Upright Bass - what to look for?

[jeremy.c.]

Hey all, I'm a fairly experienced electric bass player (fretless, etc), but I have been itching for years to get an upright acoustic bass. I'm thinking 3/4 size just for the space factor (I'm 6'5" btw so size isn't an issue for me), but I have no idea what to look for, brand or otherwise.
I was thinking of just picking one off craigslist, spending maybe $500 for a decent used bass? I have no idea what to factor in. I want something playable with good enough tone to record. I took some upright lessons many many years ago and will likely take some again and as I already play bass and guitar and drums and piano, I anticipate I will outgrow a starter bass very quickly.
I'm not a jazz guy or a classical guy or a rockabilly guy, this would be for more rock or trip-hop style music, and mainly for the challenge and enjoyment of learning something new!

What price range, brand, features, etc should I be looking out for?

[teleharmonium]

That's a tough one. All of the cheaper basses I have known, I couldn't recommend to anyone. They tend to have problems with the woodwork due to green wood, typically manifested in the joint at the bottom where the endpin is opening up or the side seams opening up, and they never seem to play very well or sound good. If you aren't in a hurry, you might get lucky and find a deal on a Kay or an American Standard. Maybe you can find one with a neck repair, which isn't a big problem if it was repaired correctly and brings down the price a lot. Certain of the Chinese and Romanian new basses aren't bad, but you have to be careful, and the half decent ones seem to start around $1500.

You might want to do some reading at the upright bass forum at talkbass.com to see what the latest intel is on the currently available cheap imports.

[jeremy.c.]

Originally Posted by teleharmonium

That's a tough one. All of the cheaper basses I have known, I couldn't recommend to anyone. They tend to have problems with the woodwork due to green wood, typically manifested in the joint at the bottom where the endpin is opening up or the side seams opening up, and they never seem to play very well or sound good. If you aren't in a hurry, you might get lucky and find a deal on a Kay or an American Standard. Maybe you can find one with a neck repair, which isn't a big problem if it was repaired correctly and brings down the price a lot. Certain of the Chinese and Romanian new basses aren't bad, but you have to be careful, and the half decent ones seem to start around $1500.

You might want to do some reading at the upright bass forum at talkbass.com to see what the latest intel is on the currently available cheap imports.

Thanks! Kay is one of the brands I am familiar with. I was thinking of taking a chance on craigslist, pick up something cheaper that was an impulse buy. I will definitely check out talkbass.com, I have been to gearslutz.com-centric for too long.

[Mojo]

I rarely see anything usable under $900, but you might get lucky. Check out the links page (and just about everything else) here.

If you're set on an eBay or craigslist deal, it pays to make friends with a good local repair person/luthier first; you don't want to be shipping the beast cross-country more than once.

[WorldOfStrings]

There are plenty of great inexpensive uprights out there, but as mentioned above, you really have to be discerning. Older Kay basses, while humble sounding, are built with such awesome gumption and can really take a beating. In a new instrument, Shen makes a great upright for about $1300.

[klaukholm]

You have to make sure the fingerboard is ebony, anything else will sound bad and give you problems. A good setup will cost you so factor that in.
New and appropriate strings need to be factored in as well. The three above factors alone will cost you over $1000.

One of the top session players in LA plays a german bass he picked up at a garage sale for $2000.

If you are serious, I would avoid going too cheap as it will be a money hole.
Watch out for those hungarian fakes that look old but are brand new.
They crack a lot within the year.

good luck

[jeremy.c.]

That's good to know. I put the purchase on hold until we sort out our housing situation. My current place is too small and we're hanging on a short sale so my funds are locked up until it resolves (then I'll be broke if we get it!)...
I keep looking at the adverts and with the economy tanking there seem to be some pretty good deals out there. Maybe if I find a ridiculous deal I'll just jump on it...
Still looking!

[teleharmonium]

Originally Posted by klaukholm

You have to make sure the fingerboard is ebony, anything else will sound bad and give you problems. A good setup will cost you so factor that in.
New and appropriate strings need to be factored in as well. The three above factors alone will cost you over $1000.

One of the top session players in LA plays a german bass he picked up at a garage sale for $2000.

If you are serious, I would avoid going too cheap as it will be a money hole.
Watch out for those hungarian fakes that look old but are brand new.
They crack a lot within the year.

good luck

I disagree about ebony - as a rule Kay/Englehardt and American Standard basses have rosewood boards. I have one of each, the original rosewood boards have about 70 and 40 years on them respectively and both basses sound great and play well (having had normal maintenance). The sound of those quality laminate basses is well loved for bluegrass and jazz; if anything rosewood is the de facto "correct" fingerboard wood for that type of bass.

I love ebony boards too, but they are more prone to cracks and are not generally found in "affordable" basses.

[Beauarts]

Welcome to ShankStrings.com

It'll be a lot more than $900 but shankstrings knows his stuff. Besides the handmade basses I think he reworks some Chinese made ones into usable instruments. He saved my bass a couple times after some disasters and made it sound as good as it's ever been to boot. I know people that drive 10+ hours to work on their basses.

He's about 40 miles south of Harrisburg, PA

[Dewey Cox]

Due to my interest in the folk stylings of Mumford and Sons and the Avett Brothers, I've become quite takien with the idea of taking up playing the upright base...however you guys seem to be talking big bucks!! What sort of price are we talking for the most basic entry level one?...because my financial situation isn't the best at the moment and I am the typical "struggling musician"

[klaukholm]

Define big bucks?
A bass would be between $2000 and $400 000.
If you enlist the help of a professional player to evaluate the basses you are looking at, you can probably weed out the crap and find a usable instrument for 2k (do you have a symphony orchestra near you?).


You dont want to buy something that will crack and warp on you.
Stay away from semi-professional advice.

[Beauarts]

I saw a used Engelhardt plywood bass that had a very nice sound for $900 at local music store. I would buy that any day over a Chinese bass. Keep in mind a set bass strings will be over $100 and you may need a setup too.

[ericdevine]

+1 for the Engelhardt. And a big +1 for getting a used bass. Most new basses you will find in that price range are going to be a bit iffy. Basses, like most instruments will get better with time, so try to find a clean (not abused) bass that is set up properly. Some of the Chinese basses coming out now are pretty good, but the most important thing about them is make sure they are coming from a reputable company and being set up correctly.

[klaukholm]

The best bang for the buck instrument out there right now is a Thomas Martin bass. The top of the line comes in at only $15k (for export) He has a budget line that is under 2/3 of that price.

[Guitarmy]

The Cremona SB-2 is a fairly cost effective and decently playable student 3/4 bass. Chinese, sure, but if set-up well, worth the mid $900 pricetag.