Buying my first bass

They are expensive, and a long term investment. I could use some advice.

But first a little about myself. I've been playing the bass guitar for 5 years and decided to pick up the upright earlier this year. I rented one for the duration of the school year and enrolled in a classical strings class and I seem to be progressing well. I have recently developed an affinity for bluegrass music, and have been jamming regularly with a guitar and fiddle player.

I would like to buy a bass, but I don't have much money as I am a university student. The rental I'm playing now is worth about $2,300 (CAD). Is it likely that I would be able to find a bass for just over $1000? I have been told that a basses under $2000 are cheaply built and not worth the money, but there is no way I will be able to afford a $2000 bass for a few years.

I know nothing about brands, models, or what to listen for in tone. What sort of bass do you play? What is your experience? Any tips as to how I might find a good deal?

TL;DR: Need a bass, don't have much cash/experience. Tips?

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 01/21/2011 02:15:08

So, I'm fairly new to the upright bass also. I've been playing upright for about a year, but I've been playing jazz on an electric for the past 15 years, dying to have a savings account big enough to pick up an old Kay, knowing that realistically, I'll always be an electric bass player. Then I really got the bluegrass bug and started my "Top Ramen" diet so maybe one day, I could have the money to buy an upright; or I'd be dead from a horrible diet so it wouldn't matter anymore. Either way, I was gonna relieve the "bug!" So I saved up $600 bucks and started the long process of combing the net, researching what I should be looking for. Everyone had a different answer. So I started looking at reviews of every bass for sale on the internet and found a Bellafina Model 50 on Musician's Friend, for $600 bucks. I looked at several reviews and they were all fairly good. Well the "upright bug" got the best of me, and without seeing it in person or playing it, I bought it...and I love it. I play bluegrass and jazz at a bar in Alaska on occasion, in a very musical population, and everyone always asks me what kind of bass it is. I smile and tell them it's an upright. I say all this, because the key to buying a bass, is finding one that you are happy with.

If you ask me for advice, I might tell you, that unless you have $5000 for a Kay, it's not worth it. If you ask someone else, they might tell you they have a washtub with a broom handle that sounds awesome. If you have the opportunity, demo every bass you walk by, looking for one that you think has a great sound, that you wouldn't mind playing until you can afford that Kay, or whatever it is you would really like, and buy it. I love my Bellafina, and am content on playing it until I win the lottery to buy that Kay I want. I had to do a little bridge work (free, did it myself with some files), I put new strings on it ($125), and a K&K Bassmax piezo on it ($178 with a pre-amp, $96 without), and it has a great tone, great sound, it's perfect for me. You don't absolutely need a pick up on it obviously, but I play in a bar with an amp'ed mandolin and a mic'ed fiddle so it was what I wanted. It's a laminate bass, made in China and imported by The String Centre (WWBW). It comes with a gig bag and a bow. And it cost me, like I said, $600 bones plus accessories (I put the cost of those in parentheses so you could realistically look at what it will all cost you when you get it set-up and comfortable to play). It didn't break the bank, and now I have an upright to rock out on. And if I slip on the ice and use it as a landing pad, oh well. It will save me at least $600 in medical bills for breaking my fall!

I know it's tough pulling the trigger on something like this, but I hope this helps a bit! All I can emphasize right now, is, find one you are comfortable with. At this stage in my life, I'm definitely not comfortable toting around a $1000+ upright, keeping it in a house with three kids under 5, and throwing it in the back of pick-up truck on my way to the next gig. Good luck, and remember, it's music! Have fun with it. If you can't do that, what's the point!?

I did a similar thing. I bought a cheap chinese bass (Stentor) for just under 600 UK, then after a few months got a better bridge and strings put on it. Now Ive got a decent enough instrument to tote round to sessions/gigs, and I dont have to worry too much when it gets the inevitable scrapes and chips.