Double Bass (under £100...)

[Paya]

Hi, I've been looking for a cheap double bass for a while now but don't want to spend over £100 on it as I probably won't take it massively seriously and only use it for a bit of fun, I'm not really bothered about the quality as long as it's playable. Any ideas?

[thisnameistaken]

Not really. You could get a set of strings and with the tenner left over buy some planks and start carving.

[TheRev]

Erm.....no.
You could get something for 100 quid but it won't be playable. It will be bass shaped fire wood.
The best you can hope for is a second hand Stagg electric upright (EUB) but you'll still be looking at :£200-250.
Sorry, but its not a cheap instrument to make and 500 is probably the minimum you can pay and get something that can actually be played - double that for something that can be played and sounds half-decent.

[Beer of the Bass]

Yep, as above really. There are a few folk who have stumbled across decent basses going cheaply, but they tend to be freak occurences down to good luck. Depending where you are, you may be able find a shop which rents out beginner level instruments, which can be a way of testing the water without laying too much money down.

[stingrayPete1977]

Just been here mate, check out my Gedo bass has arrived thread. I started with a Stagg and still use it, it will also get you to grips with the basics to see if its worth persuing, if not you will get most/all your money back

[Basstroker]

Hi! - Funny, we just had yesterday the same question in the German "Musiker Board". My recommondation: Build the bass yourself like this: [url="http://www.un-art.org/lutherie/idxlutherie.html"]http://www.un-art.org/lutherie/idxlutherie.html[/url] . Best, Thomas

[Maude]

A fully laminate Gedo has just gone on ebay for £360, I would've had it but it was a nearly 600 mile round trip away, add on £100 of fuel and I've only saved £30 but lost a warranty as you can buy them for £490 delivered, it did have a set of D'addario hybrid lights on it though.
I've been looking for the cheapest useable bass and decided a Gedo laminate plus a decent set of strings is the best deal I can get and it be playable, still £600 though.
Thomann do one for the same price but free postage so you save £80 but the Gedos look like a nicer finish and there seems to be a lot of praise for them, quite possibly the same basses and the photos make the difference, I don't know :-)

[ubassman]

Buying a double bass is just like buying a car (interestingly enough they are pretty much valued about the same according to the spec ):-

[b]Spending around £40,000[/b] ++ buys you a 'head turner', the porches and Ferraris of basses, the instrument we would buy if we won the lottery.
[b]Spending around £10,000 [/b]buys you the most amazing instrument that we all aspire to own one day
[b]Spending around £1,000 - £3,000 [/b]where its at for most bassists
[b]£500 -£1000[/b] buys you a workhorse but don't expect it to drive quite like a £10k machine
[b]£300[/b] maybe about the cheapest 'run around' that you will get , may have cracks, breaks, be a bit clunky - but hey you only paid £300 !
[b]£100?[/b] Question - what would you expect the performance and quality of a car that you bought for £100 ( clapped out, about to fall to bits, hard to drive, beyond economical repair, etc) ...well expect the same from a £100 double bass !

You may be better off spending your £100 on hiring a reasonable DB and giving it your best shot with a half decent instrument !. Good luck with it !

[Owencf]

[quote name='ubassman' timestamp='1367866880' post='2070452']
Buying a double bass is just like buying a car (interestingly enough they are pretty much valued about the same according to the spec ):-

[b]Spending around £40,000[/b] ++ buys you a 'head turner', the porches and Ferraris of basses, the instrument we would buy if we won the lottery.
[b]Spending around £10,000 [/b]buys you the most amazing instrument that we all aspire to own one day
[b]Spending around £1,000 - £3,000 [/b]where its at for most bassists
[b]£500 -£1000[/b] buys you a workhorse but don't expect it to drive quite like a £10k machine
[b]£300[/b] maybe about the cheapest 'run around' that you will get , may have cracks, breaks, be a bit clunky - but hey you only paid £300 !
[b]£100?[/b] Question - what would you expect the performance and quality of a car that you bought for £100 ( clapped out, about to fall to bits, hard to drive, beyond economical repair, etc) ...well expect the same from a £100 double bass !

You may be better off spending your £100 on hiring a reasonable DB and giving it your best shot with a half decent instrument !. Good luck with it !
[/quote]

Ive never thought about it that way.
As for renting, if your in an area that you can rent one its usually a better idea till you can buy your own decent instrument.
the places ive seen renting cover re-stringing and have insurance so always a plus there.

[matejj53]

I dont even think that there is anything for under £100...
Cheap basses are from about £350,

[cattytown]

I'd add that if you are a newcomer to URB, and looking at acoustic rather than electric it would be a good idea to take along someone who has a little experience to have a look as well. Even with a £500 budget you can look at three basses - one can be a little tired, but absolutely fine, one may be a decent bass that just needs a little TLC (plane FB and a new bridge and setup - that can easily be a couple of hundred though) or a right pile of firewood that will never play right.

I have had friend turn up with a bass and then ask my opinion. I didn't like to give it :-(

I have seen basses repaired by "professionals" that I consider ruined - screwed on fingerboards for example.

Paul

[Greggo]

I'm pretty sure most art councils let you rent them if they have them available. I know someone that rents an upright bass for £12 a year...

[Owencf]

[quote name='Greggo' timestamp='1368437175' post='2076928']
I'm pretty sure most art councils let you rent them if they have them available. I know someone that rents an upright bass for £12 a year...
[/quote]
That really depends,
I know that Aberdeen City/shire do not have any Double bass for rent unless your in primary or secondary school.
Dont know about other shires