I Need Some Advice

[John Perrin]

First, let me give you some information about my situation. I've been a bass player for about 14 years now and always played a school instrument. The problem is that I'm no longer in school, and have lost my source for instruments to play on. To make matters worse, I'm paying off student loans and don't have a huge budget to make a purchase.

I would classify my skill level as at least intermediate, and I play mostly orchestral stuff with a little jazz thrown in every now and then. The complication is that I live in West Texas and the closest bass shops I know of are about 300 miles away so I need to have a pretty good idea of what I'm looking for beforehand considering I won't have much, if any, opportunity to try basses out before I buy.

I'm looking at trying to keep my total expenses (for bass, bow, bag, strings, and shipping) to somewhere around $3,500 but I'd like to end up with something playable and I'm hoping maybe you all can point me in the right direction.

[Eric Swanson]

Are you looking for a ply, carved, or hybrid instrument?

[John Perrin]

I'm not particularly picky about whether it's carved/hybrid/laminate as long as it is the best quality I can get. It's fairly dry where I live so a carved bass might take some extra looking after to prevent cracks.

I've done a bit of digging online over the past few weeks and have narrowed my search down to the Calin Wultur, Upton, New Standard, Wan-Bernadel, and Emile Gillet.

I may be able to push my budget a bit closer to $5,000 if I absolutely have to, but really I just need to get something that will be able to last me a few years.

Of course, I'm not married to the whole new bass thing. If anybody knows of a good used bass at around my budget level that I might keep an eye out for I'd appreciate the heads-up.

[Phil Maneri]

For that kinda of bread the Hybrid LaScala New Standard bass would be at the top of my list. Moving between section work and jazz work with a set of Evah Pirrazis on there and I'd think you'd be very happy.

[Eric Swanson]

Originally Posted by Phil Maneri

For that kinda of bread the Hybrid LaScala New Standard bass would be at the top of my list. Moving between section work and jazz work with a set of Evah Pirrazis on there and I'd think you'd be very happy.

+1 on Phil's recommendation.

Of the options you mention, this seems the clear winner in terms of quality, versatility, setup, support, and value per dollar, IMHO.

Other basses may cost fewer dollars, but think about the difference between price and cost.

[John Perrin]

Really, the only things holding me back from the hybrid La Scala is that I'd still need to get myself a good bow to go with it, and they are a bit pricey for what I feel like I can afford. The La Scala hybrid would cost me about $6,500 for the bass and a decent bow and I'd still need to get a bass bag for it which could be another couple hundred.

So far I had been leaning toward the Calin Wultur Corsini fully carved bass with that $300 bow/bag/rosin package. One of the reasons I'm liking this bass is that the D. Tecchler bow that Ken offers looks like just what I want in a bow and for the bass, bow, bag, and rosin it comes out to something like $4,950.

How do you feel the Corsini compares to the La Scala? That $1,700 or so difference in price could buy a lot of groceries or pay a couple of months rent...

I completely agree with you on the Evah Pirrazzi strings though. I had planned to put them on whichever bass I end up with.

Another option to through into the mix might be the Amati KSB Shop Bass which starts at $4,500.

[Phil Maneri]

I never got around to trying Ken's new string basses.

I'm sure they are great, Ken has excellent taste.