Double Bass Would you recommend this upright for a novice

[Slaphound]

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Seems like a decent first bass. Solid Spruce top and a good price. 3/4 Double Bass. Is there a better/smarter way to shop?

I am a rock and roll electric bassist and I frequent TB on the other side of this forum. I want to explore the Double bass and maybe learn how to play Rockabilly, country and Rock and Roll on the Double bass. I'm not a jazz guy. I listened to Mingus some and some other guys but its not my thing.

Anybody have an opinion?
Thanks

 

[Lee Moses]

Palatino--no.

I'll go ahead and give you the link, because someone else will if I don't: Beginner's Guide to Buying a New Bass

 

[Sean Riddle]

You're in New York, so you'll have a lot of great double bass shops to check out. Don't go Palantino, Cremona, or any other piece of junk like that. I would highly recommend looking for a Shen SB 80 or 88. I play a Shen SB 180 hybrid and it's a wonderful bass.

 

[T-Bird]

Hi.

Anybody have an opinion?
Thanks

This subject comes up at least as frequently as the Tube vs. SS debate on the amps sub-forum, You can bet your sweet donkey that everybody has an opinion.

Whether those polar opposite opinions will help You any in the decision making, that's another matter alltogether.

And...

Because the subject comes up frequently, quite a few won't bother to express their opinion. Again.
Since this is a bit of a Pet Peeve of mine, I will bother .

I am a rock and roll electric bassist and I frequent TB on the other side of this forum. I want to explore the Double bass and maybe learn how to play Rockabilly, country and Rock and Roll on the Double bass. I'm not a jazz guy.

You don't mention your budget (and the link oesn't work for me), so I assume the usual "as little as possible".


If You are able to take lessons (recommended to avoid any injuries), rent something your teacher recommends for a while.

OTOH, if You want to tackle the venture by yourself, IMO/IME then any decently set up ply BSO (Bass Shaped Object) will do in the beginning.
Heck, If You score a nice one, it may serve you very well for years.
As an added benefit -IMO anyway- You are forced to learn how to set it up.

I play an old, many times repaired Eastern Block ply, and the everpresent GAS aside, she's all the DB I'll ever need.

Is there a better/smarter way to shop?

An older, wiser Dark Side TBer once said about CCB's and BSO's: "It's better to take advantage of someone elses mistake than make Your own".

Meaning obviously to go used.
An used CCB (Cheap/Crappy Chinese Bass) can be had for a few hundred $.
If You then decide that DB is not for You, you'll recoup your investment.
Something that You won't be able to do if you buy new.

When hunting for used DB's, You obviously have to either take someone who knows how to inspect the instrument for faults (hidden or fully visible) with you, or train a bit to be able to recognise those faults yourself.

Every BSO can be made playable for Rock/Rockabilly/Blues/Country/etc., but no reason to sink Your hard earned into something that does require extensive work and can be had for significantly less.
IMO, again, anyway.

Good luck and have fun.

Regards
Sam

 

[Feral Feline]

Cheap/Expensive is a relative thing.

For me expensive is my Shen (cheap to most here), and cheap is my CCB, which now gets gigged the most since my first bass came down with a severe case of gravity-sickness.

Do your homework, decide what's right for you and have fun!

 

[flbass82]

+1 on what T-bird said. If you can find a teacher, it will be invaluable. DB is a totally different animal than EB. A teacher can also direct you to local shops that do a rent-to-own program (a percentage of your rental goes into the actual payment of the bass should you choose to buy.)

 

[drurb]

I think T-Bird (Sam) has the most informed and reasonable approach to the use of CCBs and the like that you're likely to ever encounter. I think he would agree that there is a tradeoff. If you're willing and able to be a DIYer and recognize that a CCB or CKB is likely to require ongoing tweaking, etc. then, based on your need, desires, and uses, a used one may just fit the bill. At the prices that would be considered, it would be almost disposable.

For any bass to be playable and enjoyable a good setup is required. That's true regardless of the genre. So, it's important that any bass you buy be able to accept and maintain that setup. That's not true for all CCBs.

I'm of the opinion that spending more $$$ up front so that you avoid the downsides of a CCB or BSO is actually better economy when you consider 1) the cost of repairs (even DIY ones if parts are required); 2) time and aggravation (a personal consideration) and 3) the actual enjoyment of playing something that responds better; 4) resale.

I'm talking about the difference between $500 and $1500. Sure, the latter is 3x the former and, if you only have $500, then the latter is impossible. Those are really the conditions where, IMO, a CCB, CKB, or BSO makes any sense. That is, when the choice is those or nothing else and you just want to play.

I think that, in many cases, if people were really educated with regard to the advantages of a better instrument, they'd reconsider and scrape together the dough. Again, sometimes that's just not feasible.

So..... what is your budget?

 

[Slaphound]

I haven't thought it through enough to decide what my budget it. I mean, I have thought about this before and such but I never came as close as I am now to pulling the trigger. I am now considering renting through David Gage in Manhattan. Its a $55 per month fee minimum for three months. I can drive and pick it up so thats sounds easy. Its a light fee considering my experience and my knowledge of the Upright. I am sure that by going thru them, I will get familiar with a shop that would guide me in a purchase and I'm sure that I can get what I need. Am I sure? I don't really know. If after the rental is over and I am not confident that the shop can help me purchase a good bass without spending over 15-16 hundred dollars, then I don't have to go any further. I hope by going this route, I can become more informed about Upright basses, find a teacher and learn about set up some.

Also, as always, I have the TB Double Bass community to turn to for advice and having the instrument in my hands, I will probably be able to ask more intelligent questions. I mean, I know that I can ask all the questions I want but without actually getting involved with it, I'm just spinning my wheels.

Is this agreeable? Thanks

 

[Lee Moses]

I think that sounds like a great plan. $175 to get yourself started with an instrument while you save up to buy and determine what you want to look for is well worth it. David Gage is a highly respected name in the DB community, and ought to get you pointed in the right direction.

 

[T-Bird]

Hi.

I think T-Bird (Sam) has the most informed and reasonable approach to the use of CCBs and the like that you're likely to ever encounter.

Thanks for the kind words drurb, appreciated.

I think he would agree that there is a tradeoff. If you're willing and able to be a DIYer and recognize that a CCB or CKB is likely to require ongoing tweaking, etc. then, based on your need, desires, and uses, a used one may just fit the bill. At the prices that would be considered, it would be almost disposable.

I wholeheartedly agree.

I am now considering renting through David Gage in Manhattan. Its a $55 per month fee minimum for three months. I can drive and pick it up so thats sounds easy. Its a light fee considering my experience and my knowledge of the Upright. I am sure that by going thru them, I will get familiar with a shop that would guide me in a purchase and I'm sure that I can get what I need. Am I sure? I don't really know. If after the rental is over and I am not confident that the shop can help me purchase a good bass without spending over 15-16 hundred dollars, then I don't have to go any further. I hope by going this route, I can become more informed about Upright basses, find a teacher and learn about set up some.

Is this agreeable? Thanks

I'd say that's very agreeable.

Even if it's a CCB or a (former) Eastern Block instrument You end up renting, it has been hand picked and set up by a pro and for that price it's pretty much impossible to beat.
Over here it would be anyway.

Especially with a teacher, IMO 3 months will be plenty of time to evaluate Your desire to play DB, and even though it isn't so over here, from what I have gathered from the net, most places do have rent-to-own programs on Your side of the pond.
For folks who don't play classical music .

Regards
Sam

 

[drurb]

I haven't thought it through enough to decide what my budget it. I mean, I have thought about this before and such but I never came as close as I am now to pulling the trigger. I am now considering renting through David Gage in Manhattan. Its a $55 per month fee minimum for three months. I can drive and pick it up so thats sounds easy. Its a light fee considering my experience and my knowledge of the Upright. I am sure that by going thru them, I will get familiar with a shop that would guide me in a purchase and I'm sure that I can get what I need. Am I sure? I don't really know. If after the rental is over and I am not confident that the shop can help me purchase a good bass without spending over 15-16 hundred dollars, then I don't have to go any further. I hope by going this route, I can become more informed about Upright basses, find a teacher and learn about set up some.

Also, as always, I have the TB Double Bass community to turn to for advice and having the instrument in my hands, I will probably be able to ask more intelligent questions. I mean, I know that I can ask all the questions I want but without actually getting involved with it, I'm just spinning my wheels.

Is this agreeable? Thanks

I think yours is an excellent, well-thought-out, level-headed plan. You're right that actually having a DB in your hands will make a huge difference in terms of your having a more informed approach. I suggest that you use the rental time to scout out purchase options. That way, if and when you get to the point of deciding that the DB is for you, you could pull the trigger on a used instrument that might come up or know where you want to go after the three months. $1500-1600 is a good starting budget. I'm not aware that Gage has much of a stock of entry-level instruments for sale at that price point. FWIW, their web site indicates that they currently have none. They may just have a few for you at another time. In any case, given where you live, you have several good options that would allow you to get away from NYC prices. A good teacher will likely be a big help in that department.

 

[Slaphound]

Thanks for all the great help guys. DRURB. Besides David Gage, do you know of other options in my area? Fortunately, as a Staten Island resident, I am not confined to NYC prices as you say. But I haven't really been able to locate other options. I have my eyes peeled for a good DB teacher and hopefully I find someone who is helpful in all areas of this endeavor.