It’s been used on double bass for years, probably where Phil got the idea.
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How useful is the Kubiki Drop D extension?
- Thread starter SomewhatHarmles
- Start date
I came across this thread yesterday, and it's very similar to what I'm thinking of doing.
Also, I'm emailing Michihiro Matsuda regarding the construction process (became friends with him years ago, and actually saw him working on that weird Drop D guitar....thought it was another weird project he was working on at the time.)
Kubicki's D clasp is the best feature of this great bass. You get lower notes without messing up the fingering / position of the rest of the notes on the E string. And the low D is a 36" scale length so the tone is superior to any 34" with a D-Tuner.
It's fantastic. I was using the Hipshot extenders, which work good, but this is soooo much better IMO. No tension change. All the other notes are still in the same place. It's all I play in my country band, which requires drop D quite often
At the time, I wished it was available for lefties (AFAIK it never was). I certainly would have got one. An obvious self-seller. I'm surprised they didn't become more widespread; perhaps players found the tone less satisfying than what they'd played before? Or perhaps 5-strings became more common.
BTW/FWIW: it's Kubicki
Me too, definitely thought they looked to be an approach that would catch on and I suspect that in addition to the 5-string becoming so common, the Kubicki simply never got a good enough hold in the market place to become anything more than a niche product.
Sorry for my mistake then. I don't know why I thought Kubickis used double ball-end strings. I was probably thinking of other headless basses. I stand corrected.
So with additional string options, Kubicki's creative design is less of an obstacle in that department then. The idea of getting the drop-D notes without breaking standard tuning or using a 5-string (closed D doesn't ring out like an open D) is a cool one. But what people say about Hipshot Xtenders being more retro-fittable and how some songs are more comfortable to finger on a traditional bass tuned DADG is valid too.
So with additional string options, Kubicki's creative design is less of an obstacle in that department then. The idea of getting the drop-D notes without breaking standard tuning or using a 5-string (closed D doesn't ring out like an open D) is a cool one. But what people say about Hipshot Xtenders being more retro-fittable and how some songs are more comfortable to finger on a traditional bass tuned DADG is valid too.
Everyone will have their own opinion on this, but my experience in learning a bunch of drop D songs with the hipshot, then moving to the Kubicki, is that the Kubicki fingering is almost always easier or feels more natural. YMMV
Having also done it both ways, the Kubicki way is way more comfortable to play than drop D. I’d love a 30” ex factor below 7 pounds if I could get one. With different pickups and electronics. I never fully bonded with how mine sounded, but I loved the bridge and the d tuner. Allowed for more string options than anyone else’s design as well.
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,603
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- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
Thanks - my goal was to make it a one-step activation. (not lift & shift like Phil's) With the development of increasingly smaller active circuitry, the ultimate goal would be an accessible button pressed that would automatically trigger the capo on & off. Keeping it minimal/small is key as it could actually be done now with current technology. Think (battery powered) automatic shifting on road-bicycles which has become more common and reliable.
That's exactly what I'm hoping to build!
My wife doesn't get it, but I want something with consistent string tension...under 7 lb, and easy to play. I'm aiming for 4-5 lb
The Drop D is something that I can picture using when I'm able to evolve from total noob (learning to finger the bass) to mediocre (able to play basic bass).
ON a side note, would you recommend a standard length truss rod for this build?
Or something like 18" or 19"
Truss Rod Spoke Wheel Dual Steel 18
Truss rod, steel spoke wheel, dual action, 18", Bitterroot, electric guitars for luthiers and buliders.
bitterrootguitars.com
Currently, I have 2 of the 22" wheel version.
I'll probably be copying bits of Jio's build, but with a P bass pickup (maybe also a J)...and using the Mezzaluna bass profile.
