New Rom. Bass - For the 5-string-curious

JtheJazzMan · #1 05-06-2009, 05:09 AM

I know the drill, picsorban. I can only give you 2 though. Gliga 5 string custom model. Seems to be one of their nicer ones, flamed maple sides and back, flamed neck. So gliga CAN make nice stuff.

It was originally strung with Belcantos and a Pirastro flat chromsteel high C, but I swapped the Belcantos and went back to spiro weichs because I prefer bowing on them

I have both GAS and spiroitis

Any other High C converts out there? Ive been using EADGC on my EUB for some time and I find it much more useful compared to a low B

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**Freddels** · #2 05-06-2009, 05:16 AM

How does the high C sound in comparison to the other strings?

I have all my 5-string EB's strung with a high C but finding a string that doesn't sound thin in comparison to the rest of the set is difficult at best (almost impossible).

JtheJazzMan · #3 05-06-2009, 05:55 AM

on my electric upright I use a spiro mittel high C and I find it to be a bit "twangy" and a a bit shrill under the bow, even a year old string thats mellowed out.

the pirastro flat chromsteel on the acoustic bass blends quite well. it is a little brighter than the spiros, but doesnt have as much of the shrill sound coming through as the electric upright.

keep in mind, this acoustic bass seems a little darker, so perhaps its the bass itself mellowing out the string, im not sure. but im trying to listen to the string itself and not the sound of the bass.

obviously these strings are new and need a few days good hard bowing before they lose that virgin steel sound

**Chris Fitzgerald** · #4 05-07-2009, 08:23 AM

I don't know anything about Gligas, but that's a nice looking bass. Congrats!

drurb · #5 05-07-2009, 08:27 AM

Very pretty! Congrats! How does it sound?

JtheJazzMan · #6 05-07-2009, 10:47 PM

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Ahh so you can put more than 2 pics in.

the tone is certainly different to the punchy flatback that I also have lying around. at first I thought I didnt like it, but Ive really warmed up to it over a few days hard playing

It sounds like theres much more deep bass frequency coming from well within in the belly of the instrument. Its mellow but still enough clarity to be heard clearly up in thumb position

The bass even mellows out brand new spiro weichs, even while bowing them.

Getting closer to that Renaud Garcia-esque arco tone! But you can take it on any jazz gig too, the spiros give it the right tone, and the action is like "buttah"

**Chris Fitzgerald** · #7 05-08-2009, 07:04 AM

Is it a normal neck adjusted to fit the 5 string FB, or a special 5 string neck? What's the string spacing like compared to a standard bass?

JtheJazzMan · #8 05-08-2009, 07:05 PM

The fingerboard is about the same size as my 4 string. Both are 96mm wide at the end of the FB and the 5 string is only slightly larger at 46.5mm wide just before the nut, vs 44.5mm on the 4 string

String spacing is very similar my 4 string as well. The distance between the D and G string at the nut is 7.7mm, and 19.5 at the end of the fingerboard. The 5 string is just making maximum use of the fingerboard width while the 4 string has gap of unused FB on the outer edges of the strings

It was very natural the first time I picked it up, though that may be because its just like my EUB

The FB probably needs to be planed a little on the outer edges to increase the curvature. I had to cut down the D string a little on the bridge because the G string was un-bowable up past the octave, so that was defeating the whole purpose of me buying the instrument