Oh crud...now I've got to start the quest for the perfect extended E

**Basschair** · #1 05-25-2007, 07:40 PM

I'm going to have a C extension built for and put onto my bass. It should be done in about two weeks (it's being done from scratch)...

ergo

I must now give up on the quest for the perfect standard E and take up the quest for the perfect extended E. Poop.

What am I getting myself into here? I'm a bower who pizzes as well. I like my Belcanto E (too bad...no ext E right now), I liked my spiro Mittel E on my other bass, but how does the extended version feel?

No need to reply (unless you want to)...I'm basically just complaining about something that's silly to complain about.

Jake deVilliers · #2 05-25-2007, 08:36 PM

Hampton gives the Extended E a glowing review in the Evah Pirazzi thread if that's any help.

In fact the way he talks about the strings makes me want a set myself.

**Basschair** · #3 05-25-2007, 08:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jake deVilliers

Hampton gives the Extended E a glowing review in the Evah Pirazzi thread if that's any help.

In fact the way he talks about the strings makes me want a set myself.

Yeah, I saw that, which means I'm going to have to try one out. I think the wait is actually the worst thing

Hampton · #4 05-25-2007, 08:46 PM

There is, actually, a Belcanto extended E (almost) available. Some of the guys in our section are trying them and like them quite a bit. You might want to drop a note of enquiry to Bernhard Rieger at Thomastik. His email is:

rieger@thomastik-infeld.com
But don't tell him I sent you since I've been writing about "the enemy".

JimGullen · #5 05-26-2007, 07:13 AM

Hi Paul!

I just had a new bridge carved for my bass (Thanks Bass Cellar!) and we put Belcantos on the top 3 and a Pirastro Permanent Long E (C) string on it. The Permanent is in a league of it's own compared to the other Long E's that I've used (Orig. Flex, Obligato, Orig. Flatchrome, Helicore Orch. Med.). It's tension matches the Belcantos nicely, it's a little bright compared to the Belcantos, but I expect that it will settle down. It's very quick/easy to speak....I wish I had had it for that low Db that I had to start upbow on our last concert.

It's impressive, as we were setting up the bass, we were talking about whether we should adjust the afterlength to 1/6, Chris "leaned" on the low C and vibrated something off the wall of the shop....I think the afterlength is fine! :-)

I've only had it on for 2 days, but I'm really happy with it right now.

Hope this helps a little!

Best regards!
Jim

Dave Whitla · #6 05-26-2007, 08:20 AM

I've been through a load of long Es in the past six months or so (Helicore heavy orch, Obligato, Velvet compas 180, Innovation (UK), Flatchrome and finally Spirocore. Some of those were with matching A,D and G strings, but I've settled on Bel Cantos on top(for now!) and the Spirocore is great with them. It has settled down a lot in 2 or 3 months and nearly matches now, and to be honest I don't mind the extra punch for the low notes...

I'll probably have to try the Bel Canto long E when it is available, but it'd have to be really good to improve on the Spirocore, on my bass.

Dave Whitla · #7 05-26-2007, 08:22 AM

Oh yeah, forgive my ignorance, but what is "afterlength"? That's a new one for me.

**Francois Blais** · #8 05-26-2007, 08:26 AM

Dragonetti11 is selling a Permanent long E here:
*SOLD* SPRING STRING FLING
(along with other Pirastro strings, for a very nice price!)

LM Bass · #9 05-26-2007, 10:26 AM

HI all,

After using D'addario long E's for a while, I put a spirocore orchestra on just last month. I've got Dominants on the G,D, and A. I am really happy with this setup -the spiro responds quickly, and it doesn't have the scratchiness I was expecting arco. My bass is from about 1880, and might be French.

LM
http://www.myspace.com/bassinbc1

**Basschair** · #10 05-26-2007, 10:49 AM

So far, here's the line-up of strings I'll probably try:

Perm long E
Belcanto ext E (if possible)
Evah Pirazzi ext E
Spiro Mittel ext E

Dave Whitla · #11 05-26-2007, 11:23 AM

I'd be very interested in what the Evah Pirazzi one is like. Especially in comparison to the others.

What strings are you using for A,D and G?

**Basschair** · #12 05-26-2007, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave Whitla

I'd be very interested in what the Evah Pirazzi one is like. Especially in comparison to the others.

What strings are you using for A,D and G?

Right at this particular moment, I've taken off a Corelli 380M G and put on a spiro solo A tuned down to G to see how it goes. I've still got a 380M D on, and old Belcanto A/E strings. The A is starting to get bad, though the E still has life. A TB member just sent me a Weich E to try out, but I guess that trial is now pointless

...oh well.

I'm mainly interested in trying the BC ext E back-to-back with the EP ext E, to see which pleases me (big duh on my rhyme scheme there).

PaulCannon · #13 05-26-2007, 01:53 PM

The prototype of the extended E bel canto was released about a month ago. I don't know how long it will take for it to make a commercial release, but everyone I know who has the prototype loves it.

JimGullen · #14 05-26-2007, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave Whitla

Oh yeah, forgive my ignorance, but what is "afterlength"? That's a new one for me.

Hi Dave!

Afterlength refers to the length of the string between the bridge and the tailpiece . There are different schools of thought, but some people believe that the afterlength should be either 1/6 or 1/5 of the string's playing length (mensure). This allows for the bass to have more resonnance....suposedly. People will actually tune the afterlenths. 2 octaves and a fifth above the pitch of the open string's mensure, if memory serves, for 1/6.

In my case, I had the afterlength set at 1/6, but when we replaced the endpin, that distance increased because of diameter of the new endpin was greater and taking up more of the tailwire.

How's that for some trivia! :-)

And now, back to our regularly scheduled topic....

Best regards!
Jim

**Francois Blais** · #15 05-26-2007, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Basschair

I've still got a 380M D on, and old Belcanto A/E. The A is starting to get bad, though the E still has life.

The Belcanto A is already going dead?
It must be only a few months old, no?
That's not good news I think!

**Basschair** · #16 05-26-2007, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by francois

The Belcanto A is already going dead?
It must be only a few months old, no?
That's not good news I think!

Actually, this one is off of a set that was on and off many different basses. I shouldn't say it's going dead I guess...it's just not as responsive as it was, and is actually a bit brighter. Maybe the dampening material breaks down after so many on/offs?

**Adrian Cho** · #17 05-27-2007, 01:17 AM

There's nothing worse than a wimpy low E. The Spirocore is hard to beat however the tone has to work for you (it didn't for me). I'm using a Permanent and I'm very happy with it.

**Basschair** · #18 05-27-2007, 09:37 PM

Well, it's official: I've dropped my bass off to have the extension built, fit and installed. It will be about a month (he's running a couple weeks out currently), and I'm starting with a used Permanent long E.

I've been without my bass 11 hours...the countdown begins.

JimGullen · #19 05-29-2007, 05:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Basschair

It will be about a month (he's running a couple weeks out currently), and I'm starting with a used Permanent long E.

I've been without my bass 11 hours...the countdown begins.

So you'll be rehairing your bow about 31 times between now and then?....maybe a dozen or so new grips?!?!?!

:-)

Hang in there!

Did you decide to go with a machine or a fingered extension (gates?)?

Best regards!
Jim

**Basschair** · #20 05-29-2007, 08:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimGullen

So you'll be rehairing your bow about 31 times between now and then?....maybe a dozen or so new grips?!?!?!

:-)

Hang in there!

Did you decide to go with a machine or a fingered extension (gates?)?

Best regards!
Jim

I'm hanging: don't tempt me with the rehairing, although it'd probably be a good idea to work on my grips.

I went with a fingered ext. with the E stop and a D capo. There's room for the E flat and C sharp capos as well if decide to do it down the road. Ugh...I'm not good at waiting.