Lefty Double bass

[Beedster]

6 hours ago, Happy Jack said:

That is so f***ing dangerous, does that f***ing idiot not know what can can take place between flares and a bike chain when  trouser clips have been irresponsibly left out of the equation 😡

[Bonin-in-the boneyard]

I've decided to stick with my NS Omni Bass as I can get a nice fretless kinda upright sound 

But I'll be on the lookout for a used lefty double bass or if I can find a right handed one that's suitable to convert 

Thanks for the input form everyone 👍

Here's a piic of my NS 

 

 

Edited February 23 by Bonin-in-the boneyard

[Frits]

Hi there, I think we 've talked before. I might sell my lefty T&G Martin upright bass, or maybe do a mutual/partial trade.

Great opportunity, extras included. We could have George Martin to help with the shipping.

Correct reasons for selling (personal family issues: wife > cerebral cancer (not kidding))

Best regards

Frits (in Belgium)

 

Edited March 4 by Frits

[NickA]

On 03/03/2025 at 19:11, Frits said:

my lefty T&G Martin upright bass,

These are quite lovely...and I've never seen a leftie before.  They're mostly owned by orchestral players and soloists for whom right handed is the only way.  This kind of quality don't come cheap I think.

[Beedster]

On 03/03/2025 at 19:11, Frits said:

Hi there, I think we 've talked before. I might sell my lefty T&G Martin upright bass, or maybe do a mutual/partial trade.

Great opportunity, extras included. We could have George Martin to help with the shipping.

Correct reasons for selling (personal family issues: wife > cerebral cancer (not kidding))

Best regards

Frits (in Belgium)

 

Beautiful bass, I’m very sorry to hear about your reason for sale, I hope things improve for you all 🙏 

[Bonin-in-the boneyard]

I've actually found a lefty double bass for a very reasonable price £300

It's a Gewa Monnich laminated 

I'm going to hopefully check it out this weekend has everyone had any experience with this make 

And is a laminated double bass okay 

It will be for Jazz

Any help is mutch appreciated 

[NickA]

Good price and will get you started.  

 

Hopefully so cheap for cosmetic reasons not due to it needing "work".   At this price, the slightest bit of work will cost more than the bass

 

Check it doesn't rattle or buzz and that all the seams ( joints between back, sides and front) are solid. Is the bridge straight ( IE not warped)?  How are the strings?  Maybe worth budgeting for a new set ..£200+ (!) but they last forever.

 

Also check the size.  Most basses are 3/4 ( 41" scale) and that's ideal.  A 4/4 ( up to 44" scale) might sound good but also may be too big ( long scale, higher string tension, harder work).  A 1/2 ( less than 39")  is a child's bass and won't do deep notes well.

 

Most jazz musicians tend to gravitate to something more responsive than a basic laminate bass, but as a starter...no worries.

[Bonin-in-the boneyard]

Sound advice thank you 👍

It's a 3/4

[Bonin-in-the boneyard]

This is the Bass would be a long drive put could be worth a look 

 

 

[Beedster]

40 minutes ago, Bonin-in-the boneyard said:

This is the Bass would be a long drive put could be worth a look 

 

 

 

Given how few LH uprights are on the market and especially at that price, I think a long journey wlll be time well spent. Even if you simply buy it to allow you to practice ad perform on a playable instrument while you look for a more suitable long-term solution it would make sense.

 

But you might also get very lucky, the great thing with uprights is that just occasionally a cheap one isn't necessarily a bad one

 

Good luck and keep us posted 👍

[Bonin-in-the boneyard]

Thanks yeah you never know 

Definitely worth a trip down 👍

 

[AndyBass]

That’s the one I mentioned in my post a while back, looks decent. I almost made the trip myself. Hope it turns out to be what you’re after. If not let me know and I’ll buy it off you for £200 😁

I’d say Laminate is fine for getting going on jazz, until you start wanting to pour several thousand pounds into marginally better tone.

[NickA]

1 hour ago, AndyBass said:

pour several thousand pounds into marginally better tone.

Usual thing...every step up in sound doubles the price ( and the insurance premium).

[Beedster]

18 minutes ago, NickA said:

Usual thing...every step up in sound doubles the price ( and the insurance premium).

….or half step 🤔

[Bonin-in-the boneyard]

14 hours ago, AndyBass said:

That’s the one I mentioned in my post a while back, looks decent. I almost made the trip myself. Hope it turns out to be what you’re after. If not let me know and I’ll buy it off you for £200 😁

I’d say Laminate is fine for getting going on jazz, until you start wanting to pour several thousand pounds into marginally better tone.

Yeah thanks 

I did arrange to go down and check it out at the weekend but the seller said next week

But I'm going to pass as I've asked the seller for pictures and some information on the the condition off the bass 

And he didn't reply after 4 messages and still hasn't mentioned the condition then said possibly come down next weekend 

Shame really 

The search continues 👌

 

 

Edited Saturday at 10:52 by Bonin-in-the boneyard

[Burns-bass]

1 hour ago, Bonin-in-the boneyard said:

Yeah thanks 

I did arrange to go down and check it out at the weekend but the seller said next week

But I'm going to pass as I've asked the seller for pictures and some information on the the condition off the bass 

And he didn't reply after 4 messages and still hasn't mentioned the condition then said possibly come down next weekend 

Shame really 

The search continues 👌

 

 

To be fair, at £300 they’re probably not an expert in it.

 

When it comes to double bass, you get what you pay for. I’ve personally poured money into a couple of DBs and it’s cash you’ll never get back. (Case in point is my beautiful Musima bass which sounds and plays wonderfully and would make the perfect starter bass but will pay me back much less than it owes me.)

 

 

[Beedster]

1 hour ago, Bonin-in-the boneyard said:

Yeah thanks 

I did arrange to go down and check it out at the weekend but the seller said next week

But I'm going to pass as I've asked the seller for pictures and some information on the the condition off the bass 

And he didn't reply after 4 messages and still hasn't mentioned the condition then said possibly come down next weekend 

Shame really 

The search continues 👌

 

 

 

DB people live at a slower pace than electric bass people, be patient Young Jedi 👍