I was just wondering, of those that have 5 string DBs who tune the lowest string to low B is it difficult to find one that that string sounds good on? Is it difficult to find the right string set for it?
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Double Bass 5 string uprights
- Thread starter nicechuckh
- Start date
Not much difficult than matching string to bass in any other instance, I would imagine. Thomastik and Pirastro B strings are available through juststrings.com, so obtaining a string seems fairly easy.
I have an electric upright that is strung BEADG and, considering the depth of the fundamental of that B, an effective acoustic doublebass strung with a low B would have to be immense.
I have an electric upright that is strung BEADG and, considering the depth of the fundamental of that B, an effective acoustic doublebass strung with a low B would have to be immense.
I don't have one, but I have played one. I think it's more useful for orchestral work than jazz or other pizz music. Orch scores are some times written below our low E and the bow does a better job of helping those notes out, that's why you see more C-extensions with orchestral musicians. Though, I have seen a jazz bassist (drawing a blank on who right now) play with a C-extension effectively.
As a jazz bassist, I either improvise a different line or hand the chart back and say "thanks for making this bass clef, but this was obviously written by a piano player because I don't have that note" when someone writes something that low and asks me to play it.
There was a local jazz guy with a 5 string and I asked him about it and he said he never used those notes, they weren't particularly audible.
Someone may have a different experience.
As a jazz bassist, I either improvise a different line or hand the chart back and say "thanks for making this bass clef, but this was obviously written by a piano player because I don't have that note" when someone writes something that low and asks me to play it.
There was a local jazz guy with a 5 string and I asked him about it and he said he never used those notes, they weren't particularly audible.
Someone may have a different experience.
I have a pretty similar experience. Someone at my school have a low B on his bass, and it sounds really blurry when playing pizz, and the volume is pretty low. But with the bow it's pretty powerful. He use a spirocore for the B (with a Belcanto set) and he seems to be happy with it.
Thanks for the answers. I love my 5 string electrics, but hadn't heard a 5 string DB live so was curious. I've noticed that when I play a 4 string electric now, I sometimes reach for that 5th string but don't on my DB. Maybe because you don't play them both the same way.
Its funny you mention that. Just a few weeks ago I was browsing through the UVA music library and came across a book (score) of Modern Jazz Quartet transcriptions. I got all excited and opened the book to see all the bass lines were written well below the low E. It was a serious 'what the . . . ' moment. lol
It was probably written at pitch so non-transposing instruments could play it easier
My only DB is a big five string and I love it for orchestra and jazz. I use a spirocore stark for the B and E strings and it has great power for orchestral playing but still enough bounce for playing swing and latin. The key to getting a good pizz sound is learning how to get the note to speak clearly with your right hand. I keep a heavy scoop under the B string to allow for plenty of clearance for the bigger vibration. I also find it helpful to play closer to the bridge, both pizz and arco, to get the note to speak more clearly. It does have a different feeling than the other strings and I find it useful to occasionally practice for a bit on the B string alone. The most rewarding part of playing a fiver in an orchestra is watching the other bassists nearly disjoint themselves playing complicated passages in the low register on their extensions while I comfortably play in position. 
I have only played one other five besides mine but I do feel they have a different sound quality than an extension. The extension has a more present and direct sound with a bit more high end and punch. The five string on the other hand has a bigger sound with a bloom to the low notes that really fills the bottom of an orchestra. I find having both in the section makes for a nice bass sound. As much as I love playing jazz on my five I would say the sound quality and response of an extension would probably be more suitable for jazz for most players. I think Ron Carter is a guy who uses an extension very effectively. (among other things
)
I have only played one other five besides mine but I do feel they have a different sound quality than an extension. The extension has a more present and direct sound with a bit more high end and punch. The five string on the other hand has a bigger sound with a bloom to the low notes that really fills the bottom of an orchestra. I find having both in the section makes for a nice bass sound. As much as I love playing jazz on my five I would say the sound quality and response of an extension would probably be more suitable for jazz for most players. I think Ron Carter is a guy who uses an extension very effectively. (among other things
)
Very informative B thank you. I'm sure being able to stay in position is a great thing on electric has to be even nicer on DB
You know, there is another way to get a great sounding low C on the DB using only four strings and no extension. I can't tell you what it is though cuzz it's a secret, but it does work great both pizz and arco......
Velvet strings makes a B string to go with either there Anima or Garbo set that is just MASSIVE sounding, on either my BSX EUB or the 5 string URB that belongs to a friend around town. It's tension-matched at 25kg like Velvet's other strings and has great pitch fundamental/playability. Playing by the bridge and adjusting your attack definitely helps things along though. I use my Low B mainly for long sustaining pedal tones but can get a pretty good walking sound/feel if I'm careful about how I attack that Low B.
Its tricky to get a nice evenly set-up 5 string, especially when you have big strings that need the room to vibrate.
The other option would be 5ths tuning, so you can have a low C without extensions, and have the choice and availability of well set-up 4 string basses. Ive played basses with extensions...I hated it.
The other option would be 5ths tuning, so you can have a low C without extensions, and have the choice and availability of well set-up 4 string basses. Ive played basses with extensions...I hated it.
