Double Bass What bass do I buy?

[damonsmith]

The Upton recommendation is reckless, as usual. Upton does decent work but you a are putting a couple grand into aspects that are not the quality of the bass. If you are already in IL, you will get far, far better deals in the Midwest than on the East Coast. Chicago has some great shops, KC/St. Louis Strings are serious shops, Etc. There are also good shops in Ohio, Texas, etc.
If all you need is D, then just a get a Spiro low E and tune to D when you need it. It is two twists and it is easy enough to tune up and back.

 

[damonsmith]

If the Upton is what you want, get it. Some folk around here will tell you Upton basses are overpriced. You'll have to decide for yourself.

It is way less about being over priced and more about it being a disservice to Upton and to young players when it is thrown out as an answer of "what bass to buy" without disclosing that it is about a very specific experience and all the money doesn't go to the quality of the instrument.
There are literally hundreds of basses already made that are the same quality of what Upton makes in every range and they are thousands of dollars cheaper.
The market for people wanting to pay a couple grand extra for the vibe and experience of having a solid, workhorse instrument made is far smaller than the market for people who want the best bass for their money so they can get to playing it.

In this case, if the OP is dead serious about that 5 string with a high C + extension, then yes, Upton may be the easiest way to get it and it would be money well spent. However, it doesn't seem like the right tool for the job.

 

[6stringUpright]

I play a 5 string bass and I love it. Tomoya Aomori was the original owner, and has YouTube videos from circa 2013 playing the bass. He tuned in 5ths, but I tune in 4ths. It's a Shen copy of a bass built by Robert Spear, a student of Carleen Hutchins. Spear's Singing Woods Violins website is down, so I don't know if he is still making instruments, but I highly recommend investigating Hutchins "violin octet" instruments.

In town, I use a soft case, but the bass has a detachable neck and a hard case for flight. Just got back from a week in Vienna, and the case worked great.

Who said the original poster can only have one bass????

My wallet

 

[6stringUpright]

First, there is no such thing as a standard bass body: violin/gamba corners, flat/round back, etc. But these are extra unusual: less deep and more wide. The idea is the whole family is the same shape, different size. This is based on Carleen Hutchins’s research in acoustics. She wrote a few articles for Scientific American on the topic, though I haven’t read them. I just know the bass sounds good and is loud.

I tune in 4ths, with a 3rd between the low C and E, although it is totally possible to tune to low B. String scale is fairly “normal” 3/4 and technique is the same.

I believe French bass players tune the low string to C, Germans to B.

Here are two videos of me playing the bass, tuned in 4ths.

thanks for the comment! Is started checking out violin octets more and I think they sound really nice. I’m going to try to find a place where I can try it just so I really know what I’m looking at.

 

[6stringUpright]

It is way less about being over priced and more about it being a disservice to Upton and to young players when it is thrown out as an answer of "what bass to buy" without disclosing that it is about a very specific experience and all the money doesn't go to the quality of the instrument.
There are literally hundreds of basses already made that are the same quality of what Upton makes in every range and they are thousands of dollars cheaper.
The market for people wanting to pay a couple grand extra for the vibe and experience of having a solid, workhorse instrument made is far smaller than the market for people who want the best bass for their money so they can get to playing it.

In this case, if the OP is dead serious about that 5 string with a high C + extension, then yes, Upton may be the easiest way to get it and it would be money well spent. However, it doesn't seem like the right tool for the job.

Thanks for your comments, where besides Upton do you suggest to buy a bass?

 

[6stringUpright]

5 strings with high Cs are fairly niche, and if you’re looking to upgrade to a professional-level instrument take your time, play a ton of basses, and find the instrument that speaks to you. In the US I wouldn’t be explicitly looking for a 5 string (with a low B) since good ones are hard to find and they really need a longer string length (43” or even longer) than what’s standard here to sound their best. A bass having an extension or not is also not a deal-breaker since you can always have one added after you’ve purchased the instrument.

I’d probably hold off on commissioning a bass for your first professional-level instrument. Commissioning a bass isn’t a bad idea at all, but it’s hard to do when you haven’t played a lot of basses in your price range (and above and below it) to get an idea of what things you like or dislike.

Thanks for your comment, to reference your comment about adding an extension to an already bought bass. I’m trying my best to avoid that due to a couple colleague’s experiences with them either breaking or the people that put it on do a not so good job. It’s just kind of my decision that I don’t want to take that chance.

I started looking into places where I can try basses of different varieties, can you possibly suggest some places that you would personally recommend?

 

[damonsmith]

Thanks for your comments, where besides Upton do you suggest to buy a bass?

It depends where in Il. you are. If you are South then I'd try St. Louis strings first. If you are north try Chicago. Go to all the Chicago shops and try basses.

 

[damonsmith]

Thanks for your comment, to reference your comment about adding an extension to an already bought bass. I’m trying my best to avoid that due to a couple colleague’s experiences with them either breaking or the people that put it on do a not so good job. It’s just kind of my decision that I don’t want to take that chance.

I started looking into places where I can try basses of different varieties, can you possibly suggest some places that you would personally recommend?

This doesn't actually make sense. The extension was added to the bass at one point or another. If you have one added, you know who did it and they will likely stand by their work.
An extension does add another fragile aspect to an already fragile instrument. You just have to make sure the place you take it to has a good reputation for doing them and not just anywhere.

 

[damonsmith]

Thanks for your comments, where besides Upton do you suggest to buy a bass?

In Chicago, start with A440 and Chicago bass works. @crd & @Eric Hochberg might have some strong opinions about other shops.

 

[crd]

In Chicago, start with A440 and Chicago bass works. @crd & @Eric Hochberg might have some strong opinions about other shops.

I have only good things to say about A440. They do incredible set-up work and are very careful about what instruments they carry. (I will be putting a nice five string bass for sale there in 2025 which sounds great with a high c; if the OP is interested PM me...)

Chicago bass works is great but I don't think they have stock other than a couple of instrument's the owner has built. If someone is thinking of a custom build that could be a great option.

Mark Sonksen also has some great basses in his inventory and is great to work with.

Whatever you buy make sure to take it for a trial for a couple weeks so you can see how the instrument handles on your gigs.

 

[LouisF]

Damon, I'm rarely called reckless. Stubborn, perhaps and possibly arrogant, but rarely reckless.

The implication was that OP wanted an instrument of a specific design. Upton does custom builds. A440 (I know them well) and Mark Sonksen (whom I also know) do not. A "custom build" at St Louis Strings (whom I know only by reputation) would, I doubt, be much less than Upton depending on wood, design etc.

I'm not (recklessly or otherwise) fronting for Upton here (with whom I have a very long and satisfying relationship). Just stating an option.

 

[Eric Hochberg]

I've never heard a bass with high C that I liked the sound of except for some classical soloists using high (ADGC) solo tuning, and I didn't care much for it even then.

Check out Renaud Garcia-Fons. Pretty sweet sounding.

 

[damonsmith]

Check out Renaud Garcia-Fons. Pretty sweet sounding.

Also Barre Phillips and Barry Guy.

 

[damonsmith]

Damon, I'm rarely called reckless. Stubborn, perhaps and possibly arrogant, but rarely reckless.

The implication was that OP wanted an instrument of a specific design. Upton does custom builds. A440 (I know them well) and Mark Sonksen (whom I also know) do not. A "custom build" at St Louis Strings (whom I know only by reputation) would, I doubt, be much less than Upton depending on wood, design etc.

I'm not (recklessly or otherwise) fronting for Upton here (with whom I have a very long and satisfying relationship). Just stating an option.

Right, as I said Upton would be right for the custom build. However, the custom build seemed to be the wrong Idea.

 

[LouisF]

 

[6stringUpright]

This doesn't actually make sense. The extension was added to the bass at one point or another. If you have one added, you know who did it and they will likely stand by their work.
An extension does add another fragile aspect to an already fragile instrument. You just have to make sure the place you take it to has a good reputation for doing them and not just anywhere.

I see where your coming from but that’s just my personal opinion.

 

[SAlcott]

I see where your coming from but that’s just my personal opinion.

I've had three basses with non-mechanical extensions. None of them were in any way fragile.

 

[6stringUpright]

I've had three basses with non-mechanical extensions. None of them were in any way fragile.

I understand, but then again, that’s just my personal opinion.

 

[SAlcott]

Okey dokey.

 

[damonsmith]

I see where your coming from but that’s just my personal opinion.

You are entitled to your own opinion but not your own facts. Most extensions are put on after the fact. If you get a bass that already has one on it, you more than likely just won't know the history.