5 string DB's

**Chef** · #1 06-05-2004, 01:03 PM

Is there such a thing as a 5 string DB with a low B? If so, do they sound good? I'm a slab player that wants to play upright, but I can't imagine life without a low B...

lemur821 · #2 06-06-2004, 01:54 AM

Yes, they exist, but the are much rarer than 5 string slabs.

**Chef** · #3 06-06-2004, 09:38 AM

Lemur, you're right next door to me, I live in Columbia...Is a 5 string DB neck a ginat fistful, ie super wide? Can the 5th string sound good without amplification? I've seen (all hail) Bob Gollihur sells them new for $2300, anyone ever play one of these?

James Hart · #4 06-06-2004, 09:55 AM

I'm GASing hard on this one from Bob G.

http://www.urbbob.com/doublebass.html

I've not played one (though my opinion wouldn't matter because I've only ever played a 50's Kay... for a short time at that)

lemur821 · #5 06-06-2004, 05:16 PM

How about that! We are right by each other. I don't know how unweildy they are, since I've never played one. I expect not too much, no more than a six string bass guitar.

Marcus Johnson · #6 06-06-2004, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lemur821

How about that! We are right by each other. I don't know how unweildy they are, since I've never played one. I expect not too much, no more than a six string bass guitar.

Hehe....

Paul Warburton · #7 06-07-2004, 11:31 AM

This is all SO silly!! I played my 5 stringer the first night I brought it home. It's not huge and you don't need to become some kind of freak to play one! See my Bohmann under Basses/The TalkBasses. Sponsored by John Sprague and Shen.
Mingus, what does a D neck have to do with anything?

**Chef** · #8 06-07-2004, 01:11 PM

Paul couldn't find it in a search, can you locate the thread, pics? What kind of music do you use your for, and what kind is it? Like it lots? I've seen that Bob Gollihur sells Czech 5's...?

Sam Sherry · #9 06-07-2004, 02:01 PM

Look at Paul's bass here

Listen to Paul playing Paul's bass here

Comment on Paul playing Paul's bass here

godoze · #10 06-07-2004, 02:04 PM

Yup, I've got one...NIce bass.

lemur821 · #11 06-07-2004, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marcus Johnson

Hehe....

No, I was serious. I don't find six string BGs to be unweildy.

Paul Warburton · #12 06-07-2004, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chef

Paul couldn't find it in a search, can you locate the thread, pics? What kind of music do you use your for, and what kind is it? Like it lots? I've seen that Bob Gollihur sells Czech 5's...?

Thanks Sam! Chef, it's American, made in Chicago by a nutty Luthier named Joseph Bohmann, in 1888. It was tied up in his estate and i'm the first owner/player! I do love it! I'm a jazz bassist. The low B rings like a MF!

Marcus Johnson · #13 06-07-2004, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lemur821

No, I was serious. I don't find six string BGs to be unweildy.

You want unwieldy, try playing a guitarron. Like trying to wrestle a greased warthog.

lemur821 · #14 06-07-2004, 08:33 PM

Quote:

You want unwieldy, try playing a guitarron. Like trying to wrestle a greased warthog.

Well, I've never played one, but I wrestle greased 'hogs all the time, so I get what you mean.

James Hart · #15 06-07-2004, 09:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul Warburton

The low B rings like a MF!

LORDY!!! It helps y'all can play that thing like a MF as well

I'm gonna go crawl back up to BG land and weep

hdiddy · #16 06-07-2004, 10:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DADDY WARBURTS

...made in Chicago by a nutty Luthier named Joseph Bohmann, in 1888.

1888? No wonder it looks so GOTH. I mean if you painted it black and put on some black mascara... mmmm very scary - not that I would do such a thing.

In any case... have you ever thought your bass looks a little 'sinister' Paul?

jmpiwonka · #17 06-08-2004, 12:19 AM

my bass teacher has a (he thinks german) bass that is now a five string, originally a four.

it looks sweet, sounds excellent, and the b string has all kinds of sustain, cant really say how powerful the b is, i just know it sounds awesome to my ears.

its set up between jazz and orchestra, kinda more towards a jazz setup and he says the g string(and sometimes the d string) can easily be overpowered with the bow so he plays up and down on the lower strings, just tells the orchestra guys to play as he says not he does......

warburton, your bass is so beautiful!!!

Paul Warburton · #18 06-08-2004, 04:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by speddling

LORDY!!! It helps y'all can play that thing like a MF as well

I'm gonna go crawl back up to BG land and weep

Thanks, but come back my dear!

Paul Warburton · #19 06-08-2004, 04:28 AM

People have told me that....but i'm a little that way myself.

Quote:

Originally Posted by hdiddy

1888? No wonder it looks so GOTH. I mean if you painted it black and put on some black mascara... mmmm very scary - not that I would do such a thing.

In any case... have you ever thought your bass looks a little 'sinister' Paul?

Marcus Johnson · #20 06-08-2004, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lemur821

Well, I've never played one, but I wrestle greased 'hogs all the time, so I get what you mean.

Wow, that could be a thread all by itself.

The one time I got to play a guitarron, I was thoroughly trounced by its owner, an lovely elderly Mexican lady, about 4'8", who laughed heartily while the Big Bad Jazz Bassist tried to coax anything remotely resembling music out of the beast.