Husband's Birthday, would like to replace the upright bass he had to part with

[Lepidope]

Thank you for that TomLane! Totally diving into that resource!

Yes, good question. Heavy lean toward Jazz.

(He did toy with it across several genres. Was in a low-key $$martini-bar lounge trio which covered pop songs. Huge Zappa fan. Believe the upright was occasionally recruited in a rock band for select songs. But big picture: Jazz.)

You're the bee's knees.

 

[Tom Lane]

Thank you for that TomLane! Totally diving into that resource!

Yes, good question. Heavy lean toward Jazz.

(He did toy with it across several genres. Was in a low-key $$martini-bar lounge trio which covered pop songs. Huge Zappa fan. Believe the upright was occasionally recruited in a rock band for select songs. But big picture: Jazz.)

You're the bee's knees.

Everyone should have at least one lesson with Rufus! I'm still unwrapping the one lesson I had with him!

 

[bherman]

I don’t know the VA/DC area but I’m sure someone will chime in with a bass shop recommendation. You don’t need a music shop, you need someone dedicated to bass. The one I go to does basses only. Do check back and let us know how it’s going.

and if things don’t work out, you’ve already had at least 2 marriage proposals here (only kidding of course)!

 

[pcake]

I would not buy a gift certificate from a store. I would just create one myself to show that you are gifting him the purchase. Let him research and decide where the best deals are.

this is what i would do - create a gift certificate that says "Good for 1 upright bass, value $3500 (or whatever your top comfortable price is). i'd print one up that looks like a real gift certificate or i believe you can buy those in stores, too.

that way, he can choose to buy in store or even order one online knowing the budget he has to work with.

this is a super thing you're doing!

 

[eh_train]

Two resources that might be near you are Thomas Wolf in The Plains, VA or Fretwell Bass in Staunton, VA. Agreed with virtually everybody that you need to go to a bass specialist!

 

[bass12]

Here's my suggestion. Since what he likes will be very personal, make a gift certificate and put it in an envelope. Put on the certificate that it's good for whatever you feel comfortable with, $3K, $4K, or whatever your limit is, toward the purchase of the bass of his choice. Give that to him for his birthday. What a great gift that will be.

Yes. I think that a personal certificate is a much better idea than a certificate at a specific store. When it comes to selecting an upright you don't want your options to be limited to one shop/location.

 

[Lepidope]

Ee!
Again, thank you ALL!
How are you all such wonderful people?
I never expected such a wealth of information and insight.

(Ya'll might even prompt me to touch my untouched violin I've been afraid of falling in love with since I acquired it )

*Mini update:*
I contacted someone who knows of the original bass's status (beautifully restored, professionally active! WANT! But thrilled to hear it's thriving! )

I can request information (from current owner) regarding the neck on the original bass, how those might vary. My husband has long, narrow fingers and I know the neck style was a major draw. (The current owner must be a budding Luthier himself, as he personally restored/performs with the bass; He offered to aid in determining fair pricing as well as other red-flags to look for and so on. He's across the country, but my secondary/tertiary resources are becoming abundant!)

I reached out to Rufus Reid (did I just message a deity!??) and will be speaking with the violinist neighbor this afternoon. Husband and I are attending a performance of hers tomorrow so hopefully stealth connections will be made!

Rad people, please correct/modify/suggest regarding my tentative plan:

The gift process:
-keep reaching out to local resources (thanks to above poster for providing two more leads !)
-utilize these resources to direct me to a local, real-deal small business who might source a small variety of basses for hubs to explore (ideally with a luthier in tow if appropriate).
-arrange a financial allottment ahead of time to inform hubs of (with maybe a $500 bonus wiggle room ) per "homemade gift certificate"
- "gift certificate" will be handed to him as we near said shop. The trip otherwise will be under the guise of "surprise trip" until then.
-Let him feel around for what calls to him, stand back and choke down the wife-tears.

A former bandmade of my husband said that even small/local shops will often agree to payment arrangements ($x/mo.)?

If that's the case I'm EXTRA excited, as I will be able to up the spending limit a bit.


I'm so excited. I thought this was an impossibility. I hope each of you know you have contributed to a powerfully moving experience for someone I love so dearly. Thank you.

I'll keep you updated, and warmly in my heart.

I'm so overwhelmed by your responses.

Gratitude and love to you all.

 

[bass12]

Ee!
Again, thank you ALL!
How are you all such wonderful people?
I never expected such a wealth of information and insight.

(Ya'll might even prompt me to touch my untouched violin I've been afraid of falling in love with since I acquired it )

*Mini update:*
I contacted someone who knows of the original bass's status (beautifully restored, professionally active! WANT! But thrilled to hear it's thriving! )

I can request information (from current owner) regarding the neck on the original bass, how those might vary. My husband has long, narrow fingers and I know the neck style was a major draw. (The current owner must be a budding Luthier himself, as he personally restored/performs with the bass; He offered to aid in determining fair pricing as well as other red-flags to look for and so on. He's across the country, but my secondary/tertiary resources are becoming abundant!)

I reached out to Rufus Reid (did I just message a deity!??) and will be speaking with the violinist neighbor this afternoon. Husband and I are attending a performance of hers tomorrow so hopefully stealth connections will be made!

Rad people, please correct/modify/suggest regarding my tentative plan:

The gift process:
-keep reaching out to local resources (thanks to above poster for providing two more leads !)
-utilize these resources to direct me to a local, real-deal small business who might source a small variety of basses for hubs to explore (ideally with a luthier in tow if appropriate).
-arrange a financial allottment ahead of time to inform hubs of (with maybe a $500 bonus wiggle room ) per "homemade gift certificate"
- "gift certificate" will be handed to him as we near said shop. The trip otherwise will be under the guise of "surprise trip" until then.
-Let him feel around for what calls to him, stand back and choke down the wife-tears.

A former bandmade of my husband said that even small/local shops will often agree to payment arrangements ($x/mo.)?

If that's the case I'm EXTRA excited, as I will be able to up the spending limit a bit.


I'm so excited. I thought this was an impossibility. I hope each of you know you have contributed to a powerfully moving experience for someone I love so dearly. Thank you.

I'll keep you updated, and warmly in my heart.

I'm so overwhelmed by your responses.

Gratitude and love to you all.

I have no doubt that your husband will be absolutely thrilled and very touched by your kindness, generosity and initiative where all of this is concerned. Good on you!

 

[Lynn Seaton]

I agree with the posts about letting your husband pick out an instrument himself. Good upright basses are not usually sold in chain stores. They are sold in specialty shops often run by repair people (luthiers). Gollihur Music has a directory and would be a great place to start. Gollihur Music - Upright Bass Specialists: Instruments, Pickups, Preamps, Amplifiers, and Accessories Let us know how it turns out!

 

[Hubtone]

I agree with the gift certificate. Shopping for a bass is a huge gift in itself. Especially knowing you aren't window shopping and will actually buy one! Personal touch and feel are extremely important; probably moreso on an upright than any other instrument. And, super awesome of you for doing this. Shoot, we all appreciate you for doing it. haha

 

[james condino]

A bass roadtrip sounds like a good idea. Take a little vacation with your husband and visit them all- Fretwell, Wolf, Upton, David Gage, O'Hare, et cetera. Enjoy a little goof off time, drink some wine, eat some fun food, see some local music, enjoy the fall colors ('still happenin' in the Carolinas and no snow!).... you'll get more than a bass bond. While you are on the road checkout all the local Craigslist and marketplace ads for unexpected opportunities. By the time you get back home you'll both be better educated in bassness & you'll likely have made the correct choice for your needs.

 

[Lepidope]

A bass roadtrip sounds like a good idea. Take a little vacation with your husband and visit them all- Fretwell, Wolf, Upton, David Gage, O'Hare, et cetera. Enjoy a little goof off time, drink some wine, eat some fun food, see some local music, enjoy the fall colors ('still happenin' in the Carolinas and no snow!).... you'll get more than a bass bond. While you are on the road checkout all the local Craigslist and marketplace ads for unexpected opportunities. By the time you get back home you'll both be better educated in bassness & you'll likely have made the correct choice for your needs.

A bass roadtrip sounds like a good idea. Take a little vacation with your husband and visit them all- Fretwell, Wolf, Upton, David Gage, O'Hare, et cetera. Enjoy a little goof off time, drink some wine, eat some fun food, see some local music, enjoy the fall colors ('still happenin' in the Carolinas and no snow!).... you'll get more than a bass bond. While you are on the road checkout all the local Craigslist and marketplace ads for unexpected opportunities. By the time you get back home you'll both be better educated in bassness & you'll likely have made the correct choice for your needs.

Amaaazing! Been looking for an excuse to get to the Carolinas anyway thank you thank you all!

So.excited. THANK YOU.

 

[oldNewbie]

Lots and lots of good advice : He has to try as many as possible himself to buy , they are all different, visit luthiers, a road trip is highly recommended , etc. James Condino's list is great.
But he could get a lesson with Rufus Reid ? A bass is a bass, he can trade or fix it or swap later but a lesson with a master is forever. Even if he's not studying with anyone now , and even if he only goes once, will change his musical life.
This is separate from a regular teacher, the one who might go shopping with you .
Well done ma'am.

 

[Jason Hollar]

I second contacting Gollihur music. He’s near Philly, has a well respected online store with an immense amount of info & accessories. Plus they deal in affordable new & used instruments.

No affiliation. Just a happy customer.

 

[Scott Freeman]

I recommend Bob's House of Basses, in Bowie, MD. Great guy and a good selection of basses.

 

[Lepidope]

Lots and lots of good advice : He has to try as many as possible himself to buy , they are all different, visit luthiers, a road trip is highly recommended , etc. James Condino's list is great.
But he could get a lesson with Rufus Reid ? A bass is a bass, he can trade or fix it or swap later but a lesson with a master is forever. Even if he's not studying with anyone now , and even if he only goes once, will change his musical life.
This is separate from a regular teacher, the one who might go shopping with you .
Well done ma'am.

You know, there's a swing in the pendulum I didn't anticipate. This might be the ticket.

Husband's been searching for a postdoc position; this week the possibility of moving internationally was brought to the table. If he had to part with a bass again... My heart threw up at the thought.

Realistically, it's likely his career will remain in the US. But a major move lost the bass, and we are not settled right now. That was not in the front of my mind. Thank you.

So...perhaps this is a reasonable variant?
-Securing him a heady lesson with Rufus Reid (when in Rome and Rome is 75 years young...)
-Prime the piggy bank (/down payment) for bass-to-be
-Shoot for a casual (yet well-researched because you all are AMAZING) little road trip for hubs to "meet" various basses and get back in touch with himself. Maybe I'd have the honor of standing back and watching him, in love, second-hand learning. (We never had a honeymoon. This could do ).

Is it a faux pas to shop-hop to feel around like that? It sounds like that's sort of the nature of the business, just foreign to my world of visual arts. I wouldn't want to act disrespectfully in someone's private business.

More thanks than ever to each of you.

I have to say, I'm a moderator of a massive uh, major-trauma-based support subReddit (if you're a Redditor, you likely know it). You are the anti-Reddit. Ya'll got nothing but love. Your words are more composed, compassionate, and affective than much of the "support" I sift through in that world behind the scenes. Your personalities are palpable.

Thank you for what you contribute to the world. Truly.
Thank you.
All that love is coming right back at you all, tenfold.

Sorry I haven't replied to every PM yet, but please know how moved I am by your community, passion, and selflessness. I hear you, and look forward to responding.

 

[delta7fred]

If there is the possibility of moving abroad you could hire a bass with a view to buying it if you do stay.

I believe that there are shops that will deduct most of the hire charge from the purchase price if you decide to buy (someone please correct me if I am wrong on this).

 

[LouisF]

I think an element might be where the post-doc was. If London, Paris, Berlin, Italy etc, where there are major luthiers, you could pick up a great bass there and ship it back. If it's somewhere more remote/exotic, then that might be more complicated. There's no rush here. Take your US road trip, have fun, play basses, make notes, videos. It will help you decide what you/he is looking for. By that time you will have a clearer view on the post doc - and what kind of bass you want.
Good luck.
Louis

PS: and thanks for your kind words to the TBers!

 

[bolophonic]

Amaaazing! Been looking for an excuse to get to the Carolinas anyway thank you thank you all!

So.excited. THANK YOU.

There is a luthier in Durham NC that specializes entirely in upright basses.