Help choosing first bass?

[JoshJ]

I've been after a double bass for a few months now, mostly to play rockabilly/psychobilly slap type stuff.
I have read loads of posts exactly the same as this and the usual answer is "wait til you can get a good old one", but like a lot of people I am getting bored and impatient, and like everyone else buying a first bass I only really want to spend around £500.

I've done a lot of ebaying but haven't seen much around my area (York/Leeds/Hull).

I've played a bit of guitar and electric bass, but have never even laid my hands on an upright, so obviously wouldn't be looking for a top quality instrument, but I am fairly serious about learning (preferably without a teacher) and would want something which could take me up to a reasonable standard, or at least something I can sell on to buy a better one.

Can anyone advise me on this? [url="http://york.gumtree.com/york/03/63756203.html"]http://york.gumtree.com/york/03/63756203.html[/url]
It looks cheap and nasty to me, but it's within walking distance and I can afford it, so I'm wondering is it really THAT bad? The guy says it's about 6 years old and has just been sitting unplayed, which I guess means it probably won't be very well set up?
Assuming there are no obvious cracks/splits, none of the strings buzz, the tailpiece isn't broken or jammed, the fingerboard is ebony, and there are no obvious neck repairs... is it worth around £300?

Or would I be better off with a brand new Thomann like these?
[url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/thomann_kontrabass_111.htm"]http://www.thomann.de/gb/thomann_kontrabass_111.htm[/url]
[url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/thomann_kontrabass_111e_bk.htm"]http://www.thomann.de/gb/thomann_kontrabass_111e_bk.htm[/url]

The other one I've got my eye on is this [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/4-4-Stentor-1950-Double-Bass-Bow-Gig-Bag-Extras-/220662146357?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Sting_Instruments&hash=item33607d2535"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/4-4-Stentor-1950-Dou...=item33607d2535[/url]
but would a 4/4 be too big? I'm about 5'11".

Thanks in advance, Josh

Edited September 12, 2010 by JoshJ

[thisnameistaken]

[quote name='JoshJ' post='943249' date='Sep 2 2010, 12:11 PM']Can anyone advise me on this? [url="http://york.gumtree.com/york/03/63756203.html"]http://york.gumtree.com/york/03/63756203.html[/url]
It looks cheap and nasty to me, but it's within walking distance and I can afford it, so I'm wondering is it really THAT bad? The guy says it's about 6 years old and has just been sitting unplayed, which I guess means it probably won't be very well set up?
Assuming there are no obvious cracks/splits, none of the strings buzz, the tailpiece isn't broken or jammed, the fingerboard is ebony, and there are no obvious neck repairs... is it worth around £300?[/quote]

I doubt the board is ebony, but if the thing is structurally sound it's worth £300, certainly you'd have no problem shifting it again for that price if you wanted to.

If your budget is £500 I would recommend spending the rest on a good set of strings and perhaps a professional set-up if it's never had one (which it probably hasn't).

It's quite an old ad though, it might've gone already.

[BobVbass]

Ok... well Thomann's stuff is good gedo-musik.de do some good ones as well but you'll need to pay for them to be set up (£200-£400) depending where you go what you have done etc.

the one on gumtree - your guess is as good as mine, can't tell form the pictures really so you need to take someone along to have a look.

Your best bet is to get a secondhand ply bass (pref an old B&H or something like that) that's been regularly played - they do come up on ebay regularly for between £400-£800; if they won't deliver, ask on here you might find someone that will drop it off for you (or a few people that will shuffle it along)

A better idea for you for the moment would be to hire one - lots of schools/councils have hire schemes and you can get used to playing one for little outlay and risk - I had one for six months, cost me £18! bargain and then I knew what I was loooking for when I went to buy

hope that helps


Bob

PS don't go for a 4/4 - they're a pain to sell on!

[thisnameistaken]

[quote name='bob_pickard' post='943282' date='Sep 2 2010, 12:55 PM']the one on gumtree - your guess is as good as mine, can't tell form the pictures really so you need to take someone along to have a look.[/quote]

I'd be happy to come along with you if you want an opinion, I'm on Bootham so not far away.

[BobVbass]

or plug in a couple of hundred quid extra and get this one - perfect

[url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=92709"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=92709[/url]

worse case it's a great ply bass but you might even end up with it being hybrid or full carved... if only I hadn't just bought one

[JoshJ]

Thanks for quick replies

[quote name='bob_pickard' post='943298' date='Sep 2 2010, 01:02 PM']or plug in a couple of hundred quid extra and get this one - perfect
[url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=92709"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=92709[/url]
worse case it's a great ply bass but you might even end up with it being hybrid or full carved... if only I hadn't just bought one [/quote]
Yeah I've seen that one and it's very very tempting... this one is aswell [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=81001&pid=776185&st=0&#entry776185"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=...mp;#entry776185[/url]

I'm expecting a bit of inheritance money fairly soon so could probably afford to stretch to the first and maybe even 2nd, but transport is a big problem since I don't have a car. I'd also be slightly worried about hurting one of those since it's my first bass, although I'm guessing they're fairly tough if they've lasted 50+ years already.

[quote name='thisnameistaken' post='943288' date='Sep 2 2010, 12:59 PM']I'd be happy to come along with you if you want an opinion, I'm on Bootham so not far away.[/quote]
That would be a massive help (assuming you know what you're talking about! ). I live just round the corner on Gillygate and was planning on walking to Holgate at some point if you're up for it? That's if I don't get talked into getting one of those lovely old B&H's!

Edited September 2, 2010 by JoshJ

[thisnameistaken]

[quote name='JoshJ' post='943326' date='Sep 2 2010, 01:16 PM']That would be a massive help (assuming you know what you're talking about! ).[/quote]

Well I am fairly familiar with cheap basses I bought one myself earlier this year. I can at least tell you if there's anything obviously wrong with it and what bits you might want fettling, who could do it for you and what it'd be likely to cost.

[quote name='JoshJ' post='943326' date='Sep 2 2010, 01:16 PM']I live just round the corner on Gillygate and was planning on walking to Holgate at some point if you're up for it? That's if I don't get talked into getting one of those lovely old B&H's![/quote]

Yeah I could wander over to Holgate with you. If you're arranging to go over there send me a PM with your mobile #, I should be about evenings except Friday (rehearsal).

[JoshJ]

[quote name='thisnameistaken' post='943448' date='Sep 2 2010, 02:51 PM']I can at least tell you if there's anything obviously wrong with it and what bits you might want fettling, who could do it for you and what it'd be likely to cost.[/quote]

You might be my new best friend haha. I'll send you a PM

[Donnyboy]

Interesting - I'm thinking about a D/bass- noting all the tips!

[thisnameistaken]

If anyone's interested he did buy the gumtree bass, I gave him a ride over to look at it and it does need a bit of setup work (strings way too high, bridge on wrong way round! endpin is garbage) but other than that I thought it was a decent student bass with what felt like a decent set of strings on it although I don't know what they were (pale blue windings on the ball ends). I think he paid £300 for it in the end, so with his budget being around £500 he should be able to get it set up nice.

Turned out I knew the seller too from gigging around York, so it was nice to catch up with him.

[JoshJ]

[quote name='thisnameistaken' post='952961' date='Sep 11 2010, 06:12 PM']If anyone's interested he did buy the gumtree bass[/quote]

Yeah, it turned out to be an Antoni, but not the"Debut" hybrid one, it's all laminate. Sorry for not posting an update but it's going really well, my dad had a go at carving the top of the bridge yesterday and it's now a lot easier to play. The only problem is it's developed a bit of a buzz when I play around the 1st and 2nd "fret" on the A string (not when I play it open though), any ideas what that could be?
The action could still do to be a bit lower for slapping, especially on the D and G, and we didn't touch the feet which are a awful fit, but we'll have a go at that another time.

I'm not too sure the bridge was on the wrong way, because the profile of the top seems to match up the ridge in the fingerboard, and the flat side being at the tail end means it's tilted against the string tension rather than towards it. Also when I tried it the other way round the strings sloped even more in the wrong direction. I'll post pics some time to check but it seems fine for now anyway.

I also swapped the crappy wooden tailpiece and plastic tailwire for a Wittner adjustable stainless steel one that I got with the bass, and I'm pretty sure it's improved the sound a lot, I've put the strings on "balls out" which I heard can improve the sound (but forgot you're not supposed to do the E string... I'm going to put them back the other way tomorrow and see if I can tell the difference).

Next jobs I think are to get a nicer endpin and maybe try some weedwackers as the steel strings on it are quite nice (I think) but a bit tight and too loud to slap in a basement flat.

Thanks again for the lift and your expert eye, Kev, and feel free to come and have a look at the new improved version any time.

[thisnameistaken]

Tight, really? I thought they were supple, you should come and play the Evahs on my bass! My strings are quite low (G is about 4mm at the end of the board) but they need to be, they are so stiff. If it's too loud to practice at home maybe look at getting a rubber practice mute, the internets do them for under a tenner. I haven't tried them myself but apparently they make a big difference.

Glad to hear your bass is shaping up well, it was obvious it would improve 1000x with just a little work and with all the bits Jonah bundled in it was a bargain IMO.

The buzzy A string sounds like you might have a little unwanted blip somewhere along your fingerboard. The sort of thing a professional could sort out if it's problematic.

Edited September 12, 2010 by thisnameistaken

[JoshJ]

[quote name='thisnameistaken' post='954074' date='Sep 12 2010, 09:39 PM']Tight, really? I thought they were supple... If it's too loud to practice at home maybe look at getting a rubber practice mute[/quote]
Well maybe it has more to do with the high action or my playing technique, they're fine playing normally but they really ping off the fingerboard when i play slap (it actually sounds ace but so so loud), and I think the dull thud I'm expecting from weedwackers would carry through the walls a lot less.

[quote name='thisnameistaken' post='954074' date='Sep 12 2010, 09:39 PM']The buzzy A string sounds like you might have a little unwanted blip somewhere along your fingerboard. The sort of thing a professional could sort out if it's problematic.[/quote]
Yeah that's what I was thinking... I'm going to leave it for as long as I can get away with not lowering the action any more, but eventually I guess it will need shooting. Don't think I'd attempt that myself though as I didn't even know they had a ridge until I got this one haha.

[BobVbass]

I've got some new weedwackers if you want to try them , never got round to fitting them as I liked the metal strings too much - PM me your address and I'll post them over. They're a lovely shade or red as well



Bob

[thisnameistaken]

Actually if you decide you want to get rid of those steels I might be interested in them, we'd have to figure out what they are first though.

[TheRev]

Lookee here:

[url="http://www.quinnviolins.com/qv_stringidsearch.shtml"]http://www.quinnviolins.com/qv_stringidsearch.shtml[/url]

[Bilbo]

Watch the prices at Quinns. I needed a five string set of Evah Pirazzi Weich's and, in order to get the best price, I had to buy a 4 set from String Mail and the high C from Quinns. Good service from both, however, so its a win win.

[JoshJ]

[quote name='TheRev' post='954806' date='Sep 13 2010, 02:27 PM'][url="http://www.quinnviolins.com/qv_stringidsearch.shtml"]http://www.quinnviolins.com/qv_stringidsearch.shtml[/url][/quote]

When I put in either blue or black at both ends, that site tells me I have Thomastik Superflexible strings... but maybe that's just wishful thinking.

Sorry about the size of these pics but do you all agree on the colours?


Here's the whole thing (with a bonus picture of me and my girlfriend)


I'm sure it hasn't been played much if at all because in 1 week I'm already destroying the "ebonised" finish on the fingerboard, this was perfect last Monday.

That explains the buzz on my A string!

[High5bass]

[quote name='JoshJ' post='955011' date='Sep 13 2010, 04:41 PM']When I put in either blue or black at both ends, that site tells me I have Thomastik Superflexible strings... but maybe that's just wishful thinking.

Sorry about the size of these pics but do you all agree on the colours?


Here's the whole thing (with a bonus picture of me and my girlfriend)


I'm sure it hasn't been played much if at all because in 1 week I'm already destroying the "ebonised" finish on the fingerboard, this was perfect last Monday.

That explains the buzz on my A string![/quote]

Hi Josh,

Colours aside I think you've fitted the strings the wrong way round in the tailpiece - the strings shouldn't appear from behind the tailpiece. Take a look at other images elsewhere on the web. Always happy to be corrected though.

Cheers,
Andrew

[JoshJ]

[quote name='High5bass' post='955069' date='Sep 13 2010, 05:26 PM']Hi Josh,

Colours aside I think you've fitted the strings the wrong way round in the tailpiece - the strings shouldn't appear from behind the tailpiece. Take a look at other images elsewhere on the web. Always happy to be corrected though.

Cheers,
Andrew[/quote]

Yeah they are backwards, I wanted to try them "balls out", following this advice: [url="http://doublebassblog.org/category/jeffweisner"]http://doublebassblog.org/category/jeffweisner[/url] (about halfway down under Double Bass Socialism Part 2)
It's supposed to put more pressure on the bridge and therefore improve the tone somehow... but I realised afterwards that it says to only do the "upper" 3 strings (that does mean ADG, right?). I'm going to swap them back as soon as I can be bothered anyway 'cos I want to see if I can hear the difference, but unfortunately I'm incredibly lazy...

Edited September 13, 2010 by JoshJ