Double Bass Kay Fingerboard Shim Install

[JBarz]

Good eye, my friend. It’s a Super 20 alright, but no low A. I’ve never met a low A Bari that outplays a good low Bb - all for the sake of one extra note? The instrument is enough of an albatross around one’s neck as is, without all that extra weight.

 

[JBarz]

Ever tried a Martin with the low A? They just made a handful of them, but they do not have the cylindrical extension, it's a whole new bell. (I've never even seen one let alone played one.)

Conn 11M and Buescher 400/Bundy/Selmer USA had the cylindrical extensions. Again, I've never played one of these but would like to some day when the work's all done.

Naw man, I’m a King S20 guy through and through. I used to be a dealer/repair tech and have played/owned/restored everything. I still have a Mark VI Bari (low Bb) that I love dearly, but there’s just something magical about the King’s quickness of attack and free-blowing edge on alto tenor and especially bari. Any bari that has a low A is going to play LESS well (less responsive, more sluggish) than the same instrument as a low Bb.

That being said, I can’t help but notice some parallels with the current existential crisis I’m in about locking in with a bass. My King Mortone is everything I’ve ever wanted in a bass, seems to play itself on the gig (effortless!), amplifies better than anything, feels great — but is 4 string.

All my 5 string basses feel like they’re in a suit that’s just a little bit too tight for them, especially around the collar - choked off, restricted. By comparison, the King feels like it’s in PJ pants and a T-shirt, ready to do cartwheels and handstands.

As much as I like to work up solo chord/melody arrangements on my 5 strings, I think at the end of the day that for 95% of functional bass playing the 4-string is superior, dang it.

The five strings have their place, just like the low A baris, but it’s at the sacrifice of that quality that makes them particularly resonant and thusly inspiring , methinks.

 

[JBarz]

The Conn M series horns are my second all-time favorite, no doubt. I had a 6M and 12M silver plated pair from the 30s that were monsters, still kinda miss them sometimes when I want to bring the beef, TBH.

 

[JBarz]

Everything’s had a chance to settle and I couldn’t be happier with the results. The Dispeau bridge with the precut adjusters was clutch - I didn’t have to drill anything except to expand the holes to 6mm to accommodate the Yamahiko adjusters’ smooth side.

Neck feel and tone are improved. The bass feels a little more beefy in both ways and I’m having a hard time wanting to put it down.

Left the action high - 11mm -15mm and it’s really popping amplified.

Definitely the “final evolution” of this particular axe.