Double Bass Wilfer Prague

[CryingBass]

I am really interested in this bass from the String Emporium in AZ. Steve has given me some confidence that my desire is justified.

I am not a pro player. This will be my upgrade from a 50-year-old Kay plywood, and it will probably follow me to my grave. I play jazz, and I tend to dishonor yet idolize the playing of Scott Lafaro, Dave Holland, etc. I will not be using this in any orchestra. I am more of a 3/4 guy, but from the specs this is not that far off.

Is anyone here willing to talk me out of this? All comments are welcome. Thanks in advance!

 

[Eric Hochberg]

A beautiful bass. I hope you're going to try it out before you buy!

 

[KUNGfuSHERIFF]

Twelve-five is double the price other Wilfer carved basses can be had for new and well set up.

I like them and all, but that’s serious cheese. Like Golia territory. In my mind, the price being equal, a single maker Italian bass beats a German shop bass.

 

[BobKay]

$25,000? I read as $12,500.

 

[wathaet]

Twelve-five is double the price other Wilfer carved basses can be had for new and well set up.

I like them and all, but that’s serious cheese. Like Golia territory. In my mind, the price being equal, a single maker Italian bass beats a German shop bass.

Agreed
Like this bass, about 10k in USD
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[CryingBass]

I appreciate all of the excellent advice. Time for a rethink. Thanks guys.

 

[Eric Hochberg]

Buying a bass just because it's in a certain class is stupid. I've played great Italian basses and others way less than great. Same goes for any other country of origin and brand.

Without playing that Wilfer, you just can't know where it fits in the spectrum. Is it no better than a $6k bass, or as good as a $20k bass? Or is it as good as other $12k basses? Maybe a $6k Wilfer Sheriff writes about will have a $20k sound. These outcomes are all possible. That's why you have to play a lot of basses to find the one that will meet your needs and desires at a price that makes sense to you.

If you like the looks of that Wilfer Prague, either go to Arizona or have it shipped to you for a trial.

 

[Sam Sherry]

I've played great Italian basses and others way less than great. Same goes for any other country of origin and brand.

Echo and amplify that.

a) I've played Prescott basses that were The Voice Of The Bass and Prescott basses that were unimpressive at best.
b) Part of that is that a potentially-tremendous bass can sound like dung if it's not set up to my taste and vice-versa.
c) A gigantic part of that is that my taste is not everybody else's taste. I assume those generic-sounding Prescotts were set up to somebody's taste -- I sure hope so! -- but definitely not mine.

As Tom Baxer, guitar sales artiste at the sometimes-lamented LaSalle Music ("May I put you on hold?") once said, "Sam, everybody leaves convinced that they have just purchased The One. And at least temporarily, they are each correct."

 

[B String]

Echo and amplify that.

a) I've played Prescott basses that were The Voice Of The Bass and Prescott basses that were unimpressive at best.
b) Part of that is that a potentially-tremendous bass can sound like dung if it's not set up to my taste and vice-versa.
c) A gigantic part of that is that my taste is not everybody else's taste. I assume those generic-sounding Prescotts were set up to somebody's taste -- I sure hope so! -- but definitely not mine.

As Tom Baxer, guitar sales artiste at the sometimes-lamented LaSalle Music ("May I put you on hold?") once said, "Sam, everybody leaves convinced that they have just purchased The One. And at least temporarily, they are each correct."

Well that certainly sums it up. I totally agree. Numerous times I've found "the one", only to realize after a short time its maybe not "the one". We tend to be so hopeful and happy at the beginning of the relationship.
I once went to the shop of a famous high end electric bass maker. He had five basses on the rack ready to be shipped. I played all five. Same strings, set up, etc. Two of them were dogs. One was ok. One good, and one was AMAZING!
You have to play and instrument to know if you like it. PERIOD! And even then it may take a little time adjustment.

 

[B String]

By the way. I just saw Roland Wilfer at the NAMM show. He built me a bass, so we have a bit of a relationship. I can tell you he's a wonderful man who loves what he does and has so much family bass building history to lean on. A really nice guy. I think most of the "major" or highly thought of builders are probably similar in their love of occupation.