Double Bass Bass to Poellmann Workshop.

[Greg Clinkingbeard]

maybe the sunken pollman tops on the previously mentioned luthiers wall suffered a similar fate.

Possible but a five string 4/4 will need a stronger top.

 

[Paps]

I have met the gang a few times. I didn't know that Mike spoke English! I've never spent much time in Bavaria so when I met him the first time I found his accent quite startling. After awhile though, the brain adjusts and you no longer notice.

Not only has Mike great English, he is also engaging, witty and good humoured.
Yes, by all accounts Bavarians are different and proud.

 

[Paps]

Possible but a five string 4/4 will need a stronger top.

Yes, Poelmann basses designed for 5 strings have a different top than 4 stringers.
I assume this top is thicker to accommodate the increased tension.
However, many Poelmann 4 stringers have 5 string tops to allow for possible conversion.
However my Bass was made with a 4 string top.

 

[DoubleMIDI]

As far as I know the sunken tops at the wall are from 3/4 4-stringers.

It is just my 4/4 5-string from a different builder in Germany that has a sunken top too, but not as urgent to repair as these walk-hanging tops as this luthier told me.
Another luthier told me that it might not come from the top load but from shrinkage of the wood (mainly the top width) that takes the top down.
My bass is now 36 years old. I doubt that much will happen now. I reduced the top load a bit with the adjustable saddle and that should do it for the rest of my life or until it gets too heavy for me to carry around.

 

[Paps]

As far as I know the sunken tops at the wall are from 3/4 4-stringers.

It is just my 4/4 5-string from a different builder in Germany that has a sunken top too, but not as urgent to repair as these walk-hanging tops as this luthier told me.
Another luthier told me that it might not come from the top load but from shrinkage of the wood (mainly the top width) that takes the top down.
My bass is now 36 years old. I doubt that much will happen now. I reduced the top load a bit with the adjustable saddle and that should do it for the rest of my life or until it gets too heavy for me to carry around.

As a matter of interest, who build your 5 stringer?