Double Bass reviews & info

Workshop problems: recurring problems with instruments that have required repair in our Adelaide workshop. This page is a work in progress and will be updated occasionally.

There are several brands of basses that are advertised regularly on Ebay. They are generally a cheap Chinese plywood bass with hardwood fingerboard and fittings. Don’t buy a 4/4 unless you are well over 6’ tall. ¾ size is what most people play. Setup costs including strings on a bass like this are $600+ and then it is still a bass with inferior fittings, fingerboard, poor build quality and low resale value. To see what is involved in setting up a bass please click here.  

Christopher Double Basses

Made in China. All sizes and many models. It is rare to find factory made basses with this level of workmanship. Excellent quality materials used in the high end models. European spruce and maple, African ebony and German machine heads. Also good innovations and features in their basses. Such as the Spruce crossbar that they put in the back of their ply models that provides stability and is said to improve sound. The removable neck design is available on any of their basses and is a great innovation. They are a company that is interested in what they do and because of this they end up with a superior product. 

Franz Josef Double Basses

Chinese made basses. Average to poor quality workmanship. They have a very distinctive flat spray finish, looks a bit like cardboard. Some of the solid top models we have seen appear to have pressed rather than carved tops. Ebony fingerboard and other fittings are ok but may need replacement at some stage.

Workshop problems: seams coming apart due to build stresses.

Gliga Double Basses

Made in Romania. Good quality varnish and consistent quality craftsmanship. They can sometimes have four piece tops and backs in the lower grade solid models, though this has never caused any problems that we have seen. Generally supplied with a good quality cover and FPS bow(See FPS bows below)

Workshop problems:none

Hofner Double Basses

Made in China. 3/4, 1/2, 1/4 sizes. Solid top and laminated back and sides with ebony fittings. Often sound quite good out of the box however this is due to the lightweight build which can lead to structural problems. Cover is poor quality and lacks sufficient handles to carry the bass safely.

Workshop problems: Poor neck joint which may need to be pinned and re glued. Solid tops are often thin and prone to cracking and splits. Faults in the top are generally terminal and not worth repairing.

Lachlan Parker Double Basses

Made in China. 3/4, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/10 sizes. Solid top, backs and sides with ebony fittings. Build quality and materials used are good and the finish is reasonable for the price. Great instruments in the 1/2 to 1/10 sizes that are wonderful for children because of how they sound. They are lightly built and can be vulnerable to damage but the best there is for sound in these sizes. Good quality cover is included with well placed handles and straps. FPS Bow. (See FPS bows below) 

Workshop problems: Side damage to ribs due to light build.  

Raggetti Double Basses

Made in China. 3/4 solid wood bass with ebony fingerboard and tail piece.The build quality is very good and the fittings used are of good quality. It is heavy bass with no skimping on materials. Early Raggetti basses had some problems with wood that was not dried properly however they have solved this problem. Supplied as bass only without bag or bow.

Salieri Double Basses

Made in China. 7/8, 3/4, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8 sizes. SB1 is laminated, SB2 is plain solid wood with coloured spray finish and SB4 have a medium to high flame in the Chinese maple. Build quality on these instruments is medium to poor. Materials used can be very good but may be mismatched. However good instruments for the price can be found if selected carefully. The supplied cover for the SB4 is good value but for the other models an upgrade is advised. FPS bow. (See FPS bows below)  

Workshop problem: Poor neck joint which may need to be pinned and re glued. 

St Antonio Double Basses

Made in China by Korean company Shimro. 3/4, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8 sizes. They produce a number of laminated basses, hybrid basses (solid top and laminated back and sides) and solid wood instruments. Build quality and materials used are good and the finish is reasonable for the price. The cover supplied is reasonably durable but has inadequate carry handles and the shoulder strap is poor. Covers like this can cause accidents resulting in bass damage and upgraded cover is recommended. FPS Bow. (See FPS bows below)

Workshop problems: none

FPS Bows

Made in China. The quality of these bows can be very good at this price point however there can be large variation in weight and balance so it is best to purchase from a dealer who has a good range to select from.