dlloyd Posted August 3, 2008 Share Posted August 3, 2008 (edited) *edit* Edited January 14, 2009 by dlloyd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jakenewmanbass Posted August 3, 2008 Share Posted August 3, 2008 (edited) [quote name='dlloyd' post='253969' date='Aug 3 2008, 10:24 PM']Does anyone have any experience of the Stentor 1438? I'm looking to get my first Double bass, and to buy something I can reasonably expect to not let me down on a gig.[/quote] How much are you looking to spend? Tallboy has a good starter instrument for sale iirc. Never played a Stentor but never heard any bad things, they are what they is... which is cheap. Edited August 3, 2008 by jakesbass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slobluesine Posted August 4, 2008 Share Posted August 4, 2008 i saw these on Ebay... [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180268499381"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=180268499381[/url] they do a solid DB for £1200 and cheaper ones for £500, anyone have any experience with this lot? solid DB's look good!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jakenewmanbass Posted August 4, 2008 Share Posted August 4, 2008 (edited) [quote name='slobluesine' post='254186' date='Aug 4 2008, 10:12 AM']i saw these on Ebay... [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180268499381"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=180268499381[/url] they do a solid DB for £1200 and cheaper ones for £500, anyone have any experience with this lot? solid DB's look good!![/quote] An ex student of mine had one, I played it very briefly. It was quiet with little discernible tone production and I think eventually, irrepairably broke. It did however have a very solid amplified sound. Edit: his was not the solid. Edited August 4, 2008 by jakesbass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jakenewmanbass Posted August 4, 2008 Share Posted August 4, 2008 (edited) [quote name='dlloyd' post='254248' date='Aug 4 2008, 11:19 AM']Found it in the classifieds... certainly tempting, but I wouldn't be able to get to Manchester to pick it up and I don't like the idea of posting a double bass. Any of these look like a good deal? [url="http://www.mevtaylors.co.uk/strings.htm"]http://www.mevtaylors.co.uk/strings.htm[/url] (down at the bottom of the page)[/quote] In one of my regular gigs I use an Antoni that lives in the van, saving me dragging my nice basses around the country and playing them outside in blazing sunshine. It produces a decent sound and has been solid performing for about 18 months now. The build quality is a little poor but it has stood up to some pretty rigourous demands. Decent to start on but for me £500 quid is a lot to spend to realise you then want something better. Which if you get serious you will. But then £3000 is a lot to spend to realise you don't get on with it. It's a tough call. If you have the money I would spend more as you will get it back from an expensive instrument but not a cheap one. So to answer the question: they are a good deal up to a point and are relatively decently made for the price. Edited August 4, 2008 by jakesbass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oscar South Posted August 4, 2008 Share Posted August 4, 2008 My friend bought a Stentor II Cello recently, it sounds great even with the rubbish factory strings and even my parents friend who has 20+ years experiance repairing and building Violins/Cellos etc agreed that it sounded great. Apparently the quality of Chinese laminate instruments has skyrocketed over the last few years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jakenewmanbass Posted August 4, 2008 Share Posted August 4, 2008 [quote name='dlloyd' post='254644' date='Aug 4 2008, 04:35 PM']That's nice to know. The basses I was looking at were the Stentor 1950, which has a solid top for £525 and the 1438, which is all solid for £875.[/quote] FWIW I think spending the extra for solid in this price bracket would not offer the return in improved quality. If you buy one of these I think you'll find the £525 solid top as good enough. Best of luck with it and I look forward to being able to offer some tips and advice when your fingers feel like they are about to drop off Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean-Luc Pickguard Posted August 4, 2008 Share Posted August 4, 2008 (edited) I have the stentor 1950 - solid top ply back & sides. A set of thomastik spirocore improved it a lot. It came with the strings set a bit high and I haven't bothered to adjust the bridge. It sounds good with a K&B Big Twin pickup, but I don't use it live as it can't cut through the band as well as my NS eub and feeds back like a bastard when amplified loud. Normans had the best price when I got mine - its currently £463.45 there: [url="http://www.normans.co.uk/Items/Item.aspx?SKU=1950/c&caSKU=1950/c&caTitle=Stentor%20Student%201950/C%20Double%20Bass%20Outfit%20(3/4%20Size)"]Stentor 1950 at Normans.co.uk[/url] I particularly like the sloping shoulders on the Stentor (sorry the pic's a bit big) Edited August 4, 2008 by Jean-Luc Pickguard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steviedee Posted August 5, 2008 Share Posted August 5, 2008 Hi guys been watching this thread closely as I'm thinking of taken the plunge into the world of double basses anyhoo tried my first one today and I was really sh*te however it was great to try one.... I reckon it'll take a lot of practice. The bass in question was Chinese, which I've heard the odd bad thing about chinese basses but it seemed great to me admittedly I know nothing and it was a good price second hand, and the shop in question has a very good reputation so I don't think they would sell me a pup. Obviously its not gonna be the best bass in the world for under 500 but they will have professionally set the bass up. Are there any good no name chinese basses out there? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheRev Posted August 5, 2008 Share Posted August 5, 2008 [quote name='steviedee' post='255421' date='Aug 5 2008, 02:42 PM']Hi guys been watching this thread closely as I'm thinking of taken the plunge into the world of double basses anyhoo tried my first one today and I was really sh*te however it was great to try one.... I reckon it'll take a lot of practice. The bass in question was Chinese, which I've heard the odd bad thing about chinese basses but it seemed great to me admittedly I know nothing and it was a good price second hand, and the shop in question has a very good reputation so I don't think they would sell me a pup. Obviously its not gonna be the best bass in the world for under 500 but they will have professionally set the bass up. Are there any good no name chinese basses out there?[/quote] I read somewhere (probably on TB) that the Christopher brand basses on Thomann's web site are Chinese made. Dunno if they're any good but they look nice [url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/christopher_db_304_kontrabass_34.htm"]Christopher DB[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
velvetkevorkian Posted August 5, 2008 Share Posted August 5, 2008 The Stentors are IME at the better end of the budget market. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steviedee Posted August 5, 2008 Share Posted August 5, 2008 Just heard the bass is an Antoni which has negative and positive reviews. I've seen the bass brand new for a similar price online as this one and it is second hand, looks new tho. I reckon the shop would have given it a good setup worth a go? Sorry dlloyd if I've hijacked your thread mate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joél Posted August 13, 2008 Share Posted August 13, 2008 I'm going to be renting a Stentor student bass in a couple of weeks, I've heard they're good to start with. I can't imagine them being jaw-droppingly amazing, but for the price I'm not complaining. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OutToPlayJazz Posted August 13, 2008 Share Posted August 13, 2008 If you can, go for the Conservatoire model. I've got one of the Stentor Conservatoire violins & one of my pupils has a Conservatoire 4/4 cello. They really are better than the cheaper models. If you're after something a bit more played in, try Tony Morgan at BassBags on 07976 758727. He'll have plenty of stock in & is usually a lot cheaper than the dealers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OutToPlayJazz Posted August 14, 2008 Share Posted August 14, 2008 You wouldn't happen to have a looper in that pedal collection, would you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeonMig Posted August 15, 2008 Share Posted August 15, 2008 [quote name='dlloyd' post='261708' date='Aug 13 2008, 06:46 PM']I'm imagining some of these will be jaw-dropping, but as you say, there seems to be some correlation with price... [url="http://www.contrabass.co.uk/"]http://www.contrabass.co.uk/[/url][/quote] 20K+ on a bass? That's like a downpayment on a house or a new car or something.... holy crap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tauzero Posted August 26, 2008 Share Posted August 26, 2008 [quote name='NeonMig' post='262914' date='Aug 15 2008, 08:53 AM']20K+ on a bass? That's like a downpayment on a house or a new car or something.... holy crap.[/quote] You should have a look at the "Bows" section. The cheapest one costs 20% more than my pre-loved [1] 2000 NT Thumb (including hard case) cost me. [1] What a truly terrible expression that is Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassBus Posted August 26, 2008 Share Posted August 26, 2008 Try the Violin Shop in Glasgow. I bought my DB there. They have a large stock (for DBs anyway, 10-15 basses). You'll get good advice and prices range from about £500 to £XK. They are also well set up which cannot be said for all DBs you'll find in music shops or the internet. A good setup is esential! [url="http://www.theviolinshop-glasgow.co.uk/"]http://www.theviolinshop-glasgow.co.uk/[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
velvetkevorkian Posted August 30, 2008 Share Posted August 30, 2008 +1 for the Violin Shop- they have a good range of basses and bows, as well as accessories, and are pretty happy to let you try stuff out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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