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Double Bass Extension on a Hybrid?

#21
FWIW, Mgaisbacher, I acquired a Shen SB200 a couple of years ago, and I also wanted to extend the range. However, I was reluctant to invest in an extension that would approach or even exceed the market value of the instrument itself. I opted for KC Strings' 'off-the-shelf' extension, sold basically in kit form (installed by my local luthier). The cost was much more appropriate to the instrument, and it operates and sounds great. I wrote a full review on it in this thread: http://www.talkbass.com/threads/product-review-kc-strings-gated-extension.1020779/

Hope this is helpful!
 
#25
csrund said:
FWIW, Mgaisbacher, I acquired a Shen SB200 a couple of years ago, and I also wanted to extend the range. However, I was reluctant to invest in an extension that would approach or even exceed the market value of the instrument itself. I opted for KC Strings' 'off-the-shelf' extension, sold basically in kit form (installed by my local luthier). The cost was much more appropriate to the instrument, and it operates and sounds great. I wrote a full review on it in this thread: http://www.talkbass.com/threads/product-review-kc-strings-gated-extension.1020779/

Hope this is helpful!
Click to expand...

While I naturally don't endorse the KC extension (as it's in direct competition with me:)) its success demonstrates that adding weight to the scroll does not harm sound. The KC is much heavier than a conventional extension, but I've never heard any reports suggesting that its weight had a detrimental acoustical effect.
 
#26
The KC extension looks interesting but it looks like you couldn't finger the notes if you needed which I something I am looking for. It's one of those things for me if I'm going to do it I'm just going to go all the way and get one made for my bass by either Jed Kreigel , Arnold Schinitzer , or shank strings which was just recommended to me the other day but it's further away then Jed or Arnold.
 
#27
Jed and Arnold both will do you right. My opinion; JAZZ pizz & arco, c ext hybrid sure. For me tho once the bass is being used for section or solo orch work (more the prior in the bottom end) I feel I can really hear the back of a hybrid with a 5'r or C-ext. BUT...beauty of a C-ext, you can take it off! Do it!

Gary
 
#28
Yeah I won't be using it much in a section context, mostly just in smaller group stuff a lot of acoustic music, you know trying to be Edgar Meyer haha. But in all seriousness there is a lot stuff I have been trying to do that the extra notes would be useful. I have never played in a section context but who knows I may have to one day and if that happens I'll have the extension.

Also how Gary was saying that you can hear the ply back in a section more then in other context, do you think it's kind of like the whole you can't bow spirocores argument? How people say you can't bow sprios even though there are many people that do but it's more of they do not blend well with a section that is using belcantos, flexocore, or similar strings.
 
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#29
Mgaisbacher said:
Also how Gary was saying that you can hear the ply back in a section more then in other context, do you think it's kind of like the whole you can't bow spirocores argument?
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No, some great great players can bow spiros, they can blend in any section doing so. I think you're missing what I'm saying. Actually IN the section one may be able to hide the hybrid with a low C. But, unto itself Arco in the low registers, a great great hybrid still sounds like a hybrid. In a jazz program at college, or even playing clubs 6 nights a week...play on.
 
#30
Man I am just horrible at explaining myself through the internet. (and mistaking people for others) Thats why I haven't posted much on here. But anyways, I meant more of how people perceive spirocores, I use them on my New Standard and my Upton and I think they sound great on both, but again I have never played in section mostly solo stuff, and I would say in the past year about 90% of my practicing has been arco. But I did misunderstand you about the section playing. I thought you meant it would be more noticeable in a section. Sorry about that Gary

I am fully aware that an amazing hybrid is still a hybrid but its one of those things just thinking about it, I think I would rather have the functionality of a extension in the time it is going to take me to save up enough to buy a really nice carved bass and I say this because I have played a decent amount of basses in the 10k range and haven't really been impressed for what i am looking for. I'm sure there are some amazing basses at that price range but I haven't run into one yet that I got the feeling of "I would do what ever it takes to own this bass", which I have felt about some basses that were way out of my price range, not for sale, or commissioned for someone else.

I just think my next step is going to be in the $15-$30k range with 30 being very high, and I that doesn't mean I'm going to exclude basses selling for less then that but its just what I think it is going to take. But the whole "next bass" is a whole other topic.
 
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#32
So after talking to a luthier and someone who has basically the same bass as me just flat back who had a extension installed I decided to just go for it. I got the bass back today and so far I am really happy with it. I had it done by Jed Kriegel and his work is amazing, its just a pleasure to look at and works amazingly. He makes them out of carbon, titanium, aluminum, and ebony so they are extremely lightweight. If I remember correctly he said it weighed somewhere around 180grams. I just got the bass back around noon then had a straight ahead bluegrass gig so haven't messed with it a lot but the little I did I feel this bass sounds great with it. Jed also re-chambered / changed the radius of the fingerboard, made a new nut and few other small adjustments so the rest of the bass also plays better then ever.
IMG_1894.JPG IMG_1895.JPG IMG_1896.JPG IMG_1897.JPG
 
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#33
Mgaisbacher said:
So after talking to a luthier and someone who has basically the same bass as me just flat back who had a extension installed I decided to just go for it. I got the bass back today and so far I am really happy with it. I had it done by Jed Kriegel and his work is amazing, its just a pleasure to look at and works amazingly. He makes them out of carbon, titanium, aluminum, and ebony so they are extremely lightweight. If I remember correctly he said it weighed somewhere around 180grams. I just got the bass back around noon then had a straight ahead bluegrass gig so haven't messed with it a lot but the little I did I feel this bass sounds great with it. Jed also re-chambered / changed the radius of the fingerboard, made a new nut and few other small adjustments so the rest of the bass also plays better then ever.
View attachment 501074 View attachment 501075 View attachment 501076 View attachment 501077
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That's beautiful!
 
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#34
Mgaisbacher,

That is one beautifully designed and executed C extension. From my viewing of Mr. Kriegel's website, I'd say he appears to be comfortable utilizing both modern materials and design innovation (CF, Titanium, Aluminum, etc.), along with precise old world craftsmanship. (I noted the picture of the Bridgeport vertical milling machine in his shop pictures, as well!).
I was not aware of his name or work up until today. (sorry, I'm a "Left-Coast" resident).
I'm curious as to the tuning of the C extension, that is - is the "open" C string in tune with the "stopped" E string? (Can you verify with an electronic tuner?). Another way of looking at this - "is the stopped E in tune, if you tune the open C?...and vice versa". There has been a history (recent) of extensions being calculated and installed using an outdated formula, (i.e., making the extension length "1/4 of the E string length"), that can result in an extension length that is too short. This results in an inability to have simultaneous "in tuneness"( "intunality?!") between the open C pitch and/versus the stopped E pitch.
Thanks for your time and interest. Enjoy rattling some windows!
don kasper
 
#35
I just double checked and yes it is perfectly in tune, I'm not sure of the method he uses to figure the length of the extension but I know that he really thinks things through. He seems to be the best guy in Boston area and does excellent work and has a very solid reasoning and understanding of everything he does. Every question I asked of why he does it the way he does he had a very solid answer for, it doesn't seem like he would do something just to do it. For example the used of carbon and titanium is so it is extremely light yet still very strong. He let me hold one of the titanium bolts that hold the "stops" on and they weight next to nothing. Also almost every bassist I know around here that has had some sort of restoration has had it done by Jed.
 
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