Double Bass Looking for a college/professional bass on a budget

[Jamie Inman]

Hello, people of TalkBass! I am currently a senior in high school, and I am looking for a good, solid bass that I can use through college and even into the professional world. The thing is, my budget isn't so great, I would have to look into financing. Can anyone give a maker that is perfect for classical and solo playing, while still being within an affordable range?

 

[Francois Blais]

Do you already play a bass and/or study with a teacher?
He/she may help in that respect as well, just a thought.

 

[Jamie Inman]

I do study with a teacher, and she has been a huge help, but I'm looking for multiple different sources and opinions I could look from

 

[Jim Dombrowski]

There is huge selection of quality basses in the TalkBass classifieds right now.

 

[Groove Doctor]

Where are you located?
What's your budget range? (Min & max prices)

 

[Jamie Inman]

I am in West Texas, near the Odessa/Midland area, and I work as a luthier with a small company, so how much I make a month fluctuates depending on how many repairs need to be made. I can give no guaranteed per month earnings

 

[KUNGfuSHERIFF]

If you're a luthier, why not make your own bass?

 

[Jamie Inman]

I could very well do that, it is a lot cheaper than buying one!

 

[RBPCRC]

You have some great resources pretty nearby. Quantum Bass in Houston, Robertson's and Sons in Albuquerque, and Rumano Solano makes trips to Denton as a sponsor of the Bradetich camps. Mr. Bradetich as well as some of his students own Solano Basses.

 

[Jamie Inman]

How much should I expect to pay for a Solano bass?

 

[KUNGfuSHERIFF]

That depends on what you want him to build you. There's an inside joke among luthiers that Rumano is kind of the Crazy Eddie of bass lutheirie, because he'll build you a nice bass for less money than all the big-name builders, which pisses a lot of people off.

I have one of his relatively early basses from the late '90s, bought secondhand for short money, and I adore it. Even my wife likes how it sounds.

 

[Jamie Inman]

I'll take your recommendation to heart and get a quote from Rumano! Thank you!