First off, congrats on the bass. You really should post this in a new thread instead of hijacking the current one. For best info, contact Barry Kolstein. You might want to post pics on this forum, too.
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Double Bass Kolstein Travel Bass
- Thread starter peterpalmieri
- Start date
Oh I found out from Barrie Kolstein the bass came from Germany. He was a very nice fellow
I've been away from the double bass far too long and am on my way back to the fold. Living on a boat precludes a full sized instrument though. Over the years I've had Framus, Ampeg, Azola and Eminence EUB's and very recently (and very briefly) a Yamaha SLB200. The issue I have with every one so far is that due to the odd pivot balance and lack of shoulders they don't move with you like a real bass does. I end up controlling the bass to some degree with my left hand rather than dancing it into position with gravity and my hips. These days I also don't much dig the electric bass sound of most EUB's....I got a P-Bass already.
What I've heard and seen of this little Kolstein has impressed me. But not having had a chance to play one I'm a little leery of the small shoulders. The vids of Charnett do make it look very playable though....
With my kolstein travel bass I've actually became a bit disconnected to a 3/4 bass.
Someone asked me this a few years back, maybe in this thread. I've found it very comfortable to play both sitting and standing. Pizz and arco.
I haven't owned a "real" DB for a while. Last week I dropped off the bass to kolsteins for a check up. I made friends with one of his fendts which is a big bass with deep shoulders. It felt a bit awkward to be honest. Sounded huge acoustically though.
Not being all that interested in playing in a community orchestra or talented enough to play in a Bill Evans style piano trio unamped. I am very satisfied.
Someone asked me this a few years back, maybe in this thread. I've found it very comfortable to play both sitting and standing. Pizz and arco.
I haven't owned a "real" DB for a while. Last week I dropped off the bass to kolsteins for a check up. I made friends with one of his fendts which is a big bass with deep shoulders. It felt a bit awkward to be honest. Sounded huge acoustically though.
Not being all that interested in playing in a community orchestra or talented enough to play in a Bill Evans style piano trio unamped. I am very satisfied.
Phil Palombi on the kolstein travel bass.
Big props to Phil Palombi. I have been struggling a bit amplifying my Kolstein Busetto (its very bassy/boomy) and - having watched this video clip yesterday - emailed him via his website on the off-chance he might get back to me about how he managed to get such a great live sound. Within an hour I had an email back with tons of detail about how Phil had fine-tuned his bass with the help of Barrie Kolstein (adjusting soundpost, bar etc) and his on-stage set-up (for the record he likes to blend an AMT mic with the stock Planet Wing piezo on a 50:50 basis through the new Acoustic Image Flex preamp). What a thoroughly helpful, decent guy as well as a quite amazing player!
Thanks for the info. I saw him mention on his FB page that topic but you got more details on it. The bass sounds great as does his playing. I had my travel bass adjusted and new strings put on, picked it up yesterday and Barrie gave me the heads up that Phil had put up this video. As I understand it he has the tailpiece mount for the AMT. I have the old lower boute mount which doesn't collapse enough to work with my travel bass.
Phil has some great info and videos on his site. I really dig everything he is doing from the Lafaro history, Tri-Flex work and the fusion stuff on electric. He's got it all going on.
Phil has some great info and videos on his site. I really dig everything he is doing from the Lafaro history, Tri-Flex work and the fusion stuff on electric. He's got it all going on.
I think Charnett Moffett plays his Kolstein almost exclusively. Always sounds great. I must say, I really love my Eminence. I've never tried the Kolstein but it looks and sounds like a great bass. That 39" SL would be somewhat of an issue switching back and forth. My Eminence is in Florida (I'm in CO at the moment), but I think it has a 40.5" SL. As I age, sometimes I think it would be much easier to pick up something like the Kolstein or the Eminence and use it as my principal bass. With you on the fact that I often play in places where space is at a significant premium.
Since speaking to Phil, a pal of mine lent me an Underwood pickup on the reasoning that its less dark/boomy than other pickups and more mid/treble oriented and .... its sounds fantastic with my Kolstein Busetto! Plugged straight into a PJB Briefcase or MarkBass CMD121P with just a bit of EQ tweaking (although I may go via an fdeck just to be on safe side). Beats my Ehrlund and Planet Wings easily (which were just accentuating the bass-y boom and thump). I am sure the solution varies from bass to bass but this works really well
For the last couple years I thought my Travel Bass was "good for a small bass" now having her back with new Heritage strings, a sound post adjustment and they built up the bridge wing so the pick up is a bit more snug. I was also able to better convey what I thought were short comings in the tone. I'm pretty confident in the fact that as far as amplifying a DB with a pickup it doesn't get much better.
I am very suprised more folks around here haven't migrated from the Eminence, I wonder if it's more the mensure or the price because it certainly isn't the sound
I am very suprised more folks around here haven't migrated from the Eminence, I wonder if it's more the mensure or the price because it certainly isn't the sound
Actually, my Eminence sounds great through a little GK MB150 and the extension cab. Rich lows, punchy mids and highs. And as I said, the mensure is much easier to transition back and forth. I looked it up - it's actually 41.25. I also like the way it feels, with the brace inserted - much more similar to my Shen.
Just curious. @peterpalmieri, you still going on strong with your KT?
I saw Harvie S at a clinic a couple months ago and was super impressed with his KT/PW/Heritage string setup.
I saw Harvie S at a clinic a couple months ago and was super impressed with his KT/PW/Heritage string setup.
Absolutely, no regrets with having the travel bass as my only upright although I someday hope to maybe get back to some orchestral playing, but that is another story. For convenience I use a velcro strap to attach the Fdeck to my tailpiece and a patch cable from it to the pickup. It sounds great and is really convenient, I had considered trying different strings I spoke with Phil Palombi about it a while back, I think he said he was using Evah Pirazzi's but I may not be remembering correctly. In any case the bass sounds great and I haven't been motivated to change anything as I am trying to stay focused on my practice routine.
Outside of occasionally lusting after the sound of a 200 year old big bass and that acoustic sound, I'm very happy. Actually been thinking this week as the weather is changing that I need to go to see Barry for a sound post adjustment and once over.
There really is no comparing this bass to EUBs, the added benefit is less feedback and I'm starting to bring this bass to church and rock gigs, where the lack of floor space alone doesn't allow a traditional DB.....
I subbed in a show last week with little room for both electric and acoustic basses but brought my good upright the first night. Feed back problems and cramped conditions led me to bring my Kolstein travel bass for the rest of the week. In this situation it was better than my "good" bass in every way, including the arco passages. It is a wonderful little instrument and much better feeling and sounding than the eminence basses I have played.
Ironic that you responded Mr. Symer, I was thinking of toying with 5th tuning again if I ever got my hands on one of these. Was thinking the shorter string length would make things easier. Either that or a 5 string version! 
Ahhh Mr Nguyen Yes, the short string length is an invitation to a somewhat more adventurous playing style, regardless of tuning. Some of the difficult bits in fifths are definitely a bit easier this way, but I still say the hardest part of the transition to fifths is a mental one as opposed to a physical one. Either way the Kolstein is a fun instrument to play.
Here's the most recent one posted for sale (in the US) on Talkbass:
Kolstein Busetto Travel Bass and Travel Case
I think you'd have to call the shop. He doesn't list the price on his website.
