yes, some Edsels ran just fine.

As long as we are on a tangent -

Never was an issue of performance or quality. All American cars were sub-par, we just didn't realize it yet.

The Ford Galaxy was the very same car with a different grill and it sold very well for more than a decade.

Edsel was a departure from the design norm in a period of conformity and few would buy one. Said it looked like a car that had sucked on a lemon, when in fact all cars from the period sucked and were lemons, except the VW bug, a niche contender and the only major import.

Then came Honda.

 

[Jake deVilliers]

ALL cars sucked in 1958!

Beetle, Renault, Peugeot, Simca, Fiat & Rover were as poorly constructed as Pontiac, Chevrolet, Mercury, Oldsmobile and Edsel were poorly designed. Sad but true - not the zenith of automobile design but the Mini and Volvo were just around the corner.

 

[drurb]

Never was an issue of performance or quality. All American cars were sub-par, we just didn't realize it yet.

The Ford Galaxy was the very same car with a different grill and it sold very well for more than a decade.

No, it was an issue. Some were built without brake parts! Galaxy was not the same at all. I know, way off topic but check the Link Removed.

 

[Tejano Bass]

Edsels were produced for two years & one month - model years: 1958-60.

It was the Ford Fairlane in '58 - the Galaxy was introduced in '59 as the top-of-the line full-size Ford above the Fairlane 500.

In '58 & '59, Edsel was indeed a seperate platform - but - in 1960 it did in fact share mechanics & body style with the Fairlane until it was discontined after only one month into 1960 model year.

http://www.edsel.com/pages/edsel60.htm

. . . and . . . now, back to our regular programming . . .

 

[pocketgroove]

At the risk of getting verbally ripped apart, I have nothing but
good to say about my $500 Chinese Cremona SB-1. I've had
it four years without the slightest problem. It's the best playing and sounding bass I've ever owned - and I have had a few. Another word about instruments from this Chinese factory: The historic fort I work at was given four Palatino full-size fiddles and likewise they have been great! I wouldn't hesitate to get a Cremona or Palatino again.
I have seen and played other Cremonas as well.
A large part of my living has been made by playing music
these past 28 years.
Denis Havlena
Mackinac Straits, northern Michigan
My simple musical instrument making webpage is at:
Invalid Link Removed

If you don't mind saying, where did you get your bass? I bought a Cremona SB-2 from Elderly Instruments in Lansing last month, and I like it quite a lot. It was $825 with a gig bag, a full set-up and an adjustable bridge mod. My family doesn't have a lot of money, so it was the best I could get, and I opted out of having a graduation party to make the purchase.

I have yet to regret the decision, and I don't think I will. It makes me happy every single morning to wake up and see that bass in my room. Elderly had an older Kay bass, two Engelhardts (a 1970s model and a newer EM-1), and a Shen, in addition to the Cremona when I made my purchase. All the instruments, excluding the Shen and the Cremona, had repaired cracks in the neck and other problems or repairs that made me hesitant to buy one of them. The Shen was very nice, but it was 1/2 sized and out of my price range.

I won't be so bold as to suggest that the Cremona played nicer than the Engelhardts, because the neck on it is quite substantial and requires getting used to, but I have smaller hands, and the width of the necks on the Engelhardts really made them a struggle to play. However, the Cremona had more volume and deeper, better sound quality than the Engelhardts did. That actually disappointed me, because I was certain that I was really going to like the Engelhardt basses and would want to get one.

That being said, I did my research before-hand and seeing everything on here made me pretty apprehensive about the decision to get the Cremona. Now, however, I couldn't be happier, and I think that it wouldn't be a bad idea to be more cautious about discouraging beginners from buying these instruments. After all, $1200 - $1500 isn't plausible for everyone, and if you are careful about your purchase, it is entirely possible to get a nice beginner instrument for less than that.

You guys had me so worried, I almost went the "safer" route and bought an electric bass for around the same price...

 

[nicechuckh]

I'm glad that alot of you have had good experience with low priced basses. I've put it in here in a couple of other posts but I'm unemployed right now, been a musician for many years and I got a Cecilio CDB-100 for 499.99 with free shipping. It was all i could afford and I Love it. I filed the nut, set the soundpost (a few times) replaced the bridge, installed new strings, and it sounds, looks, and plays very well. I play it every day, something I unfortunatly don't do with pedal steel, guitar, etc. but this instrument is a real inspiration to me. When not playing it, I often just look at it, happy as I can be to have it after wanting and upright for so long. Of course I have no idea how long it will last, but there are no gobs of glue inside, no seams that look even questionable and that's after it fell from an upright position to the floor on its side, so it appears to be put together pretty well. There are some decent cheap DB's out there, esp. if you're willing to do some work/adjustments on it.

 

[CurlyJ]

I've got a buddy who is a pro musician. DB isn't his main instrument, but got a Cremona SB-2 back about 2008 and hasn't had any problems with it. I've seen him play it live -- sounds good and holds its own with other instruments. He also used it on several tracks in the studio for me and it sounded fine.

 

[Fretless55]

Actually I was just about to start a new thread asking if there's been any advancements regarding entry level (sub 2K) basses lately, but thought my questions and comments would be less redundant on this existing one.

Back in the day I tried to figure the "bargain" of a CCB (Palatino and Cremona) but realized the wisdom of those who know more was well heeded. Shen seems to always be a safe bet but I wonder about the newer Thompsons...? In truth I've been happy with my odd body Kay and a used Strunal 5/35 hybrid bought at a good price. Neither is a gem but both, well strung and well set up serve my needs nicely.

I'm lucky to live in Portland, with not one but two bass specific luthiers. Their opinions sometimes vary, but the best advice I've received so far while futzing with variables and borderline OCD about the whole thing, after making an informed and affordable choice, is:

"Enjoy your bass.."

It's comforting to know it'll be my skills that'll justify an upgrade in instrument.

 

[rickwolff]

I recently bought a used Shen SB80 for $1,000. I couldn't be happier with it. My 'main' bass is a Shen 7/8 Willow Gemunder flatback which I LOVE, but I wanted a much less expensive and more durable bass for gigs so I bought the SB80. It had originally been bought through Bob Beerlands shop and he had done his usual fabulous job with setup, including the same brand adjustable bridge he put on my 'good' bass. I also paid close to $200 for a set of Spiro Mittels which really made the little plywood bass come alive.

My point: for an UB newbie, if you can find your way to spending a little more to get a Shen, you will get a well made instrument with a good ebony fingerboard (that difference alone is huge) and the much discussed resale issue should not be a problem.

Since the proof is in the pudding I have attached a little clip of me playing this bass through a Lifeline pickup and into a Genz Benz Contour amp (thanks to TB for helping my find that great deal - which I mostly use for slab).

 

[byrdzeye]

I'm another happy Shen owner (SB88) that I was able to get used here in Canada. I played a number of and rented a couple of Strunls, but did not like them at all, mostly due to the mediocre setups on then, and I hadn't yet played a properly set up SB until I visited Upton last summer). I would also say to just avoid the CCB's if all possible. Either rent or save up a few more bucks if you can, its well worth it. Learning and playing music should be fun at all levels; fighting a poor or unplayable instrument of any kind is not.