• 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 What bass should I get?

R

Riley09195

Jan 11, 2019
2
0
#1
I am a high school student and am fairly serious about playing the bass. I want to buy my own bass, which is something I should have bought years ago. However I’m hella broke and basses are not cheap. I want to stay below 2750 ideally and want something that will sound good for primarily orchestral playing. I would also prefer not to get a laminate bass simply because I don’t like the tone/quality of most of them, however if I’m not completely against it if it has a nice sound. Are there any bass recommendations? I am also open to buying a used one.
 
Last edited:
#5
A String Emporium carved bass could work for you. Check them out. I think I remember them being around that price when I was doing lots of research for my first double bass/upright bass about two years ago and they kept coming up as a solid option as I read around the internet. I’ve bought other items from String Emporium since then. For me, I eventually ended up going with an Upton Brescian Hybrid and I’m very very happy.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Ross Kratter
#7
Riley09195 said:
I am a high school student and am fairly serious about playing the bass. I want to buy my own bass, which is something I should have bought years ago. However I’m hella broke and basses are not cheap. I want to stay below 2750 ideally and want something that will sound good for primarily orchestral playing. I would also prefer not to get a laminate bass simply because I don’t like the tone/quality of most of them, however if I’m not completely against it if it has a nice sound. Are there any bass recommendations? I am also open to buying a used one.
Click to expand...

I posted the following in a similar thread earlier today. At the risk of appearing to be a dubious echo, I thought I'd post it again here in case you find it useful:

After much experimentation in an effort to make my electric bass sound like a double bass, I decided that it would probably be more productive and satisfying to just learn how to play a double bass, so after a little internet research, I contacted Upton Bass last year and purchased one of their Standard instruments. One of the better decisions that I've made. They were great to work with and my Standard is a pretty impressive bass--it arrived perfectly set up and has a very satisfying tone in all positions. I had a bit of concern about having the bass shipped to me in Utah, but that turned out to be unwarranted. The bass was shipped upright in a wooden crate that had a Tip-N-Tell indicator affixed to it so I could confirm that it had remained upright and had been handled carefully throughout shipping.

As I've gained more experience and have had the opportunity to play other double basses, I continue to be really impressed with my Upton Standard.
 
  • Like
Reactions: statsc
#11
When looking at the Shens, definitely look at the Hybrids people are mentioning, but dont pass up trying out their laminate models either... Set up right, they play and sound fantastic for the money! (and the price difference between the laminate and hybrid Shens will then give you a good chunk of change for a nice bow!)
 
#12
I strongly advise against (in your situation) ordering from an east coast shop or on-line store. You live in a part of the country where there are good local options. Get your hands on the instrument you are considering, play it, work with the shop on setup and best strings for it and drive it home with you.

Great stories of purchases made on-line based on reviews and endorsements are fine for people who live no where near a decent shop. You have a better options. Shop and buy locally.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Who da Ville, Mgaisbacher, tonequixote and 1 other person
#13
TroyK said:
I strongly advise against (in your situation) ordering from an east coast shop or on-line store. You live in a part of the country where there are good local options. Get your hands on the instrument you are considering, play it, work with the shop on setup and best strings for it and drive it home with you.

Great stories of purchases made on-line based on reviews and endorsements are fine for people who live no where near a decent shop. You have a better options. Shop and buy locally.
Click to expand...

I agree with you. There is great value in purchasing in person from a well-staffed, well-stocked, and knowledgeable local shop, if you're lucky enough to live within a reasonable distance to one. I've often suggested that option to long-distance callers/emailers, and referred them to those shops. So I don't think that your suggestion to try to shop locally is bad advice, or coming from a hurtful place.

That said, we - along with a handful of other reputable online shops - have a great many highly satisfied customers who live very close to a "decent" shop; and yet they choose to shop with us anyway, for a variety of reasons. To summarily disregard shops such as ours (and, again, other good online stores) is rather dismissive. On a side note, I take particular exception to the specific singling out of "East Coast Shops." That hits uncomfortably close to home - but perhaps you were just saying that because you're on the left coast... :-)

In any case, good luck to the OP in finding a bass that's right for him, wherever it comes from!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Fretless55 and wathaet
#14
Mark Gollihur said:
I agree with you. There is great value in purchasing in person from a well-staffed, well-stocked, and knowledgeable local shop, if you're lucky enough to live within a reasonable distance to one. I've often suggested that option to long-distance callers/emailers, and referred them to those shops. So I don't think that your suggestion to try to shop locally is bad advice, or coming from a hurtful place.

That said, we - along with a handful of other reputable online shops - have a great many highly satisfied customers who live very close to a "decent" shop; and yet they choose to shop with us anyway, for a variety of reasons. To summarily disregard shops such as ours (and, again, other good online stores) is rather dismissive. On a side note, I take particular exception to the specific singling out of "East Coast Shops." That hits uncomfortably close to home - but perhaps you were just saying that because you're on the left coast... :)

In any case, good luck to the OP in finding a bass that's right for him, wherever it comes from!
Click to expand...


Mark, I am repeat customer of yours (for amps and accessories) and don't disagree with anything you said, it was not meant to single out you or, as you said, other reputable shops out who will work with people outside of their area.

Here we have a person considering a first doublebass, who lives in the shadow of the largest city on the West Coast and has an embarrassment of riches in their own back yard of inventory and shops who will help them and I stand by my specific advice to the OP in this case.

No offense or disrespect intended. I refer people to you all the time and will continue to do so when I feel it is the right advise.
 
  • Like
Reactions: rickwolff, Chris Fitzgerald, Mark Gollihur and 1 other person
#15
TroyK said:
Mark, I am repeat customer of yours (for amps and accessories) and don't disagree with anything you said, it was not meant to single out you or, as you said, other reputable shops out who will work with people outside of their area.

Here we have a person considering a first doublebass, who lives in the shadow of the largest city on the West Coast and has an embarrassment of riches in their own back yard of inventory and shops who will help them and I stand by my specific advice to the OP in this case.

No offense or disrespect intended. I refer people to you all the time and will continue to do so when I feel it is the right advise.
Click to expand...

I figured as such. Thanks for the clarification! Maybe I ought to have a second cup of coffee before visiting TB. ;-)
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back