Saw one in an ad for Thomastic strings. Some dude with a really big five string acoustic upright. Felt like I really wanted one. Anyone got suggestions on manufacturers of these fine instruments?

I'm fairly sure Barrie Kolstein and Thomas Martin both make 5's, Pollman makes 5's, as do a other luthiers.

David, Was it an oversight or did you mean to exclude kay from your list?

I own a 1948 KAY five string. I just had it set up by David Gage here in NYC. It's a very nice sounding and playing bass , with Corelli 380 TX strings . However maybe one day I'll buy a very, very nice carved double bass.

Just had my fourth five string built, which arrived in the US earlier this week, to be shipped to an orchestra member in Puerto Rico next week. Since contemporary fives don't seem to be made by anyone but higher end basses, I have had a lot of inquiries about them.

http://www.gollihur.com/kkbass/doublebass.html
if you're interested in a lower priced but carved instrument. (plug)

My Juzek is a 5, but no one knows whether it was originally ar changed back in the 40's or 50's to a 5.

Monte

Originally posted by George F. Schmidtt
David, Was it an oversight or did you mean to exclude kay from your list?

Um, let me see, I named a few that came immediately to mind, then I wrote, "as do others." I think that probably covers Kay. But considering Kay no longer manufactures anything, I have no idea of what the availability of a Kay 5 string might be.

Kay is now Englehart. Five string Kays are out there. Gage has a nice one four 4K. Kay didn't make many apparently so theye're rare and hard to find.
Check out Ross/ Wharburton for custom 5 strings basses. They apparently are awesome, but we're talking at least 12K. Look in Bob's luthier page for the Bob Ross/Paul Wharburton link