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Double Bass C extension

nickbass

nickbass

Apr 29, 2005
134
54
Northants, UK
www.nickweldon.com
#1
I'm thinking of getting a fingered extension fitted to my bass. (Just tackling Shostakovich 10 and frustrated at not being able to make some of the beautiful low phrases!)
My worry is that the long bottom string might be a bit loose and flappy in normal jazz pizz use, even when stopped at E. Anyone have any experience of or ideas on this? nick
 
#5
Very nice. I'll try to get some pics. I tried to attach a picture of something else on another thread and failed miserably. Maybe you could tell me what I did wrong- I dragged the jpg from my desktop into the reply box. It added some text but the pic didn't come through.

Anyway, for now- my bass doesn't look like any of those! But the top shoulders were cut down at some point, probably due to damage, so it might have once. The neck has definately been broken a few times in the last 200 or so years (most recently by Aer Lingus two years ago :crying: ). And the scroll has been grafted onto the neck at least twice! It was restored in 1991 by Kolstein's, but it needed more work when the neck was done.
 
#7
Here it is, Ken. As you can see the shoulders are pretty narrow and obviously cut down.

Sticking with the idea of this thread, the extension is made by KC Strings. I chose it because you don't need to drill a hole in the scroll or take the string around the side and put a lot of torque on the scroll. I really didn't like that option because the scroll is carved through and grafted a couple of times!

There were a few problems with the extension installation due to the fact that my scroll is about 2 inches longer than a normal scroll (I know everybody says that, but in my case it's true!), so I had to get an extra piece from the KC guys to be welded onto the end and machined. Normally they actually have to shorten the stock extension when they install it! Anyway, luthier Tom Barrett comes to Ireland periodically and he did a great job sorting all the niggly problems that cropped up as a result of my extended extension. The best part is that I got a 'B' out of it!
 
#10
I would like to add that I have put the AD & G of my Stark Flexocor set to good use. They are now on my plywood bass along with a Helicore Orch Medium E. I could not me happier with the sound of this bass for pizz these days. With the Flexocors the sound is boomy and thick with just the right amount of growl. I did not like them on my new hand carved bass though, but all is well because I can use Original Flexocors and have that bass set up for arco and orchestra pizz only. I don't want to diss on the 92s to much because I know that a lot of people, like Ken, get good results with them for arco.
 
#11
Well, I think you're right that it's just a matter of different strokes. I usually use a Helicore Orch Medium E (I've never had good results with any Pirastro E) with Originals on the A, D, & G. After they break in and stretch out which can take a little while, I've found the A and D to be quite mellow with the kind of attack I like (and that I'm used to). The G is a little brighter than the lower strings to my ears, but I am just more comfortable with Originals than any other strings. I have considered using a Jargar or an Original FlatChrome G and I am very open to suggestions on other thicker sounding darker Gs. I am planning on using an Original G & E for now though because I just got an awesome deal on a pre-broken in Ext C/E Original Flexocor set.
 
#14
Not to hijack this thread, but how exactly do the extensions work and if I get a bass and have it installed, but either don't like it or get a new bass for whatever reason, can I get it put on the other bass and still have the bass that it was first on working without shows of ever having the extension? or would you be able to see that it had an extension? or is it that once it's installed, you can't take it off?
 
#15
Most good extensions today are designed so they can be easily reversed, but I think--and lots of people here know more than me--in the past or in the case of a lazy or less than first rate shop, the extension can be glued or screwed on and extensive modifications.

You need a new nut, and typically but not always they have to drill a small hole in the scroll so the string can pass through to the tuner. Other than that there should be no permanent changesif the job is well done. If you got rid of the extension you'd want a new nut and you'd want to patch the hole, maybe, and that'd be it.
 
#17
$0.02 about latches. I recently got a new bass to which I had a C extension fitted. I only got a D latch on this extension as opposed to the fully chromatic deal I had on my previous bass. It was all Arnold Schnitzer had time to do in the limited time I give him but it worked out just fine as I have been thinking of going that way anyway. If I was playing a lot of orchestral stuff I'd want all the latches but my experience to date as a mostly jazz and occasional chamber player is that the other latches just get in the way. I also find that when the extension is set to E flat or D flat, the resonance of the bass is weird (basically the bass is totally confused) and I don't like that. It can be especially bad with a very resonant body and amplification as the bottom string resonates dissonantly. Setting the extension to D or C however is wonderful for resonance and of course I can always finger the E flat or D flat anyway.
 
#19
Just did my first orchestra rehearsal with my new low C. Marvellous! But involving a new set of skills to learn if I'm to have any mobility between the extension and the rest of the fingerboard! I have a couple of questions for you all:
1. Is it now impossible to buy the long E Flexocor Regular Stark? Lemur advertises but cannot supply them.
2. If I tune the low C well (say with the G string) the gated E is out of tune, and vice versa. Any ideas?
Thanks, everyone, by the way, for the advice and experience.
Nick
 
#20
nickbass said:
2. If I tune the low C well (say with the G string) the gated E is out of tune, and vice versa. Any ideas?
Click to expand...

That shouldn't be the case at least not to any great degree. Some extensions are more tunable than others. For example my current two-latch extension made by Arnold Schnitzer, has a movable nut for the C. I normally tune the E and expect everything else to be in tune. If necessary I could move the C nut (which is held in place by tension). On the other hand, the D is fixed and cannot be tuned except by changing how much the latch is closed.

The four-latch extension on my previous bass which was made by Bill Merchant, allowed tuning of the Db, D and Eb but the C was not tunable.
 

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