Double Bass Dropped D "Block"

[Thumpie]

A few years ago I was talking to Gaël McKeon at Bob Beerman's shop and he mentioned that he had modified his bass to easily switch to a "dropped D" tuning by installing a block on his pinbox.

I finally got around to researching it, and I was able to find a photo of Gaël with his bass here:

All sizes | gael mckeon | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

What a great idea for the bassist who doesn't need a full extension, but only a lower D (or even Eb). Has anybody seen something like this before? I wonder if this ingenious idea originated with Gaël...

 

[Eric Hochberg]

It's been done, who knows who was first. Here's one: http://www.talkbass.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=33599&d=1146027718 Not a block but a playable extension.

Another

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=34865&d=1148140964

A low A?

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=34864&d=1148140869

 

[gaelmckeon]

Ha! Yes, mine is only a D. Quick and easy. I should be careful about doing half baked work on my own bass, as photos float around. I would normally make the thing look a little better. In any case, it's possible to make a short extension with an Eb too. It is definitely much cheaper than a full on extension, and also doesn't require a long E string. On mine, the E and D tuners are reversed (the E descends into the D tuner and vv).

 

[Thumpie]

I think just staining the "block" black would go a long way towards cleaning up the appearance. I can think of another few reasons why this solution would be better than a full extension: it adds less mass to the pegbox, which would alter the sonic properties of the bass less than a full extension. Also, I assume that such modification would be more easily reversed. The clamp is attached to the nut, right?

I almost never use my low E, but if I had a D or Eb, I'd use it all the time. So here I am thinking about the "block" again...

Best of luck to you in the Bay Area, Gael! I was always very pleased with the work you and Bob did for me in North Carolina!

 

[tstone]

Interesting idea. Is there a short fingerboard extension allowing you to play a E flat? The picture is so dark in that area, it's hard to tell.

 

[Thumpie]

Nope. Gael's bass only offered an open D. If you wanted an Eb, you could position a similar block closer to the nut.

 

[gaelmckeon]

Mine was prototypical, and built as soon as I thought of it, poorly. But it's very easy to make a mini extension with a finger board allowing an Eb...

 

[Thumpie]

Full disclosure: When Gael told me about his "block," we were discussing "Franken-basses," and additional modifications I could do to make my already strange bass even weirder.

Gael's a professional who does beautiful work.

 

[Jake deVilliers]

Mine was prototypical, and built as soon as I thought of it, poorly. But it's very easy to make a mini extension with a finger board allowing an Eb...

No need to be embarrassed Gael. That little block is a simple solution for the player who only needs a low 'D' without the expense of a more formal extension.

I think its brilliant!