From: rlink@acpub.duke.edu (Robert E. Link)
Newsgroups: alt.guitar.bass,rec.music.makers
Subject: Re: Upright prices
Date: 15 Sep 92 05:07:44 GMT
Followup-To: alt.guitar.bass
Organization: Duke University; Durham, N.C.

In article <1992Sep10.021143.13764@panix.com> rdr@panix.com (Reuben Radding) writes:
>
>So I'm thinking of taking the plunge and buying an upright bass.
>I'm trying to get an idea of how much I can expect to spend. I want
>to get a very playable instrument, but it doesn't have to be top
>of the line. (IT CAN'T BE! $$)
>
>I've seen used ones going for between $475 and $2500. What's a good
>threshold of what not to go *below*?
>
String instrument prices not having much to do with reality your
question could be answered a lot of ways but here's a general idea:
You can find nice old laminated (plywood basses) for between $300 and
$1000. Kay basses tend to have the best sound and are probably the best
made. Avoid Englehardts unless you find one you like the feel of. They
are not set up well for playing when built and few music stores set them
up properly when they sell them. The fingerboards are thin and prone to
uneveness - also they just don't sound good. The old Kays were used in
military bands and travelling bluegrass bands (they are still a favorite
with bluegrass musicians) and they are usually quite beat-up looking
when you find one but they almost always sound good. If you can pick one
up for 500 or 600 it will still be worth the neck reset job you will
probably have to have done eventually. I've seen them at the flea market
around here for $300 with no strings and no bridge (cost you another
$200 to get the thing set up).
I would advise against just walking into a general music store and buying
whatever bass they have on the showroom floor. Unless it's a violin shop
specializing in violin family instruments you're probably going to pay a
ot of money for a piece of junk that will be hard to play. You can get
nice German or Romainian made carved basses (maple and spruce) through
most music stores but you'll pay a LOT! Basic student models list for
$5000 and up!
Your best bet is to take your time and find a used instrument either
through an individual or through a violin (or bass) shop. Talk to the
old timey and country and bluegrass musicians - they tend to be very
tuned into the acoustic instrument market and there's always a lot of
trading and dealing going on in those circles. We're talking about
people who are dedicated to ACOUSTIC music. Also - if you know any
symphony players ask them. Several of the bass players in the NC
Symphony here buy and sell instruments - frequently picking up things
that they'll sell to their students later on. 
Watch the local papers. Recently one of my students saw an ad for a bass
for $1200 - it was way more than he wanted to spend but we went to look
at he bass and it was a very old German instrument with a beautiful rich
sound. It was battered but in one piece. The family was selling it
because their son had been killed a few years before and no one was
playing the bass anymore. We took the bass, had it appraised for over
$10,000, got it fixed up (about $300). This student is VERY happy - and
I can't stand his lessons 'cause the bass sounds a lot better than mine
and I play for a living!
If you want anymore info (sorry if I've been rambling on here) just send
me email. I can tell you some of the new instrument brands I'm familiar
with if you decide to go the music store route and what kinds of prices
to try and bargain for. (I order instruments for my students from time
to time so I've got a lot of catalogue listings)
Good luck - I think you're going to enjoy this!
Robbie Link
rlink@acpub.duke.edu
Newsgroups: alt.guitar.bass