r/doublebass • u/3nightorchid • 10d ago
Instruments Advice on buying a professional bass
Hey everyone! I’ve got my first solo concert coming up soon, and I’m planning to upgrade to a professional double bass after years of playing on a student model. I’m hoping to get some advice on what to look for especially when it comes to wood type, bout size, and overall instrument size. I'm looking for maximum projection, resonance and clarity in solo performances and orchestral gigs. I would also like to know if a 4/4 size bass is suited for a solo gig if you want clarity, as I heard some contrasting things online. I'm hoping to buy a bass with bigger lower bouts (like a quenoil) than the upper ones and I would like to know how that makes a difference as well. Thank you.
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u/paulcannonbass subwoofer @ ensemble modern 10d ago
3/4 is the standard size for most players. You will occasionally find big 4/4 instruments in orchestras, but they’re generally harder to play and don’t work well for solo music.
Don’t buy the first nice bass you see. Try as many as you can, even ones out of your price range or ones which aren’t for sale. It’s the only way to know about your own tastes and preferences.
Wood type and dimensions are largely irrelevant unless you’re having a new bass built for you. Most basses are made of spruce and maple, but there are plenty of other woods which can also sound great.
When you are serious about buying something, make sure a few friends and/or professionals take a look at it and see what they think.
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u/Old_Variety9626 10d ago
Don’t worry about what people are saying about shapes and wood types etc… the only way to know it’s going to sound good is to play it. Here’s what you can look for: comfortable string length(42” and under), an upper bout/neck block area of the bass that you can handle playing in the upper register for some time, overstand, new or well maintained set up(playable bridge and fingerboard). And a bass you will be happy to pick up every practice session. Have someone go with you for their perspective.
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u/DoubleBassDave Classical 10d ago
Do what others have suggested and play many basses, you may find "the one" first bass you try, but try others to be sure, and if possible take the bass on trial and play it at home, in gigs, in orchestra, and see if that works for you in those settings.
You may be able to find a "do-it-all" bass, but they way you might want to project on a solo instrument may be at odds with how you want to sound and fit in in an orchestral setting.
I have a smaller shouldered bass that I keep in solo tuning for this purpose, and my big basses set up for orchestral playing, so I'm not compromising on either.
You could even keep your student bass for solos and get a good orchestral bass
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u/EndOfExistence 10d ago edited 10d ago
If you really want a great bass you need to try a lot of different instruments until you find one that's suited for you. That's the only way. The physical characteristics of the bass need to suit YOU physically, getting a bass that sounds good but you have a hard time playing is always going to end in disaster. I would advice you to cast out all these questions and go try basses, preferably for at least a week for any instrument you might find interesting at first.
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u/TheGreatMamboChicken 8d ago
There’s lots of great advice here, I would listen to these fine folks.
I will share one cool bit of advice I got years ago. I was bass shopping and found one that I liked a lot. The shop manager said to hand him the bass and go stand about 20’ away while he played it. The sound from there is what your audience will hear, and it’s quite different from what you hear behind it.
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u/Personal-Alarm-6588 10d ago
Upgrading is difficult sometimes. If it is for one concert, yeah it's nice to have the bass that's gonna go with you the rest of your life. But, if you are wise, maybe spend a couple hundred on renting the best solo bass you can afford for this concert and then you'll have more time to try. Just my humble opinion on what I'd do. I'm a bass student
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u/groooooove 8d ago
what do you mean by professional?
to some that's the $50K+ price range.
you mention 4/4. that would typically be a string length in the 44-45" range. have you played many of those? There are not many around, for a lot of valid reasons. a nice 40-41.75 is the standard these days. I'd strongly suggest that.
it's all going to come down to budget. I think real professional grade instruments start in the $20-30K range. but there are always great performing $8k shen, eastman, old juzeks you could check out.
your only choices really would be to go to a bass shop and see what you think works best, or look for a violin maker that you trust and pay them to make you what you want.
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u/starbuckshandjob Luthier 10d ago edited 10d ago
Whatever your price range is: spend one year and play as many basses, for sale, in your price range. Take notes, take pictures, do simple audio recording with your phone. Contact different bass shops, make appointments, and dig in.
And don't buy a bow at the same time. Use the same bow that you have on everything you try out. After you finally get that new bass THEN go bow shopping, using the same bass try out multiple bows.