Beedster

[quote name='Rabbie' timestamp='1379693130' post='2215830'] Import duty is a huge amount I'm afraid. You are looking at 3.2% of the total price, plus shipping, plus vat 20% on this total. I am nearly sure of this because I am currently going through this process myself. For shipping only you are looking at £500, plus £150 duty, plus over £1200 Vat: taking a £5000 bass up to over £6500. Unfortunately for us all the tax man is not silly and has recently "wisened" up to the "gift" scam. You will pay the same amount of tax and duty on a gift, unless you declare that the bass is worth nothing, in which case you pay no tax at all, but if they damage it in transit prepare to cry because there is no insurance cover. [/quote] Yep, that's the truth, you will still pay the same duty if you bring it in yourself as well. You're far better off buying a British or EU instrument. Above people are talking about Bryants as if they're still being produced, did I miss something?

[quote name='geoffbassist' timestamp='1379664034' post='2215305'] I like the Westbury and had a friend who used it on the classical course I was on. It was a nice little bass but I don't know if it would work for jazz though as it was set up for orchestra playing. Eastman have a good reputation, but I haven't played one. One of the really hard things about bass hunting is that when you do find one and go and play it, they usually have a terrible set up and strings meaning you really cant tell anyway. It really is a crazy instrument :-) [/quote] Thanks Geoff, yes, daft instruments, although having spent years negotiating the poor QC of vintage Fenders, I'm not unfamiliar with the phenomena of substantial variation between apparently identical instruments I'm leaning towards the Eastman, no idea why really....

Updated list of options [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Stentor Profundo [/font][/color][url="http://www.stentor-music.com/catalogue/html%20strings/22.htm"]http://www.stentor-m...0strings/22.htm[/url] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Roth & Junius RJKE Master [/font][/color][url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/rothjunius_europe_master_doublebass_2_3_4.htm"]http://www.thomann.d...ebass_2_3_4.htm[/url] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Gedo 3/4 [/font][/color][url="http://www.gedo-musik.de/shop/product.php?id_product=820"]http://www.gedo-musi...?id_product=820[/url] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Thomann Bohemia [/font][/color][url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/media_bdbviewer_AR_313754.html?image=10&small=1"]http://www.thomann.d...mage=10&small=1[/url] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Sinfonica [/font][/color][url="http://www.alangregory.co.uk/musicshop/Sinfonica_Antiqued_Gamba_Style_Double_Bass.html"]http://www.alangrego...ouble_Bass.html[/url] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Westbury [/font][/color][url="http://www.alangregory.co.uk/musicshop/Westbury_Gamba_Shape_Double_Bass.html"]http://www.alangrego...ouble_Bass.html[/url] Eastman http://www.promenademusic.co.uk/eastman-master-series-double-bass Klaus Heffler http://www.thomann.de/gb/klaus_heffler_kontrabass_nr210_3_4_gamba.htm Now help me out here, there must be a few folks out there who've played or owned one or more of the above, or know folks who have? I've read very good things about the Eastman and the Sinfonica. Thoughts seem to be mixed on Stentors and Gedo. EWorth mentioning also that I find the lack of any information about the expensive DBs at Thomann (Roth & Junius and Klaus Heffler) somewhat odd, so I'm assuming these are either new to market instruments, rebranded, or an extremely well kept secret Thoughts........?

Silver Slaps which I bought from you Clarky, they're about the only strings with the balance of low tension and decent tone that work on my old Rumanian. I fend them increasingly quite noisy and a little like TI Flats on EB, just not quite solid enough. I played Evah's on the old German and loved them, and they'll be the starting point when the new instrument arrives, whenever that will be

[quote name='Beedster' timestamp='1371282722' post='2112001'] Not that he needs any more positive feedback but once again Clarky has gone out of his way to get some bass gear to me. A top guy in every respect, and like a fine wine, getting even better with age [/quote] Can't be a***d to write a new comment so copied an old one that still applies

Mic it Steve (the thread isn't about how to record DB per se, more about whether there are any qualities of a DB that make it inherently more recordable). Cheers C

[attachment=144072:Bass Bike.jpg]

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1379505661' post='2213412'] Blimey just how far north does Wales go [/quote] 2 hours 42 minutes each way according to Google Maps! Up here it's not the distance, it's the slow roads, slow drivers and sheep. 18 miles to work can take over an hour (I can cycle it in 1 hour 15, but can't carry a DB on my bike)

Thanks Pete, almost a 6 hour round trip believe it or not. I simply don't have the time for speculative visits to bass shops to be honest, and over and above that, most I've phoned have not had much stock anyway, despite what they say on their respective websites. Hence this thread

I probably haven't explained my motivation very well above so I should clarify (as I did in the DB recording thread). The new bass is a recording/pleasure/safe-gig instrument. I'm not too worried per se about £3k's worth of instrument in the house or even at safe gigs. I however sold the German because I was very worried about £3k's worth of [i]120 year old and very fragile instrument[/i], even in the house. It was very light and never felt especially robust to me, certainly not compared to my Rumainian (aka The Beast). Over and above this, the more I spoke to experts about issues such as humidity, potential problems re previous repairs or unseen damage, I felt a weight of responsibility owning what was as much an antique as a musical instrument. I'd rather not have this feeling about a musical instrument. So, given I went through the same process with EB (i.e, fascination with vintage moving to appreciation of benefits of modern), whilst I'm not happy to own an expensive antique, I am happy to own an expensive new or nearly new DB. My main concerns are, in no particular order tone, playability and durability. My current bass has durability, it has some degree of tone (quite good for bluegrass etc), but is very hard and tiring to play. I've taken it to two luthiers who've both said the same thing; it's not worth spending the several hundred pounds that would be required to make it play and sound like the instrument I'd like. In short, it's going to stay because I like its honesty and the fact that I don't worry about it getting broken in pubs. However, I get very little pleasure from playing it, looking at it or listening to it recorded. What I really want to know from this thread is, if I'm going to spend between £1000 and £3000 on a new (or very nearly new) instrument that will provide the balance of tone, playability and durability that I'm after, on which instrument should I be spending it. To make an analogy with EB, I now play an MIJ '62 RI Precision. It's hard to tell the difference between it and a real '62, it's just cheaper, less likely to prove problematic structurally, and less anxiety inducing. OK, it doesn't have mojo of the real thing, but IMO mojo is highly overrated. Greg's newly acquired Profundo would have been perfect right now but for two things; I'm no fan of what I see as being the rather odd busetto body shape (not a deal breaker if it turns out that the Profundo is the best on the list), and the fact that it's already needed a repair. Don't get me wrong, for £1000 or thereabouts it's no doubt an absolute steal and probably as good as new, but I'm after a bass in which i can be 100% confident, or send back to Thomann or whoever under warranty if there's any problem. I live too far from a decent luthier! I know the problems of buying new, I've read every thread here and on TB. There are of course limitations of doing so which I'll live with. What I really need is this; I've listed 6 new instruments above, I'd really appreciate any thought/experience with any of these, or any alternative new instrument suggestions. Two years ago I would have been looking for the oldest instrument £3000 would get me. Things change eh Chris

[quote name='Bilbo' timestamp='1379489321' post='2213161'] The $64,000 question is 'what does the bass actually sound like'? All the mics, pick ups and pre amps in the world won't polish a turd. For me, it is all about mic placement. And good leads [/quote] Fair points Bilbo, but I'm wondering if there are other factors. For example, if we take a similar question "what makes a bass amplify well live" there does appear to be some consensus that ply instruments are often less problematic feedback wise than solid instruments (I'm not saying this is the case, just that it's what a lot of people appear to believe). Given this, could it be possible that ply instruments don't sound as good recorded despite sounding equally good amplified?

But does the shape add anything to the instrument, it seems sufficiently unexpected to only be explained by some tone or functional advantage? TB is of the option that real men don't play busetto's.......

I'm looking to buy a new DB and, given my old Rumanian will be my main gigging instrument, the newbie is going to be for recording and for pleasure (i.e., having a nice instrument to play at home and at small gigs/jams). The newbie is coming in in part because as well as being hard work to play, looking f*****g ugly and being bloody heavy, the Rumanian really doesn't record all that well. I've tried numerous mics and mic positions, PUPs, different strings, and different action, but there's just no 'body' to it recorded, despite sounding OK in the flesh so to speak. If it recorded well, despite all of the above, I wouldn't be after another instrument So I'm interested in what factors determine whether a bass will record well. Solid versus ply? Swell versus flat? Big instrument versus small? Guts versus steel? Even adjustable versus fixed bridge? OK, I'm sure it's not anything like as simple as yes/no to the above questions, but some pointers would be useful. The old truism with recording electric basses tended to be 'if in doubt, use a Precision'. Is there such a thing as a generic 'good to record' double bass? Cheers Chris

Can anyone explain the busetto shape of the Profundo? Why that shape (looks slightly overweight...)?

[quote name='Beedster' timestamp='1379372990' post='2212014'] Have to say I'm falling in love with the Roth & Junius, given it's £1.5k over budget, someone please tell me it's crap [/quote] [quote name='Bilbo' timestamp='1379416150' post='2212324'] That Roth bass is crap. [/quote] Thanks Bilbo

Ha ha, wise words indeed mate, just going through the inevitable A-B journey via Z! I think all things considered the Stentor Profundo is the best balance of quality and risk management, so will probably be moving in that direction. I'll be keeping a keen eye on Greg's posts over coming weeks & months

[quote name='henry norton' timestamp='1379401471' post='2212105'] You could probably save yourself a few hundred quid finding a model by Roth & Junius without the little carvings around the corners and peg box. It's also a swell back, so that'll add a fair few hundred to the price - If you don't mind a flat back or plainer finish it might be worth trawling around for a different model - if you're in love with the swell back and carvings though you might have to find another 1.5k. Maybe you could sell your car [/quote] Very good advice Henry, although I must admit that I think the carvings are part of the attraction, they shouldn't be (bit like trim and wheels when buying a car I guess), but are. I'm very taken with everything about that instrument to be honest, the finish looks outstanding and the shape is incredible! I'd love to know how it plays and sounds.......

As I'm thinking of buying a DB from them (among others), I'd quite like to know people's thoughts also? C

Have to say I'm falling in love with the Roth & Junius, given it's £1.5k over budget, someone please tell me it's crap

So folks, any views on how the following instruments might compare? Stentor Profundo [url="http://www.stentor-music.com/catalogue/html%20strings/22.htm"]http://www.stentor-m...0strings/22.htm[/url] Roth & Junius RJKE Master [url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/rothjunius_europe_master_doublebass_2_3_4.htm"]http://www.thomann.d...ebass_2_3_4.htm[/url] Gedo 3/4 [url="http://www.gedo-musik.de/shop/product.php?id_product=820"]http://www.gedo-musi...?id_product=820[/url] Thomann Bohemia [url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/media_bdbviewer_AR_313754.html?image=10&small=1"]http://www.thomann.d...mage=10&small=1[/url] Sinfonica [url="http://www.alangregory.co.uk/musicshop/Sinfonica_Antiqued_Gamba_Style_Double_Bass.html"]http://www.alangrego...ouble_Bass.html[/url] Westbury http://www.alangregory.co.uk/musicshop/Westbury_Gamba_Shape_Double_Bass.html C

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1379352828' post='2211634'] You are not that far from me Beedster (Stafford-ish), you are welcome to try my Gedo (I would like to hear what it is meant to sound like anyway!), mine is a solid top with Spirocore strings, no idea how well I have set it up but I can just about get a tune out of it Tim Toft's is near me so I am going to get it looked over next year and get them to set it up the best it can possibly be then at least I know I have got the best I can for my cash for now. [/quote] Thanks Pete, that's very kind and I may well take you up on it. Don't rely on me to make it sound like it should though [quote name='gcordez' timestamp='1379355245' post='2211684'] I bought a stentor profundo on eBay last week. Presumably that's the one you are talking about. Not quite in as new condition and has gone to the Luther to sort of some reglueing of seams and sorting out the nut and bridge, and a decent set of strings. But otherwise a very good purchase of a good bass at great price. Im gonna use it for a bit then move it on for same price plus the money spent on repair/improvements. It should be around £1000. If anyone wants to call dibs on it I can keep you in the loop. Should be finished with it in about 6weeks. Chris, this could be a good option for you? [/quote] Please keep me posted Greg (how many DBs do you have now BTW) Chris

Thanks Keith, I've PM'd today actually so we'll see if the neck is OK for my rather clublike fingers! Amazingly one of these in almost new condition sold on eBay last week for under £1000!