Good beginner bass

[Quilly]

Electric bass guitarist here wanting to stick my toe in the water of upright bass playing . In your opinion should I get an electric EUB or an acoustic. , what are your opinions on the entry level ones on Thomann ? Are they thrash ? I don’t want to spend too much money considering I’ll be primarily playing a bass guitar. 

[Burns-bass]

Personally, if you want to play double bass, then buy one. If you want to play EUB, then buy one. They’re different instruments really.

 

Dont buy one new, buy a used one (preferably from someone here) that has been set up and comes with the essentials (like a case).

 

The Thomann ones are fine (I’m selling one cheaply) but if you can spend a bit more something like a Boosey & Hawkes Artia bass is probably a better buy.

 

If you find something you like, share it here. There are plenty of people with lots of experience who are happy to help.

 

 

[Paddy Morris]

All of this advice is good advice.  It's what I should have done, and didn't. Could have saved months, maybe years of faffing about and lots of wasted cash 

 

Buy a used double bass directly from someone who has been playing it themselves.

 

13 hours ago, Burns-bass said:

Personally, if you want to play double bass, then buy one. If you want to play EUB, then buy one. They’re different instruments really.

 

Dont buy one new, buy a used one (preferably from someone here) that has been set up and comes with the essentials (like a case).

 

The Thomann ones are fine (I’m selling one cheaply) but if you can spend a bit more something like a Boosey & Hawkes Artia bass is probably a better buy.

 

If you find something you like, share it here. There are plenty of people with lots of experience who are happy to help.

 

 

 

All of thi

[Staggering on]

Another idea is to rent a DB and try it out, maybe try several before you actually buy one.

Good advice in the other posts, I went EUB first but looking back it would have been better if I went straight to DB.

Good luck.

[itu]

I've had both but as the DB is substantially larger, I sold it. I can manage most gigs with a Clevinger 5 and an old GK 200MB. The bass became much better with a good setup and strings. 

[Quilly]

My old bass tutor has a DB , maybe I should call over to him and see will he give me a run on his DB?

[jonnybass]

Personally I bought my first double bass about 11 months ago after playing electric for 30 years. Loving it but I find  it takes time and allot of practice to sound good. I don’t find it easy to switch between electric and upright yet. Used to have a NS Wav eub, didn’t sound like a double bass, or an electric, didn’t feel like one in terms of the physical part but it did have its own (good imo) sound and I could switch between them easily.

 

jonny

 

[TorturedSaints]

I was on a similar journey. From the bass guitar, I started with a NS Wav (still play it in various Concert Bands) and then moved onto a DB and I am now playing in orchestras.  The DB is more satisfying to play, but the EUB is much more portable and convenient. Top tip, get some lessons, it’s a completely different beast to the bass guitar, and bowing is a black art! (Still having lessons 🤣). I find it’s relatively easy for me to switch between EUB/DB and electric bass as my techniques are different (124 as opposed to one finger per fret). 

[TorturedSaints]

2 hours ago, Quilly said:

My old bass tutor has a DB , maybe I should call over to him and see will he give me a run on his DB?

That sounds like a great idea. 

[MacDaddy]

On 05/10/2025 at 10:30, Quilly said:

Electric bass guitarist here wanting to stick my toe in the water of upright bass playing . In your opinion should I get an electric EUB or an acoustic. , what are your opinions on the entry level ones on Thomann ? Are they thrash ? I don’t want to spend too much money considering I’ll be primarily playing a bass guitar. 

 

I have neither the inclination or the space to play a DB but I do have 2 EUBs which I'm loving playing. 

If you are anywhere near one of the Bassbash's keep an eye on the gear lists and pop along try some gear out and see what you get on with 🙂