String Bass Sound

[circusboy]

To iiipopes: McCabe's, a venerated old guitar shop here, sells a string bass from China that they really stand behind (no pun intended). They told me they looked for years for an inexpensive one that they felt had decent quality with minimal setup/reconfiguration (which they do in-house). Last I checked (a year or so ago), they were asking either $600 or $700 for it. I'd trust them on this before dropping $2k.

To kontrabass: Thanks for articulating some of my own thoughts.

[Donn]

$700 for a new double bass is pretty cheap. Minus shipping from overseas, strings, on-site labor and general retail overhead, that thing must have gone out the factory door for less than the price of a good set of strings.

A lot of people buy used, and depending on locale, urgency and how picky you are, it might be pretty easy to find something in that price range. I see one on the local craigslist for $400, complete with "weedwhackers" (crummy strings used for "slap" playing.) Plywood is good - it's supposed to be bad (so it's cheap, which is good), it's much safer in a poorly controlled temperature/humidity regime (solid wood will crack), and some people think the sound might be better for some styles. Old US made plywoods like Kays and Engleharts are worth a look. Often the neck will have been broken one or more times, and it isn't necessarily fatal.

Satisfaction is not guaranteed, there are an awful lot of basses that don't have a good sound across all 4 strings. Figure on setup costs, including new strings.

[iiipopes]

To iiipopes: McCabe's, a venerated old guitar shop here, sells a string bass from China that they really stand behind (no pun intended). They told me they looked for years for an inexpensive one that they felt had decent quality with minimal setup/reconfiguration (which they do in-house). Last I checked (a year or so ago), they were asking either $600 or $700 for it.

I'm sure it is a good bass. What strings and accessories and warranty do you get with it for that price?

[iiipopes]

not $600, but I have a 5-string 1940's Kay (often called the "Chubby Jackson" model) with some nice purfling, new strings, and good overall appearance.

How is the neck joint? Kay basses are good basses, but they all need a neck reset eventually, especially the 5-string models with the added string tension.

[opus37]

As a good example of the string bass sound on tuba, check out Casi el Mejor Trio de Tu Vida on YouTube. There are several clips available.