Christopher Hybrid

[flint]

I've had my Christopher 303-which is the violin cornered hybrid, for over 2 years now. Prior to this I had a Christopher 100 series gamba, as a rental.

I have lots of good things to say about the way my Chrissy has aged and matured. Even though it's only been a couple of years, it's not popped any seams and continues to increase in complexity of tone.

The greatest thing I did for her(and me) was to take the bass to Albert Jackstadt to have him redo the setup on her. He recut the bridge, planed the fingerboard, and replaced the tailpiece wire with flexible cable. I had already found that she prefers obligatos to the helicore hybrids that came on her, but after Mr. Jackstadt did the setup work the bass really came to life.

The only things I'm not crazy about on the bass are the finish and the endpin. It has (I think) a nitro-cellulose finish that is downright shiny and I'm planning to knock that shine down in the near future. The endpin is tight-to the point that it's difficult to extend and retract. I'm sure that after 50 yrs of raising and lowering it, it will loosen up-so I'm not sure that I can really complain as it's just tight tolerences.

[dchan]

Originally Posted by flint

.....The only things I'm not crazy about on the bass are the finish and the endpin. It has (I think) a nitro-cellulose finish that is downright shiny and I'm planning to knock that shine down in the near future. The endpin is tight-to the point that it's difficult to extend and retract. I'm sure that after 50 yrs of raising and lowering it, it will loosen up-so I'm not sure that I can really complain as it's just tight tolerences..........

These are the exact two things that bug me about my school's Christopher. It's a 100-series plywood, like the one you owned before, but it has the same problems.

The shiny finish has always bugged me. I've never had a shiny bass until I used this one. It not only looks tacky and cheap, but it also allows the bridge to slip when transported by car (the bridge can't take much of a knock before it slips).

The endpin problem has come about only recently, like 4-5 months ago. Before, the endpin didn't come out very smoothly, but it at least came out relatively easily. I have no problems with that. But recently, it has come to a point when, depending on the weather, it just becomes impossible to retract by hand and pliers are needed. In decent conditions, the endpin takes a mighty effort by hand, but is possible. I suspect that either it is the cork or the fact that the endpin plug is not ebony but some ebonized hardwood.

I've had problems with screws that were difficult to operate, but never the actual endpin itself.

[bilias]

Just for the record, I bought my first bass on May 2007.

It was my teacher's bass which I think he sold it at a very nice deal.
It is a fully curved Christopher 7/8, violin shaped DB504.
I bought it for 2K euro (around $2,800)

It is the 500 series which is supposed to have better wood and better lines. The deal included a realist pu, La Bella strings and a gig bag.

I'm more than happy with this bass. It has an excellent sound and a very nice touch.

[holzwurm]

Originally Posted by Pacman

Something else to note. The finish on the carved models is NOT the think poly crap. It's very thin actually.

yes, the finish of the carved models (400-500) is a spirit varnish. For the 100-300 series (laminated or hybrid), it's an industrial polyurethane finish. But Christopher now offers a semigloss finish for the 100-300 series, which looks much more "traditional" than the standard glossy finish.

[christ andronis]

Originally Posted by holzwurm

yes, the finish of the carved models (400-500) is a spirit varnish.

As is the 600 series.

[flint]

no matter what the finish, the tone of my hybrid is really outstanding and has really continued to improve. I would not be selling her if I hadn't come across a deal on an older fully carved bass that was just too good to pass up.