Hi,
I'm looking to start playing double bass and wondered if anyone happened to have or know of anything that isn't outragiously priced to start
learning.
thanks
Mark
[Edited on 12/6/09 by carnut]
I've only ever palyed a handfull of uprights, but played looooooaaaaddddsss of electric basses.
The handfull of uprights which I have played have been hugely variable in quality. Some were dreadfull, some were very playable. For that reason, more
than ever, you really need to get into a specialist shop who deals with uprights and try them out IMHO.
I don't know about basses, but as far as guitars go, you should buy the best you can afford, get into a shop and play as many as possible. My first guitar was cheap and made me not want to play - crappy budget strings cut my fingers and poor quality instrument gave rubbish tone. You'll be better off paying more for a better instrument as you'll play more, my current guitar cost about ten times as much as my first one, but the difference is huge - I can play comfortably for hours, and the sounds it produces makes me want to play for hours more. Good luck.
Have a look round for a hire place, you might find somewhere that will rent you one in case you decide it's not really what you wanted.
I could sell you a violin and you could pretend it's a bass
There should be a local music society type thing (aimed at young people)... But they usually have a person/group of people who rent out such
instruments...
How about getting into the network and borrowing one until you know its right for you... and then buy one once you know a little more?
I played the DB for about 3 years.. a long time ago!
I would imagine there are some very similar forums online who's members would be much more helpful and plentiful ( in regards to musical
instruments ) than on here. 
I'm not saying that you shouldn't ask this sort of question because this is a kit - car site, just that the help you would receive on a
music forum will almost certainly be more 'tuned' to that particular subject. 
In short - go surfing ! see what surfaces, and good luck!
Being a professional violin player and a string teacher for the local county service I will try to advise as best I can! I wouldn't advise buying the best that you can afford because, for orchestral string instruments, it doesn't always follow that the more expensive the instrument the better it is. I would advise getting a bass guitar to start with: the strings are the same, the notes are the same and it is easier to self teach than a double bass as well as being cheaper to buy initially incase you find that it is not the thing for you after all. As for cost...how long is a piece of string? You are looking at a start price of £500ish for a basic model £800-£80,000 for a decent sounding one! New isn't always best, an older, played in instrument generally produces a better tone that a brand new, mass produced one. Hiring is a good sugestion, and Leicester is a good area for music, I have done many concerts down there. If you know a double bass player or any string players, get them to go with you to try out instruments. Try contacting a local colleges to see if they have any evening classes or local amateur orchestras. Even if you use the classes as a way to hire an instrument! I hope this helps.
quote:
Originally posted by stevegough
I would imagine there are some very similar forums online who's members would be much more helpful and plentiful ( in regards to musical instruments ) than on here.
I'm not saying that you shouldn't ask this sort of question because this is a kit - car site, just that the help you would receive on a music forum will almost certainly be more 'tuned' to that particular subject.
In short - go surfing ! see what surfaces, and good luck!
buy a sax or a piano
Thankyou for your double bass info and advice (esspecially owelly). I did consider playing bass guitar but it doesnt appeal to me like a double bass.
My current plan is to buy a 2nd hand bass as if I find im no good or dont like it, I should be able to sell it for something similar to what I paid
for it but am conerned as a non-bass player I could buy a duff instrument. I do like the idea of hiring but is this expensive? My girlfriend plays
Cello for warwichshire synphony orchestra but they all seem to play very expensive instruments and not particularily what I want (I'd like to
play it mainly in folk and maybe jazz style by plucking rather than classical) Are the new instruments such as the Stentor student bass any good for
a beginner ( I have seen this for approx £350).
Mark
You can vary the tone quite a bit on a regular electric bass, it's cheaper by a mile, AND it takes less space. When you find your way around the
fretboard, AND you still want to play, THEN go buy a double bass.
Also, the double bass is really heavy so when you go to smash it into the ground after the last song of the show, you won't hurt your back.
My nephew is a bass nut - tuba, double bass, bass guitar, bottom end of a piano etc and plays to quite a high standard.
I was very impressed with his electric double bass when I had a go - portable, nice sound, suitable for gigging, pleasant to play, easy to store
without filling up a whole room. I was surprised how reasonably priced it was. The thing it does lack is the big "presence" that makes the
double bassist such a centre of attention in a band!
Having been a guitarist for decades, I am now playing bass (guitar) in a band and loving it - I've started listening to music in a competely
different way!
Good luck
Dave
Having spoken to a double bassist at the weekend, he suggested a beginner stentor as you will get, pretty much, back what you paid for it. The only
reason I suggested the guitar was that it was a way of learning the notes etc at a cheaper cost and to see if it really is what you want to do before
then progressing to the upright, then you can spend, spend, spend. You can always make an instrument sound better by putting on a decent set of
strings and having it set up properly. Good luck and keep us up to date with how it goes.
Sarah (mrs. Owelly)
