- Mar 1, 2002
- 4,237
- 52
- 74
- Disclosures
- Owner: Ken Smith Basses, Ltd.
Well, seems like you have 3 choices. Learn to play the 5er and get a good one with at least 25-26mm spacing, forget about the looks and get a good chromatic extension or, stick with the 4 string and suffer..lol
People put extensions on 100k+ Basses all the time. Just get one and you will have the Lows when ever you need it and the regular 4-string Bass with better spacing.
I have tried everything you mentioned. I have had 3 different Extension types over the years, Ive had 5ers, tuned down 4s and even tried 5ths. The 5ths are not for me. That lasted a day, maybe! The 5er is ok but when I don't need the B, it's in my way.
Some Orchestra players play 4 without extensions and have a 5er at home for the times that you need it. For me, I need the extension for almost every program I do or at least 80% of the time. If it is written, I prefer to play it. Only on one concert in the last year did I play a straight 4 where there were a few low Ds n Cs. Just a few. It wasn't worth jumping for them so I played my best Bass and made up for it with true low fundamental and power. No one missed my Ext. My stand partner had his Ezt. but my C on the A-string seemed deeper and more powerful than his low C.
With a newer Bass like your Pollmann, adding a good extension will only increase its value. Do not take it for granted. You need to learn how to play it as well. Beeth, 3, 5, 6 and 9 have some parts that will give you a workout from easy to very hard. The Brandenburg's are good too and very hard to switch the capos in time.
Just like if you get a 5er instead, you will have to practice and study it. Then you will be less and less confused as time goes on and eventually will feel normal. For me, I am used to the 4 with Ext. so I am at home with that.
People put extensions on 100k+ Basses all the time. Just get one and you will have the Lows when ever you need it and the regular 4-string Bass with better spacing.
I have tried everything you mentioned. I have had 3 different Extension types over the years, Ive had 5ers, tuned down 4s and even tried 5ths. The 5ths are not for me. That lasted a day, maybe! The 5er is ok but when I don't need the B, it's in my way.
Some Orchestra players play 4 without extensions and have a 5er at home for the times that you need it. For me, I need the extension for almost every program I do or at least 80% of the time. If it is written, I prefer to play it. Only on one concert in the last year did I play a straight 4 where there were a few low Ds n Cs. Just a few. It wasn't worth jumping for them so I played my best Bass and made up for it with true low fundamental and power. No one missed my Ext. My stand partner had his Ezt. but my C on the A-string seemed deeper and more powerful than his low C.
With a newer Bass like your Pollmann, adding a good extension will only increase its value. Do not take it for granted. You need to learn how to play it as well. Beeth, 3, 5, 6 and 9 have some parts that will give you a workout from easy to very hard. The Brandenburg's are good too and very hard to switch the capos in time.
Just like if you get a 5er instead, you will have to practice and study it. Then you will be less and less confused as time goes on and eventually will feel normal. For me, I am used to the 4 with Ext. so I am at home with that.
