Cecilio CDB-100 Upright Double Bass Review

The Cecilio CDB-100 double bass is a great instrument for beginner bass players as it contains everything you need to get started playing. Cecilio is well-known in the beginner musician market and produces instruments that are affordable enough for beginners to get their feet wet with playing the double bass. We’ll walk through what makes this double bass great below.

Pros

  • Affordable
  • Made with durable material
  • Bridge is adjustable
  • Includes great extras for the price
  • Suitable for the beginner to intermediate bassist
  • Easy to assemble

Cons

  • Does not come pre-assembled
  • Strings are not of highest quality

About the Cecilio CDB-100

As mentioned, the Cecilio CDB-100 is a great double bass for beginners. It contains everything the beginner needs to get started including strings, a Brazilwood bow, rosin, and case. The instrument is well-constructed and can be shipped to your home without needing to drag the bass back from a music shop.

Our only concern is that bass needs to be assembled when it arrives be attaching the bridge and strings. This ensures that the bass is transported safely and the bridge does not break.

Materials

Cecilio used the highest quality materials to make this bass and they were still able to offer it at an affordable price. You’d expect to find the materials used to make this fine instrument on more expensive brands.

The bass is constructed from wood. The back is made with maple while the front with spruce. The fingerboard and pegs are made from oak wood and the tailpiece is premium grade ebony. The wood is aged before constructed.

The tuning head is plated brass and the bridge has a thumb wheel to adjust the height of the bridge.

Easy to Set Up and Play

While the bass does come with the bridge disassembled, the setup is fairly painless. Just unpack the bass, slip the bridge under the strings, and you’re good to go. The bridge is even adjustable so you can raise it to the height you prefer.

The Bow

Included with your purchase you receive an excellent bow. The bow is made from Brazilwood, contains unbleached authentic Mongolian horsehair, and has an ebony frog with mother of pearl inlay. The bow that comes with the Cecilio CBD-100 is superb and competes with top dollar bows.

The Bridge

For many upright bass players, the adjustable bridge included with the Cecilio can make a huge difference. With the bridge, you can vary the action for different styles of music from lower tones used in jazz and in the middle making for an enjoyable general play for a booming sound. You can fine-tune your instrument for the best sound and make the bridge a perfect fit for the double bass.

The Case

The package includes a soft case that is fully padded and has backpack straps with handles. The soft case has enough storage space for your lesson book in the pockets and other accessories.

Price

Normally the Cecilio beginner double bass sells for more than $1,200 directly from the Cecilio online shop. However, you can find it with extra accessories sold directly at Amazon for less than $700.

About Cecilio

Cecilio creates affordable instruments made with quality materials. They want to give students the chance to learn string instruments at an inexpensive price. Over the years, Cecilio has constructed numerous quality instruments in the strings family including violins, violas, cellos, and basses.

The name Cecilio was one of the St. Cecilia patrons and according to legend, she heard music from heaven that she carried around with her in her heart.

Features/Specs

  • Comes in ¾, ½, and ¼ size
  • Rosewood fingerboard
  • Premium grade ebony tailpiece
  • Brass plated tuning machine
  • The endpin plug has a 10mm endpin made with hardwood
  • Comes with a nylon soft padded case with interior pockets
  • Bridge is adjustable
  • Comes with quality rosin
  • Warranty: 1-year

Recommended Upgrades

Strings

The first upgrade we recommend that you make is to the strings. The strings that come with the Cecilio CBD-100 are not the greatest and don’t unlock the real sound of this bass. We highly recommend upgrading to Pirastro Permanent. If you want more options, check out our guide to the best double bass strings.

Pickups

If you want to really up the sound of this double bass, we recommend getting a pickup. This will turn your double bass into an electric bass and will allow you to manipulate the sound to your liking.

Final Thoughts

For any student entering into the world of the double bass, money can become a concern since double basses are quite expensive. With this Cecilio double bass, you get everything you need to start out at an affordable price. You receive the instrument, a soft case, and an excellent bow with rosin that is perfect for any beginner double bass player.

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